U.S. patent application number 11/569422 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-15 for display strip and package assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to ISHIDA CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yoshio Iwasaki.
Application Number | 20090255882 11/569422 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35503581 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090255882 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Iwasaki; Yoshio |
October 15, 2009 |
Display Strip and Package Assembly
Abstract
It is the object of the invention to provide a display strip
having sufficient punch hole strength for allowing a plurality of
product-enclosed bags to be attached thereto for the purpose of
arrangement and display, and package assembly. The invention is a
display strip for allowing a plurality of product-enclosed bags to
be attached thereto for the purpose of arrangement and display,
which at least comprises a substrate layer containing a long fiber
having a fiber length of not less than a width of the display strip
and a sealant layer having heat-sealability, a punch hole being
formed at an upper portion for hanging.
Inventors: |
Iwasaki; Yoshio; (Ritto-shi,
Shiga, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P.
1999 AVENUE OF THE STARS, SUITE 1400
LOS ANGELES
CA
90067
US
|
Assignee: |
ISHIDA CO., LTD.
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
JP
|
Family ID: |
35503581 |
Appl. No.: |
11/569422 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
June 10, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP05/10668 |
371 Date: |
March 31, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/49.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 73/0007
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/49.1 |
International
Class: |
A47F 7/00 20060101
A47F007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 11, 2004 |
JP |
2004-174558 |
Claims
1. A display strip for allowing a plurality of product-enclosed
bags to be attached thereto for the purpose of arrangement and
display, which at least comprises a substrate layer containing a
long fiber having a fiber length of not less than a width of the
display strip and a sealant layer having heat-sealability, a punch
hole being formed at an upper portion for hanging.
2. The display strip according to claim 1, wherein the long fiber
comprises polyolefin and/or polyester.
3. The display strip according to claim 1, wherein the substrate
layer comprises a long fiber nonwoven fabric.
4. The display strip according to claim 3, wherein the substrate
layer has a layer comprising the long fiber nonwoven fabric and a
short fiber layer containing a short fiber having a fiber length of
not more than the width of the display strip.
5. The display strip according to claim 4, wherein a content of the
long fiber in the whole of the substrate layer is 20% by weight or
more of the total weight of the long fiber and the short fiber.
6. The display strip according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein
the sealant layer comprises a low melting point resin.
7. The display strip according to claim 6, which has an
intermediate layer comprising a resin between the substrate layer
and the sealant layer.
8. The display strip according to claim 7, wherein the intermediate
layer comprises polyolefin.
9. The display strip according to claim 8, which has a protective
layer comprising a resin on a surface opposite to a face with the
sealant layer being formed.
10. The display strip according to claim 9, wherein a part of the
resin constituting the intermediate layer and/or the protective
layer penetrates a gap between the long fibers or the short fibers
contained in the substrate layer.
11. Package assembly, which is obtained by bonding the display
strip according to claim 10, and a product-enclosed bag by heat
sealing.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a display strip having sufficient
punch hole strength for allowing a plurality of product-enclosed
bags to be attached thereto for the purpose of arrangement and
display, and package assembly.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Some products such as snack foods are generally packed in
pillow packages (such as vertical pillow types and horizontal
pillow types) and sold. In many cases, such product-enclosed bags
are arranged on display racks in stores and sold. However, in such
cases, each and every bag has to be placed on the racks by hand,
and the display place for sale is restricted only to the given
display racks.
[0003] A display method for product sale, called strip bag display,
which requires no display rack, is known. As shown in FIG. 1, the
strip bag display is a display form in which plurality of products
are each attached to a tape material with a certain width, called a
display strip, and hung. This display form needs no display rack
and enables display and sale at any place such as a place beside a
register in a store and a front desk area in a hotel.
[0004] In a conventional display strip form, for example, a
pressure-sensitive adhesive tape is fixed on the back side of a
paper or resin tape that has preliminarily punched holes in certain
positions, through which product-enclosed bags are each attached to
the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape. In another form, for example,
a paper or resin tape has resin hooks preliminarily fixed thereon
in certain positions, and product-enclosed bags are each punched
and hung on the hook through the punch hole. However, these display
strip forms have difficulty in automating the process of attaching
product-enclosed bags to the display strip. Thus, the strip bag
display has not been widely used yet.
