Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Sl'ECIFICA'rION
1. TITLE OF TIIE INVENTION
METHOD OF PRODUCING ROLL OF COMPRESSED ROLL PAPER
AND APPARATUS T~IEREFOR
2. DET~ILED DESCRIPTION OF TIIE INVENTION
This invention relates to compressed toilet roll
paper nn(l towel roll paper, -i.e. compressed roll paper,
and more particularly to a method of and an apparatus for
producing a roll oE roll paper reduced in volume.
In general, a roll of roll paper is formed into a
cylindrical shape by winding toilet paper or towel paper
on a hollow cylindrical core, so that a roll of roll paper
can be continuously taken out of a holder in use.
Ilowever, the cylindrical outer shape and the hollow
cylindrical core lead to increased voids in the loading,
storage and the like of rolls of roll paper, thus result-
ing in bulkiness. Due to this bulkiness, with the rolls
of the conventional roll paper, freight charges, warehouse
charges and the like are rather high, which is not
neglectable in view of a sales cost of a roll of roll
paper. Moreover, in the case of export, the freight
charges and warehouse charges are increased to a huge
amount, the reduction of which has been a great question
in view of a reduced unit cost of a roll of roll paper.
To obviate the drawback caused by the cylindrical
shape of roll paper as described above, there have been
proposed measures for deforming a roll of roll paper into
~257~.~6~ Page 2
a flaL sllal)c lo dccrcil~q( cosLs re(luire(l for packing,
transporting and storing of rolls of roll paper.
However, none of such measures has been put into
practice.
The reason is that, as for roll paper, even if it is
deformed into crooked shape during transportation for
example, its value as an article of trade is deemed to be
lowered. When a roll of roll paper is compression
deformed into a flaL shape, the roll of roll paper is
bulged out in one direction and crapes formed thereon are
flattened, and folding wrinkles are left to lower elastic-
ity of the roll of roll paper. Although the flattened
roll of roll paper is restored to be a round shape for
use, the crooked shape of the roll of roll paper cannot
be easily obviated and left as it is. Even if a roll of
roll payer is pressed and compression deformed illtO a flat
shape, the roll of roll paper is easily inflated again due
to its inherent elasticity when the pressing force is
removed. Thus, it is not easy to maintain the shape of
the roll of roll paper at the time of being compression
deformed due to the pressing, and consequently, the effect
of reducing the volunle due to the compression deformation
is not so much expected.
The inventors of the present invention have repeated
studies on the compression deformation of the roll of
compressed roll paper due to the pressing and the
characteristics of restoration to its initial shape, and
reached the following methods and apparatuses.
Page 3
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Namely, the present invention resides in that a roll
of compressed roll paper characterized in that said roll
of roll paper is at least liquid-nonpermeably wrapped with
a film or films and has a flat shape in its side surface,
a method of compression deforming a roll of
roll-shaped roll paper to produce a flat-shaped roll of
compressed roll paper, characterized in that pressing of
said roll of roll paper in directions of compression is
continued while the bulging-out sides of the roll of roll
paper are pressed,
a method of pressure deforming a rol] of roll-shaped
roll paper to produce a roll of compressed roll paper,
characterized in that, while the bulging-out sides of said
roll paper are pressed, pressing of said roll of roll
paper ln direct:ions of compress:Lon is continued to form
a roll of flat-shaped compres.sed roll paper at an inter-
mediate stage, said :Elat-shaped roll of compressed roll
paper at the intermediate stage is wrapped with a
heat-sllrinlcable po:Lymer film or films and heated,
an apparatus for producing a roll of compressed roll
paper having a flat shape in its side surface, character-
ized by a roll receiving device for a roll of roll paper,
a roll cutting device for a roll of roll paper and a
pressure forming device for roll paper or a roll of roll
paper,
an apparatus for producing a rol.l of compressed roll
paper having a flat shape in its side surface, character-
ized by:
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a roll paper pressure containing portion comprising
a roll paper support p:Late and a pair of side plates
provided at opposite ends of said support plate and
