Package comprising bobbins housed inside a box, parcel containing such a package, method of packaging and method of use of the package

The present invention relates to the field of packaging bobbins, each bobbin being made of a winding a flexible fiber, e.g. a carbon fiber, an aramid fibers, a glass fiber or a textile fibers.

Carbon fibers, aramid fibers and glass fibers are used for example for manufacturing Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP). In particular, plastic reinforced with carbon, or Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP), is advantageous because it allows combining light weight with high mechanical resistance.

However mechanical pieces made of CFRP are expensive to manufacture due to constrains imposed by the use of carbon fibers. Indeed, carbon fibers are fragile when they are not yet incorporated into a matrix and they need to be manipulated with caution and to be packed carefully.

Carbon fibers are generally packed into carbon fiber bobbins, each bobbin being made of a winding of a carbon fiber, the carbon fiber being made of a bundle of carbon filaments (typically several thousands of filaments), the carbon fiber being wound onto a mandrel and the bobbin being wrapped into an individual plastic wrap for protecting the bobbin and for holding the bobbin together. Several bobbins are then packed into a box.

In view of using carbon fibers, it is possible to remove the bobbins from the boxes, to remove the individual wrap of each bobbin, to put the bobbins on respective skewers, and to unwound the carbon fiber of each bobbin from the outside of the bobbin. Each bobbin rotates around the skewer receiving this bobbin during unwinding of the bobbin.

Packing and unpacking of the bobbins involve many operations which impact the cost of production of bobbins and the cost of use of the bobbins for producing pieces made of CFRP.

Recent CFRP manufacturing processes need to be fed continuously with carbon fibers, whereas the carbon fiber of each bobbin has a limited length. It is thus necessary to connect the carbon fibers of several bobbins in series for such a manufacturing process.

Sometimes, the manufacturing process needs to be interrupted for connecting new carbon fibers to the currently used carbon fibers, thus slowing the manufacturing process and increasing the manufacturing costs.

In addition, CFRP manufacturing processes use several carbon fibers fed in parallel at the same time, e.g. for weaving the different carbon fibers. Therefore, the unpacking and connection operations have to be performed for as many bobbins as the number of carbon fibers used in parallel for the manufacturing process.

Larger bobbins may be produced for limiting the number of operations, but larger bobbins are heavier and may thus be problematic for manual handling of the bobbins or the packages.

One of the aims of the invention is to propose a package of bobbins that is simple and cost effective to manufacture while being easy to operate.

To this end, the invention proposes a package comprising a box and a plurality of bobbins received inside the box, each bobbin being formed of a winding of a flexible fiber, each bobbin exhibiting a tubular shape and being free of internal support and free of individual protection wrap, the two ends of the fiber of each bobbin being attached to respective fixing points on the box.

In specific embodiments, the package may comprise one or several of the following optional features, taken in isolation or in any technically feasible combination:

- the bobbins are wedged inside the box solely by contact with each other and with panels of the box;

- the package is deprived of internal support for locating or wedging the bobbins inside the box;

- the bobbins are arranged side-by-side with being aligned in an alignment direction, the bobbins having bobbins axes parallel to each other;

- the bobbins are coaxial;

- the fiber ends of the bobbins are not connected together;

- at least one fiber end of a bobbin of the package is connected to a fiber end of another bobbin of the package;

- the bobbins of the package are connected in series;

- an external fiber end of each preceding bobbin in the series, said external fiber end emerging from the outside of this preceding bobbin, is connected to an internal fiber end of the next bobbin in the series, said internal fiber end of the next bobbin emerging from the inside of this next bobbin;

- the bobbins are arranged in series inside the box, the fixing point of an external fiber end of each preceding bobbin in the series, said external fiber end emerging from the outside of this preceding bobbin, is grouped pairwise with the fixing point of an internal fiber end of the next bobbin of the series, said internal fiber end emerging from the inside of this preceding bobbin; - the fixing points are located on at least one fixing part, each fixing part being attached to a panel of the box;