[0005] Against this problem, yet another display strip is proposed
which has a heat sealing layer on one side such that
product-enclosed bags can be directly bonded to the display strip
by heat sealing (for example, see Patent Document 1 and the like).
With this display strip, it is very easy to automate a continuous
process including the steps of enclosing a product in a bag and
attaching the product-enclosed bag to the display strip.
[0006] One end of such a display strip is hung on a hook provided
on a rack and the like in order to display a plurality of the
product-enclosed bags which are arranged and fixed on the display
strip. For such display by hanging on the hook, a punch hole is
generally formed at an end portion of the display strip. The hole
punching process can easily be performed by punching using a punch
and thus is preferably used for mass production at low cost.
However, the display strip can often be broken at the punch hole
portion, even though it is designed to have sufficient strength for
use in a state where a specific number of product-enclosed bags are
attached to it and even though it is designed to have a strength
that enables it to withstand an impact when the displayed
product-enclosed bag is pulled and peeled.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Problems which the Invention is to Solve
[0008] Under the circumstances, it is an object of the invention to
provide a display strip having sufficient punch hole strength for
allowing a plurality of product-enclosed bags to be attached
thereto for the purpose of arrangement and display, and package
assembly.
[0009] The invention is a display strip for allowing a plurality of
product-enclosed bags to be attached thereto for the purpose of
arrangement and display, which at least comprises a substrate layer
containing a long fiber having a fiber length of not less than a
width of the display strip and a sealant layer having
heat-sealability, a punch hole being formed at an upper portion for
hanging.
[0010] The invention is described in detail below.
[0011] The inventors have made investigations on a cause of the
frequent breakage of the conventional display strip at the punch
hole portion and finally found that the punch hole strength is
extremely reduced when a notch-like incision is formed at the punch
hole portion due to blunting of the edge of the knife for forming
punch holes. Such a notch is inevitably formed as long as a hole
punching process with a punch is performed. The inventors have made
further investigations and finally found that if a substrate
containing long fibers having not less than a predetermined fiber
length is used, the extreme reduction in punch hole strength can be
inhibited even when a notch is formed, so that the invention has
been completed.
[0012] The display strip of the invention includes at least a
substrate layer and a sealant layer. The substrate layer contains
long fibers having a fiber length of not less than the width of the
display strip. An extreme reduction in punch hole strength can be
inhibited by the use of a substrate layer containing such long
fibers, even when a notch is formed.
[0013] The substrate layer containing the long fibers is not
particularly limited, but, for example, a substrate layer
comprising a long fiber nonwoven fabric is preferable.
[0014] The long fiber nonwoven fabric is not particularly limited
as long as the fabric is a long fiber nonwoven fabric containing
long fibers having a fiber length of not less than the width of the
display strip (usually, about 20 to 100 mm), but, for example, any
one of a nonwoven fabric formed by melt blowing process, a nonwoven
fabric formed by flash spinning process, and a nonwoven fabric
formed by spunbond process, can be used. Among others, the nonwoven
fabric formed by flash spinning process, and the nonwoven fabric
formed by spunbond process are preferable.
[0015] The spunbond nonwoven fabric is a product formed into a
nonwoven fabric which is obtained by forming a resin into the form
of fibers from a spinning nozzle at the same time when the resin is
deposited into a sheet form while the fibers are kept in a long
fiber form, and then thermocompressing this deposited body between
heating rolls. The fibers used therein may be core-sheath form
composite fibers having a core of a high melting point resin and a
sheath of a low melting point resin.
[0016] The flash spinning nonwoven fabric is a nonwoven fabric
which is obtained by dissolving a polyolefin type polymer into a
solvent such as a halogenated carbon at a high temperature under a
high pressure, then giving a rapid pressure loss to the solution,
thereby preparing a solution where phases are finely separated,
discharging this phase-separated solution from a spinning nozzle,
giving orientation to the polymer having the form of fibers and
further forming a three-dimensional network structure, making this
into a wave form with a conveyor and the like, and then compressing
it with rolls.