opposed to each other;
a push rod bear:ing member opposed to said roll paper
support plate of said roll paper pressure containing
portion and provided at end portions of said side plates;
a push rod movably supported by a bearing of said
bearing member and provided at an end thereof with a
pressure plate; and
a roll paper positioning member provided at least at
one of said side plates in a manner to be linearly movable
into and out of said roll paper pressure containing
portion, and
an apparatus for producing a roll of compressed roll
paper, characterized by:
a fixed shaft;
a cam affixed to said fixed shaft;
a push rod provided at one end thereof with a roller
being in contact with said cam and at the other end there-
of with a push plate;
a rotatable drum-shaped roll paper support member
concentric with said fixed shaft, provided outside said
cam and having a side wall extending outwardly at one end
thereof;
a pair of side push plates affixed to side walls of
said drum-shaped roll paper support member and forming a
roll paper support space;
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a push rod bearing for movably supporting said push
rocl provided a~ :inller C'lld porLions of said side push
plates;
a lid member with a lever, openably provided at outer
end portions of said side plates and having a roller;
a frame concentric with said drum-shaped roll paper
support member, positioned outwardly of said support
member and being in contact with the roller of said lid
member;
a push rod support rail provicded at least at a
portion not covered by said frame; and
a lid member opening rail engaged with said lever.
In the present invention, compressed roll paper means
compressed roll of toilet paper and paper towel, which
need not necessarily be one roll of roll paper, but, may
be one including the length of a plurality of rolls of
roll paper with single perforated lines or the like
provided at every bordèrs so as to be cut. The shape of
compressed roll paper is a shape of being flatter than a
circle in its side surface, including not only an
elliptical shape but also a rectangular shape, and
moreover, various shapes covering a variety between the
rectangular shape and the elliptical shape.
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Page 6
According to the present invention,
a roll of compressed roll paper is formed and produced
under pressure, an(l, it is preferable to apply pressure
to the roll of roll paper simultaneously with film sealing
in order to suppress the flattening of crapes to the
utmost during production. In consequence, pressure may
be applied in the vertical direction for example.
However, the application of pressure not only in the
vertical direction but also the lateral direction makes
it possible to form the roll of roll paper having a
suitable shape in its side surface. Needless to say, it
is preferable that the application of pressure in the
bulging-out directions in addition to the lateral
direction. Thus, the suppression of bulge-out through the
application of pressure not only in the vertical direction
but also in the bulging-out directions makes it possible
to reali~e the compression of the outer diameter of 27mm
on the shorter diameter's side of the roll of roll paper
of a single roll type having a winding length of 55m.
With the above arrangement, for example, a roll
of flatly compressed roll paper of a single roll type
having a winding length of 55m can be industrially
manufactured to have an outer diameter on the shorter
diameter's side of 50mm or less, particularly 45mm or
less, and an outer dialneter on the longer diameter's side
of 124mm or more.
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Page 7
~ lowever, if the outer diameter on the shorter
diameter's side of a roll of roll paper is compressed to
an extreme flatness, :i.e. lOmm by one step for example,
then a perforated line or the like positioned at a
bulging-out portion may be broken off or corners bulge
out to an extreme extent where folding wrinkles become
ununiform, whereby the restoration to a circular shape
for use cannot be effected, and further, breakage may
easily occur at end portions, i.e. selvedges. Hence, in
such cases as described above, it is desirable that the
compression is confined to an outer diameter of about 30
- 20mm on the shorter diameter's side at the side surface
of roll paper for example, the compressed article is
wrapped with a heat~shrinkable polymer film, and further,
shrunk to predetermined dimensions by the operation of
shrinkage by the heated film.
