HK1160085A - Naked collation package - Google Patents

Description

Naked arrangement package

Technical Field

The invention relates to a naked collation package.

Background

Naked collation means a packaging application in which a plurality of individual units (typically belonging to a commodity) are collated and then wrapped directly (without any intermediate packaging such as a carton or tube) in a packaging film which holds the collated units together in the resulting naked collation package. Naked collation provides many benefits including reducing the amount of packaging material (by avoiding the need for any intermediate packaging), and in the case of clear packaging film, allowing the individual units to be visible.

Naked collation packaging techniques are particularly useful when dealing with relatively rigid items and/or items that are not particularly pliable, such as cigarette packs, boxed pharmaceuticals, playing cards, packaged perfumes and cosmetics, CD cases, DVD cases, and the like. Typically, these items themselves may be units wrapped by an outer wrap (although they need not be) so that once they are removed from the naked collation package they are ready for display, for example on the retailer's shelf. For example, in our co-pending application PCT/GB2008/050662, the problem of avoiding sealing the outer film of a naked collation package to a unit wrap film is addressed.

In contrast, the present invention involves removing individual units from a naked collation package in the following manner: the implementation is easy; and preferably allows individual units or groups of units to be removed from the naked collation package without destroying the integrity of the remainder of the package.

As in many other types of packaging, shrink film is often employed in naked collation to ensure tight wrapping. Whether tight wrapping, which is satisfactory from a practical and aesthetic standpoint, is achieved by shrink film or by other means, end users or retailers, in general, often experience difficulties in removing individual units or groups of units from a naked collation. This is because the film may be so tightly wrapped around the finished unit that the user cannot obtain any substantial grip on the film to tear or remove the outer film. The user may assist in this opening process by means of using a sharp tool or brute force, but this may then cause damage to the individual units, or may cause the entire package to be broken, releasing and scattering all of the individual units, even if the user's intent is to remove only one or some of the units from the package.

In naked collation packs, individual units, such as for example cigarette packs wrapped in units, are generally stacked in end-to-end relationship and then wrapped in a sheet of naked collation film. The stacking height varies from a single unit stack to a two unit stack or a three (or more) unit stack. The length of the packets may be from 2 to about 20, or more, but will often be in the range of about 3 to 10 units in length. For example, it is common in the field of naked collation cigarette packs that the length of the pack is from about 4 to about 7.

In naked collation packaging, the risk of damage to the wrapped item, for example by puncturing the outer wrapper with a sharp instrument, is significant; and it is desirable to provide a ready means of manually opening such a package. It would also be desirable to provide a means of separating individual units or groups of units from the body of the pack and leaving the remaining wrapped units in the pack substantially intact.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a naked collation package comprising a plurality of individual units arranged end to end or side by side to form a unit row, the unit row comprising at least one contact surface located between an adjacent pair of the individual units in the unit row; the row of cells is wrapped by a polymeric sheet having a length and a width; the length of the sheet is sufficient to enclose the row of cells and there is sufficient overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region to provide a girth seal (girth seal) along at least a portion of the length of the row of cells in which the sheet is sealed to itself to provide a girth seal; the width of the sheet is longer than the unit row to provide an envelope seal area at least one end of the unit row, whereby the wrapped and seal-around sheet can be folded over and sealed to itself at least one end of the unit row to provide an envelope seal, and the sheet is folded over and sealed to itself in this area to provide an envelope seal; the membrane is provided with a line of weakness along its length, or a portion or portions thereof, the line of weakness being arranged to be substantially aligned with the contact face.

According to the present invention there is also provided a naked collation package comprising a plurality of individual units arranged end to end or side by side to form a unit row, the unit row comprising at least one contact surface located between an adjacent pair of the individual units in the unit row; the row of cells is wrapped with a sheet of polymeric film having a length and a width, the length of the film being sufficient to enclose the row of cells and there being sufficient overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region to provide a wrap around seal along at least a portion of the length of the row of cells, the sheet being sealed to itself in this region to provide a wrap around seal; the width of the sheet is longer than the unit row to provide an envelope seal area at least one end of the unit row, whereby the wrapped and seal-around sheet can be folded over and sealed to itself at least one end of the unit row to provide an envelope seal, and the sheet is folded over and sealed to itself in this area to provide an envelope seal; the sheet material is provided along its length, or a portion or portions thereof, with at least one line of weakness arranged in substantial alignment with the contact face.

It is also desirable to reduce the amount of wrapping film used in naked organizers.