[0017] For the display strip of the invention, there can be used a
spunbond nonwoven fabric or a flash spinning nonwoven fabric
produced by a conventionally known method.
[0018] The material of the long fibers is not particularly limited,
and examples include polyolefin such as polypropylene, and
polyethylene; polyester; and nylon. Among others, polyolefin and/or
polyester are preferable.
[0019] The substrate layer may have a short fiber layer containing
short fibers having a fiber length of not more than the width of
the display strip besides the layer comprising a long fiber
nonwoven fabric. When such a short fiber layer is laminated on the
long fiber nonwoven fabric, obtained is an advantageous effect that
the hardness of the display strip can be made higher if
desired.
[0020] The short fiber layer is not particularly limited, and
examples include a pulp layer and a paper layer.
[0021] When the substrate layer comprises the long fiber nonwoven
fabric layer and the short fiber layer, the content of the long
fibers in the whole substrate layer is preferably 20% by weight or
more of the total of the long fibers and the short fibers. If it is
less than 20% by weight, a sufficient punch hole strength may not
be obtained.
[0022] The thickness of the substrate layer is not particularly
limited, but it is preferable to be from 30 to 1000 .mu.m. If it is
less than 30 .mu.m, the resulting punch hole strength can be
insufficient so that product-enclosed bags can be broken when they
are displayed or detached. If it is more than 1000 .mu.m, the
substrate layer can serves as a heat insulator so that heat can
insufficiently be conducted to the sealant layer in a heat-sealing.
From this viewpoint, a bulky nonwoven fabric comprising
highly-crimped fibers is not preferable as the nonwoven fabric to
be used.
[0023] The sealant layer is not particularly limited as long as it
can show sufficient heat-sealability, but, for example, the sealant
layer preferably comprises a low melting point resin. The low
melting point resin is not particularly limited, and examples
include ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, polypropylene,
copolymers of propylene and any other olefin, and low density
polyethylene.
[0024] If necessary, the sealant layer may further contain a common
additive such as wax, an ultraviolet blocking agent, an
antioxidant, a plasticizer, a lubricant, a pigment, and a dye.
[0025] The sealant layer may be formed over substantially the
entire surface of the display strip of the invention, may be formed
in a striped pattern, or may be formed only at a specific portion
to which a product is attached. The sealant layer is preferably
formed over substantially the entire surface of the display strip,
because products can be attached to any part on the display strip.
As used herein, the term "substantially" means that the punched
portion or the peripheral portion and the like to which no product
is attached may be excluded.
[0026] The display strip of the invention preferably includes an
intermediate layer comprising a resin between the substrate layer
and the sealant layer in order to improve the adhesion between the
substrate layer and the sealant layer, and to increase the strength
of the whole of the display strip and the punch hole strength. The
resin constituting the intermediate layer is not particularly
limited, but it is preferably polyolefin such as polyethylene.
[0027] In order to improve the strength of the whole of the display
strip and the punch hole strength, the display strip of the
invention preferably has a protective layer comprising a resin on
the surface opposite to the face with the sealant layer being
formed.
[0028] The resin constituting the protective layer is not
particularly limited, but preferable examples thereof include
polyolefin such as polypropylene, and polyester.
[0029] In the case that the display strip of the invention has the
intermediate layer and/or the protective layer, it is preferable
that a part of the resin constituting the intermediate layer and/or
the protective layer penetrates gaps between the long fibers or the
short fibers contained in the substrate layer. When the
intermediate layer and/or the protective layer is integrated with
the substrate layer in this way, the strength of the whole of the
obtained display strip of the invention and the punch hole strength
thereof are more improved.
[0030] The display strip of the invention is not particularly
limited, and examples are in the form of a tape, a sheet and the
like. In addition, at one end of the display strip of the
invention, a punch hole through which the display strip with
products attached thereto can be hung on a hook such that the
products can be displayed, is formed.
