Method for packing strip-type objects, especially strips of chewing gum, and packaging produced thereby

Abstract

The invention relates to a packing method, according to which a packaging is produced, wherein a plurality of stacks (20) or layers of individual packed strip-type objects (12) are packed as a group (10) in a second packaging material (52). One of the front surfaces (16) of the individual strips (12) is stuck to the bottom (54) of the formed packaging (50). The strip packaging material and the adhesive are produced such that respectively one strip (12) can be removed from the external packaging (50). The remaining strips (12) remain arranged in the original position thereof in the packaging (50) without sliding and falling into each other, when individual strips (12) have already been removed from the packaging (50). A package band or a half-wrapper for holding and fixing the strips (12) inside the packaging (50) is rendered superfluous. The strips (12) are preferably respectively packed in a piece of packaging material that has a perforation (32) for separation into a first part and a second part. The first part (34) is stuck to the external packaging (50) and remains fixed in the external packaging (50) when a strip (12) is removed from the full packaging. The second part (36) remains on the strip (12) and is removed from the external packaging (50) therewith, partially opening the strip (12). As a result, the invention enables the production of an advantageous, user-friendly packaging with an attractive design.

Description

The invention relates to a method for packing strip-type objects, especially objects suitable for consumption, especially strips of chewing gum. The invention also relates to an item of packaging which is produced by way of said method.

Different methods for packing strip-type objects, especially strips of chewing gum or chewing gum sticks, as well as items of packaging produced using these types of methods are known in the prior art. Insofar as chewing gums or strips of chewing gum or chewing gum sticks are referred to below, this is to be understood purely as an example. Along with chewing gums, the present invention relates to any type of strip-shaped objects, especially such objects which are suitable for human consumption. In this connection, this also can be, for example, cakes and pastries or confectionery and the like. Strip-shaped products which are not intended for consumption such as, for example, medical or pharmaceutical products, such as diagnostic strips and the like, are, however, also included.

In the case of all these types of strip-shaped objects, the essential point is that the objects are packed individually in a first packaging material, for example in a blank of aluminum foil or cellophane foil, and by forming a group of individual strip-type objects which are packed in this manner, are then packed as a group in a second packaging material, for example in a blank of a cardboard material.

With reference to chewing gums, different designs of chewing gum sticks with different dimensions are common on the market. Relatively wide, long strips with a small thickness (so-called stick gum) or strips which are narrower and shorter in comparison thereto, but which are greater in thickness (so-called tab gum) are on the market in particular. In addition, there are also further formats for strips of chewing gum or stick chewing gum on the market. The item of packaging of the present invention is to be suitable especially for said known formats of strips of chewing gum.

In the chewing gum market sector, the items of packaging, the forms of the packaging and packaging concepts play an important role for marketing and sales purposes. In the market, the form, method of use and method of operation of the respective items of packaging are important for said products. The way in which the packed products are presented plays a considerable role. The relevant market, in this case, always demands new forms, styles and types of packaging, and new produces are preferably sold by means of such new forms of packaging.

Thus, chewing gum packaging, where the individual strips of chewing gum, which in each case are already packed per se, are packed in layers or stacks and in groups, i.e. several stacks arranged side by side, are known in the market. In the case of these types of arrangements there is the problem that the individual strips of chewing gum are able to slip and become mixed up in the overall packaging as soon as one or more strips have been removed from the item of packaging. The individual strips can then lie all over the place in the item of packaging, and the original order of the individual, stacked or grouped strips is no longer provided. In particular, said individual strips which are lying loosely in the item of packaging can then slip out or fall out of the packaging as they are no longer reciprocally supported and held in the overall packaging by the groups or stacks of the further strips. Such items of packaging are consequently not practical to handle and are unattractive for visual, designer as well as psychological reasons such that they are not desired on the market.

To solve said problems it is already known to separate the individual strips of chewing gum, which are in each case packed per se, and/or the groups formed therefrom from one another inside an overall item of packaging (e.g. a cardboard box with a lid which is tiltable into an open and a closed position) for example by way of additional means and to hold them, for example by means of additional insert papers, wraparound bands or cardboard separating webs. Thus, it is known, for example, to combine several strips to form one stack and to surround them by way of a wraparound band or a so-called half-wrapper. Several of these types of stacks, which are surrounded in each case per se by a wraparound band, are then arranged side by side in an overall item of packaging. The wraparound bands hold the individual strips and/or stacks side by side and aligned with respect to one another in the compartment formed in each case by the wraparound band, even when individual strips have already been removed. In the known embodiments, the individual wraparound bands or half-wrappers are at the same time glued against the external cardboard packaging in order to fasten them inside the item of packaging. As, in the case of said solution, the individual strips of chewing gum lie loosely inside their respective wraparound band, it is, however, still possible for the strips to slip out of the overall item of packaging in their longitudinal direction even if the strips are prevented per se from slipping in the cross direction.

