Package having fiber-containing sheath and apparatus and method for packaging

Abstract

Abstract The package of the present invention comprises a sheath formed from a folded, relatively rigid strip having structure for receiving and releasably holding the ends of the fiber to be packaged. In a preferred embodiment, the fiber is between the two folded over parts of the strip with the ends of the fiber anchored in place in a pair of slits. The sheath is in a pouch formed by a pair of foil members on opposite sides of the sheath. When ready for use, the package is opened by peeling the foil members apart, thereby exposing the sheath and permitting access to the fiber carried by the sheath. An improved apparatus and method are provided to form the package. In the first instance, the sheath is prepared by first folding a strip of relatively rigid material, such as siliconized polyester, then moving the folded strip along a path of travel and feeding the fiber into the region between the parts of the strip as the strip moves. At a certain location along the path of the strip, the fiber is forced into each slit of the strip and the fiber becomes releasably attached to the strip. At another location, the strip is cut; thus, in this way, a plurality of sheaths with fiber lengths between the sides of the sheaths are formed and are immediately moved to a location where the foil members are applied to the opposite sides of the sheaths.

Inventors

• 👤 Nathan Roth
• 👤 Andrew Nelsen

Bibliographic Details