RU2730794C1 - Pack containing a tied up ream of folded paper sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: packaging and storage.SUBSTANCE: present disclosure relates to a pack comprising a plurality of paper sheets (40) lying on top of each other and forming pile (30), tie (10) having first end (13) and second end (14) opposite to the first end, wherein the first tie portion (11) on the first end overlaps the second tie portion (12) at the second end and is connected to the second piling retention portion, wherein the first portion is located on the stack end surface (41), first portion (11) comprising at least one opening (15) accessible by the user's finger to grip the tie and break the connection between the first and second end sections.EFFECT: packet is proposed, which contains tied up ream of folded paper sheets.15 cl, 7 dwg

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a bundle or package containing a collapsed stack of folded paper sheets, in particular a stack of folded paper sheets, and even more particularly sanitary paper sheets, for example made of tissue paper or nonwoven fabric. The present disclosure is particularly applicable to dispensers for napkins, such as table napkins or paper towels, which are loaded into the dispenser and dispensed from the dispensing port of the dispenser. In this context, the present disclosure particularly relates to a pack that is loaded into a dispenser including a tie, the tie being removed through a dispensing opening.

LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY

Such a package is known, for example, from WO 2012/173534 A1. According to this disclosure, the user grasps a release tab formed at one end of the tie that protrudes through the dispensing opening to pull the tie out of the stack and out through the dispensing opening. While this solution provides satisfactory ease of use, there is still a need for improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, it is desirable to provide a bundle containing a stack of tied sheets of paper in which the tie can be removed more easily, especially when removed through the dispensing opening of the dispenser into which the bundle has been loaded.

In this context, the present disclosure provides a package having the features defined in claim 1. Specific embodiments are described in the dependent claims, the following description and / or in the drawings.

A bundle or package according to the present disclosure contains a plurality of paper sheets. The paper sheets are, in particular, sanitary or hygienic paper products such as hand towels, tissue paper, face paper, toilet paper or other sheet-shaped wipes. Paper sheets can be made from tissue paper (see also ISO 12625-1) or nonwoven fabric (ISO 9092).

Individual paper sheets are stacked on top of each other. Inside the stack, the paper sheet can be folded and even mutually folded, with any folding method such as, but not limited to, described in EP 2 309 906 B1 or EP 2 751 002 B1. When a paper sheet in folded stacks is pulled out through the dispenser dispenser, the immediately next (subsequent) paper sheet is also subjected to pulling force causing the next next paper sheet to partially protrude from the dispensing hole and partially unfold. Thus, this projection is easily accessible and can be grasped by the user. Consequently, a convenient distribution of paper sheets from the dispenser is provided. The stack usually has opposite end faces, a front end face and a rear end face. The front end surface is usually defined as that end surface facing the dispenser dispensing opening. Thus, the front end surface is formed by the first paper sheet in the stack. On the other hand, the rear end surface is formed by the last paper sheet in the stack. The side surfaces of the stack are usually formed by the edges of the paper sheets. According to one example, the paper sheets have a substantially rectangular outline such that the stack has four side surfaces.

Also, in addition, the pack has a tie, preferably a longitudinal tie. The tie has a first end and a second end, preferably at opposite longitudinal ends of the tie. In any case, the second end is opposite the first end. The tie can be wrapped around the stack to cover both end surfaces and two side surfaces of the stack. In addition, the tie has a first section at the first end and a second section at the second end. The first and second sections overlap and are mutually connected, so that the stack is pulled together with a tie. In this context, the first and second portions may at least partially, preferably only, overlap on the front end surface. At least the first portion is located on the front end surface of the stack.

The tie can be a flat longitudinal tape. The screed thickness can be between 0.05 mm and 0.3 mm. The thickness depends on the flexibility of the material from which the screed is made. The screed width can be from 10 mm to 50 mm. In this context, the wider the width, the higher the friction between the tie and the stack when the tie is removed, which is especially important if the tie is removed from the stack already loaded into the dispenser through the dispensing opening. In one embodiment, the width is less than the width of the paper sheet so that the tie only covers a portion of the paper sheet. In this context, the tie is preferably located in the center of the paper sheet in a top view of the stack.