To solve said latter problem, it is known in the prior art to fasten the individual packed strips of chewing gum on the wraparound band. In this connection, the packaging foil of one single strip, of chewing gum is typically glued with the wraparound band surrounding it. So that the strip of chewing gum is still able to be removed from the item of packaging, said adhesion must be releasable. Consequently, a suitable wax or a suitable adhesive is typically used for this purpose. When pulling out the strip of chewing gum, the wraparound band, which is firmly glued with the cardboard packaging, then remains in the item of packaging. This and similar solutions are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,754 B2 and JP-Patent 3955356.

In the case of said known embodiments of a fixing of the individual packed strips of chewing gum on the surrounding wraparound band, only one layer of strips of chewing gum arranged side by side or a maximum of two layers of strips of chewing gum arranged side by side can typically be arranged one on top of another in the overall item of packaging. This is brought about in particular by the necessity to fix (glue) the individual strips in relation to the packaging band. Insofar as a stack of several strips or several layers of such strips lying one on top of another are otherwise surrounded by a wraparound band, only the outermost strips in each case, i.e. only the topmost and the bottom-most strips of the stack, can be glued with the wraparound band by way of their top or bottom side faces. The central strips of the stack lying between the two outermost strips, however, do not contact the wraparound band and consequently are also not able to be glued with said wraparound band. In this respect, there is additionally the problem in this case that the central strips of the stack are able to slip.

In the prior art it is additionally known to provide the packaging foil blank of an individual strip of chewing gum in such a manner with a perforation that said packaging foil blank is able to be separated into two parts. The individual strip of chewing gum, in this case, is then secured on the wraparound band inside the external packaging by means of its packaging foil in such a manner that when said strip of chewing gum is pulled out of the overall packaging, the packaging foil of the strip of chewing gum is divided along the perforation such that part of said foil, fixed on the wraparound band, remains in the external packaging, whilst the other part of the packaging foil of the strip of chewing gum remains on said strip of chewing gum and is pulled out of the overall packaging with said strip of chewing gum. The packaging of the individual strip of chewing gum is torn open as a result, i.e. the individual strip of chewing gum is already opened in part on one side when pulled out and is consequently presented to the user for consumption to a certain extent, whilst the other part of the packaging foil remaining on the strip of chewing gum serves as protection against contamination and/or as a handle for pulling said strip of chewing gum out of the packaging.

In the case of said known solution described last, an individual strip of chewing gum is glued on its own packaging foil with the wraparound band or the half-wrapper in that region of said packaging foil which is to remain in the packaging after separation of the perforation when said strip is pulled out. The wraparound band or the half-wrapper is itself additionally glued with the cardboard of the external packaging so that the wraparound band or the half-wrapper also remains in the external packaging when a strip of chewing gum is pulled out and is not pulled out at the same time. So that said fastening functions securely on the one side of the individual strip of chewing gum inside the wraparound band and on the other side of the wraparound band in relation to the cardboard external packaging, the strips of chewing gum can only be accommodated, however, in the item of packaging in one layer or in a maximum of two layers arranged one on top of the other, as has already been stated above. In the event of the double-layered design, the strips of chewing gum of the one, e.g. top, layer are glued on their top side against the half-wrapper, whilst the strips of chewing gum of the second, e.g. bottom, layer are glued over their bottom side with the wraparound band.

A multi-layered design is consequently not possible as the central layers of such an embodiment (i.e. the layers arranged between the topmost and the bottom-most layer) are not able to be glued or in any case are not able to be sufficiently securely and firmly glued with the half-wrapper such that it would be ensured that when a strip of chewing gum was pulled out and the perforation was successfully separated at the same time, the bottom part of the packaging foil of the individual strip of chewing gum would remain fastened inside the wraparound band in the overall packaging.

Proceeding from said known embodiments, the object underlying the invention is to create an item of packaging or a form of packaging for strips of chewing gum which, compared to the known forms of packaging, has new features which account for or increase the attractiveness of these types of items of packaging on the market. An item of packaging of this type, in this case, is to enable the arrangement of several (i.e. more than two) layers or stacks of individual strips of chewing gum inside an external packaging. In this case, the individual strips of chewing gum are to be fixed inside the overall external packaging such that they can certainly be removed easily from the item of packaging, but that in particular the order of the several layers or stacks of the strips of chewing gun inside the overall packaging is maintained when one or several individual strips of chewing gum have already been removed from the item of packaging. In such a case, the strips of chewing gum remaining in the item of packaging are therefore not to slip and become disordered.