Thus, according to the present invention there is also provided a naked collation package comprising a plurality of individual units arranged end to end or side by side to form a row of units, the row of units comprising at least one interface between an adjacent pair of the individual units in the row of units; the cell rows are wrapped with a polymer film sheet having a length and a width; the length of the sheet is sufficient to enclose the row of cells and there is sufficient overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region to provide a wrap around seal along at least a portion of the length of the row of cells in which the sheet is sealed to itself to provide a wrap around seal; the width of the sheet is substantially no longer than the row of cells, such that the wrapped and sealed-around sheet forms an open-ended sleeve around the row of cells; the sheet material is provided with a line of weakness along its length, or a portion or portions thereof, the line of weakness being arranged to be substantially aligned with the contact face.

Thus, according to the present invention there is also provided a naked collation package comprising a plurality of individual units arranged end to end or side by side to form a row of units, the row of units comprising at least one interface between an adjacent pair of the individual units in the row of units; the cell rows are wrapped with a polymer film sheet having a length and a width; the length of the sheet is sufficient to enclose the row of cells and there is sufficient overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region to provide a wrap around seal along at least a portion of the length of the row of cells in which the sheet is sealed to itself to provide a wrap around seal; the width of the sheet is substantially no longer than the cell rows, such that the wrapped and circumferentially sealed film sheets form open-ended sleeves around the cell rows; the sheet material is provided along its length, or a portion or portions thereof, with at least one line of weakness arranged in substantial alignment with the contact face.

The naked collation package of the present invention provides the following advantages: by bending the package in the region of the contact surface, it is possible to break the individual unit or group of units away from the remainder of the package and leave the remainder of the package substantially intact.

The cell row comprises at least two individual cells, but may for example comprise at least 3 or at least about 4 or 5 individual cells. For example, a row of units may be a single unit in height, or this may be two stacks or 3 stacks.

When a cell row comprises more than two individual cells, there may be a corresponding plurality of contact surfaces between adjacent pairs of individual cells. In this case, a plurality of lines of weakness are preferably provided along the length of the film sheet; each line of weakness is disposed in substantial alignment with a respective contact surface.

The naked collation package may comprise at least two lines of weakness in a spaced apart relationship, the at least two lines of weakness being arranged to be substantially aligned with respective contact faces.

The naked collation package may comprise a first line of weakness in spaced apart relation to a second line of weakness, the first line of weakness being located on one side of the respective contact face and the second line of weakness being located on the opposite side of the respective contact face. This arrangement provides a greater margin of error in position when aligning the at least one line of weakness with the respective contact surface.

For example, the or each line of weakness may be provided in the sheet by any suitable means, such as ablation, cutting or perforation.

Typically, the sheet is a polymer film having a machine direction (md) and a transverse direction (cd). Preferably, in this case, the length of the film web is in the longitudinal direction and the or each line of weakness is provided by feeding the sheet material in roll form to a suitable ablation, cutting or perforation tool, such that the or each line of weakness is provided in the longitudinal direction.

Preferably, the film is a shrink film, such that after or during sealing of the film to itself around the row of cells, the film can shrink to form a tight fit.

Preferably, each individual unit has substantially the same shape and size as each other individual unit in the package. It is also preferred that each individual cell has a substantially regular shape, the or each contact surface between adjacent cells being a substantially straight contact surface.

The or each line of weakness arranged to be substantially aligned with the interface between adjacent packs may be a substantially straight line of weakness. However, it has been found particularly preferred that the or each line of weakness has an oscillatory pattern. For example, the or each weakening line may be arranged in a zigzag shape or, for example, have a sinusoidal profile. This allows for a greater margin of error in aligning the or each line of weakness with the contact face. The or each line of weakness is continuous or discontinuous and may comprise a series of repeating patterns.

Preferably, the or each line of weakness is an oscillating line of weakness. More preferably, the or each line of weakness is an oscillating line of weakness having a repeating unit, wherein the repeating unit itself is oscillating.

Oscillatory preferably means that the line of weakness or each line of weakness propagates sequentially above and below a longitudinal axis which extends along the length of the line of weakness or each line of weakness and through its centre.

According to the present invention there is also provided a method of producing a naked collation package, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of individual cells, the plurality of individual cells being placed end-to-end or side-by-side to form a cell row, the cell row comprising at least one contact surface, the contact surface being located between an adjacent pair of individual cells in the cell row;

b) providing a sheet of polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the sheet is sufficient to encompass the row of cells and there is sufficient overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region to provide a wrap around seal along at least a portion of the length of the row of cells; and the width of the sheet being longer than the unit row to provide an envelope seal area at least one end of the unit row;

c) providing a line of weakness along the length of the film;

d) substantially aligning the line of weakness with the contact face;

e) wrapping a length of film around the row of cells and sealing the film to itself to provide a wrap around seal; and

f) the film is folded over and sealed to itself in the envelope seal area to provide an envelope seal.

