GB2077686A

GB2077686A - Packaging strip material in compact form into a carton

Info

Publication number: GB2077686A
Application number: GB8017931A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Kimberly Clark Ltd
Current assignee: Kimberly Clark Ltd
Priority date: 1980-06-02
Filing date: 1980-06-02
Publication date: 1981-12-23

Abstract

A strip of material such as cotton wool is formed into a compact shape for packing into a carton in such a way that the strip may be uncurled smoothly as one end is drawn out from the carton. This is effected by oscillating the strip by means by means of movable roller 16 to fold the strip into loose zig- zag folds, and then compacting the loose folds into a tight assembly form which predetermined lengths are severed for insertion into the carton. A knife unit 30 is actuated in response to marks on a marker tape attached to the fed strip by a unit 8 to sever a predetermined length from the compacted assembly, which is then manually or automatically inserted into the carton. The loose folds of the zig-zag folded strip are compacted into tight- packed folds by passage between a pair of conveying belts 2b. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to the packing of material into a carton This invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a strip of material into a compact shape for packing into a carton.

When short lengths of a relatively long length of material are to be dispensed from a carton or the like, it is desirable for the material to be packaged in such a way that the strip uncoils smoothly as one end is drawn out from the carton and without snagging or fouling.

This is achieved by a method of packaging in accordance with the invention comprising the steps of forming a length of a strip of material, e.g. cotton wool or its equivalent, into a zig-zag folded formation and then inserting the formed and relatively compact length into a carton or the like with one free end at or adacent the dispensing aperture or location of the carton.

Apparatus in accordance with the invention for forming a straight strip of material, such as cotton wool, into a zig-zag shape for insertion into a carton, comprises means for feeding or guiding a length of tape, sliver, strip, or the like, of cotton wool or its equivalent, between a pair of rolls which are movable at right angles to the general direction of movement of the tape through the apparatus whilst the rolls are rotated, so as to impart oscillations to the strip, means for consolidating the oscillations into a compact assembly of zig-zag folds, means to mark the tape at intervals of the desired length to be packed into a carton, and means to sever the zig-zag folded strip at or adjacent the marks.

The folded compacted zig-zag strip may be pushed into the open end of a carton, box or the like either manually or by an automatic packing apparatus, one free end of the strip being located at or adjacent a dispensing aperture or location of the carton.

The means for consolidating the preliminary oscillations into a compact, folded zig-zag shape may comprise a pair of belts between which the oscillations are fed, the belts being drived at such a speed that formed zig-zag strip is held therebetween.

A carton of "cotton wool" or its equivalent in accordance with the invention has an outlet in one face and is filled with a continuous length of zig-zag folded "cotton wool", one free end of the cotton wool length being positioned at or adjacent the outlet for ready access by a user.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying sketch drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention, and, Figure 2 is a side elevation corresponding to Fig. 1.

Sliver 2 of viscose material, which is commonly known as "cotton wool", is fed from a coiling can 4 by a pair of feed rolls 6 to a marking unit 8 at which coloured tape or the like is applied to the sliver as it passes through the unit at intervals corresponding to the length of sliver which it is desired to pack into a single carton. One of the markers on the sliver is indicated at 1 0.

The sliver is then pulled by pull rolls 1 2 and fed through a guide cone 14 which acts to consolidate the strip.

The consolidated sliver 2 then passes between a pair of rotating feed rolls 16, the pair of rolls being reciprocated as a unit in the direction indicated by the arrows 1 8 at right angles to the direction of movement of the strip through the apparatus. This causes the strip to be formed into a relatively open oscillatory form as indicated at 20 on a guide table 22 from whence it passes between a pair of ironing rolls 24.

The open oscillations are then passed between a pair of conveyor belts 26 which are driven at such a speed relative to the ironing rolls 24 that the oscillatory form is consolidated into relatively tight zig-zag shaped folds as indicated at 28 in Fig. 1.

The compacted folded length is then cut by a unit generally indicated at 30 into the required lengths, the unit sensing the presence of the marker tape 10 and acting to "fire" a rotary knife at the sliver length at the correct time. The cut consolidated length of sliver generally indicated at 32 is then inserted into the open end of a carton 40 either manually or by automatic means (not shown).

The end face of the carton is formed with a central dispensing hole 42 and the marked (free) end of the consolidated length 32 inserted into the carton, will be positioned adjacent the hole 42 for ready access by a user.

1. A method of forming and packaging a strip of material into a carton comprising forming a length of the strip of material into a zig-zag folded formation and then inserting the folded length into a carton with a free end of the length at or adjacent the dispensing aperture of the carton.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the folding of the length into a zigzag formation is achieved by oscillating the strip at right angles to its general direction of movement and then consolidating the oscillations into a compact folded assembly which is then severed at predetermined intervals.

