Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF T~lh- INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates -to starter means and a method for a
pop-up type dispensing package for a sheet product, -the package
having a restrictive dispensing orifice, and more particularly to
a starter sheet and the drawing of the starter sheet by vacuum
means part way through the package dispensing orifice so tha-t it
may be conveniently withdrawn from the dispensing orifice bringing
the topmost product sheet to its pop-up position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The starter means and method of the present invention are
applicable to a pop-up type dispensing package for product sheets,
the package having a restrictive dispensing orifice. As used
herein and in the claims the phrase "restrictive dispensing orifice"
refers to a dispensing orifice of such size that the topmost
product sheet cannot be conveniently grasped by the consumer
through the dispensing orifice. For purposes of an exemplary
showing the starter means and method of the present invention will
be described as applied to a package of the type taught in
commonly owned U.S. Patent No. 4,138,034, granted February 9, 1979,
in the name of Robert F. McCarthy and entitled PACKAGE FOR DISCRETE
PREMOISTENED INTERLEAVED SHEETS AND THE POPUP DISPENSING THEREOF.
Briefly, the above mentioned U.S. pa-tent teaches a moisture-
proof package of discrete, interleaved, pre-moistened product
sheets, the package being provided with a dispensing opening so
dimensioned as to enable twice the cross sectional area of a pre-
moistened product sheet (i.e. two pre-moistened product sheets
in tightly gathered form) to pass therethrough without such undue
friction as would cause the product sheets to jam, tear or
separate be~ore the next succeeding produc-t sheek i9 pre.sen-ted ~or
subsequen-t removal. The succeeding product sheet not onl~ is
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presented for subsequent removal, but also serves in the meantime
as a plug for the dispensing opening, minirnizing evaporakion o~
the volatile composition with which the product sheets have been
pre-moistened and preventing contamination of the remaining
product sheets within ~he package. No additional closure or lid
is required to be closed by the consumer to prevent dry-out or
contamination.
The above noted U.S. patent teaches that the topmost product
sheet of the stack may be partially inserted through the dis-
pensing orifice through the use of a mandrel or the like duringthe packaging process, obviating the necessity for the consumer
to open the package and start the first sheet through the dis-
pensing opening (as required in numerous prior art packages).
This, in turn, eliminates the risk of contaminating the contents,
spilling the product sheets or disturbing their interleaved
condition.
The present invention provides an improved means for con-
sumers to start the topmost product sheet through the small dis-
pensing orifice without disturbing the contents of the package.
In accordance with the teachings of the present application, a
starter sheet is provided, the starter sheet being less porous
than the product sheets. The starter sheet is interleaved with
and overlies the topmost product sheet and may be drawn part way
through the dispensing orifice by vacuum means. The starter
sheet of the present invention not only serves as an easy means
for the consumer to start the topmost product sheet through the
dispensing orifice, but also provides temporary protection against
product evaporation or contamination. In addition, the starter
sheet may serve as a disposable marketing message or advertising
device. The ability to draw the starter sheet part way through
the dispensing orifice by vacuum greatl~ simpli~ies the packaging
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equipment which would otherwise have to be provided with mandrel
means or the like.
While the package o~ the above mentione~ U.S. Patent No.
4,138,034, is an excellent example of a pop-up dispensing pack-
age with a restrictive dispensing orifice, it will be understood
by one skilled in the art that the present invention is not
restrlcted to use with the particular package taught or to use
with pre-moistened sheets. The present invention is applicable
to many types of pop-up dispensing packages for product sheets
wherein the package has a restrictive dispensing orifice too
small to permit the consumer to conveniently start the topmost
product sheet therethrough by reaching therethrough with his
fingers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENI'ION
-
The present invention is directed to an improved means and
method for starting the topmost product sheet through a restric-
tive dispensing orifice of a sheet-containing package. In an
exemplary embodiment the product sheets are pre-moistened with a
volatile component and the package is of the type comprising a
container impervious to the volatile component. The sheets are
discrete and arranged in an interleaved stack. The top surface
of the container has a restrictive dispensing orifice therein
so sized as to just permit the passage therethrough of -two pre-
moistened product sheets in tightly gathered form resulting in
pop-up ~ispensing of the product sheets, each sheet serving,
until its removal from the package, as a plug for the dispensing
orifice to minimize evaporation of the volatile component with
which the product sheets are pre-moistened and to protect the
remaining sheets within the package from contamination.
