GB2376647A

GB2376647A - Improvements in and relating to scented tissue manufacture

Info

Publication number: GB2376647A
Application number: GB0126466A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Ernest Wilson
Original assignee: ACCROL MIDLANDS Ltd
Current assignee: ACCROL MIDLANDS Ltd
Priority date: 2001-11-03
Filing date: 2001-11-03
Publication date: 2002-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 2021-11-03
Also published as: GB0126466D0; GB2376647B

Abstract

A scented tissue manufacturing apparatus 2 comprising tissue perforating means 4, arranged in use to perforate an elongate sheet of tissue 14 at intervals, and means 8 to coat the tissue perforating means 4 with a fragrance 12, such that the perforating means 4 transfers fragrance 12 in the region of the perforations of the tissue when the perforating means contacts the tissue. The invention further provides a method of manufacturing scented tissue and scented tissue made thereby.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TISSUE MANUFACTURE Field of the Invention This invention relates to tissue manufacturing apparatus, to a method of manufacturing scented tissue, and scented tissue produced therefrom.

Background to the Invention Paper or fabric tissues are known to be manufactured in continuous rolls. The rolls of tissue generally comprise a large number of individual sheets of tissue that are connected to adjacent sheets by perforations extending laterally along the top and bottom edges of each sheet. Thus, when a user needs an individual sheet of tissue, or more than one sheet of tissue, the roll is unwound to the desired position and the sheet or sheets removed by tearing off the unwound tissue at the perforations at the prescribed position.

Recently, fragrance has been added to the rolls of tissue in order to create a pleasant scent in the room where the tissue is stored.

Fragrance is usually added by spraying the fragrance on the length of tissue as the tissue is being wound onto a roll during manufacture. This method of applying fragrance creates problems in accurately applying a prescribed amount of fragrance to each sheet of the tissue, due to the dissipation of fragrance in the air between the spray head and tissue; and is dependent on the speed at which the tissue is wound onto the roll. Due to

these problems, some of the sheets of the roll of tissue may absorb too much or too little fragrance. Furthermore, costs are increased due to the increased amount of fragrance used.

Absorption of too much fragrance by the tissue also causes weakening of the tissue, and an increased tendency to rip or break.

It is therefore an aim of preferred embodiments of the present invention to overcome or mitigate at least some of the disadvantages present in the prior art, or other disadvantages, whether expressly stated above or not.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a scented tissue manufacturing apparatus comprising tissue perforating means, arranged in use to perforate an elongate sheet of tissue at intervals, and means to coat the tissue perforating means with a fragrance, such that the perforating means transfers fragrance in the region of the perforations of the tissue when the perforating means contacts the tissue.

Suitably the tissue perforating means comprises a perforating blade. The perforating blade preferably comprises a plurality of spaced apart protruding blade portions.

The blades may be constructed of any suitable material.

Suitably the blades are constructed of steel.

Suitably the perforating means is arranged in use to move from a first position in which the perforating means is coated by the fragrance, to a second position, in which the perforating means effects perforation of the tissue and transfer of the fragrance to the tissue at the prescribed position.

Preferably there are a plurality of perforating means, each perforating means being movable from the first to the second position, and wherein each perforating means is orientated to perforate the tissue, and effect transfer of the fragrance, at a different prescribed position on the tissue to other perforating means.

Suitably the or each perforating means is mounted on a rotatable roller. Rotation of the roller effects movement of the or each perforating means between the first and second positions. Where there are a plurality of perforating means, preferably the angular displacement between all of the adjacent perforating means is substantially identical. Suitably there are at least four perforating means mounted on the roller, preferably at least six perforating means. Preferably the arcuate distance between each perforating means on the roller substantially corresponds to the required prescribed distance between perforated intervals on the tissue.

Preferably, after each perforating means perforates the tissue and transfers fragrance to the tissue in the region of the perforations, movement of the perforating means effects movement of the elongate sheet of tissue towards a tissue winding device. Thus as the perforating means move back to the first position after perforating the tissue,

the tissue is moved towards the tissue rolling device and upstream tissue is moved towards the scented tissue manufacturing apparatus in order for the next perforating means to move to the second position and perforate the tissue at the next prescribed interval.

Suitably the tissue packing device is a roller onto which the tissue is rolled as the tissue moves away from the scented tissue manufacturing apparatus.

The fragrance coating means may comprise an absorbent body, which, in use, is arranged to absorb a quantity of fragrance, and contact the perforating means in order to coat the perforating means with the fragrance.

The absorbent body is preferably a strip of any suitably absorbent material such as felt or cotton.

Suitably, the absorbent body is operatively connected to a vessel arranged to contain the fragrance. Suitably the absorbent body is in contact with the fragrance in the vessel, such that the absorbent body may absorb fragrance continuously until saturated.

