EP3208211A1 - Film packaging and method for packaging a product in film packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a film package (1) having a front side (2) extending in a longitudinal direction (l) and a transverse direction (q) and a rear side (3) extending in the longitudinal direction (l) and in the transverse direction (q). In this case, the front side (2) and the rear side (3) are connected to one another by a transverse sealing seam (6) running in the transverse direction (q), which forms a terminal edge (5) of the film package (1). According to the invention, in each case at least two weakening lines (7) extending in the longitudinal direction (1) are arranged on the front side (2) and on the back side (3), which extend over the entire front side (2) and the entire rear side (3) in the longitudinal direction (3). l) extend. The invention further relates to a method for packaging a product (14) in a particular foil packaging (1) according to the invention.

Description

The invention relates to a film package having a front side extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and a rear side extending in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction. The front and the back are joined together by a transverse seal running in the transverse direction. The transverse sealing seam simultaneously forms an end edge of the foil packaging in the sense that the transverse sealing seam in the longitudinal direction delimits a packaging interior arranged between the front side and the rear side for receiving a product towards the environment. It is harmless if the front and / or the back protrude in the longitudinal direction of a side facing away from the packaging interior of the transverse sealing seam. The invention also provides a method for packaging a product, in particular in a film package according to the invention.

A generic film packaging can be produced particularly easily in a so-called "Form Fill and Seal" (FFS) process and filled at the same time. In this case, a film material for forming a front side extending in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction and a rear side extending in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction is supplied, so that a packaging interior is formed between the front side and the rear side. The product is arranged in the packaging interior space between the front side and the rear side, and the packaging interior is subsequently closed at least by a transverse sealing seam which connects the front side to the rear side and extends in the transverse direction.

Such methods are used in automatic packaging lines on an industrial scale to provide any products with easy-to-use outer packaging of a film material. The method is also suitable for any type of product. Thus, cuboid or bar-shaped products are particularly well suited for such a packaging process. But also bulk goods such as pellets, powders and even liquids can be processed in an FFS process, if it runs vertically as a so-called VFFS (Vertical Form Fill Seal) process. The film packaging is initially prefabricated so that it is tightly closed on the side and underside, so that the pourable product can be filled from above. The film packaging is then closed by a cross-seam on the head side.

In order to be able to withstand the high mechanical requirements due to transport and bag forming, it is preferred to use a film material with a high strength for carrying out FFS processes. Oriented or biaxially oriented polymer films such as OPET (oriented polyethylene terephthalate) or BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) are preferably used. Also cellulose-based film layers are particularly well suited for the application.

However, these materials have the disadvantage that they have an unpredictable cracking behavior. Although layers of material from the materials mentioned can easily be torn, the crack propagation then takes place largely at random. Even in the multi-layer film composite with other functional layers, such as sealing or cover layers, the cracking behavior is determined almost exclusively by the brittle layer. Therefore, film packages produced in the FFS process can only be opened to a very limited extent by tearing open by the user. Rather, it is in the Usually more convenient to open the film packaging by loosening at least one sealed seam. This is known, for example, in the field of snack packaging.

Nevertheless, it is desirable to provide a defined tear behavior even in modern FFS packaging. This may be necessary to reproducibly produce an opening of sufficient size, such as with bar-shaped products. As a result, the product can be removed, for example, as a whole. Even with pourable goods, a defined opening is essential to prevent uncontrolled dumping. At the same time, however, easy manufacturability should also be maintained.

The solution of this object and the subject of the invention is a film package according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 11. Preferred embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

The generic foil packaging has a front side extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and a rear side extending in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction. The front and back are joined together by a transverse transverse seam forming a terminal edge of the film package. According to the invention, at least two longitudinally extending lines of weakness are respectively arranged on the front side and the rear side and extend in the longitudinal direction over the entire front side and the entire rear side. The front side and the rear side preferably have at least one plastic layer with an oriented polymer, in particular OPET or BOPP. Due to the arrangement according to the invention, even in film packaging with a film material that tends to an uncontrolled crack formation, such as OPET or BOPP, for example, a secure and reproducible tearing behavior can be ensured. The transverse sealing seam forming an end edge can be torn easily and at a defined point, after which a tear is guided between two adjacent weakening lines.

