A cover laminate for a packaging

Abstract

 A cover laminate for forming a resealable cover (3) for a packaging has a lower part (1) with an edge portion (2) for attaching the cover. The cover laminate comprises as a prefabricated unit a material sheet (4), preferably a plastic film, provided on its underside with a resealable adhesive (8) in a pattern generally corresponding to the shape of the edge portion (2) of the lower part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cover laminate for forming a resealable cover for a packaging having a lower part for products to be packed and an edge portion for attaching the cover.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Such a packaging is typically of the so called blister-type having a trough for the products. This packaging is widely used for foodstuffs, such as sliced meat, cheese and the like, where it is of great importance that it can be resealed after an initial opening to ensure the continued quality of the packed products. Other products may of course be packed in packagings of this type.

[0003] As is known through SE-B-505 294, a resealable packaging may be accomplished by first applying by heat sealing on the lower part a plastic film, which is stamped-through, and then placing a resealable label on top thereof.

[0004] Another solution, known through EP-A-0 661 154, is to have a cover laminate comprising three layers, namely from bottom to top a stamped heat-sealable film, a resealable adhesive and a cover film.

[0005] In a further similar solution the lowermost layer may lack stamping but is so thin that it breaks when the packaging is opened.

[0006] It is further also of great importance that an opening and resealing of the packaging is visually indicated. For this purpose perforations, stampings or some type of seals are commonly used.

[0007] A problem with presently used packagings and the systems for their use in the packaging industry is the degree of complexity and the expense.

[0008] An important object of the present invention is accordingly to accomplish a packaging, which has the same function as presently used resealable packagings but is cheaper and less complex to use.

The Invention

[0009] This is according to the invention attained in that the cover laminate comprises as a prefabricated unit a material sheet, such as a plastic film, provided on its underside with a resealable adhesive in a pattern generally corresponding to the shape of the edge portion of the lower part.

[0010] Hereby, less material is required, as there is no sealable film or separate label, and the energy consumption is reduced, as there is no or only minor heat sealing.

[0011] An especially advantageous solution is to apply the adhesive on the surfaces intended for cooperation with the edge portion of the lower part and to leave the remainder of the underside of the plastic film uncovered with adhesive.

[0012] The added advantage with this solution is that the consumption of adhesive is brought down to a minimum.

[0013] An alternative solution is that the pattern is provided by a layer of an adhesive killing agent on surfaces where adhesive properties are not desired.

[0014] By this invention the manufacture of packagings is greatly facilitated. The cover laminate is supplied to the packaging machine as a roll. When the products have been packed in the individual troughs the cover laminate is applied from the roll, whereupon individual packagings are detached.

[0015] A special advantage is that the entire surface of the cover laminate may be used for decoration and information.

The Drawings

[0016] The invention will be described in further detail below under reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig 1 is a perspective view of a packaging with a cover laminate according to the invention,

Fig 2 is a schematic illustration of a packaging machine,

Fig 3 is a view from below of a cover laminate according to the invention,

Fig 4 is a section along the line IV-IV in Fig 3, and

Fig 5 is a corresponding section through a modified cover laminate according to the invention.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment

[0017] A conventional packaging of the so called blister-type is shown in Fig 1. Its lower part 1 can be of vacuum-formed plastic material, preferably semi-hard or hard. The lower part 1 for the product to be packed is trough-shaped and has a flat edge portion 2. A resealable cover 3 attached to the lower part 1 is made of a cover laminate, which is the subject of the present invention. In the shown case the overall shape of the packaging as seen from above is parallelepipedical, but any other shape is conceivable.

[0018] A cover laminate for forming the cover 3 is shown in Figs 3 and 4 and in a modified form in Fig 5. Its base is a material sheet 4, preferably plastic film possibly laminated with some other material, such as a reinforcing aluminium layer and/or a paper layer. For the sake of simplicity the term palstic film 4 is used.

[0019] On its upper side the plastic film 4 is normally provided with a graphic print 5 and above that a protective lacquer or film 6. Possibly, this protective layer 6 may be covered by a release layer 7.

[0020] On its lower side the plastic film 4 is provided with a layer 8 of a resealable adhesive in a predetermined pattern substantially adapted to the shape of the edge portion 2 of the lower part 1 of the packaging, as is shown in Fig 4. The remainder of the lower side of the plastic film 4 may be provided with printed information or the like.

[0021] As is shown in Fig 5, the predetermined pattern of the adhesive layer 8 may alternatively be accomplished by covering the surfaces where adhesive properties are not desired with a layer 9 of an adhesive-killing agent.

[0022] In the predetermined pattern, adhesive-free surfaces may be accomplished in other areas, for example for forming a thumb grip 10 or in a narrow security zone for heat sealing. In the latter case the plastic film 4 has to be heat sealable.

[0023] As is most clearly shown in Fig 3, the cover laminate may be provided with perforations 11 or stamp lines for showing if the packaging has been previously opened or not.

[0024] The cover laminate is delivered prefabricated to the packaging machine, preferably in a roll. For this reason the upper side of the laminate may have a treatment to provide a low adhesion for the adhesive. Alternatively, the adhesive itself may have a low adhesion.

[0025] A packaging machine is illustrated in Fig 2. A material web for lower parts 1 is supplied from a roll 12. Troughs are formed at 13, and products are packed in the troughs at 14. The cover laminate is supplied from a roll 15 and is applied against the web of packed troughs. The completed packagings are individually detached from the combined web at 16.

Claims

1. A cover laminate for forming a resealable cover (3) for a packaging having a lower part (1) with an edge portion (2) for attaching the cover, characterized in that the cover laminate comprises as a prefabricated unit a material sheet (4), such as a plastic film, provided on its underside with a resealable adhesive (8) in a pattern generally corresponding to the shape of the edge portion (2) of the lower part (1).

2. A cover laminate according to claim 1, characterized in that the remainder of the underside of the material sheet (4) is uncovered with adhesive.

3. A cover laminate according to claim 2, characterized in that the remainder of the underside of the material sheet (4) is provided with printed information or the like.

4. A cover laminate according to claim 1, characterized in that the pattern is provided by a layer (9) of an adhesive-killing agent on surfaces where adhesive properties are not desired.

5. A cover laminate according to claim 1, characterized in that the material sheet (4) comprises a plastic film possibly laminated with some other material(s), such as a layer of aluminium and/or a paper layer.

6. A cover laminate according to claim 1, characterized in that the material sheet (4) on its upper side is provided with a graphic print (5).

7. A cover laminate according to claim 6, characterized in that the graphic print (5) is covered with a protective layer (6) in the form of lacquer or film.

8. A cover laminate according to claim 7, characterized in that the protective layer (6) is covered with a release layer (8).

9. A cover laminate according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover laminate is provided with perforations (11) or stamp lines.

10. A method of using a cover laminate according to claim 1 for forming a packaging, characterized in that a continouos material web for lower parts (1) is brought together with a continouos material web of cover laminate in a packaging machine, where completed packagings are individually detached after packing and adhering the cover laminate to the lower parts.

Drawing