Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Method for packing strip-type objects, especially
strips of chewing gum, and packaging produced thereby
The invention relates to a method for packing strip-
type objects, especially objects suitable for
consumption, especially strips of chewing gum. The
invention also relates to an item of packaging which is
produced by way of said method.
Different methods for packing strip-type objects,
especially strips of chewing gum or chewing gum sticks,
as well as items of packaging produced using these
types of methods are known in the prior art. Insofar as
chewing gums or strips of chewing gum or chewing gum
sticks are referred to below, this is to be understood
purely as an example. Along with chewing gums, the
present invention relates to any type of strip-shaped
objects, especially such objects which are suitable for
human consumption. In this connection, this also can
be, for example, cakes and pastries or confectionery
and the like. Strip-shaped products which are not
intended for consumption such as, for example, medical
or pharmaceutical products, such as diagnostic strips
and the like, are, however, also included.
In the case of all these types of strip-shaped objects,
the essential point is that the objects are packed
individually in a first packaging material, for example
in a blank of aluminum foil or cellophane foil, and by
forming a group of individual strip-type objects which
are packed in this manner, are then packed as a group
in a second packaging material, for example in a blank
of a cardboard material.
With reference to chewing gums, different designs of
chewing gum sticks with different dimensions are common
on the market. Relatively wide, long strips with a
small thickness (so-called stick gum) or strips which
are narrower and shorter in comparison thereto, but
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which are greater in thickness (so-called tab gum) are
on the market in particular. In addition, there are
also further formats for strips of chewing gum or stick
chewing gum on the market. The item of packaging of the
present invention is to be suitable especially for said
known formats of strips of chewing gum.
In the chewing gum market sector, the items of
packaging, the forms of the packaging and packaging
concepts play an important role for marketing and sales
purposes. In the market, the form, method of use and
method of operation of the respective items of
packaging are important for said products. The way in
which the packed products are presented plays a
considerable role. The relevant market, in this case,
always demands new forms, styles and types of
packaging, and new products are preferably sold by
means of such new forms of packaging.
Thus, chewing gum packaging, where the individual
strips of chewing gum, which in each case are already
packed per se, are packed in layers or stacks and in
groups, i.e. several stacks arranged side by side, are
known in the market. In the case of these types of
arrangements there is the problem that the individual
strips of chewing gum are able to slip and become mixed
up in the overall packaging as soon as one or more
strips have been removed from the item of packaging.
The individual strips can then lie all over the place
in the item of packaging, and the original order of the
individual, stacked or grouped strips is no longer
provided. In particular, said individual strips which
are lying loosely in the item of packaging can then
slip out or fall out of the packaging as they are no
longer reciprocally supported and held in the overall
packaging by the groups or stacks of the further
strips. Such items of packaging are consequently not
practical to handle and are unattractive for visual,
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designer as well as psychological reasons such that
they are not desired on the market.
To solve said problems it is already known to separate
the individual strips of chewing gum, which are in each
case packed per se, and/or the groups formed therefrom
from one another inside an overall item of packaging
(e.g. a cardboard box with a lid which is tiltable into
an open and a closed position) for example by way of
additional means and to hold them, for example by means
of additional insert papers, wraparound bands or
cardboard separating webs. Thus, it is known, for
example, to combine several strips to form one stack
and to surround them by way of a wraparound band or a
so-called half-wrapper. Several of these types of
stacks, which are surrounded in each case per se by a
wraparound band, are then arranged side by side in an
overall item of packaging. The wraparound bands hold
the individual strips and/or stacks side by side and
aligned with respect to one another in the compartment
formed in each case by the wraparound band, even when
individual strips have already been removed. In the
known embodiments, the individual wraparound bands or
half-wrappers are at the same time glued against the
external cardboard packaging in order to fasten them
inside the item of packaging. As, in the case of said
solution, the individual strips of chewing gum lie
loosely inside their respective wraparound band, it is,
however, still possible for the strips to slip out of
the overall item of packaging in their longitudinal
direction even if the strips are prevented per se from
slipping in the cross direction.
