EP1742843A1 - Vffs/hffs packaging with opening aid on the longitudinal seam and process of making such a packaging - Google Patents

Vffs/hffs packaging with opening aid on the longitudinal seam and process of making such a packaging

Info

Publication number
EP1742843A1
EP1742843A1 EP05714375A EP05714375A EP1742843A1 EP 1742843 A1 EP1742843 A1 EP 1742843A1 EP 05714375 A EP05714375 A EP 05714375A EP 05714375 A EP05714375 A EP 05714375A EP 1742843 A1 EP1742843 A1 EP 1742843A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
packaging
vffs
hffs
teeth structure
longitudinal seam
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP05714375A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1742843B1 (en
Inventor
Eddy Daelmans
Bart Verbeeck
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Amcor Flexibles Transpac BVBA
Original Assignee
Amcor Flexibles Europe AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Amcor Flexibles Europe AS filed Critical Amcor Flexibles Europe AS
Priority to PL05714375T priority Critical patent/PL1742843T3/en
Priority to SI200530064T priority patent/SI1742843T1/en
Priority to EP05714375A priority patent/EP1742843B1/en
Publication of EP1742843A1 publication Critical patent/EP1742843A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1742843B1 publication Critical patent/EP1742843B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/18—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for making package-opening or unpacking elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
    • B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/52—Details
    • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
    • B65D75/5827—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B2220/00—Specific aspects of the packaging operation
    • B65B2220/06—Cutting webs along their longitudinal direction

