Stack

Abstract

The invention relates to a stack of discrete material sheets, which material sheets have a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction. The material sheets forming the stack are placed with their transverse end portions partially overlapping material sheets are folded at least once along a fold line in the longitudinal direction to form an assembled web, which direction corresponds to the dispensing direction of the stack. The assembled web is folded along fold lines in the transverse direction to form the stack of material sheets. The material sheets are interlinked in such a way that, when a first material sheet is extracted, a predetermined part of a subsequent material sheet is fed out.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
   
   
       29 . A stack of material sheets, which material sheets have a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, the stack comprising discrete material sheets which form the stack and are placed with their transverse end portions partially overlapping; the partially overlapping material sheets being folded at least once along a fold line in the longitudinal direction to form an assembled web, which longitudinal direction corresponds to the dispensing direction of the stack; the assembled web being folded along fold lines in the transverse direction to form said stack of material sheets; and the material sheets being interlinked in such a way that, when a first material sheet is extracted, a predetermined part of a subsequent material sheet is fed out. 
   
   
       30 . The stack according to  claim 29 , wherein the material sheets are interlinked by an overlap of at least 25% of the length of an unfolded material sheet in its longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       31 . The stack according to  claim 30 , wherein the material sheets are interlinked by an overlap of up to 50% of the length of an unfolded material sheet in the longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       32 . The stack according to  claim 29 , wherein the material sheets are interlinked by an embossing on at least a portion of the overlap. 
   
   
       33 . The stack according to  claim 29 , wherein the material sheets are interlinked by a friction enhancing coating on at least a portion of the overlap between adjacent sheets. 
   
   
       34 . The stack according to  claim 29 , wherein the material sheets are interlinked by an adhesive on at least a portion of the overlap between adjacent sheets. 
   
   
       35 . The stack according to  claim 29 , wherein the degree of overlap varies from the top to the bottom of the stack. 
   
   
       36 . The stack according to  claim 35 , wherein the material sheets are extracted from the bottom of the stack, and the overlap decreases from the bottom to the top of the stack. 
   
   
       37 . The stack according to  claim 35 , wherein the material sheets are extracted from the top of the stack, and the overlap increases from the top to the bottom of the stack. 
   
   
       38 . The stack according to  claim 35 , wherein the degree of overlap is at least 25% of the length of an unfolded material sheet in its longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       39 . The stack according to  claim 38 , wherein the degree of overlap is up to 50% of the length of an unfolded material sheet in its longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       40 . The stack according to  claim 29 , wherein the degree of overlap is constant. 
   
   
       41 . The stack according to  claim 40 , wherein the degree of overlap is 25% of the length of an unfolded material sheet in its longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       42 . The stack according to  claim 41 , wherein the assembled web is folded in alternating directions so that every second material sheet has a transverse fold line dividing the material sheet in half. 
   
   
       43 . The stack according to  claim 41 , wherein the assembled web is folded in alternating directions so that every fourth material sheet extends across the stack in its entire length. 
   
   
       44 . The stack according to  claim 40 , wherein the degree of overlap is 33% of the length of an unfolded material sheet in its longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       45 . The stack according to  claim 44 , wherein the assembled web is folded in alternating directions so that every material sheet extends across the stack along a third of its entire length. 
   
   
       46 . The stack according to  claim 40 , wherein the degree of overlap is 50% of the length of an unfolded material sheet in its longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       47 . The stack according to  claim 41 , wherein the assembled web is folded in alternating directions so that every material sheet extends across the stack along half of its entire length. 
   
   
       48 . The stack according to  claim 29 , wherein the material sheets are folded twice in the longitudinal direction, and the distance between the folds is at least half the width of a sheet in the transverse direction. 
   
   
       49 . The stack according to  claim 29 , wherein the partially overlapping material sheets comprises two parallel lines of individual material sheets placed on top of each other. 
   
   
       50 . The stack according to  claim 49 , wherein each alternate sheet of overlapping material sheets is placed with its transverse rear portion arranged on top of a transverse front portion of a subsequent sheet. 
   
   
       51 . The stack according to  claim 50 , wherein the material sheets are interlinked by a fixed or varying longitudinal overlap of at least 25% and up to 50% of the length of an unfolded material sheet in its longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       52 . The stack according to  claim 51 , wherein the material sheets are interlinked by a transverse overlap selected between 30% and 100% of the transverse width of the material sheets. 
   
   
       53 . The stack according to  claim 29 , wherein the material sheets are separated by a transverse cut having the shape of a curve having at least one apex, where the apex forms a leading or trailing edge of each material sheet in the line. 
   
   
       54 . The stack according to  claim 53 , wherein the apex coincides with a fold line. 
   
   
       55 . The stack according to  claim 54 , wherein the curve is symmetrical about an axis coinciding with the fold line in the plane of the material sheet. 
   
   
       56 . The stack according to  claim 29 , wherein the material sheet is a tissue sheet, or a material sheet comprising a non-woven or equivalent wiping material.