[0031] The method of producing the display strip of the invention
is not particularly limited, and a known conventional method can be
used. For example, a method of bonding the substrate layer
comprising a spunbond nonwoven fabric and the like to the sealant
layer produced by extrusion molding via an adhesive. Alternatively,
the sealant layer may be formed on the substrate layer by a coating
method.
[0032] A method of laminating the sealant layer and the substrate
layer, which are each independently produced, with polyethylene and
the like being extruded and sandwiched between them; or a method of
providing a laminated film comprising the sealant layer and a
polyethylene layer and the like and laminating the substrate layer
to the laminated film on the polyethylene layer side, is preferably
used in the case of forming the intermediate layer.
[0033] Any conventional bag can be used as the bag which encloses
the product to be attached to the display strip of the invention,
however, a bag comprising at least a sealant layer and a substrate
layer is preferred. The sealant layer on the surface of the bag
preferably comprises at least one selected from the group
consisting of polypropylene, a copolymer of propylene and any other
olefin, low density polyethylene, and an ethylene-vinyl acetate
copolymer. The sealant layer on the surface of the bag also
preferably comprises a heat-sealable biaxial oriented polypropylene
(OPH) film. The term "heat-sealable biaxial oriented polypropylene
(OPH) film" means a product with heat-sealability that is generally
imparted by forming a very thin terpolymer layer comprising a resin
having heat-sealability such as a propylene-ethylene-butene
terpolymer on the surface of biaxial oriented polypropylene (OPP),
and particularly in the U.S. and Europe, it is frequently used for
bag materials.
[0034] The bag for enclosing a product and to be attached to the
display strip of the invention include, for example, a bag
comprising a biaxial oriented polypropylene (OPP) layer/a printed
layer/an adhesive layer/a polyethylene (PE) layer/an
aluminum-vapor-deposited polyethylene terephthalate (PET) layer/a
polyethylene (PE) layer/a cast polypropylene (CPP) layer; a bag
comprising a biaxial oriented polypropylene (OPP) layer/a printed
layer/a polyethylene (PE) layer/an aluminum-vapor-deposited
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) layer/a polyethylene (PE) layer/a
cast polypropylene (CPP) layer; a bag comprising a biaxial oriented
polypropylene (OPP) layer/a printed layer/an
aluminum-vapor-deposited cast polypropylene (CPP) layer; a bag
comprising a biaxial oriented polypropylene (OPP) layer/a printed
layer/a polyethylene (PE) layer/an aluminum-vapor-deposited cast
polypropylene (CPP) layer; a bag comprising a transparent
vapor-deposited biaxial oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
layer/a printed layer/a cast polypropylene (CPP) layer; a bag
comprising a heat-sealable biaxial oriented polypropylene (OPH)
layer/a printed layer/a polyethylene (PE) layer/an
aluminum-vapor-deposited heat-sealable biaxial oriented
polypropylene (OPH) layer; a bag comprising a heat-sealable biaxial
oriented polypropylene (OPH) layer/a printed layer/a polyethylene
(PE) layer/an aluminum-vapor-deposited cast polypropylene (CPP)
layer; and a bag comprising a heat-sealable biaxial oriented
polypropylene (OPH) layer/a printed layer/an adhesive layer/a
polyethylene (PE) layer/an aluminum-vapor-deposited cast
polypropylene (CPP) layer.
[0035] A method of attaching the product-enclosed bag to the
display strip of the invention is not particularly limited, but,
for example, the product-enclosed bag is first placed in such a
manner that the front side of the bag is in contact with the
display strip, and then the upper portion of the bag is heat-sealed
so that the bag is bonded to the display strip. A specific number
of product-enclosed bags are bonded to the display strip, and then
each product-enclosed bag is turned upside down around the
heat-sealed portion serving as an axis, so that the front face of
each bag is reversed against the display strip. In such a state,
the display strip is hung on a hook and the like through the punch
hole formed at one end of the display strip and displayed, and
therefore, if each product-enclosed bag is pulled downward, it can
easily be detached from the display strip by a small force.