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to flexible packaging and in particular to vertical and horizontal form, fill and seal packaging (VFFS/HFFS) with a continuous teeth structure on the longitudinal seam of said packaging.
  • VFFS/HFFS vertical and horizontal form, fill and seal packaging
  • VFFS/HFFS packaging machine reels exhibit in the extrusion direction of the plastic film uncontrolled tear behaviour and the tear tends to continue in the extrusion direction.
  • the majority of VFFS/HFFS packagings are positioned in a way that the length of the pack is parallel to the extrusion direction of the film. The consequence of this positioning is that the cross seam or transversal seam of the packaging generally comprises the opening initiations of the packaging.
  • the mostly used opening initiations are uninterrupted teeth structures in the cross seam of the VFFS/HFFS packaging.
  • Document CH 651 795 A5 discloses a VFFS/HFFS packaging with opening initiations in the longitudinal seam of said packaging. In this case, the opening initiations are cut incisions present on determined positions of said seam. No material is removed in this technique. Nevertheless, the teeth structure is not a continuous and uninterrupted structure. A continuos teeth structure allows the tear of the packaging in a transverse direction to the extrusion direction (machine direction) at any position of the seam. Furthermore, the incisions have to be achieved during the VFFS/HFFS process, again slowing down the packaging speed.
  • Document EP 0 400 577 Al discloses micro-cuts in the side margin. This type of micro-cuts represents non- controllable tear initiations for oriented polymer films.
  • the present invention aims to provide a VFFS/HFFS packaging with a continuous teeth structure on the longitudinal seam, said teeth structure being present from the beginning on the packaging machine reel and therefore independent of the packaging process itself, the technique of the present invention having therefore no influence on the packaging speed and generating no additional scrap.
  • the present invention discloses a vertical/horizontal form, fill and seal packaging (VFFS/HFFS packaging) comprising a plastic film, a longitudinal seam and a cross-directional seam, characterised in that the longitudinal seam comprises a continuous teeth structure of adjacent notches representing tear initiations over the whole length of the longitudinal seam to enable easy opening of said packaging.
  • the packaging further comprises tear initiations on the cross directional seam.
  • the tear initiations on the cross directional seam comprises a continuous teeth structure.
  • the longitudinal seam is a fin seal or a lap seal .
  • the lap seal presents a seal- free continuous teeth structure.
  • the present invention further discloses a packaging obtainable by a VFFS/HFFS process, characterised in that the machine reel of the plastic film comprises on both lateral edges a continuous teeth structure.
  • the present invention additionally discloses a process comprising the step of unwinding a reel of a plastic film, characterised in that said reel comprises a continuous teeth structure on the lateral edges of said reel.
  • a key feature of the process of the present invention is that said process is a packaging material waste-free process.
  • the VFFS/HFFS packaging process is characterised in that the continuous teeth structure on the lateral edges is performed by rotary knifes having a substantially continuous teeth structure.
  • Fig. 1 shows a VFFS/HFFS packaging with a continuous teeth structure of adjoining notches on the cross seam as usually produced in the prior art.
  • Fig. 2 shows a VFFS/HFFS packaging with a continuous teeth structure of adjoining notches on the longitudinal seam according to the invention.
  • Fig. 3 shows another example of a VFFS/HFFS packaging bag with a continuous teeth structure of adjoining notches on the longitudinal seam according to the invention.
  • Fig. 4 shows the same packaging as that of Fig. 3 with the particular opening possibility by tearing the packaging in the cross-direction to the extrusion direction of the plastic film.
  • FIG. 5 shows a VFFS/HFFS packaging machine reel where the teeth structure of adjoining notches is present on the reel to be used on the VFFS/HFFS machine .
  • Fig. 6a shows a diagrammatic representation of the length necessary for a VFFS/HFFS packaging on the unwound reel if the teeth structure of adjoining notches is present at the top of the packaging.
  • Fig. 6b shows the length of the VFFS/HFFS necessary on the reel if the teeth structure of adjoining notches is present on the lateral side of the web.
  • Fig. 7 shows a VFFS/HFFS process where the reels used have a lateral teeth structure of adjoining notches .
  • Fig. 8 shows the cutting of an extrusion film in different strips where the teeth structure of adjoining notches is achieved by rotary slitting knifes exhibiting a teeth structure.
  • Fig. 9a shows a teeth structure present in the cross direction of the extrusion direction (E.D) and a dotted line showing the privileged tear direction.
  • Fig. 9b shows the teeth structure of adjacent/adjoining notches laterally present on the VFFS/HFFS packaging machine reel where the privileged tear directions of the film are represented in dotted lines.
  • Fig. 10 shows a longitudinal seam of a VFFS/HFFS packaging where the teeth structure of adjacent notches is not perfectly superposed.
  • the present invention discloses a VFFS/HFFS packaging with a continuous teeth structure present at least on the longitudinal seam of said packaging.
  • continuous teeth structure should be understood as substantially non-interrupted “V-shaped” incisions also called adjacent notches or adjoining notches as shown on the different figures relating to the present invention.
  • adjacent notches also called adjacent notches or adjoining notches as shown on the different figures relating to the present invention.
  • adjacent notches also called adjacent notches or adjoining notches as shown on the different figures relating to the present invention.
  • adjacent notches also called adjacent notches or adjoining notches as shown on the different figures relating to the present invention.
  • adjacent notches also called adjacent notches or adjoining notches as shown on the different figures relating to the present invention.
  • adjacent notches also called adjacent notches or adjoining notches as shown on the different figures relating to the present invention.
  • adjacent notches also called adjacent notches or adjoining notches as shown on the different figures relating to the present invention.
  • adjacent notches also called adjacent
  • the first side of the film cut in a "V-shape" representing the counterpart of the second side, in such a way that no horizontal cutting lines remain, allowing a scrap-free cutting (see Fig. 8).
  • the cutting leaves cutting lines that are parallel to the seam, which does not allow the tear of the film at any place.
  • the cutting of the film in US 5,409,115 generates scrap and has to be performed during the packaging operation to build proper tear-off tongues .
  • There are different possibilities for creating such a teeth structure by means well-known by those skilled in the art (laser cutting, water-jet cutting, rotary-knife cutting, etc.).
  • the teeth structure can consist of big or small adjacent notches, depending on the application.
  • the teeth structure in the cross seam of the packaging is achieved by a cutting device during the cross seal and cutting operation. If the notches are big, the sealing bars in the cross seal must be much more spread than if the cross-cutting was a straight cutting, this is well known by those skilled in the art. The consequence of this spread is a globally higher length of the packaging representing loss of packaging material .
  • the global length of the packaging is reduced by a length X, where X represents up to 10%. This principle is shown on Fig.6a (prior art) and 6b (invention) .
  • the generation of scrap in a VFFS/HFFS process is a major drawback.
  • the continuous teeth structure is " directly available on the reel (see Fig.5) with no scrap, except for the usual side-slitting waste Y, as shown on Fig.8.
  • the first reason for positioning the continuous teeth structure on the longitudinal seam is that the total length of the VFFS/HFFS packaging can be reduced up to 10%, which represents a considerable packaging material saving, without generating any additional scrap.
  • the second reason for positioning the continuous teeth structure on the longitudinal seam is the possibility to tear the pack in a transverse direction to the extrusion direction of the film (see figure 9a and 9b) .
  • This allows a more predictable opening and sometimes a particular opening of the packaging as shown in figure 4.
  • the fact that the teeth structure is a continuous structure further allows a tear at any position on the longitudinal seam.
  • the manufacturing of such packaging machine reels is shown in Fig. 8.
  • the side-slitting scrap Y is always present, even in traditional cutting, and kept as small as possible.
  • a finished reel is shown in Fig. 5 and its use on a VFFS/HFFS packaging machine is shown in Fig. 7.
  • VFFS/HFFS packaging In a prior art VFFS/HFFS packaging, the cross sealed top can be peeled open by pulling on the fin seal of said packaging. If the longitudinal seams (seals) are equipped with a continuous teeth structure, the pack will start to tear at the longitudinal edge before the peeling can start. This makes it almost impossible to peel and reseal the pack without tearing it assuring in this way a certain tamper proof (tamper evidence) .
  • the plastic materials suitable for VFFS/HFFS packaging produced via a reel equipped with a continuous teeth structure are not limited. Representative examples widely used in the market are BOPP, PET, PS, PE, PA, CPP, mono or multilayer combinations as well as laminates with paper or metallized films, etc.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
  • Wrappers (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention is related to a VFFS/HFFS packaging comprising a plastic film, a longitudinal seam (2) and a cross-directional seam (5), wherein the longitudinal seam comprises a continuous teeth structure (1) of adjacent notches representing tear initiations over the whole length of the longitudinal seam to enable easy opening of said packaging. The present invention is also related ot a process of making such a packaging, said process starting out from a reel comprising a continuous teeth structure on its lateral edges.The present invention is also related to a process of making such a packaging said process starting out from a reel comprising a continuous teeth structure on its lateral edges.

