CN210761729U

CN210761729U - Sealed package containing pourable food product and sheet packaging material for producing sealed package

Info

Publication number: CN210761729U
Application number: CN201920518124.7U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 马尔塞洛·巴尔别里; 卡洛·福斯里尼; 朱利奥·法拉利; 帕特丽夏·希瓦; 阿尔贝托·玛梅利; 克里斯蒂娜·西瑞格纳诺
Original assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Current assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Priority date: 2018-04-20
Filing date: 2019-04-17
Publication date: 2020-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 2029-04-17
Also published as: JP2021522114A; EP3556673B1; EP3556673C0; MX2020010758A; JP2024045472A; EP3556673A1; BR112020018388A2; EP4279408A2; US20210237925A1; ES2963263T3; WO2019201860A1; EP4279408A3; CN110386317A; JP7436384B2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sealed package containing a pourable food product, comprising a bottom portion, a top portion and a main portion, the main portion being interposed between the bottom portion and the top portion and comprising a plurality of side wall portions; the main portion is separated from the bottom and top portions by a bottom perimeter profile and a top perimeter profile, respectively, extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction; each of the bottom perimeter contour and the top perimeter contour has a dashed-line shape and is formed by a plurality of contour edges connected to each other; the bottom comprises a quadrangular bottom plate delimited by a bottom perimeter profile and extending orthogonally to the longitudinal direction; the top portion comprises a quadrilateral top panel defined by a top perimeter contour and extending transverse to the longitudinal direction; the area of the bottom panel is different from the area of a top quadrangle obtained by projecting the top panel in the longitudinal direction on a reference plane parallel to the bottom panel, passing through the package and containing at least one of the contour edges of the top perimeter contour. And to a sheet packaging material for producing sealed packages.

Description

Sealed package containing pourable food product and sheet packaging material for producing sealed package

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a sealed package containing pourable food products.

The present invention also relates to a sheet packaging material for producing sealed packages containing pourable food products.

Background

It is well known that many pourable food products, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra high temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in packages made of aseptic packaging material.

A typical example is a parallelepiped-shaped package for liquid or pourable food products, known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by folding, sealing and cutting a web of laminated packaging material. In particular, the packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a base layer, for example of paper, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material (for example polyethylene). In the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, such as UHT milk, the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, such as aluminium foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner face of the package eventually contacting the food product.

Such packages are typically produced on fully automatic packaging machines, on which a continuous tube is formed from a web-fed (web-fed) packaging material; the web of packaging material is sterilized on the packaging machine, for example, by applying a chemical sterilization agent (e.g., a hydrogen peroxide solution), and once sterilization is complete, the web of packaging material is removed from the surface of the packaging material, for example, by evaporation by heating; the web thus sterilized is then maintained in a closed sterile environment and is folded and sealed longitudinally to form a tube, which is fed vertically.

To complete the forming operation, the tube is filled with a sterile or aseptically processed food product, then sealed and subsequently cut along equally spaced cross sections; pillow packs are thus obtained, which are then folded mechanically to form respective finished packages at a final folder.

In order to achieve folding of the web packaging material during forming and final folding, crease lines, i.e. weakening lines, are formed in the packaging material by means of creasing tools at the production plant. In practice, the crease lines define fold lines along which the pillow packs are folded to obtain the desired final configuration.

Alternatively, the packaging material may be cut into blanks, which are formed into packages on forming mandrels, and the resulting packages are filled with the food product and sealed. One example of this type of packaging is the so-called "gable-top" packaging, which is sold under the trade name Tetra Rex (registered trade mark).

In order to open the above packages, these packages are usually provided with a removable portion which is partially separated from the rest of the packaging material by an opening device, thus releasing a pour opening through which the product is poured.

The removable portion is formed on the packaging material before folding and sealing the packaging material to form the finished package.

The removable portion usually comprises so-called "prelaminated" holes, i.e. circular holes formed only through the base layer of the packaging material, and when the material is laminated, said circular holes are covered with a layer of heat-seal plastic material and a layer of barrier material, said layers being glued to each other in the holes.

Each package of the above-mentioned type, cut from a tube of packaging material or formed on a forming mandrel, is obtained from a basic unit of packaging material having given crease lines.

In other words, the above-mentioned basic unit represents the exact length of packaging material used for producing the individual packages.

In the case of packages made from a tube of packaging material, the initial web comprises a plurality of elementary units connected to each other; in the case of packages made on forming mandrels, the basic unit is defined by a blank cut from the web before the forming and sealing operations are started.

The base unit typically has a rectangular or square configuration with two boundary edges parallel to the longitudinal direction and two other boundary edges parallel to a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

Once the base unit is folded and sealed to form the respective finished package, the longitudinal direction becomes the direction defining the overall height of the package itself; the longitudinal direction also denotes the main extension direction of the web from which the elementary units are obtained.

The base unit generally comprises at least two transverse crease lines extending transversely to the longitudinal direction and dividing the base unit itself into:

-a bottom region comprising a bottom crease pattern and configured to form a bottom of a finished package;

-a top area comprising a top crease pattern and configured to form the top of a finished package; and

an intermediate area, comprised between the transverse crease lines, between the bottom area and the top area, and generally having a plurality of longitudinal crease lines designed to form the side edges of the plurality of side walls of the finished package.

The transverse crease lines are further configured to define a bottom and a top peripheral outline of the finished package, having an annular configuration and separating the bottom and the top portion from the main portion, respectively.

The bottom of the finished package usually comprises a flat and horizontal bottom plate, which defines the resting surface of the package itself.

The top of the finished package may comprise a flat and horizontal top panel parallel to the bottom panel; alternatively, the inclined top panels are very conveniently used in combination with the opening devices, since they are wider than the corresponding flat top panels of the parallelepiped or prismatic packages, thus allowing the application of larger opening devices, for example opening devices provided with screw caps or the like.

It is known that after production, the packages are transported to the point of sale by placing the packages on transport trays having predetermined dimensions. There is therefore a particular need in the packaging field to optimize the filling of shipping trays with finished packages while maintaining the pleasing appearance of such packages.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sealed package containing a pourable food product, which allows to meet the above-mentioned need in a simple and low-cost manner.