With the above arrangement, the compression may be
achieved witll no perforated line brolcen off even when such
perforated line is positioned at the bulging-out portion
of roll paper and no selvedges broken in use.
Since the pressure formed roll of roll paper has a
restoring force after the formation to some extent as
described above, it is preferable to wrap roll paper with
a plastics film or the like simultaneously with the
formation in order to maintain the shape of roll paper at
the time of formation.
To wrap the roll of compressed roll paper thus flatly
formed, any of wrap materials including a paper container,
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a plastics container, a can and the like may be used in
addition to plastics film wrapping. Particularly, the
plastics film wrapping is easily mechani~ed, whereby film
seal, particular:Ly individual film seal is easily
performed, and moreover, air-tight or liquid-nonpermeable
seal is practicable, so that the articles can be prevented
from deteriorating in quality due to rain, moisture and
the like during transportation and storage, thereby
proving very sanitary. Further, in the case where both
the flat formation under pressure and the film wrapping
are simultalleously performed, if the sealing under
pressure is effected in vacuo, then the compression can
be achieved to a volume half that of the conventional
roll-shaped roll paper, and moreover, the restoring force
is preferably large as compared with the small volume
thereof. It is preferable to use a heat-shrinkable
polymer film as the plastics film because the pressure
formation can be carried out simultaneously with the
wrapping.
According to the present invention, the compression
formation of a roll of roll-shaped roll paper under
pressure is carried out by pushing the roll of roll paper
by means of a push rod. In this case, the pushing stroke
by the push rod is such that, for example, when there is
a case where an outer diameter of the roll of compressed
roll paper is 50mm on the shorter diameter's side in
compressing the roll of roll paper of a single roll type
having a winding length of 55m, the pushing stroke is
~ 257 .~6~j P age 9
83mm. In this case, the outer diameter of the roll of
roll paper of single roll type having a winding length of
55m can be compressed to 27mm on the shorter diameter's
side.
Ilowever, this compression of roll paper is performed
such that the pressing process by means of the push rod
is not pushed at once, but gradually pushed. Moreover,
in the case of a roll of roll paper of a single roll type
having a winding length of 55m for example, the pressing
of the push rod i8 not stopped at a position where an
outer diameter reaches 20 to 30mm, e.g. 27mm on the
shorter diameter's side. On the contrary, the roll of
roll paper must be maintained under the pressing force for
a predetermined period of time, e.g. 15sec or more, pref-
erably, 20sec or more. Such pressing force as described
above may be gradually released, or the compressed roll
paper may be held as it is under the final pressure for
a predetermined period of time. With the above arrange-
ment, even when the pressing force is removed, the outer
diameter of the roll of compressed roll paper remains at
about 50mm on the shorter diameter's side, so that flat
rolls of roll paper is stably produced. In consequence,
subsequent works can be easily carried out.
Furthermore, the inventors of the present inven~ion
have found that, in producing the roll of compressed roll
paper by the above-described method, a roll of roll paper
of a single roll type having a winding length of 55m is
produced with its crapes not being protected, and, when
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the outer diameter on ttle shorter diameter's side is lOmm
upon the compression deformation, if roll paper is re-
stored, then the outer diameter on the shorter diameter's
side becomes 26mm, however, this roll of roll paper,
havi.ng folding lines, and cannot easily return to a
circular shape. Further, when the outer diameter on the
shorter diameter's side is 16mm upon the compression
deformation, the outer diameter on the shorter diameter's
side is 27mm after the restoration, which is substantially
similar to the above case, it is necessary for securing
the characteristics of restoration of the compressed roll
paper that the outer diameter on the shorter diameter's
side becomes 45 - 50mm or more upon the restration after
the compression
~ n apparatus for producing the compressed roll paper
according to the present invention is of such an arrange-
ment that a roller is provided at one end of a push rod,
and this roller is brought into engagement with a guide
cam for pressing, whereby a path for the roller is guided
by the guide cam for pressing, so that a moving stroke of
a push plate of the push rod during the pressing process
can be adjusted in accordance with a schedule.
The guide cam for pressing may be provided upwardly
or downwardly of a pressing container, whereby a circula-
tion path of either a horizontal type or a verticai type
is formed. However, the guide cam for pressing may be
affixed to a fixed shaft, being centered about the shaft,
and a plurality of pressing devices each having a push rod
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Page 11
may be radially, rotatably provided around the guide cam
in the vertical type. The cam is affixed to the fixed
shaft as described above, whereby the construction of the
cam is simplified, so that an area for installation can
be reduced. No matter which type may be adopted, the
shape of the guide cam for pressing is determined in
accordance with the pressing force of roll paper, i.e. the
moving stroke of the push plate.
The pressing container includes side walls, a roll
paper support plate and an openable door capable of
receiving or discharging roll paper, to thereby form a
roll paper receiving chamber. The door, for example, may
be replaced with a be(ll)late for supporting roll paper or
a lid plate, both of which are made openable. It is
preferable to provide a roll paper positioning member on
the roll paper receiving chamber oE the pressing contain-
er, so that a roll of roll paper rnay be positioned at a
predetermined position in pressing the roll.
A mere fixation of the pressing container by use of
a fixedly supporting device makes it possible to perEorm
the pressing of a roll of roll paper. However, a roller
is provided outwardly of the bedplate and this roller is
brought into engagement with a guide plate such as a frame
plate, so that a load acting on the fixedly supporting
device can be reduced.
Particularly, when the apparatus for the production
according to the present invention is formed into a rotary
type, it is preferable that a push rod support rail to be
~5~.~6~ Page 12
brought into engagement with the roller of the push rod
be provided around the cam for pressing for example.
Further, it is preferable that a lid member open-close
rail engageable with a lever provided on the bedplate, lid
member or a cover be provided.
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Fig. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a roll of
flat toilet paper produced according to the invention of
the present application;
Fig. 2 is a flow sheet showing an embodiment of the
method of and the apparatus for producing a roll of flatly
compressed roll paper according to the invention of the
present application;
Fig. 3 is schematic diagram showing the pressure
formation process in another embodiment of the method of
and the apparatus for producing a roll of compressed roll
paper according to the invention of the present
application;
Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing part of the
film seal process of in another embodiment of the method
of and the apparatus for producing a roll of compressed
roll paper according to the invention of the present
application;
Fig. S is a sectional side view showing an embodiment
of the apparatus for producing a roll of compressed roll
paper according to the invention of the present applica-
tion; and
Fig. 6 is a partially sectional, enlarged view
showing the roll paper feeding portion shown in Fig. 5.
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Detailed description will hereunder be given of the
present invention with reference to the drawings.
However, the present invention need not necessarily be
limited to this description.
Referring to Fig. 1, designated at 1 is a core, 3 a
hollow portion of the core, and 4 a plastics film
wrapping. In this ~rawing, the hollow portion 3 of the
care is fairly exaggeratedly drawn, whereby an inner space
is shown as being fairly large. However, in the case of
a tubular paper core, opposing inner wall surfaces of the
hollow portion of the core are almost in contact with each
other, whereby the inner space is very small even if it
exists. However, depending upon the material forming the
core ancd conclitiorls oE formation-seal process, the hollow
portions of the roll of flatly compressed roll paper
according to the invention of the present application may
vary widely from a state where the inner space being left
as shown in the drawing to a state where the inner wall
surfaces of the core are almost in contact with each
other, whereby, almost no inner space is left.
