Patent Application
20240270527
The present invention relates to a wrapping material roll. Further, the invention relates to a method for producing a wrapping material roll. Such wrapping material rolls are widely used as gift wrapping paper or for covering books.
Flexible wrapping material, such as gift wrapping paper, is widely used to enwrap objects to protect or conceal the object. Long sheets of wrapping material are commonly rolled for compactness and efficient transport. For use in for example gift wrapping, a free end of such a rolled sheet can be unrolled and cut off. To prevent the sheet from unrolling unintendedly and the sheet end from crumpling and tearing, for instance during transport, or when displayed in a shop, the rolled sheet is packed or sealed in plastic foil. This plastic foil protects the wrapping material from becoming slightly damaged by packaging in the factory when collecting the rolls in transport boxes and for example in shops where rolls are moved in and out the boxes and touched by hands. Damaged rolls are unattractive to the people as the material is normally used for wrapping, and the looks and feel of the material are important. The current global output of wrapping material rolls results in large amounts of plastic waste. Furthermore, during manufacturing of such rolls, i.e. before a plastic foil is applied, the sheet ends may be damaged and therefore discarded.
However, there is an increasing demand on reducing plastic foil for all kinds of applications. Where in for example vegetables, plastic wrapping has a function for the shelf life of the vegetable, that is not the case for non-perishable goods.
There is currently a demand for reduction of plastics as protection and displaying material that is disposed almost immediately and having no further use than protection of the product during transport and exposure in for example a shop.
For flexible wrapping materials there are currently no good alternatives available for replacing the plastic foils. A disadvantage of alternatives is that they are as polluting as the plastic foils, or unattractive because the wrapping material becomes damaged before it ends up in the retail location.
Accordingly, there is a demand for flexible wrapping material that comprises less waste. There is furthermore a demand for rolled wrapping material that remains undamaged until being used for enwrapping objects to protect or conceal the object.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a wrapping material roll that aims to at least partially overcome the problems associated with existing wrapping material rolls. It is a further object of the invention to reduce waste materials associated with wrapping material rolls, especially plastic foil waste.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a wrapping material roll as claimed in appended claim 1. In particular, the present invention relates to a wrapping material roll comprising a flexible sheet having a length and a width, and an outer and an inner surface, wherein the sheet is rolled concentrically about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of the width such that the outer surface is facing radially outwards with respect to the axis, the inner surface is facing radially inwards with respect to the axis, and a longitudinal end of the sheet is located along a circumferential side of the wrapping material roll, characterised in that at least a part of the longitudinal end is folded along a folding line over at least part of the width toward the inner surface of the sheet.
The present invention is furthermore directed to a method for producing a wrapping material roll, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a flexible sheet having a length and a width, and an inner surface and an outer surface; folding at least a part of a longitudinal end of the sheet along a folding line over at least part of the width toward the inner surface of the sheet; and rolling at least a part of the sheet concentrically about an axis parallel to the direction of the width such that the outer surface is facing radially outwards with respect to the axis, the inner surface is facing radially inwards with respect to the axis, and the longitudinal end is located along a circumferential side of the rolled sheet.
As a result of the fold, the free end of the sheet is double-layered and consequently thicker and stiffer such that crumpling, specifically of the corners and edges of the sheet end, e.g. when sliding into a paper roll container, can be limited. In addition, no wrapping material is wasted since the sheet end can be easily unfolded such that the wrapping sheet can be used in its entirety, i.e. including its folded end. As such, a material-efficient wrapping material roll can be obtained.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.
In the present invention, a wrapping material roll is provided comprising a flexible sheet having a length and a width, wherein the sheet is rolled, preferably concentrically about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of the width, wherein at least a part of a longitudinal end of the sheet is folded along a folding line over at least part of the width. The sheet is preferably rolled such that the longitudinal end is located along a circumferential side of the wrapping material roll. The longitudinal end is then a free end that can be unrolled for use.
An advantage of the present invention is that the free end of the sheet is double-layered and consequently thicker and stiffer such that crumpling, specifically of the corners and edges of the sheet end, e.g. when sliding into a paper roll container, can be limited. As such, the folded part may be folded twice, thrice or more in order to obtain an even stiffer end of the sheet. In addition to that, no wrapping material is wasted since the sheet end can be easily unfolded such that the wrapping sheet can be used in its entirety, i.e. including its folded end. As such, a material-efficient wrapping material roll can be obtained.
The sheet may comprise any kind of material for wrapping, such as paper, cellophane or synthetic foils.
Embodiments of the roll may vary in size and dimension. To illustrate, the width of the sheet may for instance be between 0.5 and 1 metre, e.g. approximately 0.7 metre. When rolled, the circumference may be approximately 0.1 metre or, in other embodiments, approximately 0.2 metre, while the diameter of the roll may be in the order of magnitude of approximately 3 and 6 or 7 centimetres respectively.
