Method of compressing tissue bundles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11247794-B2
Application number	US-201616469052-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2016
Priority date	Dec 20, 2016
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

A method is disclosed for forming a tissue bundle from a stack of folded absorbent tissues. The method includes the steps of forming a stack of folded absorbent tissues; compressing the stack to an initial density in a first compression step; wrapping the stack a first time in a supporting wrapper to form an initial bundle and maintain the initial density; subsequently applying a second compression step to compress the stack to a final density that is higher than the initial density; and wrapping the stack a second time to form a final bundle and to maintain the final density.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of forming a tissue bundle comprising a stack of folded absorbent tissues, the method comprising:
forming a stack of folded absorbent tissues;
compressing the stack to an initial density in a first compression step;
wrapping the stack a first time in a supporting wrapper to form an initial bundle;
subsequently applying a second compression step to compress the stack to a final density that is higher than the initial density; and
re-wrapping the same stack a second time to form a final bundle and to maintain the final density,
wherein the tissues are of structured tissue and the final density is greater than 0.2 g/cm 3 ; or the tissues are of hybrid tissue and the final density is greater than 0.25 g/cm 3 ; or the tissues are of dry crepe tissue and the final density is greater than 0.3 g/cm 3 .

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the stack is wrapped the second time in a final wrapper that is different to the supporting wrapper.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the stack is wrapped the second time by re-wrapping the supporting wrapper.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second compression step is carried out without removing the supporting wrapper.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the initial density is less than 0.25 g/cm 3 .

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the stack is compressed in a height direction during the second compression and the final bundle has a height that is less than 70% of the initial bundle.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the stack is compressed in a height direction during the second compression with a pressure of greater than 120 kN/m2.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second compression step takes place at a time or location that is distant from the first compression step.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the initial bundle is in the form of an elongate log and the method comprises cutting the log transverse to its elongate dimension to form a plurality of tissue packages.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the log is cut into tissue packages subsequent to the second compression step.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the tissues comprise dry crepe material.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the tissues are interleaved in a V, M or Z configuration.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the initial bundle is in the form of an elongate log and the second compression step takes place by transporting the log along a compression path that is aligned with an elongate direction of the log.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the supporting wrapper is cut away, prior to wrapping the stack a second time to form a final bundle.

15. The method according to claim 14 , where the portion cut away is a portion that has been previously adhered on wrapping the stack a first time.

16. A tissue bundle comprising a stack of folded absorbent tissues, wrapped in a wrapper to form a final bundle and compressed in a two-step compression process according to the method of claim 1 .

17. The tissue bundle according to claim 16 , wherein the wrapper is nipped and folded to tightly wrap the final bundle and to maintain the final density.

18. A packaging machine for forming a tight final tissue bundle from a loose wrapped initial bundle containing a stack of folded absorbent tissues, the packaging machine comprising:
a transport station for conveying an initial bundle having a supporting wrapper to a compression station; and
a compression station for compressing the wrapped initial bundle from an initial density to a final tissue bundle having a higher final density and a wrapping station for re-wrapping the same final tissue bundle to maintain the final density,
wherein the wrapping station comprises a nip and fold provision to take up excess material in the supporting wrapper and fold it around the final tissue bundle.

19. The packaging machine of claim 18 , wherein the packaging machine has a cutter for cutting away at least a portion of the supporting wrapper prior to forming the final tissue bundle.

20. A packaging machine for forming a tight final tissue bundle from a loose wrapped initial bundle containing a stack of folded absorbent tissues, the packaging machine comprising:
a transport station for conveying an initial bundle having a supporting wrapper to a compression station; and
a compression station for compressing the wrapped initial bundle from an initial density to a final tissue bundle having a higher final density and a wrapping station for re-wrapping the same final tissue bundle to maintain the final density,
wherein the wrapping station comprises replacement provision to remove the supporting wrapper and replace it with a high-tensile wrapper.

Assignees

• Essity Hygiene & Health Ab

Inventors

• Wallenius Hans
• Larsson Björn

Classifications

• B65B13/20

  Means for compressing or compacting bundles prior to bundling · CPC title

• B65B63/026 Primary

  for compressing by feeding articles through a narrowing space · CPC title

• B65B63/02

  for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles · CPC title

• B65B61/24

  for shaping or reshaping completed packages · CPC title

• B65B25/14 Primary

  Packaging paper or like sheets, envelopes, or newspapers, in flat, folded, or rolled form · CPC title