In accordance with the teachings of -the present invention,
a starter sheet is interleaved with and overlie.s the topmost
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product sheet o~ the stac]c. Duriny the packaginy p~ocess, the
starter sheet is partially drawn through the dispensing orifice
by vacuum to the extent that it may be readilv grasped by the
consumer for removal from the package, drawing the topmost pro-
duct sheet into its pop-up position. The starter sheet is less
porous than the product sheets so that only a portion of the
starter sheet is drawn through the dispensing orifice. The
starter sheet may indeed be non-porous, if desired.
The present invention, then, in one aspect, resides in a
starting means for a pop-up type dispensing package for product
sheets, said package having a restrictive dispensing orifice of
such size that a consumer could not grasp the first one of said
product sheets through said dispensing orifice with his fingers,
said starting means comprising a starter sheet arranged with the
first one of said product sheets to be dispensed in such a manner
that withdrawal of said starter sheet from said restrictive dis- `~
pensing orifice will cause said first product sheet to assume
its pop-up position therethrough, said package comprising a tray-
like portion to receive said produ~t sheets and said starter sheet
and a cover for said tray-like portion to close said tray-like
portion and to overlie said starter sheet, said restrictive dis-
pensing orifice being located in said cover, a portion of said
starter sheet extending through said restrictive dispensing -;`
orifice, said last mentioned portion of said starter sheet being
of sufficient length as to be conveniently grasped by the fingers
of the consumer, said starter sheet being sufficiently less
porous than said product sheets and of such strength and flexi-
bility that said portion thereof may be drawn through said
restrictive dispensing orifice by vacuum without withdrawing a
portion of said first product sheet therethrough.
.
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In another aspect, the invention resides in a metho~ of
providing starter means for a pop-up type dispensing packaye con-
taining a plurality of product sheets and having a restrictive dis-
pensing orifice si~ed such that a consumer could not yrasp the
first one of said product sheets through said dispensing orifice
with his fingers, said method comprising the steps of providiny a
starter sheet less porous than said product sheets, arranging
said starter sheet with the first one of said product sheets so
that withdrawal of said starter sheet from said restrictive
orifice will cause said first product sheet to assume its pop-up
position ther~through, locating said product sheets and said
starter sheet in said package and drawing by vacuum means a
sufficient amount of said starter sheet through said restrictive
dispensing orifice to be conveniently grasped by the fingers of
the consumer.
The product sheets need not be pre-moistened and need not
be arranged in an interleaved stack. The teachings of the
present invention may also be applied to a package containing
a continuous perforated web of sheets folded into a stack or
wound into a roll. In such instances the first sheet of the web
(if of appropriate thickness, strength and flexibility) may be
treated to be non-porous or less porous than the remaining pro-
duct sheets and may serve as a starter sheet. Alternatively,
a starter sheet may be interleaved with or appropriately attached
to the first product sheet of the web.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in cross section,
of an exemplary packa~e containing an interleaved stack of pre-
moistened product sheets and further illustrating a starter sheet
being drawn through the package dispensing orifice by vacuum means.
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Figure 2 is a perspective view of the package of Figure 1
illustrating the starter sheet in posi-tion to be grasped by -the
consumer.
Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to Figure 2 and
illustrating the starter sheet in position to be grasped by the
consumer, the starter sheet having been drawn through the dis-
pensing orifice to an extent that its leading edge has been
withdrawn from the packa~e.
Figure 4 is an elevational view, partly in cross section,
and showing the starter sheet in position to be grasped by the
consumer and covered by a detachable and discardable barrier
layer or seal.
Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross
section, illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross
section, illustrating yet another embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As indicated above, the starter means and method of the
present invention are applicable to many types of containers for
an interleaved stack of sheets wherein the dispensing orifice is
too small for the consumer to grasp the topmost product sheet
through the dispensing orifice. For purposes of an exemplary
showing, the invention will first be described in its application
to a package for pre-moistened sheets of the type taught and
illustrated in the above mentioned U.S. Patent No. 4,138,034 of
McCarthy.
