Patent EA-001473-B1 (EA)
Title: Packeging a strip of material
Inventor: O'CONNOR LAWRENCE J
IPC: B65D85/07
Filed: 1998-06-17
Abstract: 1. A package of strip material comprising a plurality of stacks (20,21,22,23) each containing a strip (11) which is folded back and forth such that each folded portion of the strip is folded relative to the next portion about a line (25,26) transverse to the strip and such that the side edges (27,28) of the folded strip portions are aligned, the strip being continuous through each stack (20,21,22,23) from a top end portion (30) of the strip at one end of the stack to a bottom end portion (29) of the strip at an opposed end of the stack, wherein the stacks (20,21,22,23) are parallel and arranged side by sida together as a common package structure (10) with the side edges (27) of the strip portions of sach stack adjacent the side edges (28) of the next adjacent stack without intervening rigid container walls, characterised in that at both the top and bottom end portions (30,29 in figures 1 and 2 and 94,94 in figure 11) of the strip of each stack the strip is arranged in the package so as to provide respective end connecting portions (44,45 in figures 1,2 and 96 in figure 11) which are either (figure 1) both accessible for connection end to end to other respective end connecting portions for a continuous strip to be produced from interconnected slacks, or (figures 2 and 11) at least one of which is already connected end to end to an end connecting portion of another of the stacks to provide a continuous strip formed by interconnected stacks. 2. The package according to claim 1 wherein the stacks (20,21,22,23) are substantially upright with a bottom (29) and a top (30), two sides (16,17) parallel to the edges (27,28) of the strips of the stacks and two ends (18,19) containing the fold lines (25,26) of the stacks and wherein the and connecting portion (45) of the bottom of each stack comprises a free unconnected tail portion which extends from the bottom strip portion (29) and is exposed beyond an end (18) of the stack. 3. The package according to claim 1 wherein one end connecting portion (45 in figure 2 and 94 in figure 11) of each stack is connected by a splice connecting portion (46 rn figure 2 and 96,97 in figure 11) to one end connecting portion (44 in figure 2 and 95 in figure 11) of the next adjacent stack. 4. The package according to claim 3 wherein (figurs 11) an end connecting portion (94 figure 11) of a top (14) of one stack "s connected to an end connecting portion of a top of a next adjacent stack to form a first splice connecting portion (96,97) coplanar with and extending across the top of the stacks and wherein an end connecting portion of a bottom (15) of said one stack is connected to an end connecting portion of a bottom of a second next adjacent stack to form a second splice connecting portion coplanar with and extending across the bottom of the stacks. 5. The package according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein there ara at least three stacks (20,21,22) and wherein the spHce connecting portions (44,45,46) are arranged such that there is no accumulated twist in the strip when the three stacks (20,21,22) are unfolded. 6. The package according to claim 3 wherein the stacks are substantially upright with a bottom (15) and a top (14). two sides (16,17) parallel to the edges (27,28) of the strips of the stacks and two ends (18,19) containing the fold lines (25,26) of the stacks and wherein the end connecting portion (45) of the bottom (15) of a stack is connected to an end connecting portion (44) of the top (14) of a next adjacent stack to form said splice connecting portion (44,45,56) which extends along one end (18) of the stack. 7. The package according to claim 6 wherein there are at (east three stacks (20,21,22) and wherein that part (44,45,46,30) of the strip defined by the splice connecting portion (44,45,46) and the top end portion (30) contains a 360 degree twist (47) in the strip such that there is no accumulated twist in the strip when the three stacks (20,21,22) are unfolded. 8. The package according to claim 6 wherein there are at least three stacks (20,21,22) and wherein the splice portions of alternate stacks are arranged at opposed ends (18,19) of the stacks and each splice connecting portion (44,45.46) is arranged to connect between the bottom strip portion (29) of one stack and the top strip portion (30) of the next stack without a twist such that there is no accumulated twist in the strip when the three stacks (20,21,22) are unfolded. 9. The package according to claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein the package is in a compressed condition so that the height thereof is decreased from a rest height to a compressed height- wherein the package is engaged by packaging material (40) which maintains the compression: wherein the splice connecting portion (44,45,46) has a length at least equal to the rest height; and the splice connecting portion is folded (54) about fold lines generally transverse to its length so as to take up the difference between the length of the splice connecting portion and the compressed height. 10. The package according to claim 9 wherein there is provided a slip sheet (30C) between two strip portions (30,30D) to allow relative sliding movement of the two strip portions as the package expands. 11. The package according to any preceding claim wherein the plurality of stacks are arranged such that the strip of each stack has the side edges (27,28) thereof along the complete length of the strip unattached from the side edges of the trip of a next adjacent stack. 12. The package according to any preceding claim wherein the strip of each stack is longitudinally slit from a web. 13. The package according to any preceding claim wherein the side edges (27,28) of the strip portions of each stack directly contact the side edges of the strip portions of a next adjacent stack. 14. A package of strip material comprising at least one stack (20,21,22,23) containing a strip (11) which is folded back and forth such that each folded portion of the at least one stack is folded relative to the neud portion about a line (25,26) transverse to the strip and such that the side edges (27,28) of the folded strip portions are aligned; the strip being continuous through the at 'aast one stack from a bottom end portion (29) of the strip at the bottom of the at least one stack to a top end portion (30) of the strip at the top end of the at least one stack, the strip portions being arranged to form a first plurality of fold lines (25) at one end (18) of the at least one stack and a second plurality of fold lines (26) at an opposed second end (19) of the at least one stack, the at least one stack being compressed downwardly (D) so as to reduce the height of the at least one stack and the at least one stack being secured by a packaging material (40) so as to maintain the at least one stack in a compressed condition for transportation, characterized in that the at least one stack includes an end connecting portion (45) of the strip extending from the bottom strip portion and extending beyond one of the ends (18) of the at least one stack so as to be accessible for splicing. 15. The package according to any preceding claim wherein the package is in a compressed condition so that the height of the stacks is decreased from a rest height to a compressed height and wherein the package is engaged by packaging material (40) which maintains the compression wherein the compression is sufficient to reduce the thickness of each strip portion of said stacks. 16. The package according to any preceding claim wherain there is provided a spacer sheet member (58) between the fold lines (25) at the end (18) of the package and the end connecting portion (44,45). 17. A method of supplying a strip of material comprising supplying a package according to any preceding claim and providing an unfold stand having an inclined support surface, placing the package on the unfold stand so as to incline (80) the stacks at an angle to the vertical such that one end stack defines a side surface which leans on and is supported by the inclined support surface and such that each stack (20,21,22) leans on and is supported by its next adjacent stack and unfolding the strip from the end stack (20) opposite to the support surface such that each stack is unfolded and withdrawn in turn.