Patent ID: 6176068
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: B65D,B65H

Abstract:
A method of supplying a strip comprising:providing a strip having a first side edge, a second side edge, a first surface and a second surface;forming a package of the strip that includes a plurality of stacks of the strip wherein each stack comprises a plurality of folded portions of the strip, wherein each strip portion of the stack is folded relative to one next adjacent strip portion about a line transverse to the strip;arranging the strip portions of each stack such that the first surface of each strip portion faces the first surface of a next adjacent strip portion and the second surface of each strip portion faces the second surface of a next adjacent strip portion, and such that the first side edges of the strip portions are aligned with the first side edges of other strip portions of the stack and also the second side edges of the strip portions are aligned with the second side edges of other strip portions of the stack;arranging the stacks parallel and side by side such that an outermost surface of a first stack defines a first side surface of the package and an outermost surface of a second stack defines a second opposed side surface of the package;the strip of each stack being continuous through each stack from a first end portion of the strip at a bottom end of the stack to a second end portion of the strip at a top end of the stack, such that a full extent of the strip from the first end portion to the second end portion can be unfolded from the stack by pulling the strip from the second end portion;orienting the package such that the stacks are generally upstanding with the bottom end of each of the stacks facing downwardly;providing an unfold stand having a bottom support surface on which supports the bottom end of each of the stacks and an inclined support surface disposed at an angle to the vertical;placing the package on the unfold stand so as to incline the stacks at an angle to the vertical such that the outermost surface of the first stack defining said first side surface of the package leans on and is supported by the inclined support surface and such that each subsequent stack leans on and is supported by the next adjacent stack; andunfolding the strip from each stack.