Sheet product/pouch systems and methods for producing them

Abstract

A sheet product/pouch system (such as a packaged two-ply sticker product) made by a process wherein individual sheets of a sheet product are cut from a continuous web before said individual sheets are provided with a bottom pouch layer (or a top pouch layer). The edges of the bottom pouch layer and top pouch layer are joined to create a pouch or package for the sheet product. An edge of the resulting pouch is provided with a perforation line to facilitate opening said pouch in order to gain access to the sheet product.

Thus, having disclosed this invention, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for producing a premium product/pouch system, said method comprising: 
 introducing a premium product web into a machine capable of:    placing the premium product web in a first state of tension,    cutting an individual premium item from the premium product web;    guiding the individual premium item into a downstream web handling system;    associating the individual premium item with a web of bottom pouch layer;    providing the individual premium item with a web of top pouch layer;    placing the bottom pouch layer in a second state of tension; and    creating a pouch from the web of bottom pouch layer and the web of top pouch layer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the premium product web is a two ply sheet system.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the premium product web is a single ply sheet.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the premium product/pouch system is provided with holes to receive store display hangers.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sheet product web is comprised of an upper sheet product layer and a lower sheet product layer that adhere to each other by use of a releasable adhesive placed on a bottom side of the upper sheet product and wherein an array of stickers is cut into the body of the upper sheet product layer.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sheet product web receives printing on its top surface.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sheet product web receives printing on its top surface and on its bottom surface.  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the individual premium product is guided to the downstream web handling system through the aid of an air current delivered to an underside region of the premium product.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the web of top pouch layer is wider than the web of bottom pouch layer.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  where scrap is removed from the process by a suction system.  
     
     
         11 . A method for producing a two-ply sheet sticker product/pouch system, said method comprising: 
 introducing a two-ply sheet product web into a machine capable of: 
 placing the two-ply sheet sticker product web in a first state of tension,  
 printing upon the two-ply sheet sticker product web while it is in the first state of tension;  
 die cutting at least one design in a top layer of the two-ply sticker product web;  
 cutting an individual two-ply sheet sticker product sheet from the two-ply sheet sticker product web;  
 guiding the individual two-ply sheet sticker product sheet into a downstream sheet handling system;  
 associating the individual two-ply sheet sticker product sheet with a web of bottom pouch layer;  
 providing the individual two-ply sheet sticker product sheet with a web of top pouch layer;  
 placing the web of bottom pouch layer in a second state of tension; and  
 creating a pouch from the bottom pouch layer and the top pouch layer.  
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the sheet product web is comprised of an upper sheet product layer and a lower sheet product layer that adhere to each other by use of a releasable adhesive placed on a bottom side of the upper sheet product layer.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the sheet product web receives printing on its top surface.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the sheet product web receives printing on its top surface and on its bottom surface.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the sheet product web is comprised of an upper sheet product layer and a lower sheet product layer and wherein designs are cut into the upper sheet product layer to create stickers.  
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 11  wherein the individual premium product is guided to the downstream web handling system through the aid of an air current delivered to an underside of the premium product.  
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 11  wherein the web of top pouch layer is wider than the web of bottom pouch layer and wherein the web of bottom pouch layer further comprises a layer of adhesive.  
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 11  where scrap is removed from the process by a suction system.  
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 11  wherein a top surface of the bottom pouch layer is provided with an adhesive.  
     
     
         20 . A two-ply sticker product in a package having a perforation line located between a sheet product and an outer edge and wherein a top pouch layer and a bottom pouch layer adhere to each other to create the package in which the two ply sticker product resides.