In order to release the interconnection between the first and second portions and allow the tie to be removed even through the dispenser dispensing opening, the first portion contains at least one opening accessible to the user's finger. As a consequence, the user can insert a finger into the hole and thus engage the first portion of the tie to pull the first portion away from the second portion and therefore break the interconnection between the first and second end portions. Additionally, the user can, if necessary, pull the tie through the dispenser dispensing hole. It is of course also possible to remove the tie from the stack before loading the stack into the dispenser.

According to an embodiment, a slot is provided in the first portion to form an opening. In this embodiment, no material or only a small amount of material is removed from the tie to create the hole. The slot can be a straight line, an L-shaped line, or a U-shaped line. In use, the first portion is pushed into the notch, whereby the pin is inserted into the hole and enlarges the hole when the first portion engages as described above. Providing a slot in the tie to form the hole is the easiest and most cost effective way to manufacture.

Also from a manufacturing point of view it has been proven useful that the slot is a straight line and extends along the longitudinal direction of the tie.

To facilitate the insertion of the pin into the hole, any of the L-shaped or U-shaped notches may be used, or an additional straight notch (straight-line notch) may be provided in the first portion intersecting the said notch. Preferably, the two slots intersect perpendicularly to form a cross. The two slots may even be the same length. In addition, one slot can extend in the longitudinal direction of the tie while the additional slot can extend in the lateral direction.

In another embodiment, the opening is a cutout. In this embodiment, material is removed from the screed to create a hole.

In this context, the cutout can be in the form of a rectangle, this rectangle being oriented with its longer side along the longitudinal direction of the tie. The rectangle can have sharp or rounded corners. In addition, other hole shapes are possible such as round, oval, cloud, etc.

In yet another embodiment, two holes are provided (eg, slots or cutouts, as previously explained), the holes being positioned side by side in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tie. Thus, a bridge is formed between the two holes, which can be engaged when a pin is inserted into one of the holes and exits through the other hole.

In particular, if inter-folded paper sheets are used, the first portion can be attached to the front paper sheet of the stack. As previously explained with respect to the front end surface, the front paper sheet in the ream is the first sheet in the ream and when placed in the dispenser closest to the dispensing opening. Thus, when the user removes the tie from the stack by breaking the interconnection between the first and second portions and removing the tie through the dispensing port, the first paper sheet of the stack (the front paper sheet of the stack) is also removed from the dispensing port. According to one example, the first portion may be detachably attached to the front paper sheet of the stack. In this case, the strength with which the first portion adheres to the front paper sheet may be so low that the tie is automatically released from the front paper sheet when the tie is removed through the dispensing hole, so that only part of the front paper sheet protrudes from the dispensing hole after how the tie was removed. Thus, the strength is lower than the friction between the front paper sheet and the subsequent paper sheet. In another example, the front paper sheet is removed with the tie and discarded. In this case, the first portion can be firmly (non-removably) adhered to the front paper sheet of the stack. Thus, when the tie is removed, the front paper sheet is removed through the dispensing hole along with the tie, and the subsequent paper sheet mutually folded with the front paper sheet is pulled out through the dispensing hole to partially protrude from it due to friction between the front paper sheet and the subsequent paper sheet.

In the prior art, the release tab must always protrude from the dispensing hole in order to be able to remove the tie. This is not necessary in accordance with this disclosure. Still further, it is avoided that the free end (first end of the tie) of the first section protrudes from the dispensing opening for aesthetic reasons. For this reason, the first section is connected to the second section adjacent (in close proximity) or with the first end.

In order to facilitate the removal of the screed when the stack is placed in the dispenser, the screed should be made of a low friction material. According to one embodiment, the screed is made from a plastic material, in particular at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polylactide. Other possible materials are nonwoven fabric and paper, which can be further coated with another material, such as plastic material, for example, any of the materials mentioned above.

In addition, for simplicity and economy of manufacture, the first section is heat-sealed to the second section. Still, other bonding methods are possible, such as ultrasonic bonding or the use of glue.

In order to allow the opening (s) of the screed hole / holes while maintaining as low friction as possible, the first portion of the screed has a greater width transverse to the longitudinal direction of the screed than the rest of the screed. As a result, the surface of the tie in contact with the stack can remain low in a small width portion, and only the first portion gripped and pulled by the user through the dispensing opening is wider to accommodate the openings and allow easy gripping.

According to an example, a pack is placed in a dispenser. The dispenser may have a housing containing a longitudinal dispensing opening. It has been proven to be advantageous that the longitudinal direction of the tie is intersected with the longitudinal direction of the dispensing opening.