The nature of the pre-moistened sheets to be dispensed does
not constitute a limitation on the present invention. The sheets
may be made of paper, nonwoven cloth, woven cloth, ei:Lm or -the
like. The sheets may be pre-mols-tened with any appropriate
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volatile composition. The packaye may be made of riyid or semi-
rigid plastic, paper board laminates, combinations of paper board
and Eilm or paper board and rigid or semi~rigid plastics, or the
like. The material from which the package is made ~ill depend
upon the nature of the volatile component with which the sheets
are pre-moistened and should be compatible therewith and imper-
vious thereto.
An exemplary package is illustrated in Figures 1 through 4.
Turning first to Figure 1, the package is generally indicated at
1 and comprises a rectangular tray 2 and a cover member 3. The
tray 2 has about its upper edge a laterally extending peripheral
flange 4. The cover 3 is provided with a downwardly depending
peripheral flange 5 and is so sized as to just nicely receive the
flange 4 of tray 2. Once a stack o~ sheets has been located
within the tray 2, the cover 3 will be located thereon and will
be heat, adhesively or mechanically sealed to the tray flange 4,
depending upon the nature of the material from which the tray 2
and cover 3 are molded.
The upper surface of cover 3 may have a depression
(generally indicated at 6) formed therein. When provided, the
configuration of the depression 6 does not constitute a limitation~
For purposes of an exemplary showing, the depression is illus-
trated as being circular with an annular inwardly and downwardly
sloping wall 6a and a substantially planar bottom 6b.
A dispensing orifice 7 is located in the bottom 6b of
depression 6. The dispensing orifice may be of any appropriate
configuration although it is preferred that the dispensing
orifice be circular or oval. As is taught in the above mentioned
U.S. Patent No. 4,138,034, the size of the dispensing orifice 7
is critical. The orifice should be so sized as to permit twice
the cross sectional area of a p~e-moistened product sheet (i.e.
two pre-molstened product sheets in tightly gathered form) to
pass -therethrough. It will be understood that this refers to
the cross sectional area of the product sheet being extracted
from the package and of the next succeeding product sheet being
pulled to pop-up position. The dispensing orifice 7 should be so
sized that the force required to pull a tightly gathered double
thickness of ~he product sheets therethrough is not so great as
to be inconvenient to the consumer. The tightly gathered double
thickness of the product sheets should pass through the orifice
7 without such undue friction as would cause the sheets to jam,
tear or as would cause the sheets to separate until the sheet
being extracted has cleared the orifice. Thus, the orifice size
will be selected to achieve maximum restriction and still main-
tain easy dispensing, depending on the orifice wall texture,
the texture of the pre-moistened product sheets and the lubricat-
ing properties of the volatile compound with which the product
sheets are pre-moistened. It will be evident from -the above that
the orifice 7 will be of a size such that the consumer could not
pull the topmost product sheet therethrough with his fingers.
In the use of a package of the type just described, when a
given product sheet is extracted from orifice 7, a sufficient
amount of the next succeeding product sheet will be drawn through
the orifice so that it may conveniently be grasped and extracted
by the consumer at a later time. Thus, the orifice 7 permits
pop-up dispensing of discrete product sheets. In addition, that
portion of each product sheet which is pulled through the orifice
7 in gathered form by the previously extracted product sheet will
serve as a plug for the orifice, minimizing dry-out and/or
contamination of the remainder of the product sheets within the
tray 2 without necessitating an additional resealable flap,
hinged cover or plug-type closure for the package. I'hus" the
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package 1 provides a means ~or reliably dispensiny individual
wet product sheets while protecting the reserve product sheets
from evaporation of the volatile composition with which they have
been pxe-moistened.
Heretoforel in dispensing packages having small dispensing
orifices, it was common practice in the prior art to provide the
package with a primary top containing the dispensing orifice and
a secondary reclosable lid for the dispensing orifice. The con-
sumer was required to remove the primary top and thread the top-
most portion of the product through the dispensing ori~ice, re-
placing the primary lid or top on the package. This approach
has a number of disadvantages. First of all, it is inconvenient
for the consumer. It also involves the risk of contaminating
the package contents and, when the contents constitute inter-
leaved product sheets, there is also the risk of spilling the
stack of product sheets or disturbing their interleaved condition.
