Apparatus and method for packaging sheet material

Abstract

An apparatus and method for packaging sheet material. The apparatus comprises a housing, a first forming guide, and a banding unit. The housing defines a cylindrical cavity which is open at both ends and includes a longitudinal opening which intersects the cylindrical cavity. The first forming guide is affixed to the housing adjacent the longitudinal opening and extends into the cylindrical cavity. The banding unit is disposed adjacent the downstream end of the cylindrical cavity. The method comprises imparting a U-shaped form upon a stack of sheet material by insertion of the stack into the upstream end of a cylindrical cavity. The U-shaped stack of sheet material is then moved toward and out of the downstream end of the cylindrical cavity. Finally, the U-shaped stack is banded as the stack emerges from the cylindrical cavity.

1 . An apparatus for packaging sheet material comprising: 
 a housing defining a cylindrical cavity open at both ends and including a longitudinal opening in a wall of the housing, the longitudinal opening intersecting the cylindrical cavity;    a first forming guide affixed to the housing adjacent to the longitudinal opening and extending into the cylindrical cavity; and    a banding unit disposed adjacent a downstream end of the cylindrical cavity.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second forming guide having a radially defined end affixed to the housing at an upstream end of the cylindrical cavity.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first forming guide extends longitudinally beyond an upstream end of the cylindrical cavity.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first forming guide includes parallel walls, each being disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal opening.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a shrink-wrap unit disposed downstream of the banding unit.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a perforation unit disposed downstream of the shrink-wrap unit.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for packaging sheet material comprising: 
 a housing defining a cylindrical cavity open at both ends and including a longitudinal opening in a wall of the housing, the longitudinal opening intersecting the cylindrical cavity;    a first forming guide affixed to the housing and extending into the cylindrical cavity, the first forming guide including parallel walls, each being disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal opening; and    a second forming guide having a radially defined end affixed to the housing at an upstream end of the cylindrical cavity; and    a banding unit disposed adjacent a downstream end of the cylindrical cavity.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first forming guide extends longitudinally beyond an upstream end of the cylindrical cavity.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising a shrink-wrap unit disposed downstream of the banding unit.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a perforation unit disposed downstream of the shrink-wrap unit.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for packaging sheet material comprising: 
 a housing defining a cylindrical cavity open at both ends and including a longitudinal opening in a wall of the housing, the longitudinal opening intersecting the cylindrical cavity;    a first forming guide affixed to the housing, extending longitudinally beyond an upstream end of the cylindrical cavity, and extending radially into the cylindrical cavity, the first forming guide including parallel walls, each being disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal opening; and    a second forming guide having a radially defined end affixed to the housing at an upstream end of the cylindrical cavity;    a banding unit disposed adjacent a downstream end of the cylindrical cavity;    a shrink-wrap unit disposed downstream of the banding unit; and    a perforation unit disposed downstream of the shrink-wrap unit.    
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for packaging sheet material comprising: 
 a housing defining a cylindrical cavity open at both ends;    means for causing a stack of sheet material to take on a U-shaped form, wherein the cylindrical cavity is adapted to allow passage of the U-shaped form of the stack of sheet material therethrough;    means for inserting a support into the stack of sheet material as the U-shaped stack of sheet material passes through the cylindrical cavity; and    a banding unit disposed adjacent a downstream end of the cylindrical cavity.    
     
     
         13 . A method of packaging sheet material comprising: 
 imparting a U-shaped form upon a stack of sheet material by insertion of the stack into an upstream end of a cylindrical cavity, a diameter of the cylindrical cavity being less than a width of the stack;    moving the U-shaped stack toward and out of a downstream end of the cylindrical cavity; and    banding the U-shaped stack as the stack emerges from the downstream end of the cylindrical cavity.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising 
 placing a heat-shrinkable wrap about the banded stack; and    heating the heat-shrinkable wrap.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising perforating the heat-shrinkable wrap.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein imparting the U-shaped form upon the stack includes imparting the U-shaped form using a first forming guide extending into the cylindrical cavity from a wall defining the cylindrical cavity.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein imparting the U-shaped form upon the stack includes guiding the stack into the cylindrical cavity with a second forming guide having a radially defined end affixed to an upstream wall defining the cylindrical cavity.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein moving the U-shaped stack toward and out of the downstream end of the cylindrical cavity comprises: 
 inserting a support through an opening in a wall defining the cylindrical cavity and into the U-shaped stack; and    moving the support and the U-shaped stack toward and out of the downstream end of the cylindrical cavity.    
     
     
         19 . A method of packaging sheet material comprising: 
 imparting a U-shaped form upon a stack of sheet material by insertion of the stack into an upstream end of a cylindrical cavity, a diameter of the cylindrical cavity being less than a width of the stack, wherein a first forming guide extends into the cylindrical cavity from a wall defining the cylindrical cavity and a second forming guide is affixed to an upstream end of the wall defining the cylindrical cavity;    moving the U-shaped stack toward and out of a downstream end of the cylindrical cavity; and    banding the stack as the stack emerges from the downstream end of the cylindrical cavity.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising 
 placing a heat-shrinkable wrap about the banded stack after; and    heating the heat-shrinkable wrap.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising perforating the heat-shrinkable wrap.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein moving the U-shaped stack toward and out of the downstream end of the cylindrical cavity comprises: 
 inserting a support through an opening in a wall defining the cylindrical cavity and into the U-shaped stack; and    moving the support and the U-shaped stack toward and out of the downstream end of the cylindrical cavity.    
     
     
         23 . A method of packaging sheet material comprising: 
 imparting a U-shaped form upon a stack of sheet material by insertion of the stack into an upstream end of a cylindrical cavity, a diameter of the cylindrical cavity being less than a width of the stack, wherein a first forming guide extends radially into the cylindrical cavity from a wall defining the cylindrical cavity and a second forming guide is affixed to an upstream end of the wall defining the cylindrical cavity;    inserting a support through an opening in the wall defining the cylindrical cavity and into the U-shaped stack; and    moving the support and the U-shaped stack toward and out of the downstream end of the cylindrical cavity; and    banding the stack as the stack emerges from the downstream end of the cylindrical cavity;    placing a heat-shrinkable wrap about the banded stack; and    heating the heat-shrinkable wrap.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising perforating the heat-shrinkable wrap.