- the package comprises several fixing parts, all the fixing parts being attached to a same panel of the box;

- the box is made of at least one folded blank, each blank being e.g. a cardboard blank;

- the box comprises a bottom part for receiving the bobbins, the bottom part having a top opening, and a removable top part defining a removable box cover for closing the bottom part;

- the box is made of one single folded blank;

- the box comprises lines of weakness configured to be teared off for removing at least one part of the box defining a removable box cover;

- the fiber of each bobbin is made of a material chosen from the group consisting of carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers and textile fibers.

The invention also relates to a parcel comprising a plurality of packages as defined above.

The invention also relates to a method of packaging bobbins, each bobbin being made of a winding of a fiber, each bobbin exhibiting a tubular shape, the method comprising putting the bobbins into a box, the bobbins being free of internal support and free of individual protection wrap, and fixing the ends of the fibers of the bobbins to fixing points provided on the box.

The invention also relates to a method of use of a package as defined above, comprising connected the fibers of at least two bobbins of the package in series and unwinding the bobbins in series.

In specific embodiments, the method of use of a package may comprise one or several of the following optional features, taken in isolation or in any technically feasible combination:

- an outside fiber end of each preceding bobbin of the bobbins connected in series being attached to an inside fiber end of the next bobbin of the bobbins connected in series such that the bobbins are unwound from the inside to the outside;

- the method of use comprises connecting a fiber end of at least one bobbin of the package to a fiber end of a bobbin of another identical or similar package and unwinding the said bobbin of the package and the said bobbin of the other package in series. The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely as a non-limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a bobbin made by winding a fiber into a bobbin;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of a package comprising several bobbins packed into a box which is illustrated in a closed configuration;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the package of Figure 2 with the box in an opened configuration;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of a flat blank configured to be folded for obtaining the box;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a the blank partially folded for obtaining the box;

- Figure 6 is perspective view of a parcel comprising a plurality of packages as in Figure 2 placed onto a transportation pallet;

- Figure 7 is a perspective view of another package comprising several bobbins packed into a box which is illustrated in a closed configuration;

- Figure 8 is a perspective view of the package of Figure 7 with the box in an opened configuration;

- Figure 9 is a perspective view of flat blanks configured to be folded for obtaining the box;

- Figure 10 is a perspective view of the blanks folded in a first intermediate configuration for obtaining the box;

- Figure 1 1 is a perspective view of the blanks folded in a second intermediate configuration for obtaining the box;

- Figure 12 is a perspective view of the blanks folded in a third intermediate configuration for obtaining the box;

- Figure 13 is a schematic perspective view of another package comprising several bobbins packed into a box;

- Figure 14 is a perspective view of a parcel comprising a plurality of packages as in Figure 13 placed onto a transportation pallet;

- Figure 15 is a schematic view illustrating a use of packages with serial connection of the bobbins of each package;

- Figure 16 is a schematic view illustrating a use of packages with parallel connection of the bobbins of each package. The bobbin 2 illustrated on Figure 1 is made of a fiber 4 wound into a bobbin, the bobbin 2 being free of internal mandrel and free of individual external protection wrap.

The bobbin 2 has a tubular shape along a bobbin axis A. The bobbin 2 has a circumferential internal face 2A, a circumferential external face 2B and two end faces 2C. The internal face 2A and the external face 2B are substantially cylindrical and coaxial. The two end faces 2C are substantially perpendicular to the bobbin axis A.

Since the bobbin 2 is free of internal mandrel, the internal face 2A is free and is defined by the innermost spires of the winding.

The fiber 4 has two ends 4A, 4B. The fiber 4 is wound to obtain the bobbin 2 from one end 4A of the fiber 4 to the other end 4B. The fiber 4 thus possesses an internal end 4A emerging from the internal face 2A of the bobbin 2 and an external end 4B emerging from the external face 2B of the bobbin 2.

