CA2056532A1 - Easy opening fin seal package - Google Patents
Easy opening fin seal packageInfo
- Publication number
- CA2056532A1 CA2056532A1 CA 2056532 CA2056532A CA2056532A1 CA 2056532 A1 CA2056532 A1 CA 2056532A1 CA 2056532 CA2056532 CA 2056532 CA 2056532 A CA2056532 A CA 2056532A CA 2056532 A1 CA2056532 A1 CA 2056532A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pouch
- seal
- package
- lateral
- fin seal
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- Packages (AREA)
Abstract
AN EASY OPENING FIN SEAL PACKAGE
Abstract A fin seal package having sealed end portions each with a tear notch and a method of forming such a package are disclosed. The notches are preferably aligned to each other and provide the means for creating an opening of the fin seal package which is perpendicular to the region enclosing the product. The perpendicular opening allows ready access to the contents of the pouch while at the same time not causing any inadvertent spilling of the contents.
Abstract A fin seal package having sealed end portions each with a tear notch and a method of forming such a package are disclosed. The notches are preferably aligned to each other and provide the means for creating an opening of the fin seal package which is perpendicular to the region enclosing the product. The perpendicular opening allows ready access to the contents of the pouch while at the same time not causing any inadvertent spilling of the contents.
Description
20~6~2 AN EASY OPENING FIN SEAL PACKAGE
Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a package for containing articles or material and, more particularly, to a sealed package and a method of forming such a package having an arrangement that provides easy opening while at the same time allows the package contents to remain intact but readily accessible.
In the packaging art many types of laminated pouches are commonly used to enclose and contain articles or materials. The articles within the pouches are commonly sealed therein, to form a package, by means of seal por-tions running along the top, bottom, side and/or central portions of the pouch. Two such types of pouches are a "four-sided heat sealed pouch" and a "fin seal pouch". The four-sided heat sealed pouch is commonly used to seal within its confines small amounts of liquids, powders or other products. The fin seal pouch, because of its con-struction, and because it has a larger inner volume than the four-sided pouch, can be used to contain larger amounts of the same liquids, powders or other products.
All of the laminated packages, because of their superior mechanical strength have problems associated with their opening. This is particularly true of fin seal packages. For example, the fin seal packages are commonly provided with tear notches at their top or bottom portions that are easily torn, but which do not provide a defined /lp/jm-#ol 2 ~ -3 ~ 2 tear line. The undefined tear line is unsatisfactory in that opening occurs in an uncontrolled manner. The con-tain~d products may be inadvertently spilled. It is desired that fin seal packages be provided that are easily opened while at the same time allowing their c~ntents to remain intact and ready for convenient access.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present inven-tion to provide fin seal packages that are easily opened and allow for convenient access to their seal contents~
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of forming such easily opened fin seal packages.
SummarY of the Invention The present invention is directed to a fin seal laminated package that is easily opened and provides for ready access of the contents. The present invention is further directed to a method of making such a package.
The package comprises a pouch that encloses a product and has a longitudinal seal on its central portion.
The pouch further has a seal on at least one of its op-posite ends having an extension and a tear notch located in the extension. The seal on the central portion joins and brings together the major portions the pouch and the one or more seals at the end portions bring together and join the remaining portions of the pouch. The end seal extensions are located along the sides of the pouch by a predetermined amount. In a preferred embodiment, the tear notches are located on opposite sides of the pouch and are positioned in the end seal extensions so that their innermost portions are aligned to each other.
The method of the present invention relates to forming a fin seal pouch while it is being moved along a predetermined path and comprises the steps of: (a) placing the product to be packaged within the confines of a par-tially folded section of a moving web; (b) forming a /lp/jm-#01 2 0 ~ 2 longitudinal fin seal in the web so as to enclose the product within a pouch thereby arranged from the web; (c) formlng a lateral seal in the pouch, the seal having a longitudinal extension that continues, by a predetermined amount, along a side portion of the pouch: (d) piercing 'Lateral score lines into lateral seal of the pouch; (e) orming a cutout in the lateral seal extension so as to provide a tear notch therein; and (f) separating the pouch from the moving web along its score lines so as to provide a formed package.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the foregoing detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Brief Descriptions of the Drawinas For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this inven-tion i8 not limited to the precise arrangements and in-strumentalities shown.
