GB2228463A

GB2228463A - A method for saving space occupied by toilet rolls in transportation and storage processes and related special device

Info

Publication number: GB2228463A
Application number: GB8928277A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cai Qing
Original assignee: Light Ind Products Import & Ex
Current assignee: Light Ind Products Import & Ex
Priority date: 1988-12-23
Filing date: 1989-12-14
Publication date: 1990-08-29
Also published as: CN1015248B; GB8928277D0; CN1034178A; JPH02296633A

Abstract

To effect cost saving in the transportation and storage of toilet rolls, the cylindrical toilet rolls are pressed into flattened rectangular shape. Apparatus for flattening the toilet rolls comprises a rotary platform having recesses 18 for receiving the rolls, a pressing piston 16 for flattening the received rolls, and an ejection piston 17 for ejecting the flattened roll from its recess when the latter is rotated over an opening 19 in table. A device (Fig. 6) for re-asserting the cylindrical roll shape comprises a threaded rod mounting opposed conical pieces, one of the latter being threaded and movable towards the other to open up a flattened roll threaded onto the rod. <IMAGE>

Description

A Method for Saving Space Occupied by Toilet Rolls in Transportation and Storage Processes and Related Special Devices The present invention relates to a method for saving space occupied by toilet rolls in transportation and storage processes particularly to a method for transforming and compacting the shape of toilet rolls consisting of thin sheet paper rolls and a core before transportation and storage to reduce the cost of transportation and storage.

The traditional way of transporting and storing toilet rolls is to keep the rolls in a cylindrical form from production of the rolls through transportation, storage and sales right to usage. This shape of toilet rolls, because of its relatively large volume, occupies a large area in warehouse and transportation equipment and causes higher transportation and storage costs. From the knowledge of geometry, a figure of a given area has its least perimeter when it is a circle.

Vice versa, a figure having a given length of perimeter has its largest area when it is a circle.

From the point of view of packing, equilateral triangles, square, regular hexagons and rectangles all can be arranged in such a way so that no space will be left between the figures. This is not the case with circles. Therefore in order to minimize the space each roll may occupy and the space between the rolls so as to economise the total space the rolls may occupy in warehouses and transportation equipment, it is necessary to depart from the cylindrical shape, though this has never been attempted before. Considering the problem of technique, it would be most profitable to transform the shape as near to a rectangular cross section as possible.

The technical measures adopted by present invention are; before transportation and storage, the cylindrical toilet rolls are pressed either manually or by machine so that the cross section of the roll becomes a shape similar to a rectangle and the periphery of the core becomes two flat walls touching each other or getting very close. The pressed rolls are then properly piled up and compactly packed, ready for transportation and storage. The invention also provides a machine for compacting toilet rolls and for recovering the shape thereof.

Transporting and storing toilet rolls that have been transformed in shape according to the present invention may reap a saving of up to 44% of transportation equipment or warehouse space. In other words, the carrying capacity of the transportation equipment and storing capacity of the warehouse may be raised approximately 80% so that the costs may be reduced substantially.

Toilet paper is one of the export products of China. The amount exported annually is quite significant. Taking as an example the export of toilet rolls from Central China (e.g. Zhengzhou), a saving of more than 150 yuan per ton may be realised for exports carried on domestic railway transport alone. At the same time it would be a relaxation of demand for more railway rolling stock. Also, since the toilet paper is pressed tightly together, the roll would not tend to get loose. Thus, packing or wrapping of each roll may be entirely avoided while more than 40% of intermediate and exterior packing may be saved. More than 470 yuan per ton of the product may be saved on packing. The saving on transportation of packing alone amounts to 0.67 yuan for every US Dollar obtained from export of such toilet rolls - a remarkable economic benefit.

It goes without saying tlat same is true with those toilet rolls produced in other countries and also for domestic consumption. The method disclosed in the present invention will not only bring money-saving results on transportation and storage to trading enterprises, but if the manufacturing factory adds a pressing process in its production line it will also save them money for packing and thus pay rewards to consumers also. Since toilet paper is used in considerable amounts in families, people buy it in units of intermediate packages instead of single rolls.

