U.S. patent application number 13/139141 was filed with the patent office on 2011-11-24 for naked collation package.
This patent application is currently assigned to Innovia Films Limited. Invention is credited to John Fell, Barry Frizell, Wolfgang Zimmerer.
Application Number | 20110284534 13/139141 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40343792 |
Filed Date | 2011-11-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110284534 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Frizell; Barry ; et
al. |
November 24, 2011 |
NAKED COLLATION PACKAGE
Abstract
A naked collation package comprising a plurality of individual
units laid end-to-end or side-by-side to form a unit row comprising
at least one interface between a neighbouring pair of individual
units in the unit row; the unit row being overwrapped with a sheet
of polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the
sheet being sufficient to envelop the unit row with sufficient
overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region
for providing a girth seal along at least part of the length of the
unit row, the sheet being sealed to itself in that region to
provide the girth seal; the width of the sheet being: longer than
the unit row to provide an envelope seal region in at least one end
of the unit row so that the wrapped and girth-sealed sheet is able
to fold over and seal to itself at the at least one end of the unit
row to provide an envelope seal, the sheet being folded and sealed
to itself in that region to provide the envelope seal; or not
substantially longer than the unit row so that the wrapped and
girth-sealed sheet forms an open-ended sleeve around the unit row;
the sheet being provided along its length, or part or parts of it,
with a line of weakness positioned in substantial register with the
interface.
Inventors: |
Frizell; Barry; (Wigton,
GB) ; Zimmerer; Wolfgang; (Cumbria, GB) ;
Fell; John; (Cumbria, GB) |
Assignee: |
Innovia Films Limited
Wigton
GB
|
Family ID: |
40343792 |
Appl. No.: |
13/139141 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
December 14, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB09/51712 |
371 Date: |
August 4, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/23.83 ;
53/448 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/585 20130101;
B65D 85/1072 20130101; B65B 11/48 20130101; B65B 61/02
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/23.83 ;
53/448 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/00 20060101
A47G019/00; B65B 35/30 20060101 B65B035/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 18, 2008 |
GB |
0823072.4 |
Claims
1. A naked collation package comprising a plurality of individual
units laid end-to-end or side-by-side to form a unit row comprising
at least one interface between a neighboring pair of individual
units in the unit row; the unit row being overwrapped with a sheet
of polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the
sheet being sufficient to envelop the unit row with sufficient
overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region
for providing a girth seal along at least part of the length of the
unit row, the sheet being sealed to itself in that region to
provide the girth seal; the width of the sheet being longer than
the unit row to provide an envelope seal region in at least one end
of the unit row so that the wrapped and girth-sealed sheet is able
to fold over and seal to itself at the at least one end of the unit
row to provide an envelope seal, the sheet being folded and sealed
to itself in that region to provide the envelope seal; the sheet
being provided along its length, or part or parts of it, with a
line of weakness positioned in substantial register with the
interface.
2. A naked collation package comprising a plurality of individual
units laid end-to-end or side-by-side to form a unit row comprising
at least one interface between a neighboring pair of individual
units in the unit row; the unit row being overwrapped with a sheet
of polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the
sheet being sufficient to envelop the unit row with sufficient
overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region
for providing a girth seal along at least part of the length of the
unit row, the sheet being sealed to itself in the overlap region to
provide the girth seal; the width of the sheet being not
substantially longer than the unit row so that the wrapped and
girth-sealed sheet forms an open-ended sleeve around the unit row;
the sheet being provided along its length, or part or parts of it,
with a line of weakness positioned in substantial register with the
interface.
3. The naked collation package according to claim 1, wherein
flexing the package in the region of the interface causes an
individual unit or a group of units to be snapped off from the
remainder of the package whilst leaving the remainder of the
package substantially intact.
4. The naked collation package according to claim 1, comprising a
plurality of interfaces between neighboring pairs of individual
units.
5. The naked collation package according to claim 1, comprising at
least two lines of weakness in a spaced relationship, said at least
two lines positioned in substantial register with a respective
interface.
6. The naked collation package according to claim 5, comprising a
first line of weakness in a spaced relationship with a second line
of weakness, the first line of weakness positioned on one side of
the respective interface, and the second line of weakness
positioned on an opposite side of the respective interface.
7. The naked collation package according to claim 4, comprising a
plurality of lines of weakness along the length of the sheet; each
line of weakness positioned in substantial register with a
respective interface.