Additionally, the dispensing opening of the dispenser can be adapted to the orifice (s), the dispensing opening having a widened portion, for example, at its longitudinal center coinciding with the opening (s), whereby inserting a finger into the opening (one of the openings) and engaging the first portion, or, if there are jumpers, it is simplified. In an embodiment in which the web is formed between two openings as described above, it may be preferred that the web extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the dispensing opening and at the center of the dispensing opening with respect to its longitudinal direction.

Additional aspects of the present disclosure may be found in the following description of a specific embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

1 shows a plan view of a screed according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a screed according to a second embodiment;

3 shows a plan view of a tie according to a third embodiment;

4 shows a plan view of a screed according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the package according to the present disclosure with the tie bar of FIG. 4;

Fig. 6 shows another perspective view of the package according to the present disclosure with the tie bar of Fig. 4; and

FIG. 7 shows a dispenser containing a pack as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC IMPLEMENTATION

Throughout the drawings, like reference numbers are used for like elements.

1-4 show various embodiments of a tie 10 that can be used to tie a stack 30 of paper sheets 40 (see FIG. 5).

The tie 10 in all embodiments is a longitudinal flat tape having a length L. The length L is determined by the height of the stack 30 of paper sheets 40, that is, the number of paper sheets 40 to be pulled together and the amount of overlap desired at the ends of the tie.

The tie 10 has a first section 11 having a first width W1 and a second section 12 having a second width W2. The first portion 11 is located at the first end 13 as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the tie 10. The second portion 12 extends from the first portion 11 in the longitudinal direction to the opposite second end 14. The width W1 is greater than the width W2. Width W1 can range from 20 mm to 60 mm and width W2 can range from 10 mm to 50 mm. The ratio between the width W1 and the width W2 can range from 2 to 1.2.

Additionally, the tie 10 may have a thickness perpendicular to the plan view of Figures 1-4 in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm. In one example, the thickness is about 0.1 mm (0.004 inches).

In addition, the tie 10 can be made of any material that is flexible enough to wrap the tie around the stack 30 of paper sheets 40. In one example, a plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene is used. Such a plastic material has proven to be advantageous in terms of flexibility, opposing end-to-end interconnection and low friction to remove tie 10. In a specific example, a UHMW (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) impact-resistant polyethylene film was used.

In order to bond the first portion 11 to the second portion 12 when pulling together the stack 30 of paper sheets 40, a heat sealing method is used. This has proven useful especially when plastic material is used for ease of manufacture. In addition, this method avoids the use of glue in the production process, and is beneficial in terms of maintenance and cleaning of the production device. In the examples, the heat seal areas are indicated by shaded rectangles 21 and 22. To avoid end 13 being weakened and could protrude from the dispenser dispensing opening and / or interfere with other stacks if multiple stacks are loaded into the dispenser, at least one of the heat seal areas is located in close proximity to end 13, i.e. towards end 13 or a short distance to end 13. This distance should be no more than 15 mm and preferably less than 5 mm.

In any case, all heat sealing regions 21 and 22 should be located in the overlap region (indicated by 25 in Figures 1-4 by a dotted rectangle in the first region 11) between the first region 11 and the second region 12.

In addition, each of the ties 10 shown in Figures 1-4 has an adhesive strip 23, also indicated by the shaded area. This adhesive strip 23 is located outside the overlap region 25 and, in use, adheres the first portion to the front end surface 41 of the front paper sheet 43 in the stack 30.

In the examples, the heat seal regions 21 and 22 as well as the adhesive strip 23 are shown as rectangular regions. However, other shapes can be used, including points, straight lines, curved lines, areas with straight borders, curved borders, or freehand borders, and other geometric shapes such as circles, ovals, squares, etc. In addition, the arrangement and / or shape can be adapted for the respective use.

All the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4 comprise an opening 15 in the first region 11.

In Fig. 1, the opening 15 is formed by a slot 16. The slot 16 corresponds to a straight slot in the longitudinal direction of the tie 10.

In Fig. 2, the hole 15 is formed by the slot 16 and an additional additional slot 17. The slot 17 intersects the slot 16 and is oriented perpendicular to the slot 16. Therefore, the slot 17 corresponds to a straight slot in the transverse direction of the tie 10.

