Packaging unit for a hygiene article

Abstract

A packaging unit (1) for a hygiene article. The packaging unit (1) comprises a disposable hygiene article (10) having adhesive means (11) on a garment-facing side for attaching the disposable hygiene article (10) to a garment of a user, and a wrap for enclosing the disposable hygiene article (10). The wrap comprises a sheet of non-woven material having a front edge, a rear edge and two longitudinal side edges, and a first surface facing the disposable hygiene article (10). The sheet of non-woven material is constituted by regenerated cellulose fibres and a resin binder.

Description

[0001] PACKAGING UNIT FOR A HYGIENE ARTICLE

[0002] TECHNICAL FILED

[0003] The present application relates to a packaging unit for a hygiene article.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Disposable hygiene articles, such as sanitary napkins and panty liners, can be individually packaged in a wrap of thin plastic film material. Individual packages enable hygienic carrying of the disposable hygiene articles for example in a bag or pocket. The packaging may be used both as a means for protecting an unused article against contamination and as a means for disposal of a used article.

[0006] The wrap is most commonly folded along two transversal fold lines and sealed along the outer edges to accommodate the disposable hygienic article inside. A wrap made of thin plastic film is sealed by sealing means such as ultrasonic welding, embossing, adhesive etc along the outer edges. The packaging may also function to protect adhesive means on the garment facing side of the disposable hygienic product which is necessary to affix the article to a garment.

[0007] The package, wrap, is discarded after use either with the used hygiene article or by itself. Wraps made of plastic thereby have a negative environmental impact. There is therefore a need for more plastic-free solutions in this area.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned needs. This object, as well as other objects being apparent to a skilled person studying the present description, are achieved by a packaging unit for a hygiene article packaging unit comprising a disposable hygiene article having adhesive means on a garment-facing side for attaching the disposable hygiene article to a garment of a user, and a wrap for enclosing the disposable hygiene article, the wrap comprising a sheet of non-woven material having a front edge, a rear edge and two longitudinal side edges, and a first surface facing the disposable hygiene article, and wherein the sheet of non-woven material is constituted by regenerated cellulose fibres and a resin binder. The disposable hygiene article may be a sanitary napkin or panty liner. Such products are well known in the art and therefore not described more in detail herein. Any disposable hygiene article could be used in the packaging unit of the present invention. The adhesive means may be a coating which may cover all or part(s) of an outer surface, i.e., a garmentfacing surface, of the disposable hygiene article, for example in the form of stripes across the surface.

[0010] The regenerated cellulose fibres may be manmade cellulosic fibres, preferably manmade fibres formed of cellulose of natural origin, more preferably manmade fibres formed of cellulose that has not been chemically modified, such as viscose, rayon or lyocell.

[0011] In one example, the regenerated cellulose fibres are viscose fibres. Viscose is defined as a non plastic according to the Reach & EU SUP (Single Use Plastic) directive.

[0012] A resin bonded viscose, which is a material of long regenerated cellulose fibres and a resin binder, is softer than conventional paper materials made of short cellulose fibres. Paper material is usually stiff, prone to tearing and produce a rustling sound when handled. Paper materials are not very durable or resistant to water, heat, or abrasion. Non-woven viscose resin bonded material is made of long viscose fibres that are impregnated with resin and formed into a fabric-like structure with a soft feel. A non-woven viscose resin bonded material is flexible, strong, and resilient.

[0013] A hydroentangled (spunlaced) viscose non-woven has a very open structure with loose fibres and low mechanical properties, especially in cross direction, while resin-bonded viscose is more closed with better mechanical properties. A resin bonded viscose is also more durable than a hydroentangled viscose material. It has been found that the closed structure and the better mechanical properties of a resin-bonded viscose makes it more suitable to be used as a wrap compared to hydroentangled viscose.

[0014] The strength of the resin bonded material as described herein allows it to be run at highspeed in a production line and therefore makes is suitable as a wrap material in a packaging unit for a disposable hygiene article.