8. The naked collation package according to claim 1, wherein the
line of weakness is a substantially straight line of weakness.
9. The naked collation package according to claim 1, wherein the
line of weakness is an oscillating line of weakness.
10. A process for the production of a naked collation package, the
process comprising the steps of a. providing a plurality of
individual units laid end-to-end or side-by-side to form a unit row
comprising at least one interface between a neighboring pair of
individual units in the unit row; b. providing a sheet of polymeric
film having a length and a width; the length of the sheet being
sufficient to envelop the unit row with sufficient overlap between
the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region for providing a
girth seal along at least part of the length of the unit row; and
the width of the sheet being longer than the unit row to provide an
envelope seal region in at least one end of the unit row; c.
providing along the length of the film a line of weakness; d.
registering substantially the line of weakness with the at least
one interface; e. wrapping the length of the film around the unit
row and sealing the film to itself to provide a girth seal; and f.
folding and sealing the film to itself in the envelope seal region
to provide the envelope seal.
11. A process for the production of a naked collation package, the
process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of
individual units laid end-to-end or side-by-side to form a unit row
comprising at least one interface between a neighboring pair of
individual units in the unit row; (b) providing a sheet of
polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the sheet
being sufficient to envelop the unit row with sufficient overlap
between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region for
providing a girth seal along at least part of the length of the
unit row; and the width of the sheet being not substantially longer
than the unit row; (c) providing along the length of the film a
line of weakness; (d) registering substantially the line of
weakness with the at least one interface; and (e) wrapping the
length of the film around the unit row and sealing the film to
itself to provide an open-ended girth-sealed sleeve around the unit
row.
12. The naked collation package according to claim 2, wherein
flexing the package in the region of the interface causes an
individual unit or a group of units to be snapped off from the
remainder of the package whilst leaving the remainder of the
package substantially intact.
13. The naked collation package according to claim 2, comprising a
plurality of interfaces between neighboring pairs of individual
units.
14. The naked collation package according to claim 13, comprising a
plurality of lines of weakness along the length of the sheet; each
line of weakness positioned in substantial register with a
respective interface.
15. The naked collation package according to claim 2, comprising at
least two lines of weakness in a spaced relationship, said at least
two lines positioned in substantial register with a respective
interface.
16. The naked collation package according to claim 15, comprising a
first line of weakness in a spaced relationship with a second line
of weakness, the first line of weakness positioned on one side of
the respective interface, and the second line of weakness
positioned on an opposite side of the respective interface.
17. The naked collation package according to claim 2, wherein the
line of weakness is a substantially straight line of weakness.
18. The naked collation package according to claim 2, wherein the
line of weakness is an oscillating line of weakness.
19. The naked collation package according to claim 2, wherein the
line of weakness is of a narrower gauge than the rest of the
film.
20. The naked collation package according to claim 1, wherein the
line of weakness is of a narrower gauge than the rest of the film.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a naked collation
package.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Naked collation refers to a packaging application in which a
plurality of individual units (generally of an article of commerce)
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 a number of benefits, including
reducing the quantity of packaging material (by avoiding the need
for any intermediate packaging) and, in the case of a transparent
packaging film, allowing the individual units to be visible.
[0003] The packaging technique of naked collation is particularly
useful in connection with the packaging of relatively rigid
articles and/or articles which are not especially susceptible to
flexing, for example, cigarette cartons, boxed pharmaceutical
products, playing cards, packaged perfumes and cosmetics, CD cases,
DVD cases, and the like. Although they need not be, commonly such
articles will themselves be unit wrapped with an overwrap film so
that once removed from the naked collation package they are then
ready for display on the shelves of a retailer, for example. The
problem of avoiding sealing the exterior film of the naked
collation package to the unit wrap film is addressed for example in
our co-pending application PCT/GB2008/050662
[0004] Conversely, this invention is concerned with removing the
individual units from the naked collation package in a manner which
is easy to effect and which preferably allows individual units or
groups of units to be removed from the naked collation package
without compromising the integrity of the remainder of the
package.
[0005] Commonly in naked collation, as in many other types of
packaging, a shrink film is employed to ensure a tight wrap.
Whether a tight wrap, desirable from both a practical and an
aesthetic point of view, is achieved by means of a shrink film or
by other means, end users or retailers often experience
difficulties in removing individual units or groups thereof from
the naked collation package as a whole. This is because the film
can be so tightly wrapped around the collated units that the user
is unable to gain any substantial purchase on the film in order to
tear and remove the exterior film. The user may resort to using a
sharp implement or brute force to assist with the opening process,
but this may then cause damage to the individual units, or may
cause the whole package to be compromised, thereby releasing and
spilling all of the individual units, even though the intention of
the user was to remove only one, or some, of the units from the
package.
[0006] In a naked collation package individual units (such as
unit-wrapped cigarette cartons by way of example) are generally
stacked, laid end-to-end, and then wrapped in a sheet of naked
collation film. Stack heights vary from a single unit stack to
double or triple (or more) unit stacks. Pack lengths may be from
two to about twenty, or more, but will often be in the range of
from about three to ten units in length. Pack lengths of from about
four to about seven are common in the field of nakedly collated
cigarette cartons, for example.
[0007] In a naked collation package the risk of damage to the
wrapped article by the use for example of sharp implements to
pierce the overwrap film is acute; and it would be desirable to
provide a ready means of opening such packs manually. It would also
be desirable to provide a means for separating individual units, or
groups of units, from the main body of the pack whilst leaving the
remaining wrapped units in the pack substantially intact.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention is described further hereinafter, by
way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective a naked collation pack in
accordance with a first aspect of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates in perspective a naked collation pack in
accordance with a second aspect of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates in perspective a naked collation pack in
accordance with a third aspect of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates in perspective a naked collation pack in
accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates in perspective a naked collation pack in
accordance with a fifth aspect of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates in perspective a naked collation pack in
accordance with a sixth aspect of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] According to the present invention there is provided a naked
collation package comprising a plurality of individual units laid
end-to-end or side-by-side to form a unit row comprising at least
one interface between a neighbouring pair of individual units in
the unit row; the unit row being overwrapped with a sheet of
polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the sheet
being sufficient to envelop the unit row with sufficient overlap
between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region for
providing a girth seal along at least part of the length of the
unit row, the sheet being sealed to itself in that region to
provide the girth seal; the width of the sheet being longer than
the unit row to provide an envelope seal region in at least one end
of the unit row so that the wrapped and girth-sealed sheet is able
to fold over and seal to itself at the at least one end of the unit
row to provide an envelope seal, the sheet being folded and sealed
to itself in that region to provide the envelope seal; the sheet
being provided along its length, or part or parts of it, with a
line of weakness positioned in substantial register with the
interface.
[0016] Also provided according to the present invention is a naked
collation package comprising a plurality of individual units laid
end-to-end or side-by-side to form a unit row comprising at least
one interface between a neighbouring pair of individual units in
the unit row; the unit row being overwrapped with a sheet of
polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the sheet
being sufficient to envelop the unit row with sufficient overlap
between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region for
providing a girth seal along at least part of the length of the
unit row, the sheet being sealed to itself in that region to
provide the girth seal; the width of the sheet being longer than
the unit row to provide an envelope seal region in at least one end
of the unit row so that the wrapped and girth-sealed sheet is able
to fold over and seal to itself at the at least one end of the unit
row to provide an envelope seal, the sheet being folded and sealed
to itself in that region to provide the envelope seal; the sheet
being provided along its length, or part or parts of it, with at
least one line of weakness positioned in substantial register with
the interface.
[0017] It would further be desirable to reduce the quantity of
overwrap film used in a naked collation packet.
[0018] Thus, also provided in accordance with the present invention
is a naked collation package comprising a plurality of individual
units laid end-to-end or side-by-side to form a unit row comprising
at least one interface between a neighbouring pair of individual
units in the unit row; the unit row being overwrapped with a sheet
of polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the
sheet being sufficient to envelop the unit row with sufficient
overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region
for providing a girth seal along at least part of the length of the
unit row, the sheet being sealed to itself in that region to
provide the girth seal; the width of the sheet being not
substantially longer than the unit row so that the wrapped and
girth-sealed sheet forms an open-ended sleeve around the unit row;
the sheet being provided along its length, or part or parts of it,
with a line of weakness positioned in substantial register with the
interface.
[0019] Thus, also provided in accordance with the present invention
is a naked collation package comprising a plurality of individual
units laid end-to-end or side-by-side to form a unit row comprising
at least one interface between a neighbouring pair of individual
units in the unit row; the unit row being overwrapped with a sheet
of polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the
sheet being sufficient to envelop the unit row with sufficient
overlap between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region
for providing a girth seal along at least part of the length of the
unit row, the sheet being sealed to itself in that region to
provide the girth seal; the width of the sheet being not
substantially longer than the unit row so that the wrapped and
girth-sealed sheet forms an open-ended sleeve around the unit row;
the sheet being provided along its length, or part or parts of it,
with at least one line of weakness positioned in substantial
register with the interface.
[0020] The naked collation packages of the invention provide the
advantage that by flexing the package in the region of the
interface, an individual unit or group of units can be snapped off
from the remainder of the package whilst leaving the remainder of
the package substantially intact.
[0021] The unit row comprises at least two individual units, but
may comprise at least three or at least about four or five
individual units, for example. The unit row may be a single unit in
height, or may be double or triple-stacked, for example.
[0022] When the unit row comprised more than two individual units,
there will be a corresponding plurality of interfaces between
neighbouring pairs of individual units. In these circumstances
there is preferably provided a plurality of lines of weakness along
the length of the sheet; each line of weakness positioned in
substantial register with a respective interface.
[0023] The naked collation package may comprise at least two lines
of weakness in a spaced relationship, said at least two lines
positioned in substantial register with a respective interface.
[0024] The naked collation package may comprise a first line of
weakness in a spaced relationship with a second line of weakness,
the first line of weakness positioned on one side of the respective
interface, and the second line of weakness positioned on an
opposite side of the respective interface. This arrangement
provides positionally a greater margin of error when registering
the at least one line of weakness with the respective
interface.
[0025] The or each line of weakness may be provided in the sheet by
any suitable means such as ablation, incision or perforation for
example.
[0026] Typically, the sheet is a polymeric film having a machine
direction and a transverse direction. Preferably in this case the
length of the sheet is in the machine direction and the or each
line of weakness is provided by feeding the sheet in web form to a
suitable ablation, incision or perforation tool so that the or each
line of weakness is provided in the machine direction.
[0027] Preferably, the film is a shrink film so that after or
during sealing of the film to itself around the unit row, the film
can be shrunk to form a tight fit.
[0028] Preferably each individual unit is of substantially the same
shape and size as each other individual unit in the pack. It is
also preferred that each individual unit be of substantially
regular shape, and that the or each interface between neighbouring
units be a substantially straight line interface.
[0029] The or each line of weakness provided in substantial
register with an interface between neighbouring packs may be a
substantially straight line of weakness. However, we have found it
to be especially preferable for the or each line of weakness to
have an oscillating pattern. For example, the or each line of
weakness may be provided as a zigzag line or with a sinusoidal
profile, for example. This allows a greater margin of error in
registering the or each line of weakness with the interface. The or
each line of weakness is continuous or discontinuous and may
comprise a series of repeat patterns.
[0030] 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 with a repeat unit which itself is
oscillating.
[0031] By oscillating is preferably meant that the or each line of
weakness propagates sequentially above and below a longitudinal
axis running along the length of the or each line of weakness
through the centre thereof.
[0032] Also provided in accordance with the invention is a process
for the production of a naked collation package, the process
comprising the steps of: [0033] a) providing a plurality of
individual units laid end-to-end or side-by-side to form a unit row
comprising at least one interface between a neighbouring pair of
individual units in the unit row; [0034] b) providing a sheet of
polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the sheet
being sufficient to envelop the unit row with sufficient overlap
between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region for
providing a girth seal along at least part of the length of the
unit row; and the width of the sheet being longer than the unit row
to provide an envelope seal region in at least one end of the unit
row; [0035] c) providing along the length of the film a line of
weakness; [0036] d) registering the line of weakness with the
interface [0037] e) wrapping the length of the film around the unit
row and sealing the film to itself to provide a girth seal; and
[0038] f) folding and sealing the film to itself in the envelope
seal region to provide the envelope seal.
[0039] Also provided in accordance with the invention is a process
for the production of a naked collation package, the process
comprising the steps of: [0040] a) providing a plurality of
individual units laid end-to-end or side-by-side to form a unit row
comprising at least one interface between a neighbouring pair of
individual units in the unit row; [0041] b) providing a sheet of
polymeric film having a length and a width; the length of the sheet
being sufficient to envelop the unit row with sufficient overlap
between the ends of the sheet to provide an overlap region for
providing a girth seal along at least part of the length of the
unit row; and the width of the sheet being longer than the unit row
to provide an envelope seal region in at least one end of the unit
row; [0042] c) providing along the length of the film at least one
line of weakness; [0043] d) registering substantially the at least
one line of weakness with the at least one interface; [0044] e)
wrapping the length of the film around the unit row and sealing the
film to itself to provide a girth seal; and folding and sealing the
film to itself in the envelope seal region to provide the envelope
seal.
[0045] The invention also provides a process for the production of
a naked collation package, the process comprising the steps of:
[0046] a) providing a plurality of individual units laid end-to-end
or side-by-side to form a unit row comprising at least one
interface between a neighbouring pair of individual units in the
unit row; [0047] b) providing a sheet of polymeric film having a
length and a width; the length of the sheet being sufficient to
envelop the unit row with sufficient overlap between the ends of
the sheet to provide an overlap region for providing a girth seal
along at least part of the length of the unit row; and the width of
the sheet being not substantially longer than the unit row; [0048]
c) providing along the length of the film a line of weakness;
[0049] d) registering the line of weakness with the interface; and
[0050] e) wrapping the length of the film around the unit row and
sealing the film to itself to provide an open-ended girth-sealed
sleeve around the unit row.
[0051] The invention also provides a process for the production of
a naked collation package, the process comprising the steps of:
[0052] a) providing a plurality of individual units laid end-to-end
or side-by-side to form a unit row comprising at least one
interface between a neighbouring pair of individual units in the
unit row; [0053] b) providing a sheet of polymeric film having a
length and a width; the length of the sheet being sufficient to
envelop the unit row with sufficient overlap between the ends of
the sheet to provide an overlap region for providing a girth seal
along at least part of the length of the unit row; and the width of
the sheet being not substantially longer than the unit row; [0054]
c) providing along the length of the film at least one line of
weakness; [0055] d) registering substantially the at least one line
of weakness with the at least one interface; and [0056] e) wrapping
the length of the film around the unit row and sealing the film to
itself to provide an open-ended girth-sealed sleeve around the unit
row.
[0057] The films used in accordance with the present invention can
be of a variety of thicknesses according to the application
requirements. For example they can be from about 10 to about 240
.mu.m thick and preferably from about 50 to about 90 .mu.m thick.
The line of weakness in the film is preferably of a narrower gauge
than the rest of the film--for example 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 20% or 50%
narrower than the bulk of the film, or the line of weakness may
extend all or substantially all the way through the film.
[0058] The films used in the present invention, prior to deposition
of any coating and/or skin or lamination layer may comprise any
suitable polymeric filmic substrate, such as films made from
biopolymers such as any of those described herein [preferably
polylactic, polygalactic and/or cellulosic films (e.g. microbial
and/or regenerated cellulose film)]; thermoplastic films; polymeric
films (for example films comprising: polyolefins [e.g.
polypropylene arid/or polyethylene] polyurethanes, polyvinylhalides
[e.g. PVC], polyesters [e.g. polyethylene terephthalate-PET],
polyamides [e.g. nylons] and/or non-hydrocarbon polymers); and/or
multilayer and/or composite sheets formed by any suitable
combinations and/or mixtures of thereof. Suitable filmic substrates
therefore include polyolefinic films, but also polyester films,
polyurethane films, cellulosic and PLA films.
[0059] The films of the present invention may consist of only one
layer, or may comprise a plurality of layers. Layers when present
can be combined by lamination and/or co-extrusion and/or coating
and/or melt coat extrusion. Films may be otherwise treated (for
example by corona discharge treatment) to improve certain
characteristics of the film; printability or coating adhesion for
example.
[0060] The films of the invention may comprise one or more additive
materials such as: dyes; pigments, colorants; voiding agents;
metallised and/or pseudo metallised coatings (e.g. aluminium);
lubricants, anti-oxidants, surface-active agents, stiffening aids,
gloss-improvers, prodegradants, UV attenuating materials (e.g. UV
light stabilisers); sealability additives; tackifiers,
anti-blocking agents, additives to improve ink adhesion and/or
printability, cross-linking agents; anti-slip and/or anti-block
additives and the like.
[0061] The present invention is described further hereinafter, by
way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0062] Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a naked collation package
1 comprising ten collated individual units 2, double stacked in
height and with five along the length of the unit row. Each
individual unit 2 is placed side-by-side with its neighbour and
with an interface 3 therebetween. Collation film 4 is wrapped
around the unit row and sealed to itself by means of a girth seal
(not shown, being on the underside of the package 1 as depicted).
An envelope seal 5 is provided at each end of package 1, although
only one such end is depicted in FIG. 1. Lines of weakness 6 in the
machine direction of the film 4 are provided in substantial
register with each interface 3 and, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
1 comprise a straight-line perforation in the film. In use the
package 1 may be held as one end and two, four, six or eight
individual units 2 may be snapped off from the other end by flexing
the package 1 in the region of the appropriate interface 3.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown a naked collation package
21 with similar features to those described in relation to FIG. 1,
except that the lines of weakness 26 comprise a sinusoidal-line
perforation in the film.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 3 there is shown a naked collation package
31 comprising ten collated individual units 32, double stacked in
height and with five along the length of the unit row. Each
individual unit 32 is placed side-by-side with its neighbour and
with an interface 33 therebetween. Collation film 34 is wrapped
around the unit row and sealed to itself by means of a girth seal
(not shown, being on the underside of the package 31 as depicted).
The width of the film 34 is not substantially greater than the
length of the unit row so that the film 34 forms an open-ended
sleeve around the unit row. Lines of weakness 36 in the machine
direction of the film 34 are provided in substantial register with
each interface 33 and, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 comprise a
straight-line perforation in the film. In use the package 31 may be
held as one end and two, four, six or eight individual units 32 may
be snapped off from the other end by flexing the package 31 in the
region of the appropriate interface 33.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 4 there is shown a naked collation package
41 with similar features to those described in relation to FIG. 3,
except that the lines of weakness 46 comprise a sinusoidal-line
perforation in the film.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 5 there is shown a naked collation package
51 comprising ten collated individual units 52, double stacked in
height and with five along the length of the unit row. Each
individual unit 52 is placed side-by-side with its neighbour and
with an interface 53 therebetween. Collation film 54 is wrapped
around the unit row and sealed to itself by means of a girth seal
(not shown, being on the underside of the package 51 as depicted).
An envelope seal 55 is provided at each end of package 51, although
only one such end is depicted in FIG. 5. Lines of weakness 56a and
56b in the machine direction of the film 54 are provided in
substantial register with each interface 53 and, in the embodiment
shown in FIG. 5 comprise a straight-line perforation in the film
54. A first line of weakness 56a is in a spaced relationship with a
second line of weakness 56b; the first line of weakness 56a
positioned on one side 57a of the respective interface 53, and the
second line of weakness 56b positioned on an opposite side 57b of
the respective interface 53. This arrangement provides positionally
a greater margin of error when registering the lines of weakness
with the respective interface. Of course, in other embodiments,
more than two lines of weakness in spaced relationship may be
provided at a respective interface. In other embodiments, the lines
of weakness may be oscillating lines of weakness, such as a
sinusoidal-line perforation in the film (as seen in FIG. 2 for
example). In use the package 51 may be held as one end and two,
four, six or eight individual units 52 may be snapped off from the
other end by flexing the package 51 in the region of the
appropriate interface 53.
[0067] Referring to FIG. 6 there is shown a naked collation package
61 comprising ten collated individual units 62, double stacked in
height and with five along the length of the unit row. Each
individual unit 62 is placed side-by-side with its neighbour and
with an interface 63 therebetween. Collation film 64 is wrapped
around the unit row and sealed to itself by means of a girth seal
(not shown, being on the underside of the package 61 as depicted).
The width of the film 64 is not substantially greater than the
length of the unit row so that the film 64 forms an open-ended
sleeve around the unit row. Lines of weakness 66a and 66b in the
machine direction of the film 64 are provided in substantial
register with each interface 63 and, in the embodiment shown in
FIG. 6 comprise a straight-line perforation in the film. Lines of
weakness 66a and 66b in the machine direction of the film 64 are
provided in substantial register with each interface 63 and, in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 6 comprise a straight-line perforation in
the film 64. A first line of weakness 66a is in a spaced
relationship with a second line of weakness 66b; the first line of
weakness 66a positioned on one side 67a of the respective interface
63, and the second line of weakness 66b positioned on an opposite
side 67b of the respective interface 63. This arrangement provides
positionally a greater margin of error when registering the lines
of weakness with the respective interface. Of course, in other
embodiments, more than two lines of weakness in spaced relationship
may be provided at a respective interface. In other embodiments,
the lines of weakness may be oscillating lines of weakness, such as
a sinusoidal-line perforation in the film (as seen in FIG. 4 for
example). In use the package 61 may be held as one end and two,
four, six or eight individual units 62 may be snapped off from the
other end by flexing the package 61 in the region of the
appropriate interface 63.
* * * * *