GB2570662A

GB2570662A - Improvements in and relating to a wrapper

Info

Publication number: GB2570662A
Application number: GB1801591.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yildiz Enes; Altin Roza
Original assignee: Yildiz Holding AS
Current assignee: Yildiz Holding AS
Priority date: 2018-01-31
Filing date: 2018-01-31
Publication date: 2019-08-07
Also published as: GB201801591D0

Abstract

The application discloses a wrapper 1001 for a food item (2002, figure 2b) and a method of wrapping around thereof. The wrapper comprises a flexible sheet 1002 with an adhesive 1005 forming a (preferably continuous) shape on one side of the wrapper. The inner zone 1006 bounded by the adhesive comprises a line of weakness 1007 for opening the wrapper. A separate tab 1009 is stuck over the line of weakness on the other side of the wrapper (i.e not on the side with the adhesive). To wrap a food item, place the product inside the bounded region and wrap the wrapper around it, gathering all the adhesive into a neck region forming a tail seal. The item is now accessible through the tab which may be pulled to break the line of weakness. The flexible sheet is preferably polypropylene based, has a thickness of 15-25 microns, is square or rectangular in shape and has a width of 2-60 cm. The seal is preferably made of a cold seal adhesive (such as a latex resin), extends in a pattern and is air tight. The wrapper is suitable for storing confectionary or chocolate.

Description

Improvements in and relating to a wrapper

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a wrapper, such as a wrapper for a food item. The present invention also concerns a method of making such a wrapper and a method of wrapping a food item.

Background of the Invention

Wrappers, such as wrappers for food items, often comprise a film arranged to surround and enclose the item. It is often desirable for such wrappers to be airtight and/or moisture resistant to provide a barrier between the item and the outside environment. Furthermore, such wrappers are desirably flexible to accommodate various shapes of food items.

Various wrappers are used for the packaging of edible products, such as candy, chocolate, praline, snacks, etc. Packages into which air or moisture may penetrate can result in deterioration of these products, reducing shelf life. Often, products are be covered with one or more wrapping portions, with one or more seals between wrapping portions provided by methods including bending, compressing, snap fitting, hot sealing, cold sealing, adhering, etc., portions together. Simply bending and/or snap fitting wrapper portions together often fails to provide an airtight seal. Hot sealing portions together can damage the product.

EP1473245 discloses a wrapping method in which laminated sheets are placed above and below a product in order to wrap foods like chocolate, the sheets being adhered to one another by hot sealing or ultrasound. EP 1 344 717 discloses a wrapping method in which an article is placed at the centre of a single wrapper and a package in fantail form is obtained by surrounding and closing the article with the upper portions of the wrapper. WO 2016/080926 discloses an airtight method of wrapping a food item using a single wrapper. Another wrapping method is disclosed in EP3177550.

-2A difficulty often encountered with food wrappers is how to provide a convenient opening method while retaining a reliable airtight seal around the item before it is opened. EP2257480 discloses a film packaging opening device in which a tear pellet covers an incision through the film, the tear pellet and film being covered by a label. When the label is peeled back, at least part of the tear pellet is also pulled back causing the film to tear open. Other tearable wrapper systems are disclosed in WO2016174557, EP0752375, FR2073019 and JP200132261.

There remains a need to provide a wrapper for a food item capable of forming an airtight package around a food item and which has a convenient and reliable opening mechanism.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a wrapper for an item of food, the wrapper comprising a flexible film having a first side and a second side and at least one peripheral edge, wherein the film comprises: a peripheral zone extending alongside the at least one peripheral edge; an inner zone surrounded by the peripheral zone; and, an intermediate zone located between the peripheral zone and the inner zone, the intermediate zone surrounding the inner zone, wherein at least a portion of the intermediate zone is provided with an adhesive on the first side; characterised in that the film comprises a line of weakness located within the inner zone, and in that the wrapper additionally comprises a tear label adhered to the inner zone on the second side of the film overlying the line of weakness. It will be appreciated that the peripheral, intermediate and inner zones of the film are zones within the plane of the wrapper. It will be appreciated that the adhesive may be provided in any convenient manner, for examples as a coating and/or by surface treatment of the film. It will further be appreciated that, when the adhesive is provided as a coating, the coating may be applied by any convenient method, including methods such as rolling, depositing and/or printing. The film material may be any film material suitable for use with a food product, such as a film comprising a polymer material. It may be that the film is a food grade film. It will further be appreciated that the film may be made up of one or more layers, such as layers of

-3different materials, including one or more layers of polymers. Optionally, the film is a mono-layer film. The film may optionally include a metallised and/or a printed ink coating on one or both sides of the film.

