GB2470502A

GB2470502A - Cross seal jaws for manufacturing packaging

Info

Publication number: GB2470502A
Application number: GB1013080A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Parbinder Cheema; Jason Denis Willey
Original assignee: Cadbury Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Mondelez UK Holdings and Services Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-07
Filing date: 2008-10-07
Publication date: 2010-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-07
Also published as: GB2470502B; GB201013080D0

Abstract

A set of cross seal jaws 30 for forming a bag or pouch from a continuous film has opposing surfaces 32A, 32B between which opposing portions of are clamped to produce a sealed header region. The jaws have a punch 33 for forming an aperture in the sealed header region, a first knife guide 34 outboard of the punch through which a first knife can be introduced to separate the bag or pouch from the remaining film, and a second knife guide 36 spaced inboard of the punch through which a second knife can be introduced to form a line of weakness extending across the sealed header region. The line of weakness divides the header region into inner and outer sealed portions. A method of manufacturing a packaging comprising a bag or pouch from a continuous film using the cross seal jaws is also disclosed.

Description

Packaging

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to packaging and in particular to the type S of packaging comprising a bag or pouch and which is closed at one end by means of a seal to form a header. The invention also relates to a method and apparatus for producing such packaging.

Background to the Invention

It is known to provide packaging of the type in which a bag or pouch for containing one or more items is formed from a flexible material sealed at one end by means of a, usually transverse, seal to define a header. Often, an aperture is formed in the header so that the package can be suspended from a hook or the like for display purposes. Many products are packaged in this way, including confectionery items such as sweets, candies, chocolates and the like.

A problem with the known type of packaging is that it can be difficult to open due to the presence of the aperture in the header. Regions of increased strength and weakness are created in the header about the aperture so that attempts to open the package by peeling the header seal apart often results in the package tearing unpredictably. This can lead to spillage of the contents.

Alternatively, an end user has to tear the material in order to remove all or part of the header portion or to otherwise gain access to the interior of a main body of the package in which the contents are held. The header can be difficult to tear and often attempts to open the package in this way result in a tear line which passes through the aperture and so does not allow access to the contents.

In some cases, a user may tear a corner of the package, removing part of the header and part of the main body. Again this can lead to spillage of the contents.

Often the end user will wish to remove only some of the contents on first opening and to retain the remaining contents in the package. A problem with the known package is that it is not re-sealable so that once it is not able to securely retain the remaining contents. This problem is exacerbated by the difficulties in opening discussed above which often result in the main body of the package being torn or otherwise damaged.

Where the contents of the package are degradable, such as foodstuffs including confectionery, the package can be constructed so that it is hermetically sealed in order to protect the contents from the environment. This helps to keep the contents fresh and suitable for consumption for a longer period time. A further problem with the known packaging is that once it has been opened, the package is no longer sealed and the remaining contents are exposed to the environment increasing the rate of degradation. This is a particular problem if the contents items retained in the package or not individually wrapped.

There is a need then for an improved package which overcomes, or at least mitigates, some or all of the problems of the known packaging.

There is also a need for an improved method and apparatus for manufacturing a package which overcomes, or at least mitigates, some or all of the problems of the known packaging

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided packaging comprising a bag or pouch closed at one end by means of a seal to form a header region, in which: a line of weakness extends across the header region dividing it into an outer portion and an inner portion both of which are sealed, the outer portion being separable from the inner portion by tearing along the line of weakness; an aperture is provided in the outer portion of the header by means of which the packaging can be suspended for display purposes; the seal in at least the inner portion of the header being peelable.

The seal in at least the inner portion of header may be resealable, In one embodiment, the inner portion of the header is sealed by means of a peelable adhesive. The adhesive may be re-sealable adhesive and may be a heat sensitive adhesive or cold seal adhesive.

In an alternative embodiment, the inner portion of the header is sealed by means of a peelable weld.

In a still further embodiment, the seal in the inner portion of the header is provided by means of a mechanical sealing means such as a zip lock, finger press sealing strip, grip seal or the like.

The seal in the outer header portion may be formed by means of an adhesive which may be non-peelable. Alternatively, the seal in the outer header portion can be a welded seal.

The line of weakness may be provided by a line of perforations.

The aperture may be a Euro-slot configured to enable the package to be suspended from a Euro-hook.

A re-sealing tab may be provided for securing the inner header portion in a folded over condition after opening. The tab may have an adhesive on at least one face by means of which the tab is secured to the header portion, or another part of the package, to secure the inner header portion in a folded over position.

The bag or pouch may have a main body portion containing at least one item, the at least one item being sealed in the main body portion by means of the header region.

The main body portion may contain a plurality of items, which may be confectionery items.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a packaging comprising a bag or pouch, the method comprising: a. forming a sealed header region at one end of the bag or pouch; b. producing a line of weakness extending across the header region dividing it into an outer header portion and an inner header portion, both portions being sealed; c. producing an aperture in the outer portion of the header by means of which the packaging can be suspended for display purposes.

The bag or pouch may be produced from a continuous film, and the method may comprise: a. providing a set of cross seal jaws, the jaws having a punch for producing the aperture; b. clamping the jaws together on either side of the film to produce the header region and the aperture; c. using a first knife to cut the film at an outer edge of the header region to separate the package from the continuous fihn; d. using a second knife to produce the line of weakness.

In one embodiment, the jaws define a first knife guide outboard of the punch and a second knife guide inboard of the punch, the method comprising introducing the first knife through the first knife guide and introducing the second knife through the second knife guide whilst the jaws are clamped.

The jaws may be heated to produce a welded seal at least in the outer header region. The jaws may be heated to produce a welded seal in the inner header portion.

The method may comprise forming the seal in the inner header portion using a cold seal adhesive.

The bag or pouch may be produced on a vertical form fill seal machine.

The bag or pouch may have a main body portion defining an internal volume for receiving at least one item to be packaged, the main body portion being closed by the header region and the method may comprise introducing at least one item into the main body portion prior to forming the header region so that the at least one item is retained in the main body portion once the sealed header region has been produced.

Tn accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, there is provided a set of cross seal jaws for forming a bag or pouch from a continuous film, the jaws having opposing surfaces between which opposing portions of the film can be clamped to produce a sealed header region, a punch for forming an aperture in the sealed header portion, a first knife guide outboard of the punch through which a first knife can be introduced to separate the bag or pouch from the remaining film, and a second knife guide spaced inboard of the punch through which a second knife can be introduced to form a line of weakness extending across the sealed header region so as to divide the header region into inner and outer sealed portions.

The punch may comprise a cutting formation projecting from the opposing surface of one of the jaws for contact with the opposing surface of the other of the jaws when the jaws are clamped about the film, Each of the knife guides may comprise a through slot in one of jaws though which the respective knife can be introduced to cut the film whilst the film is clamped between the opposing surfaces of the jaws. Each of the knife guides may further comprise a groove or slot in the opposing surface of the other of the jaws, the groove or slot aligning with the through slot when the jaws are clamped about the film.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a vertical form fill apparatus for forming and filling a package in accordance with the first aspect of the invention or for carrying out the method in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprising a set of cross seal jaws in accordance with the third aspect of the invention.

The apparatus may further comprise a first knife and a mechanism for introducing the first knife through the first knife guide means, and a second knife and a mechanism for introducing the second knife through the second knife guide.

The apparatus may include a heating arrangement for heating at least part of the opposing surfaces of the jaws which form the outer header portion.

The heating arrangement may heat the whole of the opposing surfaces of the jaws.

icti1ed Description of the Invention

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a package in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the package of Figure 1; Figures 3A and 3B are perspective views of the package of Figure 1, illustrating how an outer portion of a header region of the package can be removed to open the package; Figure 4 is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a package in accordance with the invention having a resealing tab; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a pair of jaws that can be used to form a header region of a package in accordance with the invention.

With reference initially to Figures 1 to 3, a package 10 in accordance with the invention comprises a bag or pouch which is formed from a flexible material. The package has a main body region 12 defining an internal volume for receiving and containing one or more items and is closed at one end by means of a transverse seal to form a header region 14. An aperture 16 is provided in the header region 14 to enable the package to be suspended for display purposes. In one embodiment, the aperture 16 is in the form of a so called Euro-slot to enable the package to be suspended from a Euro-hook but this is not essential. The area around the aperture can be reinforced or strengthened. For example, the front and rear parts of the header may he fused together or additionally sealed in the area around the aperture.

As so far described, the package 10 is conventional and provides fully sealed, prefilled bag or pouch suitable for a variety of products, including but not limited to confectionery products such as sweets, candies, chocolates, gum and the like. The material used to form the package can be any suitable flexible material including plastics, foil or laminates. Depending on the nature of the contents, the package 10 can be constructed so as to be hermetically sealed in order to protect the contents from the environment.

In accordance with the invention, a line of weakness 18 extends across the header 14 to divide it into an outer portion 1 4A and an inner portion 1 4B.

The outer portion 14A of the header contains the aperture 16 and is separable from the inner portion 14B by tearing along the line of weakness 18, as illustrated in Figure 3B. Both the inner and outer header portions l4A, 14B are sealed, so that the package remains sealed by virtue of the inner header portion 14B when the outer header portion 14A is initially removed. In the present embodiment, the line of weakness 18 is provided by means a line of perforations extends across the width of the header 14 but other methods for forming the line of weakness can be used, such as laser etching for example.

In use, the package 10 is hung up for display using the aperture 16. Once an end user or consumer has removed the package 10 from its display, the outer header portion 1 4A with the hanging slot 16 is removed by tearing along the line of weakness 16. At this stage the package remains sealed by virtue of the inner header portion 14B which can be peeled apart in a predictable manner to open the package. For example, the consumer could open the inner header seal l4B by grasping opposing main sides 20, 22 of the package and pulling them apart to peel the opposing sides 24, 26 of the inner header portion 14B apart.

Alternatively, the outer edges of the inner header portion 14B adjacent the line of weakness 18 may not be sealed. With this arrangement, once the outer header portion 14A has been removed a user can grasp the edges of the inner header portions 24, 26 and pull them apart to open the package.

The header seal 14 can be formed in a number of ways. In one embodiment, the material is heated so that the opposing portions of material 24, 26 that form the header are fused together to form a welded seal. Both the outer header portion 14A and the inner header portion 14B may have welded seals.

Alternatively, at least the seal in the inner header portion 14B can be formed using a peelable adhesive. The peelable adhesive can be of any suitable type and may he heat and/or pressure sensitive. In one embodiment, the inner header portion 14B is sealed using a peelable and re-sealable adhesive. This is advantageous as it enables the inner header portion 14B to be resealed after the package has been opened. The outer header portion 14A may also be sealed using an adhesive if desired.

In a further alternative embodiment (not shown) inner header portion 14B may be sealed without using an adhesive or welding but by means of an alternative sealing means. For example, a zip lock, finger press sealing strip, grip seal or other similar mechanical sealing means can be used to form the seal in the inner header portion.

Where the inner header portion 14B is sealed by means of a re-sealable adhesive or an alternative re-sealable sealing means, the package 10 can be re-closed by pressing opposing sides 24, 26 of the inner header portion 14B together. This enables the remaining contents to be safely retained within the re-sealed package.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a package 100 in accordance with the invention which has a re-sealing tab 29 attached to one of the main sides 24, 26 of the package. Once the package has been opened, at least the inner header portion 14B can be folded over and secured in position using the tab 29. This helps to keep the remaining contents secure and is particularly useful where the inner header does not have a re-closable seal. A part of the tab 29 may be permanently secured to the side of package with a further part being secured by means of a peelable and resealable adhesive. In this arrangement, the further part of the tab 29 can be released from the side of the package and fastened to the inner header portion, or to another part of the package, to secure the inner header portion in a folded over condition, Alternative, the whole of the tab 29 may be secured to the side of the package using a peelable and re-sealable adhesive, or other similar means. In this case the whole of the tab 29 can be removed from the side of the package and repositioned to hold the inner header portion in a folded over condition. The tab 29 may be in the form of a strip of sticky tape.