To solve said latter problem, it is known in the prior
art to fasten the individual packed strips of chewing
gum on the wraparound band. In this connection, the
packaging foil of one single strip of chewing gum is
typically glued with the wraparound band surrounding
t
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it. So that the strip of chewing gum is still able to
be removed from the item of packaging, said adhesion
must be releasable. Consequently, a suitable wax or a
suitable adhesive is typically used for this purpose.
,5 When pulling out the strip of chewing gum, the
wraparound band, which is firmly glued with the
cardboard packaging, then remains in the item of
packaging. This and similar solutions are described,
for example, in US 7,032,754 B2 and JP-Patent 3955356.
In the case of said known embodiments of a fixing of
the individual packed strips of chewing gum on the
surrounding wraparound band, only one layer of strips
of chewing gum arranged side by side or a maximum of
two layers of strips of chewing gum arranged side by
side can typically be arranged one on top of another in
the overall item of packaging. This is brought about in
particular by the necessity to fix (glue) the
individual strips in relation to the packaging band.
Insofar as a stack of several strips or several layers
of such strips lying one on top of another are
otherwise surrounded by a wraparound band, only the
outermost strips in each case, i.e. only the topmost
and the bottom-most strips of the stack, can be glued
with the wraparound band by way of their top or bottom
side faces. The central strips of the stack lying
between the two outermost strips, however, do not
contact the wraparound band and consequently are also
not able to be glued with said wraparound band. In this
respect, there is additionally the problem in this case
that the central strips of the stack are able to slip.
In the prior art it is additionally known to provide
the packaging foil blank of an individual strip of
chewing gum in such a manner with a perforation that
said packaging foil blank is able to be separated into
two parts. The individual strip of chewing gum, in this
case, is then secured on the wraparound band inside the
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external packaging by means of its packaging foil in
such a manner that when said strip of chewing gum is
pulled out of the overall packaging, the packaging foil
of the strip of chewing gum is divided along the
perforation such that part of said foil, fixed on the
wraparound band, remains in the external packaging,
whilst the other part of the packaging foil of the
strip of chewing gum remains on said strip of chewing
gum and is pulled out of the overall packaging with
said strip of chewing gum. The packaging of the
individual strip of chewing gum is torn open as a
result, i.e. the individual strip of chewing gum is
already opened in part on one side when pulled out and
is consequently presented to the user for consumption
to a certain extent, whilst the other part of the
packaging foil remaining on the strip of chewing gum
serves as protection against contamination and/or as a
handle for pulling said strip of chewing gum out of the
packaging.
In the case of said known solution described last, an
individual strip of chewing gum is glued on its own
packaging foil with the wraparound band or the half-
wrapper in that region of said packaging foil which is
to remain in the packaging after separation of the
perforation when said strip is pulled out. The
wraparound band or the half-wrapper is itself
additionally glued with the cardboard of the external
packaging sá that the wraparound band or the half-
wrapper also remains in the external packaging when a
strip of chewing gum is pulled out and is not pulled
out at the same time. So that said fastening functions
securely on the one side of the individual strip of
chewing gum inside the wraparound band and on the other
side of the wraparound band in relation to the
cardboard external packaging, the strips of chewing gum
can only be accommodated, however, in the item of
packaging in one layer or in a maximum of two layers
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arranged one on top of the other, as has already been
stated above. In the event of the double-layered
design, the strips of chewing gum of the one, e.g. top,
layer are glued on their top side against the half-
wrapper, whilst the strips of chewing gum of the
second, e.g. bottom, layer are glued over their bottom
side with the wraparound band.
A multi-layered design is consequently not possible as
the central layers of such an embodiment (i.e. the
layers arranged between the topmost and the bottom-most
layer) are not able to be glued or in any case are not
able to be sufficiently securely and firmly glued with
the half-wrapper such that it would be ensured that
when a strip of chewing gum was pulled out and the
perforation was successfully separated at the same
time, the bottom part of the packaging foil of the
individual strip of chewing gum would remain fastened
inside the wraparound band in the overall packaging.