Description

VFFS/HFFS PACKAGING WITH OPENING AID ON THE LONGITUDINAL SEAM
Field of the invention [0001] The present invention relates to flexible packaging and in particular to vertical and horizontal form, fill and seal packaging (VFFS/HFFS) with a continuous teeth structure on the longitudinal seam of said packaging.
State of the art [0002] VFFS/HFFS packaging machine reels exhibit in the extrusion direction of the plastic film uncontrolled tear behaviour and the tear tends to continue in the extrusion direction. The majority of VFFS/HFFS packagings are positioned in a way that the length of the pack is parallel to the extrusion direction of the film. The consequence of this positioning is that the cross seam or transversal seam of the packaging generally comprises the opening initiations of the packaging. The mostly used opening initiations are uninterrupted teeth structures in the cross seam of the VFFS/HFFS packaging. The opening of the pack at the top of such a VFFS/HFFS packaging including a teeth structure as opening initiations, as mentioned above, often leads to uncontrolled tear in the extrusion direction of the plastic film (machine direction) . [0003] In the prior art, several documents present opening initiations such as V-shaped" incisions or notches o the longitudinal seal . [0004] Document US 5,409,115 discloses a tubular bag packaging for bandage-like material. This packaging exhibits at least one opening initiation on the longitudinal seam positioned between continuously recurring longitudinal spaces with tear-off tongs between notches for tearing limiting one another. In this packaging, the teeth structure is interrupted by longitudinal spaces defining tear-off tongs of possibly different widths. The opening initiation structure on the longitudinal seam is achieved during the VFFS/HFFS process, which slows down the packaging speed. Furthermore, this kind of opening initiation on the longitudinal seam generates scrap in the
VFFS/HFFS process because material is removed. [0005] Document CH 651 795 A5 discloses a VFFS/HFFS packaging with opening initiations in the longitudinal seam of said packaging. In this case, the opening initiations are cut incisions present on determined positions of said seam. No material is removed in this technique. Nevertheless, the teeth structure is not a continuous and uninterrupted structure. A continuos teeth structure allows the tear of the packaging in a transverse direction to the extrusion direction (machine direction) at any position of the seam. Furthermore, the incisions have to be achieved during the VFFS/HFFS process, again slowing down the packaging speed. [0006] Document EP 0 400 577 Al discloses micro-cuts in the side margin. This type of micro-cuts represents non- controllable tear initiations for oriented polymer films.
Aim of the invention
[0007] The present invention aims to provide a VFFS/HFFS packaging with a continuous teeth structure on the longitudinal seam, said teeth structure being present from the beginning on the packaging machine reel and therefore independent of the packaging process itself, the technique of the present invention having therefore no influence on the packaging speed and generating no additional scrap.
Summary of the invention [0008] The present invention discloses a vertical/horizontal form, fill and seal packaging (VFFS/HFFS packaging) comprising a plastic film, a longitudinal seam and a cross-directional seam, characterised in that the longitudinal seam comprises a continuous teeth structure of adjacent notches representing tear initiations over the whole length of the longitudinal seam to enable easy opening of said packaging. [0009] In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the packaging further comprises tear initiations on the cross directional seam. [0010] Preferably, the tear initiations on the cross directional seam comprises a continuous teeth structure. [0011] Generally, the longitudinal seam is a fin seal or a lap seal . [0012] In practice, the lap seal presents a seal- free continuous teeth structure.
[0013] The present invention further discloses a packaging obtainable by a VFFS/HFFS process, characterised in that the machine reel of the plastic film comprises on both lateral edges a continuous teeth structure.
[0014] The present invention additionally discloses a process comprising the step of unwinding a reel of a plastic film, characterised in that said reel comprises a continuous teeth structure on the lateral edges of said reel.
[0015] A key feature of the process of the present invention is that said process is a packaging material waste-free process. [0016] Furthermore, the VFFS/HFFS packaging process is characterised in that the continuous teeth structure on the lateral edges is performed by rotary knifes having a substantially continuous teeth structure.
Short description of the drawings [0017] Fig. 1 shows a VFFS/HFFS packaging with a continuous teeth structure of adjoining notches on the cross seam as usually produced in the prior art. [0018] Fig. 2 shows a VFFS/HFFS packaging with a continuous teeth structure of adjoining notches on the longitudinal seam according to the invention. [0019] Fig. 3 shows another example of a VFFS/HFFS packaging bag with a continuous teeth structure of adjoining notches on the longitudinal seam according to the invention. [0020] Fig. 4 shows the same packaging as that of Fig. 3 with the particular opening possibility by tearing the packaging in the cross-direction to the extrusion direction of the plastic film. [0021] Fig. 5 shows a VFFS/HFFS packaging machine reel where the teeth structure of adjoining notches is present on the reel to be used on the VFFS/HFFS machine . [0022] Fig. 6a shows a diagrammatic representation of the length necessary for a VFFS/HFFS packaging on the unwound reel if the teeth structure of adjoining notches is present at the top of the packaging. [0023] Fig. 6b shows the length of the VFFS/HFFS necessary on the reel if the teeth structure of adjoining notches is present on the lateral side of the web.
[0024] Fig. 7 shows a VFFS/HFFS process where the reels used have a lateral teeth structure of adjoining notches . [0025] Fig. 8 shows the cutting of an extrusion film in different strips where the teeth structure of adjoining notches is achieved by rotary slitting knifes exhibiting a teeth structure. [0026] Fig. 9a shows a teeth structure present in the cross direction of the extrusion direction (E.D) and a dotted line showing the privileged tear direction. [0027] Fig. 9b shows the teeth structure of adjacent/adjoining notches laterally present on the VFFS/HFFS packaging machine reel where the privileged tear directions of the film are represented in dotted lines. [0028] Fig. 10 shows a longitudinal seam of a VFFS/HFFS packaging where the teeth structure of adjacent notches is not perfectly superposed.
Detailed description of the invention [0029] The present invention discloses a VFFS/HFFS packaging with a continuous teeth structure present at least on the longitudinal seam of said packaging. The expression "continuous teeth structure" should be understood as substantially non-interrupted "V-shaped" incisions also called adjacent notches or adjoining notches as shown on the different figures relating to the present invention. The expression "adjoining notches" or "adjacent notches" are indistinctly used in the text. Such a teeth structure is created simultaneously with the cutting of the extrusion film into the right width for the packaging machine reels. The first side of the film cut in a "V-shape" representing the counterpart of the second side, in such a way that no horizontal cutting lines remain, allowing a scrap-free cutting (see Fig. 8). In US 5,409,115, the cutting leaves cutting lines that are parallel to the seam, which does not allow the tear of the film at any place. Furthermore, the cutting of the film in US 5,409,115 generates scrap and has to be performed during the packaging operation to build proper tear-off tongues . [0030] There are different possibilities for creating such a teeth structure by means well-known by those skilled in the art (laser cutting, water-jet cutting, rotary-knife cutting, etc.). The teeth structure can consist of big or small adjacent notches, depending on the application. [0031] In the prior art, the teeth structure in the cross seam of the packaging is achieved by a cutting device during the cross seal and cutting operation. If the notches are big, the sealing bars in the cross seal must be much more spread than if the cross-cutting was a straight cutting, this is well known by those skilled in the art. The consequence of this spread is a globally higher length of the packaging representing loss of packaging material . By positioning the continuous teeth structure on the lateral edges of the reel, the global length of the packaging is reduced by a length X, where X represents up to 10%. This principle is shown on Fig.6a (prior art) and 6b (invention) . [0032] The teeth structure interrupted by recurring longitudinal spaces to build tear-off tongs, as shown in document US 5, 409,115, requires the cutting-away of material and generates waste during the process . As mentioned above, the generation of scrap in a VFFS/HFFS process is a major drawback. In the case of the present invention, the continuous teeth structure is " directly available on the reel (see Fig.5) with no scrap, except for the usual side-slitting waste Y, as shown on Fig.8. [0033] Therefore, the first reason for positioning the continuous teeth structure on the longitudinal seam is that the total length of the VFFS/HFFS packaging can be reduced up to 10%, which represents a considerable packaging material saving, without generating any additional scrap. [0034] The second reason for positioning the continuous teeth structure on the longitudinal seam is the possibility to tear the pack in a transverse direction to the extrusion direction of the film (see figure 9a and 9b) . This allows a more predictable opening and sometimes a particular opening of the packaging as shown in figure 4. The fact that the teeth structure is a continuous structure further allows a tear at any position on the longitudinal seam. [0035] The manufacturing of such packaging machine reels is shown in Fig. 8. The side-slitting scrap Y is always present, even in traditional cutting, and kept as small as possible. [0036] A finished reel is shown in Fig. 5 and its use on a VFFS/HFFS packaging machine is shown in Fig. 7. [0037] The presence of the teeth structure on the machine reel has no influence on the running speed of the packaging machine because the cutting knife does not slow down the VFFS/HFFS process. [0038] The fact that the teeth structure is present from the beginning on the machine reel has the consequence that the teeth structure of both sides of the reel is never perfectly superposed 8 on the longitudinal seam, as it is in Document US 5,409,115. This is represented in figure 10. Nevertheless, this has no effect on the tear possibilities in the cross direction of the extrusion direction of the plastic film because the tear initiation is still present. [0039] An additional advantage of the present invention is a positive influence on tamper evidence for peel opening. In a prior art VFFS/HFFS packaging, the cross sealed top can be peeled open by pulling on the fin seal of said packaging. If the longitudinal seams (seals) are equipped with a continuous teeth structure, the pack will start to tear at the longitudinal edge before the peeling can start. This makes it almost impossible to peel and reseal the pack without tearing it assuring in this way a certain tamper proof (tamper evidence) . [0040] The plastic materials suitable for VFFS/HFFS packaging produced via a reel equipped with a continuous teeth structure are not limited. Representative examples widely used in the market are BOPP, PET, PS, PE, PA, CPP, mono or multilayer combinations as well as laminates with paper or metallized films, etc.
Legend 1. Continuous teeth structure of adjacent notches 2. Longitudinal seam of the VFFS/HFFS packaging
3. Torn piece on a VFFS/HFFS packaging with tearing in the cross direction to the extrusion direction
4. Plastic film cut in the right width for the packaging machine reel
5. Cross directional seam of the VFFS/HFFS packaging
6. Sealing bars on the VFFS/HFFS process
7. Rotary knifes for cutting the teeth structure
8. Not perfectly superposed continuous teeth structure