[0015] The sheet of non-woven material, as disclosed herein, may have an air permeability of at least 1000 (l / m2 / s(mm / s)), preferably at least 2500 (l / m2 / s(mm / s)). The sheet of non-woven material, as disclosed herein, may have a basis weight of 10 to 50 g / m2, preferably 15 to 30 g / m2.

[0016] The sheet of nonwoven material may comprise a heat seal coating on the first surface facing the disposable hygiene article. A heat seal coating is a coating comprising a means that becomes tacified when heated. A heat seal coating is used to bond two substrates together by reactivating the means with heat and pressure. The heat seal coating, when applied to the sheet of nonwoven material as described herein, facilitates the sealing of the wrap such as to enclose the hygiene article.

[0017] The heat seal coating may be plastic-free according to the Reach & EU SUP (Single Use Plastic) directive. The heat seal coating may be biobased.

[0018] The sheet of nonwoven material has two side portions arranged to extend between the front edge and the rear edge along the longitudinal side edges of the sheet of nonwoven material. At least the longitudinal side portions of the first surface of the sheet of non-woven material may be provided with a heat seal coating.

[0019] In comparison to a wrap made of plastic film, a sheet of non-woven material cannot be sealed by ultrasonic treatment since it is unaffected by the heat and does not melt at high temperature. The presence of a heat seal coating thereby allows for sealing of the sheet of non-woven material as described herein.

[0020] It has been found that the resin binder, which binds the regenerated cellulose fibres and keeps them close together, reinforces the material. A resin bonded non-woven material constituted by regenerated cellulose fibres can be provided with a heat seal coating, whereas coating a hydroentangled viscose non-woven is more difficult due to its loose structure.

[0021] As described herein, the heat seal coating provided to the sheet of non-woven material constituted by regenerated cellulose fibres and a resin binder can achieve a seal between a part of the sheet of non-woven provided with the heat seal coating and an overlapping other part of the sheet of non-woven provided with or without heat seal coating by applying heat to the overlapping parts.

[0022] The heat seal coating may be provided at a lateral inbound distance 0 - 10 mm, preferably 0 - 5 mm, from the longitudinal side edge. The distance at which the heat seal coating is provided from the longitudinal side edge may also vary along the extension of side portions. The heat seal coating may be provided continuously over the side portions. The heat seal coating may be provided intermittent over the side portions, such that there are parts of the side portions that are not covered by heat seal coating.

[0023] The heat seal coating may be provided in a pattern such as dots or stripes extending in longitudinal or lateral direction.

[0024] Substantially the entire first surface of the sheet of non-woven material may provided with a heat seal coating. That is, at least 75% of the first surface is provided with a heat seal coating, more preferably at least 85% of the first surface is provided with a heat seal coating, most preferably at least 95% of the first surface is provided with a heat seal coating.

[0025] The heat seal coating may be provided homogenously over the entire first surface, such as to cover the entire first surface of the sheet of non-woven material. The heat seal coating may be provided intermittent over the entire first surface, such that there are parts of the entire surface that are not covered by heat seal coating.

[0026] The heat seal coating may be provided in a pattern or with up to 100% coverage of the part of the surface it is provided onto of the sheet of non-woven material. Examples of pattern include but are not limited to dots or stripes extending in longitudinal or lateral direction.

[0027] The sheet of nonwoven material has two side portions arranged to extend between the front edge and the rear edge along the longitudinal side edges of the sheet of nonwoven material, wherein at least the longitudinal side portions of the first surface of the sheet of non-woven material may be provided with an adhesive seal coating on the first surface facing the disposable hygiene article. In comparison to heat seal coating, the adhesive seal coating does not require heat to facilitate sealing of the side edges of the wrap.

[0028] The disposable hygiene article may be releasably attached to the wrap by the adhesive means on a garment-facing side. The adhesive means may attach the hygienic article to the wrap, and are also intended to attach the hygiene article to the garment of a user when in use.

[0029] The sheet of non-woven material may comprise a release coating on the first surface facing the disposable hygiene article, and the adhesive means of the disposable hygiene article is releasably attached to the release coating. The release coating allows the adhesive means to release from the first surface of the wrap and be intact so as to be used again to attach the disposable hygiene article to the garment of a user.

[0030] The release coating may comprise silicone.