Fig. lA shows a prior art fin seal package.
Fig. lB illustrates the manner in which the prior art package is typically torn open.
Fig. 2A shows a fin seal package of the present invention.
Fig. 2B illustrates the manner in which the fin seal package of the present invention is opened.
Fig. 3 is a functional representation illustrating the formation of the fin seal package of the present inven-tion.
Detailed DescriPtion of the Invention In accordance w_th the present invention means are provided that allow sealed packages to be easily torn open while at the same time allow their contents to remain in /lp/im-#ol 2 ~ 2 place within the package. Packages, related to the present invention, are commonly formed of laminates of flexible plas~ic films and aluminum foil that cooperate with each other to provide mechanical strength and product stability.
The foil component of the laminate is commonly used to reduce permeability of the package whi~e the plastic is used for mechanical strength. Many laminates are currently in use such as polyethylene, aluminum foil, metallized polyester, polyester, and polyethylene and combinations thereof. The use of these laminates, while providing packages having mechanical strength, also presents a problem related to their tearing. The present invention is particularly concerned with solving this tearing problem, and provides a solution which may be described by first referring to Figure lA which illustrates a prior art laminated package 110.
Fig. lA illustrates the laminated package 110 of the "fin seal" type which is of particular importance to the present invention. The package 110 is formed of a laminated pouch 112 and ha~ a seal portion 114 on its central portion which brings together and joins the ma;or portions of the pouch. The seal 114, as well as other seals to be described herein, is preferably of the heat seal type. Further, the central seal 114 is commonly referred to as a fin seal, and thus, provides the package 110 with the classification "fin seal". The pouch 112 further has heat seals 116 located on opposite edges 118.
These seals bring together and join the remaining portions of pouch 112.
The heat seals 116 have a plurality of tear notches 120 that are cut partially through the heat seal. Without the tear notch, when attempting to tear open the package, the tearing force is distributed along the heat seals 116 making it extremely difficult to open the package 110. The notches 120 aid in the tearing of the pouch in that the tearing forces are concentrated at the innermost portion /lp/im-#ol 2~6~2 of the notch 50 that these focussed forces cause the pack-age to be more easil~ opened. However, the path of the tear occurring during opening in these prior art packages is relatively undefined and may be furthPr described with reference to Fig. lB.
As can be seen from Figure lB, to tear open the package 110, it is common that thumb and forefinger of one hand grip and squeeze one side (shown as 120A) of a notch 120, while at the same time, the thumb and forefinger of the other hand grip and squeeze the other side (shown as 120B) of the same notch 120. A tearing force is then applied and the package is torn open in a longitudinal direction from the top to the bottom of the package 110.
This longitudinal tear does not have a predefined path, but rather commonly starts at one edge at the top of the pack-age 110 and finds its way toward and along the central portion of the package 110 in a manner as shown in Figure lB. Such a tearing, more than likely, causes the sealed contents 122 of the package 110 to inadvertently spill or be expelled outward in unpredictable directions. The present invention corrects for this inadvertent disruption of the contents and may be described with reference to Figure 2A.
Figure 2A illustrates a package 10 in accordance with the present invention formed of a laminated pouch 12 and having a longitudinal, central sealed portion 14 simi-lar to seal 114 of Figure lA. The package 10 has opposite end seals 16 located near opposite edges 18 and arranged in a lateral direction. The end seals 16 and fin seal 14, seal the related product within package 10. The end seals 16 have extensions 20 that extend along a portion of the side of the pouch 12. The extensions 20 extend along the side of pouch 12 by an amount measured from the tips of edges 18 as shown in Figure 2A and cover a distance D~.
The distance Dl is of an amount which is about to about of the total distance between opposite edges /lp/jm-#ol 2~5~2 18. Located in each of the seal extensions 20 is a notch 22, preferably having a ~ shape, which extends from the tips- of edges 18 by a distance D2 as shown in Figure 2A.
The distance D2 is of an amount which is about to iabout of the distance Dl. The notches 22 are prefer-ably located at opposite sides of extensions 20 so that their innermost portions are aligned along a centerline 24.
The notches 22 and their locations are important features of the present invention and provide for the convenient opening of the package 10 which may be described with reference to Figure 2B.
