NZ624087B2 - Method for Producing Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Tape Package - Google Patents

Abstract

method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package 10, the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package 10 accommodating a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 14 having a support 18 and an adhesive layer 12 provided on one surface of the support 18, the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package 10 comprising a release sheet 16 to which the adhesive layer 12 of the adhesive tape 14 is releasably attached. The method comprises feeding a release sheet base material 116 serving as the release sheet 16 to a predetermined feed position, sequentially feeding a plurality of adhesive tapes in a row to the release sheet base material 116 at the feed position, and bonding the adhesive tapes to the release sheet base material 116 such that predetermined spaces are formed between the adhesive tapes adjacent in anterior and posterior directions of the feeding direction, folding the release sheet base material 116 with the adhesive tape 14 in two, sealing a predetermined portion of the release sheet base material 116 to form the two-folded release sheet base material 116 including a plurality of accommodating spaces each of which accommodates one adhesive tape 14, temporarily attaching a part of each adhesive tape 14 to the release sheet base material 116, and cutting the release sheet base material 116 to form the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package 10 ge 10 comprising a release sheet 16 to which the adhesive layer 12 of the adhesive tape 14 is releasably attached. The method comprises feeding a release sheet base material 116 serving as the release sheet 16 to a predetermined feed position, sequentially feeding a plurality of adhesive tapes in a row to the release sheet base material 116 at the feed position, and bonding the adhesive tapes to the release sheet base material 116 such that predetermined spaces are formed between the adhesive tapes adjacent in anterior and posterior directions of the feeding direction, folding the release sheet base material 116 with the adhesive tape 14 in two, sealing a predetermined portion of the release sheet base material 116 to form the two-folded release sheet base material 116 including a plurality of accommodating spaces each of which accommodates one adhesive tape 14, temporarily attaching a part of each adhesive tape 14 to the release sheet base material 116, and cutting the release sheet base material 116 to form the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package 10

Description

FP12-0611—00 DESCRIPTION Title of ion: METHOD FOR PRODUCING PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE TAPE PACKAGE Technical Field The t invention relates to a package that packs a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape having an adhesive agent layer on a support, and more specifically relates to a method for producing the package.

Background Art id="p-2" id="p-2" id="p-2" id="p-2"

[0002] Pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes in a variety of forms have conventionally been known and used for labels, medical care, cosmetics, decoration, masking, industries, and other various applications. The adhesive tape used for medical care is in a form of a patch preparation such as a poultice, a plaster, an adhesive e, a surgical tape, and a tape ation, and usually applied onto a skin, a mucous membrane, or the like.

Such an adhesive tape usually comprises a support and an ve agent layer provided on one surface of the support, and a release. sheet releasably attached to the adhesive agent layer. The adhesive tape, after production, may be cut into an appropriate size and distributed and sold in the state of being individually contained in a e for hygienic and al protection. In this case, at the time of use thereof, the adhesive agent layer is applied onto a portion for application after tearing the package to remove the adhesive tape therefrom, and release the release sheet to expose the adhesive agent layer.

FP1200 A problem that occurs at the time of use in some cases is difficulties in releasing the e sheet. That is, because the release sheet is y thin and soft, it is difficult to handle, and it may take some time to release the e sheet. At the time of use of the adhesive tape, the release sheet and the package are turned into a waste after use.

Then, a pressure—sensitive adhesive tape package described in Patent ture 1 has been proposed in the related art. The package is a package in which an adhesive tape is bent into two such that an adhesive agent layer faces outwardly, the two-folded adhesive tape is covered with a release sheet so as to sandwich the adhesive tape inside of the release sheet, and the periphery of the release sheet is sealed. In this configuration, the release sheet fimctions as a package, and thus the package needed in the related art can be eliminated. id="p-6" id="p-6" id="p-6" id="p-6"

[0006] Moreover, to expose only a half of the adhesive agent layer when the front portion of the release sheet is pulled off from the rear portion thereof to open the package, means for temporarily attaching the half located on the front side of the two-folded adhesive tape to the rear portion of the release sheet is provided. y, application to a portion for application is easy because when the package is opened, the adhesive tape folded in two is held by the fiont n of the e sheet and the half on the front side of the adhesive agent layer is exposed.

Citation List Patent Literature FP1200 Patent Literature 1: WO2010/071104 Summary of Invention Technical Problem It is easy to e the above pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package one by one, but various devices are needed in mass production.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to e a method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package suitable for mass production, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

Solution to Problem id="p-9" id="p-9" id="p-9" id="p-9"

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package according to the t ion is a method for producing a re-sensitive adhesive tape package, the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package accommodating a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape having a support and an adhesive agent layer provided on one surface of the support, the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package comprising a release sheet to which the adhesive agent layer of the adhesive tape is releasably attached, the method comprising: a step of feeding a release sheet base material serving as the release sheet to a ermined feed position; a step of sequentially g a plurality of adhesive tapes in a row to the release sheet base material at the feed position, and boding the adhesive tapes to the release sheet base material such that predetermined spaces are formed between the adhesive tapes adjacent in anterior and posterior ions of the feeding ion; a step of folding the release sheet base material with the adhesive tape in two; a step of sealing a predetermined portion of the release sheet base material to form the two-folded release sheet FP1200 base material including a plurality of accommodating spaces each of which odates one adhesive tape»; a step of temporarily attaching a part of each adhesive tape to the release sheet base material; and a step of cutting the release [sheet base material to form re-sensitive adhesive tape packages.

As the step 'of bonding the adhesive tapes to the release sheet base material, a step comprising a p of cutting an ve tape base material serving as the adhesive tape to form a row of adhesive tapes and a p of separating adjacent adhesive tapes from each other, and conveying the adhesive tapes to the feed position with an interval between the adjacent adhesive tapes being increased is thought.

Alternatively, the step of boding the adhesive tapes to the release sheet base material may comprises a substep of half-cutting an adhesive tape base material having a liner without cutting the liner so as to form a row of adhesive tapes on the liner, and a substep of conveying the adhesive tapes to the feed position while the liner is being released.

In the above method, the adhesive tapes in a row are fed to the release sheet base al. It is also thought that the adhesive tapes are formed in two or more rows, and the interval between the ve tapes is increased not only anterior and posterior directions to the g direction but also in the left and right traverse directions thereof.

In this case, a plurality of rows of a plurality of ve tapes are sequentially fed to the release sheet base material at the feed position, and the adhesive tapes are bonded to the release sheet base material such that predetermined spaces are formed between adjacent adhesive tapes in anterior, posterior, left, and right directions of the feeding FP1200 direction. The release sheet base material is then slit along the longitudinal ion thereof to form a plurality of release sheet base materials, a row of adhesive tapes being bonded to each of the release sheet base materials.

The step of bonding the adhesive tapes to the release sheet base material comprises a substep of cutting an adhesive tape web into a plurality of rows of adhesive tapes and a p of separating adhesive tapes adjacent in anterior, ior, left, and right directions fiom each other and conveying the adhesive tapes to the feed position with the intervals therebetween being increased.

Alternatively, the step cf bonding the adhesive tapes to the release sheet base material may comprise a substep of half-cutting an adhesive tape base material having a liner without cutting the liner so as to form a plurality of rows of adhesive tapes on the liner, and a substep of conveying the adhesive tapes to the feed position while the liner is being released.

It is preferable that the sealing is heat sealing. It is preferable that temporary attachment is performed by thermal bonding. rmore, it is preferable that in the step of sealing a predetermined portion of the release sheet base material, two sealed portions are formed at a nt interval between adjacent accommodating spaces, and in the step of cutting the release sheet base material, cutting is med between the two sealed portions.

Advantageous s of Invention id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17"

[0017] According to the production method according to the t invention, production efficiency is improved because the adhesive tapes FP12-06ll-00 are bonded to the e sheet base material, and the release sheet base material is folded in two, and is cut. Namely, if the release sheet base material is cut in advance to prepare release sheets having a size of the product, and the adhesive tapes are bonded to the release sheets one by one, a complex production facility for handling separated e sheets and separated adhesive tapes is needed, leading to poor efficiency and an increase in cost of the production facility. The method according to the present invention has no such problems, and improves production efficiency remarkably. id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18"

[0018] Moreover, after the adhesive tapes are bonded to the e sheet base material, a plurality of adhesive tapes can be accommodated in a single release sheet base al in batch and be temporarily attached to the release sheet base al. This also contributes to improvement in production efficiency.

