GB2266510A

GB2266510A - Continuously supplying individually packaged articles from boxes

Info

Publication number: GB2266510A
Application number: GB9308649A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Per Hjalmarsson
Original assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA; Tetra Alfa Holdings SA
Current assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Priority date: 1992-04-28
Filing date: 1993-04-27
Publication date: 1993-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 2013-04-27
Also published as: CN1078953A; JPH09315409A; CN1040085C; GB2266510B; JP2763995B2; JPH06211221A; GB9308649D0

Abstract

A method of dispensing packaged articles such as straws continuously for application to a side of a respective carton utilises an arrangement for dispensing a strip (8) of the individually packaged articles comprising a box (16) in which the strip (8) or articles is in folds to form a stack with a leading end (18) and an opposite bitter end (22) of the strip (8) projecting through the top of the box (16), at least the bitter end (22) being attached (28) to a flap (26) of the box. From the bitter end (22), the strip extends along the inside of the side wall to the bottom of the box and then ascends in folds to the leading end (18). This arrangement allows a second box (16) containing packaged articles packed in the same manner to be placed adjacent the first box, and the bitter end (22) of the strip (8) in the first box (16) to be joined to the leading end (18) of the strip (8) in the second box (16) while the first strip (8) is in the process of being withdrawn from the first box (16). <IMAGE>

Description

METHOD s APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY SUPPLYING INDIVIDUALLY PACKAGED ARTICLES Field of the Invention This invention relates to packaging systems, and more particularly to systems for supplying individually packaged elongated objects in a manufacturing operation.

Background of the Invention The attachment of individually packaged elongated objects, such as drinking straws, spoons and similar articles, to the outside of cartons or other packages is known. The system described in United States Patent No. 4,584,819 is an example of an arrangement for attaching individual packages of drinking straws to the side of cartons containing a liquid food product, such as juice or milk. This patent discloses in Fig. 4 a continuous strip 14 of individual packages containing drinking straws 30. The strip 14 is preferably formed of a plastic material that is capable of being severed conveniently by a reciprocating knife blade. The strip of individually packaged straws is supplied to the applicator mechanism from a roll 15 which is mounted on a rotary holder 16.While this arrangement and other similar arrangements operate satisfactorily, it is necessary to replace the roll of straws periodically. During the time that the roll of straws is being replaced, the machine must be stopped for a sufficient length of time to mount the new roll on the holder and manually feed the end of the strip 14 through the applicator mechanism. This operation requires a technician to be present to replace each roll, which adds to the expense of operating the machine.

Objects and Summary It is an object of this invention to provide an improved arrangement for supplying individually packaged elongated objects in a band or strip to a machine where they are separated from the band for further processing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for the continuous supply of individually packaged elongated objects in a band or strip used in the process which does not require periodic interruption of the process for replacing the band or strip.

These objects are accomplished in accordance with this invention by a process for dispensing packaged straws, spoons or similar articles continuously to a predetermined location for application to a liquid container wherein the individually packaged articles are arranged in a strip. Suitable means are provided for advancing the strip of articles toward the predetermined location where the packaged articles are attached to the side of a liquid container. In accordance with this invention, the strip of packaged articles is stored in a container, preferably a box, in which the strip of articles is folded back and forth in plaits to form a stack with the folds adjacent opposite side walls of the box. The stack extends upwardly from the bottom of the box and both ends of the strip are positioned near the top opening of the box for ready access.

The end of the strip that forms the top of the stack, referred to as the leading end, is fed into the process machinery, so that successive plaits are pulled out of the box as needed. The other end of the strip, referred to as the bitter end, is also positioned near the top opening of the box. The forward end of the strip from a similar box having the individually packaged articles in a strip similarly arranged may be secured by heat sealing or other means to the bitter end of the strip in the first box. In this way, the free ends of the strip in adjacent boxes can be joined at the same time that the process machinery is withdrawing the strip progressively from the top to the bottom of the stack.

According to the invention there is provided a method of filling and dispensing packaged articles continuously to a predetermined location, the method comprising: (a) providing a box having a closed bottom and side walls and an open top with flaps at the top of opposite side walls for closing the top of the box; (b) providing a plurality of packaged articles joined together in a strip having a leading end and a bitter end; (c) attaching the bitter end of the strip to the inside of one of said flaps; (d) guiding said strip from said one flap along the inside of the side wall to the bottom of the box; and (e) subsequently placing the remainder of the strip in the box progressively from the bottom to the top of the box, whereby the bitter end is available for attachment to the next strip while the remainder of the strip is being withdrawn from the box.

In another aspect the invention provides an arrangement for carrying out the method of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of an applicator utilizing a strip of straws dispensed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the straw strip dispensing arrangement in accordance with this invention; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the straw strip in an open box; Figure 4 is a top plan view of the straw strip; and Figure 5 is a detail plan view showing the joint between successive straw strips.

Detailed Description Referring to Figure I, individual cartons 2 containing a liquid food product, such as milk or juice, are advanced by a conveyor 4 toward the left as viewed in Figure 1. A straw applicator device 6 separates one of the packaged straws from the strip 8 and applies it to a carton 2 in accordance with the technique disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,584,819. The apparatus disclosed in this patent is referred to for illustrative purposes only, and other suitable apparatus could be used for applying the packaged straws to the cartons. Also, this invention may be used for applying other articles, such as spoons, to various cartons, such as yogurt containers. For convenience, the description refers to straws, but other articles could be used instead of drinking straws.

