GB1573479A

GB1573479A - Tape package

Info

Publication number: GB1573479A
Application number: GB811278A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: DRG UK Ltd
Current assignee: DRG UK Ltd
Priority date: 1978-03-01
Filing date: 1978-03-01
Publication date: 1980-08-28

Description

(54) TAPE PACKAGE (71) WE, D.R.G. (U.K.) LIMITED, a British Company, of 1 Redcliffe Street, Bristol BS79 7QY, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to the handling, packaging, and storage of reels of strip material, more especially reels of such material which are coated on one or both sides with a moistenable or tacky surface layer, for example of an adhesive.

Such reels of material are well known as strapping, masking, fastenings, or insulating materials. They are made up on a substrate of paper or polymeric film and are typically coated on one or both sides with a pigmented, insulating, or adhesive layer. A widely used example of such material is the common domestic or commercial pressure-sensitive adhesive tape.

The manufacture of such materials is usually carried out by providing a relatively wide sheet of the substrate, subjecting it to the coating process, splitting the coated sheet into tapes of identical width, and reeling the tapes. It is convenient to reel alternate tapes on the same spindle and to provide an upper and lower spindle for the whole off-take of tapes, which become reeled up as uniformly spaced reels on each spindle. Despite every care in manufacture it is not unknown for such reels of tape to exhibit on their flat faces, that is to say, along the edges of the individual strips, a small exudation of material.Even if this exudation does not arise immediately, it may arise on storage, so that if the reels were merely stacked face-ta-face they would adhere and become úsable. Packaging and storage of reels of such tape have hitherto been carried out by manual accumulation of a number of reels from the shaft, interspersing waxed discs between individual reels, and placing the accumulation in a box typically containing six or twelve such reels. The repetitive nature of this work can lead to a high turnover of operatives and to occasional omissions or misplacements of the waxed disc with consequent sticking of adjacent reels and loss of both such reels.

We have attempted to overcome this by taking the spaced array of reels off the shaft and shrink-wrapping them with a sleeve of biaxially stressed polymer. Upon mild heat treatment such a sleeve of polymer shrinks and draws into those spaces between adjacent reels. We have found, however that the amount by which it is drawn in is not reproducible from one batch to the next and is not uniform along the accumulation of reels, so that there are still places in which adjacent reels can contact by their sticky faces.

The present invention sets out to overcome the above problems and to provide a simple method and device by which reels of material can be handled and packaged.

In one aspect the invention provides a method of handling and packaging reels of wound strip material coated on one or both sides with moistenable or tacky material whereby such reels are kept from contact at their flat faces, comprising: (a) taking an integral shell of synthetic polymeric material having a fold line and two rows of identical separate recesses symmetrically arranged one either side thereof, each of the recesses being semi-circular in a cross-section taken at right angles to the fold line; such that when the sheet is folded the recesses coincide in pairs jointly to define a row of cylindrical coaxial reelenclosing spaces; (b) placing the said shell on a folding device of shape complementary to the shell and capable of folding it around the fold line; (c) locating in one row of the recesses a plurality of spaced reels of the strip material: (d) folding the integral sheet by means of the said folding device over the said spaced reels held in the said row of recesses; and (e) securing the sheet in folded condition with reels held in the separate reelenclos- ing spaces thereby defined.

Usually, in operation of the method the shell of material is located in the complementarily shaped folding device so that the recesses are spaced apart by a distance less than or equal to their width.

Conveniently the recesses in each row are separated from their neighbours by a wall which does not extend to the plane at which the two halves of the shell are secured after folding.

In another aspect the invention provides an integral shell of synthetic polymeric material having a fold line and two rows of identical separate recesses symmetrically arranged one either side thereof, each of the recesses being semi-circular in a crosssection taken at right angles to the fold line; such that when the shell is folded such recesses coincide in pairs jointly to define a row of cylindrical coaxial reelenclosing spaces for reels of strip material.

Usually, moreover, each recess is separated from its neighbour or neighbours in the same row by a double wall of the synthetic polymeric material; such double walls are correspondingly semicircular and extend from the base of the recesses but do not reach the surface of the shell.

It is preferred for the shell to have laterally extending fixing margins symmetrically located to either side of the fold line, which serve to secure the folded shell.