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Vertical/horizontal form, fill and seal packaging (VFFS/HFFS packaging) comprising a plastic film, a longitudinal seam (2) and a cross-directional seam (5) , characterised in that the longitudinal seam (2) comprises a continuous teeth structure of adjacent notches (1) representing tear initiations over the whole length of the longitudinal seam (2) to enable easy opening of said packaging.
2. VFFS/HFFS packaging as recited in claim
1, characterised in that said packaging further comprises tear initiations on the cross directional seam (5) .
3. VFFS/HFFS packaging as recited in claim
2, characterised in that said tear initiations on the cross directional seam (5) comprises a continuous teeth structure.
4. VFFS/HFFS packaging as recited in claim 1, characterised in that the longitudinal seam (2) is a fin seal or a lap seal .
5. VFFS/HFFS packaging as recited in claim
4, characterised in that the lap seal presents a seal-free continuous teeth structure (1) .
6. VFFS/HFFS packaging as recited ,in Claim 1, obtainable by a VFFS/HFFS process, characterised in that the machine reel (4) of the plastic film comprises on both lateral edges a continuous teeth structure (1) .
7. VFFS/HFFS packaging process comprising the step of unwinding a reel of a plastic film, characterised in that said reel comprises a continuous teeth structure (1) on the lateral edges of said reel.
8. VFFS/HFFS packaging process as recited in claim 7, characterised in that said process is a packaging material waste-free process.
9. VFFS/HFFS packaging process as recited in claim 7, characterised in that the continuous teeth structure on the lateral edges is performed by rotary knifes having a substantially continuous teeth structure.
EP05714375A 2004-05-05 2005-02-17 Vffs/hffs packaging with opening aid on the longitudinal seam and process of making such a packaging Not-in-force EP1742843B1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PL05714375T PL1742843T3 (en) 2004-05-05 2005-02-17 Vffs/hffs packaging with opening aid on the longitudinal seam and process of making such a packaging
SI200530064T SI1742843T1 (en) 2004-05-05 2005-02-17 Vffs/hffs packaging with opening aid on the longitudinal seam and process of making such a packaging
EP05714375A EP1742843B1 (en) 2004-05-05 2005-02-17 Vffs/hffs packaging with opening aid on the longitudinal seam and process of making such a packaging