A roll 9 of roll-shaped toilet roll paper thus
produced is conveyed by a conveyor belt 8 from a roll
receiving process 5 to a cutter, e.g. a cutting process
6 having an automatic circular cutter where the roll 9 is
cut to a suitable length. In the cutting process 6 having
the cutter, the roll 9 of roll-shaped roll paper may be
cut to a suitable length or provided thereon with
perforated lines to be cut. In Fig. 2, there are shown
Page 15
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~only rolls 10 of roll-shaped roll paper, which have been
cut to a length of use, however, those rolls may otherwise
be rolls of roll-shaped roll paper each provided thereon
with perforated lines that may be suitable cut to a length
of use.
A roll of roll-shaped roll paper cut during the
cutti.ng process, :in ~he pr:ior art, is film-packed as is,
then, packed in a case or the like and shipped, however,
according to the invention of the present application, the
roll is conveyed to a pressure-seal process 7, where the
roll is formed into a flat shape and sealed with film.
The roll 10 of roll-shaped paper roll, which has been
cut during the cutting process 6, is conveyed to a
formation-seal process 7 by the conveyor belt 8. While,
in the formation-seal process 7, plastics films 14 and 15
for wrapping are delivered Erom delivery film rollers 12
and 13, passed through guide rolls 16, 17 and guide plates
18, 19 and conveyed to a formation-seal portion 22. The
cut roll 10 of roll-shaped roll paper together with a
lower film 15 are conveyed to the formation-seal portion
; 22. Furthermore, an upper film is passed through an upper
guide plate and covered around an upper portion of the cut
roll lO of roll-shaped roll paper to cover the same in the
formation-seal portion 22 or in the front of the
formation-seal portion 22.
: In the formation-seal portion 22, there are provided
presses 20 and 21 for pressure formation each having means
for sealing film. Limit frames, not shown, are opposed
~ ~5~.r~6~ Page 16
to each other in a directioll traversing a path of the
formation-seal portion 22. The cut roll 10 of roll-shaped
roll paper is conveyed to a space formed between the
opposing limit frames, pressed, in such conditions where
it is covered by the upper and lower films, by the presses
20 and 21 from above and below, and sealed with films
simultaneously with the formation.
The limit frames may be fixedly provided. However,
it is preferable to provide the limit frames in such a
manner that the interval of opposition is suitably
adjustable. The provision of the limit frames at a
suitable interval makes it possible to adjust the pressing
in the lateral direction and form the rolls into various
types of flatness.
The roll of compressed roll paper thus sealed
simultaneously with the formation is moved from the
formation-seal portion 22, transferred from a belt
conveyor 23 to a chute 24, then, packed in corrugated case
or the like, and then shipped.
Fig. 2 shows a case of an example where a cut roll
of roll paper is sealed with film simultaneously with the
pressure formation thereof. However, a plurality of rolls
may be wrappingly sealed with film into a single pack
simultaneously with the pressure formation, and a long
roll of roll paper may be sealed in the same manner as
above. Needless to say, the formation process and the
seal process may be effected separately of each other.
In this case, one or a plurality of rolls of flatly
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~ 257 ~~ 7 Page 17
compresse(l roll pal)er, which have undergone the pressure
formation only, are covered with film and sealed.
The provision of a hollow core with elasticity, which
is even slight, makes it possible to easily return from
the flat shape to the cylindrical shape. As a material
of the hollow core described above, it suffices to use one
which can be easily restored from the flat shape,
particularly a thin flat shape to the circle, i.e. the
cylindrical shape. The material of the hollow core may
be formed of a rubber or plastics rubber, which are easily
returned to the cylindrical shape by unpacking for
example, and further, may be formed of one which is easily
deformably flexible, i.e. a material having slight
elasticity, such as a tubular paper core. When the
conventional roll paper using the tubular paper core is
pressure formed into a Llat shape for example, wrinkles
are formed at flexed side portions of the tubular paper
core. However, when a slight force is applied to the
flexed side portions to expand the center portions for
use, the tubular paper core can be readily formed into a
cylindrical shape, i.e. a roll shape, thus raising no
problem.
