US 2002/0144924 A1 · Packaging a strip of material of varying width

Abstract

A package of a continuous strip of material formed from a web comprises a plurality of parallel side by side strip elements separated by dividing lines. The dividing lines are formed such that the width of the strip elements varies along their length with the wider portions of one alongside the narrower portions of the next in a nesting action. The strips are packaged for storage and transport to an end use machine where the strip elements are withdrawn and cut into identical strip portions at spaced positions along the strip so that each strip portion includes a portion of minimum width and a portion of maximum width. The web including all the strip elements is formed into a block in which the web is fan folded back and forth such that each folded portion of the web is folded relative to the next portion about a line transverse to the strip. Each strip element is continuous through the block and is connected by a splice to the beginning of the next strip element. The strip has a varying width, for example, to form diaper inserts when the strip is cut into the individual strip portions. The dividing lines are formed by longitudinal slits separated by un-slit bridges so that the strip elements are held together in the block and are pulled apart only when unfolded.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A package of strip material comprising:

a web of a sheet material;
the web being fan folded so as to define a stack of web portions wherein each web portion is folded relative to one next adjacent folded web portion about a first fold line transverse to the web and relative to a second next adjacent folded web portion about a second fold line transverse to the web and spaced longitudinally of the web from the first fold line;
the web being divided longitudinally into a plurality of side by side strip elements by longitudinally extending transversely spaced dividing lines;
the dividing lines each being formed by a series of tear lines in the web, each lying along the respective dividing line and each longitudinally spaced from the next by a bridge portion of the dividing line at which the web is intact;
the dividing lines being arranged such that each strip element is longitudinally continuous through the length of the folded web and such that each strip element can be unfolded in turn by pulling the strip element and separating it from a remaining part of the folded web by breaking the bridge portions;
the dividing lines being arranged to diverge from a parallel straight condition such that each strip element varies in width along the length of the strip element.

3 more elements

A method of manufacturing a composite article containing a portion of a strip comprising:

providing a web of a sheet material;
forming longitudinally extending, transversely spaced dividing lines in the web by which the web is divided longitudinally into a plurality of side by side strip elements;
fan folding the web so as to define a stack of web portions wherein each web portion is folded relative to one next adjacent folded web portion about a first fold line transverse to the web and relative to a second next adjacent folded web portion about a second fold line transverse to the web and spaced longitudinally of the web from the first fold line;
forming the dividing lines each by a series of tear lines in the web, each lying along the respective dividing line and each longitudinally spaced from the next by a bridge portion of the dividing line at which the web is intact;
arranging the dividing lines such that each strip element is longitudinally continuous through the length of the folded web and such that each strip element can be unfolded in turn by pulling the strip element and separating it from a remaining part of the folded web by breaking the bridge portions;
causing the dividing lines to diverge from a parallel straight condition such that each strip element varies in width along the length of the strip element;
withdrawing each strip element from the package structure in turn at an assembly machine;
cutting the withdrawn strip elements at longitudinally spaced positions into a series of identical strip portions;
and assembling each of the identical strip portions with other components into a respective one of the composite articles.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Packaging a strip of material of varying width

Life of this patent

Packaging a strip of material of varying width

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28