Packages for rolled products

Abstract

A large count package of rolled products comprises six sides. The sides are arranged in three pairs of generally parallel opposing sides. The large count package comprises an overwrap enclosing a plurality of individually wrapped packages of rolled products. Each package of the rolled products comprises at least two rolled products, each having a core defined therethrough. The individually wrapped packages are disposed in the large count package with a longitudinal axis of each core of each of the rolled products being generally parallel with a plane of each of a front, back, left, and right side of the large count package. The overwrap is sealed with two seals, one seal being disposed on a top side and a bottom side of the large count package.

1 . A large count package of rolled products, the large count package comprising:
 a. a generally cuboid shape comprising six sides, the sides being arranged in three pairs of generally parallel opposing sides;   b. a film overwrap enclosing a plurality of individually wrapped packages of rolled products, each package of the rolled products comprising at least two rolled products, each rolled product having a core defined therethrough;   c. one of the first pair of opposing sides being a top side and the other of the first pair of opposing sides being a bottom side;   d. one of the second pair of opposing sides being a front side and the other of the second pair of opposing sides being a back side;   e. one of the third pair of opposing sides being a left side and the other of the third pair of opposing sides being a right side;   f. the individually wrapped packages being disposed in the large count package with a longitudinal axis of each of the cores of each of the rolled products being generally parallel with a plane of each of the front, back, left, and right sides;   g. the overwrap being sealed with two seals, one seal being disposed on each of the top and bottom sides; and   h. the individually wrapped packages each comprise two generally flat sides, each side having a plane that is positioned generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of each of the cores and that is positioned generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of one of the seals.   
     
     
         2 . The large count package of  claim 1 , wherein the rolled products are any of toilet tissue and paper towels. 
     
     
         3 . The large count package of  claim 1 , wherein the large count package comprises at least six rolled products. 
     
     
         4 . The large count package of  claim 1 , wherein the individually wrapped packages are at least partially viewable through the overwrap, wherein at least one of the generally flat sides of the individually wrapped packages comprises point-of-sale indicia, and wherein the individually wrapped packages are oriented such that, at least on one side of the large count package, the point-of-sale indicia is visible through the overwrap. 
     
     
         5 . The large count package of  claim 1 , wherein the individually wrapped packages each contain at least two vertically oriented stacks of rolled products. 
     
     
         6 . The large count package of  claim 5 , comprising at least three individually wrapped packages, wherein the three individually wrapped packages are configured in a side-by-side relationship. 
     
     
         7 . The large count package of  claim 1 , wherein the planes of each of the generally flat sides intersect a plane formed by connecting the longitudinal axis of the seal on the top of the large count package and the longitudinal axis of the seal on the bottom of the large count package. 
     
     
         8 . The large count package of  claim 1 , wherein the left side, the right side, the front side, and the back side each comprise at least 85% printable area, and wherein none of the left side, the right side, the front side, and the back side comprise a seal. 
     
     
         9 . A pallet comprising:
 a. a surface for supporting products, the pallet having four sides, each side comprising an edge positioned proximate to the surface, the edges defining a surface perimeter;   b. a plurality of large count packages of rolled products supported by the surface, each of the large count packages comprising:
 i. six sides, the sides being arranged in three pairs of generally parallel opposing sides; 
 ii. an overwrap enclosing a plurality of individually wrapped packages of rolled products, each package of the rolled products comprising at least two rolled products, the rolled products each defining a core therethrough; 
 iii. one of the first pair of opposing sides being a top side and the other of the first pair of opposing sides being a bottom side; 
 iv. one of the second pair of opposing sides being a front side and the other of the second pair of opposing sides being a back side; 
 v. one of the third pair of opposing sides being a left side and the other of the third pair of opposing sides being a right side; 
 vi. the individually wrapped packages being disposed in the large count package with a longitudinal axis of each core of each of the rolled products being generally parallel to a plane of each of the front, back, left and right sides; 
 vii. the overwrap being sealed with two seals, one seal being disposed on each of the top and bottom sides; and 
 viii. the individually wrapped packages each comprise two generally flat sides, each side having a plane that is positioned generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of each of the cores and that is positioned generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of one of the seals; 
   c. each of the large count packages being disposed on the surface such that no portion of any of the large count packages extends more than about 4 inches outside of the surface perimeter; and   d. the large count packages and pallet being wrapped with a stabilizing film such that the stabilizing film wraps and stabilizes the large count packages and a portion of the stabilizing film extends below each edge and onto each pallet side.   
     