The sheet, having an outer and an inner surface, is preferably rolled such that the outer surface is facing radially outwards with respect to the axis and the inner surface is facing radially inwards with respect to the axis. The folded part of the longitudinal end is then preferably folded toward the inner surface of the sheet. By folding the sheet end inwardly, the resulting non-open sheet end is further protected against damage as the flipped flap of the sheet end is secured, when rolled, between layers, or segments, of the rolled sheet.
To enhance rigidity of the folded sheet end, the folding line is preferably arranged over at least 3 percent, more preferably over at least 20 percent and even more preferably over at least 50 percent of the width.
According to an embodiment of the wrapping material roll, the folding line is arranged at an acute folding angle with respect to the width direction such that crumpling of corners and edges of the sheet end at particularly lateral ends of the rolled sheet can be prevented further. In addition, such an oblique folding line tightens the rolled sheet end. The folding angle enables the folding line to be arranged to extend circumferentially over the circumferential side of the roll. The folding line is then preferably arranged to extend circumferentially over at least 30 percent of the circumferential side, more preferably over 120 percent of the circumferential side. The percentage defines the extent of the folding line along the length of the sheet with respect to the circumference of the roll. For instance, the circumference and the longitudinal span of the folding line may be, respectively, approximately 10 and 12 centimetres. Generally, the folding line extending over more of the length of the sheet results in a tighter folded sheet end. It is then further preferred if the folding line is arranged to extend circumferentially over less than 200 percent of the circumferential side to limit the length of the part of the sheet required for the folding. This may simplify and accelerate manufacturing of the roll.
Preferably, the folding angle is between 3 and 45 degrees, preferably between 10 and 30 degrees, more preferably between 15 and 25 degrees, e.g. approximately 20 degrees. Generally, a larger folding angle results in a tighter folded sheet end, while requiring a larger part of the sheet end for the fold. An optimal folding angle may thus be obtained, wherein the length of the sheet part required for the folding is constrained.
According to a further embodiment, the longitudinal end of the sheet comprises a longitudinal edge along the circumferential side, preferably extending over the width of the rolled sheet, wherein the folding line is arranged to extend from a folding point along the longitudinal edge to a lateral edge of the sheet. The folding point may thus be a point located between lateral ends of the rolled sheet, thereby delimiting, in the width direction, the part of the longitudinal end that is folded. The folding point is then located preferably centrally with respect to the width of the sheet, i.e. at approximately equal distances from the lateral ends of the rolled sheet. The folding point may also have an offset from the middle so as to obtain a wider or a narrower fold. For instance, the folding point may be located at approximately one-third or two-thirds of the width.
A further embodiment of the wrapping material roll comprises a seal, wherein the seal is configured to secure the longitudinal end, preferably to the outer surface, or circumferential side, of the rolled sheet. The seal can prevent the rolled sheet, in particular the longitudinal end thereof, from unrolling, e.g. during transport. The seal may for instance comprise an adhesive surface arranged to secure the longitudinal end to the rolled sheet, preferably an outer surface thereof. The seal may thus comprise a sticker. Alternatively, the seal may comprise a wrapper provided around the rolled sheet. Ends of a wrapper can be joined to each other such that the sheet remains unaffected by the seal. The sticker and/or the wrapper are preferably arranged removable, preferably in such a way that the seal can be reapplied for storage of the rolled sheet after use of a part of the rolled sheet. It is possible for the seal to comprise a label of the roll containing e.g. product information or a barcode, thereby having a combined functionality. For an effective use of the seal, it is preferably provided at the folding point described above. This way, a single seal for the roll may suffice.
The part of the longitudinal end of the sheet folded along the folding line may be a first part of the longitudinal end folded along a first folding line extending to a first lateral edge of the sheet. Preferably, a second part of the longitudinal end is then folded along a second folding line arranged to extend from a folding point along the longitudinal edge to a second lateral edge of the sheet opposite to the first lateral edge. This way, the advantages of a folded end of the sheet, such as the prevention of crumpling, are enabled on both lateral ends of the roll.
The folding lines may then be arranged to extend from the same folding point along the longitudinal edge such that the longitudinal end is V-shaped. The seal can then be provided at that folding point. Alternatively, the first folding line may be arranged to extend from a first folding point along the longitudinal edge and the second folding line may be arranged to extend from a second folding point along the longitudinal edge, wherein the first folding point and the second folding point are spaced apart such that the longitudinal end is essentially U-shaped. The distance between the folding points may be in the range of from 0.5 up to 10 centimetres, preferably, in the range of from 2 up to 6 centimetres, e.g. approximately 3 centimetres. Production of the roll can be simplified if the folding points do not necessarily have to coincide, which increases the tolerance for errors. As a further alternative, the folding points may be spaced apart such that the folding lines would intersect. The folded parts of the longitudinal end would then partially overlap. Seals may be provided at each folding point or a seal may be provided along the longitudinal edge of the unfolded part of the longitudinal end, i.e. between the first and the second folding point.
