Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Bundle comprising a tied stack of folded paper sheets
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to a bundle or package
comprising a tied stack of folded paper sheets, particularly
a stack of interfolded paper sheets and even more particular
hygiene paper sheets, e.g. made of tissue paper or non-woven.
The present disclosure is particularly applicable to
dispenser napkins such as table napkins or paper towels,
which are loaded in a dispenser and dispensed from the
dispensing opening of the dispenser. In this context, the
present disclosure particularly relates to a bundle, which is
loaded into the dispenser including the tie, wherein the tie
is removed through the dispensing opening.
BACKGROUND
Such bundle is known from e.g. WO 2012/173534 Al. According
to this disclosure, a user grips a release tab formed at one
end of the tie protruding through the dispensing opening in
order to remove the tie from the stack and withdraw it
through the dispensing opening. Even though this solution
provides for a satisfactory ease of use, there is still a
need for improvement.
SUMMARY
In view of the aforesaid, it is desired to provide a bundle
comprising a stack of tied paper sheets in which the tie can
be removed more easily, particularly when being removed
through a dispensing opening of a dispenser into which the
bundle was loaded.
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In this context, the present disclosure provides a bundle
having the features defined in claim 1. Specific embodiments
are described in the dependent claims, the following
description and/or in the drawings.
A bundle or package according to the present disclosure
comprises a plurality of paper sheets. The paper sheets are
particularly sanitary or hygiene paper products such as hand
towels, paper napkins, facials, toilet paper or other wiping
products in sheet form. The paper sheets may be made of
tissue paper (see also ISO 12625-1) or nonwoven (ISO 9092).
The individual paper sheets lie upon another and define a
stack. Within the stack, the paper sheet may be folded and
even interfolded, wherein any interfolding technique may be
implemented, such as but not limited to those described in EP
2 309 906 B1 or EP 2 751 002 B1. When a paper sheet in
interfolded stacks is pulled out through a dispensing opening
of the dispenser, the immediate next (consecutive) paper
sheet is also subject to a pulling force making the immediate
next paper sheet partially protrude from the dispensing
opening and being partially unfolded. Thus, this protruding
part is easily accessible and can be gripped by a user.
Hence, comfortable dispensing of the paper sheets from the
dispenser is enabled. The stack usually has opposite end
faces, a leading end face and a trailing end face. The
leading end face is usually defined as that end face facing
the dispensing opening of the dispenser. Thus, the leading
end face is defined by the first paper sheet in the stack.
On the other hand, the trailing end face is defined by the
last paper sheet in the stack. The side faces of the stack
are usually formed by the edges of the paper sheets.
According to one example, the paper sheets have a
substantially rectangular footprint so that the stack has
four side faces.
Even further, the bundle has a tie, preferably a longitudinal
tie. The tie has a first end and a second end, preferably at
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the opposite longitudinal ends of the tie. In any case, the
second end is positioned opposite to the first end. The tie
may be wrapped around the stack so as to cover both end faces
and two side faces of the stack. Moreover, the tie comprises
a first portion at the first end and a second portion at the
second end. The first and second portions overlap and are
mutually connected so that the stack is tied by the tie. In
this context, the first and second portions may at least
partly, preferably only, overlap on the leading end face. At
least, the first portion is positioned on the leading end
face of the stack.
The tie may be a flat longitudinal strap. The thickness of
the tie may be in the range of 0.05 mm and 0.3 mm. The
thickness is dependent on the flexibility of the material the
tie is made of. The width of the tie may be in the range of
mm and 50 mm. In this context, the larger the width, the
higher the friction between the tie and the stack when
removing the tie, which is particularly of importance, if the
tie is removed from the stack, already loaded in a dispenser,
through a dispensing opening. In one embodiment, the width
is smaller than that of the paper sheet so that the tie only
covers a portion of the paper sheet. In this context, the
tie is preferably located in a center of the paper sheet in a
top view on the stack.
So as to release the mutual connection between the first and
second portions and enable removal of the tie even through a
dispensing opening of a dispenser, the first portion
comprises at least one opening accessible by a user's finger.
As a consequence, the user can insert a finger into the
opening and, thereby, hook the first portion of the tie to
pull the first portion away from the second portion and,
hence, break the mutual connection between the first and
second end portions. Further, the user can pull the tie
through a dispensing opening of the dispenser, if necessary.