As can be seen in Figure 2B, and in a manner as described with reference to Figure lB, to tear open the package 10 the thumb and forefinger of one hand grip and s~ueeze one side (shown as 22A) of notch 22, while at the same time, the thumb and forefinger of the other hand grip and squeeze the opposite side (shown as 22B) of the same notch 22. A tearing force is then applied and the package is advantageously torn open in a defined manner creating an opening in the pouch 12 that is generally perpendicular to the region 28 of the sealed package that encloses the contents 30. Unlike the prior art package 110, the opening of package 10 allows the enclosed contents to remain intact and within the confines of the unbroken portion of the package 10. The tear follows a predefined path 32 com-prised of segments 32A and 32B; if the tear is continued, it will follow the segment 32C as shown in Figure 2B. The guided tearing accomplished by the present invention allows for convenient access to the contents 30 of package 10 without encountering any inadvertent disruption of spillage of the package contents.
It should now be appreciated that the practice of the present invention provides for a fin seal pouch that is easily torn along a defined path so as to create an opening that is generally perpendicular to the region of the sealed package 10 that encloses the contents 30.
/lp/jm-#ol 2 0 ~ 2 Although the package 10 has been described as hav-ing two seal extensions 20 at opposite ends of centerline 24, each having a notch 22, it should be recognized that in practice of the invention a package having a single seal extension 20, with a single notch 22 is contemplated. The notch 22 need only start the tear so that the tear will progress along a path which intercepts, in a generally perpendicular manner, the region of the package that encloses the product.
A method for forming the package 10 of Figures 2A
and 2B may be described with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a functional illustration of a machine 50 that may be used to manufacture the package 10 by accessing a web sup-ply 52 of a laminated strip 54 which is controllably moved in a direction 56. The direction 56 may be generally hori-zontally oriented as shown in Figure 3 or it may be verti-cally oriented. The machine 50 is generally conventional in its operation but is arranged into a system that forms a package having the benefits of the present invention.
In general, the method accomplished by the machine 50 comprises the steps of: ~a) placing the product to be packaged within the confines of a partially folded section of a moving web; (b) forming a longitudinal fin seal in the web so as to enclose the product within a pouch thereby arranged from the web; (c) forming a lateral seal in the pouch, the seal having a longitudinal extension that con-tinues, by a predetermined amount, along a side portion of the pouch; (d) piercing lateral score lines into lateral seal of the pouch; (e) forming a cutout in the seal exten-sion so as to provide a tear notch therein; and (f) separa-ting the pouch from the moving web along its score lines so as to provide a formed package.
The machine 50 that performs the method of the present invention may be comprised of six (6) stations whose designation and function are given in Table 1.
/lp/jm-#ol ~tatton Function 58 (Folding) Partially folds the moving strip 54 so as to confine product 30.
60 (Fin seal) Places fin seal 14 into moving strip 54 62 (End seal) Forms end heat seal 16, having extensions 20, into moving strip 54 64 (Scoring) Piercing score line 70 into moving strip 54 66 (Tear notch) Forms a cutout into seal extension 20 of the moving strip 54 so as to provide a tear notch 22 68 (Cutting) Separates package 10 along score line 70, from the moving strip 54 Although six (6) stations are shown with reference to machine 50, it should be realized that some of the sta-tions may be easily combined. For example, the tear notch (station 66) and scoring (station 64) operations may be ac-complished at the same time so as to reduce the number of stations to five (5).
In operation, the laminated strip 54 is controll-ably moved from the web supply 52 along the web direction 56. The direction 56 preferably establishes the orienta-tion of the seals to be formed. More particularly, a lon-gitudinal seal is preferably formed along the direction of travel, whereas, a lateral seal is formed transverse to the direction of travel. Such an orientation is preferred so as to expedite the movement of strip 54 but may be altered if other orientations of seals for package 10 are desired.
The machine 50 first causes the sides of the moving strip 54 to be directed inward so that the product to be packaged /lp/jm-#ol 2~5~ ~1 ? 2 is situated within the confines of the inwardly directed and partially folded section of a moving web. The machine 50 t~en forms a longitudinal fin seal in the web so as to enclose the product. This forming of the longitudinal seal arranges the moving web into a pouch member. The machine 50 then provides means to allow the pouch to be separated from the web downstream by piercing the seal 16 so as to create a lateral score line 70. The machine 50 then forms a lateral seal 16 in the pouch. The formed seal 16 has a longitudinal extension 20 that continues, by a predeter-mined amount, along a side portion of the pouch. The machine 50 then forms a cutout in the seal extension 20 so as to create tear notch 22. Finally, the machine 50 then separates, preferably by cutting, the pouch from the moving web along its score line 70 so as to provide a formed package having the benefits previously described.