Over and above this, an item of packaging of this type for strips of chewing gum is to be able to be produced industrially in a simpler manner. For this purpose, a particular achievement is to be that a wraparound band or a half-wrapper, on which the individual strips of chewing gum were to be fixed, is avoided, the wraparound band or the half-wrapper having to be fastened as such, in turn, in relation to the packaging material of the external packaging. The advantage of avoiding a wraparound band or a half-wrapper is that the machine-driven method for producing such an item of packaging is able to be simplified structurally since corresponding machine components as well as the provision of the additional packaging material for the wraparound band or the half-wrapper are unnecessary. Said aspects also result in clear cost savings in the end.

In one sub-aspect or the object underlying the invention, an item of packaging is also to be created where the individual strips of chewing gum are packed in each case per se in a packaging material which is provided with a perforation in such a manner that when an individual strip of chewing gum is pulled out of the overall packaging, the individual packaging of the strip of chewing gum is able to be separated into two parts along the perforation such that a first, bottom part of the strip packaging remains in the external packaging, whilst the other, top part of the strip packaging is pulled out of the external packaging with the strip and remains on the individual strip in the guise of a handle or a protection means.

Said object is achieved as claimed in the invention by a method for packing strip-type objects, especially objects suitable for consumption, especially strips of chewing gum, corresponding to claim 1, as well as by an item of packaging for the named objects produced using said method.

Accordingly, a method is created for packing strip-type objects, in particular objects suitable for consumption, in particular strips of chewing gum, said method having the following steps: prepare several identical, individual strip-type objects which are packed in each case by way of a first packaging material; form a substantially cuboid-shaped group of the prepared individual packed strip-type objects in such a manner that several strip-type objects are arranged lying side by side and stacked one on top of another; and prepare a blank of a second packaging material which is to be folded and closed around the group as external packaging for the formed group of the strip-type objects. The method as claimed in the invention also includes the step of applying at least one adhesive on the side of the prepared packaging material blank which forms the inside surface of the closed external packaging of the group, wherein the adhesive is applied onto the packaging material blank substantially in the regions which form a bottom of the closed external packaging which lies substantially opposite to a removal opening of the external packaging, wherein the adhesive is applied substantially in such a manner onto the packaging material blank that each packed strip-type object of the group inside the closed external packaging contacts the adhesive in each case at least on its end face surface which faces the bottom of the external packaging, and wherein the first packaging material and the adhesive are realized and interact in such a manner that in each case one single strip-type object is removable from the formed external packaging. The method as claimed in the invention finally also includes the following further steps: fold the prepared packaging material blank about the formed group of the strip-type objects and close the formed external packaging.

Consequently, as a result of the packing method an item of packaging is created, where several (in particular more than two) stacks or layers of individual packed, strip-type objects are arranged in one regular group and are packed in the form of said group in a blank of a second packaging material. In this case, the individual strips are glued with the formed external packaging at least on one of their end face surfaces in the region of the bottom of the formed item of packaging by means of a suitable adhesive, the packaging material of the individual strips and the adhesive being composed and interacting in such a manner that in each case it is possible to remove one strip from the external packaging.

In the case of the item of packaging formed by way of the method as claimed in the invention, it is consequently ensured that the individual strip-type objects (e.g. strips of chewing gum) remain in an ordered manner in the item of packaging without slipping and falling into disorder inside the packaging, and without slipping out of the external packaging when one or several of the strips have already been removed from the overall packaging. Even when a larger part of the strips originally contained in the overall packaging has been removed from the item of packaging, the strips still remaining in the pack are held in each case in their original position. An advantageous, easily manageable item of packaging, which is also appealing as regards visual and designer aspects and is consequently attractive for the market, is created in this manner.

As a particular advantage, in the case of the item of packaging as claimed in the invention, it is possible to dispense with a wraparound band or a half-wrapper for holding and fixing the individual strips inside the overall packaging. In this way, it is possible to avoid a packaging material which would otherwise be additionally necessary for a wraparound band or a half-wrapper and correspondingly to simplify a corresponding machine-driven production method in a structural manner, which leads not least to corresponding cost savings.

In a first embodiment of the method as claimed in the invention, the adhesive has a composition in such a manner that the first packaging material, in which the strip type object is packed, is releasable from the adhesive for a removal of an individual packed strip from the overall packaging. In this case, the individual packed strip can be removed as such from the overall packaging. When the strip is pulled out of the packaging, the adhesive releases said strip without the packaging material of the strip tearing and without it remaining in parts or completely in the external packaging and/or fastened on said external packaging. The user can then unpack the individual strip for consumption once it has been removed from the external packaging.