The arrangement of adhesive on the film allows the wrapper to form a seal around the food item using a single piece of film. The line of weakness overlaid with a tear label provides a convenient opening mechanism. It has been found that, when the label is pulled back, an opening forms in the underlying film extending from the line of weakness.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is also provided a web of wrappers for food items comprising a plurality of wrappers according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is also provided a food product comprising a food item wrapped in a wrapped according to the first aspect of the invention. Preferably, the first side of the film is wrapped around the item of food such that adhesive in the intermediate zone on the first side of the film adheres a first part of the intermediate zone to a corresponding second part of the intermediate zone to form a continuous seal around the item of food.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is also provided a method of making a wrapper for a food product, the method comprising: providing a film having a first side and a second side and at least one peripheral edge, wherein the film comprises a peripheral zone extending alongside the at least one peripheral edge, an inner zone surrounded by the peripheral zone, and an intermediate zone located between the peripheral zone and the inner zone, the intermediate zone surrounding the inner zone; and, providing an adhesive on the first side across at least a portion of the intermediate zone. Preferably, the method comprises: adhering a tear label to the inner zone on the second side of the film; and, providing a line of weakness in the film within the inner zone, the line of weakness underlying the tear label. Preferably, the wrapper is a wrapper according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is also provided a method of wrapping an item of food, the method comprising: making a wrapper by the method of the fourth aspect of the invention and/or providing a wrapper according to the first aspect of the invention; placing the item of food on the first side of the film in the

-4inner zone and inside of the intermediate zone; and, bringing together a first part of the intermediate zone on the first side of the film and a corresponding second part of the intermediate zone on the first side of the film such that the adhesive in the intermediate zone forms a continuous seal between the corresponding first and second parts of the intermediate zone surrounding the item of food.

It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention.

Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which:

Figure la shows the first side of a wrapper according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure lb shows the second side of a wrapper according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2a shows a section of a wrapper web comprising a plurality of wrappers according to the first embodiment of the invention, and a rolled web;

Figure 2b shows a food item being placed upon, and wrapped inside, the wrapper of the first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2c shows a food product comprising a food item wrapped in the wrapper of the first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3a shows a bottom perspective view of the food item of Figure 2c; and,

Figure 3b shows a bottom perspective view of the food item of Figure 2c in a partially open configuration.

-5Detailed Description

Preferably, the film of the wrapper of the first aspect of the invention is made from an airtight material, such as a film comprising a polymeric material, for example comprising polypropylene. Using an airtight film may improve the shelf life of the food item once sealed inside the wrapper. Preferably, the film comprises biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP). Preferably, the film is a tearable film. It may be that it is easier for a user to form an opening in the film when the film is tearable. Preferably, the film has a thickness of from 8 to 60 microns, such as from 10 to 40 microns, for example from 15 to 25 microns. Optionally, the film has a minimum width of from 2 to 60 cm, such as from 4 to 40 cm, for example from 6 to 20 cm. Optionally, the intermediate zone has a minimum width of 0.5 to 10 cm, such as from 1 to 8 cm, for example from 2 to 5 cm. Optionally, the inner zone has a minimum diameter of from 1 to 40 cm, such as from 2 cm to 20 cm, for example from 4 to 10 cm. Optionally, the peripheral zone has a minimum width of from 0.5 to 20 cm, such as from 1 to 15 cm, for example from 2 to 10 cm.

Preferably, the adhesive in the intermediate zone on the first side of the film is a cold seal adhesive, such as a synthetic latex resin adhesive. It has been found that a cold seal adhesive provides an airtight seal, thereby improving shelf life of the food item once wrapped, without causing damage to the food item when forming the seal. Optionally, the adhesive is arranged discontinuously across all of the intermediate zone on the first side of the film, such as in the form of a discontinuous coating, for example forming a regular pattern or a random dispersion. Alternatively, it may be that the adhesive is continuously arranged across all of the intermediate zone, such as in the form of a continuous coating. It will be appreciated that a discontinuous, random or patterned adhesive in the intermediate zone may provide an adequate seal. On the other hand, a stronger seal may be achieved with a continuous arrangement of adhesive.

Optionally, the inner zone is substantially in the centre of the film. Preferably, the line of weakness line is substantially in the middle of the inner zone in at least one direction, which may locate the line of weakness underneath the bottom of the food item when it is wrapped in the wrapper.