Brief Description of Drawings [Figure 1] Figure l is a front View of a pressure—sensitive adhesive tape e produced by a method for producing a re-sensitive adhesive tape package according to the present invention.

[Figure 2] Figures 2(a) to 2(0) are perspective Views showing a simple method for ing the pressure—sensitive adhesive tape package in Figure 1.

[Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic sectional View taken along the line III—III in Figure 1.

[Figure 4] Figures 4(a) and 4(b) are drawings showing other shapes of the temporary attach portion, respectively.

FP1200 [Figure 5] Figures 5(a) and 5(b) are perspective views showing a method for using the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape e in Figure [Figure 6] Figures 6(a) to 6(d) are drawings illustrating scenes in which an adhesive tape is d to a portion for application using the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package in Figure 1.

[Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic View showing the steps of the method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package according to the present invention.

[Figure 8] Figure 8 is a schematic view of the production steps continuing from Figure 7, Figure 8(a) is a plan View thereof, and Figure 8(b) is a side View thereof. e 9] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating cutting ons of an adhesive tape web.

[Figure 10] Figure 10 is a plan View schematically showing an example of separating and ing apparatus usable for the method for producing a pressure—sensitive adhesive tape package according to the t invention.

[Figure 11] Figure 11 is a side View schematically showing a suitable separating and conveying apparatus usable for the method for producing a pressure—sensitive adhesive tape package according to the present invention.

[Figure 12] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the trajectory of the adhesive tape conveyed by the separating and conveying tus in Figure 11.

[Figure 13] Figure 13 is a perspective View schematically showing a FP1200 bending apparatus usable for the method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package according to the present ion.

[Figure 14] Figure 14 is a front View of a e sheet web in which the positions of sealed portions are shown.

[Figure 15] Figure 15 is a tic View showing another embodiment of the method for producing a pressure—sensitive ve tape package according to the present invention.

[Figure 16] Figure 16 is a schematic view showing still another ment of the method for producing a pressure—sensitive adhesive tape package ing to the present invention.

Description of Embodiments Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, suitable embodiments according to the present invention will be described.

Through all the drawings, same reference numerals will be given to same or equivalent portions, and the duplicate description thereof will be omitted.

Figure 1 is a front View showing a re-sensitive adhesive tape package 10 which can be produced by a production method according to the present ion, and Figures 2(a) to 2(c) are perspective views showing a configuration of the pressure-sensitive ve tape package 10 in Figure 1 in more detail. Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line III-III in Figure 1.

The shown pressure—sensitive adhesive tape package 10 includes a pressure—sensitive adhesive tape 14 having an adhesive agent layer 12 on one surface thereof, and a release sheet 16 for sealing the adhesive 611-00 tape 14 folded in two. The adhesive tape 14 and the release sheet 16 both are rectangular. As understood from Figure 1 and Figure 2(c), the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package 10 is the so-called three—sealed package type in which one release sheet 16 is bent, and three sides except the bend side are sealed.

The pressure—sensitive adhesive tape e 10 is used for labels, medical care, cosmetics, decoration, masking, industries, and other various applications. Particularly, the pressure-sensitive ve tape e used for l care, cosmetics, and the like can be used as a package of a patch preparation such as a plaster, a poultice, an adhesive bandage, a surgical tape, a cosmetic face pack ation, a tape preparation, and an adhesive heating pack that is usually applied to a skin, a mucous membrane, and the like.

As shown in Figure 3, the adhesive tape 14 includes a support 18, and the adhesive agent layer 12 laminated on the one surface thereof, and the release sheet 16 is releasably attached to this. The component material of the support 18 is not limited as long as it can support the adhesive agent layer 12, and usually, woven fabrics, non—woven fabrics, films made of a plastic or the like, metallic foils, and the like are used. r, the support may be a single layer structure or a laminate structure; it may be a structure in which a plurality of woven fabrics or non-woven fabrics made of different materials is laminated, or a structure in which a plastic film, a metallic foil, or the like and a woven fabric or a non—woven fabric are laminated, for example.

Moreover, the woven fabric or non-woven fabric used for the FP1200 ve tape 14 of the present embodiment is not particularly d, and may be those obtained by processing a fibrous al into a fabric and applicable for the support 18 of the adhesive tape 14; examples thereof include a knitted fabric processed into a fabric by ting stitches by circular knit, warp knit, weft knit, and the like.

Preferable examples of the woven fabric or non-woven fabric include woven fabrics or non-woven fabrics made of at least one kind of resin fibers selected from the group consisting of polyester resins, polyethylene resins, and opylene resins; among them, the woven fabrics made of polyethylene terephthalate that is polyester with less interaction with the component contained in the adhesive agent layer are preferable.

Examples of the plastic film include those formed using polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyamides such as nylon, polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, plasticized polyvinyl chloride, plasticized vinyl acetate-Vinyl de copolymers, polyvinylidene de, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, cellulose acetate, ethyl cellulose, ethylene—ethyl acrylate mers, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyurethanes, and ionomer resins.

Moreover, in the case where the adhesive tape 14 is used as the patch preparation for medical care or cosmetics, it is preferable that a material having ient stretchability or non-stretchability as a patch preparation is used for the support 18, and a polyethylene terephthalate hosiery woven fabric ed fabric) is particularly preferable. id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28" id="p-28"

[0028] It is preferable that in the knitted fabric as the support 18, the basis weight (mass per units) is 50 to 500 g/m2. Moreover, in the case FP1200 where the support - 18 is measured according to the method of HS L1018, it is preferable that the modulus in the longitudinal length (long axis direction) is 2 to 12 N/5 cm, and the modulus in the traverse direction (short axis direction) is also 2 to 12 N/5 cm. The longitudinal length here refers to a flow direction at a step of producing a knitted fabric, and the traverse direction refers to a direction dicular to the longitudinal length, namely the width direction. In the case where the modulus is smaller than 2 N/5 cm in the longitudinal length or traverse direction, application to the portion for ation while unwrinkling tends to be difficult; moreover, in the case where the modulus is larger than 12 N/5 cm in the longitudinal length or traverse direction, conversely, the ve tape tends to be excessively stretched during application to cause wrinkles. The modulus is a value of the stress at room temperature (25°C), and at 50% extension. id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29" id="p-29"

[0029] By use of the support 18 above, temporary attach portions 50, 52, and 54 by the temporary ing means described later is facilitated, and the shape and structure of the t 18 after the support is d from the temporary attach portions 50, 52, and 54 are hardly changed. Namely, fiizzing or the like is not produced, for example. Moreover, g the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package 10 into two is easy, and the bent pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package is not bulky. Further, the so-called "kink" is hardly produced in the portion that is bent into two during application, and the adhesive tape is applied neatly. id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30" id="p-30"

[0030] The adhesive component that is the ent material of the adhesive agent layer 12 is not particularly limited as long as it has FP1200 adhesiveness and can be d to the portion for application; acrylic adhesive components, rubber based adhesive components, silicone based adhesive components, and the like ' as an are preferably used adhesive base; among them, the rubber based adhesive components are particularly preferably used from the int of adhesiveness.

As a specific e of the rubber based adhesive component, natural rubbers and synthetic rubbers both can be used, and examples of the synthetic rubbers include styrene block copolymers and polyisobutylene. Further, examples of the styrene block copolymers include styrene-butylene-styrene block copolymers (SBS), styrene—isoprene-styrene block copolymers (SIS), styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymers (SEBS), and styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene block copolymers (SEPS). c examples of the styrene block copolymers e linear ck copolymers such as Kraton D—1112, D-l 1 1 l, and D-1107 (trade , name, made by Kraton Performance Polymers Inc), JSR5000 or JSR5002 (trade name, made by JSR Corporation), Quintac 3530, 3421 or 3570C (trade name, made by Zeon Corporation), and Kraton D-KX401CS or D—1107CU (trade name, made by Kraton Performance Polymers Inc), and branched block copolymers such as Kraton D-1124 (trade name, made by Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.) and Solprene 418 (trade name, made by Phillips eum Company).