It should now be appreciated that the practice of the present invention provides a method for forming a package that is easily opened and provides for convenient access to its sealed contents.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing ~rom the spirit or essen-tial attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the fore-going specification, as indicating the scope of the inven-tion.
/lp/jm-#01
Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a package for containing articles or material and, more particularly, to a sealed package and a method of forming such a package having an arrangement that provides easy opening while at the same time allows the package contents to remain intact but readily accessible.
In the packaging art many types of laminated pouches are commonly used to enclose and contain articles or materials. The articles within the pouches are commonly sealed therein, to form a package, by means of seal por-tions running along the top, bottom, side and/or central portions of the pouch. Two such types of pouches are a "four-sided heat sealed pouch" and a "fin seal pouch". The four-sided heat sealed pouch is commonly used to seal within its confines small amounts of liquids, powders or other products. The fin seal pouch, because of its con-struction, and because it has a larger inner volume than the four-sided pouch, can be used to contain larger amounts of the same liquids, powders or other products.
All of the laminated packages, because of their superior mechanical strength have problems associated with their opening. This is particularly true of fin seal packages. For example, the fin seal packages are commonly provided with tear notches at their top or bottom portions that are easily torn, but which do not provide a defined /lp/jm-#ol 2 ~ -3 ~ 2 tear line. The undefined tear line is unsatisfactory in that opening occurs in an uncontrolled manner. The con-tain~d products may be inadvertently spilled. It is desired that fin seal packages be provided that are easily opened while at the same time allowing their c~ntents to remain intact and ready for convenient access.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present inven-tion to provide fin seal packages that are easily opened and allow for convenient access to their seal contents~
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of forming such easily opened fin seal packages.
SummarY of the Invention The present invention is directed to a fin seal laminated package that is easily opened and provides for ready access of the contents. The present invention is further directed to a method of making such a package.
The package comprises a pouch that encloses a product and has a longitudinal seal on its central portion.
The pouch further has a seal on at least one of its op-posite ends having an extension and a tear notch located in the extension. The seal on the central portion joins and brings together the major portions the pouch and the one or more seals at the end portions bring together and join the remaining portions of the pouch. The end seal extensions are located along the sides of the pouch by a predetermined amount. In a preferred embodiment, the tear notches are located on opposite sides of the pouch and are positioned in the end seal extensions so that their innermost portions are aligned to each other.
The method of the present invention relates to forming a fin seal pouch while it is being moved along a predetermined path and comprises the steps of: (a) placing the product to be packaged within the confines of a par-tially folded section of a moving web; (b) forming a /lp/jm-#01 2 0 ~ 2 longitudinal fin seal in the web so as to enclose the product within a pouch thereby arranged from the web; (c) formlng a lateral seal in the pouch, the seal having a longitudinal extension that continues, by a predetermined amount, along a side portion of the pouch: (d) piercing 'Lateral score lines into lateral seal of the pouch; (e) orming a cutout in the lateral seal extension so as to provide a tear notch therein; and (f) separating the pouch from the moving web along its score lines so as to provide a formed package.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the foregoing detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Brief Descriptions of the Drawinas For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this inven-tion i8 not limited to the precise arrangements and in-strumentalities shown.
Fig. lA shows a prior art fin seal package.
Fig. lB illustrates the manner in which the prior art package is typically torn open.
Fig. 2A shows a fin seal package of the present invention.
Fig. 2B illustrates the manner in which the fin seal package of the present invention is opened.
Fig. 3 is a functional representation illustrating the formation of the fin seal package of the present inven-tion.
Detailed DescriPtion of the Invention In accordance w_th the present invention means are provided that allow sealed packages to be easily torn open while at the same time allow their contents to remain in /lp/im-#ol 2 ~ 2 place within the package. Packages, related to the present invention, are commonly formed of laminates of flexible plas~ic films and aluminum foil that cooperate with each other to provide mechanical strength and product stability.