The above mentioned U.S. Patent No. 4,138,034, teaches that
the topmost product sheet may be started through dispensing
orifice 7 by mandrel~means or the like prior to the application `
of the cover 3 to tray 2. While this is advantageous for the
consumer and eliminates the above mentioned problems, it renders
a high speed packaging process more complex, requiring more com-
plicated packaging equipment. The starter means and method of
the present invention not only eliminate the prior art problems
faced by the consumer, but also lend themselves well to a high
speed packaging process without requiring complex packaging
machinery.
Returning to Figure 1, a stack of interleaved product sheets
is generally indicated at 8. It will be understood that, for
purposes of an exemplary showing, the thickness o~ the interleaved
product sheets is greatl~ exaggerated and hence their number is
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reduced. The topmost product sheet is shown at 8a. In accord-
ance with the present invention/ interleaved with and overlying
the topmost product sheet 8a there is a starter sheet 9. The
starter sheet 9 is a non-product, sheet. During the packaying
process, the stack of interleaved product sheets 8 including
starter sheet 9 (interleaved with and overlying the topmost
product sheet 8a) is located in the tray 2. The cover 3 is
thereafter placed upon the tray and sealed thereto by heat seal-
ing, adhesive sealing or mechanical sealing, as described above.
A vacuum head 10 of any appropriate and well known type is
placed in contact with the cover 3, as shown in Figure 1. This
may be done before or after the sealing of cover 3 to the tray 2.
It will be understood that the vacuum head is connected to a
source of vacuum (not shown). The vacuum head should be at least
large enough to surround and encompass dispensing orifice 7. For
purposes of an exemplary showing, the vacuum head 10 is illus-
trated as having a diameter sufficient to surround the entire
; depression 6 in the cover 3. A vacuum is in this fashion applied
to orifice 7 drawing the starter sheet 9 upwardly through dis-
pensing orifice 7. In Figure 1 starter sheet 9 is illustrated
just as it is beginning to be drawn through dispensing orifice 7,
as at 11. The starter sheet should be less porous than the
product sheets so that when a vacuum is applied to dispensing
orifice 7 only the starter sheet is drawn therethrough. ~f the
starter sheet is of the same porosity as the product sheets, the
~irst one or more product sheets may also be drawn upwardly by
the vacuum preventing the starter sheet from being drawn through
the restrictive dispensing orifice 7. While not required, the
starter sheet may indeed be non-porous.
The starter sheet 9 need only be drawn through dispensing
orifice 7 by an amount sufficient to enable the starter shee-t to be
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grasped by the consumer. While this amount may be readily varied,
in general if the starter sheet protrudes through dispensiny
orifice 7 by about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch, ~he s~arter sheet may
be easily removed by the consumer from packages o~ the type shown
in Figures 1 through 4. Removal of starter sheet 9 will draw the
topmost product sheet 8a to its pop-up position. Figure 2, where-
in like parts have been given like reference numerals, shows the
starter sheet 9 drawn through the dispensing orifice 7 to form
an easily graspable "bubble", the leading edge of the starter
sheet still located within the package 1. In instances where it
is desired to have a greater amount of the starter sheet
extending through dispensing oriice 7, the leading edge of the
starter sheet will be drawn through the dispensing orifice. This
is shown in Figure 3, wherein like parts have again been given
like reference numerals. In Figure 3 the thickness of starter
sheet 9 has again been exaggerated for purposes of clarity. It
will be evident from Figures 2 and 3 that starter sheet 9, itself,
will serve as a plug for dispensing orifice 7 until such time as
the starter sheet is removed by the consumer.
Starter sheet 9 may be made of any appropriate material
such as plastic, cloth or paper which is either inherently less
porous or treated to be less porous than the pro~uct sheets.
Again, the starter sheet may inherently be or may be treated to
be non-porous. The starter sheet must be compatible with the
volatile component with which the product sheets are premoistened.
The starter sheet must be sufficiently strong and ~lexible to
enable it to be drawn through dispensing orifice 7 by vacuum and
to draw the topmost product sheet 8a through the dispensing
orifice 7 upon its withdrawal from the package by the consumer.
It will be understood that if the starter sheet 9 is too
stiff or thick, it will not properly draw through dispensing
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orifice 7. On the other Kand, i~ starter sheet 9 is too thin, ik
may be ruptured by the vacuum or it may fail to pull the topmost
product sheet 8a through the dispensing orifice 7 when withdrawn
by the consumer.
The choice of an appropriate starter sheet 9 is well within
the skill of the worker in the art. As a nonlimiting example,
excellent results were achieved with a package of the type illus-
trated in Figure 1 wherein the cover 3 had a circular dispensing
orifice 7 with a 3/16 inch diameter (i.e. an opening area of
.~276 square inch). The product sheets were of nonwoven rayon
2.5 inches wide and .005 inch thick (i.e., a cross sectional area
of .0125 square inch), two sheets having a total cross sectional
area of .025 square inch). The volatile compound with which the
sheets were pre-moistened was a light oil. The sheets were
extracted through the dispensing orifice in the machine direction
of the sheets. In this example, a polyethylene starter sheet was
used. The polyethylene starter sheet was of substantially the
same length and width dimensions as the product sheets and had a
thickness of 1 mil. The starter sheet was drawn part way through
the dispensing orifice by a vacuum at a pressure of 20 inches of
` mercury. In such an example, a polyethylene starter sheet having
any appropriate thickness (so long as it is sufficiently flexible
to enable it to be drawn through orifice 7) will perform well.
It will be understood b~ one skilled in the art that starter
sheet 9 may also bear printed indicia such as advertising, a
marketing message OK the like. Preferably, the package will be
provided with a detachable and discardable barrier layer or seal
adhesively affixed to the cover 3 and overlying the depression 6
and the dispensing orifice 7. Such a barrier layer or seal is
shown at 12 in Figure 4 (wherein like parts have been gi~en like
reference numerals) and is described in the above mentioned U.S.
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Patent No. 4,138,034. The package 1 may also be provided wi-th a
partial or complete overwrap, or the package itsel~ may be located
within an outer carton such as a full flap paper board carton or
the like. These elements, of course, do not constitute a part
of the present invention.
The teachings of the present invention are directed to
packages having a restrictive dispensing orifice as defined above.
The orifice need not be of the specific type taught in the above
mentioned U.S. Patent No. 4,138,034. Furthermore, the teachings
of the present invention are not limited to an interleaved stac~
of sheets or to sheets which have been pre-moistened with a
volatile component.
Reference is now made to Figure 5 wherein another embodiment
of the present invention is illustrated. In Fiyure 5 a package
is generally indicated at 12. For purposes of an exemplary
showing, the package comprises a tray-like portion 13 and a cover
14. The package 12 is again intended to dispense sheets in a
pop-up manner.
The nature of the dispensing orifice is not limiting other
than that it is of such size that the consumer could not con-
veniently start the topmost product sheet through the dispensing
orifice with his fingers. In an exemplary showing the cover 14
is illustrated as having a downwardly and inwardly sloping portion
15 defining a dispensing orifice 16. It will be noted that while
the dispensing orifice 16 is still restrictive as defined above,
it is larger than the dispensing orifice 7 of Figures 1 through 4.
The container 12 is illustrated as being provided with a
plurality of product sheets in the form of a continuous, folded,
perforated web, generally indicated at 17. The precise manner of
folding and the location of the lines of perforation in the web
are not necessarily lirnitiny. In the exemplary embodiment, the
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sheets o~ the web are shown provided with a V-~old with lines o~
perforation indicated at 18. The topmost sheet o~ -the continuous
web 17 is shown at 19. Interleaved therewi-th is a starter sheet
20 which is identical to the starter sheet 9 of Fiyure 1. Again
it will be understood that the thickness of the starter sheet 20
and the individual sheets of the web 17 is exaggerated for
purposes of clarity.
The starter sheet 20 serves the same function as starter
sheet 9 of Figure 1 and operates in the same way. The starter
5heet 20 may be partially drawn through dispensing orifice 16 by
a vacuum head similar to that shown at 10 in Figure 1. Since, in
the embodiment shown in Figure 5 the dispensing orifice 16 is
larger than the dispensing orifice 7 of Figure 1, it would also
be possible to provide a vacuum head or tube 21 so sized as to be
insertable through dispensing orifice 16 and placed near or in
contact with starter sheet 20. The vacuum head or tube 21 may be
provided with stop means 22 to limit the depth to which it extends
into package 12 through the dispensing orifice 16. Upon the
application of a vacuum, the starter sheet may be held in contact
with the vacuum tube 21 and drawn through the dispensing orifice
16 by retraction of vacuum tube 21.