The package 8 illustrated on Figures 2 and 3 comprises several bobbins 2 as illustrated on Figure 1 , the bobbins 2 being received in a box 10. Each bobbin 2 is thus free of internal mandrel and free of individual external protection wrap in the package 8. The package 8 comprises here three bobbins 2 received in the box 10.

In the following, the terms“horizontal”,“vertical”,“bottom” and“top” refer to the box 10 with the bottom of the box resting on a horizontal support surface.

The box 10 is for example of horizontally elongated parallelepiped shape with six panels including a bottom panel 12, a top panel 14, two opposed side panels 16, 18 and two opposed end panels 20, 22.

The bobbins 2 are arranged side-by-side in the box 10, the bobbin axis A of the bobbins 2 being parallel to each other. The bobbins 2 are aligned in an alignment direction E, the bobbin axis of the bobbins 2 being perpendicular to the alignment direction E. The alignment direction E extends horizontally in the direction of the length of the box 10.

The package 8 is configured such that the bobbin axes A are vertical when the package 8 is put on a horizontal surface with the bottom panel 12 of the box 10 contacting this horizontal surface.

As illustrated more particularly on Figure 3, the two ends 4A, 4B of the fiber 4 of each bobbin 2 received in the box 10 are fixed to fixing points 24 of the box 10.

Each fiber end 4A, 4B is fixed to a respective fixing point 24. Hence, each fiber end 4A, 4B can be easily individually identified upon opening the box 10.

In a preferred embodiment, the fiber ends 4A, 4B of the fibers 4 of the bobbins 2 are not connected with one another in the package 8. No fiber end 4A, 4B of a bobbin 2 of the package 8 is connected to a fiber end 4A, 4B of another bobbin 2 of the package 8. An operator can thus connect a fiber end 4A, 4B of the fiber 4 of each bobbin 2 to that of another bobbin 2 of the package or to a bobbin of another similar package according to a desired pattern, using a desired fiber connection method.

In an alternative embodiment, the package 8 comprises at least one fiber end 4A, 4B of a bobbin 2 connected to a fiber end 4A, 4B of another bobbin 2. This allows providing the operator we pre-connected bobbins 2 to ease the operation of the package 8.

In a specific embodiment, the fiber ends 4A, 4B of the bobbins 2 of the package 8 are connected in series. In particular, the external fiber end 4B of each preceding bobbin 2 in the series is connected to the internal fiber end 4A of the next bobbin 2 in the series. This allows unwinding the bobbins 2 in series, each bobbin 2 being unwound from inside to outside.

Advantageously, the bobbins 2 being arranged in series inside the box 10, the fixing point 24 of the external fiber end 4B of each preceding bobbin 2 in the series is grouped with the fixing point 24 of the internal fiber end 4A of the next bobbin 2 of the series.

When the fibers 4 of the bobbins 2 are not pre-connected in the package 8, this allows connecting the bobbins 2 in series easily upon opening the box 10, by connecting the external fiber end 4B of each preceding bobbin 2 in the series with the internal fiber end 4A of the next bobbin 2 of the series.

Each fixing point 24 is provided on a fixing part of the box 10. The box 10 comprises one or several fixing part(s) 26. The fixings points 24 are provided on one or several fixing parts 26 of the box 10. In the example embodiment of Figure 8, the box 10 comprises one fixing part 26 on which all the fixing points 26 are located.

Each fixing point 24 is for example defined by a slot cut in the corresponding fixing part 26, the slot being cut from an edge of the fixing part 26. The slot thus emerges on this edge of the fixing part 26. Such a slot allows insertion of a fiber end 4A, 4B from the edge of the fixing part towards the bottom of the slot. The fiber end 4A, 4B inserted in the slot is wedged into the two opposed edges of the slot.