The foil component of the laminate is commonly used to reduce permeability of the package whi~e the plastic is used for mechanical strength. Many laminates are currently in use such as polyethylene, aluminum foil, metallized polyester, polyester, and polyethylene and combinations thereof. The use of these laminates, while providing packages having mechanical strength, also presents a problem related to their tearing. The present invention is particularly concerned with solving this tearing problem, and provides a solution which may be described by first referring to Figure lA which illustrates a prior art laminated package 110.
Fig. lA illustrates the laminated package 110 of the "fin seal" type which is of particular importance to the present invention. The package 110 is formed of a laminated pouch 112 and ha~ a seal portion 114 on its central portion which brings together and joins the ma;or portions of the pouch. The seal 114, as well as other seals to be described herein, is preferably of the heat seal type. Further, the central seal 114 is commonly referred to as a fin seal, and thus, provides the package 110 with the classification "fin seal". The pouch 112 further has heat seals 116 located on opposite edges 118.
These seals bring together and join the remaining portions of pouch 112.
The heat seals 116 have a plurality of tear notches 120 that are cut partially through the heat seal. Without the tear notch, when attempting to tear open the package, the tearing force is distributed along the heat seals 116 making it extremely difficult to open the package 110. The notches 120 aid in the tearing of the pouch in that the tearing forces are concentrated at the innermost portion /lp/im-#ol 2~6~2 of the notch 50 that these focussed forces cause the pack-age to be more easil~ opened. However, the path of the tear occurring during opening in these prior art packages is relatively undefined and may be furthPr described with reference to Fig. lB.
As can be seen from Figure lB, to tear open the package 110, it is common that thumb and forefinger of one hand grip and squeeze one side (shown as 120A) of a notch 120, while at the same time, the thumb and forefinger of the other hand grip and squeeze the other side (shown as 120B) of the same notch 120. A tearing force is then applied and the package is torn open in a longitudinal direction from the top to the bottom of the package 110.
This longitudinal tear does not have a predefined path, but rather commonly starts at one edge at the top of the pack-age 110 and finds its way toward and along the central portion of the package 110 in a manner as shown in Figure lB. Such a tearing, more than likely, causes the sealed contents 122 of the package 110 to inadvertently spill or be expelled outward in unpredictable directions. The present invention corrects for this inadvertent disruption of the contents and may be described with reference to Figure 2A.
Figure 2A illustrates a package 10 in accordance with the present invention formed of a laminated pouch 12 and having a longitudinal, central sealed portion 14 simi-lar to seal 114 of Figure lA. The package 10 has opposite end seals 16 located near opposite edges 18 and arranged in a lateral direction. The end seals 16 and fin seal 14, seal the related product within package 10. The end seals 16 have extensions 20 that extend along a portion of the side of the pouch 12. The extensions 20 extend along the side of pouch 12 by an amount measured from the tips of edges 18 as shown in Figure 2A and cover a distance D~.
The distance Dl is of an amount which is about to about of the total distance between opposite edges /lp/jm-#ol 2~5~2 18. Located in each of the seal extensions 20 is a notch 22, preferably having a ~ shape, which extends from the tips- of edges 18 by a distance D2 as shown in Figure 2A.
The distance D2 is of an amount which is about to iabout of the distance Dl. The notches 22 are prefer-ably located at opposite sides of extensions 20 so that their innermost portions are aligned along a centerline 24.
The notches 22 and their locations are important features of the present invention and provide for the convenient opening of the package 10 which may be described with reference to Figure 2B.
As can be seen in Figure 2B, and in a manner as described with reference to Figure lB, to tear open the package 10 the thumb and forefinger of one hand grip and s~ueeze one side (shown as 22A) of notch 22, while at the same time, the thumb and forefinger of the other hand grip and squeeze the opposite side (shown as 22B) of the same notch 22. A tearing force is then applied and the package is advantageously torn open in a defined manner creating an opening in the pouch 12 that is generally perpendicular to the region 28 of the sealed package that encloses the contents 30. Unlike the prior art package 110, the opening of package 10 allows the enclosed contents to remain intact and within the confines of the unbroken portion of the package 10. The tear follows a predefined path 32 com-prised of segments 32A and 32B; if the tear is continued, it will follow the segment 32C as shown in Figure 2B. The guided tearing accomplished by the present invention allows for convenient access to the contents 30 of package 10 without encountering any inadvertent disruption of spillage of the package contents.