Weakening lines are linear or strip-shaped areas of the film material whose mechanical resistance is reduced. A line of weakness can control crack propagation within a sheet material, as cracks tend to propagate to the areas of least mechanical strength. A weakening line can be produced, in particular, by reducing the material thickness and / or local changes in the material properties, as can be done in the production of the film material or else subsequently. Weakening lines can be formed in particular continuously or in sections interrupted. A sectionally interrupted line of weakness is to be understood in the context of the invention as a perforation, which has a uniformly recurring pattern over its entire extent in the longitudinal direction.

The respective at least two weakening lines are expediently arranged on the same outer surface of the front side or the rear side. They preferably have the same penetration depth into the material of the front side or the rear side and, in the case of a multilayer structure, extend into the same partial layers. Particularly preferably, the at least two weakening lines are constructed identically.

Characterized in that according to the invention a plurality of lines of weakness are provided both at the front and at the back, a particularly advantageous opening of the film packaging can be made possible. there The film package is divided by tearing between the two lines of weakness along the longitudinal direction. Thus, a bar-shaped product in partial opening from the head side only partially protrude from the opening and are thus consumed piecewise. For example, a food bar can be eaten like a partially opened banana. Alternatively, after completely separating one half of the bag package, the product as a whole may be removed in the transverse direction.

This is particularly advantageous if the film package has a greater extent in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal extent) than in the transverse direction (transverse extent). A particular advantage can be achieved if the longitudinal extent is more than 1.5 times, in particular more than twice the transverse extent, since then already slight deviations in the crack propagation can prevent that the film package can be separated clean longitudinally.

By parallel guidance of at least two longitudinally extending lines of weakness respectively at the front and back can be ensured in the film package according to the invention in spite of a stiff film component, a roughly rectilinear tear behavior. At the same time the risk of tearing along the weakening lines during the packaging process is minimal, since the film material is mainly stressed and stabilized by the transversely extending connecting tools for the production of the transverse seam. Shearing forces or bending moments perpendicular to the front or back, which could cause crack initiation, hardly occur. This is all the more true if the longitudinal direction of the front side and the back side is identical to a machine direction in which the film material is transported during the packaging process.

The transverse sealing seam preferably extends over the entire width of the front side and the rear side. This way, a tight seal can be achieved at this end edge without additional aids. In addition, the film packaging is stabilized by the transverse sealing seam over the entire width. Depending on the application, the transverse seam can be created by hot or cold sealing. An adhesive bond is also possible within the scope of the invention.

Particularly preferably, a tear-in aid is arranged on the transverse sealing seam. As a result, the initiation of a crack in the transverse sealing seam can be simplified. The tearing aid can be formed, for example, as at least one notch or a zigzag-shaped cut edge. This can extend over the entire width of the transverse sealing seam or be limited to areas in which the crack initiation is to take place preferably. In particular, the tearing aid is arranged only in the region between the weakening lines and not in marginal areas between the lateral outer edges of the foil packaging and the nearest weakening line.

Particularly preferably, the weakening lines are aligned parallel to one another. As a result, a corridor of constant width can be made available for the crack propagation.

It is particularly preferred to arrange equidistantly at least three lines of weakness in the transverse direction on the front side and / or the back side. As a result, the position of the crack initiation in a larger area can be left to the user. Nevertheless, a crack once initiated will be in the channel formed by the two nearest lines of weakness forwarded almost linearly to the opposite end edge of the foil packaging.

Preferably, the lines of weakness in the transverse direction over the entire width of the front and / or the back are distributed. As a result, the user is particularly free in his choice in which area he wants to tear the packaging.

In a further preferred embodiment, the weakening lines in the transverse direction are restricted to one area. In this way, the user can be instructed to tear open the foil packaging in the designated area. This can additionally be supported by a suitably positioned tear aid and / or an optical marking of the area. This is particularly in question when the product may conveniently be touched directly only in certain areas. Depending on the requirement, the area in which the lines of weakness are arranged is one-half. It may also be appropriate to provide the lines of weakness in the middle or in one or both outer thirds of the film package.

Preferably, at least the outer, that is, a lateral edge of the packaging closest, weakening lines are aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction. As a result, the crack propagation always takes place in such a way that the lateral edges of the bag are not reached. As a result, a complete division of the film packaging is possible.

