FR2791646A1 - Pop-open product pack comprises gas-containing flexible cover with pre-defined central opening line, is grasped firmly by hands and bent, compressing gas and causing instant rupture along line - Google Patents

Abstract

There is sufficient gas to be compressed when the consumer grasps the pack (2) and bends it, causing instant film (4) rupture along much of the opening line (24). An Independent claim is included for the method of packing, and for a packing machine.

Description

The invention relates to articles comprising at

  minus one product packaged with a flexible film.

  There is known, for example from document EP-0 398 447 in FIG. 6, an article comprising a confectionery wrapped in a flexible film forming a sealed enclosure containing the product. The film presents a precut line. The film can be easily torn by the consumer by following the precut line for quick access to the product. This type of packaging is advantageous. However, we are trying to allow access

even faster to the product.

  An object of the invention is to provide an article in which the product is suitably protected by its packaging before opening but offering faster access to the product at the desired time and without a

tool is required.

  In order to achieve this goal, an article is provided according to the invention comprising at least one product and a flexible packaging film forming a sealed enclosure containing the product (s) and an amount of gas, the film having a pre-cut line, in which the quantity of gas is chosen so that a consumer can grip the article so as to compress it to increase a pressure of the gas to such an extent that a bending on the article causes an instantaneous rupture more of the film

of the precut line.

  Thus, the enclosure protects the product until the voluntary opening by the consumer. When the consumer wants to access the product, pressure then bending on the article causes the opening of the packaging along the pre-cut line. This opening is instantaneous. It also produces an attractive characteristic burst-like noise due to the sudden release of gas. The breaking line

  creates clean and neat opening edges.

  The article may also have at least any of the following characteristics: - the article is arranged so that the rupture takes place only on the precut line; the film having a joint line contiguous to the precut line, the article is arranged so that the rupture takes place over the entire part of the precut line situated outside the joint line; the article having a larger dimension, the precut line extends in a plane perpendicular to this dimension; - The article comprises at least two products, the precut line extending opposite a space between the two products or two of the products; - The article includes two products of substantially the same dimensions; - The film has at least two layers of material superimposed; - the precut line extends mainly in one of the layers, with reference to a thickness of the film; - the precut line extends along the entire thickness of one of the layers; the pre-cut line extends in one of the layers defining an external face of the article, preferably without extending in another of the layers defining an internal face of the article; - The film has a polypropylene layer in which extends the precut line, preferably oriented in a direction facilitating the breaking of the film along the precut line; the film has a layer of polyethylene not crossed by the precut line; - the or each product is a food product, in particular a confectionery; and - the or each product is a frozen confectionery. The article according to the invention, which allows very rapid opening, is particularly well suited for containing an iced food product, the melting of which

  accelerates during the entire time it is handled.

  According to the invention, a packaging method is also provided, in which a sealed enclosure is produced by means of a flexible film by enclosing in the enclosure at least one product and gas, the film having a precut, and in which encloses a quantity of gas adapted so that a consumer can grasp the finished article so as to compress it to increase a pressure of the gas so much that a bending on the article causes an instantaneous rupture of the film on

  more of the pre-cut line.

  Advantageously, the film is conformed before closing the enclosure so as to enclose the quantity

gas.

  A packaging machine is further provided according to the invention comprising means for producing a sealed enclosure from a flexible film and for enclosing at least one product and gas in the enclosure, the film having a precut, the machine being arranged to enclose in the enclosure an amount of gas suitable for a consumer to grasp the finished article so as to compress it to increase a pressure of the gas to such an extent that a bending on the article causes an instantaneous rupture film on

  more of the pre-cut line.

  Other features and benefits of

  the invention will also appear in the description

  following of a preferred embodiment given by way of nonlimiting example. In the accompanying drawings: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of an article according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a local cross-sectional view of the article of Figure 1 showing the film thickness at the precut; - Figures 3, 4 and 5 are three views showing the handling of the product of Figure 1 by a consumer to open it; and - Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a machine for producing the article of the

figure 1.

  Illustrated in Figure 1 an article 2 according to the invention as manufactured and before opening for consumption. The article comprises a film 4 folded over and welded onto itself, forming a sealed closed enclosure, in the general shape of an elongated rectangular parallelepiped. According to a configuration known per se, the film is welded to itself on two longitudinal edges 6 extending face to face by forming a longitudinal joint 8 not visible in Figure 1 but visible in Figure 6. Two opposite sides of the 'enclosure are welded to each other at each longitudinal end of the enclosure

  by forming two transverse joints 10.

  Referring to Figure 2, the film 4 is a composite film here comprising two layers of material in any area of the film. The film includes a layer 12

  forming an external face 14 of the film 4 and of the article 2.

  This layer is here a oriented polypropylene layer, 15 μm thick, having undergone a "corona" treatment on its two faces. The inner side of this

  layer 12 is covered with a solvent-free lacquer 16.

  The film comprises a second layer of material 18 covering the lacquer 16 so that it is interposed between the two layers 12 and 18. The second layer 18 is here a layer of low polyethylene

  density, white in the mass, 40 μm thick.

  This layer has a face 20 forming an internal face of the film and of the article. This face 20 is completely covered with a layer of adhesive allowing cold sealing (or alternatively hot) of the film on itself. The lacquer 16 ensures the mutual bonding of the layers 12 and 18. The different elements making up the film 4 and the different techniques applied to them are known per se and

will not be described here.

  The film 4 has a precut or weakening line 24. This line 24 here extends in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the article 2, halfway between its two longitudinal ends 10. The line 24 has has been illustrated in dotted lines in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6 for clarity but it is in fact essentially invisible on article 2. The precut line 24 here extends only in the thickness of the outer layer 12 and remains at a distance from the inner layer 18 which remains intact. The precut line here extends throughout the thickness of the outer layer 12, from the outer face 14, to the lacquer 16. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 6, it extends over the entire width of the film 4, from one to the other of the longitudinal edges 6 before their welding, and in the longitudinal joint 8 after welding on the finished article. However, we can make sure that the precut line is not

  operating in the joint 8 for opening the article.

  The precut line 24 is produced by laser according to a technique known per se and for example according to the techniques described in the documents

EP-0 357 841 and EP-398 447.

  Article 2 in this case contains two products 26 which are identical to each other. These are frozen chocolate candies in the form of bars. The two bars 26 have their length parallel to the length of the article 2 and extend along this length following one another and on either side of the plane of the precut line 24 which forms thus a plane of symmetry for the two bars 26 as well as for the article. The sealed enclosure formed by the film 4 contains the two products 26 as well as a certain amount of gas which is here air. Preferably, this amount of gas will not be so large as to give the article a fully swollen shape. Thus, the shape of the bars 26 can be partially guessed under the flexible film 4 which remains partially in contact with

the bars.

  To open article 2, the consumer has the possibility of grasping it with two hands near its respective longitudinal ends 10, as illustrated in FIG. 3, leaving the median section 28 of article 2 free, as he would grasp a stick in order to bend or even break it. The quantity of gas in the enclosure is sufficient for the grip of the article at its longitudinal end sections to cause, under finger pressure, the swelling of the middle section 28 carrying the pre-cut line 24 and left free . The swelling does not consist of a local extension of the film, which moreover does not need to be elastic. It is only a question of the appearance of a significant local tension in the film at the level of the median section 28. The median swelling occurs because the gas expelled from the ends 10 of article 2 by the compression exerted by the fingers fill the middle section of the enclosure and the fact that this manual entry causes a slight increase in the pressure of the gas in the enclosure which generates the tensioning of the film around the cutting line. Preferably, the article will be taken in hand with the longitudinal joint 8 near the thumbs, that is to say towards the

consumer body.

  At this stage, it is sufficient for the consumer to initiate a maneuver tending to bend the bar as

  if he wanted to break it in the opposite direction to his body.

  This maneuver, barely started, instantly produces the complete rupture of the film 4 along the pre-cut line 28, so that the consumer now has two half-articles 2 in hand, each consisting of a half-enclosure open on its cross section. and by

  a bar 26 accessible through this opening.

  The brutality of this opening is due to the fact that the bending initiated on the article produced in the film locally near the zone 30 opposite the consumer an increase in stresses tending to distance the two blanks from the precut. These stresses, extremely localized, weaken this zone 30 and break the film in its place. The cutting thus initiated then propagates over the entire precut line 28

  up to the longitudinal joint 8 where it stops.

  However, a pull on the two half-articles 2 tending to move them away from one another then makes it very easy to break the pre-cut line on its part not yet broken, including at the joint 8 to completely separate the two half-articles like on

Figures 4 and 5.

  The speed of the opening depends on both the depth of the precut 24 and the mechanical fragility of the film 4 in its part remaining to be broken, here mainly the inner layer 18. In the present example, the precut outer layer 12 is the part of the film which provides most of the mechanical strength of the film. The relatively fragile internal layer 18 provides most of the tightness of the enclosure. Note that this seal is

  therefore preserved until opening.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the configuration of the article after opening into two half-articles 2 is attractive. It allows the two bars 26 to be manipulated without direct contact with them. Products can be easily shared between two consumers. The two half-enclosures facilitate hygienic consumption of the products by reducing contact with the fingers. The sudden escape of the gas at the opening of the article 2 produces a very characteristic, attractive, and reproducible bursting noise so

  that it can even recognize the article.

  The film 4 is arranged in a manner known per se to satisfy the following conventional criteria: - aptitude for handling in a machine; compatibility with food; - aptitude for printing; - reduced cost; and

  - sensory aspect (tactile, visual, etc.).

  For the manufacture of the article, each layer 12 and 18 is laminated and manufactured separately. The two layers are then glued with lacquer 16. The film

  14 is then printed and receives the adhesive layer 22.

  Coiled on itself, it then forms a mother reel, for example 1 meter wide. The mother reel is then unwound, cut, then rewound into several daughter reels (width 124 mm). The pre-cut line 24 is produced by laser while the film

  is unwound before being wound on the daughter coils.

  This precut takes place perpendicular to the direction of

  unwinding of the film, on the outer layer 12.

  Each daughter coil is then used for packaging the bars on a machine as illustrated in FIG. 6, of a general type "Form fill and seal" (forming, filling, sealing) well known in itself. Film 4 runs from top to bottom, taking the shape of a "U" chute. Pressure rollers and welders 31 seal the film on itself along its longitudinal edges 6. A shaping device 32, not illustrated in detail, in known manner gives a voluminous shape to the profile of the enclosure, while the two bars 26 are introduced into the enclosure. Transverse sealing bars 34 weld and cut the tube formed by the film 4 to make the transverse joints 10 and separate the finished articles 2 from each other. The amount of gas trapped in the enclosure on this occasion depends in particular on the shape of the shaper 32 and the conditions of the introduction of the bars 26 (fall height, etc.). It will be noted that it is known per se to voluntarily trap a certain amount of gas in a sealed package for

give it some form.

  Of course, many modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Thus, the packaged product could be any food product, possibly not frozen, whether sweet or savory. The product could be an object not

  food such as a toy, clothing, utensil.

  The product may be consumable (in particular disposable

  after a reduced number of uses) or not.

  The article may include a single product. This may have sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the stresses exerted on the packaging during opening. On the contrary, it can be expected that the single product will break when opened, for example if the product is a chocolate bar. The article may include more than two products, for example three or four. We can then provide at least two precut lines 24 occupying different positions relative to the products to allow the consumer to open the article of his choice closer to one of the articles (in the center, near a

end, etc.).

  The position of the precut line 24 can be modified to place it in the off-center position, near one end, etc. We can change its orientation. Thus, its plane can be oblique, even longitudinal. The precut line may be no

plane, that is to say left.

  The pre-cut line can be made in only part of the thickness of the layer 12 so that this layer is not pre-cut on a fraction

of its thickness.

  The pre-cut line can be made to extend from the internal face of the film so as to be completely invisible from the outside of the article. i1 The film may comprise a single layer of a conventional type suitably chosen. On the contrary, it

  may include three or more overlapping layers.

  The precut line may be interrupted before arriving at the longitudinal edges 6 of the film, or even before the longitudinal joint, or even in several discontinuous sections, the natural tendency of the film to be cut under the effect of its orientation then taking over. at the ends of the precut section (s),

when opening.

  The appropriate quantity of gas enclosed in the enclosure can be introduced into it by an injection nozzle. The enclosure may have various shapes, for example cubic, flat (of the bag type), etc. It is not necessary for the enclosure to be completely sealed before opening. It suffices that this sealing allows a tensioning of the film by local compression for the opening by

bursting.

Claims (17)

  1. Article (2) comprising at least one product (26) and a flexible packaging film (4) forming a sealed enclosure containing the product (s) and a quantity of gas, the film having a precut line ( 24), characterized in that the quantity of gas is chosen so that a consumer can grasp the article (2) so as to compress it to increase a pressure of the gas 10 to such an extent that a bending on the article causes an instant rupture of the film (4) on a larger   part of the precut line (24).   2. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged so that the rupture takes place   only on the precut line (24).   3. Article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the film (4) having a joint line (8) contiguous to the pre-cut line (24), the article is arranged so that the rupture takes place over the entire part of the precut line outside the joint line.   4. Article according to any one of   Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the article   (2) having a larger dimension, the precut line (24) extends in a plane perpendicular to this dimension.   5. Article according to any one of   Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises   at least two products (26), the precut line (24) extending opposite a space between the two products or two of the products.   6. Article according to any one of   Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises   two products (26) of substantially the same dimensions.   7. Article according to any one of   Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the film (4)   has at least two layers (12, 18) of overlapping material. 8. Article according to claim 7, characterized in that the precut line (24) extends mainly in one (12) of the layers, by   reference to a film thickness (4).   9. Article according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the pre-cut line (24) extends along the entire thickness of one (12) of layers.   10. Article according to any one of   claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the line of   pre-cut (24) extends in one of the layers (12) defining an external face (14) of the article (2), preferably without extending in another (18) of the   layers defining an internal face (20) of the article.   11. Article according to any one of   Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the film (4)   has a polypropylene layer (12) in which extends the precut line (24), preferably oriented in a direction facilitating the breaking of the   film following the precut line.   12. Article according to any one of   claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the film   has a non-traversed polyethylene layer (18) by the precut line (24).   13. Article according to any one of   Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the or   each product (26) is a food product, including a confectionery.   14. Article according to any one of   Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the or   each product (26) is a frozen confection. 15. A packaging method, in which a sealed enclosure is produced by means of a flexible film (4) by enclosing in the enclosure at least one product (26) and gas, the film having a precut (24), characterized in that an adequate quantity of gas is enclosed in the enclosure so that a consumer can grasp the finished article (2) so as to compress it to increase a pressure of the gas to such an extent that a bending on the article causes an instant rupture of the film (4) on a   most of the precut line (24).   16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the film (4) is conformed before closing of   the enclosure so as to enclose the quantity of gas.   17. Packaging machine comprising means for producing a sealed enclosure from a flexible film (4) and for enclosing in the enclosure at least one product (26) and gas, the film (4) having a precut , characterized in that the machine is arranged to enclose in the enclosure an amount of gas adapted so that a consumer can grasp the finished article (2) so as to compress it to increase a pressure of the gas to such an extent that bending on the article causes instant film rupture (4) over a greater   part of the precut line (24).