Both parts of the longitudinal end are then preferably folded at an angle. The first folding line may be arranged at a first acute folding angle with respect to the width direction, wherein the second folding line is arranged at a second acute folding angle with respect to the width direction. In case the folding points, coinciding or not, are at unequal distances from the respective lateral edges, the first folding angle and the second folding angle preferably differ to obtain an asymmetrically folded longitudinal end of the sheet, although in an alternative embodiment the first folding angle may be equal to the second folding angle. In case the folding points are at equal distances from the respective lateral edges, the first folding angle is preferably equal to the second folding angle to obtain a symmetrically folded longitudinal end of the sheet, although alternatively they may differ. More generally, it is preferred if the extent of the first folding line in the longitudinal direction of the sheet, i.e. the span of the folding line as seen along the length of the sheet, is equal to the extent of the second folding line in the longitudinal direction of the sheet. Nonetheless, the respective longitudinal spans may differ. For instance, the longitudinal span of the first folding line may be approximately twice the longitudinal span of the second folding line and vice versa.
According to a further embodiment of the wrapping material roll, the folding line is arranged over less than 100 percent of the width.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing a wrapping material roll, preferably a wrapping material roll according to any of the above embodiments. The method comprises the steps of providing a flexible sheet having a length and a width, folding at least a part of a longitudinal end of the sheet along a folding line over at least part of the width, and rolling at least a part of the sheet, preferably concentrically about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of the width, preferably such that the longitudinal end is located along a circumferential side of the rolled sheet.
The step of rolling a part of the sheet, wherein the sheet has an inner surface and an outer surface, preferably comprises rolling the part of the sheet such that the outer surface is facing radially outwards with respect to the axis and the inner surface is facing radially inwards with respect to the axis. The step of folding a part of the longitudinal end of the sheet then preferably comprises folding the part of the longitudinal end toward the inner surface of the sheet.
It is possible to provide the sheet using a conveyor belt. It is then preferred if the conveying direction of the belt is perpendicular to the width of the sheet. The step of providing the sheet may comprise providing the sheet rolled concentrically about the axis, wherein the method further comprises the step of unrolling at least the longitudinal end, prior to the step of folding the longitudinal end. To unroll the rolled sheet, two conveyor belts may be used, wherein the belts engage the rolled sheet on either side thereof, e.g. above and below, and operate in opposite directions and/or at different speeds. Alternatively, the step of providing the sheet may comprise providing an unrolled sheet. In that case, the step of rolling at least part of the sheet may comprise rolling the sheet, apart from the longitudinal end, prior to the step of folding at least a part of the longitudinal end. Preferably, the method then further comprises the step of rolling the folded longitudinal end about the axis. It is however preferred if the step of providing the sheet comprises providing a sheet that is rolled apart from a longitudinal end thereof. Preferably, the step of rolling at least part of the sheet comprises rolling the folded longitudinal end about the axis.
The method preferably further comprises the step of positioning the rolled sheet with respect to at least one predefined axis prior to the step of folding the longitudinal end. The predefined axis may be defined by an elongate recess in a support surface for the rolled sheet. The rolled sheet can then be received by the elongate recess parallel to the width of the sheet. As such, the step of positioning may comprise aligning the rolled sheet with the predefined axis.
Similarly, as an alternative, an elongate ridge or a pair of blocking elements may be arranged along the predefined axis to position the rolled sheet with respect to the predefined axis when moving the rolled sheet against the ridge or other barrier. Furthermore, a pair of preferably cone-shaped positioning elements arranged oppositely on either lateral side of the rolled sheet, wherein each apex of the cone-shaped elements may be inserted from the lateral side into the hollow interior of the roll for centring thereof, may be used to position the rolled sheet with respect to one or more predefined axes. The positioning elements may be moved pneumatically or in any other suitable manner.
The method preferably further comprises the steps of detecting a position and/or orientation of the longitudinal end, e.g. using a break beam sensor for detecting a freely movable longitudinal end of the rolling sheet roll, and moving the longitudinal end to a predefined position and/or orientation on the basis of the detected position and/or orientation prior to the step of folding the longitudinal end.
The step of folding a part of the longitudinal end preferably comprises the steps of flipping the part of the longitudinal end about the folding line, preferably using a flipping mechanism comprising e.g. a gripper such as a vacuum gripper, and pressing along the folding line, e.g. using a roller or the rolled sheet itself. Such a flipping mechanism enables a large throughput of rolls to be provided with a fold in quick succession.
The method preferably further comprises the steps of providing a seal and securing the folded longitudinal end to the rolled sheet using the seal, e.g. using a banding device to provide a wrapper around the rolled sheet.
The present invention is hereafter elucidated with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
Throughout the figures, like elements are referred to using like reference numerals.
In
In
The sheet 10 is rolled such that, when rolled, an outer surface 12 of the sheet 10 is facing radially outwards with respect to the axis R and the inner surface 13 is facing radially inwards with respect to the axis R.
In
The folding line 20a in
In
A further preferred embodiment is shown in
The above description of the attached drawings is provided merely for illustrative purposes to contribute to comprehension of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims in any way or form.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028434 | Jun 2021 | NL | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/NL2022/050319 | 6/9/2022 | WO |