According to the present invention there is also provided a method of producing a naked collation package, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of individual cells, the plurality of individual cells being placed end-to-end or side-by-side to form a cell row, the cell row comprising at least one contact surface, the contact surface being located between an adjacent pair of individual cells in the cell row;

b) providing a sheet of polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the membrane sheet is sufficient to surround the row of cells and there is sufficient overlap between the ends of the membrane sheet to provide an overlap region to provide a wrap around seal along at least a portion of the length of the row of cells; and the width of the membrane sheet is longer than the cell rows to provide an envelope seal area at least one end of the cell rows;

c) providing at least one line of weakness along the length of the film;

d) substantially aligning the at least one line of weakness with the at least one contact surface;

e) wrapping a length of film around the row of cells and sealing the film to itself to provide a wrap around seal; and

f) the film is folded over and sealed to itself in the envelope seal area to provide an envelope seal.

The invention also provides a method for producing a naked collation package, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of individual cells, the plurality of individual cells being placed end-to-end or side-by-side to form a cell row, the cell row comprising at least one contact surface, the contact surface being located between an adjacent pair of individual cells in the cell row;

b) providing a sheet of polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the sheet is sufficient to enclose the row of cells and there is sufficient overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region to provide a wrap around seal along at least a portion of the length of the row of cells; and the width of the sheet is substantially no longer than the cell row;

c) providing a line of weakness along the length of the film;

d) substantially aligning the line of weakness with the contact face; and

e) the length of film is wrapped around the row of cells and the film is sealed to itself to provide an open-ended and circumferentially sealed enclosure around the row of cells.

The invention also provides a method for producing a naked collation package, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of individual cells, the plurality of individual cells being placed end-to-end or side-by-side to form a cell row, the cell row including at least one contact surface, the contact surface being located between an adjacent pair of individual cells in the cell row;

b) providing a sheet of polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the sheet is sufficient to encompass the row of cells and there is sufficient overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region to provide a wrap around seal along at least a portion of the length of the row of cells; and the width of the sheet is substantially no longer than the cell row;

c) providing at least one line of weakness along the length of the film;

d) substantially aligning the at least one line of weakness with the at least one contact surface; and

e) the length of film is wrapped around the row of cells and the film is sealed to itself to provide an open-ended and circumferentially sealed enclosure around the row of cells.

The films used according to the invention can have various thicknesses, depending on the application requirements. For example, it may be about 10 to about 240 μm thick and preferably about 50 to about 90 μm thick. The line of weakness in the film preferably has a narrower gauge than the remainder of the film, e.g. 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 20% or 50% narrower than the main portion of the film, or the line of weakness may extend through the film or substantially through the film.

The film used in the present invention, prior to deposition of any coating and/or skin or laminate layers, can comprise any suitable polymer film matrix, such as a film made of a biopolymer such as any of those described herein [ preferably, a polylactic acid, polygalacic acid, and/or cellulose film (e.g., a microbial film and/or a regenerated cellulose film ]; a thermoplastic film; a polymer film (e.g., a film comprising a polyolefin [ e.g., polypropylene and/or polyethylene ] polyurethane, a polyvinyl halide [ e.g., PVC ], a polyester [ e.g., polyethylene terephthalate-PET ], a polyamide [ e.g., nylon ], and/or a non-hydrocarbon polymer), and/or a multilayer and/or composite sheet formed from any suitable combination and/or mixture of the above. But may also include polyester films, polyurethane films, cellulose and PLA films.

The film of the present invention may comprise only one layer, or may comprise multiple layers. When multiple layers are present, the layers may be combined by lamination and/or coextrusion and/or coating and/or melt coating extrusion. The film may also be treated by other means (e.g., by corona discharge treatment) to improve certain properties of the film; for example printability or coating adhesion.

The film of the present invention may include one or more additive materials, such as: a dye; pigments, colorants; voiding (voiding) agents; metallized and/or pseudo-metallized coatings (e.g., aluminum); lubricants, antioxidants, surfactants, hardening aids, gloss improvers, prodegradants; UV-attenuating materials (e.g., UV light stabilizers); a sealability additive; tackifiers, antiblocking agents, additives to improve the adhesion and/or printability of the ink, crosslinkers; anti-slip and/or anti-blocking additives and the like.

Drawings

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows a naked collation package according to a first aspect of the invention in perspective view.

Fig. 2 illustrates in perspective a naked collation package in accordance with a second aspect of the invention.