     
         10 . The pallet of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the large count packages comprises at least six rolled products. 
     
     
         11 . The pallet of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the individually wrapped packages is viewable through the overwrap, wherein at least one of the generally flat sides of the individually wrapped packages comprises point-of-sale indicia, and wherein the individually wrapped packages are oriented such that, at least on one side of the large count package, the point-of-sale indicia is visible through the overwrap. 
     
     
         12 . The pallet of  claim 9 , wherein the individually wrapped packages each comprise at least two vertically oriented stacks of rolled products. 
     
     
         13 . The pallet of  claim 12 , wherein each large count package comprises at least three individually wrapped packages. 
     
     
         14 . The pallet of  claim 9 , wherein the left side, the right side, the front side, and the back side comprise at least 85% printable area, and wherein none of the left side, the right side, the front side, and the back side comprise a seal in the overwrap. 
     
     
         15 . The pallet of  claim 9 , wherein, when viewing the bottom side, the number of rolls of rolled product in a first direction is greater than the number of rolls of rolled product in a second direction. 
     
     
         16 . A pallet comprising a plurality of large count packages supported on a surface thereof, each large count package comprising at least two individually wrapped packages of rolled products, each rolled product having a hollow core defined therethrough, each individually wrapped package of rolled products comprising at least two stacks of two rolls, wherein the cores of each stack of two rolls are generally parallel and aligned, and wherein each adjacent stack of rolls lies generally in the same plane as the other stack within the individually wrapped package, the large count package comprising an overwrap of polymer film that encloses the individually wrapped packages of rolled products, wherein the overwrap is bound with a seal on two sides, one of the seals being on a side supported by the pallet, and the other of the seals being on the side opposite the side supported by the pallet, and wherein the individually wrapped packages each comprise two generally flat sides, each side having a plane that is positioned generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of each of the cores and that is positioned transverse to a longitudinal axis of one of the seals. 
     
     
         17 . A method of packaging a plurality of rolls of products having cores defined therethrough, the method comprising:
 a. packaging at least two rolls together to form a first individually wrapped package;   b. packaging another at least two rolls together to form a second individually wrapped package;   c. positioning a longitudinal axis of a core of each of the at least two rolls in the first individually wrapped package in a generally horizontal orientation generally in a machine direction on a conveyor;   d. positioning a longitudinal axis of a core of each of the at least two rolls in the second individually wrapped package in a generally horizontal orientation generally in the machine direction on the conveyor;   e. rotating the first individually wrapped package into an upright position where the longitudinal axis of the core of each of the at least two rolls in the first individually wrapped package is in a generally horizontal orientation;   f. rotating the second individually wrapped package into an upright position where the longitudinal axis of the core of each of the at least two rolls in the second individually wrapped package is in a generally horizontal orientation;   g. positioning the first individually wrapped package in a generally side-by-side relationship with the second individually wrapped package;   h. feeding the first individually wrapped package and the second individually wrapped package into a bundler;   i. applying an overwrap around both of the first individually wrapped package and the second individually wrapped package; and   j. forming seals on two vertically positioned sides created by a portion of the first individually wrapped package and a portion of the second individually wrapped package to create a large count package comprising the first individually wrapped package and the second individually wrapped package.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising performing steps a-j in order. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising rotating the large count package about 90 degrees subsequent to step j such that the longitudinal axis of each core of each roll in both the first individually wrapped package and the second individually wrapped package is in a generally vertical orientation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising positioning the large count package on a pallet.