[0036] The seal strength between the bag and the display strip is
not particularly limited, but it is preferable to be from 1 to 50
N/30 mm. If it is less than 1 N/30 mm, the product can fall under
its own weight, depending on the weight of the product, and if it
is more than 50 N/30 mm, the hung product-enclosed bag may not be
detached by pulling in some cases. It is more preferably from 5 to
30 N/30 mm.
[0037] Using the display strip of the invention, product-enclosed
bags can be fixed thereon by heat sealing, and a large number of
products can easily be attached thereto by automation. Furthermore,
being hung through the punch hole formed at its upper portion, a
large number of products can be displayed even in a narrow space.
The punch hole has very high strength so that the display strip can
be prevented from being damaged by the product's own weight or an
impact applied in detaching the product-enclosed bag.
[0038] Package assembly which is obtained by bonding the display
strip of the invention and a product-enclosed bag by heat sealing,
also constitutes the invention.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0039] According to the invention, a display strip having
sufficient punch hole strength for allowing a plurality of
product-enclosed bags to be attached thereto for the purpose of
arrangement and display, and package assembly can be provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0040] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a strip bag display using
a display strip.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0041] The invention is described in more detail by way of the
examples, however it is not intended that the invention be limited
to these examples.
EXAMPLE 1
[0042] As a substrate layer, a product obtained by subjecting one
surface of a 260 .mu.m-thick long fiber nonwoven fabric (Tyvek
1082D, manufactured by DuPont-Asahi Flash Spun Products Co., Ltd.;
105 g/m.sup.2) formed from polyethylene by flash spinning process
to corona treatment, and as a sealant layer, a 50 .mu.m-thick film
containing ethylene-vinyl acetate resin (EVA) were used, and the
substrate layer and the sealant layer were laminated to produce a
sheet having a three-layer structure of Tyvek 1082D (260
.mu.m)/LDPE (30 .mu.m)/EVA (50 .mu.m), while low density
polyethylene (LDPE) was melt-extruded into a 30 .mu.m-thick layer
between the substrate layer and the sealant layer.
[0043] The obtained sheet was cut into a width of 35 mm, and a
punch hole with a diameter of 6 mm was formed at a position of 1
inch from its upper end to produce a display strip.
EXAMPLE 2
[0044] A sheet having a three-layer structure of Eltas E01070 (350
.mu.m)/LDPE (30 .mu.m)/EVA (50 .mu.m) was obtained in the same
manner as Example 1 except that as the substrate layer, a product
obtained by subjecting one surface of a 350 .mu.m-thick long fiber
nonwoven fabric (Eltas E01070, manufactured by Asahi Kasei Fibers
Corp.) formed from a polyester by spunbond process to corona
treatment, was used.
[0045] The resultant sheet was cut into a width of 35 mm. A punch
hole with a diameter of 6 mm was formed at a position of 1 inch
from its upper end, so as to produce a display strip.
EXAMPLE 3
[0046] A 350 .mu.m-thick long fiber nonwoven fabric (Eltas E01070,
manufactured by Asahi Kasei Fibers Corp.) formed from a polyester
by spunbond process was used as a substrate layer, and this
substrate layer and a 12 .mu.m-thick biaxial oriented polyethylene
terephthalate film (PET) were stuck onto each other by dry
lamination. In the same manner as Example 1, while low density
polyethylene (LDPE) was melt-extruded into a 30 .mu.m-thick layer
between the face of the Eltas E01070 side of this laminated body
and a sealant layer comprising a 50 .mu.m-thick film containing
ethylene-vinyl acetate resin (EVA), the substrate layer and the
sealant layer were laminated to obtain a sheet having a four-layer
structure of PET (12 .mu.m)/Eltas E01070 (350 .mu.m)/LDPE (30
.mu.m)/EVA (50 .mu.m).
[0047] The obtained sheet was cut into a width of 35 mm, and a
punch hole with a diameter of 6 mm was formed at a position of 1
inch from its upper end to produce a display strip.