Such margins can each comprise a plurality of separate leaves, one corresponding to each recess.

Two rows of six recesses will be found to constitute a convenient size shell to handle.

The folded and secured shell with its reels contained therein, and such a filled shell in a suitable box are also aspects of the present invention.

The invention will further be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preformed shell of synthetic polymeric material.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through part of a stack of reels within such a shell after closure.

The shell 1 consists of two generally identical halves 2 and 3. Each half provides six semicircular compartments 4 of a size to accomodate half of the reel. These semicircular compartments 4 are defined by double walls 5 of polymer which walls in the embodiment as shown are spaced apart by an amount 6 at their closest approach. Extending to either side of the shell and generally in line with each compartment there are leaves 7 such that when the shell is folded around central fold line 8 the two sets of tabs 7 coincide on a one to one basis.

In use the integral shell of synthetic polymeric material is placed in a complementarily shaped folding mould which when closed folds the shell around its central line 8. In the embodiment the shell the width of each semicircular portion 4 (i.e. between the two defining walls 5) is greater than or equal to the distance by which these compartments are spaced apart in their folding mould. A spindle carrying the six reels of tape each of a width equivalent to that of space 4 in the shell, and spaced apart by the same distance, is lowered into the shell 1 supported in its folding mould. The spindle is now withdrawn axially, and the mould folded over so that the tabs 7 are united one to one and heat sealed.

The packaged set of reels is of course not hermetically sealed, but can be handled as a unit and folds in a "concertina" fashion for packaging in a suitable box. Figure 2 shows two adjacent reels 9 on their cardboard cores 10 located in the closed shell 1 in its "concertina" form. It will be apparent that the components of double walls 5 are now essentially touching along their length, but that the small space 6 keeps a small separation between adjacent reels.

Depending upon the exact dimensions of the reel and of the thickness of the accumulated tape, the potentially adhesive flat reel faces can be separated either completely by two thicknesses of the shell of synthetic polymeric material, or to some extent by such thicknesses and to some extent by physical separation provided by the dimensions 6. In practice, we have found that this distance 6 can be effectively that provided by a double thickness of the shell material, that is to say, that the walls 5 can effectively join at a common line WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of handling and packaging reels of wound strip material coated on one or both sides with moistenable or tacky material whereby such reels are kept from contact at their flat surfaces, comprising: (a) taking an integral shell of synthetic polymeric material having a fold line and two rows of identical separate recesses symmetrically arranged one either side thereof, each of the recesses being semi-circular in a cross-section

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

line; (c) locating in one row of the recesses a plurality of spaced reels of the strip material: (d) folding the integral sheet by means of the said folding device over the said spaced reels held in the said row of recesses; and (e) securing the sheet in folded condition with reels held in the separate reelenclos- ing spaces thereby defined.

Usually, in operation of the method the shell of material is located in the complementarily shaped folding device so that the recesses are spaced apart by a distance less than or equal to their width.

Conveniently the recesses in each row are separated from their neighbours by a wall which does not extend to the plane at which the two halves of the shell are secured after folding.

In another aspect the invention provides an integral shell of synthetic polymeric material having a fold line and two rows of identical separate recesses symmetrically arranged one either side thereof, each of the recesses being semi-circular in a crosssection taken at right angles to the fold line; such that when the shell is folded such recesses coincide in pairs jointly to define a row of cylindrical coaxial reelenclosing spaces for reels of strip material.

Usually, moreover, each recess is separated from its neighbour or neighbours in the same row by a double wall of the synthetic polymeric material; such double walls are correspondingly semicircular and extend from the base of the recesses but do not reach the surface of the shell.

It is preferred for the shell to have laterally extending fixing margins symmetrically located to either side of the fold line, which serve to secure the folded shell.

Such margins can each comprise a plurality of separate leaves, one corresponding to each recess.

Two rows of six recesses will be found to constitute a convenient size shell to handle.

The folded and secured shell with its reels contained therein, and such a filled shell in a suitable box are also aspects of the present invention.

The invention will further be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preformed shell of synthetic polymeric material.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through part of a stack of reels within such a shell after closure.