"As polyisobutylene, for example, high or low molecular weight are used, and examples thereof include Oppanol B10, B12, B12SF, B15, B15SF, B3OSF, B50, BSOSF, B80, B100, B120, B150, and B200 (trade name, made by BASF SE), and Vistanex LM—MS, LM—MI-I, LM—H, FP12—0611-00 MM L-80, MlVI L-lOO, MlVI L-120, and lVIM L—l40 (trade name, made by Exxon Chemical Company).

Moreover, as the acrylic polymer, a polymer or copolymer containing at least one acrylate ester such as 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl—methacrylate as a r unit is used, and acrylic acid/acrylic acid octyl ester copolymers, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate/N—vinyl-Z-pyrrolidone/1,6—hexaneglycol dimethacrylate mers, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate/Vinyl acetate copolymers, 2—ethylhexyl acrylate/Vinyl acetate/acrylic acid copolymers, 2-ethylhexyl te/Z-ethylhexyl—methacrylate/dodecyl methacrylate copolymers, a methyl te/Z-ethylhexyl acrylate co polymerized resin emulsion, an adhesive agent of an acrylic r or the like contained in an acrylic resin alkanolamine solution, DURO-TAK acrylic adhesive agent series (made by National Starch and Chemical Company), GELVA acrylic adhesive agent series (made by Monsanto Company), e Matriderm (Soken Chemical & Engineering Co., Ltd), EUDRAGIT series (Higuchi Inc.), and the like can be used, for example. id="p-34" id="p-34" id="p-34" id="p-34"

[0034] One of the adhesive bases such as the rubber adhesive base, the acrylic adhesive base, and the silicone adhesive base above can be used, or two or more thereof can be mixed and used.

Further, in the case Where the ve tape 14 is used as a poultice or a plaster for medical care or a cosmetic face pack agent, a water-soluble polymer can also be used as the adhesive agent layer 12; as such a water-soluble polymer, gelatin, agar, alginic acid, mannan, FP12—0611-00 carboxymethyl cellulose or salts thereof, hydroxypropyl cellulose or salts thereof, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid or salts thereof, and the like, or those obtained by crosslinking at least one of these by. an c or inorganic crosslinking agent are preferably used.

Other than the adhesive bases above, a tackifier, a softening agent, a solvent, water, a thickener, a wetting agent, a filler, a crosslinking agent, a polymerizing agent, a solubilizing agent, an absorption promoter, a stabilizer, an antioxidant, an emulsifier, a surface active agent, a pH adjuster, drugs, an ultraviolet absorbing agent, and the like are properly added to the adhesive agent layer.

The drugs in the case where the adhesive tape 14 is used as the patch preparation for medical care and ics are not ularly limited as long as they are percutaneously absorbed into the body to demonstrate a pharmacological effect, and examples thereof include an antiinflammatory agent, an analgesic agent, an antihistamine, a local anesthetic agent, a blood circulation promoter, an anesthetic agent, a tranquilizer, an antihypertensive agent, an cterial agent, and a vasodilator.

The e sheet 16 usually used for the package of the adhesive tape 14 can be used. The release sheet 16 may be formed of a single layer or a laminate, and the constitutional al is not particularly limited as long as the ost layer (layer which is the inside of the package) can be used in the production method according to the present invention, and particularly, can be heat sealed or thermally bonded. For example, the base material of the release sheet 16 can be properly selected from paper, non-woven fabrics, aluminum, FP1200 cellophane, nylon, high density or low density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate copolymers, polycarbonate, polystyrene, ethylene Vinyl alcohol copolymers, and the like. Among these, when a material that cannot be molten by heating is used as the base material, a laminate of a thermoplastic material is suitable for the layer that is the inside of the package. ularly, a sheet made of polyethylene, aluminum, and polyethylene tially stacked is able, and a sheet thereof further including the outermost layer (layer that is the outside of the package) of hane is preferably used.

Further, the release sheet may be those in which a printing ink or an adhesive is applied to the outermost layer, or those on which a thin film is provided by a method such as deposition or sputtering. As the thin film, thin films with high gas barrier ties and arency made of silicon oxide, magnesium oxide, and aluminum oxide other than metals such as aluminum are suitable.

Because these e sheets 16 are bent when the adhesive tape 14 is sealed, those having flexibility are preferable. Accordingly, the ess of the release sheet 16 is not particularly limited as long as it can be bent, and it is preferable that the thickness is in the range of 10 to 500 um, and it is more preferable that the thickness is in the range of 15 to 300 um.

Here, with reference to Figure 2(a), Figure 2(a) shows the state in which the adhesive tape 14 is releasably attached onto the release sheet 16 with the adhesive agent layer 12 facing downwardly. In this FP1200 state, the adhesive tape 14 is attached to the release sheet 16 in a state where the center line parallel to the short ion of the adhesive tape 14 may be displaced from the center line parallel to the short direction of the release sheet 16. When the release sheet 16 and the adhesive tape 14 are bent together, as shown in (b) of Figure 2, the adhesive tape 14 folded in two is sandwiched in the two-folded release sheet 16.

Here, assume that a half of the bent release sheet 16 is referred to as the first portion 22, the other half thereof is referred to as the second portion 24, a half of the adhesive tape 14 bent with the release sheet 16 is referred to as a first portion 26, and the other half thereof is referred to as a second portion 28. With the release sheet 16 bent, the first n 22 and the second portion 24 of the release sheet 16 have substantially the same shape and size, while the adhesive tape 14 is in the state where the first portion 26 is larger than the second n 28 and the first portion 26 has an extending portion 30 extending from the second portion 28. In this state, of the portion of the e sheet 16 in which the first portion 22 is layered on the second portion 24, the three sides nding the adhesive tape 14 are heat sealed to obtain the pressure—sensitive adhesive tape package 10 shown in Figs 1, 2(c), and 3.

In such a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package 10, when the first portion 22 of the release sheet 16 is pulled off from the second portion 24 f to open the package, the adhesive agent layer 12 in the two-folded adhesive tape 14 faces outwardly. Accordingly, the adhesive agent layer 12 in the first portion 26 in the ve tape 14 is exposed to the outside.

FP1200 However, if the first portion 26 of the adhesive tape 14 moves together with the first portion 22 of the release sheet 16 and the adhesive agent layer 12 in the second portion 28 of the adhesive tape 14 is exposed, whether the adhesive agent layer 12 is exposed on the front side or rear side cannot be known, and this is inconvenient. Namely, it is important to primarily hold the first portion 26 of the adhesive tape 14 by the second portion 24 of the release sheet 16 when the package is opened, and expose the ve agent layer 12 in the first portion 26 of the ve tape 14. Then, the extending portion 30 formed on the first portion 26 of the adhesive tape 14 is temporarily ed to the second portion 24 of the release sheet 16 at places indicated by symbols 50, 52, and 54.

Thermal bonding is effective as the temporary attach means. ‘ , when heat is applied from the outer surface side of the release sheet 16, the plastic material that forms the innermost layer of the release sheet 16 is molten, adheres to the t 18 in the adhesive tape 14, and is then solidified. For this reason, the extending portion of the adhesive tape 14 is temporarily attached to the second portion 24 of the release sheet 16. Particularly, when the support 18 of the adhesive tape 14 is made of a woven fabric or a knitted fabric, a molten thermoplastic material permeates into the t, and the temporary attaching effect is r improved.