In a further, particularly preferred embodiment, the individual strip-type objects are packed in each case in a blank of a first packaging material which has a perforation for dividing the blank into a first part and a second part. In this case, the adhesive only contacts the first part of the packaging material blank of the individual strip inside the external packaging.

When one single strip-type object is removed from the overall packaging, the first part of the blank is fastened in the external packaging by means of the adhesive and is separated from the second part of the blank of the strip packaging material along the perforation. The second part of the blank, in this case, remains on the strip and can be removed from the external packaging with the said strip.

In this case, the product strip when being removed from the external packaging is therefore partially opened by its packaging being torn open at the perforation line such that the bottom part of its individual packaging is held firmly in the external packaging and remains there, whilst the other, top part of the individual packaging of the strip remains on said strip and is pulled out of the external packaging with said strip. Said latter part of the individual strip packaging can consequently serve, among other things, as a handle for the user and as means of protection for the strip of chewing gum, for example against contamination. It is obvious that the perforation in the packaging material of the individual strip has to be developed such that the separation of the packaging material into the two parts can be easily performed when the user removes one strip from the overall packaging.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method as claimed in the invention, it is provided that the adhesive used for gluing the packaging material of the individual strip in relation to the packaging material of the external packaging includes two parts or components, namely on the one hand a quick-setting hot glue and on the other hand a cold glue which sets at a slower rate compared thereto. In a suitable manner in this case, the adhesive can be, for example, a two-component adhesive which has a hot glue component and a cold glue component. As an alternative to this, two separate adhesives can also be used independently of one another for the adhesive to be used, namely on the one hand a hot glue adhesive and on the other hand a cold glue adhesive, which are applied side by side or one after the other.

The adhesive or the two separate adhesives (hot glue and cold glue) can be applied, for example, in lines or strokes onto the packaging material of the cardboard external packaging, it being possible to alternate said lines in the case of the two different adhesives in a regular or irregular manner. The advantage of said application of the adhesive in alternating lines is that the hot glue and the cold glue are able to be applied at the same time or substantially at the same time during the course of the method for producing the item of packaging. Said aspect is significant for the processing of the adhesive components (hot glue or cold glue) during the course of the application thereof as well as for bringing about their adhesive action, as is explained even more below.

In particular in the case of the perforation of the packaging material of the individual strip, it is necessary for that part of the packaging material which is to remain in the external packaging at separation to be glued firmly and permanently with the material of the external packaging in such a manner that the other part of the packaging material is separated from said first part by means of the perforation when the strip is removed. Along with a sufficiently strong perforation, this calls for the adhesion between the first packaging material of the strip and the material of the external packaging to be sufficiently firm. In this connection, it must be taken into consideration that said adhesion, as a result of its proximity to the foodstuffs (e.g. chewing gum) to be consumed, must on the one hand be permanent and on the other hand completely harmless as regards food safety law and food chemistry. Said requirements are met typically by cold glue adhesives.

Cold glue adhesives, on the other hand however, have the disadvantage of a long setting time, i.e. a long interval between the point of producing contact between the object to be glued and the adhesive and the point at which the full adhesive action and adhesive force of the glue occurs. In the case of cold glues said setting time can be, for example, 10 seconds, which is a long period for the item of packaging to be formed to run through a corresponding high-performance packaging machine. Insofar as during said production method at the end a hermetically sealed overall packaging is immediately formed, the duration of the setting time of the cold glue can be even longer. In said phase of the setting of the adhesive, the individual products (strips) inside the overall packaging are, however, not yet or not sufficiently well secured such that there is still the risk in said phase of the individual products slipping inside the external packaging, as a result of which possibly no dimensionally stable overall packaging can finally be formed.

In order to overcome said problems, there is provided in the named preferred embodiment of the invention, along with the use of a cold glue adhesive, the additional use of a hot glue adhesive which clearly sets more quickly in comparison to the cold glue adhesive and consequently brings about a quick fixing of the individual products inside the overall packaging during the course of the production thereof. For example, a suitable hot glue adhesive can set within approximately 0.1 seconds (i.e. the typical interval between applying the hot glue in a hot state and the onset of the full ability to bond or of the adhesive force after application on the object to be glued).

Consequently the hot glue, as a result of its quickly occurring adhesive action, bridges the period until the cold glue, applied in parallel, sets and ensures a preliminary fixing of the objects to be glued within said period, following which a fixed and permanent adhesive connection is then brought about by the cold glue.

The use of the combination of hot glue and cold glue is typically necessary since, as described above, the use exclusively of a cold glue does not ensure sufficiently secure and rapid fixing of the objects to be glued inside the packaging and consequently does not ensure sufficient certainty for the forming of a correct and dimensionally stable packaging structure. In reverse, however, it is typically also not possible to use exclusively a hot glue adhesive and to dispense with a cold glue adhesive. In particular where chewing gums are the objects to be packed, there is the problem that a hot glue can be dissolved by essential oils which are released by the chewing gum. If a hot glue loses its ability to bond and its adhesive force in this manner, it does not ensure a permanent and firm fixing of the strips of chewing gum inside the external packaging. By using both a cold glue and also a hot glue, the advantages of the two sorts of glue are utilized and the achievement is consequently that a permanent and firm connection is generated and maintained between the packaging material of the strip of chewing gum and the external packaging, said connection in the end being permanently necessary in order to open the individual strip packaging by means of the perforation when the strip is removed from the external packaging, as has been described above.

All in all, by using the packing method as claimed in the invention, a dimensionally stable, attractive and easy to handle item of packaging for strip-type objects, especially strips of chewing gum, is consequently created. With said item of packaging, it is ensured that even after the removal of one or several individual strips, the individual strips still remaining in the item of packaging are held in their original position and consequently the order inside the box is maintained. In a preferred embodiment as claimed in the invention, an item of packaging for strips of chewing gum is created where the individual packed strips of chewing gum are opened during the course of their removal. The item of packaging as claimed in the invention is realized, in this case, without an additional packaging material in the form of an intermediate layer or wraparound band or a half-wrapper being necessary for grouping and holding the individual strips. In this case, stacks or layers of more than two individual strips can be arranged one on top of another or side by side in the item of packaging.

Further details and advantages of the invention are produced from the following description of an exemplary embodiment by way of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a group of strip-type objects which form the contents of an item of packaging to be formed;

FIG. 2 shows a blank of a packaging material for an external packaging of the item of packaging to be formed;

FIG. 3 shows the external packaging of the formed item of packaging without contents;

FIG. 4 shows the formed item of packaging with contents; and

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged representation of the bottom region of the formed item of packaging with contents in a cross section from the side.

FIG. 1 shows a regular group 10 of identical strip-type objects 12, especially strips of chewing gum. Said individual strips 12 are in each case packed per se in a first packaging material which can be, for example, a foil material, in particular a cellophane foil or an aluminum foil. The strips 12 are arranged side by side and one on top of another such that they form a regular, cuboid-shaped group 10. In the example in FIG. 1, three stacks 20 of such individual strips 12 are, in this case, arranged side by side, each stack 20 in the present case including four individual strips 12 which lie one above another or one on top of another. It is obvious that other groupings of the individual strips 12 are possible to form the stacks 20 and the group 10.

With regard to machine-driven production, the group 10 can be formed by individual layers of several strips 12 lying laterally side by side being formed one after another and said formed layers then being stacked one above another. As an alternative to this, the group 10 can also be formed in a process-control manner such that initially one stack 20 of several strips 12 is formed and several stacks 20 of this type are then arranged laterally side by side, adjoining one another or touching one another.

As is additionally shown in FIG. 1, each individual strip 12 has a substantially rectangular form, in particular a flat cuboid-shaped form. Each end face surface 14, 16 of a strip 12, in this case, is substantially the product of the width and the thickness of the strip 12. With reference to its outer dimensions, the group 10 shown in FIG. 1 and formed from the individual strips 12 consequently has a thickness which corresponds substantially to an integral multiple of the thickness of one strip 12, and a width which corresponds substantially to an integral multiple of the width of one strip 12. The height of the group 10 in FIG. 1 corresponds substantially to the length of one strip 12.

The group 10 of individual strips 12 formed in this manner is then accommodated in an external packaging 50 in which the products (individual strips 12) are combined, for example, to form one sales unit. Such a finished item of packaging or a pack 70 is shown in FIG. 4. In this case, the external packaging 50 consists of a second packaging material, for example a cardboard material, and the ultimately formed pack 70 consequently consists, for example, of a cardboard box 50 in which the group 10 of strips 12 of chewing gum are accommodated. FIG. 3 shows the box or external packaging 50 without contents.

The box 50 is formed from a blank 52 of the second packaging material (cardboard material) by the prepared, substantially flat blank 51 being folded around the group 10 and being sealed in a suitable manner. FIG. 2 shows the blank 52 in an opened-out and stretched out state, it being possible to see all the individual faces and tabs of the cardboard material blank 52 which are then folded over one another or hinged to form the box 50 and partially abut against one another and/or are fitted into one another. In order to form a closed box 50, the corresponding parts of the blank 52 which interact and/or lie one on top of another, are glued together. As an example of this, FIG. 2 shows several glue points 62, which are first of all applied onto said blank 52 from one side during the course of preparing the packaging blank 52 and which, after the corresponding folding of the individual faces of the blank 52 one over another, then glue the corresponding, interacting or abutting regions of the packaging 50 together. FIG. 3 shows the box 50 (without contents) formed and prepared in this manner, it being possible to see the position of the glue points 62 shown in FIG. 2 once the box 50 has been completed. The box 50 is glued in a durable, permanent manner in this way.

As has been explained in the introduction, the group 10 of the strips 12 is to be fixed inside the box 50 in a suitable manner. For this purpose, the strips 12 of the group 10 are glued with the box 50, as can be seen in FIG. 4 in the region of the bottom and/or the bottom side faces of the box 50 in the form of glue strokes 66, 68. In order to produce said bonding, first of all an adhesive 66, 68 is applied on one side of the prepared packaging material blank 52 during the course of the method for producing the overall packaging (pack 70). The adhesive 66, 68, in this case, is applied on that side of the blank 52 which forms the inside surface of the external packaging or box 50 to be formed. As FIGS. 2 and 4 show, the adhesive 66, 68, in this case, is applied onto the blank 52 substantially in those regions which form the bottom 54 of the box 50 or in those regions which are adjacent to the bottom 54 of the box 50, i.e. in the bottom regions of the front and rear side faces of the box 50 (cf. FIG. 4). As FIGS. 2 and 4 show further, the adhesive 66, 68 is applied, in this case, in the named region of the packaging material blank 52 in particular in the form of several strokes or lines.

When the packing material blank 52 is then subsequently folded around the group 10 in order to form the external packaging or box 50, the adhesive 66, 68 contacts the packed strips 12 of chewing gum in the region of the bottom 54 or of the bottom side faces of the box 50. In this case, the adhesive contacts, in particular, in each case that end face surface 16 of each strip 12 which is oriented toward the bottom 54 of the box 50, i.e. which is adjacent to the bottom 54 of the box 50 (cf. FIGS. 4 and 5). In this way, each individual strip 12 is glued with the box 50 by way of its bottom end face surface 16 which is located opposite the box bottom 54.

As FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 show, the adhesive lines 66, 68 extend in particular at right angles to the cross extension of the bottom end face surfaces 16 of the individual strips 12. In this way, each bottom end face surface 16 of the strips 12 comes into contact with individual or several of the adhesive lines 66, 68. As the end face surface 16 of each strip 12 is relatively small corresponding to the thickness of an individual strip 12, the contact face between an individual adhesive line 66, 68 and the end face surface 16 is also relatively small. However, several adhesive lines 66, 68 are provided in the region of one strip 12 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) such that the bonding is sufficiently strong for fixing each individual strip 12 inside the box 50 in an efficient manner.

In order to improve said fixing of the strips 12 even further it can be provided that the adhesive or the adhesive lines 66, 68 are applied in a form and/or quantity in such a manner onto the packaging material blank 52 that the adhesive not only contacts the respective end face surfaces 16 of the strips 12, but also passes between the individual stacked strips 12 in the region of the bottom 54 of the box 50. Said state is shown in the cross section of the bottom part of the overall packaging 70 in FIG. 5. The individual strips 12 are also bonded together in this way and not only with the cardboard packaging material surrounding them.

During the course of the production of the overall packaging, pressure can also be exerted additionally onto the side faces of the packaging in this region (i.e. in FIG. 5 is particular from above and below). This results in an even better distribution of the adhesive between the individual, stacked strips 12 in the region of the bottom 54 of the box 50. As a result, it is possible to achieve an even bettor, more secure bonding of the strips 12 together and in relation to the box 50 and, all in all, a dimensionally stable, sturdy overall packaging 70 is formed in this manner.

In the case of said packet, it is essential that the center strips 12 of a respective stack 20, i.e. the strips 12 arranged between the two outer strips 12 inside a stack 20, are also bonded securely and permanently with the box 50 (cf. FIG. 5). In this way it is possible to accommodate stacks 20 which consist of more than two strips, i.e. in other words more than one or two layers of individual strips 12 which are arranged side by side, in the item of packaging.

In the case of the item of packaging produced by way of the above-described method, the first packaging material, in which each individual strip 12 of chewing gum is packed, and the adhesive 66, 68 are composed or realized in such a manner and they interact in such manner that it is possible to remove in each case one single strip 12 from the external packaging or box 50. In a first embodiment it can be provided, in this connection, that the adhesive has a composition in such a manner that the packaging material of the strips 12 is releasable from the adhesive for a removal of a strip 12 from the box 50. Consequently, a strip 12 which is packed completely in the first packaging material can be removed from the box 50 without the respective packaging of the individual strip 12 being damaged and in particular torn open. Consequently, the composition of the adhesive 66, 68 in this case is in such a manner that, on the one hand, it certainly fixes the individual strips in the box 50 against slipping, on the other hand, however, the holding force of the adhesive is able to be overcome by the pulling force when a strip 12 is removed.

In an alternative embodiment which is shown in particular in the drawings, the strip 12 which is packed as such is removable from the box 50 in such a manner that it is already opened in part on removal and is consequently presented to the user directly for consumption, another part of the packaging of the individual strip, however, remaining on the strip 12 on removal. This is, in particular, that part of the strip packaging by which the user grasps and pulls out the strip 12 arranged in the box 50.

For this purpose, the individual strips 12 of chewing gum are in each case packed in a blank of the first packaging material which has a perforation 32 for a division of said blank into a first part 34 and a second part 36 (cf. FIGS. 1 and 4). In this case, the adhesive 66, 68 is applied in such a manner on the packaging material blank 52 during the forming of the item of packaging (cf. FIG. 2) that, when forming the overall packaging, in each case it contacts only one of the two parts 34, 36 of the blank of the strip packaging material, namely a first bottom part 34 of said strip packaging material blank associated with the bottom 54 of the box 50 (cf. FIG. 4). When an individual strip 12 is removed from the box 50, the first bottom part 34 of the strip packaging material blank is then separated from the second top part 36 of the packaging material blank on account of the active pulling force along the perforation line 32. In this case, the first bottom part 34 remains fixed in the box 50 as a result of its fastening (adhesion) on the inside surface of the box 50, whilst the second top part 36 of the strip packaging material blank remains on the strip 12 and is pulled out of the box 50 with said strip.

In addition, it can be provided that the adhesive 66, 68 consists of two components, namely on the one hand a quick-setting hot glue 66 and on the other hand a cold glue 68 which sets slower in comparison thereto. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 4, the hot glue 66 and the cold glue 68 are applied onto the packaging material blank 52. In this case, in particular in lines or strokes, it being possible for said lines of the hot glue 66 and of the cold glue 68 to alternate in a regular or irregular manner. The reasons for using both a hot glue and a cold glue have already been explained above in detail. Details of the direction of the lines of adhesive in relation to the components of the item of packaging have also already been shown above.

The glue points 62 for gluing the box 50 as such (cf. FIGS. 2 and 3 and the description above) can preferably be formed using the same adhesive as the adhesive lines 66, 68 for gluing the strip packaging with the external packaging 50. The glue points 62, in this case, can be applied by machine onto the cardboard material blank 52 more or less at the same time as the adhesive lines 66, 68. Insofar as two different types of adhesive (hot glue 66 and cold glue 68) are used in this case for the adhesive lines 66, 68 (as described above), said two types of adhesive can then also be used for the glue points 62. In this case, the glue points 62 can then also be formed from the two types of adhesive (hot glue 66 and cold glue 68), for example alternately in a regular or irregular manner (cf. FIGS. 2 and 3).

As shown in particular in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the external packaging or box 50 can be developed in such a manner that it has a removal opening 42, it being possible to remove the individual strips 12 through said opening. The removal opening 42, in this case, can be closed by a lid, for example a hinged lid 44 which closes the box 50 in a suitable manner, for example by engaging in a corresponding opening 48 of the box 50 by means of a tab 46 or being inserted into the box 50 in another manner. The removal opening 42 extends preferably over the entire width and thickness of the box 50 on the top side thereof such that all the individual strips 12 are accessible and are able to be pulled out of the box 50 (see FIG. 4).

Claims

1. A method for packing strip-type objects, especially objects suitable for consumption, especially strips of chewing gum, said method having the following steps:

preparing several identical, individual strip-type objects by packing each in a first packaging material;

forming a substantially cuboid-shaped group of the packed strip-type objects by arranging at least two of the strip-type objects side-by-side and by stacking another at least one of the strip-type objects on top of each of the at least two strip-type objects arranged side-by-side, thus forming the substantially cuboid-shaped group containing at least four of the strip-like objects; and

preparing a blank of a second packaging material, which is to be folded and closed around the group as to form an external packaging at a later step in this method;

applying an adhesive on a side of the second packaging material blank that forms an inside surface of the external packaging once the external packaging is folded, wherein the adhesive is applied onto the inside surface substantially in a region that forms a bottom of the external packaging once the external packaging is folded, the bottom region being substantially opposite to a removal opening of the external packaging once the external packaging is folded, the bottom region including a bottom surface and side walls adjacent to the bottom surface; and

folding the prepared packaging material blank about the formed group of the strip-type objects and closing the formed external packaging;