The shell 1 consists of two generally identical halves 2 and 3. Each half provides six semicircular compartments 4 of a size to accomodate half of the reel. These semicircular compartments 4 are defined by double walls 5 of polymer which walls in the embodiment as shown are spaced apart by an amount 6 at their closest approach. Extending to either side of the shell and generally in line with each compartment there are leaves 7 such that when the shell is folded around central fold line 8 the two sets of tabs 7 coincide on a one to one basis.

In use the integral shell of synthetic polymeric material is placed in a complementarily shaped folding mould which when closed folds the shell around its central line 8. In the embodiment the shell the width of each semicircular portion 4 (i.e. between the two defining walls 5) is greater than or equal to the distance by which these compartments are spaced apart in their folding mould. A spindle carrying the six reels of tape each of a width equivalent to that of space 4 in the shell, and spaced apart by the same distance, is lowered into the shell 1 supported in its folding mould. The spindle is now withdrawn axially, and the mould folded over so that the tabs 7 are united one to one and heat sealed.

The packaged set of reels is of course not hermetically sealed, but can be handled as a unit and folds in a "concertina" fashion for packaging in a suitable box. Figure 2 shows two adjacent reels 9 on their cardboard cores 10 located in the closed shell 1 in its "concertina" form. It will be apparent that the components of double walls 5 are now essentially touching along their length, but that the small space 6 keeps a small separation between adjacent reels.

Depending upon the exact dimensions of the reel and of the thickness of the accumulated tape, the potentially adhesive flat reel faces can be separated either completely by two thicknesses of the shell of synthetic polymeric material, or to some extent by such thicknesses and to some extent by physical separation provided by the dimensions 6. In practice, we have found that this distance 6 can be effectively that provided by a double thickness of the shell material, that is to say, that the walls 5 can effectively join at a common line WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1.A method of handling and packaging reels of wound strip material coated on one or both sides with moistenable or tacky material whereby such reels are kept from contact at their flat surfaces, comprising: (a) taking an integral shell of synthetic polymeric material having a fold line and two rows of identical separate recesses symmetrically arranged one either side thereof, each of the recesses being semi-circular in a cross-section

taken at right angles to the fold line; such that when the sheet is folded the recesses coincide in pairs jointly to define a row of cylindrical reel enclosing spaces; (b) placing the said shell on a folding device of shape complementary to the shell and capable of folding it around the fold line; (c) locating in one row of the recesses a plurality of spaced reels of the strip material; (d) folding the integral sheet by means of the said folding device over the said spaced reels held in the said row of recesses; and (e) securing the sheet in folded condition with reels held in the separate reel enclosing spaces thereby defined.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 in which the shell of material is located in the complementarily shaped folding device so that the recesses are spaced apart by a distance less than or equal to their width.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the recesses in each row are separated from their neighbours by a wall which does not extend to the plane at which the two halves of the shell are secured after folding.
4. A method as claimed in Claim 1 an'd substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
5. An integral shell of synthetic polymeric material having a fold line and two rows of identical separate recesses symmetrically arranged one either side thereof, each of the recesses being semi-circular in a cross-section taken at right angles to the fold line; such that when the shell is folded such recesses coincide in pairs jointly to define a row of cylindrical coaxial reelenclosing spaces for reels of strip material.
6. An integral shell as claimed in Claim 5 in which each recess is separated from its neighbour or neighbours in the same row by a double wall of the synthetic polymeric material.
7. An integral shell as claimed in Claim 6 in which the double walls are correspondingly semicircular and extend from the base of the recesses but do not reach the surface of the shell.
8. An integral shell as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 7 having laterally extending fixing margins symmetrically located to either side of the fold line, which serve to secure the folded shell.
9. An integral shell as claimed in Claim 8 in which each margin comprises a plurality of separate leaves, one corresponding to each recess.
10. An integral shell as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 9 comprising two rows of six recesses thereby defining six reel-enclosing spaces when folded.
11. An integral shell as claimed in any one of the Claims 5 to 10 folded and enclosing a plurality of reels of wound strip material.
12. An integral shell substantially as described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 or 2.
13. A package consisting of the enclosed plurality of reels as claimed in Claim 11 stacked in an enclosing box.