Moreover, for the position in which the temporary attach portions 50, 52, and 54 is disposed, as shown in Figure 1, it is suitable that the temporary attach portions 52, 54 is formed on not only the line along the first sealed portion 38 but also the line along the second sealed FP1200 portion 40 and the line along the third sealed portion 42. Thereby, even if the first portion 22 of the release sheet 16 is pulled off from the second portion 24 thereof in the traverse direction, the temporary attaching effect can be guaranteed. The lines on which the temporary attach portions 50, 52, and 54 are disposed are not limited to straight lines. The lines may be curves, or may be disposed on multiplets. rmore, it can be thought that the lines are disposed in a staggered pattern, a zigzag pattern, or a random patter as long as the lines are d with the first sealed n 38, the second sealed portion 40, and the third sealed portion 42, respectively.

If the adhesive force is excessively increased by the temporary attach portions 50, 52, and 54, a problem that the adhesive tape 14 is difficult to release fiom the release sheet 16 in application to the portion for application may arise. Then, the adhesive force of the extending portion 30 of the adhesive tape 14 to the release sheet 16 is preferably larger than the adhesive force (tackiness) of the adhesive agent layer 12 to the release sheet 16. Namely, the adhesive force of the support 18 to the release sheet 16 through the temporary attach ns 50, 52, and 54, the adhesive force (tackiness) of the adhesive agent layer 12 of the adhesive tape 14 to the portion for application, and the adhesive force of the adhesive agent layer 12 of the adhesive tape 14 to the release sheet 16 are in a relation as follows. the adhesive force of the adhesive agent layer 12 to the portion for ation > the adhesive force of the support 18 to the e sheet 16 through the temporary attach portions 50, 52, and 54 FP1200 > the adhesive force of the adhesive agent layer 12 to the release sheet 16 In the case where the temporary attach portions 50, 52, and 54 is in a continuous band-like shape, it can be thought that the amount of the thermoplastic material in the release sheet 16 to be impregnated into the woven fabric of the support 18 in the adhesive tape 14 is excessively large, and it is difficult to obtain the relationship above. Then, in the present invention, as shown in Figures 1 to 3 by symbols 50, 52, and 54, the temporary attach ns 50, 52, and 54 is discontinuously formed "to adjust the number and size of ary attach portions 50, 52, and 54. y, the adhesive force of the temporary attach portions 50, 52, and 54 can be easily adjusted. Thereby, the production efficiency of the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package 10 is r ed, and constant quality can be ensured in the action effect. Note that the shapes of the temporary attach portions 50, 52, and 54 are also not limited to the rectangular shape shown in Figure 1, and various shapes such as a ular shape shown in Figure 4(a) and an oval shape shown in Figure 4(b) can be thought.

Further, it is preferable that the release sheet 16 has means for reducing an adhesive force 55 that s an adhesive force between the adhesive agent layer 12 of the adhesive tape 14 and the release sheet 16. As this means for reducing an adhesive force 55, the innermost layer of the release sheet 16 may be subjected to the releasing treatment.

Examples of the releasing ent include, other than a method using a release agent, a method such as embossing and sandmat processing that physically makes releasing easy. As the release agent, any of FP12-0611—00 silicone release agents, alkyl pendant release agents, condensed wax release agents, and the like can be used; among these, the silicone ent using the ne release agent is preferable. The ne treatment is advantageous in that it is performed vely easily and at low cost. By performing the silicone treatment, in corporation with said the temporary attach portions 50, 52, and 54, upon use of the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package 10, when the release sheet 16 is opened, the adhesive agent layer 12 is easily removed from the release sheet 16 to expose the adhesive agent layer 12; for this reason, application to the portion for application is easy. As described above, the means for ng an adhesive force 55 may be ed across the adhesive agent layer 12 of the adhesive tape 14, or may be provided to cover only the adhesive agent layer 12 in the first portion 26 of the adhesive tape. id="p-50" id="p-50" id="p-50" id="p-50"

[0050] Next, with reference to Figures 5 and 6, the action of the pressure—sensitive adhesive tape paCkage 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

Figure 5(a) shows a perspective View of the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package 10 ing to the present embodiment. From this state, a user holds the holding portion 44 of the release sheet 16 (fingers are not shown), and starts to pull off the first portion 22 of the release sheet 16 from the second portion 24 in the direction of an arrow A. Generally, such a pressure—sensitive adhesive tape package 10 is mostly opened from the edge. Accordingly, if the package 10 is started to open from the corner as shown in Figure 5(a), the force concentrates on the corner 46 of the traverse sealed portion 40 and the longitudinal FP12-0611—00 sealed portion 38, and breakage of the sealed portions 38 and 40 is easily started. Once the breakage in the sealed portions 38 and 40 is started, breakage propagates to other portions from the breakage start point as a starting point without additionally applying a large force to break the entire sealed portions 38, 40, and 42. Finally, the re-sensitive ve tape package 10 reaches the state in Figure (b). As described above, the first portion 26 of the adhesive tape 14 is primarily held on the side of the second portion 24 of the release sheet 16 by existence of the temporary attach portions 50, 52, and 54. As a result, the adhesive agent layer 12 in the first portion 26 of the adhesive tape 14 is exposed.

Figures 6(a) to 6(d) show aspects in the case where the adhesive tape of the present invention is used particularly as the patch preparation for medical care or cosmetics, while the adhesive tape of the present invention can also be d by the same method in the case of use in other application. First, the opened pressure-sensitive adhesive tape e 10 is held by one hand, and placed in the n for ‘ application or in the vicinity of the portion for application as shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b). Next, as shown in Figure 6(c), While the first n 22 of the e sheet 16 is held, the release sheet 16 is pulled along the skin in the udinal direction thereof and a direction away from the adhesive tape 14. As the release sheet 16 is pulled away, the second portion 28 of the adhesive tape 14 is released from the release sheet 16 and simultaneously applied to the portion for application.

Particularly, because the adhesive tape 14 is applied while the release sheet 16 is pulled, the adhesive tape 14 can be applied without a FP1200 wrinkle. Figure 6(d) shows the state where the Whole adhesive tape 14 is applied to the portion for application to finish application.

The adhesive tape of the present invention can be held by hand because the first portion 22 of the release sheet 16 released off fiom the adhesive agent layer 12 can be supported by the thumb of the hand on which the adhesive tape is placed. Accordingly, a risk of dropping the adhesive tape when the adhesive tape is applied to the portion for application is small, and s about shifting of the ve tape or hanging of the ve tape by gravity in an unintended direction during application are small; for. this reason, the adhesive tape can be applied to the portion for application to be targeted for in a ee manner. The adhesive tape can be easily applied by a single hand even if the portion for application is a back or the like in which application is lt by oneself. id="p-54" id="p-54" id="p-54" id="p-54"

[0054] If in production of such a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape e 10, the adhesive tape 14 and the release sheet 16 cut into predetermined sizes are prepared, and the package is produced one by one in the manner shown inFigure 2, production efficiency is low and the so-called mass production is extremely difficult. Then, the present invention provides the method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package and the facility that improve production ncy and are suitable for mass production.

Figure 7 and Figure 8 schematically show the method for ing the pressure—sensitive adhesive tape package 10 according to the present invention. In Figure 7, symbol 200 indicates an adhesive tape web feeding apparatus which holds an adhesive tape roll 100. An FP1200 adhesive tape web 114 is fed out from the adhesive tape web feeding apparatus 200. The adhesive tape roll 100 is prepared by rolling a long adhesive tape base material, that is, the adhesive tape web 114 into a roll—like shape. The adhesive tape web 114 can be cut vertically and horizontally to form the adhesive tape 14 having a size of product.

The adhesive tape web,114 including a portion formed of the support 18 and the adhesive agent layer 12 of the adhesive tape 14 and a liner 104 separably bonded to the adhesive agent layer 12 is suitably used.

The ve tape web 114 fed out from the ve tape web feeding apparatus 200 is fed via a tension adjusting apparatus 202 to a liner releasing apparatus 204. The liner releasing tus 204 is known. The liner 104 is released from the adhesive tape web 114 fed to the liner ing apparatus 204. In the ment, the adhesive tape web 114 without a liner is derived from the liner releasing apparatus 204 with the adhesive agent layer 12 being on the lower side.

As the ve tape web 114, those not having the liner 104 or those formed of only a n serving as the support 18 are thought.