Packages 10, 100 in accordance with the invention can be produced using any suitable method. However, in one embodiment, the package 10 is produced using a continuous vertical form fill apparatus and the header 14 is produced using a set of cross-seal jaws, such as the jaws 30 illustrated in Figure 4.

The vertical form fill apparatus (not shown) takes a film of material from a reel and passes it over a forming shoulder to form the film into a cylinder. The cylindrical film is then passed over a filling tube through which the products to be packaged are introduced into each package in turn. Whilst the film is passing over the cylinder, overlapping longitudinal edges of the film are sealed together to produce a cylindrical tube of film.

The jaws 30 are clamped about the cylindrical film at the base of the filling tube to produce a header region 14 to seal one package after it has been filled and to produce a seal 31 at the base of the next package. Whilst still in a clamped condition, the jaws are moved downwardly drawing the film with them so that the next partially formed package is inanoeuvred into a filling position.

During this process a knife or other cutting device is used to separate the filled package from the base seal of next package. The jaws are then separated and moved upwardly to clamp the film at the base of the filling tube once the next package is filled and the process is repeated. The jaws 30 may be heated to produce welded header and base seals or if a heat sensitive adhesive is used, However, where the whole of the header seal is produced using a cold seal adhesive applied to the film, the jaws may just apply a pressure to form the header seal.

The jaws have opposing surfaces 32A, 32B which are brought together to clamp the film in between when forming the header and base seals. One of the jaws 30A has a cutting formation or punch 33 projecting from its opposing surface 32A and which passes through the film to contact the opposing surface 32B of the other jaw when the jaws are clamped about the film. The punch 33 is shaped to produce the hanging aperture 16.

As so far described, the apparatus and jaws 30 are largely conventional.

However, in order to produce a package in accordance with the invention, the jaws 30 have two knife guides 34, 36. A first knife guide 34 is spaced outboard of (above) the punch 33 and is used to guide a first knife (not shown) which separates a filled and sealed package from the remaining film in a conventional manner. The second knife guide 36 is spaced inboard of (below) the punch and is used to guide a second knife which produces the line of perforations 18 dividing the header into inner and outer header portions 14A, 14B.

The first knife guide 34 comprises a slot which passes through one of the jaws 30A at a position between the punch 33 and an upper edge of the jaw. The second knife guide 36 is also in the form of a second through slot in the jaw 30A but is located at a position between the punch 33 and a lower edge of the jaw 30A. Whilst the jaws are clamped together, a first knife or other cutting device (not shown) is inserted through the outer guide 34 to cut the film separating the package 10 from the remainder of film in a conventional manner and a second knife or other cutting device (also not shown) is inserted through the second guide 36 to form the line of perforations 18. The other jaw 30B has a pair of grooves 38, 40 which align with the slots 34, 36 when the jaws are clamped, so that a part or parts of the knives can be received in the grooves when cutting or perforating the film.

The region of the jaws between the two knife guides produces the seal in the outer header portion 14A whilst the region of the jaws below the second knife guide 36 produces the seal in the inner header portion 14B. The base seal 31 is produced by the region of the jaws above the first knife guide.

The term "knife" is used herein (including the claims) to mean any suitable cutting device for cutting the film or producing the line of perforations 18 as appropriate and should be construed accordingly. The term "knife guide" should also be construed as covering a guide for any suitable cutting means.