Fig. 3 shows a naked collation package in perspective view according to a third aspect of the invention.

Fig. 4 shows a naked collation package in perspective view according to a fourth aspect of the invention.

Fig. 5 shows a naked collation package according to a fifth aspect of the invention in perspective view.

Fig. 6 shows a naked collation package in perspective view according to a sixth aspect of the invention.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1, there is shown a naked collation package 1 comprising 10 collated individual units 2, two stacked in height and 5 along the length of the unit row. Each individual cell 2 is placed side by side with its neighbouring cell and there is a contact surface 3 between them. The collation film 4 is wrapped around the row of units and sealed to itself by a wrap around seal (not shown, on the underside of the illustrated package 1). A letter seal 5 is provided at each end of the package 1, although only one of them is shown in fig. 1. A line of weakness 6 in the longitudinal direction of the film 4 is provided in substantial alignment with each contact surface 3 and in the embodiment shown in figure 1 comprises a straight line perforation in the film. In use, one end of the package 1 can be held and 2, 4, 6 or 8 individual units 2 can be broken off from the other end by bending the package 1 in the region of the appropriate contact surface 3.

Referring to fig. 2, there is shown a naked collation package 21 having similar features to those described in relation to fig. 1, except that the lines of weakness 26 comprise sinusoidal line perforations in the film.

Referring to fig. 3, there is shown a naked collation pack 31 comprising 10 collated individual units 32, two stacked in height and 5 along the length of the row of units. Each individual cell 32 is placed side by side with its neighbouring cell and there is a contact surface 33 between them. The collation film 34 is wrapped around the row of cells and sealed to itself by a wrap around seal (not shown, on the underside of the illustrated package 31). The width of the film 34 is substantially no greater than the length of the cell row so that the film 34 forms an open-ended sleeve around the cell row. A line of weakness 36 in the longitudinal direction of the film 34 is provided in substantial alignment with each contact face 33 and in the embodiment shown in figure 3 comprises a straight line perforation in the film. In use, one end of the package 31 may be held and 2, 4, 6 or 8 individual units 32 may be broken away from the other end by bending the package 31 in the region of the appropriate contact face 33.

Referring to fig. 4, there is shown a naked collation package 41 having similar features to those described in relation to fig. 3, except that the lines of weakness 46 comprise sinusoidal line perforations in the film.

Referring to fig. 5, there is shown a naked collation pack 51 comprising 10 collated individual units 52, two stacked in height and 5 along the length of the row of units. Each individual cell 52 is placed side by side with its neighbouring cell and there is a contact surface 53 between them. The wrapping film 54 is wrapped around the row of units and sealed to itself by a wrap around seal (not shown, located on the underside of the illustrated package 51). A letter seal 55 is provided at each end of the package 51, although only one of them is shown in figure 5. Lines of weakness 56a and 56b in the longitudinal direction of the film 54 are provided in substantial alignment with each contact surface 53 and in the embodiment shown in figure 5 comprise straight perforations in the film 54. The first line of weakness 56a is in spaced relation to the second line of weakness 56 b; the first line of weakness 56a is located on one side 57a of the respective contact surface 53 and the second line of weakness 56b is located on the opposite side 57b of the respective contact surface 53. This arrangement provides a large margin of error in position when aligning the lines of weakness with the respective contact surfaces. Of course, in other embodiments, more than two lines of weakness in spaced relationship may be provided at the respective interfaces. In other embodiments, the line of weakness may be an oscillating line of weakness, such as a sinusoidal line perforation in the film (e.g., as shown in fig. 2). In use, one end of the package 51 may be held and 2, 4, 6 or 8 individual units 52 may be severed from the other end by bending the package 51 at the region of the appropriate contact surface 53.

Referring to fig. 6, there is shown a naked collation package 61 comprising 10 collated individual units 62, two stacked in height and 5 along the length of the unit row. Each individual cell 62 is placed side by side with its neighbouring cell and there is a contact surface 63 between them. The collation film 64 is wrapped around the row of cells and sealed to itself by a wrap around seal (not shown, on the underside of the illustrated package 61). The width of the film 64 is substantially no greater than the length of the row of cells, such that the film 64 forms an open-ended sleeve around the row of cells. Lines of weakness 66a and 66b in the machine direction of the film 64 are provided in substantial alignment with each contact surface 63 and in the embodiment shown in figure 6 comprise straight perforations in the film 64. The first line of weakness 66a is in spaced relation to the second line of weakness 66 b; the first line of weakness 66a is located on one side 67a of the respective contact surface 63 and the second line of weakness 66b is located on the other side 67b of the respective contact surface 63. This arrangement provides a large margin of error in position when aligning the lines of weakness with the respective contact surfaces. Of course, in other embodiments, more than two lines of weakness in spaced relationship may be provided at the respective interfaces. In other embodiments, the line of weakness may be an oscillating line of weakness, such as a sinusoidal line perforation in the film (e.g., as shown in fig. 4). In use, one end of the package 61 may be held and 2, 4, 6 or 8 individual units 62 may be severed from the other end by bending the package 61 in the region of the appropriate contact face 63.