For the adhesive tape web 114 not having the liner 104, the liner releasing apparatus 204 is of course unnecessary. For the adhesive tape web 114 formed of only a portion serving as the support 18, a spreading apparatus (not shown) is provided ream of the adhesive tape web feeding apparatus 200. In the spreading apparatus, an adhesive agent is spread over one surface of the web fed out from the adhesive tape roll, which serves as the support. The spreading apparatus is also known in the related art. [005 8] A cutting apparatus 206 for cutting the adhesive tape web 114 in FP1200 the feeding direction and the traverse direction (horizontal ion intersecting perpendicular to the feeding ion of the adhesive tape web 114) is provided downstream of the liner releasing apparatus 204.

Various types of the cutting apparatus 206 are thought. In the embodiment illustrated, a rotary cutter including a die cut roll 208 having a blade and an anvil roll 210 that contacts the die cut roll and rotates is used. When the adhesive tape web 114 is fed between the die cut roll .208 and the anvil roll 210, the adhesive tape 14 having a size of product is punched out of the ve tape web 114, and is fed downstream.

In Figure 9, portions in which the adhesive tape web 114 is punched out are expressed by dotted lines, and hatched portions are rged as a waste. As tood from Figure 9, in the present embodiment, the adhesive tape 14 after cutting is fed in two rows in the feeding direction of the adhesive tape web 114 (arrow ion in Figure 9) from the cutting apparatus 206.

In the cutting apparatus 206 in the present embodiment, the die cut roll 208 is ed on the lower side and the anvil roll 210 is provided on the upper side. Accordingly, the adhesive agent layer of the adhesive tape web 114 contacts the die cut roll 208. For this reason, the surface of the die cut roll 208 is subjected to a known releasing treatment such that the adhesive tape 14 after punching can be easily released from the die cut roll 208, and the tackiness between the die cut roll 208 and the adhesive tape web 114 is made extremely small.

The anvil roll 210 is formed of a cylindrical body on which many small holes are formed. The anvil roll 210 has a structure that enables FP1200 adsorption of the adhesive tape web 114 contacting the surface by sucking air inside of the anvil roll. Accordingly, the punched adhesive tape 14 can be released from the die cut roll 208 without fail. With rotation of the anvil roll 210, the adhesive tape 14 adsorbed by the anvil roll 210 is upwardly guided out of a feeding portion of the cutting apparatus 206 that does not adsorb the adhesive tape.

Individual adhesive tapes 14 fed from the cutting tus 206 are fed to the feed position indicated by symbol 212 in Figure 7, and are bonded to the long release sheet base material, that is, the release sheet web 116 which serves as the release sheet 16. However, the interval between the adjacent adhesive tapes 14 is extremely narrow immediately after punching by the cutting apparatus 206. If the adhesive tapes are placed on the release sheet web 116 as they are, there is no room for heat sealing of the package 10 in the final tion step.

Then, in the present embodiment, a separating and conveying apparatus 214 is provided n the cutting tus 206 and the feed position 212 to convey the ve tapes 14 adjacent to each other in anterior, posterior, left, and right directions while the adjacent adhesive tapes are being separated from each other (interval being increased) in the feeding direction and in the traverse direction ontal direction intersecting perpendicular to the feeding direction).

The ting and conveying apparatus conveys the adhesive tapes while increasing the interval between the adjacent adhesive tapes 14 as bed above. Various separating and conveying apparatuses are thought, for example, tuses including a plurality of robot FP12—0611-00 apparatuses that move individual adhesive tapes 14 to desired positions with a suction type robot arm, or apparatuses including a belt conveyor apparatus.

In the ting and conveying apparatus ing a robot apparatus, the arm of the robot apparatus mainly moves in the horizontal direction. For example, when two or more rows of adhesive tapes 14 are fed, it is thought that the layout of ement of the apparatuses is large in order to prevent interference between the robot arms.

As the separating and conveying apparatus including a belt conveyor apparatus, as shown in Figure 10, a plurality of belt conveyor apparatuses 150 disposed so as to radially extend is thought. Each of the belt conveyor tuses 150 includes a plurality of belt conveyors 152, 154, and 156 linearly ed. The conveying rates of the belt conveyors 152, 154, and 156 become higher as the adhesive tape is conveyed toward the side downstream of each of the belt conveyor apparatuses 150. In such a configuration, the interval in the feeding direction can be increased while the interval between the traverse directions is increased. In the separating and conveying apparatus ing the belt conveyors, it is thought that an auxiliary apparatus is complex when g of the adhesive tape 14 to the or, passing of the adhesive tape from conveyor to conveyor, and the like are stably operated.

Figure 11 shows a suitable separating and conveying apparatus 214, which is configured to circulate a holding base 216 that contacts and holds the surface of the support 18 of the ve tape 14 (surface opposite to the surface including the adhesive agent layer 12), and FP1200 gradually expands the interval between adjacent holding bases 216 in the anteropOsterior direction during movement of the holding bases 216 and at the same time expands the left and right als between the holding bases 216. The separating and conveying apparatus has a compact configuration having high efficiency in separating and ing.

More specifically, the separating and conveying apparatus 214 includes a first ating chain unit 218 disposed upstream of a production line (side close to the cutting apparatus 206) and a second circulating chain unit 220 disposed downstream of the production line (side away from the cutting apparatus 206). The circulation paths of chains 224 and 226 each include upstream and downstream vertical paths and upper and lower horizontal paths. A pin 228 is disposed at a constant pitch on the outer surfaces of left and right link plates that form the chains 224 and 226. For example, although not limited to, the pitch of the pin 228 in the first circulating chain unit 218 is 100 mm, and the pitch of the pin 228 in the second ating chain unit 220 is 130 mm.

A guiding plate for guiding the holding base 2l6is disposed between left and right sprocket wheels 222 and 223. The guiding plate defines the circulation path formed of arc paths along the outer shapes of the sprocket Wheels 222 and 223 and linear paths. The circulation path consists of a vertically ascending path 232 nt to the cutting apparatus 206, an arc path along the outer shape of a sprocket wheel 222—1, an upper traveling path 234 horizontally extending in the flow direction of the production line, an arc path along the outer shape of a FP1200 et wheel 223-1, a vertically desCending path 236 extending downward, an arc path along the outer shape of a sprocket wheel 223-2, a lower traveling path 238 horizontally extending in a direction opposite to the flow direction of the tion line, and an arc path along the outer shape of a sprocket wheel 222-4 leading to the vertically ascending path 232, which paths connect to one another.

In the g plate, two guiding grooves for guiding the holding base 216 in left and right ions are . In the present embodiment, in the upper traveling path 234, the interval between the two guiding grooves is gradually increased as the two guiding grooves are spaced from the cutting apparatus 206. In the lower traveling path 23 8, the interval betWeen the two guiding grooves is gradually decreased as the two guiding grooves approach to the cutting apparatus 206. In the vertically ascending path 232 and the vertically descending path 236, the respective intervals between the guiding grooves are substantially constant. [0070} Feeding rods 242 and 244 are disposed along the upper traveling path 234 and the lower ing path 238, respectively, in the left and right sides of the guiding plate. In the feeding rods 242 and 244, a spiral feeding groove is formed. The pitch of the feeding groove is gradually increased along the flow direction of the production line.

The pitch of the feeding groove on the side of the first ating chain unit 218 is substantially equal to the pitch of the pin 228 in the circulating chain unit 218, and that on the side of the second circulating chain unit 220 is substantially equal to the pitch of the pin 228 in the circulating chain unit 220. 611-00 The holding base 216 for holding the adhesive tape 14 is held slidably in the left and right traverse directions by a support block 248.

In the present embodiment, two holding bases 216 are held on one support block 248. One guiding rod extends fiom the holding base 216, and enables the holding base 216 to slide left and right along a rail .254 on the support block 248. The tip of the guiding rod is slidably fitted into the corresponding guiding groove in the state where the support block 248 is disposed on the guiding plate.

An inverted U—shaped bracket 258 is fixed to the lower surfaces of both ends of the support block 248. A groove is formed in legs of the bracket 258. The pins 228 on the chains 224 and 226 of the circulating chain units 218 and 220 are fitted into the groove.

Accordingly, when the ating chain units 218 and 220 are driven to circulate the chains 224 and 226, the support block 248 moves with the chains accompanied by the circulation.

Furthermore, a roller g 262 is provided on left and right end surfaces of the support block 248. The roller bearing 262 is fitted into the feeding grooves of the feeding rods 242 and 244 in the state where the t block 248 is disposed on the upper traveling path 234 or the lower traveling path 238 of the guiding plate. When the feeding rods 242 and 244 are rotated in the state where the roller bearing 262 is fitted into the feeding grooves of the feeding rods 242 and 244, the support block 248 moves according to the rotational ion to the flow direction of the production line or the opposite direction thereto. id="p-74" id="p-74" id="p-74" id="p-74"

[0074] In such a configuration, many support blocks 248 are ed on the g plate as shown in Figure 11. In the vertically ascending v. FP1200 path 232 of the guiding plate, the pitch of the pin 228 in the first circulating chain unit 218 is narrow, and the interval between adjacent support blocks 248 in the anteroposterior direction in the circulating direction is narrow. ‘ The g base 216 held there is in contact with or is extremely little spaced from its nt holding base 216 in the circulating direction. In the vertically descending path 236 of the guiding plate, the interval between the guiding grooves is largest, and adjacent g bases 216 in left and right are largely spaced from each other. id="p-75" id="p-75" id="p-75" id="p-75"

[0075] In this state, the separating and conveying apparatus 214 is started. Then, the support block 248 located in the ally ing path 232 of the guiding plate ascends with movement of the pin 228 disposed in the chain 224 of the first circulating chain unit 218, and travels the upper traveling path 234 of the guiding plate. Then, the pin 228 of the first circulating chain unit 218 fitted into the groove of the bracket 258 in the support block 248 starts descending, and is detached from the bracket 258. At this timing, the roller bearings 262 ed on the left and right ends of the support block 248 are inserted into the feeding grooves of the upper feeding rod 242. ’20 [0076] The feeding rod 242 is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction. Thereby, the support block 248 moves in the upper traveling path 234 in the flow ion of the production line. At this time, because the pitch of the feeding groove is gradually increased, the traveling speed of the support block 248 also increases and the interval between adjacent support blocks 248 in the anteroposterior direction increases. Since the interval n the two guiding grooves of the FP12-06ll—00 guiding plate is also gradually increased, two holding bases 216 move on the t block 248 in a direction in which the two g bases are spaced from each other.

When the support block 248 reaches the tip of the feeding rod 242 (end on the side away from the cutting tus 206), the roller bearing 262 of the support block 248 comes out from the feeding groove. At this time, the pin 228 in the chain 226 of the second circulating chain unit 220 is already fitted into the groove of the bracket 258 of the support block 248, and the support block 248 is moved to the right and downwardly in Figure 11 by the drive force of the second circulating chain unit 220.

The operation of the support block 248 when traveling fiom the vertically descending path 236 via the lower traveling path 238 to the vertically ascending path 232 is the same as that when traveling from the vertically ascending path 232 via the upper traveling path 234 to the vertically descending path 236. Accordingly, the description of the details thereof will be omitted, but it is easily understood that the intervals anterior and posterior to the support block 248 are narrowed in the lower traveling path 238 and the interval between the two holding bases 216 on the t block 248 is also narrowed.

The support block 248 is moved by the upper and lower g rods 242 and 244 of the first and second circulating chain units 218 and 220. The timing to change from the circulating chain units 218 and 220 to the feeding rods 242 and 244 and the timing to convey from the feeding rods 242 and 244 to the circulating chain units 220 and 218 can be controlled by driving the first and second circulating chain units 218 FP1200 and 220 and the upper and lower feeding rods 242 and 244 by a suitable transmission , thereby separating and conveying the adhesive tape 14 with high precision.

The ting and conveying apparatus 214 is disposed adjacent to the cutting apparatus 206. More specifically, in the state Where the support block 248 is located in the lowest portion-of the vertically ascending path 232 of the separating and conveying apparatus 214, the separating and conveying apparatus 214 is disposed such that the surface of the holding base 216 on the support block 248 is in t with the outer e of the anvil roll 210 of the cutting apparatus 206. y, the adhesive tape 14 punched out from the adhesive tape web 114, held on the anvil roll 210, and fed out is sequentially transferred onto the holding base 216.

The anvil roll 210 vacuum adsorbs the adhesive tape 14 during a period from introduction of the adhesive tape 14 to transfer of the adhesive tape 14 onto the holding base 216. Except this period, the anvil roll 210 air blows to facilitate transfer of the ve tape 14 onto the holding base 216. In the present embodiment, many small holes are formed on the surface of the holding base 216 to generate a vacuum adsorption force. Various means for giving a vacuum adsorption force to the holding base 216 can be thought. Although not shown, for example, a vacuum port is formed on at least one end of the support block 248. The vacuum port is brought into contact with a vacuum suction nozzle provided along the guiding plate 230 when the support block 248 is located in the vertically ascending path 232. The vacuum port communicates with the inner space of the holding base 216 with a FP1200 tube or the like. "Thereby, a vacuum adsorption force generates only when the support block 248 is located on the vertically ascending path 232, which enables the support block 248 to receive the adhesive tape 14 fiom the anvil roll 210 of the cutting apparatus 206.

When the adhesive tape 14 is on the anvil roll 210, the adhesive agent layer 12 is exposed, and the adhesive agent layer 12 ts the holding base 216. ingly, the surface of the holding base 216 is suitably subjected to a proper surface treatment in order to easily remove the adhesive tape 14 fiom the holding base 216 when the ve tape 14 is sent to the subsequent step.

Once the adhesive tapes 14 are placed on the holding bases 216, the intervals between the adhesive tapes adjacent to each other in anterior, posterior, left, and right directions are increased in the upper traveling path 234 as understood from the ion of the separating and conveying apparatus 214 described above. The adhesive tapes 14 are fed as they are to a bonding apparatus 264 for g the adhesive tape 14 to the e sheet web 116. Figure 12 shows the state where the adhesive tapes 14 are conveyed in the upper traveling path 23 4.

The bonding apparatus 264 has a vacuum adsorbing belt conveyor 266. A belt 268 of the belt or 266 is disposed so as to partially contact the surface of the holding base 216 located in the vertically ding portion 236 of the separating and conveying apparatus 214. Accordingly, the belt 268 contacts the support 18 ofthe adhesive tape 14 held on the holding base 216. Because the belt conveyor 266 is of a vacuum adsorption type, the adhesive tape 14 contacting the belt 268 is transferred from the holding base 216 to the . FP1200 belt 268. At this time, the intervals between the ve tapes 14 adjacent to each other in anterior, posterior, left, and right directions are kept also on the belt 268, and the adhesive agent layer 12 of the adhesive tape 14 is exposed downwardly.

The bonding tus 264 has a press roller 272 contacting a roller ted by symbol 270 of the belt conveyor 266. Between the press roller 272 and the roller 270, the release sheet web 116 serving as the release sheet 16 is fed. Accordingly, the adhesive tape 14 fed between the press roller 272 and the roller 270 (feed position) is bonded to the upper surface of the release sheet web 116, and is further conveyed downstream in this state with the release sheet web 116.

The release sheet web 116, gh not shown, is held by a release sheet web feeding apparatus in a roll-like state, and is fed out from the apparatus. The surface of the release sheet web 116 to which the adhesive tape 14 is bonded is suitably subjected to a e treatment in e.

The release sheet web 116 to which the adhesive tape 14 is bonded is then slit on the longitudinal center line in the slitter 274 as shown in (a) of Figure 8. In each of two release sheet webs 116a and 116b obtained by ng, a row of adhesive tapes 14 is aligned, and predetermined spaces are formed between adjacent adhesive tapes 14 in the anteroposterior direction.

Thereafter, in a portion indicated by symbol 276, the two release sheet webs 116a and ll6b slit are pulled in opposite directions to form a predetermined interval between the two release sheet webs 116a and 116b. The interval is formed in consideration of the installation space FP12-0611—00 or the like of a g apparatus 278, a heat sealing tus 280, and a temporary attaching apparatus 282 in the post stages. Namely, the interval between the two e sheet webs 116a and 116b is properly determined according to the installation ons and types of these apparatuses in the post stages. In some cases, it is thought that an increase of the interval is unnecessary.

The slit release sheet webs 116a and 116b each are continuously fed to the bending apparatus 278 Via the buffer apparatus 284. In the present embodiment, sealing is of a box motion type using heat sealing performed by the heat sealing apparatus 280 and a temporary attaching sealer operating mechanism using the temporary attaching apparatus 282.

As shown in Figure 13, the bending tus 278 includes a base 286 having a smooth surface on which the release sheet web 116a or 116b is placed; a disk presser roller 288 contacting the surface of the base 286, having a horizontal rotational axis, and disposed in the feeding ion of the release sheet web 116a or 116b; and a pair of press rollers 290 disposed downstream of the presser roller 288, having a vertical rotational axis, and disposed intersecting perpendicular to the feeding direction of the release sheet web 116a or 116b. The press s 290 contact each other and rotate. The presser roller 288 contacts a portion corresponding to substantially the longitudinal center line of the release sheet web 116a or 116b conveyed on the base 286.

The presser roller 288 assists the release sheet web 116a or 116b and the ve tape 14 bonded thereto to be folded in two at the contacting point. The release Sheet web 11621 or 116b and the adhesive tape 14 611-00 bonded thereto are completely folded in two by the press roller 290.

In the bending apparatus 278, a method for raising both sides of the release sheet web 116a or 116b is employed. By raising both sides thereof, the rotational amount of each side of the release sheet web 116a or 116b is only 90°, and the amount of deviation can be reduced.

The position in which the presser roller 288 contacts the release sheet web 116a or 116b is not on the longitudinal center line of the release sheet web 116a or 116b, but is suitably a position slightly shifted from the udinal center line. Thereby, the edge 20 of the first portion 22 and the edge 20 of the second portion 24 of the release sheet 16 in the final product pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package 10 are slightly ed from each other as shown in Figure l. The deviated n of the edge 20 provides an effect of easily holding the release sheet 16 with fingers to easily separate the first portion 22 fiom the second portion 24.

The release sheet webs 116a and 116b folded in two by the bending apparatus 278 are fed to the heat sealing apparatus 280. The heat sealing apparatus 280 having a known configuration can be used.

Although the details are not shown in the diagram, in the present embodiment, a box motion type heat g apparatus including a pair of heating heads that can t each other and be spaced fiom each other is used. As known, a projection is formed in a portion of the heating head corresponding to the position contacting the release sheet web 116a or 116b to heat seal the web. In the t embodiment, the heating head is configured so as to heat seal the portion corresponding to four final products.

FP12-06ll—00 In the present ment, the hatched portions in Figure 14 are heat sealed. The space surrounded by three sealed portions 38, 40, and 42 and the bent portions of the release sheet web 116a or 116b defines the accommodating space for the adhesive tape 14. It is noted that in the present embodiment, two sealed portions are formed between adjacent adhesive tapes 14 as ted by symbols 40 and 42. Of course, the sealed portions 40 and 42 can be integrated into one.

However, when two heat-sealed ns are formed n adjacent adhesive tapes 14 as shown in Figure 14, the widths of the sealed portions 40 and 42 in the final ts can be kept constant even if the cutting position is slightly deviated. Namely, even if the cutting on is changed as shown with long dashed double-short dashed lines indicated by symbols A, B, and C in Figure 14, this does not affect the widths of the sealed portions 40 and 42. Thus, if the widths of the sealed portions 40 and 42 are constant, an effect of allowing a constant force applied to the sealed portions 40 and 42 during opening of the package can be attained.

The sealed portion 38 formed parallel to the longitudinal direction of the release sheet web 116a or 116b is largely spaced from a free edge 120 of the release sheet web 116a or 116b in the longitudinal direction. Thereby, in the final product pressure—sensitive adhesive tape package 10, the outer portion from the sealed portion 38 functions as a holding portion 44. The holding portion is easy to hold with fingers, and opening the e is easy. As described above, the edges 20 ofthe first portion 22 and the second n 24 in the release sheet 16 are slightly displaced to facilitate separation of the layered FP1200 portion of the release sheet 16 that forms the holding portion 44, and the package is easier to open.

The sealed portions 38, 40, and 42 are linear, and approximately right-angled corners 46 and 48 are formed in their cross portions.

Furthermore, as described above, the sealed portions 40 and 42 are also slightly spaced from the corresponding edges in the final t 10 as shown in Figure 1, and therefore the corners 46 and 48 are also spaced from the edges 20, 34, and 36, tively. The comers 46 and 48 are spaced from the edges 20, 34, and 36 to attain an effect of trating a force on this portion and much facilitating opening the package.

As the heat seal, the so-called easy peel techniques is used.

The easy peel means easy releasabilty as described in the Patent Map for Technical Fields, General 21 "Adhesion," p. 335, available from the Japan Patent Office website (www.ij.gvo.jp/shiryou/s_sonota/map/ippan21/4/41.htm), and refers to containers and packages sealed by heat g to provide easy releasing upon opening. Specifically, examples of easy peel include various types such as a cohesive failure type in which the adhesive layer between the first portion 22 and second portion 24 of the release sheet 2O 16 itself is broken to be released off, an interlayer releasing type in which adhesive strength between the adhesive layer and the first portion 22 or second portion 24 is small, and the first portion 22 or the second portion 24 is released off from the adhesive layer at the time of opening, and an interlayer releasing type‘using an eleasable resin such as EVA, but are not particularly limited thereto; in the case where a sheet material in which a polyethylene layer is ed on the surface is used FP1200 as the release sheet 16, those with a two-layered structure ed of a resin layer containing a high density polyethylene as a pal component and an easy peel resin layer prepared by adding a resin ‘ g the cohesive failure to a low density polyethylene, for example, may be used as an easy peel adhesive layer.

In the present embodiment, the heat sealing apparatus 280 is of a box motion type. Namely, the heat sealing apparatus 280 is red to continuously move the release sheet web 116a or 116b, sandwich the e sheet web 116a or ll6b by a pair of heating heads, and feed the release sheet web to the next step when heat seal is completed.

HoWever, a continuous heat sealing apparatus including a pair of heat sealing rollers contacting each other and rotating can also be used.

The release sheet web 116a or ll6b heat sealed by the heat sealing apparatus 280 is further continuously fed downstream, and fed to the temporary attaching apparatus 282. In the present embodiment, four temporary attaching apparatuses 282 are provided for each of the release sheet webs 116a and ll6b, which enable temporary attachment of four adhesive tapes l4 and each of the release sheet webs 116a and ll6b at the same time. The temporary attaching apparatus 282 lly has the same configuration as that of a known box motion type heat sealing apparatus, and includes a pair of heating heads that can contact and depart from each other. In the present embodiment, the heating head is configured to form dotted temporary attach portions 50, 52, and 54 as shown in Figure l. id="p-100" id="p-100" id="p-100" id="p-100"

[0100] In the temporary attaching tus 282 having such a configuration, when the release sheet web 116a or ll6b continuously 611-00 flowed is flowed to a predetermined position, the pair of heating heads approach each other in synchronization with the flow rate of the release sheet web to sandwich the release sheet web 116a or ll6b. Then, heat is applied to the surface of the release sheet web 116a or ll6b for a constant time. y, a thermoplastic material disposed in the innermost layer of the release sheet web 116a or ll6b is molten, and adhered to the support 18 of the adhesive tape 14. Thereby, the extending portion 30 of the adhesive tape 14 is temporarily attached to the release sheet web. id="p-101" id="p-101" id="p-101" id="p-101"

[0101] The temporary attachment and heat g can be performed at the same time by providing a tion for g a temporary attach portion in the heating head of the heat sealing apparatus 280 above. It can be easily understood that instead of the box motion type ary attaching apparatus, the temporary attachment can be performed using a continuous temporary attaching apparatus including a pair of heating rollers ting each other and rotating.