A roll 25 of roll-shaped roll paper, which has been
given perforated lines and cut to a suitable length during
the cutting process, not shown, in Fig. 3, is covered at
its upper and lower portions with plastics films delivered
from a plastics film delivery roller 26 (a lower roller
not shown), conveyed by hold-down rollers 29, 32 and
~257. ~ Page 18
carrying rollers 30, 35, 37 and 39, and formed into a flat
shape under pressure of pressure rollers 34, 36 and 38.
For example, during the forming process shown in Fig.
3, a roll 31 of compressed roll paper, which has been
deformed, is sealed by jointing an upper and a lower films
in front and at the back thereof, and conveyed by carrying
rollers after a surplus portion of the sealed film has
been cut away.
The feed speeds of a conveyor belt 47, a hold-down
roller 48 and a carrying roller 49 are made higher than
the feed speeds of hold-down rollers 41 and 42, whereby
an interval between the rolls of compressed roll paper is
increased and the films become stretched therebetween.
Then, the upper and the lower films are clamped between
heating seal devices 44 and 45, to thereby seal the upper
and the lower films and cut the same off.
During the above sealing, vacuum sealing may be
effected by a vacuum device suitably provided.
~ roll 46 of compressed roll paper sealed therearound
by the films is conveyed by a belt conveyor 47 to be
case-packed.
In pressure forming the roll 25 of toilet roll paper
by use of pressure forming rollers 34, 36 and 38, the
formed shape of the roll may be suitably adjusted by limit
plates provided at opposite sides of the roll 25 of
roll-shaped roll paper.
The roll 31 of toilet roll paper thus flatly formed
is conveyed by a carrying roller to a subsequent process.
~2~;7,~ i Page 19
Fig. 3 shows the rolls of roll-shaped roll paper,
which have been given perforated lines and have a length
corresponding to three rolls. However, needless to say,
one roll of roll-shaped toilet roll paper as well as a
long one such as a ro:ll of roll-shaped roll paper may be
formed into a flat shape in its side surface.
Figs. 2 through 4 illustrate the processes in which
a roll of roll-shaped paper is cut, thereafter, formed and
sealed to produce intended flat rolls of compressed roll
paper. However, needless to say, cut and seal may be
effected after the formation. As the pressure formation
device in this case, the one shown in Fig. 3 for example
is preferable because the device may be continuously
operated.
A roll paper pressing container 50 is continuously,
rotatably movable from a roll paper pressing position 51
to a roll paper pressing position 62. Each of the press-
ing containers 50 comprises side plate 63 and 64, a
lid member 65, an upper roller 66, a push plate 67, a push
rod 68, a push rod bearing 69 and a lower roller 70. The
side plate 63 is affixed at opposite ends thereof to
a drum side plate 71. Thus, a pair of side plates
63 and 64 partition in the front and at the back of a
pressing container for roll paper, to thereby form the
pressing container. One 63 of the pair of side plates
is provided thereon with a member for positioning a
roll of roll paper, e.g. a positioning block 72. This
member determines a position of a roll of roll paper,
~ 2~7.~j Page 20
which has been supplied into the pressing container, prior
to the compression. A fulcrum 73 for opening or closing
the lid member is provided at one end of the side plate
63 provided in the rear, and said lid member 65 is
rotatably secured to this fulcrum. A lever 74 for closing
the lid member is provided on the lid member 65 on the
side of the fulcrum 73 for opening or closing the lid
member, to function of closing the lid member, which has
opened. In the -interior of the pressing container 50
defined by the push plate 67, side plates 63, 64 and
drum side plate 71, the push plate 67 moves within a
predetermined stroke, to thereby compress the roll of roll
paper in the pressing container 50. This moving stroke
is effected by the operation of the push rod 68 loosely
couplingly supported by the rod bearing 69. The pushing
operation of this push rod 68 is performed by the contact-
ing engagement between the lower roller 70 and a guide cam