It should now be appreciated that the practice of the present invention provides for a fin seal pouch that is easily torn along a defined path so as to create an opening that is generally perpendicular to the region of the sealed package 10 that encloses the contents 30.
/lp/jm-#ol 2 0 ~ 2 Although the package 10 has been described as hav-ing two seal extensions 20 at opposite ends of centerline 24, each having a notch 22, it should be recognized that in practice of the invention a package having a single seal extension 20, with a single notch 22 is contemplated. The notch 22 need only start the tear so that the tear will progress along a path which intercepts, in a generally perpendicular manner, the region of the package that encloses the product.
A method for forming the package 10 of Figures 2A
and 2B may be described with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a functional illustration of a machine 50 that may be used to manufacture the package 10 by accessing a web sup-ply 52 of a laminated strip 54 which is controllably moved in a direction 56. The direction 56 may be generally hori-zontally oriented as shown in Figure 3 or it may be verti-cally oriented. The machine 50 is generally conventional in its operation but is arranged into a system that forms a package having the benefits of the present invention.
In general, the method accomplished by the machine 50 comprises the steps of: ~a) placing the product to be packaged within the confines of a partially folded section of a moving web; (b) forming a longitudinal fin seal in the web so as to enclose the product within a pouch thereby arranged from the web; (c) forming a lateral seal in the pouch, the seal having a longitudinal extension that con-tinues, by a predetermined amount, along a side portion of the pouch; (d) piercing lateral score lines into lateral seal of the pouch; (e) forming a cutout in the seal exten-sion so as to provide a tear notch therein; and (f) separa-ting the pouch from the moving web along its score lines so as to provide a formed package.
The machine 50 that performs the method of the present invention may be comprised of six (6) stations whose designation and function are given in Table 1.
/lp/jm-#ol ~tatton Function 58 (Folding) Partially folds the moving strip 54 so as to confine product 30.
60 (Fin seal) Places fin seal 14 into moving strip 54 62 (End seal) Forms end heat seal 16, having extensions 20, into moving strip 54 64 (Scoring) Piercing score line 70 into moving strip 54 66 (Tear notch) Forms a cutout into seal extension 20 of the moving strip 54 so as to provide a tear notch 22 68 (Cutting) Separates package 10 along score line 70, from the moving strip 54 Although six (6) stations are shown with reference to machine 50, it should be realized that some of the sta-tions may be easily combined. For example, the tear notch (station 66) and scoring (station 64) operations may be ac-complished at the same time so as to reduce the number of stations to five (5).
In operation, the laminated strip 54 is controll-ably moved from the web supply 52 along the web direction 56. The direction 56 preferably establishes the orienta-tion of the seals to be formed. More particularly, a lon-gitudinal seal is preferably formed along the direction of travel, whereas, a lateral seal is formed transverse to the direction of travel. Such an orientation is preferred so as to expedite the movement of strip 54 but may be altered if other orientations of seals for package 10 are desired.
The machine 50 first causes the sides of the moving strip 54 to be directed inward so that the product to be packaged /lp/jm-#ol 2~5~ ~1 ? 2 is situated within the confines of the inwardly directed and partially folded section of a moving web. The machine 50 t~en forms a longitudinal fin seal in the web so as to enclose the product. This forming of the longitudinal seal arranges the moving web into a pouch member. The machine 50 then provides means to allow the pouch to be separated from the web downstream by piercing the seal 16 so as to create a lateral score line 70. The machine 50 then forms a lateral seal 16 in the pouch. The formed seal 16 has a longitudinal extension 20 that continues, by a predeter-mined amount, along a side portion of the pouch. The machine 50 then forms a cutout in the seal extension 20 so as to create tear notch 22. Finally, the machine 50 then separates, preferably by cutting, the pouch from the moving web along its score line 70 so as to provide a formed package having the benefits previously described.
It should now be appreciated that the practice of the present invention provides a method for forming a package that is easily opened and provides for convenient access to its sealed contents.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing ~rom the spirit or essen-tial attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the fore-going specification, as indicating the scope of the inven-tion.