After temporary attachment is performed, the release sheet webs 116a and ll6b are cut by a cutting apparatus indicated by symbol 292 in Figure 8, and the final product pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package 10 shown in Figure 1 is completed. After that, the pressure-sensitive ve tape package 10 is subjected to check of the product, outer packaging, and the like.

As above, the suitable embodiment according to the t invention has been described in detail, and needless to say, the present invention will not be limited to the embodiment above.

For example, in the above embodiment, after the adhesive tape FP1200 web 114 is cut, two rows of adhesive tapes 14 are fed. Alternatively, a single row of adhesive tapes may be fed. In this case, in the separating and conveying apparatus 214, only one holding base 216 may be provided on the support block 248. The holding base does not move in the left and right traverse directions, and may be red to se the interval only anteroposterior to the support block 248. The release sheet web 116 is not slit, and needless to say, the slitter 274 is unnecessary.

It is also thought that the adhesive tape web 114 is cut into three, and three rows of adhesive tapes 14 are fed. In this case, in the separating and conveying apparatus 214, three holding bases 216 are » ed for one support block 248, and three guiding grooves are provided to guide the three holding bases 216. When four or more rows of adhesive tapes 14 are fed, the separating and conveying apparatus 214 is similarly modified.

The adhesive tape 14 is not limited to an adhesive tape obtained by cutting the adhesive tape web 114 fed out from the roll, and may be an adhesive tape obtained by cutting a short web, or the so-called sheet—fed adhesive tape base material 115 as shown in Figure 15. '20 [0107] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, after the liner 104 is removed from the adhesive tape web 114 fed from the adhesive tape roll 100, the adhesive tape 14 having a size of the product is cut out. As schematically shown in Figure 16, a method for utting the adhesive tape web 114 so as to leave the ve tape 14, which is the t, on the liner 104 before removal of the liner 104 is also thought.

In this case, the adhesive tape 14 can be conveyed by the liner 104. By FP12-0611—00 half-cutting the adhesive tape 14 at a predetermined interval in advance, and feeding the adhesive tape 14 at a predetermined feed position 312 while the liner 104 is being removed, the adhesive tape 14 is sequentially bonded at the feed position 312 at the predetermined interval to the release sheet web 116 flowed at the same speed.

Accordingly, in this case, the above separating and conveying tus 214 is unnecessary.

When the adhesive tape 14 is half-cut without providing an interval between the adhesive tapes 14, the ve tape 14 can also be sequentially bonded to the release sheet web 116 at the predetermined interval by properly setting the feeding rate of the adhesive tape 14 or the timing to feed the adhesive tape to the feed position 312 and the feeding rate of the release sheet web 116 or the timing to feed and stop the release sheet web 116.

Reference Signs List pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package, 12 ve agent layer, 14 re—sensitive adhesive tape, 16 release sheet, 18 support, 38, 40, 42 sealed portion, 50, 52, 54 temporary attach portion, 55 means for reducing an adhesive force, 100 adhesive tape roll, 104 liner, 114 adhesive tape web (adhesive tape base material), 115 adhesive tape base material, 116 release sheet web (release sheet base material), 116a, 116b slit release sheet web, 200 adhesive tape web feeding tus, 202 n adjusting tus, 204 liner releasing apparatus, 206 cutting apparatus, 208 die cut roll, 210 anvil roll, 212 feed position, 214 separating and FP1200 conveying apparatus, 216 holding base, 218 first circulating chain unit, 220 second circulating chain unit, 224, 226 chain, 228 pin, 232 vertically ascending path, 234 upper traveling path, 236 vertically descending path, 238 lower traveling path, 242, 244 g rod, 248 support block, 254 rail, 258 bracket, 262 roller bearing, 264 bonding tus, 266 belt conveyor, 268 belt, 270 roller, 272 press roller, 274 slitter, 278 bending apparatus, 280 heat sealing apparatus, 282 temporary attaching apparatus, 284 buffer apparatus, 286 base, 288 presser roller, 290 press , 292 cutting apparatus, 312 feed position

Claims (10)

1.[Claim 1] A method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package, the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package accommodating a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape having a support and 5 an adhesive agent layer ed on one e of the support, the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package comprising a release sheet to which the adhesive agent layer of the adhesive tape is releasably ed, the method comprising: a step of feeding a release sheet base material serving as the 10 release sheet to a predetermined feed position; a step of sequentially feeding a plurality of adhesive tapes in at least one row to the release sheet base al at the feed on, and g the adhesive tapes to the release sheet base material such that predetermined spaces are formed between the adhesive tapes adjacent in 15 at least anterior and posterior directions of the feeding direction; a step of folding the release sheet base material with the adhesive tape in two; a step of g a predetermined portion of the release sheet base material to form the two-folded release sheet base material 20 including a plurality of odating spaces each of which accommodates one adhesive tape; a step of temporarily attaching a part of each adhesive tape to the release sheet base material; and a step of cutting the release sheet base material to form the 25 pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package.

2.[Claim 2] The method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package according to claim 1, wherein in the case where the adhesive tapes are fed in one row to the e sheet base material at the feed position, the step of bonding the adhesive tape to the release 5 sheet base material comprises: a substep of cutting an adhesive tape base material serving as the adhesive tape to form a row of adhesive tapes; and a substep of ting adjacent adhesive tapes from each other, and feeding the adhesive tapes to the feed position with an interval 10 between the adjacent adhesive tapes being increased.

3.[Claim 3] The method for producing a re-sensitive adhesive tape package according to claim 1, wherein in the case where the adhesive tapes are fed in one row to the release sheet base material at 15 the feed position, the step of bonding the adhesive tape to the release sheet base material ses: a p of half-cutting an adhesive tape base al having a liner without cutting the liner so as to form a row of adhesive tapes on the liner, the adhesive tape base material serving as the adhesive tape; 20 and a substep of conveying the adhesive tapes to the feed position while the liner is being released.

4.[Claim 4] 25 The method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package according to claim 1, wherein in the case where the adhesive tapes are fed in a plurality of rows to the release sheet base material at the feed position, the step of g the adhesive tapes to the release sheet base material comprises forming predetermined spaces between the adhesive tapes adjacent in left and right ions of the feeding direction, 5 wherein the method further comprises a step of slitting the release sheet base material along a longitudinal direction thereof to form a plurality of release sheet base materials each of which has a row of adhesive tapes bonded thereto, after the step of bonding the ve tapes to the release sheet base material, and 10 wherein the step of folding the release sheet base material is performed for each of the slit release sheet base materials.

5.[Claim 5] The method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package ing to claim 4, wherein the step of bonding the 15 adhesive tape to the release sheet base material comprises: a substep of cutting an adhesive tape base material serving as the adhesive tape to form a plurality of rows of ve tapes; and a substep of separating the ve tapes adjacent in anterior, posterior, left, and right directions from each other and conveying the 20 adhesive tapes to the feed position with the intervals therebetween being increased.

6.[Claim 6] The method for producing a pressure-sensitive ve tape package according to claim 4, wherein the step of bonding the 25 adhesive tape to the release sheet base material comprises: a substep of half-cutting an ve tape base material having a linerwithout cutting the liner so as to form a row of adhesive tapes on the liner, the adhesive tape base material serving as the adhesive tape; and a substep of ing the ve tapes to the feed position while the liner is being released.

7.[Claim 7] The method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package ing to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sealing is heat sealing. 10 [

8.Claim 8] The method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape package according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the ary attachment is performed by thermal bonding.

9.[Claim 9] The method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive 15 tape package ing to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein in the step of sealing a predetermined portion of the release sheet base material, two sealed portions are formed at a constant interval between adjacent accommodating spaces, and in the step of cutting the release sheet base material, cutting is 20 performed between the two sealed portions.

10.[Claim 10] A method according to claim 1, substantially as herein described or anyone of the accompanying figures thereof.