It is particularly preferred if each weakening line on the front side is aligned congruently with a weakening line on the rear side.

This results in the same boundary conditions on the front as well as on the back in the crack formation.

In a preferred embodiment, the front side and the rear side are formed from a single film section. This film section can be consistently provided over its entire width with lines of weakness. The film section may conveniently be closed by a so-called fin seam, in which a part of the inside of the film section is joined to another part of the inside of the film section, or an overlapping area to a film tube.

Preferably, the front side and the rear side are connected at least at one side edge by a side fold. The gusset may be formed from the same film section as the front and / or the back or from a separate film section. A gusset can increase the interior of the bag and improve the stacking behavior. Preferably, the gusset is formed without weakening lines to limit the crack propagation on the front and back. Alternatively or additionally, the film package may be equipped on the opposite side of the transverse seam with a floor stand.

A preferred film material for forming a film package according to the invention is a multi-layer laminate having an outer layer of BOPP having a thickness of 20 microns and an inner layer of metallized biaxially oriented polypropylene (metBOPP) with a thickness of also 20 microns connected to the outer layer by a laminating adhesive layer. The metallized polymer layer serves as a barrier to a water vapor and oxygen passage. The outer layer may be provided on the inner layer facing the inside with a print. The outer layer is substantially transparent so that the pressure is visible from the outside while being protected from damage by the outer layer. If the film package is to be closed in the cold-sealing process, a layer of cold-seal adhesive may additionally be applied to the inside of the inner layer.

The invention is based on a method for packaging a product in a film package, in which a film material is fed to form a front side extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and a rear side extending in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction, such that between the front side and the back is formed a packaging interior. The product is placed between the front and back in the packaging interior. Subsequently, the packaging interior is closed by at least one transverse seam which connects the front side to the back and extends in the transverse direction. According to the invention, at least two longitudinally extending weakening lines are arranged on the front side and the rear side, which extend in the longitudinal direction over the entire length of the front side and the rear side. The method is particularly suitable for providing a film packaging according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the film material for the front and the back is fed endlessly. After packaging, the foil package with the product contained therein is cut to length after or during formation of the transverse seal. Here, the film material is severed in the transverse seal seam. Alternatively, it is also possible to sever the film material only partially, in particular in the form of a perforation. As a result, a predetermined breaking point is created, which can be opened later by the user or a machine.

Conveniently, the full or partial parting line passes through the sealed seam. As a result, remain on both sides of the dividing line areas where the front and the back are connected. As a result, a part of the transverse sealing seam, which closes off the pouch interior of the foil packaging, at the same time serve as a footsealing seam for delimiting a foil pouch produced subsequently in a continuous process. At the same time, the sealing seam forms the end of the film packaging in the longitudinal direction, so that the front and the back are not separable from each other and can be torn open together.

Furthermore, it is expedient to provide the foil wrapper at an end edge with a tear-in. This can be configured for example as a zigzag cut. This can be done particularly preferably simultaneously with the cutting to length of a continuously produced film packaging. Preferably, the tearing aids are arranged so that they can be effective between those longitudinally extending lines of weakness. As a result, a crack initiation between at least two lines of weakness is favored, so that the crack can not then emigrate uncontrollably to a lateral end of the film packaging.

Preferably, the film material for the front and / or the back is supplied with prefabricated lines of weakness as a semi-finished product. As a result, the packaging system can be made more compact as a whole, since the film material does not first have to be produced and / or reworked. It is also particularly easy to use a prefabricated multilayer laminate as the film material, in which the weakening lines are formed on inner layers or inner boundary surfaces of layers. This is a uniform, wertigerer outward through the film laminate Impression created. Moreover, if the longitudinal direction coincides with the machine direction, the feeder can be made very simple, since the front and back do not have to be arranged in a specific position relative to each other.

In another preferred embodiment, the lines of weakness are introduced into the front and / or the back before filling the product. Laser cutting, punching, mechanical material removal (so-called scraping) or mechanical embossing are particularly suitable for this purpose. Again, it is advantageous if the longitudinal direction coincides with the machine direction, since then the lines of weakness can be introduced continuously and without synchronization.

Conveniently, a film tube is formed prior to filling the product from a single web of material comprising the front and the back. The film tube can be closed by a so-called fin seam or by an overlap connection.

Fig. 1

Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Folienverpackung,

Fig. 2A

erfindungsgemäßes Verfahren in einer Ausgestaltung als VFFS-Prozess,

Fig. 2B

Ausgestaltung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens als HFFS-Prozess,

Fig. 3A

geöffnete Folienverpackung in einer weiteren Ausführungsform und

Fig. 3B

teilgeöffnete Folienverpackung in noch einer weiteren Ausführungsform.

The invention will be explained with reference to drawings, which illustrate only embodiments. They show schematically:

Fig. 1

Top view of a foil packaging according to the invention,

Fig. 2A

method according to the invention in one embodiment as a VFFS process,

Fig. 2B

Embodiment of the method according to the invention as HFFS process,

Fig. 3A

opened film package in a further embodiment and

Fig. 3B

partially opened film package in yet another embodiment.

The Fig. 1 shows a film package 1 according to the invention with a front side 2 extending in a longitudinal direction l and a transverse direction q. The extent of the film package 1 in the longitudinal direction l (longitudinal extent) is greater than the extent in the transverse direction q (transverse extent). Behind the front side 2 and covered by this a back 3 is arranged, which also extends in the longitudinal direction l and the transverse direction q. The front 2 and the back 3 are connected to each other at lateral edges 4 of the film package 1 to form a circumferential film tube. At an upper and lower end edge 5, the front side 2 and the back 3 are connected to each other by a transverse sealing seam 6. As a result, the arranged between the front 2 and the back 3 packaging interior is sealed. According to the invention, a plurality of weakening lines 7 are arranged both on the front side 2 and on the rear side 3, which extend in the longitudinal direction 1 over the entire front side 2 and the entire rear side 3.

In the present embodiment, the transverse seam 6 extends both at the top and at the bottom over the entire width of the front side 2 and the back 3 in the transverse direction q. At the end edges 5, a tear-in aid 15 in the form of a zigzag cut extending into the transverse sealing seams 6 is provided, which likewise extends over the entire width of the film package 1 in the transverse direction q. The weakening lines 7 are arranged parallel to each other and to the longitudinal direction l of the film package 1 and distributed over the entire width of the film package 1 in the transverse direction q between the outer edges 4 equidistant.

In Fig. 2A an embodiment of an inventive method is shown, with which an embodiment of a film package according to the invention can be produced. A film material 8 for forming both the front side 2 and the back 3 of the film package 1 is withdrawn as a prefabricated semi-finished product from a roll. In this case, weakening lines 7, which extend parallel to the transport direction of the film material 8, are already arranged in the film material 8. The web of the film material 8 is subsequently folded over in such a way that its lateral edges 9 are brought into contact with one another in such a way that the inner surfaces of the film material 8 adjoining the lateral edges 9 bear flat against one another. In this area, the film material is connected to itself by a so-called fin seam, so that a circumferential film tube 10 is formed. In these, a product 14 can be filled through a hopper 11, which may also be pourable. In a subsequent combined cutting and sealing station 12, a transverse sealing seam 6 is formed transversely to the transport direction on the film tube 10 and at the same time divided along its extent approximately in the middle. As a result, a film package 1 according to the invention is separated from the film tube 10 and this closed at the same time with a top-side transverse seam. Likewise, a Fußsiegelnaht is formed simultaneously, which closes the remaining film tube 10 and thus forms the basis for a subsequently produced film bag 1.

A synchronization between the movement of the web 8 and the sealing station 12 is not necessary, since the lines of weakness 7 in anyway Transport direction run. It is also possible to produce film packages 1 of different sizes from the same film material 8 by varying the timing of the sealing station relative to the transport speed of the film material 8.

In Fig. 2B an alternative process design is shown as a HFFS (horizontal FFS) system. In this case, the film material intended for forming the front side 2 and for forming the rear side 3 is supplied as separate film webs 8, 8 '. Both are provided with already extending in the direction of transport lines of weakness 7. On the guided on a conveyor belt 13 sheet material 8 for forming the back 3, a product 14 is placed by means of a feed, not shown. This is then covered with the film material 8 'to form the front side 2. The front side 2 and the back 3 are connected to each other in the region of the lateral edges 4 by longitudinal sealing seams. Subsequently, in a combined cutting and sealing station 12, a transversely extending transversely to the transport direction transverse seam is introduced, which connects the front 2 with the back 3. At the same time, the transverse sealing seam 6 is divided to lengthen a single film packaging 1 along its longitudinal direction.

The FIGS. 3A and 3B show possible variants for opening a film package according to the invention in two embodiments. In the Fig. 3A both the weakening lines 7 and the tearing aids 15 are arranged only in the left half of the film package 1. The film package can be divided by tearing at a tear-in 15 and a running at or between the lines of weakness 7 tear in this area. Thereafter, the smaller part of the film package is removed, so that a - in the embodiment cuboid - product 14 from the packaging interior between the front 2 and the back 3 side protrudes. The product 14 can already be used in this state or taken in the transverse direction q.

In a further variant according to Fig. 3B the weakening lines 7 and the tear aid 15 are arranged only in a middle third of the front side 2 and the back 3 of the film package 1. The film package 1 is partially torn from a closing edge 5 forth and pulled apart at the top. As a result, the product 14 which is bar-shaped in the exemplary embodiment projects out of the opening in the longitudinal direction l. The product 14 can thus be handled safely without having to touch it.

Claims (15)

A film package (1) having a front side (2) extending in a longitudinal direction (I) and a transverse direction (q) and a rear side (3) extending in the longitudinal direction (I) and in the transverse direction (q), the front side (FIG. 2) and the back (3) by a transverse in the transverse direction (4) extending transverse seam (6) are interconnected, which forms a terminal edge (5) of the film package (1), characterized in that at the front (2) and at at least two weakening lines (7) extending in the longitudinal direction (I) are arranged on the rear side (3), which extend over the entire front side (2) and the entire rear side (3) in the longitudinal direction (I). Foil packaging (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the transverse sealing seam (6) extends over the entire width of the front side (2) and the rear side (3). Foil packaging (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on the transverse sealing seam (6) a tearing aid (15) is arranged. Film packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the weakening lines (7) are aligned parallel to each other. Foil packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that on the front side (2) and the back (3) in each case at least three lines of weakness (7) are arranged, wherein the lines of weakness (7) on the front side (2). and / or the rear side (3) are arranged equidistantly in the transverse direction (q) between a leftmost weakening line and an extreme right weakening line. Film package (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the weakening lines (7) in the transverse direction (q) over the entire width of the front side (2) and / or the back (3) are distributed. Film packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the weakening lines (7) in the transverse direction (q) are limited to one area. Film package (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least the outer weakening lines (7) are aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction (L). Film packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the front side (2) and the back side (3) are formed from a single film section. Film package (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the front side (2) and the back (3) are connected to one another at least on one side edge (4) by a side fold. A method of packaging a product (14) in a film package (1), in particular according to claims 1 to 10, wherein a film material (8) for forming in a longitudinal direction (l) and a transverse direction (q) front side (2) and a in the longitudinal direction (l) and the transverse direction (q) extending rear side (3) is supplied, so that between the front (2) and the back (3) a packaging interior is formed, wherein the product between the front (2) and the Rear side (3) arranged in the packaging interior and the packaging interior then at least by a front side (2) with the back (3) connecting and in the transverse direction (q) extending transverse seal seam (6) is closed, characterized in that on the supplied film material (8) for forming the front side (2) and the supplied film material (8, 8 ') for forming the back (3) respectively at least two longitudinally extending weakening lines (7) are arranged, which extend over the entire length of the front side (2) and the back (3) in the longitudinal direction. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that the film material (8, 8 ') for the front (2) and the back (3) is fed endlessly and that the film package (1) with the product (14) contained therein during or after the formation of the transverse seal seam (6) is cut to length. A method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the film material (8, 8 ') for the front (2) and the back (3) are supplied with prefabricated weakening lines (7) as a semi-finished product. A method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the weakening lines (7) in the front (2) and the back (3) before filling the product, in particular by laser cutting, punching, mechanical material removal or mechanical embossing, are introduced. Method according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that before the filling of the product (14) from a single web of the film material (8) a film tube (10) is formed, the front side (2) and the back (3) includes.

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