The absorbent body may be orientated such that it is partially or substantially immersed in the fragrance, but wherein a portion of the absorbent body is contactable by the perforating means, in use.

Preferably the vessel is constructed of steel, more preferably stainless steel.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the perforating means comprises a plurality of perforating blades radially mounted on a roller and the fragrance coating means comprises a strip of absorbent felt which is mounted in a vessel filled with fragrance, with part of the felt protruding from the vessel towards the perforating means. As the roller is rotated the perforating blades will contact the protruding portion of the felt, and transfer of fragrance to the perforating blades will be effected. Further rotation of the roller causes the perforating blade to contact, and perforate a sheet of tissue, at a prescribed position, and thus transfer the fragrance from the perforating blade to the region around the perforations in the tissue, by capillary action. The rotation of the roller also causes the sheet of tissue to move forward due to the tissue being caught on the perforating blades as they rotate with the roller.

In this preferred embodiment, the fragrance is thus present on the tissue in the regions around the perforations only, and each tissue receives a substantially identical amount of fragrance. There is also no loss of fragrance in the air caused by spray.

Suitably the fragrance is an oil-based fragrance. Preferably the fragrance has a relatively low evaporation rate at ambient temperatures.

The scented tissue manufacturing apparatus may further comprise an anvil, against which the tissue is forced during perforation by the perforation means. The anvil may thus aid in ensuring the complete perforation of the tissue by the perforation means by limiting movement of

the tissue away from the perforation means during the perforation action.

Suitably the anvil comprises a surface or non-cutting blade.

The fragrance is preferably transferred to the tissue when the tissue is forced against the anvil.

Suitably the anvil blade is retractable. Thus, if the anvil blade is retracted, the tissue is no longer forced onto the perforating means by the anvil, and perforation of the tissue is prevented or reduced.

Preferably the anvil is constructed from any suitable material, including metal, an alloy such as steel, or a composite material such as tungsten carbide.

Suitably the tissue is toilet tissue. Preferably the tissue is constructed from any suitably absorbent material such as paper, wood pulp, textile material, or mixtures thereof.

In a second aspect the invention extends to a method of manufacturing scented tissue, comprising the steps of: (a) coating a perforating means with a fragrance; and (b) perforating unscented tissue with said perforating means, such that the tissue absorbs the fragrance from the perforating means in the region around the perforations.

Suitably the method further comprises, before step (a), contacting the perforating means with an absorbent body, which absorbent body comprises fragrance, in order to coat the perforating means with the fragrance.

The method may comprise perforating the tissue at prescribed intervals along the length of the tissue.

The method may comprise rolling the perforated scented tissue onto a suitable hub at the end of the process.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided scented tissue made by the method of the second aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided the method of manufacturing scented tissue of the second aspect of the invention using the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawing For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a side sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

A preferred embodiment of a scented tissue manufacturing apparatus 2 of the invention comprises a perforating roller 6 on which are mounted six perforating means in the form of perforating blades 4. Each blade 4 has a series of spaced protrusions (not shown) which, in use effect perforation of the tissue which they contact. The six perforating blades 4 are mounted on the roller 6 such that the angular displacement and radial distance between each blade is substantially equal. The apparatus also includes means to coat the perforating blades 4 with fragrance, in the form of a felt strip 8. The felt strip 8 is partially immersed in a fragrance liquid 12 contained in a fragrance tank 10. The fragrance tank 10 is mounted on adjustable legs 11 which can be raised or lowered as desired in order to adjust the depth to which the felt strip 8 is immersed in the fragrance 12 and thus adjust the absorption rate of the fragrance 12 by the felt strip 8.

The apparatus 2 also comprises a mounting block 18 to which is mounted an anvil blade 16. The anvil blade 16 is positioned over the roller 6 such that tissue 14 may be passed between the roller 6 and the anvil blade 16.

The apparatus further comprises two nip rollers 19 which ensure tissue 14 being fed from a parent roller (not shown) is oriented correctly and of a prescribed thickness.

Use of the apparatus 2 will now be described. An elongate sheet of tissue 14 is first passed between the nip rollers 19 and then passed through the gap between the anvil blade 16 and the roller 6 the tissue 14 is preferably forced onto one or more of the perforating blades 4 in order to

secure the tissue 14 on the roller 6. The free end (not shown) of the tissue 14 is connected to a re-wind roller (21) so that during use of the apparatus 2, scented, perforated tissue can be wound onto the roller 21.