Also, since 44% of the space required originally for storing cylindrical rolls is saved, for a family having only a modest size living quarters in such cities as Hong Kong or Tokyo, it is undoubtedly a real benefit.

Besides, without the wrapping for each roll and with the increase of toilet paper by the same weight of the wrapping, the useful part of the roll is increased.

This lowers the price and makes the product more readily acceptable to consumers.

Embodiments of the invention are described in detail below, by example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is the shape of the toilet roll transformed according to the present invention in the process of transportation and storage; Fig. 2 is a comparison between intermediated packaging of transformed and untransformed toilet rolls; Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic sketches of the pressing and packing machine; Fig.5 is a top view of the transforming mould of the pressing and packing machines; and Fig. 6 is a cylindrical shape recovery device.

The pressing of toilet rolls can be realized either manually or by machine. If they are pressed mechanically, then a pressing and packing machine will be needed (figures 3, 4 and 5). This pressing and packing machine, apart from power transmission mechanisms, mainly consists of frame 11 connecting rod 12, flywheel 13, mould 14, table 15, transforming piston 16 and push out piston 17. when the machine works, the conveyor belt brings the rolls to the slot 18 in the mould. The transforming piston comes down and presses the roll into the desired form and then comes back to its original position. The mould then turns through an angle so that slot 18 is now right on top of exit 19 on the table. The push out piston comes down and pushes out the flattened roll into an intermediate packing bag placed under the exit.

The production and usage of cylindrical toilet rolls has long been conventional and cylindrical toilet rolls no doubt have their merits. Therefore before using the rolls it is necessary to recover the cylindrical form from the pressed form. To recover the original shape, a special cylindrical shape recovery device is needed (figure 6). This device consists of a threaded rod and two conical pieces.

Conical piece 21 may be made fixed to the rod 22 and conical piece 23 is actually a conical nut. In the recovery process, the rod is inserted into the flattened core of the toilet roll. Then the conical nut is put on and screwed tight. The toilet roll regains its cylindrical shape as the core is opened up.

The process is actually very simple. Any user can easily accomplish it. This cylindrical shape recovery device is a part of application for a patent for utility model CN88214001 "Hungup Easy-pulling Toilet Paper Holder". If the customer has this kind of holder, he may easily recover the original cylindrical shape of the toilet roll and does not need to spend money in buying one.

EXAMPLE 1 Press the cylindrical shaped toilet rolls, produced by the manufacturer, either by hand or by a pressing and packing machine according to the present invention in the shape as shown in Fig. 1 and pack the pressed rolls for transportation and storage.

EXAMPLE 2 The producer reforms his packing process on his production line into a hand or machine pressing and packing process according to the present invention.

this process receives bare (without wrapping) cylindrical toilet rolls, presses them into the shape shown in Fig 1 and then packs then into intermediated and exterior packages ready for transportation and storage. There are trade marks and decoration on intermediate packages so as to improve the appearance of the product. This is more economical than having a trade mark on each roll. If a process of mechanical pressing and packing is adopted, a pressing and packing machine according to the present invention is to be installed.

Claims

CLAMS

A method for saving space occupied by toilet rolls during transportation and storage, wherein before transportation and storage the cylindrical toilet rolls are pressed either manually or by machine so that the cross section of the roll - becomes substantially rectangular with the core forming two flat walls which touch each other or are adjacent one another.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a pressing and packing machine is used to press the rolls into a flat shape.
3. A pressing and packing machine for transforming the shape of toilet rolls, comprising a frame, transforming piston(s), push out piston(s), mould(s) a table with exit(s) and power transmission mechanisms.
4. A cylindrical shape recovery device for recovering the cylindrical shape of pressed toilet rolls, comprising a threaded rod and two conical pieces, at least one of which is a conical nut to be screwed on the threaded rod.
5. A method for saving space occupied by toilet rolls during transportation and storage, substantially as herein described.
6. A pressing and packing machine for transforming the shape of toilet rolls, substantially as herein described and as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
7. A cylindrical shape recovery device for recovering the cylindrical shape of pressed toilet rolls, substantially as herein described and as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.