Packaging a strip of material

A method of forming a package of a strip comprising:

• providing a strip having a first side edge, a second side edge, a first surface and a second surface;
• forming a plurality of stacks of the strip;
• in each stack repeatedly folding the strip back and forth so that the stack, contains a plurality of folded overlying strip portions of the strip, with each strip portion being folded relative to one next adjacent strip portion about a first fold line transverse to the strip and relative to a second next adjacent strip portion about a second fold line transverse to the strip and spaced from the first fold line;
• arranging the strip portions of each stack to form a plurality of first fold lines at one end of the stack and a plurality of second fold lines at an opposed end of the stack;
• arranging the strip portions of each stack such that the first surface of each strip portion lies directly in contact with the first surface of one next adjacent strip portion and such that the second surface of each strip portion lies directly in contact with the second surface of the other next adjacent strip portion;
• arranging the strip portions of each stack with the first side edges thereof lying directly on top of and aligned with the first side edges of others of the strip portions of the stack and with the second side edges thereof lying directly on top of and aligned with the second side edges of others of the strip portions of the stack;
• arranging the strip portions of each stack with the first and second surfaces thereof generally parallel to a top surface and a bottom surface of the stack, with the strip of each stack continuous through the stack between a bottom strip portion and a top strip portion;
• arranging the plurality of stacks side by side with the side edges of the strip portions of each stack adjacent the side edges of a next adjacent stack;
• wherein the step of folding the strip in the stacks includes:
• simultaneously supplying the strips side by side;
• feeding the side by side strips through a guide slot in a carriage moveable parallel to the bottom surface of the stacks and moving the slot back and forth between the ends of the stacks so as to form the stacks on top of the carriage;
• providing a bag for receiving the side by side stacks, the bag having an open mouth and side walls;
• and supporting the bag with the open mouth facing the carriage such that as the stacks are formed the stacks are forced into the open mouth to engage and be surrounded by the side walls of the bag to be received within the bag.

A method of forming a package of a compressible fibrous strip comprising:

• providing a compressible fibrous strip having a first side edge a second side edge, a first surface and a second surface;
• forming a plurality of stacks of the strip;
• in each stack repeatedly folding the strip back and forth so that the stack contains a plurality of folded overlying strip portions of the strip, with each strip portion being folded relative to one next adjacent strip portion about a first fold line transverse to the strip and relative to a second next adjacent strip portion about a second fold line transverse to the strip and spaced from the first fold line;
• arranging the strip portions of each stack to form a plurality of first fold lines at one end of the stack and a plurality of second fold lines at an opposed end of the stack;
• arranging the strip portions of each stack such that the first surface of each strip portion lies directly in contact with the first surface of one next adjacent strip portion and such that the second surface of each strip portion lies directly in contact with the second surface of the other next adjacent strip portion;
• arranging the strip portions of each stack with the first side edges thereof lying directly on top of and aligned with the first side edges of others of the strip portions of the stack and with the second side edges thereof lying directly on top of and aligned with the second side edges of others of the strip portions of the stack;
• arranging the strip portions of each stack with the first and second surfaces thereof generally parallel to a top surface and a bottom surface of the stack, with the strip of each stack continuous through the stack between a bottom strip portion and a top strip portion;
• arranging the plurality of stacks side by side with the side edges of the strip portions of each stack adjacent the side edges of a next adjacent stack;
• compressing the stacks in a direction at right angles to the top and bottom surfaces so as to reduce the height of the stacks from a rest height to a compressed height;
• and containing the compressed stacks in an enclosure so as to maintain the compression thereon, the enclosure comprising a bag having side walls with a length thereof substantially equal to the compressed height.

A method of forming a package of a strip comprising:

• providing a strip having a first side edge, a second side edge, a first surface and a second surface;
• forming a plurality of stacks of the strip;
• in each stack repeatedly folding the strip back and forth so that the stack contains a plurality of folded overlying strip portions of the strip, with each strip portion being folded relative to one next adjacent strip portion about a first fold line transverse to the strip and relative to a second next adjacent strip portion about a second fold line transverse to the strip and spaced from the first fold line;
• arranging the strip portions of each stack to form a plurality of first fold lines at one end of the stack and a plurality of second fold lines at an opposed end of the stack;
• arranging the strip portions of each stack such that the first surface of each strip portion lies directly in contact with the first surface of one next adjacent strip portion and such that the second surface of each strip portion lies directly in contact with the second surface of the other next adjacent strip portion;
• arranging the strip portions of each stack with the first side edges thereof lying directly on top of and aligned with the first side edges of others of the strip portions of the stack and with the second side edges thereof lying directly on top of and aligned with the second side edges of others of the strip portions of the stack;
• arranging the strip portions of each stack with the first and second surfaces thereof generally parallel to a top surface and a bottom surface of the stack, with the strip of each stack continuous through the stack between a bottom strip portion and a top strip portion;
• arranging the plurality of stacks side by side with the side edges of the strip portions of each stack adjacent the side edges of a next adjacent stack;
• wherein the step of folding the strip in the stacks includes:
• simultaneously supplying the strips side by side;
• feeding the side by side strips through a guide slot in a carriage moveable parallel to the bottom surface of the stacks and moving the slot back and forth between the ends of the stacks so as to build the stacks on top of the carriage;
• at a predetermined location during building of the stacks, feeding with the strips into the stacks a flexible slip sheet so to be folded with the strips at the predetermined location;
• and when the stacks are built up to a required height above said location, pushing those portions of the stacks above said location toward one end of the stacks such that the portions above said location are separated from portions below said location by slipping of the strips across the slip sheet.

A package comprising:

• a compressible fibrous strip having a first side edge, a second side edge, a first surface and a second surface;
• a plurality of stacks of the strip;
• in each stack the strip being folded repeatedly back and forth so that the stack contains a plurality of folded overlying strip portions of the strip, with each strip portion being folded relative to one next adjacent strip portion about a first fold line transverse to the strip and relative to a second next adjacent strip portion about a second fold line transverse to the strip and spaced from the first fold line;
• the strip portions of each stack being arranged to form a plurality of first fold lines at one end of the stack and a plurality of second told lines at an opposed end of the stack;
• the strip portions of each stack being arranged such that the first surface of each strip portion lies directly in contact with the first surface of one next adjacent strip portion and such that the second surface of each strip portion lies directly in contact with the second surface of the other next adjacent strip portion;
• the strip portions of each stack being arranged with the first side edges thereof lying directly on top of and aligned with the first side edges of others of the strip portions of the stack and with the second side edges thereof lying directly on top of and aligned with the second side edges of others of the strip portions of the stack;
• the strip portions of each stack being arranged with the first and second surfaces thereof generally parallel to a top surface and a bottom surface of the stack, with the strip of each stack continuous through the stack between a bottom strip portion and a top strip portion;
• the plurality of stacks being arranged side by side with the side edges of the strip portions of each stack adjacent the side edges of a next adjacent stack;
• the stacks being compressed in a direction at right angles to the surfaces of the strip portions such that the height of the stacks is reduced from a rest height to a compressed height;
• the package being wrapped and maintained compressed by a packaging enclosure including a bag having a side wall substantially equal in height to the compressed height and therefore less than the rest height.