Each fiber end 4A, 4B is connected to a respective fixing point 24. The fixing point 24 of each fiber end 4A, 4B is distinct from the fixing points 24 of the other fiber ends end 4A, 4B. Hence, each fiber end 4A, 4B can be identified in isolation and grasped by an operator.

Preferably, the box 10 is provided with markings individually identifying each fiber end 4A, 4B. Hence, an operator can know which fiber end belongs to which bobbin of the package and make the appropriate connections between bobbins of the same box 10 or bobbins 2 of distinct boxes 10.

In a specific embodiment, the fixing points 24 are preferably located on a same part of the box 10. Hence, the fiber ends 4A, 4B of the bobbins 2 received in the box 10 are gathered at a same location making it easy for realizing the desired connections.

The box 10 is preferably configured such that the fixing points 24 are covered and protected by a part of the box 10 when the box 10 is closed, the fixing points 24 being uncovered when the box 10 is opened to allow access to the fixing points 24.

In the exemplary embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, the fixing part 26 lies underneath another part of the box 10 when the box 10 is closed, the fixing part 26 and the fiber ends 4A, 4B fixed to the fixing part 26 being covered by this part when the box 10 is closed and uncovered when the box is opened.

The part of the box 10 covering the fixing points 24 is for example provided in the top panel 14 of the box 10. Each fixing part 26 lies for example underneath the top panel 14 of the box 10. In the example of Figure 8, the fixing part 26 lies underneath the top panel 14 of the box 10.

The box 10 comprises for example a removable part 28 connected to the remainder of the box 10 via a weak line 30 that can be teared off for removing the removable part 28 from the remainder of the box 10 for opening the box 10. The weak line 30 is for example a pre-cut line.

The removable part 28 is preferably the part that covers the fixing points 24 and the fiber ends 4A, 4B. Hence, removing the removable part 28 uncovers the fixing points 24 and the fiber ends 4A, 4B, thus making the fiber ends 4A, 4B accessible.

In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated on Figure 8, the removable part 28 is delimited in the top panel 14 by a weak line 30, here a pre-cut line. Removing the removable part 28 makes the fiber ends 4A, 4B accessible for the user.

As illustrated, the removable part 28 is a central region of the top panel 14 separated from a peripheral region 32 of the top panel by the weak line 30. The removable part 28 exhibits for example an oblong shape elongated in the direction of the length of the box. The removable part 28 extends above each one of the bobbins 2 received in the box 10.

The bobbins 2 are held in the box 10 solely by the walls of the box 10. The package 8 is deprived of wedging element added in the box 10 for wedging the bobbins 2 inside the box 10. Each bobbin 2 of the package 8 rests vertically on the bottom panel 12 and is wedged horizontally solely by the side walls of the box 10 and the other bobbins 2 received in the box 10, i.e. by the side panels 16, 18 and the end panels 20, 22. It has been noticed that the bobbins 2 can be transported safely without damaged the fibers even in the absence of additional wedging element added into the box 10 for wedging the bobbins 2, despite the fact that bobbins 2 are not individually wrapped, e.g. with heat shrinkable film.

The package is thus more economical to produce because wrapping film, wrapping operations, wedging elements and installation of the wedging elements inside the box are not necessary. The box can be produced from a single blank folded to erect the box.

Preferably, the package 8 is configured such as to be able to be handled manually by an operator. In particular, the dimensions and the weight of the package 8 are configured for manual handling.

The package 8 is for example configured to have a weight that is inferior to 30kg, in particular inferior to 25 kg. In an exemplary embodiment, each bobbin 2 has a weight of approximately 8kg. Hence, a package 8 containing three bobbins 2 has a weight of over 24 kg plus the weight of the box 10.

The box 10 has dimensions such that the box 10 is included in an imaginary parallelepiped having the following dimensions preferably 1 m x 1 m x 0.5 m.

The box 10 may be obtained from a single blank folded along folding lines in view of erecting the box.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate an example of a blank 34 that can be erected by folding to form the box 10 of the exemplary embodiment of Figures 2 and 3.

The blank 34 comprises, in succession along a first direction T1 , the top panel 14, a first side panel 16, the bottom panel 12, a second side panel 18 and the fixing part 26 separated by parallel fold lines 36, 38, 40, 42, extending a long a second direction T2 perpendicular to the first direction T 1.

The blank 34 further comprises the end panels 20, 22 connected to the second side panel 18 via folding lines 44, 46 extending along the first direction.

Optionally, each end panel 20, 22 comprises two sections 48, 50 separated by a fold line 52 such that the two sections can be folded one onto the other two form a two layer end panel 20, 22, each layer being defined by a respective section of the end panel. The fold line separating the two section extend e.g. along the first direction.

Optionally, the top panel 14 is provided with flaps 54 at each of its ends along the second direction T2, the first side panel 16 is provided with flaps 56 at each of its ends along the second direction T2, the bottom panel 12 is provided with flaps 58 at each of its ends along the second direction T2 and/or the fixing part 26 is provided with flaps 60 at each of its ends along the second direction T2. As illustrated on Figure 5, the box 10 is in a partially erected configuration in which the bottom panel 12, the second side panel 18, the fixing part 26 and the end panels 22 are folded.

This configuration allows inserting the bobbins 2 into the box 10, fixing the fiber ends 4A, 4B to the fixing points 24 and then closing the box 10 by folding the first side panel 16 and the top panel 14.

The flaps 58 provided on the bottom panel 12 are each configured for insertion between the two sections 48, 20 of the adjacent end panel 20, 22.

The flaps 60 provided on the fixing part 26 are each configured for insertion between the two sections 48, 20 of the adjacent end panel 20, 22.

The flaps 56 provided on the first side panel are configured to be inserted inside the box along the inside face of the end panels.

The flaps 54 provided at the ends of the top panel 14 are each configured to be inserted between one section 48 of one of end panels 20, 22 and one of the flaps 60 provided at the ends of the fixing part 24 previously inserted between the two sections 48, 50 of this end panel 20, 22.

Optionally, at least one pair of opposed panels of the box 10 are provided with respective handles 62. Such handles 62 facilitated handling of the box by an operator.

In one example, the end panels 20, 22 are provided with handles 62. To this end the end panels 20, 22 are provided with opening 64 delimiting handles 62. In the present case, each section 48, 50 of each end panel is provided with one opening 64, the openings 64 of the two sections 48, 50 of each end panel 20, 22 being in register when the end panel sections 48, 50 are folded one onto the other.

In addition, when necessary, a flap inserted between the end panel sections 48, 50 are also provided with openings 64. This is the case here for the flaps 54 provided on the top panel 14.

In one embodiment, the fixing part 26 comprises a series of notches 66, each notch 66 being in register with a respective bobbin 2, and a fixing section 68 between the two notches 66 of each pair of adjacent notches 66. Each fixing section 68 separated two adjacent notches 66. As illustrated, the fixing part 24 has three notches 66 separated by two fixing sections 68. Each fixing section 68 is for example provided with fixing points 24.

As illustrated on Figure 6, a parcel 70 comprises several boxes 10 as on Figure 2 and 3, the boxes 10 being installed on a transport pallet 72. Such a parcel 70 can be handled e.g. with a lift carrier.

The package 8 of Figures 7 - 12, in which elements similar to that of Figure 2 - 5 are designated by the same numeral references, differs from that of Figure 2 - 5 namely in that the box 10 is made in two separate parts including a bottom part 82 for receiving the bobbins 2 and having a top opening 84 and a removable top part 86 defining a cover for closing the bottom part 82.

The bottom part 82 is configured for receiving the bobbins 2 side-by-side with being aligned in the alignment direction E, with the axis A of the bobbins 2 being parallel and preferably substantially vertical when the bottom part 82 is put on a horizontal surface.