-6Preferably, the peripheral zone and/or the inner zone on the first side ofthe film is substantially entirely free from adhesive. Such an arrangement may simplify manufacture and/or avoid contamination ofthe food item with adhesive when the food item is wrapped.

Optionally, the intermediate zone and/or the inner zone is in the shape of a circle or an oval, preferably an oval. Such shapes may allow the intermediate zone of the film to be gathered into a neck more easily when the food item is wrapped. Optionally, the film is in the shape of a square or rectangle, preferably a rectangle. Such shapes may allow for individual pieces of film to be conveniently cut from a web.

Preferably, the tear label comprises a tab portion that is not adhered to the second side of the film. Such a tab portion may provide a convenient means for a user to grasp the label in order to peel it back and open the wrapper. Optionally, the tear label comprises a fold line, such as a score line, extending across the tear label between the tab portion and the rest ofthe tear label. Optionally, the tear label covers only part of the inner zone of the film, preferably covering no other zone of the film. For example, the tear label may be adhered to a portion of the inner zone on the second side ofthe film, there being another portion ofthe inner zone on the second side ofthe film that is not adhered to the label. Optionally, the tear label has an overall size that is smaller than the overall size of the inner zone ofthe film, such as being no more than three quarters ofthe overall size ofthe inner zone, e.g. no more than half the size. Such a size of tear label may allow the tear label to be located entirely underneath the bottom ofthe food item when the food item is wrapped.

Preferably, the tear label is made from a polymer material, such a polypropylene. Preferably, the tear label is made from a high barrier material. Such a material can help to improve the shelf life ofthe food item by reliably sealing the film over the line of weakness. Optionally, the tear label is adhered to the film using a pressure sensitive adhesive. Preferably, the tear label is adhered to the film using an acrylic-based adhesive. Such an adhesive may provide a convenient means of adhering the tear label to the film, while also allowing the tear label to be easily peeled back from the film.

-7Option a I ly, the line of weakness is in the form of a score line that extends partially through the film from the first side to the second side. Alternatively, the line of weakness is preferably in the form of a cut that extends right through the film from the first side to the second side. Such a cut may improve reliability of the opening mechanism by promoting the easy formation of an opening in the film when the label is pulled from the film. On the other hand, a score line may provide adequate weakness in the film to form an opening when the label is pulled from the film while also providing a better seal prior to opening, thereby improving the shelf life of the wrapped food item.

Optionally, the line of weakness has a curved shape, being arcuate or ushaped. Alternatively, the line of weakness has an angular shape, such as being vshaped. It will be appreciated that the line of weakness may have both angular and curved sections. Such shapes may promote tearing of the film from the ends of the line of weakness. Preferably, when the line of weakness has such a shape, and when the tear label has a tab portion that is not adhered to the film, the tear label is arranged on the film with the tab portion adjacent the apex of the line of weakness and distant from the ends of the line of weakness. Such an arrangement may help to allow the user to peel the tear label from the film in a manner that promotes tearing of the film. Optionally, the film and the tear label are structured such that when the tear label is peeled back from the film, the film tears open from the ends of the line of weakness.

Preferably, the web of wrappers of the second aspect of the invention is provided on a reel. Optionally, the film of each wrapper is in the shape of a square or a rectangle and wherein at least one wrapper is joined on two opposing peripheral edges to another wrapper. It may be that such a shape allows for a particularly efficient use of film and a particularly convenient manner of cutting the web into individual films.

Optionally, the continuous seal of the wrapped food item of the food product of the third aspect of the invention is an airtight seal. Such a seal may improve the shelf life of the food item. Optionally, the intermediate zone of the film is gathered into a neck, such as by twisting the intermediate zone film into a neck. Such an arrangement may help to protect the seal from being unintentionally broken, and/or

-8may allow the wrapped food items to be packed closely together. Optionally, the food product comprises a tag attached to the neck, such as at least partially wrapped around the neck. Such a tag may help to maintain the shape of the neck. Optionally, the peripheral zone of the film is formed into a fan-tail above the neck.

Preferably, the food item is an item of confectionery. Items of confectionery may be particularly well-suited to being wrapped individually.

The method of making a wrapper for a food product according to the fourth aspect of the invention optionally comprises gathering the intermediate zone of the film into a neck, for example by twisting into a neck. Optionally, the method further comprises attaching a tag to the neck, for example by at least partially wrapping a tag around the neck. Optionally, the method comprises forming the peripheral zone of the film into a fan-tail above the neck.