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Certainly, it is also possible to remove the tie from the
stack before loading of the stack into a dispenser.
According to an embodiment, a cut is provided in the first
portion to define the opening. In this embodiment, no
material or only little material removed from the tie in
order to create the opening. The cut may be a straight line,
an L-shaped line or a U-shaped line. In use, one pushes on
the first portion at the cut, whereby the finger inserts into
the opening and enlarges the opening when hooking the first
portion as described above. Providing a cut in the tie to
define the opening is the most simple and cost-effective way
from a manufacturing point of view.
Also from a manufacturing point of view, it has been proven
beneficial that the cut is a straight line and extends along
the longitudinal direction of the tie.
To simplify the insertion of the finger into the opening,
either the L-shaped or U-shaped cut may be employed or a
further straight cut (cut in the form of a straight line) may
be provided in the first portion crossing the cut.
Preferably, the two cuts intersect perpendicularly forming a
cross. The two cuts may even have the same length.
Furthermore, one cut may extend in the longitudinal direction
of the tie, whereas the further cut may extend in the
transverse direction.
According to another embodiment, the opening is a cutout. In
this embodiment, material is removed from the tie in order to
create the opening.
In this context, the cutout may have the shape of a
rectangle, the rectangle being oriented with its longer leg
along a longitudinal direction of the tie. The rectangle may
have sharp or rounded corners. In addition, other shapes of
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the opening are conceivable such as circular, oval, cloud-
shaped, etc.
According to an even further embodiment, two of the openings
(e.g. cuts or cutouts as explained earlier) are provided, the
openings being arranged side-by-side in a direction
transverse to a longitudinal direction of the tie. Thus, a
web is formed in between the two openings which may be hooked
when inserting the finger into one of the openings and
exiting the finger through the other of the openings.
Particularly if interfolded paper sheets are used, the first
portion may be adhered to a leading paper sheet of the stack.
As previously explained with respect to the leading end face,
the leading paper sheet of the stack is the first sheet in
the stack and when disposed in a dispenser closest to the
dispensing opening. Thus, when a user removes the tie from
the stack by breaking the mutual connection between the first
and second portions and withdrawing the tie through the
dispensing opening, the first paper sheet of the stack
(leading paper sheet of the stack) is also withdrawn from the
dispensing opening. According to one example, the first
portion may be releasably adhered to the leading paper sheet
of the stack. In this case, the strength with which the
first portion is adhered to the leading paper sheet may be so
low that the tie automatically releases from the leading
paper sheet when removing the tie through the dispensing
opening so that only a part of the leading paper sheet
protrudes from the dispensing opening after the tie has been
removed. Thus, the strength is lower than the friction
between the leading paper sheet and the consecutive paper
sheet. According to another example, the leading paper sheet
is withdrawn together with the tie and discarded. In this
case, the first portion may be fixedly (non-releasable)
adhered to the leading paper sheet of the stack. Thus, when
removing the tie, the leading paper sheet is removed through
the dispensing opening together with the tie and the
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consecutive paper sheet being interfolded with the leading
paper sheet is drawn through the dispensing opening to
partially protrude therefrom by friction between the leading
paper sheet and the consecutive paper sheet.
In the prior art, the release tab always needed to protrude
from the dispensing opening to enable removal of the tie.
This is not necessary in accordance with the present
disclosure. Even further, it is avoided that a free
extremity (the first end of the tie) of the first portion
protrudes from the dispensing opening for aesthetic reasons.
For this reason, the first portion is connected to the second
portion adjacent (in close proximity of) or at the first end.
In order to simplify the removal of the tie when the bundle
is placed in the dispenser, the tie should be made of a low
friction material. According to one embodiment, the tie is
made of plastic material, particularly at least one material
selected from the group consisting of polyethylene,
polypropylene and polylactide. Other conceivable materials
are non-woven and paper, which may additionally be coated
with a different material, such as plastic material, e.g. any
of the materials mentioned above.
Moreover and for ease and cost-effective manufacture, the
first portion is heat-sealed to the second portion. Yet,
also other bonding techniques such as ultrasonic bonding or
the use of glue are possible.