The bottom part 82 is of elongated parallelepiped shape. The bottom part 82 includes a bottom panel 12, two opposed side panels 16, 18 and two opposed end panels 20, 22. The top opening 86 is delimited by top edges of the bottom panel 12, the side panels 16, 18 and the end panels 20, 22.

As illustrated more particularly on Figure 8, the two fiber ends 4A, 4B of the fiber 4 of each bobbin 2 received in the box 10 are fixed to fixing points 24 of the box 10 provided on the bottom part 82 of the box 10. Each fiber end 4A, 4B is fixed to a respective fixing point 24.

As indicated above, the box 10 comprises one or several fixing part(s) 26, each fixing point 24 being located on a fixing part 26.

The box 10 may comprise for example several fixing parts 26 provided as separate tabs. Such fixing parts 26 may be distributed along a top edge of a side panel 16, 18 of the bottom part 82.

The box comprises for example N+1 fixing parts 26 distributed along the top edge of a side panel 16, 18 of the bottom part 82, N being the number of bobbins 2 to be received in the box 10.

In such case, the box 10 comprises for example two end fixing parts 26 adjacent the ends of the box 10, each end fixing part 26 being adjacent to a respective end of the box 10, and intermediate fixing parts 26 distributed along the top edge between the end fixing parts 26, each intermediate fixing part 26 being at a respective location between two adjacent bobbins 2.

Each end fixing part 26 is provided with one fixing point 24 for receiving a fiber end 4A, 4B of the bobbin 2 adjacent to that end fixing part 26.

Each intermediate fixing part 26 is provided with two fixing points 24, each for receiving a fiber end 4A, 4B of a respective one of the bobbins 2 located on either sides of the intermediate fixing part 26.

In the example of Figures 7 and 8, the box 10 comprises four fixing parts 26 provided as separate tabs protruding from a top edge of a side panel 16, 18 of the bottom part 82. Each fixing point 24 is covered by the top part 86 when the box 10 is closed. In particular each fixing part 26 is covered by the top part 86 when the box 10 is closed

In the example of Figures 7 and 8, the top part 86 comprises a top wall 14 and a peripheral flange 88 extending downwardly from the periphery of the top wall 14.

The box 10 provided in two parts may be obtained from two separate blanks, each blank being erected by folding to obtain a respective part among the two parts of the box 10.

Figure 9 - 12 illustrated an example of two separate blanks to be folded along fold lines in view of erecting the bottom part 82 and the top part 86 of the box 10 of

Figures 7 and 8.

The two blanks include a first blank 94 to be folded for erecting the bottom part 82 of the box 10 and a second blank 96 to be folded for erecting the top part 86 of the box 10.

The first blank 92 comprises in succession along a first direction T 1 a first side panel 16, the bottom panel 12, a second side panel 18 separated by parallel fold lines 98, 100 extending a long a second direction T2 perpendicular to the first direction T 1.

The first blank 92 further comprises the end panels 20, 22 connected to the bottom panel 12 via folding lines 104, 106 extending along the first direction T 1.

The first blank 92 comprises connection flaps 108, each connection flap 108 being connected to an end panel 20, 22 along a fold line 1 10 extending along the second direction T2, each connection flap 108 being intended to be applied onto one of the side panels 16, 18.

Two connection flaps 108 are provided on either sides of each panel 20, 22, each one of the two connection flaps 108 connected to a panel 20, 22 being configured to be applied onto a respective one among the two side panels 16, 18.

The second blank 94 comprises the top panel 14 of rectangular contour, two side flange panels 1 12 connected to the long edges of the top panel 14 via fold lines and two end flange panels 1 14 connected to the short edges of the top panel 14 via fold lines, the side flange panels 1 12 and the end flange panels 1 14 defining the flange 88 when the top part 86 is erected.

Each side flange panel 1 12 is provided with two connection flaps 1 16 to be applied onto the end flange panels 1 14 for connecting the side flange panel 1 12 to the end flange panels.