Figure la shows a plan view of a wrapper 1001 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The wrapper 1002 comprises a film 1002 (the first side of the film being shown in Figure la) and a tear label (not shown). The film is a monolayer 20 micron BOPP. The film comprises a peripheral zone 1004 alongside each of its four peripheral edges 1003a, 1003b, 1003c and 1003d, the peripheral zone surrounding an intermediate zone 1005, the intermediate zone surrounding an inner zone 1006. The intermediate zone 1005 is provided with a pattern-applied cold seal adhesive (represented by dashed lines in the intermediate zone 1005). The cold seal adhesive is a latex resin adhesive. The film 1002 also includes a line of weakness in the form of an arcuate cut 1007 approximately in the middle of the inner zone along the x axis. The centreline of the film is indicated by the dashed line 1008.

Figure lb shows a plan view of the second side of the wrapper 1001 of Figure lb. Features of the wrapper also shown in Figure la are labelled with the same reference numerals in Figure lb. Figure lb additionally shows the tear label 1009 of the wrapper 1001 overlying the arcuate cut 1007 (fold line 1008 and the arcuate cut 1007 behind the tear label 1009 are shown for reference only, unless the tear label is made from a transparent material, those features would not normally be visible) and adhered to the film 1002. The tear label is made from self-adhesive oxygen barrier sticker comprising a polypropylene film having an acrylic-based adhesive for adhering the tear label to the film of the wrapper. The tear label comprises a tab portion 1010

-9that is not adhered to the film 1002, and a fold line between the tab portion 1010 and the rest of the tear label 1009, which fold line is in the form of a score line 1011 that extends only partially into the surface of the tear label 1009. The tear label 1009 is arranged with the tab portion 1010 positioned adjacent the apex of the arcuate cut

1007 and remote from the ends of the arcuate cut 1007.

Figure 2a shows a section of a wrapper web comprising a plurality of wrappers 1001 of the first embodiment of the invention, the wrappers being provided on a roll 2001. Figure2b shows a food item 2002 being placed on and wrapped in a wrapper 1001 according to the first aspect of the invention. In the first step, to the right of Figure 2b, the food item 2002 is placed approximately in the centre of the wrapper 1001. In the second step, the wrapper is folded approximately along the centreline

1008 in the direction shown by arrows 2003a and 2003b. In the folder view on the left in Figure 2b, the food item 2002 is shown to indicate its position for clarity. However, when the wrapper 1001 is folded, the food item is held within the folded wrapper 1001. Figure 2c shows a side view of a wrapped food product 2000 comprising food item 2002 of Figure 2b (the food item 2002 not visible in Figure 2c) wrapped inside the food wrapper 1001 of Figure la. The intermediate zone of the wrapper 1001 has been gathered into a neck 2004, with a tag 2005 wrapped around the neck 2004. The peripheral zone of the wrapper 1001 has been formed into a fan tail 2006.

Figure 3a shows a bottom perspective view of the wrapped food product 2000 of Figure 2c. Figure 3a shows the position of the tear label 1009 (and its tab portion 1010) on the bottom of the wrapped food product 2000. Figure 3b shows the wrapped food product 2000 of Figure 3a in a partially opened state. Figure 3b shows that as the tab portion 1010 of tear label 1009 is drawn in the directions of arrow 3001, a portion of the film 1002 of the wrapper is drawn away with the label 1009, tearing the film 1002 from the ends of the arcuate cut 1007.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are

-10herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

Claims

1. A wrapper for an item of food, the wrapper comprising a flexible film having a first side and a second side and at least one peripheral edge, wherein the film comprises:

a peripheral zone extending alongside the at least one peripheral edge; an inner zone surrounded by the peripheral zone; and, an intermediate zone located between the peripheral zone and the inner zone, the intermediate zone surrounding the inner zone, wherein at least a portion of the intermediate zone is provided with an adhesive on the first side;

characterised in that, the film comprises a line of weakness located within the inner zone, and in that the wrapper additionally comprises a tear label adhered to the inner zone on the second side of the film overlying the line of weakness.

2. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the film is an airtight material, such as a biaxially oriented polypropylene-based film.

3. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the film has a thickness of 15 to 25 microns.

4. A wrapper according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the adhesive is a cold seal adhesive, such as a latex resin adhesive.

5. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive extends in a pattern across all of the intermediate zone on the first side of the film.

6. A wrapper according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adhesive is extends continuously across all of the intermediate zone on the first side of the film.

7. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the film has a minimum width of from 2 to 60 cm, the inner zone has a minimum diameter of from 1 to 40 cm, the intermediate zone has a minimum width of from 0.5 to 10 cm, and/or the peripheral zone has a minimum width of from 0.1 to 20 cm.

8. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the line of weakness is substantially in the middle of the inner zone in at least one direction.

9. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the peripheral zone and/or the inner zone on the first side of the film is substantially entirely free from adhesive.

10. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the intermediate zone and/or the inner zone is in the shape of a circle or an oval, preferably an oval.

11. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the film is in the shape of a square or rectangle, preferably a rectangle.

12. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the tear label comprises a tab portion that is not adhered to the second side of the film.

13. A wrapper according to claim 12, wherein the tear label comprises a fold line extending across the tear label between the tab portion and the rest of the tear label.

14. A wrapper according to claim 13, wherein the fold line of the tear label is in the form of a score line that does not extend entirely through the tear label.

15. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the tear label is adhered to a portion of the inner zone on the second side of the film, there being another portion of the inner zone on the second side of the film that is not adhered to the tear label.

16. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the tear label has an overall size that is smaller than the overall size of the inner zone of the film, for example that is no more than 3A of the size of the inner zone of the film.

17. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the tear label is made from a film material, such as polypropylene.

18. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the tear label is adhered to the film with an acrylic-based adhesive.

19. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the line of weakness is in the form of a cut extending through the film from the first side to the second side.

20. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the line of weakness has:

i) a curved shape, such being arcuate or u-shaped, or ii) an angular shape, such as being v-shaped.

21. A wrapper according to claim 20 when dependent on claim 12, wherein the tear label is arranged on the film with the tab portion adjacent the apex of the line of weakness and distant from the ends of the line of weakness.

22. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the line of weakness is in the form of an arcuate cut, wherein the tear label comprises a tab portion that is not adhered to the film, and wherein the tear label is arranged on the film with the tab portion adjacent the apex of the arcuate cut and distant from the ends of the arcuate cut.

23. A web of wrappers for food items comprising a plurality of wrappers according to any preceding claim.

24. A web of wrappers according to claim 23, wherein the web is provided on a reel.

25. A web of wrapper according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the film of each wrapper is in the shape of a square or a rectangle and wherein at least one wrapper is joined on two opposing peripheral edges to another wrapper.

26. A food product comprising an item of food wrapped in a wrapper according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the first side of the film is wrapped around the item of food such that adhesive in the intermediate zone on the first side of the film adheres a first part of the intermediate zone to a corresponding second part of the intermediate zone to form a continuous seal around the item of food.

27. A food product according to claim 26, wherein the continuous seal is an airtight seal.

28. A food product according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the intermediate zone of the film is gathered into a neck, such as twisted into a neck.

29. A food product according to claim 28, wherein the food product additionally comprises a tag attached to the neck, such as a tag at least partially wrapped around the neck.

30. A food product according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the peripheral zone of the film forms a fan-tail above the neck.

31. A food product according to any one of claims 26 to 30, wherein the item of food is a confectionery item, such as a chocolate-containing confectionery item.

32. A method of making a wrapper for a food product, the method comprising:

providing a film having a first side and a second side and at least one peripheral edge, wherein the film comprises a peripheral zone extending alongside the at least one peripheral edge, an inner zone surrounded by the peripheral zone, and, an intermediate zone located

-15between the peripheral zone and the inner zone, the intermediate zone surrounding the inner zone; and, providing an adhesive on the first side across at least a portion ofthe intermediate zone;

characterised in that the method comprises:

adhering a tear label to the inner zone on the second side of the film; and, providing a line of weakness in the film within the inner zone, the line of weakness underlying the tear label.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the wrapper is a wrapper according to any of claims 1 to 22.

34. A method of wrapping an item of food, the method comprising:

making a wrapper by the method of claim 32 and/or providing a wrapper according to any one of claims 1 to 22;

placing the item of food on the first side ofthe film in the inner zone and inside ofthe intermediate zone; and, bringing together a first part ofthe intermediate zone on the first side ofthe film and a corresponding second part ofthe intermediate zone on the first side ofthe film such that the adhesive in the intermediate zone forms a continuous seal between the corresponding first and second parts ofthe intermediate zone surrounding the item of food.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the method comprises gathering the intermediate zone of the film into a neck, for example by twisting into a neck.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the method comprises attaching a tag to the neck, for example by at least partially wrapping a tag around the neck.

37. A method according to claim 35 or 36, wherein the method comprises forming the peripheral zone of the film into a fan-tail above the neck.