75 for pressing. The guide cam 75 for pressing is affixed
to a fixed shaft 76, whereby the pressing container 50 is
rotatable with the drum side plates 71. The upper roller
66 of the pressing container 50 moves in contact with the
inner surface of a frame 77 concentric with the fixed
shaEt 76. A take-out position 57 is positioned at a posi-
tion past the tail end of the frame 77. A push rod
support rail 78 is formed along the outer periphery of the
guide cam 75 for pressing between this take-out position
57 to a pressing start position 62 where the starting end
of the frame 77 is disposed. At the take-out position 57,
~ z57.r6~ Page Zl
the pressing container 50 is supported by the support rail
78, however, the lid member 65 is automatically opened
downwardly because nothing supports the weight thereof,
and a take-out tool 80 for a roll 79 of compressed roll
paper and a conveyor 81 for carrying out the roll of
compressed roll paper are disposed directly beneath the
pressing container 50. A feed plate 82 and a roll paper
feed tool 83 are provided obliquely upwardly of a roll
paper feeding position 60. This roll paper feed tool 83
is operated by a cylinder 84. A drum support roller 86
is provided in contact with a drum 85 supported by ~he
drum support roller 86.
The drum support roller 86 is rotatably driven by a
driving source, not shown, to thereby turn the drum 85.
A lid member open-close rail 87 is provided in contact
with the end of the lever 74 from a position past the
take-out position 57 for the roll of compressed roll paper
to a position past the roll paper feeding position 60.
The apparatus for producing a roll of compressed roll
paper according to the present invention is of such
arrangement as described above, whereby the roll of roll
paper is supplied into the pressing container 50 at the
roll paper feeding position from the feed plate 82 and the
roll paper feed tool 83. The pressing container moves
upwardly as the drum rotates (rotating in a forward direc-
tion from 51 to 62 in the drawing) due to the rotation of
the drum support roller 86. The end of the lever 74 moves
along the open-close rail 87 and the lid member 65 is
~Z57,~6~ Page 22
closed at a position where the open-close rail 87 is bent
in the direction of lifting the end of the lever 74, The
roll 79 of roll paper in the pressing container is
positioned by the positioning block 72, whereby the
pressing container 50 moves within a pressing area in the
frame 77 including 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 57. As a
rotatable drum 85 rotates, the lower roller 70 of the push
rod 68 moves along the surface of the guide cam 75 for
pressing, whereby the push rod 68 slowly pushes into the
pressing container 50 at a speed of 4.3mm/sec on a
average, to thereby push the roll 79 of roll paper. The
shape of the guide cam 75 for pressing is determined in
accordance with the magnitude bf a pushing load and the
speed of insertion of the push rod 58. The movement of
the push rod 68 is stopped at a position where the push
plate 67 is 25mm apart from the l:id member 65, and the
push rod 68 is held thereat for 17.5sec. On the other
hand, the upper roller leaves the frame 77 after a lapse
of 17.5 sec. The lid member 65 opens by its gravity, and
the roll 79 of compressed roll paper is pushed out by the
push rod 68. The roll of compressed roll paper is taken
out by the take-out tool 80 and carried out by the
conveyor 81 for carrying out.
The rotatable drum 85 is continuously turned by the
rotation of the drum support rollers 86 for driving.
The roll 79 of compressed roll paper thus conveyed
is covered by the heat-shrinkable plastics films each
having a thickness of about 0.02mm and compressingly
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Page 23
~57,r~
sealed at a sealing temperature of 200C for example.
In a case capable oL colltaining therein 120 rolls of
the standard roll paper of a single roll type having an
outer diameter of about 50mm on the shorter diameter's
side, an outer diameter of about 124mm on the longer
diameter's side and a paper width of 114mm, there may be
contained 208 rolls of compressed roll paper thus sealed.