EXAMPLE 4
[0048] As a substrate layer, a 180 .mu.m-thick long fiber nonwoven
fabric (Tyvek 1560B, manufactured by DuPont-Asahi Flash Spun
Products Co., Ltd.; 59 g/m.sup.2) formed from polyethylene by flash
spinning process, and as a sealant layer, a 50 .mu.m-thick film
containing ethylene-vinyl acetate resin (EVA) were used, and low
density polyethylene (LDPE) was used to tandem-laminate these
layers onto a 12 .mu.m-thick biaxial oriented polyethylene
terephthalate film (PET) to produce a sheet having a five-layer
structure of PET (12 .mu.m)/LDPE (12 .mu.m)/Tyvek 1560B (180
.mu.m)/LDPE (12 .mu.m)/EVA (50 .mu.M).
[0049] The obtained sheet was cut into a width of 35 mm, and a
punch hole with a diameter of 6 mm was formed at a position of 1
inch from its upper end to produce a display strip.
EXAMPLE 5
[0050] A sheet having a three-layer structure of ecule 3501A (270
.mu.m)/LDPE (30 .mu.m)/EVA (50 .mu.m) was obtained in the same
manner as Example 1 expect that as the substrate layer, a product
obtained by subjecting one surface of a 270 .mu.m-thick long fiber
nonwoven fabric (ecule 3501A, manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.; 50
g/m.sup.2) formed from a polyester by spunbond process to corona
treatment, was used.
[0051] The obtained sheet was cut into a width of 35 mm, and a
punch hole with a diameter of 6 mm was formed at a position of 1
inch from its upper end to produce a display strip.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1
[0052] A sheet having a three-layer structure of PET (38
.mu.m)/LDPE (30 .mu.m)/EVA (50 .mu.m) was obtained in the same
manner as Example 1 expect that as a substrate layer, a 38
.mu.m-thick biaxial oriented polyethylene terephthalate film (PET)
was used.
[0053] The obtained sheet was cut into a width of 35 mm, and a
punch hole with a diameter of 6 mm was formed at a position of 1
inch from its upper end to produce a display strip.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2
[0054] A sheet having a three-layer structure of the thin paper
(g/m.sup.2)/LDPE (30 .mu.m)/EVA (50 .mu.m) was obtained in the same
manner as Example 1 expect that as a substrate layer, a thin paper,
the weight per unit of which was 80 g/m.sup.2, was used.
[0055] The obtained sheet was cut into a width of 35 mm, and a
punch hole with a diameter of 6 mm was formed at a position of 1
inch from its upper end to produce a display strip.
(Evaluation)
[0056] A notch having a size of about 1 mm was purposely formed at
the punch hole portion in each of the display strips produced in
Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2. Each of the
display strips was hung on a hook for hanging through the notched
portion of the punch hole, and was pulled downward at a rate of 300
mm/min, and the strength at which the display strip was broken was
measured, and the obtained value was defined as the punch hole
strength.
[0057] The results are shown in Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Punch hole strength (N) Example 1 35 Example
2 45 Example 3 40 Example 4 52 Example 5 38 Comparative Example 1
14 Comparative Example 2 25
[0058] According to Table 1, a sufficient punch hole strength was
obtained in each of the display strips produced in Examples 1 to 5
even when the notch was formed. It appears that this resulted from
the matter that the long fiber component contained in the substrate
layer blocks the spread of breakdown so as to prevent the
breakdown.
[0059] On the other hand, it was found that in the display strip
produced in Comparative Example 1, the punch hole strength was
extremely lowered by the formation of the notch. In the display
strip produced in Comparative Example 2, a sufficient punch hole
strength was not obtained because of a shortage in the strength of
the paper itself used as the substrate layer.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY OF THE INVENTION
[0060] According to the invention, a display strip having
sufficient punch hole strength for allowing a plurality of
product-enclosed bags to be attached thereto for the purpose of
arrangement and display, and package assembly can be provided.
* * * * *