This object is achieved by a sealed package as described in clause 1 below.

The object is also achieved by a sheet packaging material for producing sealed packages containing a pourable food product, as described in clause 13 below.

In particular, some aspects of the present invention may be set forth as follows:

1. a sealed package (1, 1 ', 1 ", 1"') containing a pourable food product and comprising a bottom (3), a top (4) and a main portion (5), said main portion (5) being interposed between said bottom (3) and said top (4) and comprising a plurality of side wall portions (6);

wherein the main portion (5) is separated from the bottom (3) and the top (4) by a bottom peripheral profile (8) and a top peripheral profile (9, 9 "), respectively, each of the bottom peripheral profile (8) and the top peripheral profile (9, 9") having an annular configuration and extending transversely with respect to a longitudinal direction (A) along which the overall height of the package (1, 1 ', 1 ", 1"') is defined;

wherein each of said bottom peripheral outline (8) and said top peripheral outline (9, 9 ') has a dashed shape and is in the form of a plurality of outline edges (8a, 8b, 8 c; 9a, 9b, 9 c; 9 a', 9b ', 9 c') connected to each other;

wherein the bottom (3) comprises a quadrangular bottom plate (10), the quadrangular bottom plate (10) being delimited by the bottom perimeter profile (8) and extending orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (A); and

wherein the top (4) comprises a quadrangular roof (14, 14 "), the quadrangular roof (14, 14") being delimited by the top peripheral profile (9, 9 ") and extending transversely to the longitudinal direction (A);

characterized in that the area of said bottom panel (10) is different from the area of a top quadrilateral (Q) obtained by projecting said top panel (14, 14 ") along said longitudinal direction (A) on a reference plane (P) parallel to said bottom panel (10), passing through the package (1, 1 ', 1", 1 "') and containing at least one (9a, 9 a") of the contour edges (9a, 9b, 9 c; 9a ", 9 b", 9c ") of said top peripheral contour (9, 9").

2. The package according to clause 1, wherein the reference plane (P) comprises at least a top front edge (9a, 9a ") of the contour edges (9a, 9b, 9 c; 9a ', 9 b', 9c ') of the top peripheral contour (9, 9').

3. The package of

clause

1 or 2, wherein the bottom panel (10) has an area that is smaller than the area of the top quadrilateral (Q).

4. The package according to any one of the preceding clauses wherein the contour edges of the bottom peripheral contour (8) comprise a bottom front edge (8a), a bottom rear edge (8b) and two bottom side edges (8c) and wherein the top quadrilateral (Q) comprises a top front section (Q1) corresponding to the bottom front edge (8a), a top rear section (Q2) corresponding to the bottom rear edge (8b) and two top side sections (Q3) corresponding to the bottom side edges (8c), respectively.

5. The package of clause 4, wherein the bottom side edges (8c) have the same length and the top side sections (Q3) have the same length; and wherein the length of the bottom side edge (8c) is different from the length of the top side section (Q3).

6. The package of clause 5, wherein the length of the bottom side edge (8c) is less than the length of the top side section (Q3).

7. The package of any of clauses 4-6, wherein the bottom front edge (8a) and the bottom back edge (8b) have the same length and the top front section (Q1) and the top back section (Q2) are the same length; and wherein the length of the bottom front edge (8a) and the bottom rear edge (8b) is different from the length of the top front section (Q1) and the top rear section (Q2).

8. The package of clause 7, wherein the length of the bottom front edge (8a) and the bottom back edge (8b) is greater than the length of the top front section (Q1) and the top back section (Q2).

9. The package according to any of the preceding clauses wherein the top panel (14) is inclined with respect to the bottom panel (10), the reference plane (P) and the longitudinal direction (a).

10. The package of any of clauses 1-8, wherein the top panel (14 ") is parallel to the bottom panel (10) and wherein the top quadrilateral (Q) coincides with the top panel (14").

11. The package according to any of the preceding clauses wherein each of the side wall portions (6) is bounded by two rounded side edge regions (7) projecting outwardly.

12. The package of any of clauses 1-10, wherein each of the sidewall portions (6) is bounded by two straight side edge regions (7).

13. A sheet packaging material (M, M ', M "') for producing a sealed package (1, 1 ', 1", 1 "'), said sealed package (1, 1 ', 1", 1 "') containing a pourable food product, said sheet packaging material (M, M ', M"') having a rectangular or square configuration with two boundary edges (22) parallel to a longitudinal direction (a) and two other boundary edges (23, 24) parallel to a transverse direction (B) orthogonal to said longitudinal direction (a); said sheet packaging material (M, M ', M "') comprises at least one bottom transverse crease line (25) and a top transverse crease line (26, 26"), said at least one bottom transverse crease line (25) and top transverse crease line (26, 26 ") extending transversely to said longitudinal direction (a) and dividing said sheet packaging material (M, M ', M"') into the following regions:

-a bottom region (27) comprising a bottom crease pattern (28) and configured to form a bottom (3) of the package (1, 1 ', 1 ", 1"');

-a top area (29) comprising a top crease pattern (30) and configured to form a top (4) of the package (1, 1 ', 1 ", 1"'); and

-an intermediate region (31) comprised between said bottom transverse crease line (25) and said top transverse crease line (26, 26 "), between said bottom region (27) and said top region (29) and designed to form a main portion (5) of said package (1, 1 ', 1", 1 "') having a plurality of side wall portions (6);

wherein the bottom transverse crease line (25) and the top transverse crease line (26, 26 ") are configured to define a bottom peripheral contour (8) and a top peripheral contour (9, 9") of the package (1, 1 ', 1 ", 1"'), the bottom peripheral contour (8) and the top peripheral contour (9, 9 ") separating the bottom (3) and the top (4), respectively, from the main portion (5);

wherein the bottom transverse crease line (25) extends parallel to the transverse direction (B) and comprises a bottom central portion (25a) and two bottom side portions (25c), the bottom central portion (25a) being designed to define a bottom front edge (8a) of the package (1, 1 ', 1 ", 1"'), and the two bottom side portions (25c) extending on opposite sides of the bottom central portion (25a) and being designed to define respective bottom side edges (8c) of the package (1, 1 ', 1 ", 1"');

wherein the top transverse crease line (26, 26 ") comprises a top central portion (26a, 26 a") and two top side portions (26c, 26c "), the top central portion (26a, 26 a") being designed to define a top front edge (9a, 9a ") of the package (1, 1 ', 1", 1 "'), and the two top side portions (26c, 26 c") extending on opposite sides of the top central portion (26a, 26a ") and being designed to define respective top side edges (9c, 9 c") of the package (1, 1 ', 1 ", 1"');

wherein the bottom crease pattern (28) is configured to define a quadrangular bottom panel (10) of the package (1, 1 ', 1 ", 1"') and the top crease pattern (30) is configured to define a quadrangular top panel (14, 14 ") of the package (1, 1 ', 1", 1 "');

characterized in that the length of the top central portion (26a, 26a ") of the top transverse crease line (26, 26") is different from the length of the bottom central portion (25a) of the bottom transverse crease line (25).