Hence, if the rolls of compressed roll paper are held in
the apparatus shown in the above embodiment for 20 sec or
more, Lhell, the rolls of the standard roll paper are
deformed to have an outer diameter of about 45mm on the
shorter diameter's side and an outer dimeter of about
124mm on the longer diameter's side, and, in the above
case of capable of containing therein 120 rolls, there may
be contained 212 rolls, so that the number of the deformed
rolls thus compressed which are contained in the same case
is increased by 76.7% as compared with the rolls of the
standard roll paper. Even if a ready made case is used
as described above, track load charges for example during
transportation, warehouse storage charges and the like are
saved by about 40%. A roll of roll-shaped toilet roll
paper of a single roll type having a winding length of 65m
has a diameter of 10.5cm and a length of 11.7cm. In con-
trast thereto, the roll of toilet roll paper according to
the invention of the present application has a width of
12cm, a length of 11.7cm and a thickness of 4cm, whereby
the volume is reduced to one half and the configuration
is not bulky, whereby the load per unit volume can be
~57~6~
Page Z4
increased, thus proving outstandingly advantageous from
the viewpoint of transportation and the like of toilet
rol:l paper. And cylindrical towel paper, for example,
having a winding length of 18m has a dizmeter of about
12cm and a length about 24cm is compressed to have a width
of about 16cm, a length of about 24cm and a thickness of
about 4.5cm according to the present invention.
However, if the rolls of compressed toilet roll paper
are contained in a case specially fitted thereto, then the
space in the case is more effectively used, so that the
number of rolls contained in the case is increased by
100%, so that the expenses for transportation can be
reduced to one half.
Moreover, the roll of compressed roll paper obtained
according to the present invention can maintain the flat
shape even when the pressing force is released, so that
the volume reduction as described above can be
contemplated. Hence, if a heat-shrinkable polymer film
is used, then the compression can be easily effected, the
wrapping by use of a plastics film or the like can be
easily performed and the handling of articles thereafter
can be easily made. The roll of compressed roll paper as
being the products according to the present invention, in
the case of a single roll type having a winding length of
55m, can be strongly compressed to a thickness of 27mm
with crapes being protected for example. However, roll
is returned to a thickness of about 50mm due to a
restoring force of crapes, emboss formation or the like.
~257- J~ Page 25
Hence, for use, the center portions are pressed to be
inflated to easily restore to a circle, whereby no trouble
is caused in use.
~ oreover, the roll of compressed roll paper according
to the present invention can be maintained in a flat state
for a long period of time, so that the further handling
may be easily made. The wrapping by use of plastics films
or the like may be automatically carried out at any time
as well as during the production process. Particularly,
the rolls, which have been liquid-nonpermeably wrapped by
a plastic film or plastics films or have been air-tightly
wrapped by a plastic film or plastic films, can be
prevented from deteriorating in quality due to rain,
moisture and the like during transportation and storage,
thereby proving very sanitary.
As has been described hereinabove, the influence
brought about by the present invention is significant.
~L2~7 ~r,~
Page 26
Designated at 1 is a core, 2 a roll of toilet roll
paper, 3 a hollow portion of the core, 4 a plastics film,
5 a roll receiving process for roll-shaped toilet roll
paper, 6 a cutting process, and 7 a formation-seal
process. Denoted at 9 is a roll of roll-shaped toilet
roll paper, and 10 a roll of roll-shaped toilet roll paper
obtained by cutting the roll 9. Indicated at 12 and 13
are plastics film rollers, and 19 and 20 form a 75 a guide
cam for pressing, 76 a fixed shaft, 77 a frame, 78 a
support rail, 79 a roll of roll paper, 80 a take-out tcol,
81 a conveyor for carrying out, ~2 a roll paper feed
plate, 8~ a rotary drum, 85 a drum support conveyor, 86
a driving roller, 87 an open-close rail, and 88 a stopper.
This application is a division of application Serial
Number 455rO51 filed May 24, 1984.