In Fig. 3, the opening 15 is defined by a cutout 18. The cutout 18 is rectangular with rounded corners. The longer side of the rectangle defining the cutout 18 is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the tie 10. The width in the lateral direction of the tie 10 of the cutout 18 can be in the range of 5 to 10 mm so that a finger can be easily inserted.

In FIG. 4, two holes 15 are provided. The two holes 15 are formed by cutouts 19, but can also be formed by parallel slots 16, as explained with reference to FIG. The cutouts 19 are also rectangular with rounded corners and have a longer side oriented in the longitudinal direction of the tie 10. The cutouts 19 are located side by side in the transverse direction of the tie 10. The width in the transverse direction of the tie 10 of the cutouts 19 can range from 5 to 10 mm, allowing easy finger insertion. A bridge 20 is formed between the cutouts 19.

The example of FIG. 4 also shows that the heat-sealing region 22 at the end 13 of the first portion 11 can be oriented in the longitudinal direction of the tie 10. The heat-sealing region 22 can also be located at least partially between the two cutouts 19 and therefore on jumper 20.

Further, the use of a tie 10 shown in FIG. 4 wrapped around a stack 30 of paper sheets 40 is described with reference to FIGS. 5-7. However, it should be understood that any of the ties shown in Figures 1-3 can be used in a similar manner.

As best seen in FIG. 6, the stack 30 contains a plurality of folded, preferably mutually nested paper sheets 40. The stack has opposing end faces 41 and 42, with end face 41 being considered as the front end face 41, while end face 42 is considered as the rear end surface 42. In other words, the end surface 41 may be the front or top of the stack, while the end surface 42 may be the back or bottom of the stack. Accordingly, the first paper sheet 43 in the stack 30 is designated as the front paper sheet. In addition, the stack 30 has four side surfaces 44.

To prepare a stack according to the present disclosure, and as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the tie 10 is wound around the stack 30. In this context, the second portion 12 extends along the rear end surface 42 and along two opposite side surfaces 44 of the stack, as well as the front end portion surface 41. The first portion 11 is advantageously located on the front end surface 41, but may also extend to one or both opposite end surfaces 44.

In this context, the first portion 11 overlaps the second end portion 12 on the front end surface 41. The first portion 11 and the second portion 12 are mutually connected, for example by heat sealing, in the heat sealing regions 21 and 22, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

In addition, the adhesive strip 23 is adhered to the front end surface 41, that is, to the front paper sheet 43.

To remove the tie 10, the user inserts a finger into one of the cutouts 19, engaging the web 20, and pulls the finger out through the other of the cutouts 19. By pulling the first portion 11 away from the stack and therefore the second portion 12, the interconnection between the first portion 11 and the second section 12 is torn. In this example, the heat seal regions 21 and 22 are torn apart. Subsequently, the tie 10 can be removed from the stack 30.

The present disclosure is particularly applicable to the removal of the tie 10 when the bundle is loaded into the dispenser 50.

The dispenser 50 shown in FIG. 7 may include a housing 51 in which a dispensing opening 52 is formed in the housing 51. As shown in FIG. 7, the dispensing opening 52 may be longitudinal. In a further example, as shown, the dispensing port 52 has a flared portion 53 at the center of the dispensing port 52 in the longitudinal direction. The dotted lines in FIG. 7 indicate portions of the tie 10 hidden by the front of the dispenser 50.

Once the stack has been loaded into the dispenser 50, the opening 15 should be located in the flared region 53, but at least be accessible through the dispensing opening 52. In a particular example using the tie 10 shown in FIG. 4, it is preferred that The web 20 was located in the widened section 53 and continued perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the dispensing hole 52. Thus, also the tie 10, when loaded into the dispenser 50, should continue in its longitudinal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the dispensing hole 52.