[0031] The release coating may be provided on at least a part of the first surface of the sheet of non-woven material corresponding to the position of the adhesive means of the disposable hygiene article when releasably attached to the wrap, i.e. the first surface may be fully or partially coated.

[0032] The sheet of nonwoven material may have a central portion arranged between the two side portions, the central portion extending between the front edge to the rear edge. The release coating may be provided at the central portion of the sheet of nonwoven material.

[0033] The release coating may cover substantially the entire first surface of the sheet of non-woven material.

[0034] The packaging unit may further comprise a release liner and the adhesive coating of the disposable hygiene article may be releasably attached to the release liner.

[0035] The release liner may be attached to the sheet of non-woven material. Alternatively, the disposable hygiene article, attached to the release liner, may be individually folded and arranged in the wrap non-attached.

[0036] The packaging has two longitudinal edges and two transversal folding axes, the transversal folding axes dividing the packaging into a first region, a second region and a third region, and the packaging may be folded about the folding axes with the first region, the second region and the third region in an overlapping configuration, and wherein overlapping regions of the packaging may be joined by seals along the longitudinal edges of the packaging.

[0037] The seals may be formed by mechanical sealing, such as embossing or ultrasonic welding, by heat sealing, by an adhesive, or by a combination thereof.

[0038] The sheet of non-woven material having a second surface opposite the first surface, and the second surface of the sheet of non-woven material may be provided with a print. TEST METHODS

[0039] Material samples disclosed herein can be subjected to testing according to the methods described herein.

[0040] Tensile strenoth

[0041] Tensile strength is measured according to ISO 1924-2:2008 method. The measurements are performed in cross-directional (CD) direction of the samples.

[0042] BREIF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0043] Figure 1 is a top view of an exemplary packaging unit.

[0044] Figure 2 illustrates folding of the exemplary packaging unit.

[0045] Figure 3 is a top view of the exemplary packaging unit after folding and sealing.

[0046] DETAILS DESCRIPTION

[0047] Figure 1 depicts a packaging unit 1 for a hygiene article. The packaging unit 1 comprises a disposable hygiene article 10 having an adhesive coating 11 for attaching the disposable hygienic article 10 to a garment of a user. The packaging unit 1 further comprises a wrap for enclosing the disposable hygiene article 10. The wrap comprising a sheet of nonwoven material having a first, inner, surface 2 and a second, outer, surface 3. The first surface 2 of the sheet of nonwoven material is provided with a release coating, to which the adhesive coating 11 of the disposable hygiene product 10 is releasably attached. The first surface 2 has two longitudinal side portions 4 and two transversal folding axes 5. The folding axes 5 divide the packaging unit into a first region 7, a second region 8 and third region 9. At the longitudinal side portions 4, the sheet of nonwoven material is provided with a heat seal coating on the first surface 2.

[0048] Figure 2 illustrates, without showing the disposable hygiene article that is attached to the wrap, how the packaging unit 1 is folded about said folding axes 5 with the first region 7, the second region 8 and the third region 9 in an overlapping configuration.

[0049] Figure 3 depicts, without showing the disposable hygiene article enclosed by the wrap, the packaging unit 1 after folding of the packaging unit 1 in an overlapping configuration and after overlapping regions of the wrap have been joined along the side portions 4 of the packaging unit, for example by a heat seal technique if heat seal coating was applied to the side portions 4 of the first surface 2, as in Figs 1 and 2. Four samples of nonwoven material were tested according to the tensile strength method disclosed herein.

[0050] Sample 1 is a resin-bonded viscose nonwoven, 23 gsm, without coating.

[0051] Sample 2 is a resin-bonded viscose nonwoven, 23 gsm, with a heat seal coating fully covering the first surface.

[0052] Sample 3 is a hydroentangled viscose nonwoven, 30 gsm, without coating. Sample 4 is a hydroentangled viscose nonwoven, 23 gsm, without coating.

[0053] Samples 1 and 2 are sheets of non-woven constituted by regenerated cellulose fibres and a resin binder, as disclosed herein. Samples 3 and 4 are reference samples. The results of the measurements are set out in Table 1 , showing data for the four samples.