3. Apparatus for forming a length of strip material into a zig-zag shape for insetion into a carton comprising means for feeding or guiding of the strip or tape to the between a pair of rolls which are movable at right angles

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to the packing of material into a carton This invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a strip of material into a compact shape for packing into a carton. When short lengths of a relatively long length of material are to be dispensed from a carton or the like, it is desirable for the material to be packaged in such a way that the strip uncoils smoothly as one end is drawn out from the carton and without snagging or fouling. This is achieved by a method of packaging in accordance with the invention comprising the steps of forming a length of a strip of material, e.g. cotton wool or its equivalent, into a zig-zag folded formation and then inserting the formed and relatively compact length into a carton or the like with one free end at or adacent the dispensing aperture or location of the carton. Apparatus in accordance with the invention for forming a straight strip of material, such as cotton wool, into a zig-zag shape for insertion into a carton, comprises means for feeding or guiding a length of tape, sliver, strip, or the like, of cotton wool or its equivalent, between a pair of rolls which are movable at right angles to the general direction of movement of the tape through the apparatus whilst the rolls are rotated, so as to impart oscillations to the strip, means for consolidating the oscillations into a compact assembly of zig-zag folds, means to mark the tape at intervals of the desired length to be packed into a carton, and means to sever the zig-zag folded strip at or adjacent the marks. The folded compacted zig-zag strip may be pushed into the open end of a carton, box or the like either manually or by an automatic packing apparatus, one free end of the strip being located at or adjacent a dispensing aperture or location of the carton. The means for consolidating the preliminary oscillations into a compact, folded zig-zag shape may comprise a pair of belts between which the oscillations are fed, the belts being drived at such a speed that formed zig-zag strip is held therebetween. A carton of "cotton wool" or its equivalent in accordance with the invention has an outlet in one face and is filled with a continuous length of zig-zag folded "cotton wool", one free end of the cotton wool length being positioned at or adjacent the outlet for ready access by a user. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying sketch drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention, and, Figure 2 is a side elevation corresponding to Fig. 1. Sliver 2 of viscose material, which is commonly known as "cotton wool", is fed from a coiling can 4 by a pair of feed rolls 6 to a marking unit 8 at which coloured tape or the like is applied to the sliver as it passes through the unit at intervals corresponding to the length of sliver which it is desired to pack into a single carton. One of the markers on the sliver is indicated at 1 0. The sliver is then pulled by pull rolls 1 2 and fed through a guide cone 14 which acts to consolidate the strip. The consolidated sliver 2 then passes between a pair of rotating feed rolls 16, the pair of rolls being reciprocated as a unit in the direction indicated by the arrows 1 8 at right angles to the direction of movement of the strip through the apparatus. This causes the strip to be formed into a relatively open oscillatory form as indicated at 20 on a guide table 22 from whence it passes between a pair of ironing rolls 24. The open oscillations are then passed between a pair of conveyor belts 26 which are driven at such a speed relative to the ironing rolls 24 that the oscillatory form is consolidated into relatively tight zig-zag shaped folds as indicated at 28 in Fig. 1. The compacted folded length is then cut by a unit generally indicated at 30 into the required lengths, the unit sensing the presence of the marker tape 10 and acting to "fire" a rotary knife at the sliver length at the correct time. The cut consolidated length of sliver generally indicated at 32 is then inserted into the open end of a carton 40 either manually or by automatic means (not shown). The end face of the carton is formed with a central dispensing hole 42 and the marked (free) end of the consolidated length 32 inserted into the carton, will be positioned adjacent the hole 42 for ready access by a user. CLAIMS

3. Apparatus for forming a length of strip material into a zig-zag shape for insetion into a carton comprising means for feeding or guiding of the strip or tape to the between a pair of rolls which are movable at right angles to the general direction of movement of the strip length to the apparatus whilst the rolls are rotated so as to impart oscillations to the strip, means for consolidating the oscillations into a compact assembly of zig-zag folds and means to sever the zig-zag folded assembly length at predetermined intervals.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 in which means are provided to mark the tape at the desired intervals at which the strip is to be severed.

5. Apparatus as claimed in either of Claims 3 or 4 in which means for compacting the oscillatory shape into a compact folded zig-zagged shape comprises a pair of belts between which the oscillations of the strip length are fed, the belts being driven at such a speed relative to a pair of rolls upstream of the belts that the oscillatory zig-zag form is consolidated into relatively tight zig-zagged shaped folds.

6. A method of packaging a strip of cotton wool into a carton substantially as hereinbefore described.

7. Apparatus for forming a strip of cotton wool into a zig-zag shape for insertion into a carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.