As discussed above, the jaws 30 may be heated where the seals are formed using a heat sensitive adhesive or where the opposing portions of the film are fused together to form a welded seal. In one embodiment the whole of the opposing surfaces 32A, 32B is heated so that both the inner and outer header portions 14A, 14B have welded seals.

In an alternative enthodirnent. the seal in the inner header portion 14B is produced using a cold seal pressure sensitive adhesive which is peelable and which may also be resealable. In this case, a lower part of the jaws which form the inner header portion may not be heated. However, the upper regions of the jaws may be heated so that the outer header portion and the base are sealed by means of welding or using a heat sensitive adhesive.

The use of a pair ofjaws 30 as described above in a continuous vertical form fill machine provides a convenient method of producing a package in accordance with the invention but it should be understood tat packaging in accordance with the invention can be produced by may suitable method.

Packages 10, 100 in accordance with the invention can be used to package a wide variety products including, but not limited to, confectionery products such as sweets, candies, chocolates, gum and the like.

Claims

Claims 1. A set of cross seal jaws for forming a bag or pouch from a continuous film, the jaws having opposing surfaces between which opposing portions of the film can be clamped to produce a sealed header region, a punch for forming an aperture in the sealed header region, a first knife guide outboard of the punch through which a first knife can be introduced to separate the bag or pouch from the remaining film, and a second knife guide spaced inboard of the punch through which a second knife can be introduced to form a line of weakness extending across the sealed header region so as to divide the header region into inner and outer sealed portions.
2. A set of cross seal jaws as claimed in claim 1, in which the punch comprises a cutting formation projecting from the opposing surface of one of the jaws for contact with the opposing surface of the other of the jaws when the jaws are clamped about the film.
3. A set of cross seal jaws as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which each of the knife guides comprises a through slot in one ofjaws though which the respective knife can be introduced to cut the film whilst the film is clamped between the opposing surfaces of the jaws.
4. A set of cross seal jaws as claimed in claim 3, in which each of the knife guides further comprises a groove or slot in the opposing surface of the other of the jaws, the groove or slot aligning with the through slot when the jaws are clamped about the film.
5. A pair of cross seal jaws substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
6. A vertical form fill apparatus for forming and filling a package, the apparatus comprising a set of cross seal jaws as claimed in any one of the previous claims.
7. A vertical form fill apparatus as claimed in claim 6, the apparatus further comprising a first knife and a mechanism for introducing the first knife through the first knife guide, a second knife and a mechanism for introducing the second knife through the second knife guide.
8. A vertical form fill apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, the apparatus comprising a heating arrangement for heating at least part of the opposing surfaces of the jaws which form the outer header portion.
9. A vertical form fill apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the heating arrangement heats the whole of the opposing surfaces of the jaws.
10. A method of manufacturing a packaging comprising a bag or pouch from a continuous film using a set of cross seal jaws as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, or the vertical form fill apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 9, the method comprising a. clamping the jaws together on either side of opposed portions of the film to produce a sealed header region and a display aperture in the sealed header region; b. introducing a first knife through the first knife guide to cut the film at an outer edge of the header region to separate the package from the continuous film; c. introducing a second knife through the second knife guide to produce a line of weakness extending across the sealed header region so as to divide the header into an outer header portion and an inner header portion.
11, A method as claimed in claim 10, in which the jaws are heated to produce a welded seal at least in the outer header portion.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which the jaws are heated to produce a welded seal in the inner header portion.
13. A method as claimed in claim 11, the method comprising forming the seal in the inner header portion using a cold seal adhesive.
14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to claim 13, in which the bag or pouch is produced on a vertical form fill seal machine.
15. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, in which the bag or pouch comprises a main body portion defining an internal volume for receiving at least one item to be packaged, the main body portion being closed by the header region; the method comprising introducing at least one item into the main body portion prior to forming the sealed header region.
16. A method of manufacturing a packaging comprising a bag or pouch from a continuous film using a set of cross jaws as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.