wherein the adhesive is applied substantially in such a manner onto the packaging material blank that each packed strip-type object of group inside the closed external packaging, contacts the adhesive at least on an end face surface of the packed strip-type object, the end face surface facing the bottom of the external packaging once the external packaging is folded, and wherein the first packaging material and the adhesive are composed and interact in such a manner that a single strip-type object is removable from the formed external packaging.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that the adhesive is applied in such a manner onto the packaging material blank that the adhesive passes between each of the strip-type objects in the vicinity of the end face surfaces of the strip-type objects.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that the composition of the adhesive is such that the first packaging material is releasable from the adhesive for a removal of a single packed strip-type object from the formed external packaging.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that the individual strip-type objects are packed in each case in a blank of the first packaging material, which has a perforation for dividing the blank into a first part and a second part, wherein the adhesive contacts the first part of the blank but not the second part of the blank, and wherein, when a single strip-type object is removed from the formed external packaging, the first part of the blank is separated from the second part of the blank along the perforation and remains fastened in the external packaging, while the second part of the blank remains on the strip-type object and is removed from the external packaging with said strip-type object.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, further characterized in that the adhesive applied onto the blank of the second packaging material includes a hot glue and a cold glue, each having a setting rate, wherein the setting rate of the cold glue is slower than the setting rate of the hot glue.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further characterized in that the hot glue and the cold glue are applied in each case substantially in lines onto the bottom region of the second packaging material blank, wherein the lines of the hot glue and the lines of the cold glue alternate.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that each packed strip-type object has a substantially flat cuboid-shaped form, wherein each of the strip-type objects has a width and a thickness, wherein a width of the formed, substantially cuboid-shaped group corresponds substantially to an integer multiple of the width of a single strip-type object, wherein a thickness of the formed, substantially cuboid-shaped group corresponds substantially to an integer multiple of the thickness of a single strip-type object, and wherein a length of the formed, substantially cuboid-shaped group corresponds substantially to the length of a single strip-type object.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that the first packaging material includes a foil material and the second packaging material includes a cardboard material.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that the removal opening can be closed by a lid, wherein the removal opening extends over a width and a thickness of the external packaging.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that the formed group has three stacks of the packed strips, which are arranged side-by-side with reference to their width, wherein each stack includes four or five individual packed strips.

11. An item of packaging for strip-type objects, especially objects suitable for consumption, especially strips of chewing gum, said item of packaging being produced by way of a method as claimed in claim 1.

12. The method as claimed in claim 4, further characterized in that each packed strip-type object has a substantially flat cuboid-shaped form, wherein each of the strip-type objects has a width and a thickness, wherein a width of the formed, substantially cuboid-shaped group corresponds substantially to an integer multiple of the width of a single strip-type object, wherein a thickness of the formed, substantially cuboid-shaped group corresponds substantially to an integer multiple of the thickness of a single strip-type object, and wherein a length of the formed, substantially cuboid-shaped group corresponds substantially to the length of a single strip-type object.

13. The method as claimed in claim 4, further characterized in that the first packaging material includes a foil material and the second packaging material includes a cardboard material.

14. The method as claimed in claim 2, further characterized in that the composition of the adhesive is such that the first packaging material is releasable from the adhesive for removal of a single packed strip-type object from the formed external packaging.

15. The method as claimed in claim 2, further characterized in that the individual strip-type objects are packed in each case in a blank of the first packaging material, which has a perforation for dividing the blank into a first part and a second part, wherein the adhesive contacts the first part of the blank but not the second part of the blank, and wherein, when a single strip-type object is removed from the formed external packaging, the first part of the blank is separated from the second part of the blank along the perforation and remains fastened in the external packaging, while the second part of the blank remains on the strip-type object and is removed from the external packaging with said strip-type object.

16. The method as claimed in claim 6, further characterized in that each packed strip-type object has a substantially flat cuboid-shaped form, wherein each of the strip-type objects has a width and a thickness, wherein a width of the formed, substantially cuboid-shaped group corresponds substantially to an integer multiple of the width of a single strip-type object, wherein a thickness of the formed, substantially cuboid-shaped group corresponds substantially to an integer multiple of the thickness of a single strip-type object, and wherein a length of the formed, substantially cuboid-shaped group corresponds substantially to the length of a single strip-type object.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, further characterized in that the removal opening can be closed by a lid, wherein the removal opening extends over a width and a thickness of the external packaging.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, further characterized in that the formed group has three stacks of the packed strips, which are arranged side-by-side with reference to their width, wherein each stack includes four or five individual packed strips.

19. The method as claimed in claim 4, further characterized in that the removal opening can be closed by a lid, wherein the removal opening extends over a width and a thickness of the external packaging.

20. The method as claimed in claim 4, further characterized in that the formed group has three stacks of the packed strips, which are arranged side-by-side with reference to their width, wherein each stack includes four or five individual packed strips.