JPH06211221A - Method and device for successive feeding of individual package - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To eliminate shutdown of an apparatus for roll exchange and prevent operating cost of the apparatus by connecting a tail end of a strip for individually packaged articles arrayed to a leading end of the next strip by a means like heat seal. CONSTITUTION: A strip 8 arranged with straws 10 is folded back and forth in a box 16, and its leading end 18 passes over a roller 20 and is pulled in the direction of arrow and draws continuous folds out of the box 16. While the strip 8 is being drawn out of the box 16, the second box 16 is positioned adjacent to the first box 16. By opening a side flap and flaps 24 and 26, two ends of the strip 8 in the second box are exposed outward. The opened flap 24 of the second box is placed in line with the opened flap 26 of the first box. The tail end 22 of the strip is joined to the leading end 18 of the strip from the other box by using an adhesive tape 34, painted glue, heat seal or the like. This repeats as far as a straw-attaching device stays working.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a packaging device and, more particularly, to a device for feeding elongated individual packages during the manufacturing process.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known to attach elongated individual packages, such as drinking straws, spoons, and similar items, to the outer surface of a paper container or other package. The device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,819 is an example of a device for attaching individual packages of drinking straws to the side of a paper container containing liquid food such as juice or milk.
This patent discloses in FIG. 4 of the above specification a continuous strip 14 of individual packages containing a drinking straw 30. The band 14 is preferably formed of a plastic material which can be conveniently separated by a reciprocating knife blade. Belt of individually wrapped straws is a rotating holder 1
It is supplied to the straw attaching device from the roll 15 attached to the roller 6. While this and other similar devices work satisfactorily, they require regular replacement of straw rolls. While changing the straw rolls, a new roll must be installed in the holder and the machine stopped for a time sufficient to manually feed the end of the ribbon 14 into the straw applicator. This operation requires technicians to replace each roll, increasing the operating costs of the machine.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a band, or strips of elongated individual packages, for feeding a machine that separates these individual packages from the band for the next step.
It is intended to provide an improved arrangement. A further object of the present invention is to provide a continuous supply of strips or individual strips in bands or bands for use in processes which do not require regular interruptions in the operation of the bands or bands.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objects, according to the present invention, are methods of continuously dispensing packaging straws, spoons, or similar articles at predetermined locations for attachment to a liquid container, individually packaged. It is achieved by a method characterized in that the objects are arranged in bands. Appropriate means are provided for advancing the band of articles towards the predetermined location for attaching the package to the side of the liquid container. According to the invention, a strip of packaging is placed in a container, preferably a box, in which the strip of packaging is folded back and forth in a fold so that the folds are on the opposite side walls of the box. Form adjacent stacks. The stack extends upwards from the bottom of the box and both ends of the strip are positioned near the top opening of the box for ready access. The edge of the band forming the top layer of the stack, called the leading edge, is fed into the processing machine and is therefore
If necessary, a series of pleats are pulled out of the box. The other end of the band, called the end, is also positioned near the top opening of the box. The front end of a strip taken from a similar box with individual packages in a similarly arranged strip is secured to the end of the strip of the first box by heat sealing or other means. In this way, the free ends of the bands of adjacent boxes can be joined at the same time while the processing machine is progressively drawing the bands from the top to the bottom of the stack.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, an individual paper container 2 containing a liquid food product such as milk or juice is carried forward by a conveyor 4 to the left as viewed in FIG. The straw attachment device 6 separates a piece of packaging straw from the strip 8 and attaches it to the paper container 2 according to the technique disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,584,819. The device disclosed in this patent is mentioned by way of example only, and any other suitable device for applying a packaging straw to a paper container can be used. The present invention may also be used to apply other articles such as spoons to various paper containers such as yogurt containers. For convenience, the detailed description refers to straws, but other articles may be used in place of drinking straws.

As shown in FIG. 4, the drinking straw band 8 is formed by arranging a plurality of straws 10 at equal intervals between two thermoplastic bands. The straws 10 are arranged in parallel with each other. The plastic strips forming the straw bands 8 are joined together by heat sealing the area 12 around each straw 10 so that the straws are enclosed within the bands 8. The drinking straw band 8 is provided with cuts 14 between adjacent straws, some of which extend from the two lateral edges of the band. The cuts 14 are intermittent so that enough material remains to connect the drinking straw package and to transfer tensile forces to the strip without premature separation of the package. When the individually packaged straws 10 are to be separated from the band 8, the knife mechanism of the straw attachment device 6 cuts the band 8 along the cut line 14 immediately before the separated straw package is applied to the side of the paper container. . Of course, the band 8 may have any suitable configuration that separates the individually wrapped straws from the band. For example, the notch 14 may be omitted, and the knife mechanism may be configured to cut across the entire width of the band 8.

According to the invention, the straw band 8 is packed in a box 16. The strips 8 are folded back and forth in the box 16 so as to form a stack extending upwards from the bottom of the box. One end, which is referred to as the leading end 18, has a guide roller 2
It is led out of the top of box 16 by passing over 0. The leading end 18 is pulled in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2, so that the continuous fold of the band 8 is pulled out of the box 16. The other end of the band, called the end 22, extends from the bottom of the stack, between the folds and the sides of the box, up to the top of the box, where a short portion of the end 22 projects out of the box. For convenience, the leading end 1
8 may be mounted inside the adjacent flaps 24 of the box and the end 22 may be mounted inside the opposite flap 26. Attachment may be colored green for the leading end and red for the end, adhesive tape 2
8 means, or any other suitable means may be used. Flap 24 when closing the top of the box
And 26 are closed first, then the side flaps 30 are closed and sealed to protect the straw band from dust contamination.

The end 22 removed from one box appears to overlap the leading end 18 of the band from the other box, between the straws 10 of each band, as shown in FIG. With the adhesive tape 34 attached along the line 32,
It is good to be joined. Of course, other suitable means of joining the ends may be utilized, such as applying an adhesive or by heat sealing. FIG. 2 shows that each has a straw band 8 and the adjacent ends are glued together with tape 34,
The arrangement of adjacent boxes is shown. In operation, the strip 8 from the first box 16 (FIG. 2) advances over suitable guide rollers towards the straw attachment device 6 (FIG. 1).
The second box 1 while the obi 8 is pulled out of the box 16
Position 6 adjacent to the first box 16. The side flaps 30 are opened and then the flaps 24 and 26 are opened to expose the two ends of the strip 8 in the second box to the outside. The open flap 24 of the second box is placed in line with the open flap 26 of the first box. If tape 28
If used, peel off the respective ends 18 and 22 from the flaps 24 and 26. The leading end 18 of the second box 16 is then joined by tape 34 to the end 22 removed from the first box 16. When the strip 8 of the first box is exhausted, the tension of the strip 8 is transmitted through the tape 34, pulling the strip out of the second box. This cycle repeats as long as the straw attachment device 6 continues to operate.

By feeding the straw strips in boxes, the storage volume is reduced compared to feeding the strips in rolls.
Furthermore, the device according to the invention allows a continuous supply of packaging straws in strips. It is not necessary to stop the operation to replenish the straw band supply. The replenishment of the ribbon supply can be done at any time while the ribbon is being dispensed from the first box, thus reducing the number of workers required. The worker does not have to wait until the end of the first strip is reached. This allows the operator to be in charge of a larger number of machines. While the invention has been illustrated and described by way of a preferred embodiment, it should be noted that modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

 Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of a preferred embodiment of a straw applicator utilizing a dispensed straw band in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a dispensing arrangement of straw bands according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a straw band of an open box.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a straw band.

FIG. 5 is a detailed plan view of a joint between successive straw bands.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8 band 16 box 18 leading end 22 end 24 flap 26 flap 30 flap

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A box having a closed bottom and side walls and an open top and flaps at the top of opposite side walls for closing the top is prepared and connected to each other by a band having a leading end and an end. Preparing a plurality of packages, attaching the end of the band to the inside of one of the flaps, introducing the band from the one flap of the box along the inside of the side wall to the bottom of the box, Subsequently, the rest of the strip in the box is advanced from the bottom of the box to the top, while the rest of the strip is pulled out of the box, the end fills the packaging, which is used for attachment to the next strip. , A method of continuously dispensing to a predetermined place. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the leading end of the strap is attached to the other flap and both ends of the strap are exposed on opposite sides of the box when the box is opened. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the end is mounted inside the flap so that the end is protected inside the box when the top of the box is closed. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the rest of the strip in the box comprises arranging the strip in alternating folding layers. 5. A package for utilizing the method of claim 1. 6. A packet according to claim 5, wherein the box is rectangular and has opposite side walls corresponding to the width of the band of the package.