Further modifications may be made in the embodiment of
Figure 5 as will be evident from that Figure. For examplé, the
starter sheet 20 need not necessarily be interleaved with the
topmost product sheet of the web 17. The starter sheet 20 may be
so sized as to overlie the topmost product sheet 19 and may have
its trailing edge appropriately adhered to or attached to the
leading edge of the topmost product sheet 19.
It will also be evident from Figure 5 that i~ the material
from which the sheets of web 17 are made is of sufficient strength
and flexibility, the starter sheet 20 could be eliminated and the
;: "', ', '' .
first sheet l9 of the web could be pre-treated to be non~porous
or less porous than the remaining product sheets. Under these
circumstances, the first sheet of the web 17 would, itself, serve
as the starter sheet.
Figure 6 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present
invention. The package of Figure 6 is generally indicated at 23
and comprises a tray-like portion 24 and a cover 25. The cover
25 may, for purposes of description, be substantially identical
to the cover 14 of Figure 5. To this end, it is illustrated as
having a downwardly and inwardly extending flange 26 defining a
dispensing opening 27. The tray-like portion 24 is configured to
accommodate a continuous perforated web of sheets in roll form.
The rolled web of sheets is generally indicated at 28.
The first product sheet of the rolled web 28 is shown at 29.
Interleaved therewith is a starter sheet 30 which may be identical
; to starter sheet 20 of Figure 5 or starter sheet 9 of Figure l.
Although the product sheets are in the form of a continuous
roll web 28 in the embodiment of Figure ~, rather than in an
interleaved stack such as stack 8 of Figure 1 or a continuously
folded web such as the web 17 of Figure 5, the function o~
starter sheet 30 is identical to that described with respect to
starter sheet 9 of Figure 1 or starter sheet 20 of Figure S. The
starter sheet 30 may be partially drawn through the dispensing
orifice 27 by vacuum means either of the type shown at lO in
Figure 1 or of the type shown at 21 in Figure 5.
As described with respect to Figure 5, it will be evident
that the starter sheet 30 need not necessarily be interleaved
with the first product sheet 29 of web 28. The starter sheet 30
may have its trailing edge appropriately affixed to or adhered to
the leading edge of first product sheet 29.
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Again, when the web 28 is made o~ material havin~ appro-
priate strength and flexibilit~, the starter shee-t 30 could be
eliminated and the first sheet 29 of the web could be pre-trea-ted
so as to be non-porous (or less porous than the remaining product
sheets), so as to serve, itself, as the starter sheet. r
Modifications may be made in the invention withou-t departing
from the spirit of it. For example, the package l of Figure 1
could be provided with a continuous, folded, perforated web of
the type shown at 17 in Figure 5 or with a continuous, perforated,
10 rolled web o~ the type shown at 28 in Figure 6.
In the application of a vacuum to draw the star-ter sheet
through the dispensing orifice, after the manner described with
respect to Figure 1, it has been found khat if this step is per-
formed prior to the sealing of the cover 3 to the flange 4 of
tray 2, with the cover 3 resting upon the flange ~ or spaced
slightly upwardly therefrom, the vacuum step can be performed
rapidly and the distance between the dispensing orifice 7 and the
starter sheet 9 is not critical. On the other hand, if this
vacuum step is performed after sealing the cover 3 to the tray 2
20 the vacuum step requires that the starter sheet preferably be in
relatively close proximity to the dispensing orifice 7 either by
virtue of the height of the stack or, alternatively, by virtue
of the flexibility of the materials from which the pac~age l is
made such that the dispensing orifice 7 and the starter sheet 9
may be brought into relatively close proximity under the loading
of the vacuum head to permit such withdrawal.
Finally, although the invention has been described in terms
of the starter sheet being withdrawn through the dispensing orifice
by the consumer, it is within the scope of the pxesent invention
30 to have the starter sheet withdrawn as a part of the packagin~
process so that the consumer is presented with the topmost product
sheet in .its pop-up position.
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