Optionally, each flange panel 1 14 comprises two end flange sections 1 18 separated by an intermediate fold line 120 for folding an end flange section 1 18 onto the other with sandwiching adjacent connection flaps 1 16 of the side flange panels 1 12. As illustrated on Figure 10, the top part 86 is erected and the bottom part 82 is in a partially erected configuration in which the second side panel 18, and the end panels 20, 22 are folded. The second side panel 18 is resting on a horizontal surface.

As illustrated on Figures 10 - 12, this configuration allows inserting the bobbins 2 into the bottom part 82 (Figure 1 1 ), fixing the fiber ends 4A, 4B to the fixing points 24 (Figure 1 1 ) and then folding the first side panel 16 to complete the erection of the bottom part 82 (Figure 12), turning up the bottom part 82 such that the bottom panel 12 us put down on the horizontal surface and put the top part 86 on the bottom part 82 to close the box 10.

Optionally, at least one pair of opposed panels of the box 10 are provided with respective handles 62 (Figure 8). Such handles 62 facilitated handling of the box 10 by an operator.

In one example, the side panels 16, 18 are provided with handles 62. To this end the side panels 16, 18 are provided with opening 64 delimiting handles 62.

In the illustrated example, each side panel 16, 18 is provided with two openings 64 delimiting two handles 62. The two handles 62 of each side panel 16, 18 are spaced along the alignment direction E.

Each connection flap 108 is provided with an opening 64 that is aligned with an opening of the side panel 16, 18 onto which the connection flap 108 is applied. This reinforces the handles 62 by providing them in portions of the side panels 16, 18 into which the side panels 16, 18 are doubled.

Optionally or alternatively, the handles are provided on the end panels 20, 22.

In an exemplary embodiment as illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, in which elements similar to that of Figure 2 through 5 are designated by the same numeral references, the box 10 is configured such that the bobbins 2 received in the box 10 are coaxial.

The box 10 is for example configured such that the bobbins 2 are stacked vertically in the box 10 with the bobbin axes being vertical. The box 10 is elongated vertically and exhibits for example a parallelepiped shape.

In one embodiment, the box 10 is deprived of a top panel closing the top end of the box 10.

The box 10 comprises a fixing part 26 located at the top end of the box 10, the fixing part 24 comprising at least one fixing flap 124, each fixing flap 124 being provided with fixing points for fiber ends of the bobbins. As illustrated on Figure 14, a parcel 126 comprises several bobbins 2 comprising boxes 10 as on Figure 6 placed on a transport pallet 128 and covered by a lid 130 that covers and closes all the boxes 10.

The provision of a same lid 130 that is common to all the boxes 10 of a same parcel 126, said boxes 10 being deprived of a top panel forming an integrated lid, makes unpacking operations easy by avoiding opening each box 10 individually. Removing the common lid allows opening all the boxes 10 at the same time.

As illustrated on Figure 15 and 16, in a method of using a package, the bobbins 2 of similar packages 8 are used to manufacture a product comprising fibers4, e.g. a product made of fiber reinforced plastic.

The fibers 4 are for example weaved for manufacturing a cloth to be impregnated with a plastic matrix in view of obtaining the fiber reinforced plastic.

According to this method, the bobbins 2 of each box 10 remain in the box 10 during unwinding. Hence, there is no need for the operator to extract each bobbin 2 from the box 10. The package 8 can be used directly without removing the bobbins from the package.

The bobbins 2 are used with unwinding each bobbin 2 from the inside to the outside. In other words, each bobbins 2 is unwound by pulling the fiber 4 thereof from the inside end thereof. Each bobbin 2 is thus unwound by pulling on the internal end 4A of the fiber 4.

The absence of internal mandrel inside the bobbin 2 allows unwinding the bobbin 2 from the inside towards the outside. This can be done easily without having to remove a mandrel from inside the bobbin 2, e.g. a mandrel that can be teared. The operations are thus easier for the operator.