Claims (11)

1. A naked collation package comprising a plurality of individual units arranged end to end or side by side to form a unit row, the unit row comprising at least one interface between an adjacent pair of the individual units in the unit row; the row of cells is wrapped by a polymeric film sheet having a length and a width; the length of the sheet is sufficient to encompass the row of cells and there is sufficient overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region to provide a wrap seal along at least a portion of the length of the row of cells in which the sheet is sealed to itself to provide the wrap seal; the width of the sheet material is longer than the unit row to provide an envelope seal area at least one end of the unit row, whereby the wrapped and encircled sheet material can be folded over and sealed to itself at least one end of the unit row to provide an envelope seal, and the sheet material is folded over and sealed to itself in this area to provide the envelope seal; the sheet material is provided with a line of weakness along its length, or along a portion or portions thereof, the line of weakness being arranged to be substantially aligned with the contact face.

2. A naked collation package comprising a plurality of individual units arranged end to end or side by side to form a unit row, the unit row comprising at least one interface between an adjacent pair of the individual units in the unit row; the row of cells is wrapped by a polymeric film sheet having a length and a width; the length of the sheet is sufficient to encompass the row of cells and there is sufficient overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region to provide a wrap seal along at least a portion of the length of the row of cells in which the sheet is sealed to itself to provide the wrap seal; the width of the sheet is substantially no longer than the cell row, such that the wrapped and circumferentially sealed sheet forms an open-ended sleeve around the cell row; the sheet material is provided with a line of weakness along its length, or along a portion or portions thereof, the line of weakness being arranged to be substantially aligned with the contact face.

3. A naked collation package according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein bending of the package in the region of the interface causes an individual unit or group of units to be broken away from the remainder of the package and the remainder of the package to be substantially intact.

4. A naked collation package according to any one of claims 1 to 3 comprising a plurality of interfaces between adjacent pairs of individual units.

5. A naked collation package according to any one of claims 1 to 4 comprising at least two lines of weakness in a spaced apart relationship, the at least two lines of weakness being arranged to be substantially aligned with a respective contact face.

6. A naked collation package according to claim 5, comprising a first line of weakness in spaced apart relation to a second line of weakness, the first line of weakness being located on one side of the respective contact face and the second line of weakness being located on the opposite side of the respective contact face.

7. A naked collation package according to claim 4 comprising a plurality of lines of weakness along the length of the sheet; each line of weakness is disposed in substantial alignment with a respective contact surface.

8. A naked collation package according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the line of weakness is a substantially straight line of weakness.

9. A naked collation package according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the line of weakness is an oscillating line of weakness.

10. A method of producing a naked collation package, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a plurality of individual cells, the plurality of individual cells being placed end-to-end or side-by-side to form a cell row, the cell row comprising at least one contact surface, the contact surface being located between an adjacent pair of individual cells in the cell row;

b. providing a sheet of polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the sheet is sufficient to encompass the row of cells and there is sufficient overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region to provide a wrap around seal along at least a portion of the length of the row of cells; and the width of the sheet is longer than the unit row to provide an envelope seal area at least one end of the unit row;

c. providing a line of weakness along the length of the film;

d. substantially aligning the line of weakness with the at least one contact surface;

e. wrapping a length of film around the row of cells and sealing the film to itself to provide a wrap-around seal; and

f. the film is folded over in the envelope seal region and sealed to itself to provide an envelope seal.

11. A method of producing a naked collation package, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a plurality of individual cells, the plurality of individual cells being placed end-to-end or side-by-side to form a cell row, the cell row comprising at least one contact surface, the contact surface being located between an adjacent pair of individual cells in the cell row;

b. providing a sheet of polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the sheet is sufficient to encompass the row of cells and there is sufficient overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region to provide a wrap around seal along at least a portion of the length of the row of cells; and the width of the sheet is substantially no longer than the unit row;

c. providing a line of weakness along the length of the film;

d. substantially aligning the line of weakness with the at least one contact surface; and

e. wrapping a length of film around the row of cells and sealing the film to itself to provide an open-ended and circumferentially sealed enclosure around the row of cells.