14. The packaging material of clause 13, wherein the length of each of the bottom side portions (25c) of the bottom transverse crease line (25) is different from the length of the projection (R) of each of the top side portions (26c, 26c ") of the top transverse crease line (26, 26") parallel to the longitudinal direction (a) on a reference line (S) parallel to the bottom transverse crease line (25) and containing at least the top central portion (26a, 26a ").

15. The packaging material of clause 14, wherein the length of each of the bottom-side portions (25c) is less than the length of the respective projection (R).

16. The packaging material according to any one of clauses 13-15, wherein the length of the bottom central portion (25a) of the bottom transverse crease line (25) is greater than the length of the top central portion (26a, 26a ") of the top transverse crease line (26, 26").

17. The packaging material of any one of clauses 13-16, wherein the top side portion (26c) of the top transverse crease line (26) is inclined with respect to both the longitudinal direction (a) and the transverse direction (B) and converges towards the top central portion (26 a).

18. The packaging material according to any one of clauses 13-16, wherein the top transverse crease line (26 ") is parallel to the bottom transverse crease line (25) and coincides with the reference line (S), and wherein the projection (R) of the top side portion (26 c") on the reference line (S) coincides with the top side portion (26c ").

19. The packaging material of any one of clauses 13-18, further comprising a plurality of longitudinal crease lines (50), the plurality of longitudinal crease lines (50) extending between the bottom transverse crease line (25) and the top transverse crease line (26, 26 ") and being configured to define respective side edge regions (7) of the side wall portion (6) of the package (1 ', 1"').

20. The packaging material of clause 19, wherein the longitudinal crease line (50) is slightly inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction (a).

Drawings

Four preferred, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sealed package according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view, on a smaller scale, of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view, on a smaller scale, of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view, on a smaller scale, of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical projection of the top panel of the package of FIG. 3 on a horizontal plane containing the top front edge of the top panel itself;

figure 6 is a front view of a basic unit of sheet packaging material from which the package of figures 1 to 5 is obtained, according to the present invention;

fig. 7 is a perspective view of a sealed package according to various embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a front view of a basic unit of sheet packaging material according to the invention, from which the package of fig. 7 is obtained.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a sealed package according to another embodiment of the present invention;

figure 10 is a front view of a basic unit of sheet packaging material according to the invention, from which the package of figure 9 is obtained;

fig. 11 is a perspective view of a sealed package according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 12 is a front view of a basic unit of sheet packaging material according to the invention, from which the package of fig. 11 is obtained.

Detailed Description

Number 1 in fig. 1 to 5 indicates as a whole a sealed package according to the present invention, containing a pourable food product and obtained from a sheet packaging material 2 shown in fig. 6.

The package 1 comprises a bottom 3, a top 4 and a main portion 5, said main portion 5 being interposed between the bottom 3 and the top 4 and comprising a plurality of side wall portions 6, each side wall portion 6 being delimited by two opposite side edge areas 7.

The main portion 5 is separated from the bottom portion 3 by a bottom peripheral outline 8 having an annular configuration defined by a dashed line. In a completely similar manner, the main portion 5 is separated from the top portion 4 by a top peripheral profile 9 also having an annular configuration defined by a dashed line.

The bottom 3 comprises a flat and horizontal bottom plate 10, said bottom plate 10 having a quadrangular profile, i.e. rectangular or square (shown as rectangular in the example) and defining the resting surface of the package itself.

The bottom plate 10 is delimited by a bottom peripheral outline 8, the bottom peripheral outline 8 being in turn formed by four segments or outline edges, namely a bottom front edge 8a, a bottom rear edge 8b parallel to the bottom front edge 8a and two bottom side edges 8c orthogonal to the bottom front edge 8a and the bottom rear edge 8 b.

Due to the rectangular profile of the bottom plate 10, the bottom front edge 8a and the bottom rear edge 8b have the same length; the same applies to the bottom side edges 8c, which also have the same length.

The package 1 extends vertically along a longitudinal direction a, which is orthogonal to the bottom plate 10, and the overall height of the package 1 itself is defined along the longitudinal direction a. The longitudinal direction a is also orthogonal to the bottom front edge 8a, the bottom rear edge 8b and the bottom side edge 8c of the bottom peripheral outline 8.

It is noted that in the present description and claims, the term "total height" refers to the height of the package when the package has a constant height or to the maximum height of the package when the package has a variable height.

The bottom 3 also comprises two bottom side flaps 11 which have a substantially triangular configuration and are folded onto the bottom panel 10 in a known manner (figure 4).

The top 4 comprises a flat and inclined top plate 14, said top plate 14 having a quadrangular, i.e. square or rectangular, profile and having a configuration inclined forwardly with respect to the longitudinal direction a.

In the example shown in fig. 1 to 3, the top plate 14 is an approximately square rectangle.

The top panel 14 is delimited by a top perimeter profile 9, said top perimeter profile 9 in turn being formed by four sections or profile edges (i.e. a top front edge 9a parallel to the bottom front edge 8a and the bottom rear edge 8b, a top rear edge 9b parallel to the top front edge 9a and arranged higher than the top front edge 9a itself, and two top side edges 9c, said two top side edges 9c being orthogonal to the top front edge 9a and the top rear edge 9b and inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction a).

As a result, the top peripheral profile 9 extends transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction a.

Due to the rectangular profile of the bottom plate 14, the top front edge 9a and the bottom rear edge 9b have the same length; the same applies to the top side edges 9c, which also have the same length.

The top 4 also comprises two top side flaps 15 which have a substantially triangular configuration and are folded onto the two opposite side wall portions 6 of the main portion 5 in a known manner.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3 and 5, top 4 is also provided with opening means 16 of plastic material, said opening means 16 being placed above and around a removable portion 17 (fig. 6) of packaging material 2. The opening device 16 is applied to the top panel 14 by a conventional fastening system (e.g., adhesive), or by micro-flame, current induction, ultrasonic, laser, injection molding, or other heat sealing techniques.

In the example shown in fig. 1 to 5, the main portion 5 of the package 1 comprises four side wall portions 6 having different profiles and dimensions; advantageously, the side edge regions 7 delimiting the side wall portions 6 have a circular configuration.

In particular, the first lateral wall portion 6, designed to define the front face of the packet 1, has a substantially rectangular configuration, delimited at the bottom and at the top by a straight bottom front edge 8a and a top front edge 9a, and, at the opposite side, by respective circular and convex lateral edge zones 7.

The second lateral wall portion 6, designed to define the rear face of the packet 1, also has a substantially rectangular configuration and is delimited at the bottom and at the top by a straight bottom rear edge 8b and a top rear edge 9b, and at the opposite side by respective circular and convex lateral edge zones 7; this second side wall portion 6 faces the side wall portion 6 designed to define the front of the package 1 and has a height parallel to the longitudinal direction a that is greater than the height of the rear side wall portion 6.

Each of the other two side wall portions 6 has a profile substantially similar to a rectangular trapezoid which:

at the bottom by a respective horizontal bottom side edge 8 c;

-at the top by a respective sloping top side edge 9 c; and

on the opposite side, delimited by respective rounded and convex side edge regions 7.

The two side wall portions 6, having a trapezoidal profile, receive on their outer surfaces respective top lateral tabs 15.

According to an important aspect of the present invention, the area of bottom plate 10 is different from the area of top quadrilateral Q (fig. 5), which is obtained by projecting top plate 14 in longitudinal direction a on a reference plane P (fig. 3) parallel to bottom plate 10, passing through package 1 and containing top front edge 9a of top peripheral profile 9.

In particular, the area of the base plate 10 is smaller than the area of the top quadrilateral Q.

According to another possible variant, not shown, the area of the base plate 10 may be greater than the area of the top quadrilateral Q.

Similar to the top panel 14, the top quadrilateral Q is a square or rectangle, shown in the example as an approximately square rectangle.

With particular reference to fig. 5, the top quadrilateral Q comprises a top front section Q1 corresponding to the bottom front edge 8a, a top rear section Q2 corresponding to the bottom rear edge 8b, and two top side sections Q3 corresponding to the bottom side edges 8c, respectively.

Preferably, the top side sections Q3 have the same length, which in turn differs from the length of the bottom side edges 9 c. More specifically, in the example shown, the length of the bottom side edge 9c is smaller than the length of the top side section Q3.

In a similar manner, the top front section Q1 and the top rear section Q2 have the same length, which in turn is different from the length of the bottom front edge 8a and the bottom rear edge 8 b.

More specifically, in the example shown, the length of the bottom front edge 8a and the bottom rear edge 8b is greater than the length of the top front section Q1 and the top rear section Q2.

The packaging material 2 from which the package 1 is manufactured is shown in fig. 6 and has a known multilayer structure (not shown) comprising a base layer for stiffness, for example a paper base layer, and a number of laminate layers covering both sides of the base layer.

Preferably, the laminate layer comprises one layer of oxygen barrier material (e.g. aluminium foil) and a plurality of layers of heat-seal plastic material covering both sides of the base layer and both sides of the layer of oxygen barrier material. In other words, by starting from the side that ultimately forms the inside of package 1, packaging material 2 comprises one layer of heat-seal plastic material, one layer of oxygen-barrier material, another layer of heat-seal plastic material, the base layer and one or more additional layers of heat-seal plastic material.

The letter M in fig. 6 indicates a basic unit of packaging material 2, by means of which the package 1 is produced, and which may be a precut blank, or a portion of a web of packaging material comprising a series of basic units M.

In the first case, the base unit M is folded on a known forming mandrel (not shown), filled with the food product, and sealed at the top to form the finished package.

In the second case, as described herein with reference to fig. 1 to 12, a web of packaging material 2 comprising a series of elementary units M:

-folding into a cylinder and sealing longitudinally to form a vertical tube;

-a continuous filling of the food product; and

-transversely sealing and cutting into basic units M, which are then folded to form respective packages 1.

After these operations, the package 1 has:

a bottom transverse sealing band 18 (fig. 5) passing through the bottom plate 10 along the centre line of the bottom plate 10 and extending parallel to the bottom front edge 8a and the bottom rear edge 8 b;

a top transverse sealing band 19 (fig. 1 to 4) parallel to top front edge 9a and top rear edge 9b and passing through top panel 14 between said top front edge 9a and top rear edge 9 b; and

a longitudinal sealing band 20 extending vertically between bottom transverse sealing band 18 and top transverse sealing band 19 along respective portions of bottom plate 10 and top plate 14 and along side wall portions 6 defining the rear face of package 1.

More specifically, after complete sealing and forming of package 1, bottom plate 10 is crossed by bottom transverse sealing band 18 and by end portion 20a of longitudinal sealing band 20, said end portion 20a extending perpendicularly from bottom transverse sealing band 18.

In a completely similar manner, after complete sealing and forming of packet 1, top panel 14 is crossed by top transverse sealing band 19 and by end 20b of longitudinal sealing band 20, said end 20b extending perpendicularly from top transverse sealing band 19 and being opposite to end 20 a; in more detail, top transverse sealing band 19 divides top plate 14 into two

regions

14a, 14b, and end portions 20b of longitudinal sealing bands 20 extend from a middle portion of top transverse sealing band 19 on one (14b) of these

regions

14a, 14 b.

During the forming operation to obtain package 1, top transverse sealing band 19 is folded over region 14b and end 20b of longitudinal sealing band 20; in this way, the area 14a has a larger area than the area 14b and is therefore better suited to receive the removable portion 17 and the opening means 16.

In the example shown in fig. 6, the removable portion 17 has a circular profile and is designed to be at least partially separated from the rest of the packaging material, in use, by the opening device 16, to release a pouring opening through which the product is poured.

Removable portion 17 is formed on packaging material 2 before folding and sealing packaging material 2 on itself to form the finished package.

In the present case, removable portion 17 comprises so-called "prelaminated" holes, i.e. circular holes formed only through the base layer of packaging material 2, and which are covered, when packaging material 2 is itself laminated, by a layer of heat-seal plastic material and a layer of oxygen-barrier material, the layers being mutually bonded at the circular holes.

With particular reference to fig. 6, the elementary unit M of packaging material 2 has a rectangular configuration and is defined by:

two side boundary edges 22 which are parallel to the longitudinal direction coinciding with the longitudinal direction a in the vertical state of the basic unit M;

a bottom boundary edge 23 parallel to a transverse direction B orthogonal to the longitudinal direction a; and

a top boundary edge 24 parallel to the transverse direction B and parallel to the bottom boundary edge 23.

The basic unit M of packaging material 2 comprises a plurality of crease lines defining respective fold lines along which packaging material 2 is folded on itself to form finished package 1.

More specifically, the basic unit M comprises two

transverse crease lines

25, 26, said two

transverse crease lines

25, 26 extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction a and dividing the basic unit M itself into the following areas:

a bottom area 27 comprising a bottom crease pattern 28 and configured to form the bottom 3 of the package 1;

a top area 29 comprising a top crease pattern 30 and configured to form the top 4 of the package 1; and

an intermediate zone 31, comprised between the

transverse crease lines

25, 26, between the bottom zone 27 and the top zone 29, and designed to form the side wall portion 6 of the package 1.

The transverse crease line 25 extends parallel to the bottom boundary edge 23 and the top boundary edge 24 and is arranged closer to the bottom boundary edge 23 than the transverse crease line 26. The transverse crease line 25 is configured to define the bottom peripheral profile 8 of the package 1.

In particular, the transverse crease line 25 comprises:

a bottom central portion 25a configured to define a bottom front edge 8a of the packet 1;

two bottom end portions 25b, arranged on opposite sides of bottom central portion 25a, located adjacent to respective side boundary edges 22 and configured to define a bottom rear edge 8b of package 1; and

two bottom side portions 25c, which extend adjacent to opposite sides of the bottom central portion 25a, connect the central portion 25a itself to the respective end portions 25b, and are designed to define respective bottom side edges 8c of the packet 1.

The transverse crease line 26 is arranged closer to the top boundary edge 24 than the transverse crease line 25 and is configured to define the top peripheral contour 9 of the package 1. In particular, the transverse crease line 26 has the shape of a dashed line having:

a top central portion 26a parallel to the transverse direction B and configured to define a top front edge 9a of the packet 1;

two top end portions 26B, parallel to the transverse direction B, arranged closer to the top boundary edge 24 than the top central portion 26a and configured to define a top rear edge 9B of the packet 1; and

two inclined top portions 26c having a configuration inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction a and the transverse direction B, and each inclined portion 26c connecting the top central portion 26a with a respective top end 26B.

As can be seen in fig. 6, the top side portion 26c converges towards the top central portion 26 a.

The basic unit M comprises two further

transverse crease lines

32, 33 extending parallel to the direction B and placed respectively close to the bottom boundary edge 23 and the top boundary edge 24; the

transverse crease lines

32, 33 delimit with the bottom and top boundary edges 23, 24 respective bottom and top transverse sealing

areas

34, 35 configured to define the bottom and top transverse sealing

bands

18, 19 of the package 1.

The bottom crease pattern 28 is designed to create the bottom panel 10 and the bottom lateral flaps 11 of the packet 1. In particular, bottom crease pattern 28 comprises, in a known manner, four

longitudinal crease lines

36a, 36b parallel to longitudinal direction a and extending between

transverse crease lines

25 and 32.

The longitudinal crease line 36b is the innermost crease line, while the longitudinal crease line 36a is located in the vicinity of the opposite side boundary edge 22; the areas between the longitudinal crease lines 36b and the areas delimited by the longitudinal crease lines 36a and the respective side boundary edges 22 are configured to define the bottom panel 10 of the package 1.

In each area delimited between the longitudinal crease lines 36a and 36B, the bottom crease pattern 28 also comprises two

additional crease lines

37, 38 inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction a and the transverse direction B.

In particular, each pair of

additional crease lines

37, 38 has a common one end located on the transverse crease line 32 and an opposite end located at the intersection between the transverse crease line 25 and the

longitudinal crease lines

36a and 36b, respectively. In this way, each pair of

additional crease lines

37, 38 defines a triangle 39 with the section of the transverse crease line 25 comprised between the

additional crease lines

37, 38.

Each area between the

longitudinal crease lines

36a and 36b is configured to define one respective bottom lateral flap 11 of the packet 1.

The top crease pattern 30 is designed to create the top panel 14 and the top lateral flaps 15 of the packet 1. In particular, top crease pattern 30 comprises four

longitudinal crease lines

40a, 40b parallel to longitudinal direction a and extending between

transverse crease lines

26 and 33.

The longitudinal crease line 40b is the innermost crease line, while the longitudinal crease line 40a is located in the vicinity of the opposite lateral boundary edge 22; the areas between the longitudinal crease lines 40b and the areas defined by the longitudinal crease lines 40a and the respective side boundary edges 22 are configured to define the top panel 14 of the package 1. The removable portion 17 is formed in the area of the top region 29 comprised between the longitudinal crease lines 40 b.

In each area defined between longitudinal crease lines 40a and 40B, top crease pattern 30 also comprises two

additional crease lines

41, 42 inclined with respect to both longitudinal direction a and transverse direction B.

In particular, each pair of

additional crease lines

41, 42 has one end co-located on the transverse crease line 33 and an opposite end located at or adjacent to the opposite end of the respective inclined top side portion 26c of the transverse crease line 26.

In this way, each pair of

additional crease lines

41, 42 delimits a triangle 43 with the respective top portion 26c of the transverse crease line 26.

Each area between the

longitudinal crease lines

40a and 40b is configured to define one respective top lateral flap 15 of the package 1.

According to an important aspect of the present invention, the length of the top central portion 26a of the transverse crease line 26 is different from the length of the bottom central portion 25a of the transverse crease line 25; in addition, the length of each bottom portion 25c of the transverse crease line 25 is also different from the length of the projection R of each top portion 26c of the transverse crease line 26 parallel to the longitudinal direction a on a reference line S parallel to the transverse crease line 25 and containing the top central portion 26 a.

In particular, the length of the top central portion 26a is less than the length of the bottom central portion 25 a; in a different way, the length of each projection R is greater than the length of the corresponding bottom portion 25 c.

As shown in fig. 6, the length of the bottom central portion 25a corresponds to the length of the section of the transverse crease line 32 comprised between the longitudinal crease lines 36 b; in a completely similar manner, the length of the top central portion 26a corresponds to the length of the section of the transverse crease line 33 comprised between the longitudinal crease lines 40 b.

The same applies to the bottom portion 25c, the length of which corresponds to the length of the respective section of the transverse crease line 32 comprised between each pair of

longitudinal crease lines

36a and 36 b. Similarly, the length of the projection R corresponds to the length of the respective section comprising the transverse crease line 33 comprised between each pair of

longitudinal crease lines

40a and 40 b.

It is important to note that the length of the top front section Q1 and the top rear section Q2 of the top quadrilateral Q corresponds to the length of the top central portion 26 a; in a similar manner, the length of the top lateral section Q3 of the top quadrilateral Q corresponds to the length of the projection R.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 6, the intermediate zone 31 comprises a central transverse strip 44 having a uniform structure, i.e. without any crease or weakening, and passing through the zones of the intermediate zone 31 itself, designed to form the respective side edge zones 7 of the side wall portions 6 of the packet 1.

Preferably, the intermediate region 31 of the base unit M also comprises a plurality of V-shaped crease lines 45 having respective vertices 46, said respective vertices 46 being located on or in the vicinity of the

transverse crease lines

25, 26 and being designed, at a given point thereof, to define opposite ends of the respective side edge regions 7 delimiting the side wall portions 6 of the packages 1; each V-shaped crease line 45 extends from and in the vicinity of a respective

transverse crease line

25, 26 to the central transverse strip 44 and comprises two legs 47 diverging from a respective vertex 46.

In particular, each V-shaped crease line 45 extends from the respective

transverse crease line

25, 26 towards the other

transverse crease line

26, 25 and has a dimension in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction a greater than zero and less than a quarter, preferably less than a tenth, of the total height of the intermediate region 31, measured in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction a itself.

It is to be noted that in the present description and claims, the term "total height of the intermediate region 31" corresponds to the total height of the package.

In fact, each V-shaped crease line 45 extending from a transverse crease line 25 and the corresponding V-shaped crease line 45 extending from a transverse crease line 26 are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction a.

Preferably, the dimension of each V-shaped crease line 45 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction a is smaller than the maximum height of the bottom region 27 or of the top region 29, measured in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction a itself.

More preferably, the length of each leg of the V-shaped crease line 45 is smaller than the maximum length of the height of the

triangle

39, 43, with reference to their base on the respective

transverse crease line

25, 26.

In the example shown, the dimension of each V-shaped crease line 45 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction a is substantially equal to a tenth of the total height of the intermediate region 31, measured in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction a itself.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, the V-shaped crease line 45 is the only crease line present in the intermediate region 31 at the region designed to define the side edge region 7 between the side wall portions 6 of the package 1.

As there is no continuous longitudinal crease line between the

transverse crease lines

25, 26, the resulting package 1 assumes a circular configuration along the side edge regions 7. The V-shaped crease line 45 performs the following functions: folding of packaging material 2 at the corners between side edge regions 7 of side wall portions 6 and bottom and top

peripheral profiles

8, 9 is facilitated without affecting the circular configuration of side edge regions 7.

In the example shown, the leg 47 of each V-shaped crease line 45 is straight or straight; as a possible alternative, not shown, the leg 47 of each V-shaped crease line 45 may also be curved, preferably with their concavities facing each other.

Preferably, the leg 47 of each V-shaped crease line 45 defines an angle between 45 ° and 90 °.

The reference numeral 1 'in fig. 7 generally designates a different embodiment of a sealed package according to the invention and obtained by means of a basic unit M' (fig. 8) of sheet packaging material 2. Package 1' is similar to package 1, the following description is limited to the differences between them, and identical or corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals, where possible; the same applies to the basic units M' and M.

In particular, the package 1' differs from the package 1 only in that the side edge regions 7 between the side wall portions 6 are defined by respective longitudinal crease lines 50 extending between the

transverse crease lines

25 and 26. Due to the difference in length between the bottom central portion 25a and the top central portion 26a of the

longitudinal crease lines

25, 26 and between the bottom portion 25c of the transverse crease line 25 and the corresponding projection on the reference line S, the longitudinal crease line 50 is slightly inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction a.

In this case, the V-shaped crease lines are not needed, and therefore they are not present.

The reference numeral 1 "in fig. 9 globally designates a different embodiment of a sealed package according to the present invention and obtained by means of a basic unit M" (fig. 10) of sheet packaging material 2. Package 1 "is similar to package 1, the following description is limited to the differences between them, and where possible, the same reference numerals are used for the same or corresponding parts; the same applies to the basic units M' and M.

In particular, the package 1 "differs from the package 1 only in having a top panel 14" extending horizontally and parallel to the bottom panel 10.

In more detail, the top panel 14 "is delimited by a top peripheral profile 9" (formed by edges 9a ", 9B", 9c ") parallel to the bottom peripheral profile 8, and is derived by a transverse crease line 26" also parallel to the transverse crease line 25 and to the transverse direction B.

In this case, the ceiling 14 "extends completely on the reference plane P, so that the projection of the ceiling 14" on the latter plane, i.e. the ceiling quadrilateral Q, coincides with the ceiling 14 "itself.

The same applies to the projection R of the top portion 26c "of the transverse crease line 26" on the reference line S, said projection R coinciding with the top portion 26c "itself; in fact, in this case, the reference line S coincides with the top transverse crease line 26 ".

Number 1 "'in figure 11 indicates as a whole a different embodiment of a sealed package according to the invention and obtained from a basic unit M"' (figure 12) of sheet packaging material 2. Package 1 "' is similar to package 1", the following description is limited to the differences between them and the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding parts where possible; the same applies to the basic units M' "and M".

In particular, the package 1 "' differs from the package 1" only in that the side edge regions 7 between the side wall portions 6 are defined by respective longitudinal crease lines 50 extending between the

transverse crease lines

25 and 26. Even in this case, the longitudinal crease line 50 is slightly inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction a, due to the difference in length between the bottom central portion 25a and the top central portion 26a "of the

transverse crease line

25, 26" and between the bottom portion 25c and the top portion 26c "of the same

transverse crease line

25, 26".

Because of the presence of the longitudinal crease lines 50, no V-shaped crease lines are needed, and therefore they are not present.

From the above description, the advantages of

packages

1, 1 ', 1 "' and of basic units M, M ', M"' of packaging material 2 according to the invention will be clear.

In particular, all the solutions of the

packages

1, 1 ', 1 ", 1'" describe a bottom 3 slightly different from a top 4. In this way, the filling of the transport trays with the

finished packages

1, 1 ', 1 ", 1'" can be optimized, which means that they have a high degree of flexibility in terms of their dimensions, without causing a relevant change in their appearance. For example, the bottom 3, being thinner than the top 4, allows to compensate for the expanding effect of gravity on the pourable product contained in the package when placed in an upright position, which product tends to accumulate at the bottom of the

packages

1, 1 ', 1 "', 1" ".

Clearly, changes may be made to

packages

1, 1 ', 1 "' and to basic units M, M ', M"' of packaging material 2 as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the protective scope defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A sealed package (1, 1 ', 1 ", 1"') containing a pourable food product, comprising a bottom (3), a top (4) and a main portion (5), said main portion (5) being interposed between said bottom (3) and said top (4) and comprising a plurality of side wall portions (6);

2. The sealed package according to claim 1, characterized in that said reference plane (P) comprises at least a top front edge (9a, 9a ") of said profile edges (9a, 9b, 9 c; 9 a", 9b ", 9 c") of said top peripheral profile (9, 9 ").

3. The sealed package according to claim 1, characterized in that the area of said bottom panel (10) is smaller than the area of said top quadrilateral (Q).

4. The sealed package according to claim 2, characterized in that the area of the bottom panel (10) is smaller than the area of the top quadrangle (Q).

5. The sealed package according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the profile edges of the bottom peripheral profile (8) comprise a bottom front edge (8a), a bottom rear edge (8b) and two bottom side edges (8c) and wherein the top quadrilateral (Q) comprises a top front section (Q1) corresponding to the bottom front edge (8a), a top rear section (Q2) corresponding to the bottom rear edge (8b) and two top side sections (Q3) corresponding to the bottom side edges (8c) respectively.

6. The sealed package according to claim 5, characterised in that the bottom side edges (8c) have the same length and the top side sections (Q3) have the same length; and wherein the length of the bottom side edge (8c) is different from the length of the top side section (Q3).

7. The sealed package according to claim 6, characterized in that the length of the bottom side edge (8c) is smaller than the length of the top side section (Q3).

8. The sealed package according to claim 5, characterized in that the bottom front edge (8a) and the bottom rear edge (8b) have the same length and the top front section (Q1) and the top rear section (Q2) have the same length; and wherein the length of the bottom front edge (8a) and the bottom rear edge (8b) is different from the length of the top front section (Q1) and the top rear section (Q2).

9. The sealed package according to claim 6, characterized in that the bottom front edge (8a) and the bottom rear edge (8b) have the same length and the top front section (Q1) and the top rear section (Q2) have the same length; and wherein the length of the bottom front edge (8a) and the bottom rear edge (8b) is different from the length of the top front section (Q1) and the top rear section (Q2).

10. The sealed package of claim 7, wherein the bottom front edge (8a) and the bottom rear edge (8b) have the same length and the top front section (Q1) and the top rear section (Q2) have the same length; and wherein the length of the bottom front edge (8a) and the bottom rear edge (8b) is different from the length of the top front section (Q1) and the top rear section (Q2).

11. The sealed package of claim 8, characterized in that the length of the bottom front edge (8a) and the bottom rear edge (8b) is greater than the length of the top front section (Q1) and the top rear section (Q2).

12. The sealed package of claim 9, wherein the length of the bottom front edge (8a) and the bottom rear edge (8b) is greater than the length of the top front section (Q1) and the top rear section (Q2).

13. The sealed package of claim 10, wherein the length of the bottom front edge (8a) and the bottom rear edge (8b) is greater than the length of the top front section (Q1) and the top rear section (Q2).

14. The sealed package according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the top panel (14) is inclined with respect to the bottom panel (10), the reference plane (P) and the longitudinal direction (A).

15. The sealed package according to claim 5, characterized in that said top panel (14) is inclined with respect to said bottom panel (10), to said reference plane (P) and to said longitudinal direction (A).

16. The sealed package according to claim 6, characterized in that said top panel (14) is inclined with respect to said bottom panel (10), to said reference plane (P) and to said longitudinal direction (A).

17. The sealed package according to claim 7, characterized in that said top panel (14) is inclined with respect to said bottom panel (10), to said reference plane (P) and to said longitudinal direction (A).

18. The sealed package according to claim 8, characterized in that said top panel (14) is inclined with respect to said bottom panel (10), to said reference plane (P) and to said longitudinal direction (A).

19. The sealed package according to claim 9, characterized in that said top panel (14) is inclined with respect to said bottom panel (10), to said reference plane (P) and to said longitudinal direction (a).

20. The sealed package according to claim 10, characterized in that said top panel (14) is inclined with respect to said bottom panel (10), to said reference plane (P) and to said longitudinal direction (a).

21. The sealed package according to claim 11, characterized in that said top panel (14) is inclined with respect to said bottom panel (10), to said reference plane (P) and to said longitudinal direction (a).

22. The sealed package according to claim 12, characterized in that said top panel (14) is inclined with respect to said bottom panel (10), to said reference plane (P) and to said longitudinal direction (a).

23. The sealed package according to claim 13, characterized in that said top panel (14) is inclined with respect to said bottom panel (10), to said reference plane (P) and to said longitudinal direction (a).

24. The sealed package according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the top panel (14 ") is parallel to the bottom panel (10) and in that the top quadrilateral (Q) coincides with the top panel (14").

25. The sealed package according to claim 5, characterised in that said top panel (14 ") is parallel to said bottom panel (10) and in that said top quadrilateral (Q) coincides with said top panel (14").

26. The sealed package according to claim 6, characterized in that said top panel (14 ") is parallel to said bottom panel (10) and in that said top quadrilateral (Q) coincides with said top panel (14").

27. The sealed package according to claim 7, characterized in that said top panel (14 ") is parallel to said bottom panel (10) and in that said top quadrilateral (Q) coincides with said top panel (14").

28. The sealed package according to claim 8, characterized in that said top panel (14 ") is parallel to said bottom panel (10) and in that said top quadrilateral (Q) coincides with said top panel (14").

29. The sealed package according to claim 11, characterized in that said top panel (14 ") is parallel to said bottom panel (10) and in that said top quadrilateral (Q) coincides with said top panel (14").

30. The sealed package according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that each of the side wall portions (6) is delimited by two rounded side edge regions (7) which project outwards.

31. A sealed package according to claim 5, characterised in that each of the side wall portions (6) is delimited by two circular side edge regions (7) which project outwards.

32. A sealed package according to claim 6, characterised in that each of the side wall portions (6) is delimited by two circular side edge regions (7) which project outwards.

33. The sealed package according to claim 7, characterised in that each of the side wall portions (6) is delimited by two circular side edge regions (7) which project outwards.

34. A sealed package according to claim 11, characterised in that each of the side wall portions (6) is delimited by two circular side edge regions (7) which project outwards.

35. A sealed package according to claim 14, characterised in that each of the side wall portions (6) is delimited by two circular side edge regions (7) which project outwards.

36. A sealed package according to claim 24, characterised in that each of the side wall portions (6) is delimited by two circular side edge regions (7) which project outwards.

37. The sealed package according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that each of the side wall portions (6) is delimited by two straight side edge regions (7).

38. A sheet packaging material (M, M ', M "') for producing a sealed package (1, 1 ', 1", 1 "'), said sealed package (1, 1 ', 1", 1 "') containing a pourable food product, said sheet packaging material (M, M ', M"') having a rectangular or square configuration with two boundary edges (22) parallel to a longitudinal direction (a) and two other boundary edges (23, 24) parallel to a transverse direction (B) orthogonal to said longitudinal direction (a); said sheet packaging material (M, M ', M "') comprises at least one bottom transverse crease line (25) and a top transverse crease line (26, 26"), said at least one bottom transverse crease line (25) and top transverse crease line (26, 26 ") extending transversely to said longitudinal direction (a) and dividing said sheet packaging material (M, M ', M"') into the following regions:

39. The sheet packaging material of claim 38, characterized in that the length of each of said bottom side portions (25c) of said bottom transverse crease line (25) is different from the length of the projection (R) of each of said top side portions (26c, 26c ") of said top transverse crease line (26, 26") parallel to said longitudinal direction (a) on a reference line (S) parallel to said bottom transverse crease line (25) and containing at least said top central portion (26a, 26a ").

40. The sheet packaging material of claim 39, characterized in that each of said bottom side portions (25c) has a length smaller than the length of the respective said projection (R).

41. The sheet packaging material of any one of claims 38-40, characterized in that the length of said bottom central portion (25a) of said bottom transverse crease line (25) is greater than the length of said top central portion (26a, 26a ") of said top transverse crease line (26, 26").

42. The sheet packaging material of any one of claims 38-40, wherein said top side portion (26c) of said top transverse crease line (26) is inclined with respect to both said longitudinal direction (A) and said transverse direction (B) and converges towards said top central portion (26 a).

43. The sheet packaging material of claim 41, characterized in that said top side portion (26c) of said top transverse crease line (26) is inclined with respect to both said longitudinal direction (A) and said transverse direction (B) and converges towards said top central portion (26 a).

44. The sheet packaging material of any one of claims 38-40, wherein said top transverse crease line (26 ") is parallel to said bottom transverse crease line (25) and coincides with a reference line (S), and wherein a projection (R) of said top side portion (26 c") on said reference line (S) coincides with said top side portion (26c ").

45. The sheet packaging material of any one of claims 38-40, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of longitudinal crease lines (50), said plurality of longitudinal crease lines (50) extending between said bottom transverse crease line (25) and said top transverse crease line (26, 26 ") and being configured to define respective side edge regions (7) of said side wall portions (6) of said packages (1 ', 1"').

46. The sheet packaging material of claim 41, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of longitudinal crease lines (50), said plurality of longitudinal crease lines (50) extending between said bottom transverse crease line (25) and said top transverse crease line (26, 26 ") and being configured to define respective side edge regions (7) of said side wall portions (6) of said packages (1 ', 1"').

47. The sheet packaging material of claim 42, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of longitudinal crease lines (50), said plurality of longitudinal crease lines (50) extending between said bottom transverse crease line (25) and said top transverse crease line (26, 26 ") and being configured to define respective side edge regions (7) of said side wall portions (6) of said packages (1 ', 1"').

48. The sheet packaging material of claim 43, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of longitudinal crease lines (50), said plurality of longitudinal crease lines (50) extending between said bottom transverse crease line (25) and said top transverse crease line (26, 26 ") and being configured to define respective side edge regions (7) of said side wall portions (6) of said packages (1 ', 1"').

49. The sheet packaging material of claim 44, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of longitudinal crease lines (50), said plurality of longitudinal crease lines (50) extending between said bottom transverse crease line (25) and said top transverse crease line (26, 26 ") and being configured to define respective side edge regions (7) of said side wall portions (6) of said packages (1 ', 1"').

50. The sheet packaging material of claim 49, characterized in that said longitudinal crease line (50) is slightly inclined with respect to said longitudinal direction (A).