Method for wrapping a sanitary item or a stack comprising a number of sanitary items

Abstract

A method for wrapping a hygiene article or a stack of a number of hygiene articles is intended to enable them to be packaged in a wrapping formed from a sustainable raw material. For this purpose, the hygiene article(s) are fed to a wrapping station by means of a first feed unit, wherein a wrapping blank is pre-creased with folding edges suitable for forming side edges of the wrapping and is then fed to the wrapping station by means of a second feed unit, and in the wrapping station the hygiene article(s) are wrapped by folding the wrapping blank and then closing it by folding in the side flaps to form the side edges, the front and rear flaps are folded in to form the side edges, and the front and rear flaps are fixed to the side flaps and to each other.

Claims

1. A method for wrapping a hygiene article or a stack of a number of hygiene articles, namely absorbent disposable articles for absorbing body excretions, wherein the hygiene article or the stack of hygiene articles is provided with a wrapping formed from a sustainable, in particular biodegradable and/or recyclable, raw material from the group comprising paper, kraft paper, greaseproof and/or wet-strength paper, filter paper, crepe paper, glassine, eucalyptus, tissue, bamboo, papyrus, hemp, felt, wool, cotton, linen, in which a. the hygiene article or the stack of hygiene articles is fed by means of a first feed unit to a wrapping station, b. a wrapping blank formed from the sustainable raw material is provided in a pre-creasing station with folding edges suitable for forming a number of side edges or side faces of the wrapping and is then fed by means of a second feed unit to the wrapping station, c. in the wrapping station, the hygiene article or the stack of hygiene articles is positioned in a predetermined desired position on the wrapping blank, and d. in the wrapping station, the hygiene article or the stack of hygiene articles is wrapped by folding the wrapping blank and then closing it, by d1. folding in the side flaps to form the side edges predefined by the folding edges, d2. folding in the front and rear flaps to form the side edges predefined by the folding edges provided for them, and d3. fixing the front and rear flaps to the side flaps and to one another, wherein the wrapping blank is designed to completely enclose the hygiene article, and wherein there are a number of further segments of material between the side flaps and the respective adjacent front or rear flap which are folded over the forming corners during folding.

2. The method according to of claim 1, wherein the wrapping blank is separated from a continuous web of raw wrapping material before being fed to the wrapping station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the side edges of the wrapping blank are cut before or in the wrapping station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the flaps of the wrapping are fixed to each other thermally and/or mechanically and/or by gluing in or after the wrapping station.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the wrapping blank is provided with a printing.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the wrapping blank is provided with an embossing.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the wrapping blank is provided with a perforation or with perforations.

8. The method of claim 1, in which a window is cut out in the wrapping blank, which window is then closed by gluing in a window film.

9. The method of claim 1, in which the hygiene article or the stack of hygiene articles on the one hand and an associated wrapping blank on the other hand are fed to the wrapping station in a timed manner and synchronized with one another.

10. The method of claim 9, in which the timing or synchronization of hygiene articles or stack of hygiene articles and assigned wrapping blank is monitored by interrogating a print mark.

11. The method of claim 1, in which the raw material provided for forming the wrapping is multilayered.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the hygiene article or articles are fixed to the wrapping after folding into the wrapping.

13. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. Shown therein is:

[0040] FIG. 1 a sanitary article immediately before it is packaged,

[0041] FIG. 2 the hygiene article according to FIG. 1 in partially packaged condition,

[0042] FIGS. 3a, 3b schematically the respective process sequence for wrapping the hygiene article according to FIG. 1, and

[0043] FIG. 4 some variants of pre-cut wrapping blanks with inserted folded edges.

[0044] Identical parts are marked with the same reference signs in all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The hygiene product 1 or the hygiene article 1 according to FIG. 1, in the embodiment example an absorbent disposable article for absorbing body excretions, is to be provided with a wrapping 2 in the manner of an individual package. In the embodiment example, the hygiene product 1 is a folded product, but alternatively it may be packaged unfolded, or it could also be a stack of a number of such hygiene products 1. In particular, the hygiene product 1 may be a sanitary napkin, a nappy, an incontinence product, a panty liner, a meat pad, a pet pad, a nursing pad or the like.

[0046] For the wrapping 2, the use of a sustainable, biodegradable and/or recyclable raw material as a base material is envisaged, which preferably does not produce microplastics. Paper (coated or uncoated), kraft paper, greaseproof and/or wet-strength paper, filter paper, crepe paper, pergamide, eucalyptus, tissue, bamboo, papyrus, hemp, felt, wool, tree wool, linen or other such materials are considered to be particularly suitable and thus preferred for this purpose in the embodiment example.

[0047] Due to the material properties of such a raw material, in particular a lack of elasticity, higher brittleness and comparatively lower tear strength, the use of the usual packaging methods is not suitable for this type of hygiene article 1. In the embodiment example, it is therefore intended to wrap the hygiene article 1 in the wrapping 2 using process elements actually intended for enveloping or letter wrapping machines. For this purpose, the hygiene article 1, as sketched in FIG. 1, is first fed along a transport direction indicated by the arrow 4 to a wrapping station and there brought into overlap with a wrapping blank 8 formed from the sustainable raw material and also conveyed along the transport direction indicated by the arrow 6. Beforehand, the wrapping blank 8 was provided in a pre-creasing station with folding edges 12 suitable for forming side edges 10 of the wrapping 2.

[0048] In the wrapping station, the hygiene article 1 is positioned in a predetermined target position on the wrapping blank 8, as indicated by the arrow 14. The correct assignment of the hygiene article 1 or product to the wrapping blank assigned to it and also the correct positioning of the product on the wrapping blank 8 are suitably monitored by means of a print mark 15. The hygiene article 1 is then wrapped by folding the wrapping blank 8 and then closing it, the side flaps 16 being folded in to form the side edges 10 predefined by the folding edges 12, the front and rear flaps 18, 20 being folded in to form the side edges 10 predefined by the folding edges 12 provided for them, and finally the front and rear flaps 18, 20 being fixed to the side flaps 16 and to each other.

[0049] For further clarification, FIG. 2 shows the hygiene product 1 already partially surrounded by the wrapping 2; in the situation shown, the side flaps 16 have already been folded over and fixed to one another, forming the provided side edges 10 adapted to the product thickness, whereas the folding over of the front and rear flaps 18, 20 is still pending. As can also be seen from this illustration, the wrapping blank is provided with printing in the form of a motif 22 and with a window cut-out 24.

[0050] The process sequence for wrapping the hygiene product 1 is shown schematically in FIG. 3. In the first variant shown in FIG. 3a, the wrapping blanks 8 are provided via a first material web 30. In a first process step, the material web 30 is cut into the wrapping blanks 8 by means of a cutting unit 34 in the manner of a separation; alternatively, the wrapping blanks 8 according to the variant shown in FIG. 3b can also be pre-cut or provided as a single sheet or sheet. By means of the cutting unit 34, a particularly individual cutting is possible, which can also be changed from wrapping blank 8 to wrapping blank 8 by a corresponding control of the cutting unit 34. Thus, a direct and optimal adaptation to the hygiene product 1 to be wrapped is possible. If the material web 30 and thus also the wrapping blank 8 are already completely printed, the wrapping blank 8 is fed to the wrapping unit 40 in the next process step. Otherwise, the wrapping blank 8 can be individually printed in a process step not shown by a printing unit not shown before being fed to the wrapping unit 40. In addition or as an alternative, it is also possible for printing to be carried out on the material web 30 by a further printing unit. This has the advantage that printing can be carried out over the entire subsequent blank and thus no system-related print-free edges are created. By using two printing units connected one after the other, it is also possible to print on both sides of the packaging, outside and inside. Alternatively or in addition to such printing, the embossing of a motif and/or the insertion of a perforation can also be provided.

[0051] It is also possible to cut a window element 42 into the wrapping blank 8 in a further process step prior to feeding the wrapping unit 40 or together with the cutting of the wrapping blank 8 and to close it with a window film. In this way it is also possible to produce wrappings 2 with a viewing window.

[0052] The schematic representation of the process according to FIG. 3 further shows a second material web 50 for the production of the hygiene product 1 to be packaged. This second material web 50 is processed in a manner known per se, whereby the hygiene products 1 are provided by cutting, possibly folding, possibly stacking, depending on the specified requirements. The finished product 1, if necessary as a product stack, is then fed to the wrapping unit 40.

[0053] For particularly reliable and precise positioning, the hygiene product 1 on the one hand and the assigned wrapping blank 8 on the other hand are fed to the wrapping station 40 in a timed manner and synchronized with one another, the timing or synchronization of hygiene product 1 on the one hand and assigned wrapping blank 8 on the other hand being monitored by interrogating a print mark 52. When the hygiene product 1 is united with the wrapping blank 8, both are transported in a line and in synchronization with each other. This avoids relative movements between the two, and the product 1 can be placed on the wrapping blank 8 in a particularly simple manner, for example by depositing it in a precise position. Thus, the product 1 to be packaged lies in the wrapping unit 40 on the inside of the wrapping blank 8.

[0054] In a first wrapping step, the side flaps 16 of the wrapping blank 8 are first folded and wrapped around the hygiene product 1. At the same time or in a subsequent process step, the outer side of the side flaps 16 is covered with an adhesive film to enable subsequent fixing. In a second wrapping process, the front and rear flaps 18, 20 are then folded, wrapped around the product 1 and glued to the side flaps 16.

[0055] In the embodiment example, a gluing process is provided for fixation; alternatively or additionally, fixation can also be carried out by means of adhesive fixation material, e.g. hot glue, cold glue, self-adhesive tape or others, by means of mechanical fixation material, e.g. Velcro fastener, snap fastener or others, by means of thermoplastic fixation material, e.g. hot activatable cold glue, wax, varnish or others. This can be done by means of thermoplastic fixing material, e.g. hot-activated cold glue, wax, varnish or others, or without fixing material, e.g. by purely mechanical or thermomechanical embossing, ultrasound, insertion of the flaps into slots provided for this purpose or others, or by means of a combination of one or more of these possibilities.

[0056] The fusing materials can be applied over the entire surface or in partial areas, either already by the material manufacturer or inline in the machine. There, e.g. by printing, spraying, or other processes suitable for the material in question. In particular, the flaps 16, 18, 20 of the wrapping 2 can be fixed to each other thermally and/or mechanically and/or by gluing, preferably resealably, in or after the wrapping station 40.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows some variants of a pre-cut wrapping blank 8 provided with folding edges 12, as could be used in the devices described above. FIG. 4a shows a wrapping blank 8 which could be used to form a wrapping 2 of the type and shape of an envelope. Here, the four inner folding edges 12 are arranged in a rectangle-like manner around the base area 60 of the envelope 2. An associated outer folding edge 12 is then provided, each offset outwards and parallel to the inner folding edge 12, so that the side surfaces or side flaps 10 of the envelope 2 are formed in each case between the inner and outer folding edges 12. A wrapping blank 8 designed in this way can be processed comparatively simply and reliably in the folding process described above, whereby the hygiene article to be packaged is wrapped in the wrapping 2 in a manner comparable to an envelope.

[0058] In a further developed wrapping concept, which is considered to be independently inventive, the wrapping blank 8 is, in contrast, also designed to completely enclose the hygiene article. In particular, it is taken into account that the wrapping blank 8 shown in FIG. 4a could leave openings to a small extent in the area of the forming corners after folding. This could make it more difficult to store products that are kept moist or, on the other hand, also hinder the dry storage of the hygiene products in a humid outdoor environment.

[0059] To counteract this, in the embodiments of the wrapping blank 8′, 8″ shown in FIG. 4b and FIG. 4c, which are considered to be independently inventive, the folding edges 12 are positioned in such a way that after folding in the forming wrapping 2, its corners are completely covered by independent segments of material. For this purpose, a number of inner folding edges 12 are also provided in these embodiments, which are arranged in a rectangle-like manner around the base area 60 of the wrapping 2. In these embodiments, however, there are a number of further segments of material 62 between the side flaps 16 and the respective adjacent front or rear flap 18, 20, which are folded over the forming corners during folding. Compared to common products, the resulting folding pattern corresponds approximately to that of a chocolate bar wrapper.

[0060] In these variants, the wrapping blank 8′, 8″ can be contoured and cut to size in different ways, starting from an initially rectangular pre-cut, depending on the individually specified purpose. FIG. 4b shows an example with a slightly cut upper area, whereby the resulting waste (i.e. the waste produced when cutting from a rectangular blank) can already be kept comparatively low. In contrast, a complete avoidance of waste is made possible by the wrapping blank 8″ as shown in FIG. 4c. In this case, the entire base area of the originally rectangular blank can be used to form the partial areas forming the wrapping 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0061] 1 hygiene product [0062] 2 wrapping [0063] 4, 6 arrow [0064] 8, 8′, 8″ wrapping blank [0065] 10 side edge [0066] 12 folding edge [0067] 14 arrow [0068] 15 print mark [0069] 16 side flap [0070] 18 front flap [0071] 20 rear flap [0072] 22 motif [0073] 24 window cut-out [0074] 30 material web [0075] 34 cutting unit [0076] 36 single sheet [0077] 40 wrapping unit [0078] 42 window element [0079] 50 material web [0080] 52 print mark [0081] 60 base area [0082] 62 material segment