In order to enable the provision of the opening/-s in the
tie, at the same time keeping the friction as low as
possible, the first portion of the tie has a larger width
transverse to a longitudinal direction of the tie than the
remainder of the tie. As a result, the surface of the tie in
contact with the stack may be kept low in a small width
portion and only the first portion, gripped and pulled
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through the dispensing opening by a user, has a large width
to accommodate the openings and enable easy gripping.
According to an example, the bundle is placed in a dispenser.
The dispenser may have a casing comprising a longitudinal
dispensing opening. It has been proven advantageous that the
longitudinal direction of the tie intersects with the
longitudinal direction of the dispensing opening.
Further, the dispensing opening of the dispenser may be
adapted to the opening/-s, the dispensing opening having a
widened portion, e.g. in its longitudinal center, coinciding
with the opening/-s, whereby inserting of the finger into the
opening (one of the openings) and hooking the first portion
or, when present, the web is simplified. In the embodiment,
in which a web is formed between the two openings as
described above, it may be preferred that the web extends
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the dispensing
opening and in a center of the dispensing opening relative to
its longitudinal direction.
Further aspects of the present disclosure may be found in the
following description of a particular embodiment making
reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows a plan view of a tie according to a first
embodiment;
Figure 2 shows a plan view of a tie according to a second
embodiment;
Figure 3 shows a plan view of a tie according to a third
embodiment;
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Figure 4 shows a plan view of a tie according to a fourth
embodiment;
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a bundle according to
the present disclosure with the tie of Figure 4;
Figure 6 shows another perspective view of a bundle according
to the present disclosure with the tie of Figure 4; and
Figure 7 shows a dispenser comprising a bundle as shown in
Figures 5 and 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PARTICULAR EMBODIMENT
Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals have
been used for the same elements.
Figures 1 to 4 show different embodiments of a tie 10 that
may be used to tie a stack 30 of paper sheets 40 (see Figure
5).
The tie 10 in all of the embodiments is a longitudinal flat
strap having a length L. The length L is governed by the
height of the stack 30 of paper sheets 40, i.e. by the number
of paper sheets 40 to be tied and the desired amount of
overlap of the end portions of the tie.
The tie 10 has a first portion 11 having a first width W1 and
a second portion 12 having a second width W2. The first
portion 11 is disposed at a first end 13 as seen in the
longitudinal direction of the tie 10. The second portion 12
extends from the first portion 11 in the longitudinal
direction to an opposite second end 14. The width W1 is
larger than the width W2. The width W1 may be in a range
from 20 mm to 60 mm and the width W2 may be in a range from
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in a range from 10 mm to 50 mm. A ratio between the width W1
and the width W2 may reside in the range between 2 and 1.2.
Further, the tie 10 may have a thickness perpendicular to the
plan view in Figures 1 to 4 in a range from 0.05 mm to
0.3 mm. In one example, the thickness is about 0.1 mm (0.004
inch).
Moreover, the tie 10 may be made of any kind of material
having enough flexibility to wrap the tie about the stack 30
of paper sheets 40. In one example, a plastic material is
used, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Such plastic
material has been proven advantageous from the view point of
flexibility, mutual connectability of the opposite ends and a
low friction for removing the tie 10. In a particular
example, an impact resistant UHMW polyethylene (Ultra-high-
molecular-weight polyethylene) film was used.
In order to connect the first portion 11 to the second
portion 12 when tying the stack 30 of paper sheets 40, a heat
sealing method is used. This has been proven beneficial,
particularly when plastic material is used for ease of
manufacture. In addition, this technique avoids the use of
glue in the manufacturing process and is beneficial in view
of maintenance and cleaning of the manufacturing apparatus.
In the examples, the heat sealing areas are indicated by the
hatched rectangles 21 and 22. In order to avoid that the end
13 is loose and may stick out of a dispensing opening of a
dispenser and/or interfere with other stacks if a plurality
of stacks are loaded into the dispenser, at least one of the
heat sealing areas is located in proximity to the end 13,
i.e. at the end 13 or in a short distance to the end 13.
Such a distance should not be more than about 15 mm and
preferably less than 5 mm.
In any case, all heat sealing areas 21 and 22 should reside
in the area of overlap (indicated at 25 in Figures 1 to 4 by
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the dotted rectangle within the first portion 11) between the
first portion 11 and the second portion 12.
In addition, each of the ties 10 shown in Figures 1 to 4 has
an adhesive strip 23 also indicated by a hatched area. This
adhesive strip 23 is located outside of the area of overlap
25 and in use adheres the first portion to a leading end face
41 of a leading paper sheet 43 in the stack 30.
In the examples, the heat sealing areas 21 and 22 as well as
the adhesive strip 23 have been shown as rectangular areas.
Yet, other shapes including dots, straight lines, curved
lines, areas with straight borders, curved borders or
arbitrary borders as well as other geometric shapes like
circles, ovals, squares, etc. may be employed. In addition,
the positioning and/or shape may be adapted to the respective
use.
The embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 4 all comprise an
opening 15 in the first portion 11.
In Figure 1, the opening 15 is formed by a cut 16. The cut
16 corresponds to a straight cut in a longitudinal direction
of the tie 10.
In Figure 2, the opening 15 is formed by the cut 16 and an
additional further cut 17. The cut 17 crosses the cut 16 and
is oriented perpendicularly to the cut 16. Hence, the cut 17
corresponds to a straight cut in a transverse direction of
the tie 10.
In Figure 3, the opening 15 is formed by a cutout 18. The
cutout 18 has a rectangular shape with rounded corners. A
longer leg of the rectangle forming the cutout 18 is oriented
in the longitudinal direction of the tie 10. A width in a
transverse direction of the tie 10 of the cutout 18 may be
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resided within 5 mm to 10 mm to enable easy insertion of a
finger.
In Figure 4, two openings 15 are provided. The two openings
15 are defined by cutouts 19, but could as well be defined by
parallel cuts 16 as explained with respect to Figure 1. The
cutouts 19 as well have a rectangular shape with rounded
corners and with their longer leg being oriented in the
longitudinal direction of the tie 10. The cutouts 19 are
located side-by-side in the transverse direction of the tie
10. A width in a transverse direction of the tie 10 of the
cutouts 19 may be resided within 5 mm to 10 mm to enable easy
insertion of a finger. A web 20 is formed between the
cutouts 19.
In the example of Figure 4, it is also shown that the heat
sealing area 22 at the end 13 of the first portion 11 may be
oriented in the longitudinal direction of the tie 10. The
heat sealing area 22 may also be located at least partly
between the two cutouts 19 and, hence, on the web 20.
In the following, the use of the tie 10 as shown in figure 4
wrapped about a stack 30 of paper sheets 40 is described with
respect to Figures 5 to 7. It is, however, to be understood
that any of the ties shown in Figures 1 to 3 may be used in a
similar manner.
As best seen in Figure 6, the stack 30 comprises a plurality
of folded, preferably interfolded paper sheets 40. The stack
has opposite end faces 41 and 42, wherein the end face 41 is
considered as the leading end face 41, whereas the end face
42 is considered as the trailing end face 42. In other
words, the end face 41 may be the front or top of the stack,
whereas the end face 42 may be the back or the bottom of the
stack. In line with this, the first paper sheet 43 in the
stack 30 is defined as the leading paper sheet. Moreover,
the stack 30 has four side faces 44.
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In order to prepare a bundle according to the present
disclosure and as shown in Figures 5 and 6, a tie 10 is
wrapped around the stack 30. In this context, the second
portion 12 extends along the trailing end face 42 and along
two opposite side faces 44 of the stack as well as a portion
of the leading end face 41. The first portion 11 is
primarily located on the leading end face 41, but may also
extend to one or both of the opposite end faces 44.
In this context, the first portion 11 overlaps the second end
portion 12 on the leading end face 41. The first portion 11
and the second portion 12 are mutually connected, in the
example by heat sealing, in the heat sealing areas 21 and 22
as indicated in Figures 5 and 6.
In addition, the adhesive strip 23 is adhered to the leading
end face 41, i.e. to the leading paper sheet 43.
In order to remove the tie 10, a user inserts a finger
through one of the cutouts 19 hooking the web 20 and exits
the finger through the other of the cutouts 19. By pulling
the first portion 11 away from the stack and, hence, the
second portion 12, the mutual connection between the first
portion 11 and the second portion 12 is broken. In the
example, the heat sealing areas 21 and 22 are broken.
Subsequently, the tie 10 may be removed from the stack 30.
The present disclosure is particularly applicable to removal
of the tie 10 when the bundle is loaded in a dispenser 50.
The dispenser 50 as shown in Figure 7 may include a casing
51, wherein a dispensing opening 52 is defined in the casing
51. As shown in Figure 7, the dispensing opening 52 may be
longitudinal. In a further example as shown, the dispensing
opening 52 has a widened portion 53 in the center of the
dispensing opening 52 in the longitudinal direction. The
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dotted lines in Figure 7 represent the portions of the tie 10
hidden by the front of the dispenser 50.
Once the bundle is loaded into the dispenser 50, the opening
15 should be located within the widened portion 53, but at
least be accessible through the dispensing opening 52. In a
particular example, in which the tie 10 as shown in Figure 4
is used, it is preferred that the web 20 is located within
the widened portion 53 and extends perpendicularly to the
longitudinal direction of the dispensing opening 52. Thus,
also the tie 20 when loaded into the dispenser 50 should
extend with its longitudinal direction perpendicular to the
longitudinal extension of the dispensing opening 52.
Thus and as shown in Figure 6, the user can with its finger
enter one of the cutouts 19 to hook the web 20 and thereby
pull the tie 10 through the dispensing opening 52 out of the
dispenser 50. As the leading paper sheet 43 is connected to
the first portion 11 by the adhesive strip 23, the leading
paper sheet 53 is also withdrawn through the dispensing
opening 52 at the time of pulling the tie 10 at the first
portion 11 out of the dispensing opening 52. Thus, when
interfolded paper sheets 40 are used, the paper sheet
following the leading paper sheet 43 will partly be withdrawn
through the dispensing opening 52 for later use. This
leading paper sheet 43 may be discarded together with the tie
10. Alternatively, the adhesive force between the first
portion 11 or more particularly the adhesive strip 23 and the
leading paper sheet 43 may be defined so that it is lower
than the friction forces between the leading paper sheet 43
and the interfolded consecutive paper sheet 40 so that when
withdrawing the tie 10 at the first portion 11, the leading
paper sheet 43 is only partly entrained with the tie 10 and
after complete removal of the tie 10 partly protrudes from
the dispensing opening 52. In embodiments, in which the tie
is to be removed from the stack 30 before being placed in
a dispenser 50, the adhesive strip 23 may also be omitted.
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Even though the function has been described with respect to
the tie 10 shown in Figure 4, the ties shown in Figures 1 to
3 could be employed as well. In case of the ties shown in
Figures 1 and 2, a user would insert or press the finger onto
the cut 16 or the cuts 16 and 17 pushing away the material of
the tie 10 in the first portion 11. Consequently, the user
could hook the finger around the outer edges of the first
portion 11 and thereby pull the tie 10 at the first portion
11 out of the dispensing opening 52. In case of the tie 10
as shown in Figure 3, the user inserts the finger into the
cutout 18 again hooking the first portion 11 at the outer
edges and thereby enabling easy gripping of the first portion
11 and withdrawal of the tie 10.
It is to be understood that the above disclosure describes
some particular embodiments, but is not limited to these
embodiments. In particular, the present disclosure is not
limited to the shapes of the cutouts 18 and 19, the cuts 16
or 17, the dimensions of the tie 10 and/or the arrangement
and/or areas of the mutual connection 21 and 22 between the
first portion 11 and the second portion 12 as well as of the
adhesive strip 23. The present disclosure is also not
limited to the kind of paper sheets and whether the
individual sheets are folded or even interfolded.
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REFERENCE LIST
Tie 10
First portion 11
Second portion 12
First end 13
Second end 14
Opening 15
Cut 16
Further cut 17
Cutout 18
Cutout 19
Web 20
Heat sealing area 21
Heat sealing area 22
Adhesive strip 23
Area of overlap 25
Stack 30
Paper sheet 40
Leading end face 41
Trailing end face 42
Leading paper sheet 43
Side faces 44
Dispenser 50
Casing 51
Dispensing opening 52
Widened portion 53