[0054] Table 1

[0055] As can be seen in Table 1 , sample 1 and sample 2 have a much higher tensile strength at low strain in CD direction than sample 3 and sample 4. The resin-bonded nonwoven sheets have high tensile strength irrespective if they are coated with a heat seal coating or not. The hydroentangled nonwoven have much lower tensile strength in CD direction. A high strength at low strain in CD direction improves the sheet materials suitability as a wrap material since the material needs to keep its shape and form in a high-speed manufacturing process of packaging units for hygiene articles.

[0056] As also seen in Table 1 , a higher basis weight, such as sample 3 compared to sample 4, has insignificant effect on the tensile strength in CD direction.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A packaging unit (1 ) for a hygiene article, the packaging unit (1 ) comprising a disposable hygiene article (10) having adhesive means (11) on a garment-facing side for attaching the disposable hygiene article (10) to a garment of a user, and a wrap for enclosing the disposable hygiene article (10), the wrap comprising a sheet of non-woven material having a front edge, a rear edge and two longitudinal side edges, and a first surface (2) facing the disposable hygiene article (10), and wherein the sheet of non-woven material is constituted by regenerated cellulose fibres and a resin binder.

2. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the regenerated cellulose fibres are manmade cellulosic fibres, preferably manmade fibres formed of cellulose of natural origin, more preferably manmade fibres formed of cellulose that has not been chemically modified, such as viscose, rayon or lyocell.

3. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the regenerated cellulose fibres are viscose fibres.

4. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet of non-woven material has a basis weight of 10 to 50 g / m2, preferably 15 to 30 g / m2.

5. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet of nonwoven material comprises a heat seal coating on the first surface facing the disposable hygiene article (10).

6. The packaging unit (1) according to claim 5, wherein the sheet of nonwoven material has two side portions (4) arranged to extend between the front edge and the rear edge along the longitudinal side edges of the sheet of nonwoven material, wherein at least the side portions (4) of the first surface (2) of the sheet of non-woven material is provided with a heat seal coating.

7. The packaging unit (1) according to claim 6, wherein substantially the entire said first surface (2) of the sheet of non-woven material is provided with a heat seal coating.

8. The packaging unit (1) according to claims 1 - 4, wherein the sheet of nonwoven material has two side portions (4) arranged to extend between the front edge and the rear edge along the longitudinal side edges of the sheet of nonwoven material, wherein at least the side portions (4) of the first surface of the sheet of non-woven material is provided with an adhesive seal coating on the first surface (2) facing the disposable hygiene article (10).

9. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet of non-woven material comprises a release coating on the first surface facing the disposable hygiene article (10), and the adhesive means (11) of the disposable hygiene article (10) is releasably attached to the release coating.

10. The packaging unit (1) according to claim 9, wherein the release coating comprises silicone.11 . The packaging unit (1) according to claims 9 or 10, wherein the release coating is provided on at least a part of the first surface (2) of the sheet of non-woven material corresponding to the position of the adhesive means (11) of the disposable hygiene article (10) when releasably attached to the wrap.

12. The packaging unit (1 ) according to any one of claims 9 - 11 , wherein the release coating covers substantially the entire first surface (2) of the sheet of non-woven material.

13. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 - 8, wherein the packaging unit (1 ) further comprises a release liner and the adhesive coating (11 ) of the disposable hygiene article (10) is releasably attached to the release liner.

14. The packaging unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wrap has two longitudinal edges and two transversal folding axes (5), the transversal folding axes (5) dividing the wrap into a first region (7), a second region (8) and a third region (9), and the wrap is folded about said folding axes (5) with the first region (7), the second region (8) and the third region (9) in an overlapping configuration, and wherein overlapping regions of the wrap are joined by seals along the longitudinal edges of the wrap.

15. The packaging unit (1) according to claim 14, wherein the seals are formed by mechanical sealing, such as embossing or ultrasonic welding, by heat sealing, by an adhesive, or by a combination thereof.

16. The packaging unit (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, the sheet of non-woven material having a second surface (3) opposite said first surface (2), and wherein the second surface (3) of the sheet of non-woven material is provided with a print.

Images