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.

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.