/lp/jm-#01
Claims (8)
1. A package for sealing a product therein comprising a pouch having a body portion, a longitudinal fin seal, and a lateral end seal on at least one of the opposite ends of the package, said at least one end seal having a longitudinal extension which extends along a portion of the side of said pouch, said end seal extension having a notch formed therein for tearing.
2. A package according to claim 1, wherein lateral end seals are located on opposite sides of each of said opposite ends of said pouch, each end seal having said longitudinal extension, each of said extensions having notches formed therein for tearing.
3. A package according to claim 2, wherein said notches of said opposite end seal extensions have their innermost portions aligned to each other.
4. A package according to claim 3, wherein said notches are V-shaped
5. A package according to claim 1, wherein said pouch is formed of a laminate of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, aluminum foil, metallized polyester, polyester, polypropylene and combina-tions thereof.
6. A package according to claim 4 wherein said extensions extends along the side of said pouch by an amount which is about to about of the total length of said pouch.
7. A package according to claim 6 wherein said V
shaped notches are located along the side of said pouch by an amount which is about to about of the total length of said extension.
shaped notches are located along the side of said pouch by an amount which is about to about of the total length of said extension.
8. A method of forming a fin seal package com-prising the steps:
(a) placing the product to be packaged within the confines of a partially folded section of a moving web;
(b) forming a longitudinal fin seal in the web so as to enclose the product within a pouch thereby arran-ged from the web;
(c) forming a lateral seal in the pouch, said seal having a longitudinal extension that continues, by a predetermined amount, along a side portion of the pouch;
(d) piercing lateral score lines into lateral seal of the pouch;
(e) forming a cutout in said seal extension so as to provide a tear notch therein; and (f) separating the pouch from the moving web along its score lines so as to provide a formed package.
(a) placing the product to be packaged within the confines of a partially folded section of a moving web;
(b) forming a longitudinal fin seal in the web so as to enclose the product within a pouch thereby arran-ged from the web;
(c) forming a lateral seal in the pouch, said seal having a longitudinal extension that continues, by a predetermined amount, along a side portion of the pouch;
(d) piercing lateral score lines into lateral seal of the pouch;
(e) forming a cutout in said seal extension so as to provide a tear notch therein; and (f) separating the pouch from the moving web along its score lines so as to provide a formed package.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US782,202 | 1977-03-28 | ||
| US78220291A | 1991-10-24 | 1991-10-24 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2056532A1 true CA2056532A1 (en) | 1993-04-25 |
Family
ID=25125318
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2056532 Abandoned CA2056532A1 (en) | 1991-10-24 | 1991-11-28 | Easy opening fin seal package |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH05124679A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2056532A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2589547A1 (en) * | 2011-11-04 | 2013-05-08 | Nestec S.A. | Flow wrap packaging |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8230664B2 (en) | 2008-07-28 | 2012-07-31 | Sonoco Development, Inc. | Pouch opening feature and method for making the same |
| JP6196098B2 (en) * | 2012-08-28 | 2017-09-13 | 武田薬品工業株式会社 | Package for granular materials |
| JP7133390B2 (en) * | 2018-08-16 | 2022-09-08 | オリエンタル酵母工業株式会社 | packaging bag |
| JP7407434B2 (en) * | 2019-06-10 | 2024-01-04 | 株式会社川島製作所 | envelope packaging bag |
| JP7422385B2 (en) * | 2019-07-29 | 2024-01-26 | 株式会社川島製作所 | Gassho paste packaging bag |
-
1991
- 1991-11-28 CA CA 2056532 patent/CA2056532A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1991-12-11 JP JP35040591A patent/JPH05124679A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2589547A1 (en) * | 2011-11-04 | 2013-05-08 | Nestec S.A. | Flow wrap packaging |
| WO2013064375A1 (en) * | 2011-11-04 | 2013-05-10 | Nestec S.A. | Flow wrap packaging |
| CN104024125A (en) * | 2011-11-04 | 2014-09-03 | 雀巢产品技术援助有限公司 | Flow wrap packaging |
| CN104024125B (en) * | 2011-11-04 | 2016-09-28 | 雀巢产品技术援助有限公司 | Circulation bag packaging |
| RU2615968C2 (en) * | 2011-11-04 | 2017-04-11 | Нестек С.А. | Flow-pack packaging |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH05124679A (en) | 1993-05-21 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |