Method of orienting articles at intervals to form a package

• US 7,150,137 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2005
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Tippey, Darold Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): GERRITY, STEPHEN FRANCIS
• Application Number:
  US11/153,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20050229543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 534/29, 534/38, 534/46, 534/47, 531/17, 535/29, 535/42, 535/44
• US Class Current: 53/429
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49001 having preferential bending zones, e.g. fold lines or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5511 characterized by the container A61F15/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/55115 characterized by the features before use, e.g. how are the diapers folded or arranged in a package
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/001 Packages or dispensers for bandages, cotton balls, drapes, dressings, gauze, gowns, sheets, sponges, swabsticks or towels A61F15/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8497 having decorations or indicia means
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 63/02 for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/07 for compressible or flexible articles for wearing apparel B65D85/18

Abstract

A novel packaging article and method are disclosed for an array of flexible, absorbent articles compressed or uncompressed, having an article front face, and article back face, an article top face, an article bottom face, and a pair of article side faces. An upper article section and a lower article section have mutually different calipers. The flexible, absorbent articles are placed in a configuration array such that article front faces contact article front faces or such that article back faces contact back faces of adjacent absorbent articles. The package provides an array having preferred size and requires less compressibility force. A flexible outer casing does not require compressing wrapping to maintain the array as previously required in conventional packaging arrays having flexible outer casing. The packaging article and method are particularly suited for providing preferred advantages to the packaging and commercial distribution of disposable diapers.

Claims

1. A method of forming a package, comprising:

a. transporting a plurality of articles in a consecutive manner to a folding unit;

b. folding each of said articles;

c. changing the orientation of each of said articles at regularly spaced intervals;

d. aligning a predetermined number of each of said articles with an article front face or an article back face in a contacting relationship such that an article front face contacts another front face or an article back face contacts an article back face of an adjacent article to form an uncompressed array, wherein a predetermined number of each of said articles have upper article sections located in a first array region of said array and a second predetermined number of each of said articles have upper article sections located in a second array region of said array; and

e. placing said array in a flexible outer casing.

2. A method of forming a package, comprising the following steps:

a. transporting a plurality of flexible, absorbent articles in a consecutive manner to a folding unit;

b. folding each said flexible, absorbent article;

c. changing the orientation of each of said flexible, absorbent articles at regularly spaced intervals;

d. aligning a predetermined number of each of said flexible, absorbent articles in adjacent contact to have an article front face in contact with an article front face or an article back face in contact with an article back face to form an uncompressed array, wherein a predetermined number of each of said flexible, absorbent articles have upper article sections located in a first array region of said array;

e. compressing said array; and

f. placing said compressed array in a flexible outer casing.

3. A method of forming a package according to claim 2, wherein a second predetermined number of each of said flexible, absorbent articles have upper article sections located in a second array region of said array.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the compression force is substantially uniform across said first and second array regions.

5. A method of forming a package, comprising:

a. transporting disposable diapers in a consecutive manner to a folding unit;

b. folding each said disposable diaper;

c. changing the orientation of said disposable diapers at regularly spaced intervals;

d. aligning a predetermined number of said disposable diapers with a diaper front face or a diaper back face in a contacting relationship such that front faces contact front faces or back faces contact back faces to form an uncompressed array, wherein a predetermined number of said disposable diapers have upper diaper sections located in a first array region of said array and a second predetermined number of said disposable diapers have upper diaper sections located in a first array region of said array;

e. compressing said array; and

f. placing said compressed array in a flexible outer casing.

6. A method of forming a package, comprising the following steps:

a. transporting disposable diapers in a consecutive manner to a folding unit;

b. folding each said disposable diaper individually;

c. changing the orientation of said disposable diapers at regularly spaced intervals;

d. aligning a predetermined number of said disposable diapers with diaper front faces in a contacting relationship or diaper back faces in a contacting relationship to form an uncompressed array, wherein a predetermined number of said disposable diapers have upper diaper sections located in a first array region of said array;

e. compressing said array; and

f. placing said compressed array in a flexible outer casing.

7. A method of forming a package according to claim 6, wherein a second predetermined number of said disposable diapers have upper diaper sections located in a second array region of said array.

8. A method of forming a package, comprising;

a. transporting disposable diapers in a consecutive manner to a folding unit;

b. folding each of said disposable diapers individually;

c. changing the orientation of said disposable diapers at regularly spaced intervals;

d. aligning a predetermined number of said disposable diapers with diaper front faces or diaper back faces in a contacting relationship to form an uncompressed array, wherein a predetermined number of said disposable diapers have upper diaper sections located in a first array region of said array and a second predetermined number of said disposable diapers have upper diaper sections located in a second array region of said array;

e. compressing said array;

f. placing said compressed array in a flexible outer casing; and

wherein the compression force is substantially uniform across said first and second array regions.