Thus, as shown in Fig. 6, the user can enter one of the cutouts 19 with a finger to engage the web 20 and thereby pull the tie 10 through the dispensing opening 52 from the dispenser 50. Since the front paper sheet 43 is connected to the first portion 11 with an adhesive strip 23, the front paper sheet 43 is also removed through the dispensing hole 52 while pulling the tie 10 in the first portion 11 from the dispensing hole. Thus, when the mutually nested paper sheets 40 are used, the paper sheet following the front paper sheet 43 will be partially withdrawn through the dispensing opening 52 for later use. This front paper sheet 43 can be ejected together with the tie 10. Alternatively, the adhesion force between the first portion 11, or more specifically the adhesive strip 23 and the front paper sheet 43, can be determined to be lower than the frictional forces between the front paper sheet 43 and a mutually nested subsequent paper sheet 40 so that when the tie 10 is removed in the first region 11, the front paper sheet 43 is only partially entrained by the tie 10, and after completely removing the tie 10 partially protrudes from the dispensing opening 52. In embodiments, in which the tie 10 must be removed from the stack 30 before being placed in the dispenser 50, the adhesive strip 23 can also be eliminated.

Even though the function has been described in relation to the tie 10 shown in FIG. 4, the ties shown in FIGS. 1-3 can also be used. In the case of the ties shown in Figures 1 and 2, the user inserts or presses with a finger on the slot 16 or the slots 16 and 17, pushing away the material of the tie 10 in the first section 11. Consequently, the user can hook the finger around the outer edges of the first section 11 and thereby pull the tie 10 in the first section 11 from the dispensing hole 52. In the case of the tie 10, as shown in FIG. 3, the user again inserts the finger into the recess 18, engaging the first section 11 at the outer edges and thus allowing easy gripping of the first section 11 and removing the screed 10.

It should be understood that the above disclosure describes some specific embodiments, but is not limited to these embodiments. In particular, the present disclosure is not limited to the shapes of the cutouts 18 and 19, the slots 16 or 17, the dimensions of the tie 10, and / or the arrangement and / or the regions 21 and 22 of the interconnection between the first portion 11 and the second portion 12, and the adhesive strip 23 The present disclosure is also not limited to the kind of paper sheets and whether individual sheets are folded or even mutually nested.

REFERENCE POSITION LIST

Coupler 10

First section 11

Second section 12

First end 13

Second end 14

Hole 15

Slot 16

Additional slot 17

Neckline 18

Neckline 19

Jumper 20

Heat sealing area 21

Heat sealing area 22

Adhesive strip 23

Overlapping area 25

Stack 30

Paper sheet 40

Front end face 41

Rear end face 42

Front paper sheet 43

Side surfaces 44

Dispenser 50

Building 51

Dispensing hole 52

Extended section 53.

Claims (18)

1. A pack containing: - a plurality of paper sheets (40) lying on top of each other and forming a stack (30); - a tie (10) having a first end (13) and a second end (14) opposite the first end, wherein the first section (11) of the tie at the first end overlaps the second section (12) of the tie at the second end and is connected to the second section to pull a stack, and the first portion is located on the end surface (41) of the stack; wherein the first section (11) contains at least one hole (15) accessible with the user's finger to grip the tie and break the connection between the first and second end sections. 2. A pack according to claim 1, wherein the opening (15) is a slot (16). 3. A pack according to claim 2, in which the slot (16) is a straight line and extends along the longitudinal direction of the tie (10). 4. A pack according to claim 2 or 3, in which an additional slot (17) is provided in the form of a straight line in the first section (11), crossing the slot (16). 5. A pack according to claim 1, in which the hole (15) is a cutout (18, 19). 6. A pack according to claim 5, wherein the cutout may be rectangular, the rectangle being oriented with its longer side along the longitudinal direction of the tie. 7. A pack according to any one of the preceding claims, in which two holes (15) are provided, the holes being located side by side in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tie (10). 8. A bundle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first portion (11) is adhered to the front paper sheet (43) of the stack (30). 9. A pack as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first portion (11) is releasably adhered to the front paper sheet (43) of the stack (30). 10. A pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first portion (11) is connected to a second portion (12) adjacent to the first end (13). 11. A pack according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the tie (10) is made of a plastic material, in particular at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polylactide. 12. A pack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first portion (11) is heat-sealed to the second portion (12). 13. A bundle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first portion (11) of the tie (10) has a greater transverse width (W1) to the longitudinal direction of the tie (10) than the rest of the tie (10). 14. A dispenser comprising a pack according to any one of the preceding claims and a housing (51) having a longitudinal dispensing opening (52), wherein the longitudinal direction of the tie (10) intersects the longitudinal direction of the dispensing opening. 15. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the dispensing opening (52) of the dispenser has an enlarged portion that coincides with the opening (15) of the tie (10).

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