Once the tissue 14 is in place over the roller 6, the roller 6 is activated and begins to rotate. As the roller 6 rotates each of the perforating blades 4 in turn, will contact the portion of the felt strip 8 protruding from the fragrance tank 10. The felt strip 8 is partially immersed in the liquid fragrance 12 so that, by capillary action, the fragrance 12 will saturate the felt strip 8.

As each blade 4 contacts the felt strip 8, some of the fragrance 12 absorbed by the strip 8 is transferred to the blade 4. Capillary action of the fragrance 12 ensures that as fragrance is transferred to each blade 4, more fragrance is absorbed by the felt strip 8 to keep it saturated.

As the roller 6 rotates further, each blade 4 carrying fragrance 12 begins to contact the tissue 14 located in the gap between the roller 6 and the anvil blade 16. Each perforating blade 4 in turn begins to penetrate the tissue 14 and as perforation begins the fragrance on the blade 4 is absorbed by the absorbent tissue 14 in the region near the perforations.

Continuing rotation of the roller 6 results in the protrusions of each of the perforating blades 4 in turn contacting the anvil blade 16, which ensures that the tissue sandwiched between each blade 4 and the anvil blade 16 is fully perforated.

Further rotation of the roller 6 causes each of the blades 4 to rotate back towards the felt strip 8 and the scented, perforated tissue 14 to leave the roller 6, as shown in figure 1, and be moved towards the re-wind roller 21 which can be removed for packaging of the tissue.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims,

abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

Claims 1. A scented tissue manufacturing apparatus comprising tissue perforating means, arranged in use Lu perforate an elongate sheet of tissue at intervals, and means to coat the tissue perforating means with a fragrance, such that the perforating means transfers fragrance in the region of the perforations of the tissue when the perforating means contacts the tissue.
2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tissue perforating means comprises a perforating blade.
3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the perforating blade comprises a plurality of spaced apart protruding blade portions.
4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the perforating means is arranged in use to move from a first position in which the perforating means is coated by the fragrance, to a second position, in which the perforating means effects perforation of the tissue and transfer of the fragrance to the tissue at the prescribed position.
5. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein there are a plurality of perforating means, each perforating means being movable from the first to the second position, and wherein each perforating means is orientated to perforate the tissue, and effect transfer of the fragrance, at a different prescribed position on the tissue to other perforating means.

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6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each perforating means is mounted on a rotatable roller.
7. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the angular displacement between all of the adjacent perforating means is substantially identical.
8. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 to 7, wherein the arcuate distance between each perforating means on the roller substantially corresponds to the required prescribed distance between perforated intervals on the tissue.
9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a tissue winding device wherein after the perforating means perforates the tissue and transfers fragrance to the tissue in the region of the perforations, movement of the perforating means effects movement of the elongate sheet of tissue towards a tissue winding device.
10. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the tissue winding device is a roller onto which the tissue is rolled as the tissue moves away from the scented tissue manufacturing apparatus.
11. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fragrance coating means comprises an absorbent body, which, in use, is arranged to absorb a quantity of fragrance, and contact the perforating means in order to coat the perforating means with the fragrance.

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12. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the absorbent body is preferably a strip of absorbent material.
13. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 or 12, wherein the absorbent body is operatively connected to a vessel arranged to contain the fragrance.
14. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein in use, the absorbent body is in contact with the fragrance in the vessel, such that the absorbent body may absorb fragrance continuously until saturated.
15. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 14, wherein the absorbent body is orientated such that it is partially or substantially immersed in the fragrance, but wherein a portion of the absorbent body is contactable by the perforating means, in use.
16. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the scented tissue manufacturing apparatus further comprises an anvil, against which the tissue is forced during perforation by the perforation means.
17. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the anvil comprises a surface or non-cutting blade.
18. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the anvil blade is retractable.

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19. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 16 to 18, wherein the fragrance is transferred to the tissue when the tissue is forced against the anvil.
20. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tissue is toilet tissue.
21. A method of manufacturing scented tissue, comprising the steps of: (a) coating a perforating means with a fragrance; and (b) perforating unscented tissue with said perforating means, such that the tissue absorbs the fragrance from the perforating means in the region around the perforations.
22. A method as claimed in Claim 21, further comprising, before step (a), contacting the perforating means with an absorbent body, which absorbent body comprises fragrance, in order to coat the perforating means with the fragrance.
23. A method as claimed in Claim 21 or 22, comprising perforating the tissue at prescribed intervals along the length of the tissue.
24. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 21 to 23, wherein the method may comprise rolling the perforated scented tissue onto a suitable hub at the end of the process.
25. A scented tissue manufactured by the method of any one of Claims 21 to 24.

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26. A method of manufacturing scented tissue as claimed in any one of Claims 21 to 24 using the apparatus claimed in any one of Claims 1 co 20.
27. An apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.
28. A method substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.