Proceeding from said known embodiments, the object
underlying the invention is to create an item of
packaging or a form of packaging for strips of chewing
gum which, compared to the known forms of packaging,
has new features which account for or increase the
attractiveness of these types of items of packaging on
the market. An item of packaging of this type, in this
case, is to enable the arrangement of several (i.e.
more than two) layers or stacks of individual strips of
chewing gum inside an external packaging. In this case,
the individual strips of chewing gum are to be fixed
inside the overall external packaging such that they
can certainly be removed easily from the item of
1
packaging, but that in particular the order of the
several layers or stacks of the strips of chewing gun
inside the overall packaging is maintained when one or
several individual strips of chewing gum have already
been removed from the item of packaging. In such a
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case, the strips of chewing gum remaining in the item
of packaging are therefore not to slip and become
disordered.
Over and above this, an item of packaging of this type
for strips of chewing gum is to be able to be produced
industrially in a simpler manner. For this purpose, a
particular achievement is to be that a wraparound band
or a half-wrapper, on which the individual strips of
chewing gum were to be fixed, is avoided, the
wraparound band or the half-wrapper having to be
fastened as such, in turn, in relation to the packaging
material of the external packaging. The advantage of
avoiding a wraparound band or a half-wrapper is that
the machine-driven method for producing such an item of
packaging is able to be simplified structurally since
corresponding machine components as well as the
provision of the additional packaging material for the
wraparound band or the half-wrapper are unnecessary.
Said aspects also result in clear cost savings in the
end.
In one sub-aspect of the object underlying the
invention, an item of packaging is also to be created
where the individual strips of chewing gum are packed
in each case per se in a packaging material which is
provided with a perforation in such a manner that when
an individual strip of chewing gum is pulled out of the
overall packaging, the individual packaging of the
strip of chewing gum is able to be separated into two
parts along the perforation such that a first, bottom
part of the' strip packaging remains in the external
packaging, whilst the other, top part of the strip
packaging is pulled out of the external packaging with
the strip and remains on the individual strip in the
guise of a handle or a protection means.
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Said object is achieved as claimed in the invention by
a method for packing strip-type objects, especially
objects suitable for 'consumption, especially strips of
chewing gum, corresponding to claim 1, as well as by an
item of packaging for the named objects produced using
said method.
Accordingly, a method is created for packing strip-type
objects, in particular objects suitable for
consumption, in particular strips of chewing gum, said
method having the following steps: prepare several
identical, individual strip-type objects which are
packed in each case by way of a first packaging
material; form a substantially cuboid-shaped group of
the prepared individual packed strip-type objects in
such a manner that several strip-type objects are
arranged lying side by side and stacked one on top of
another; and prepare a blank of a second packaging
material which is to be folded and closed around the
group as external packaging for the formed group of the
strip-type objects. The method as claimed in the
invention also includes the step of applying at least
one adhesive on the side of the prepared packaging
material blank which forms the inside surface of the
closed external packaging of the group, wherein the
adhesive is applied onto the packaging material blank
substantially in the regions which form a bottom of the
closed external packaging which lies substantially
opposite to a removal opening of the external
packaging, wherein the adhesive is applied
substantially in such a manner onto the packaging
material blank that each packed strip-type object of
the group inside the closed external packaging contacts
the adhesive in each case at least on its end face
surface which faces the bottom of the external
packaging, and wherein the first packaging material and
the adhesive are realized and interact in such a manner
that in each case one single strip-type object is
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removable from the formed external packaging. The
method as claimed in the invention finally also
includes the following further steps: fold the prepared
packaging material blank about the formed group of the
strip-type objects and close the formed external
packaging.
Consequently, as a result of the packing method an item
of packaging is created, where several (in particular
more than two) stacks or layers of individual packed,
strip-type objects are arranged in one regular group
and are packed in the form of said group in a blank of
a second packaging material. In this case, the
individual strips are glued with the formed external
packaging at least on one of their end face surfaces in
the region of the bottom of the formed item of
packaging by means of a suitable adhesive, the
packaging material of the individual strips and the
adhesive being composed and interacting in such a
manner that in each case it is possible to remove one
strip from the external packaging.
In the case of the item of packaging formed by way of
the method as claimed in the invention, it is
consequently ensured that the individual strip-type
objects (e.g. strips of chewing gum) remain in an
ordered manner in the item of packaging without
slipping and falling into disorder inside the
packaging, and without slipping out of the external
packaging when one or several of the strips have
already been removed from the overall packaging. Even
when a larger part of the strips originally contained
in the overall packaging has been removed from the item
of packaging, the strips still remaining in the pack
are held in each case in their original position. An
advantageous, easily manageable item of packaging,
which is also appealing as regards visual and designer
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aspects and is consequently attractive for the market,
is created in this manner.
As a particular advantage, in the case of the item of
packaging as claimed in the invention, it is possible
to dispense with a wraparound band or a half-wrapper
for holding and fixing the individual strips inside the
overall packaging. In this way, it is possible to avoid
a packaging material which would otherwise be
additionally necessary for a wraparound band or a half-
wrapper and correspondingly to simplify a corresponding
machine-driven production method in a structural
manner, which leads not least to corresponding cost
savings.
In a first embodiment of the method as claimed in the
invention, the adhesive has a composition in such a
manner that the first packaging material, in which the
strip-type object is packed, is releasable from the
adhesive for a removal of an individual packed strip
from the overall packaging. In this case, the
individual packed strip can be removed as such from the
overall packaging. When the strip is pulled out of the
packaging, the adhesive releases said strip without the
packaging material of the strip tearing and without it
remaining in parts .or completely in the external
packaging and/or fastened on said external packaging.
The user can then unpack the individual strip for
consumption once it has been removed from the external
packaging.
In a further, particularly preferred embodiment, the
individual strip-type objects are packed in each case
in a blank of a first packaging material which has a
perforation for dividing the blank into a first part
and a second part. In this case, the adhesive only
contacts the first part of the packaging material blank
of the individual strip inside the external packaging.
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When one single strip-type object is removed from the
overall packaging, the first part of the blank is
fastened in the external packaging by means of the
adhesive and is separated from the second part of the
blank of the strip packaging material along the
perforation. The second part of the blank, in this
case, remains on the strip and can be removed from the
external packaging with the said strip.
In this case, the product strip when being removed from
the external packaging is therefore partially opened by
its packaging being torn open at the perforation line
such that the bottom part of its individual packaging
is held firmly in the external packaging and remains
there, whilst the other, top part of the individual
packaging of the strip remains on said strip and is
pulled out of the external packaging with said strip.
Said latter part of the individual strip packaging can
consequently serve, among other things, as a handle for
the user and as means of protection for the strip of
chewing gum, for example against contamination. It is
obvious that the perforation in the packaging material
of the individual strip has to be developed such that
the separation of the packaging material into the two
parts can be easily performed when the user removes one
strip from the overall packaging.
In a further preferred embodiment of the method as
claimed in the invention, it is provided that the
adhesive used for gluing the packaging material of the
individual strip in relation to the packaging material
of the external packaging includes two parts or
components, namely on the one hand a quick-setting hot
glue and on the other hand a cold glue which sets at a
slower rate compared thereto. In a suitable manner in
this case, the adhesive can be, for example, a two-
component adhesive which has a hot glue component and a
cold glue component. As an alternative to this, two
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separate adhesives can also be used independently of
one another for the adhesive to be used, namely on the
one hand a hot glue adhesive and on the other hand a
cold glue adhesive, which are applied side by side or
one after the other.
The adhesive or the two separate adhesives (hot glue
and cold glue) can be applied, for example, in lines or
strokes onto the packaging material of the cardboard
external packaging, it being possible to alternate said
lines in the case of the two different adhesives in a
regular or irregular manner. The advantage of said
application of the adhesive in alternating lines is
that the hot glue and the cold glue are able to be
applied at the same time or substantially at the same
time during the course of the method for producing the
item of packaging. Said aspect is significant for the
processing of the adhesive components (hot glue or cold
glue) during the course of the application thereof as
well as for bringing about their adhesive action, as is
explained even more below.
In particular in the case of the perforation of the
packaging material of the individual strip, it is
necessary forl that part of the packaging material which
is to remain in the external packaging at separation to
be glued firmly and permanently with the material of
the external packaging in such a manner that the other
part of the packaging material is separated from said
first part by means of the perforation when the strip
is removed. Along with a sufficiently strong
perforation, this calls for the adhesion between the
first packaging material of the strip and the material
of the external packaging to be sufficiently firm. In
this connection, it must be taken into consideration
that said adhesion, as a result of its proximity to the
foodstuffs (e.g. chewing gum) to be consumed, must on
the one hand be permanent and on the other hand
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completely harmless as regards food safety law and food
chemistry. Said requirements are met typically by cold
glue adhesives.
Cold glue adhesives, on the other hand however, have
the disadvantage of a long setting time, i.e. a long
interval between the point of producing contact between
the object to be glued and the adhesive and the point
at which the full adhesive action and adhesive force of
the glue occurs. In the case of cold glues said setting
time can be, for example, 10 seconds, which is a long
period for the item of packaging to be formed to run
through a corresponding high-performance packaging
machine. Insofar as during said production method at
the end a hermetically sealed overall packaging is
immediately formed, the duration of the setting time of
the cold glue can be even longer. In said phase of the
setting of the adhesive, the individual products
(strips) inside the overall packaging are, however, not
yet or not sufficiently well secured such that there is
still the risk in said phase of the individual products
slipping inside the external packaging, as a result of
which possibly no dimensionally stable overall
packaging can finally be formed.
In order to overcome said problems, there is provided
in the named preferred embodiment of the invention,
along with the use of a cold glue adhesive, the
additional use of a hot glue adhesive which clearly
sets more quickly in comparison to the cold glue
adhesive and consequently brings about a quick fixing
of the individual products inside the overall packaging
during the course of the production thereof. For
example, a suitable hot glue adhesive can set within
approximately 0.1 seconds (i.e. the typical interval
between applying the hot glue in a hot state and the
onset of the full ability to bond or of the adhesive
force after application on the object to be glued).
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Consequently the hot glue, as a result of its quickly
occurring adhesive action, bridges the period until the
cold glue, applied in parallel, sets and ensures a
preliminary fixing of the objects to be glued within
said period, following which a fixed and permanent
adhesive connection is then brought about by the cold
glue.
The use of the combination of hot glue and cold glue is
typically necessary since, as described above, the use
exclusively of a cold glue does not ensure sufficiently
secure and rapid fixing of the objects to be glued
inside the packaging and consequently does not ensure
sufficient certainty for the forming of a correct and
dimensionally stable packaging structure. In reverse,
however, it is typically also not possible to use
exclusively a hot glue adhesive and to dispense with a
cold glue adhesive. In particular where chewing gums
are the objects to be packed, there is the problem that
a hot glue can be dissolved by essential oils which are
released by the chewing gum. If a hot glue loses its
ability to bond and its adhesive force in this manner,
it does not ensure a permanent and firm fixing of the
strips of chewing gum inside the external packaging. By
using both a cold glue and also a hot glue, the
advantages of the two sorts of glue are utilized and
the achievement is consequently that a permanent and
firm connection is generated and maintained between the
packaging material of the strip of chewing gum and the
external packaging, said connection in the end being
permanently necessary in order to open the individual
strip packaging by means of the perforation when the
strip is removed from the external packaging, as has
been described above.
All in all, by using the packing method as claimed in
the invention, a dimensionally stable, attractive and
easy to handle item of packaging for strip-type
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objects, especially strips of chewing gum, is
consequently created. With said item of packaging, it
is ensured that even after the removal of one or
several individual strips, the individual strips still
remaining in the item of packaging are held in their
original position and consequently the order inside the
box is maintained. In a preferred embodiment as claimed
in the invention, an item of packaging for strips of
chewing gum is created where the individual packed
strips of chewing gum are opened during the course of
their removal. The item of packaging as claimed in the
invention is realized, in this case, without an
additional packaging material in the form of an
intermediate layer or wraparound band or a half-wrapper
being necessary for grouping and holding the individual
strips. In this case, stacks or layers of more than two
individual strips can be arranged one on top of another
or side by side in the item of packaging.