The drinking straw strip 8 is formed from two thermoplastic strips between which a plurality of straws 10 are placed at equal intervals, as shown in Fig. 4. The straws 10 are arranged in parallel relation to each other. The plastic strips which form the straw strip 8 are joined to each. other by heat sealing the area 12 around each straw 10, so that the straws are enclosed within the strip 8. Between adjacent straws, the drinking straw strip 8 is provided with slits 14, some of which extend from the two lateral edges of the strip. The slits 14 are interrupted, so that sufficient material remains to connect the drinking straw packages and to transmit tension forces in the strip without premature separation of the packages. When the individually wrapped straws 10 are to be severed from the strip 8, a knife mechanism in the applicator device 6 cuts the strip 8 along the slit 14 just before applying the separated straw package to the side of the carton. Of course, the strip 8 may have any suitable configurationwhich will allow the individually packaged straws to be separated from the strip. For example, the slits 14 may be omitted and the knife mechanism is arranged to cut across the entire width of the strip 8.

In accordance with this invention, the straw strip 8 is packed in a box 16. The strip 8 is folded back and forth in the box 16 to form a stack that extends from the bottom of the box toward the top. One end, referred to as the leading end 18, is guided out of the top of the box 16 by passing over a guide roller 20. As the leading end 18 is pulled in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, it draws successive folds of the strip 8 out of the box 16. The other end of the strip, referred to as the bitter end 22, extends from the bottom of the stack upwardly between the folds and the side of the box to the top of the box where a short length of the end 22 projects out of the box.For convenience, the leading end 18 may be attached to the inside of the adjacent flap 24 of the box, and the bitter end 22 may be attached to the inside of the opposite flap 26. - The attachment could be by means of an adhesive tape 28, which may be colored green for the leading end and red for the bitter end, or other suitable means could be used. When the top of the box is closed, the flaps 24 and 26 are closed first and the side flaps 30 are then closed and sealed to protect the straw strip from being contaminated by dirt.

The exposed bitter end 22 from one box may be joined to the leading end 18 of the band from another box by an adhesive tape 34 applied along a line 32 where the ends overlap and between the straws 10 in the respective bands, as shown in Fig. 5. Of course, any other suitable means of joining the ends could be utilized, such as by the application of an adhesive, or by heat sealing. Fig. 2 shows the arrangement of adjacent boxes 16, each of which contains a straw strip 8, with the adjacent ends bonded together at the tape 34.

In operation, the band 8 from the first box 16 (Fig. 2) advances over suitable guide rollers toward the straw applicator device 6 (Fig. 1). While the strip 8 is being drawn from the box 16, the second box 16 is positioned adjacent the first box 16.

The side flaps 30 are opened, and the flaps 24 and 26 are then opened to expose the two ends of the strip 8 in the second box.

The open flap 24 of the second box is placed in alignment with the open flap 26 of the first box. The respective ends 18 and 22 are detached from the flaps 24 and 26, if the tape 28 is used.

The leading end 18 from the second box 16 is then joined to the bitter end 22 from the first box 16 by the tape 34. When the strip 8 in the first box is depleted, tension in the strip 8 is transmitted through the tape 34 to cause the strip to be withdrawn from the second box. This cycle can be repeated as long as the applicator 6 continues to operate.

By supplying the straw strips in boxes, storage volume is reduced, as compared to supplying the strips in rolls.

Furthermore, the system according to this invention allows the continuous supply of packaged straws in a strip. There is no need to stop the operation in order to replace the supply of straw strips. The number of workers required is also reduced because the replacement of the supply of strips can be done at any time while the strip is being fed from the first box. There is no requirement for the worker to wait until the end of the first strip is reached. This allows the worker to service a greater number of machines.

While this invention has been illustrated and described in accordance with a preferred embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes can be made without departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A method of filling and dispensing packaged articles continuously to a predetermined location, the method comprising: (a) providing a box having a closed bottom and side walls and an open top with flaps at the top of opposite side walls for closing the top of the box; (b) providing a plurality of packaged articles joined together in a strip having a leading end and a bitter end; (c) attaching the bitter end of the strip to the inside of one of said flaps; (d) guiding said strip from said one flap along the inside of the side wall to the bottom of the box; and (e) subsequently placing the remainder of the strip in the box progressively from the bottom to the top of the box, whereby the bitter end is available for attachment to the next strip while the remainder of the strip is being withdrawn from the box.

2. The method according to Claim 1 including attaching the leading end of the strip to the other of said flaps, whereby upon opening the box both ends of the strip are exposed at opposite sides of the box.

3. The method according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the bitter end is attached to the interior side of the flap so that when the box top is closed, the end is protected inside the box.

The method according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the step of placing the remainder of the strip in the box includes arranging the strip in alternating folded layers.

5. A method of filling and dispensing packaged articles substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. An arrangement for utilizing the method of any one of the preceding Claims.

7. An arrangement according to Claim 6, wherein the box is rectangular and has opposed side walls corresponding to the width of the strip of packaged articles.

8. An arrangement substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings or Figure 2 in conjunction with any one or more of Figures 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawing.