GB1592879A - Information folder construction and a method and apparatus for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to produce rolls provided with information, for example directions for the use of pharmaceuticals, printed sheets (35) are wound from a stack sequentially onto a mandrel (75) to give tubular structures (35a), in each case the outer sheet edge being fixed by, for example, glue spots (127). The removal of these structures from the mandrel takes place automatically by means of a take-off device (104, 105). In order to fix the sheet on the mandrel, the latter can be connected to a vacuum device. For folded rolls (35c), the tubular structure (35a) is mechanically flattened to give a flat structure (35b) before cutting up into rolls. A folded roll consists of a strip (126) with fields delimited by fold lines perpendicular to the longitudinal edge. The last field during winding is an empty field which bears the glue spot (127). The penultimate field bears identification details. The other fields are provided with information in the manner of pages of a book. The roll holds together well and can be very easily opened for reading. The relatively simple device permits an extremely rapid, and therefore low-cost, production of such rolls. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN INFORMATION FOLDER CONSTRUCTION AND A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME (71) 1, JAMES H. SHACKLETT JR, a citizen of the United States of America, of 2025 Joshua Road, Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania 19444, United States of America, hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to information-bearing folders or folded packages and a method and apparatus for manufacturing the same.

Prior information-bearing packages or folders as for the dispensing of drugs, have generally been accordion pleated or otherwise folded, which has involved relatively slow and expensive machinery, and resultant heavy expense. An object of the invention is to provide an improved package construction and a method for manufacturing it.

According to the invention a method of forming a folder or package from blanks in the form of flat sheets, comprises providing a stack of blanks, releasably adhering a to separate it from the next uppermost blank, of the stack to a rotary mandrel to slide the uppermost blank across the next uppermost and simultaneously coil it around the mandrel to form a tube, by effecting suction in the mandrel directed towards the said edge portion to separate it from the uppermost blank, applying glue to the blank at a location remote from the said edge portion, stripping the tube from the mandrel, and flattening the tube.

We also provide apparatus for forming a folder or package from blanks in the form of flat sheets, comprising a support for a stack of blanks, a rotary mandrel adjacent the support, means for applying suction inside the mandrel to cause a leading edge portion of the uppermost sheet of the stack to adhere to the mandrel which can therefore slide it across the next uppermost blank and coil it around the mandrel to form a tube, means for applying glue to the blank at a portion remote from the edge portion, means for stripping the tube from the mandrel, and means for flattening the tube.

We further provide packages or folders formed by the method of the invention.

It is intended that packages formed by the method of the invention should resist inadvertant unfolding while being simply unfoldable when desired, and be capable of extremely rapid manufacture by relatively inexpensive equipment to effect substantial savings and cost.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view showing folder or folded package (hereinafter called simply "package") constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the package of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view showing a blank adapted to be formed into a plurality of packages of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a top plan view showing apparatus for label forming in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an end elevational view taken generally along the line 7-7 of Figure 6, with parts broken away for clarity.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation of certain parts shown in Figure 6, enlarged and broken away to facilitate understanding.

Figure 9 is a partial sectional view similar to Figure 8 showing a later stage in operation of the method.

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing a package at an early stage of the method of the invention, Figure 11 is a perspective view showing a package at a slightly later stage of the method.

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing a package at a still later stage of the method.

Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the package after the final stage of the method.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to Figure 4, a multiple blank is there generally designated 210 and may be fabricated of paper or other suitably flexible and foldable sheet material.

The blank 210 may be generally rectangular in outline configuration, including generally parallel, longitudinal lower and upper side edges 211 and 212, and end edges 213 and 214 extending in parallelism with each other generally normal to and between the side edges at opposite ends thereof. A plurality of generally parallel scores or folds 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, and 224 are formed in the material of blank 210, being substantially equally spaced apart from each other and each extending generally normal to and between side edges 211 and 212.The scores 216-224 combine with the bounding edges 211-214 to subdivide the blank 210 into a plurality of generally rectangular panels arranged in side-by-side adjacent relation and hingedly connected along their adjacent side edges by the several scores or folds 216-224.

Further, the blank 210 is severed into a plurality of generally rectangular, elongate strips by the plurality of longitudinally extending, parallel spaced severances lines or cuts 226, 227 and 228, extending in equally spaced parallelism with each other longitudinally of and between the side edges 211 and 212, generally normal to and intersecting with the end edges 213 and 214. The blank 210 may be considered a gang blank being cut or severed into a plurality of substantially identical strips 230, 231, 232 and 233.Specifically, the elongate strip 230 is bounded within the end edges 213 and 214, side edge 212 and lower side cut 226, while the strip 231 is bounded between the end edges 213 and 214 and upper and lower longitudinal side cuts 226 and 227, the strip 232 being bounded within the end edges 213 and 214 and upper and lower longitudinal side cuts 227 and 228, and the strip 233 being bounded within the end edges 213 and 214, upper side cut 228 and lower side edge 211.

As all of the strips 230-233 are essentially identical, only a single one will be described in further detail. In particular, strip 230 is subdivided by the partition lines, scores or folds 216-224 into a plurality of substantially identical, generally rectangular panels 235 244, which panels are disposed in side-by side relation with their adjacent edges hingedly connected together by the intermediate fold lines or scores 216-224. Specifically, panel 235 is bounded within severance line 226, end edge 213, side edge 212 and fold or score 216; panel 236 being bounded within severance line or cut 226, fold 216, edge 212 and fold or score 217; panel 237 being bounded within cut 226, fold 217, edge 212 and fold 218; panel 238 being bounded within cut 226, fold 218, edge 212 and fold 219; panel 239 being bounded within cut 226, foldline 219, edge 212 and cut 220; panel 240 being bounded within cut 226, fold 220, edge 212 and fold 221; panel 241 being bounded within cut 226, fold 221, edge 212 and fold 222; panel 242 being bounded within cut 226, fold 222, edge 212 and fold 223; panel 243 being bounded within cut 226, fold 223, edge 212 and fold 224; and end panel 244 being bounded within cut 226, fold 224, edge 212 and edge 214.

Further, on at least one surface of strip 230 there is provided, as by imprinting or marking, suitably informative indicia, as required by the circumstances. The end panel 235 is provided with indicia or marking 245, while the end panels 236 and 237 are provided with combined indicia or marking 246. Similarly, adjacent panels 238 and 239 are provided with combined indicia or marking 247, and adjacent panels 240 and 241 are provided with combined indicia or marking 248. The single panel 242 is provided with indicia or marking 250, and it will be seen that the marking 250 is located spaced from the medial region of the panel, so as to leave an unmarked medial region 251.

Additionally, the panel 243, adjacent and hingedly connected to the end panel 244, may be considered as a title or front panel and is provided with titling or identifying indicia 252, while the end panel 244 may be devoid of indicia, if desired.

From the strip 230, there is formed the package 330 of Figures 1-3. In particular, the blank 210 is severed along the several cut lines 226, 227 and 228 to provide a plurality of strips, each of which forms a single package 330. That is, a package 330 includes an inner panel 335 connected by a foldline or hinge 316 to a next adjacent panel 336, which latter panel is swung about foldline 316 into facing, generally congruent relation with the innermost panel 335.

Successively, hingedly connected to the other edge of panel 336, as by foldline or score 317 is a next adjacent panel 337 swung about said hinged connection into congruent facing relation with the innermost panel 335, on the opposite side of the latter as hingedly connected panel 336. Remote from the hinged connection or fold 317, the panel 337 is hingedly connected by a foldline or score 318 to a similar, generally rectangular panel 338, which is folded about hinged connection 318 into generally congruent facing relation with the several inner panels 335, 336 and 337.Additionally, remote from the hinged connection 318, the panel 338 is hingedly connected by a foldline 319 to a generally rectangular, substantially congruent panel 339, swung by the fold 319 into facing relation with the several panels 335-338; and, a further panel 340 is connected by the hinged foldline 320 to its adjacent panel 339 and swung into congruent facing relation with respect to the latter and the panels therebetween.

The panel 340 is connected by a hinged connection or foldline 321 to a further generally rectangluar panel 341, the latter being swung about the folding line 321 into congruent facing relation with the several previously described inward panels, and the panel 341 is provided with a hinged connection or foldline 322 remote from the foldline 321 to still another generally rectangular panel 342, which is swung into generally congruent facing relation with the several inner panels.

Finally, the title panel 343 is hingedly connected, as by a score or foldline 323 to the panel 342, remote from the hinged connection 322, being swung into congruent facing relation with the inner panels, and the outermost panel 344 is swung about a hinged connection or foldline 324 with respect to the title or front panel 343.

It will thus be appreciated that the several panels 334- 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343 and 344 have all been spirally wound and oblately flattened into a generally planar, substanially rectangular pad-like configuration, wherein each hingedly connected adjacent pair of said panels is on opposite sides of a center plane of the pad-like configuration.

Further, the generally flat pad-like package is effectively secured in its closed, pad configuration by suitable securement means, such as adhesive 355 interposed between the endmost outer panel 344 and its next adjacent facing panel 342. The intermediate space 251 of indicia 250 on panel 242 may permit of adhesive securement without defacing indicia. By the flat spiral configuration, and the form retention of the several folds 316324, the package 330 effectively retains its flattened configuration. Further, the package 330 may be secured to any suitable container, say a box, or other, by suitable adhesive securement, or otherwise, if desired.

In this manner, the package 330 may be deliberately removed from its associated container, without inadvertant or accidental removal, and the package may be subsequently be opened and the indicia observed without in any way being defaced by the adhesive, or other.

For example, the several areas of indicia, namely 246-250 will all be exposed to view on one side of the strip, upon its being unwound.

Also, if the sheet 230 would be imprinted on its opposite side with indentical indicia to that described hereinbefore, it will be understood that the several strips may be wound in either direction, if desired.

Referring now more specifically to Figures 5-7 thereof, the package forming apparatus is there generally designated 20, and includes a stand 21 having a top wall 22. Located over a generally central region of the top wall 22 is a generally horizontal table, bed or support 25, such as a suitable rigid plate, which is vertically adjustably supported, as by uprights or standards 26 and 27. Thus, the horizontal support or table 25 and standards 26 and 27 may combine to define an elevator, for purposes appearing more fully hereinafter.The uprights or standards 26 and 27 may be threaded elements depending into the stand 21 and mounted therein constrained to vertical, longitudinal movement, and operatively connected by collars threaded thereabout at 28 and 29, which are constrained to rotative movement, in driven relation with respect to motive means 30 and suitable power transmission means 31. Thus, the table or support 25 defines an elevator for supporting thereon a stack of generally horizontal sheets 35 with the uppermost sheet at a predetermined elevation.

Mounted on the stand top wall 22, in parallel spaced relation with respect to each other and spaced on opposite sides of support plate 25, extending partially there along, are a pair of guide rails or ways 36 and 37. A longitudinally shiftable slide member is ad justably carried in each guideway 36 and 37, as at 38 and 39, respectively. The slides 38 and 39 are slidable longitudinally along their respective guideways 36 and 37 and releasably fixedly positionable there along by any suitable means, such as fasteners or clamps 40. Upstanding from each slide member 38 and 39 is an upright member or strut, as at 41 and 42, and a lateral bridging member 43 extends across and between the upper ends of struts 41 and 42.The bridging member 43 and its side struts or supports 41 and 42 are selectively shiftable, as a unit, along the lengths of guideways 36 and 37 in bridging or spanning relation spaced over the elevator table or stack support 25.

Upstanding from each side rail or guideway 36 and 37, adjacent to the inner end thereof, is a post or upright bracket, as at 45 and 46. A threaded member or screw extends inwardly through each post or bracket 45 and 46, as at 47 and 48, and carries on its inner end a longitudinal stack guide, as at 49 and 50, respectively. The stack guides 49 and 50 are elongate bars for location in facing engagement with opposite longitudinal edges of the label stack 35 to properly locate the stack on support or table 25.

Toward this end, the stack guide bars 49 and 50 are carried by respective screws 47 and 48 and shiftable in their parallel facing relation toward and away from each other by rotation of the mounting screws.

In addition, one of the stack guide bars, say bar 50, may carry a stack height sensor or switch 51, including a sensing element or finger 52, which sensor is connected, as by electrical conductors 53 to motive means 34 elevating the support table 25 to an upper limiting position as determined by the elevation of sensing finger 52 resting on the uppermost sheet of stack 35.

The bridging framework 41, 42 and 43 may carry on its cross-piece 43 a cylinder 55 having an internal piston and a piston rod 56 depending through the member 43.