Further details and advantages of the invention are
produced from the following description of an exemplary
embodiment by way of the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shows a group of strip-type objects which
form the contents of an item of packaging to
be formed;
figure 2 shows a blank of a packaging material for an
external packaging of the item of packaging
to be formed;
figure 3 shows the external packaging of the formed
item of packaging without contents;
figure 4 shows the formed item of packaging with
contents; and
,
'
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figure 5 shows an enlarged representation of the
bottom region of the formed item of packaging
with contents in a cross section from the
side.
Figure 1 shows a regular group 10 of identical strip-
type objects 12, especially strips of chewing gum. Said
individual strips 12 are in each case packed per se in
a first packaging material which can be, for example, a
foil material, in particular a cellophane foil or an
aluminum foil. The strips 12 are arranged side by side
and one on top of another such that they form a
regular, cuboid-shaped group 10. In the example in
figure 1, three stacks 20 of such individual strips 12
are, in this case, arranged side by side, each stack 20
in the present case including four individual strips 12
which lie one above another or one on top of another.
It is obvious that other groupings of the individual
strips 12 are possible to form the stacks 20 and the
group 10.
With regard to machine-driven production, the group 10
can be formed by individual layers of several strips 12
lying laterally side by side being formed one after
another and said formed layers then being stacked one
above another. As an alternative to this, the group 10
can also be formed in a process-control manner such
that initially one stack 20 of several strips 12 is
formed and several stacks 20 of this type are then
arranged laterally side by side, adjoining one another
or touching one another.
As is additionally shown in figure 1, each individual
strip 12 has a substantially rectangular form, in
particular a flat cuboid-shaped form. Each end face
surface 14, 16 of a strip 12, in this case, is
substantially the product of the width and the
thickness of the strip 12. With reference to its outer
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dimensions, the group 10 shown in figure 1 and formed
from the individual strips 12 consequently has a
thickness which corresponds substantially to an
integral multiple of the thickness of one strip 12, and
a width which corresponds substantially to an integral
multiple of the width of one strip 12. The height of
the group 10 in figure 1 corresponds substantially to
the length of one strip 12.
The group 10 of individual strips 12 formed in this
manner is then accommodated in an external packaging 50
in which the products (individual strips 12) are
combined, for example, to form one sales unit. Such a
finished item of packaging or a pack 70 is shown in
figure 4. In this case, the external packaging 50
consists of a second packaging material, for example a
cardboard material, and the ultimately formed pack 70
consequently consists, for example, of a cardboard box
50 in which the group 10 of strips 12 of chewing gum
are accommodated. Figure 3 shows the box or external
packaging 50 without contents.
The box 50 is formed from a blank 52 of the second
packaging material (cardboard material) by the
prepared, substantially flat blank 52 being folded
around the group 10 and being sealed in a suitable
manner. Figure 2 shows the blank 52 in an opened-out
and stretched out state, it being possible to see all
the individual faces and tabs of the cardboard material
blank 52 which are then folded over one another or
hinged to form the box 50 and partially abut against
one another and/or are fitted into one another. In
order to form a closed box 50, the corresponding parts
of the blank 52 which interact and/or lie one on top of
another, are glued together. As an example of this,
figure 2 shows several glue points 62, which are first
of all applied onto said blank 52 from one side during
the course of preparing the packaging blank 52 and
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which, after the corresponding folding of the
individual faces of the blank 52 one over another, then
glue the corresponding, interacting or abutting regions
of the packaging 50 together. Figure 3 shows the box 50
(without contents) formed and prepared in this manner,
it being possible to see the position of the glue
points 62 shown in figure 2 once the box 50 has been
completed. The box 50 is glued in a durable, permanent
manner in this way.
As has been explained in the introduction, the group 10
of the strips 12 is to be fixed inside the box 50 in a
suitable manner. For this purpose, the strips 12 of the
group 10 are glued with the box 50, as can be seen in
figure 4 in the region of the bottom and/or the bottom
side faces of the box 50 in the form of glue strokes
66, 68. In order to produce said bonding, first of all
an adhesive 66, 68 is applied on one side of the
prepared packaging material blank 52 during the course
of the method for producing the overall packaging (pack
70). The adhesive 66, 68, in this case, is applied on
that side of the blank 52 which forms the inside
surface of the external packaging or box 50 to be
formed. As figures 2 and 4 show, the adhesive 66, 68,
in this case, is applied onto the blank 52
substantially in those regions which form the bottom 54
of the box 50 or in those regions which are adjacent to
the bottom 54 of the box 50, i.e. in the bottom regions
of the front and rear side faces of the box 50 (cf.
figure 4). As figures 2 and 4 show further, the
adhesive 66, 68 is applied, in this case, in the named
region of the packaging material blank 52 in particular
in the form of several strokes or lines.
When the packing material blank 52 is then subsequently
folded around the group 10 in order to form the
external packaging or box 50, the adhesive 66, 68
contacts the packed strips 12 of chewing gum in the
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region of the bottom 54 or of the bottom side faces of
the box 50. In this case, the adhesive contacts, in
particular, in each case that end face surface 16 of
each strip 12 which is oriented toward the bottom 54 of
the box 50, i.e. which is adjacent to the bottom 54 of
the box 50 (cf. figures 4 and 5). In this way, each
individual strip 12 is glued with the box 50 by way of
its bottom end face surface 16 which is located
opposite the box bottom 54.
As figures 2, 4 and 5 show, the adhesive lines 66, 68
extend in particular at right angles to the cross
extension of the bottom end face surfaces 16 of the
individual strips 12. In this way, each bottom end face
surface 16 of the strips 12 comes into contact with
individual or several of the adhesive lines 66, 68. As
the end face surface 16 of each strip 12 is relatively
small corresponding to the thickness of an individual
strip 12, the contact face between an individual
adhesive line 66, 68 and the end face surface 16 is
also relatively small. However, several adhesive lines
66, 68 are provided in the region of one strip 12 (see
figures 2 and 4) such that the bonding is sufficiently
strong for fixing each individual strip 12 inside the
box 50 in an efficient manner.
In order to improve said fixing of the strips 12 even
further it can be provided that the adhesive or the
adhesive lines 66, 68 are applied in a form and/or
quantity in such a manner onto the packaging material
blank 52 that the adhesive not only contacts the
respective end face surfaces 16 of the strips 12, but
also passes between the individual stacked strips 12 in
the region of the bottom 54 of the box 50. Said state
is shown in the cross section of the bottom part of the
overall packaging 70 in figure 5. The individual strips
12 are also bonded together in this way and not only
with the cardboard packaging material surrounding them.
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During the course of the production of the overall
packaging, pressure can also be exerted additionally
onto the side faces of the packaging in this region
(i.e. in figure 5 in particular from above and below).
This results in an even better distribution of the
adhesive between the individual, stacked strips 12 in
the region of the bottom 54 of the box 50. As a result,
it is possible to achieve an even better, more secure
bonding of the strips 12 together and in relation to
the box 50 and, all in all, a dimensionally stable,
sturdy overall packaging 70 is formed in this manner.
In the case of said packet, it is essential that the
center strips 12 of a respective stack 20, i.e. the
strips 12 arranged between the two outer strips 12
inside a stack 20, are also bonded securely and
permanently with the box 50 (cf. figure 5). In this way
it is possible to accommodate stacks 20 which consist
of more than two strips, i.e. in other words more than
one or two layers of individual strips 12 which are
arranged side by side, in the item of packaging.
In the case of the item of packaging produced by way of
the above-described method, the first packaging
material, in which each individual strip 12 of chewing
gum is packed, and the adhesive 66, 68 are composed or
realized in such a manner and they interact in such
manner that it is possible to remove in each case one
single strip 12 from the external packaging or box 50.