Besides, it is possible to unwind a bobbin 2 from the inside to the outside with the bobbin 2 being stationary, i.e. without putting the bobbin 2 on an unwinding skewer allowing rotation of the bobbin 2. The bobbin 2 can thus be unwound with staying inside the box 10.

In addition, each bobbin 2 can keep a tubular shape upon unwinding the bobbin 2 from the inside to the outside, thus ensuring proper unwinding without fiber self-tangling.

As illustrated on Figure 15, the method of using packages comprises connecting at least two bobbins 2 of the same package 8 in series. The connection is here done with a knot. It is alternatively done with a splice.

More specifically, the bobbins 2 of each package 8 are connected in series.

Optionally, the bobbins 2 of each package are connected in series with the bobbins 2 of at least one other package 8. In view of unwinding each bobbin 2 of a bobbin series from inside to outside, the external fiber end 4B of each bobbin 2 of the series is connected to the internal fiber end 4A of the next bobbin 2 of the series.

In an alternative embodiment, the package 8 is provided with at least two bobbins 2 connected in series, e.g. by connecting all the bobbins 2 of each package 8 in series, preferably with connecting the external fiber end 4B of each preceding bobbin 2 in the series with the internal fiber end 4A of the following bobbin 2 in the series.

In such case, the bobbins 2 are already connected in series in the package 8 which save the connecting operation for the operator using the package 8 for unwinding the bobbins 2.

The operator may connect packages 8 in series for application necessitating continuous feed of fibers over very long lengths.

As illustrated on Figure 16, optionally or alternatively the method of using packages comprises connecting bobbins 2 of at least one package 8 in parallel.

Mors specifically, the method comprises connecting packages 8 in package series, each bobbin 2 of the package series being connected in series to a respective bobbin 2 of the next package 8 of the package series. The bobbins 2 of a same package 8 are thus connected in parallel.

Owing to the invention, the bobbins can be put into a box very easily and cost effectively, the resulting package allowing safe transportation of the bobbins contained therein, without damage to the fibers of the bobbins, in particular when these fibers are carbon fibers.

The package is very easy to operate for the end use, in particular for producing fiber reinforced material comprising a matrix with fibers embedded therein, in particular FRP or CFRP.

The operation of the package comprises opening the box and, once the box is opened, unwinding the fibers from the bobbin without removing the bobbin from the box. The bobbins are unwound inside the box, each bobbin staying stationary in the box and being unwound from the inside to the outside.

The operation may require connecting the fibers of the bobbin according to pattern desired by the operator. Connection of the bobbins of each package in series in rendered particularly easy by providing the fixing points, and in particular by grouping the fixing points by pairs of fibers ends to be connected for obtaining the serial connection of the bobbin. In some embodiments, the fibers of the bobbins may be pre-connected for still easing operation for the end-user operator. The continuous feed of a manufacturing process with fibers is made easily be connecting the bobbins of packages with bobbins of following packages. The connections of the following packages can be operated during unwinding of the bobbins of a preceding package without interruption of the manufacturing process.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described hereinbefore.

Alternative embodiments and combination of the disclosed embodiments may be contemplated.

For example boxes 10 for receiving bobbins 2 side-by-side as in Figures 2 and 3 or as in Figures 7 and 8 may be combined with a lid common to several boxes as in Figure 13 and 14. In such case, the boxes 10 receiving bobbins side-by-side are for example deprived of top panel or top part.

Besides, the bobbins of the package are deprived of individual wrap, in particular of heat shrinkable individual wrap.

However, optionally, a package 8 comprises a protective sheet, the bobbins 2 of the same package 8 being collectively surrounded by the protective sheet that is folded onto the bobbins 2, the bobbins 2 surrounded by the protective sheet being received in the box 10 of the package 8. The protective sheet is for example made of plastic material.