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04447113A EP1593603A1 (en) 2004-05-05 2004-05-05 VFFS/HFFS packaging with opening aid on the longitudinal seam and process of making such a packaging
PCT/BE2005/000024 WO2005105581A1 (en) 2004-05-05 2005-02-17 Vffs/hffs packaging with opening aid on the longitudinal seam and process of making such a packaging
EP05714375A EP1742843B1 (en) 2004-05-05 2005-02-17 Vffs/hffs packaging with opening aid on the longitudinal seam and process of making such a packaging

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1742843A1 true EP1742843A1 (en) 2007-01-17
EP1742843B1 EP1742843B1 (en) 2007-08-08

Family

ID=34933031

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04447113A Withdrawn EP1593603A1 (en) 2004-05-05 2004-05-05 VFFS/HFFS packaging with opening aid on the longitudinal seam and process of making such a packaging
EP05714375A Not-in-force EP1742843B1 (en) 2004-05-05 2005-02-17 Vffs/hffs packaging with opening aid on the longitudinal seam and process of making such a packaging

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04447113A Withdrawn EP1593603A1 (en) 2004-05-05 2004-05-05 VFFS/HFFS packaging with opening aid on the longitudinal seam and process of making such a packaging

Country Status (13)

Country Link
US (2) US20080267541A1 (en)
EP (2) EP1593603A1 (en)
AT (1) ATE369289T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2005237660B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2564118A1 (en)
DE (1) DE602005001944T2 (en)
DK (1) DK1742843T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2290891T3 (en)
NZ (1) NZ550565A (en)
PL (1) PL1742843T3 (en)
PT (1) PT1742843E (en)
SI (1) SI1742843T1 (en)
WO (1) WO2005105581A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
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US20080267541A1 (en) 2008-10-30
DE602005001944D1 (en) 2007-09-20
EP1593603A1 (en) 2005-11-09
DK1742843T3 (en) 2007-12-27
CA2564118A1 (en) 2005-11-10
PL1742843T3 (en) 2008-01-31
AU2005237660A1 (en) 2005-11-10
US20110094193A1 (en) 2011-04-28
WO2005105581A1 (en) 2005-11-10
ES2290891T3 (en) 2008-02-16
SI1742843T1 (en) 2007-12-31
ATE369289T1 (en) 2007-08-15
EP1742843B1 (en) 2007-08-08
PT1742843E (en) 2007-11-21
NZ550565A (en) 2009-01-31
DE602005001944T2 (en) 2008-04-24
AU2005237660B2 (en) 2010-06-17

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