In a first embodiment it can be provided, in this
connection, that the adhesive has a composition in such
a manner that the packaging material of the strips 12
is releasable from the adhesive for a removal of a
strip 12 from the box 50. Consequently, a strip 12
which is packed completely in the first packaging
material can be removed from the box 50 without the
respective packaging of the individual strip 12 being
damaged and in particular torn open. Consequently, the
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composition of the adhesive 66, 68 in this case is in
such a manner that, on the one hand, it certainly fixes
the individual strips in the box 50 against slipping,
on the other hand, however, the holding force of the
adhesive is able to be overcome by the pulling force
when a strip 12 is removed.
In an alternative embodiment which is shown in
particular in the drawings, the strip 12 which is
packed as such is removable from the box 50 in such a
manner that it is already opened in part on removal and
is consequently presented to the user directly for
consumption, another part of the packaging of the
individual strip, however, remaining on the strip 12 on
removal. This is, in particular, that part of the strip
packaging by which the user grasps and pulls out the
strip 12 arranged in the box 50.
For this purpose, the individual strips 12 of chewing
gum are in each case packed in a blank of the first
packaging material which has a perforation 32 for a
division of said blank into a first part 34 and a
second part 36 (cf. figures 1 and 4). In this case, the
adhesive 66, 68 is applied in such a manner on the
packaging material blank 52 during the forming of the
item of packaging (cf. figure 2) that, when forming the
overall packaging, in each case it contacts only one of
the two parts 34, 36 of the blank of the strip
packaging material, namely a first bottom part 34 of
said strip packaging material blank associated with the
bottom 54 of the box 50 (cf. figure 4). When an
individual strip 12 is removed from the box 50, the
first bottom part 34 of the strip packaging material
blank is then separated from the second top part 36 of
the packaging material blank on account of the active
pulling force along the perforation line 32. In this
case, the first bottom part 34 remains fixed in the box
50 as a result of its fastening (adhesion) on the
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inside surface of the box 50, whilst the second top
part 36 of the strip packaging material blank remains
on the strip 12 and is pulled out of the box 50 with
said strip.
In addition, it can be provided that the adhesive 66,
68 consists of two components, namely on the one hand a
quick-setting hot glue 66 and on the other hand a cold
glue 68 which sets slower in comparison thereto. As can
be seen from figures 2 and 4, the hot glue 66 and the
cold glue 68 are applied onto the packaging material
blank 52, in this case, in particular in lines or
strokes, it being possible for said lines of the hot
glue 66 and of the cold glue 68 to alternate in a
regular or irregular manner. The reasons for using both
a hot glue and a cold glue have already been explained
above in detail. Details of the direction of the lines
of adhesive in relation to the components of the item
of packaging have also already been shown above.
The glue points 62 for gluing the box 50 as such (cf.
figure 2 and 3 and the description above) can
preferably be formed using the same adhesive as the
adhesive lines 66, 68 for gluing the strip packaging
with the external packaging 50. The glue points 62, in
this case, can be applied by machine onto the cardboard
material blank 52 more or less at the same time as the
adhesive lines 66, 68. Insofar as two different types
of adhesive (hot glue 66 and cold glue 68) are used in
this case for the adhesive lines 66, 68 (as described
above), said two types of adhesive can then also be
used for the glue points 62. In this case, the glue
points 62 can then also be formed from the two types of
adhesive (hot glue 66 and cold glue 68), for example
alternately in a regular or irregular manner (cf.
figures 2 and 3).
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As shown in particular in figures 2, 3 and 4, the
external packaging or box 50 can be developed in such a
manner that it has a removal opening 42, it being
possible to remove the individual strips 12 through
said opening. The removal opening 42, in this case, can
be closed by a lid, for example a hinged lid 44 which
closes the box SO in a suitable manner, for example by
engaging in a corresponding opening 48 of the box 50 by
means of a tab 46 or being inserted into the box 50 in
another manner. The removal opening 42 extends
preferably over the entire width and thickness of the
box 50 on the top side thereof such that all the
individual strips 12 are accessible and are able to be
pulled out of the box 50 (see figure 4).