A depending bar or piston rod extension 57 extends downwardly from the lower end of piston rod 56, and secured to the lower end of extension 57 is a lateral member or rod 58 which extends between and terminates at its opposite ends short of frame side pieces 41 and 42. Carried by the lateral rod 58 and projecting longitudinally inwardly therefrom are a plurality of glue appliers 60, each including a depending nozzle or outlet 61 with a downwardly protruding valve stem or actuator 62. The assembly of lateral member 58 and several glue appliers 60 is vertically shiftable upon up and down movement of piston rod 56 and its extension 57 as controlled by actuation of cylinder 55.Upon downward movement of the several nozzles 61 to engage the actuator 62 with a nether object and thereby raise the actuator relative to its associated nozzle, there is opened an internal valve and thereby dispensed a quantity of glue. Thus, the several glue dispensers 60, lateral mounting member 58 and nozzle 61 may be considered as a vertically shiftable glue head, which upon downward movement into engagement with the uppermost label sheet of stack 35, will apply a series of spots of glue to the uppermost label sheet.

A glue supply conduit or hose 65 is connected at its lower end to each nozzle 61, the upper ends of the several flexible hoses being connected to a superposed glue distributing manifold 66, which may carry on its upper side a glue reservoir 67. Suitable means may mount the manifold 66 and reservoir 67 in fixed relation while the glue head 6() reciprocates and the several hoses 65 flex.

A lower transverse or bridging member 68 may extend in fixed relation between the side pieces 41 and 42, spaced below the upper bridging member 43, and a plurality of inward or forward extensions 69 may project from the lower bridging member 68 to terminate in free ends 70 over an adjacent portion of the uppermost label sheet of stack 35. There are shown two fingers 69 in the illustrated embodiment, but this number may be more or less, as desired.

Depending from the free end 70 of each finger 69 is an impaling element or pointed holding member 71 which pierces throngh and into the uppermost label sheet 35 and the next adjacent label sheet 35, all for purposes appearing presently.

At the opposite end of stack support table 25, remote from glue head 60, there is provided a generally horizontally disposed, laterally extending hollow or tubular member or mandrel 75. As best seen in Figures 5 and 6, the glue head 60 and the several glue nozzles 61 are located over one edge margin of the uppermost label sheet of stack 35. The mandrel 75 is located over the opposite edge margin of the uppermost label sheet. The hollow mandrel 75 is provided along its length with a longitudinal series or row of through apertures or openings 76 communicating with the interior of the mandrel, while one mandrel end 77 is closed, as seen in Figures 5 and 7.Remote from the closed mandrel end 77, on one side of the elevator support 25, there is provided a journal bearing 78 mounting the mandrel 75 for axial rotation. A vacuum supply conduit 79 communicates through the journal 78 with the interior of mandrel 75, and communicates at its other end, in the direction of arrow 80, with a vacuum source. Powering the mandrel supporting journal 78 may be a motor 85 having suitable gearing 86 and connected in driving relation with the journal means 78, as by transmission means 87.

Outward of and along the mandrel 75, there is provided on the top wall 22 a stripper assembly, generally designated 90.

The assembly includes a pair of laterally extending rails or way means 91 suitably fixedly supported on the top wall 22, as by end plates 92 and 93. A carriage 94 is mounted for back and forth movement along the rails 91. An actuating cylinder-and-piston assembly 95 is mounted on the top wall 22 and includes at opposite ends of the cylinder a pair of pulleys or rolls 96 and 97 about which are trained cables 98 and 99. The respective cables 98 and 99 each has its opposite ends connected to the piston of cylinder 9S and the carriage 94, and is trained about a respective pulley 96, 97.

The cylinder 93 is provided with fluid connections 100 and 101 for effecting the desired shifting movement of the piston and carriage 94.

The stripping mechanism 90 further includes an upstanding arm or pedestal 102 fixed on the carriage 94, and a shaft or rod 103 extending rigidly from the pedestal 102 in general parallelism with the mandrel 95. A generally horizontal arm 104 is suitably fixed to the rod 103, as by a sleeve 105, and extends outwardly from the rod to a position over the mandrel 75. As best seen in Figures 8 and 9, a pair of jaws 105 are pivoted to the arm 104 and depend therefrom onto opposite sides of the mandrel 75. Resilient means, such as a coil tension spring 106 connected between the jaws 105 yieldably urge the latter toward a gripping relation with the mandrel 75.Mounted on the arm 104, upstanding therefrom may be a fluid cylinder 107 having a depending rod 108 provided on its lower end with a cam or roller member 109 engageable between jaws 105 for spreading or opening the latter against the returning force of spring 106.

Also carried on the arm or rod 103, spaced from the arm 104 and jaws 10S, is a swingable arm 106 carrying on its outer end a roll 107 adapted to rest on and in rolling engagement with the mandrel 75.

In adjacent spaced aligned relation with the end 77 of mandrel 75, there is provided creasing means, generally designated 110. The creasing means 110 includes a pair of generally tangential rotary members or rolls 111 and 112 having their bight generally aligned with the mandrel 77. Power means, such as a motor 113 may be mounted over the rolls 111 and 112, and in driving relation with the latter through a transmission 114.

The rolls may be suitably journaled in a casing or frame 115 which may mount the drive means 113, 114. Also mounted on the casing llS may be a guide sleeve 116 having one end flared or funnel-like, as at 117 adjacent to the mandrel end 77, for receiving from the mandrel a rolled tube 118 for passage between the creasing rollers 111 and 112 and exit therefrom in creased or folded condition.

In operation, the apparatus 20 automatically maintains the uppermost label sheet of stack 35 at a nre-determined elevation, as controlled by the elevation sensing means 51 and elevator suppcrt 25. In this predetermined elevation, the holding means or impaling element 71 engage through and into at least the uppermost label sheet and the next adjacent label sheet of stack 35.

Also, the uppermost label sheet of the stack is at a controlled elevation adjacent to and spaced slightly below the underside of mandrel 75. With the mandrel 75 rotating in a counter clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, and vacuum communicated through conduit 79 to the interior of mandrel 75, the edge margin of the uppermost label sheet immediately beneath the mandrel is raised toward and applied to the mandrel, the condition shown in Figure 8. Continued mandrel rotation serves to wind the uppermost sheet about the mandrel, the uppermost sheet being spaced from the next adjacent sheet for free sliding relative thereto, and the uppermost sheet tearing out of its impaled relation with respect to holding pins 71.The vacuum communicated to the interior of the mandrel 75 may be terminated after a few rotations of the mandrel, and the roll 107 rides on the outermost convolution of sheet being coiled on the mandrel during the coiling to impart a slight drag and assure uniform coiling or wrapping action. Each sheet 35 is provided with a register or control mark 120 which passes beneath a sensor 121 proximate to the mandrel 75 and operates to deactivate the mandrel rotating means, as by de-energizing motor 85.By this register mark 120 and sensing means 121, which may be photo-electric, coiling rotation of the mandrel 75 is terminated at a predetermined angular position, as desired, with respect to the creasing means 110. Thus, the sensor 121, may through suitable conductors 122 and appropriate control means, terminate mandrel rotation.

During this winding operation, the stripper jaws have been held open by downward extension of piston rod 108 and cam 109 to the position shown in Figure 8. Upon cessation of mandrel rotation, fluid means such as pressurized air, may be employed to retract piston rod i08 and cam 109 upward to release the stripper jaws 105 to their gripping relation of Figure 9 with a blank sheet 35a wound about the mandrel 75. Also, fluid pressure may be employed to shift carriage 94 toward the creasing means 110, the rolled tube thereby being stripped and entering into guide 116 for withdrawal and creasing by rolls 111 and 112.

In Figure 10 is illustrated a blank sheet 35 apart from the apparatus and showing a plurality of severance lines 125 subdividing the sheet into a plurality of longitudinally extending strips 126. Along one edge margin of blank 35 there are provided a plurality of glue spots 127, each in a respective strip 126. The sheet 35 is rolled or coiled about the mandrel 75, as illustrated hereinbefore, to assume the formation of a coiled tube 33a, as seen in Figure 11. In the fully wound condition the glue spots 127 will serve to secure the outermost convolution in position and maintain the tube 35a closed. The roll 107 will aid in holding the tube 3Sa closed until the glue spots 127 set.

Upon stripping of the tube 35a and feeding the same through the creasing rolls 111 and 112, there emerges a flattened or creased and rolled label formation 35b. Subsequently, the formation 35b may be passed to a cutter or slitter and severed along the several severance lines 125 to define a plurality of individual label formations 3sic, as seen in Figure 13.

While the mandrel has been illustrated and described as of a constant generally circular cross section throughout its length, it is appreciated that mandrels of other cross sectional configurations may be employed, as desired. For example, a mandrel may be of oblate, flattened, elipsoidal or polygonal cross section. Such cross sections may serve to initiate creasing action, if desired, or creasing may be eliminated under certain conditions.

For example, it may be desired to provide a label sheet formed into a tube of circular or polygonal cross sectional configuration, without flattening, say for circumposition of tubular label sheet about a container or package of circular or polygonal configuration.

In concluding the above described operational procedure, the carriage 94 may return to its initial position, as illustrated in Figures 5--7 and the stripper jaw cylinder 107 actuated to spread the jaws 105, all by a predetermined timed cycle, or other suitable control means, for repetition of the above described operation.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a package construction, and method and apparatus for package forming which is extremely simple and rapid, and durable and reliable throughout long operating periods, effects considerable savings and costs, and otherwise fully accomplishes its intended objects.

WHAT I CLAIM IS:- 1. A method of forming a folder or package from blanks in the form of flat sheets, comprising providing a stack of blanks, releasably adhering a leading edge portion of the uppermost blank of the stack to a rotary mandrel to slide the uppermost blank across the next uppermost and simultaneously coil it around the mandrel to form a tube, by effecting suction in the mandrel directed towards the said edge portion to separate it from the next uppermost blank, applying glue to the blank at a location remote from the said edge portion, stripping the tube from the mandrel, and flattening the tube.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the next uppermost blank is held by impaling means during coiling of the uppermost sheet, and tearing the next uppermost sheet from the impaling means during sliding when said next uppermost sheet has become the uppermost sheet.

3. Apparatus for forming a folder or package from blanks in the form of flat sheets, comprising a support for a stack of blanks, a rotary mandrel adjacent the support, means for applying suction inside the mandrel to cause a leading edge portion of the uppermost sheet of the stack to adhere to the mandrel which can therefore slide it across the next uppermost blank and coil it around the mandrel to form a tube, means for applying glue to the blank at a portion remote from the edge portion, means for stripping the tube from the mandrel, and means for flattening the tube.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, including means for holding the next uppermost blank while the uppermost blank is being coiled.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the stripping means comprises creasing rolls adjacent the mandrel to withdraw a tube from the mandrel and flatten it.

6. A folder or package, formed by the method of either of claim 1 and 2.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. severance lines 125 to define a plurality of individual label formations 3sic, as seen in Figure 13. While the mandrel has been illustrated and described as of a constant generally circular cross section throughout its length, it is appreciated that mandrels of other cross sectional configurations may be employed, as desired. For example, a mandrel may be of oblate, flattened, elipsoidal or polygonal cross section. Such cross sections may serve to initiate creasing action, if desired, or creasing may be eliminated under certain conditions. For example, it may be desired to provide a label sheet formed into a tube of circular or polygonal cross sectional configuration, without flattening, say for circumposition of tubular label sheet about a container or package of circular or polygonal configuration. In concluding the above described operational procedure, the carriage 94 may return to its initial position, as illustrated in Figures 5--7 and the stripper jaw cylinder 107 actuated to spread the jaws 105, all by a predetermined timed cycle, or other suitable control means, for repetition of the above described operation. From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a package construction, and method and apparatus for package forming which is extremely simple and rapid, and durable and reliable throughout long operating periods, effects considerable savings and costs, and otherwise fully accomplishes its intended objects. WHAT I CLAIM IS:-

1. A method of forming a folder or package from blanks in the form of flat sheets, comprising providing a stack of blanks, releasably adhering a leading edge portion of the uppermost blank of the stack to a rotary mandrel to slide the uppermost blank across the next uppermost and simultaneously coil it around the mandrel to form a tube, by effecting suction in the mandrel directed towards the said edge portion to separate it from the next uppermost blank, applying glue to the blank at a location remote from the said edge portion, stripping the tube from the mandrel, and flattening the tube.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the next uppermost blank is held by impaling means during coiling of the uppermost sheet, and tearing the next uppermost sheet from the impaling means during sliding when said next uppermost sheet has become the uppermost sheet.

3. Apparatus for forming a folder or package from blanks in the form of flat sheets, comprising a support for a stack of blanks, a rotary mandrel adjacent the support, means for applying suction inside the mandrel to cause a leading edge portion of the uppermost sheet of the stack to adhere to the mandrel which can therefore slide it across the next uppermost blank and coil it around the mandrel to form a tube, means for applying glue to the blank at a portion remote from the edge portion, means for stripping the tube from the mandrel, and means for flattening the tube.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, including means for holding the next uppermost blank while the uppermost blank is being coiled.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the stripping means comprises creasing rolls adjacent the mandrel to withdraw a tube from the mandrel and flatten it.

6. A folder or package, formed by the method of either of claim 1 and 2.