Packaged flexible film and flexible film packaging system therefor

Abstract

A packaged flexible film is described. The packaged flexible film includes (i) a cylindrical core having an outer surface; (ii) a supply of flexible film wound about the core with a leading edge adjacent the outer surface and forming a connection ridge along the outer surface; and (iii) a cover strip comprising a compressed compressible cover material covering said connection ridge. Also described are a packaging system for flexible film and a multilayer flexible film packaging tape.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging system for flexible film windable about a cylindrical core, said flexible film comprising a leading edge and a terminal edge, said system comprising:
 (i) a cylindrical core having an outer surface; and   (ii) a cover strip attachable to said outer surface and comprising a compressible cover material, said cover strip having dimensions sufficient for covering at least a connection ridge formed along said outer surface at said leading edge of said flexible film when said film is wound about said core.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an adhesive for adhering said flexible film to said outer surface of said cylindrical core. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said cover strip is a multilayer tape comprising a carrier substrate with a top surface and bottom surface, a compressible layer comprising said compressible cover material atop said top surface and a mounting adhesive on said bottom surface. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said multilayer tape further comprises an adhesive layer between said compressible layer and said carrier substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising a first removable release liner atop said compressible layer. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4  further comprising a second removable release liner atop said mounting adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said cover strip is a compressible coating. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said cover strip is a layer of a compressible extrudate. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said cover strip is a pre-formed cushioning or compressible foam. 
     
     
         10 . A multilayer flexible film packaging tape for covering the connection ridge that is formed along the outer surface of a core at the leading edge of a flexible film when the film is wound about the core as part of a packaged flexible film, said tape comprising a carrier substrate with a top surface and bottom surface; a compressible layer atop said top surface; and a mounting adhesive on said bottom surface. 
     
     
         11 . The multilayer tape of  claim 10  further comprising a first removable release liner atop said compressible layer. 
     
     
         12 . The multilayer tape of  claim 11  further comprising a second removable release liner atop said mounting adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . A packaged flexible film comprising:
 (i) a cylindrical core having an outer surface;   (ii) a supply of flexible film wound about said core with a leading edge adjacent said outer surface and forming a connection ridge along said surface; and   (iii) a cover strip comprising a compressed compressible cover material covering said connection ridge.   
     
     
         14 . The packaged flexible film of  claim 13  wherein said cover strip is attached to said leading edge and said outer surface. 
     
     
         15 . The packaged flexible film of  claim 13  further comprising an adhesive for attaching said flexible film to said surface of said cylindrical core. 
     
     
         16 . The packaged flexible film of  claim 13  wherein said cover strip is a multilayer tape comprising a carrier substrate with a top surface and bottom surface, a compressible layer comprising said compressible cover material atop said top surface and a mounting adhesive on said bottom surface. 
     
     
         17 . The packaged flexible film of  claim 13  wherein said cover strip is a compressible coating. 
     
     
         18 . The packaged flexible film of  claim 13  wherein said cover strip is a layer of a compressible extrudate. 
     
     
         19 . The packaged flexible film of  claim 13  wherein said cover strip is a pre-formed cushioning or compressible foam. 
     
     
         20 . A method for packaging a flexible film onto a core with an outer surface, said method comprising:
 (i) attaching a leading edge of said flexible film onto said outer surface of said core thereby forming a connection ridge;   (ii) applying a cover strip over said connection ridge, said cover strip comprising a compressible cover material; and   (iii) winding said flexible film around said core under tension such that said film apples compression force to said compressible material sufficient to deform said compressible material.