Package and method for packing generally block shaped products

Abstract

 A package for packing a generally block shaped product (3) comprises a generally rectangular sheet (1) of a flexible, foldable packaging material provided with an inner surface of a sealable coating. The sheet includes a central body portion (2) for enclosing the block shaped product and opposite side portions (6, 7) and opposite end portions (8, 9) adjacent to the central body portion and forming a frame shaped portion (5) surrounding the central body portion (2). A flap portion (10, 11) of each of the side portions is folded inwardly and sealed inner face to inner face to form tabs (14, 15). The sheet is folded around the product such that the body portion encloses the block shaped product with the inner surface facing the product. The inner surface of one of the side portions (6) abuts the inner surface of the other side portion (7), the side portions being mutually sealed by means of a longitudinal seal (18). The inner surface of each of the end portions (8, 9) abuts itself, each of the end portions being sealed by means of an end seal (19, 20). The central body portion (2) enclosing the product is without the sealable coating, and the frame shaped portion (5) surrounding the central body portion is provided with a sealable coating of a cold sealable and pealable composition preferably extending up to the very edges of the sheet.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to packaging and more particularly to a package for packing a generally block shaped product, especially a food product, comprising a generally rectangular sheet of a flexible, foldable packaging material provided with an inner surface of sealable coating, said sheet including a central body portion for enclosing the top, bottom, side and end faces of said block shaped product and opposite side portions and opposite end portions adjacent to the central body portion and forming a frame shaped portion surrounding the central body portion, a flap portion of each of the side portions being folded inwardly and optionally sealed onto itself inner face to inner face to form tabs, said sheet being folded around the product such that the body portion encloses the block shaped product with the inner surface facing the product, the inner surface of one of the side portions abuts the inner surface of the other side portion, the side portions being mutually sealed by means of a longitudinal seal and the inner surface of each of the end portions abuts itself, each of the end portions being sealed by means of an end seal.

[0002] Often a package suitable for packaging food products, such as for example chocolate bars, is fabricated of a material which is substantially gas and moisture impervious in order to maintain the product at the desired level of freshness. Further, it is desirable that such a package can be opened easily without using a tool and is easy to manufacture.

[0003] US 3294377 discloses a package of the above-mentioned type wherein the sheet of foldable packaging material is provided with a thermoplastic heat-sealable coating on the entire inner surface thereof. Thus, the heat-sealable coating is also provided on the central body portion enclosing the product and the seals of the package are provided by heat sealing.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved package which is conveniently openable and preferably reclosable, easy to manufacture and particularly suitable for block shaped food products, especially food products such as chocolate bars which are sensible to heat and might be sensible to sealable coatings.

[0005] This object is according to the invention obtained in that the central body portion enclosing the product is essentially without the sealable coating, the frame shaped portion enclosing the central body portion being provided with a sealable coating of a cold-sealable and pealable composition preferably extending up to the very edges of the sheet.

[0006] By the term cold-sealable composition or coating is essentially to be understood a composition or coating which is able to provide a sealing which takes place instantly by simple face-to-face contact at a temperature of between about 0° and 50° Celsius, optionally upon application of a moderate pressure to the area to be sealed. In fact, the temperature is not a critical parameter for obtaining sealing by means of a cold-sealing coating and the temperature has practically no influence on the quality of the sealing obtained. Sealing can therefore be achieved at the ambient temperature without it being necessary to apply additional heat.

[0007] Cold-sealing coatings can be compositions based on natural and/or synthetic rubber, used in combination with modified cellophanes, phenolformaldehyde resins or hydrocarbon resins (waxes). Besides rubbers, polymers based on styrene, (meth)acrylic acid or vinyl ether are widely employed, alone or as a mixture, also in combination with resins. Lastly, silicone resins may also be employed. Compositions including mixtures of natural and synthetic rubbers and copolymers of (meth)acrylic acid and styrene are preferably employed.

[0008] These cold-sealing coatings are deposited onto the substrate at a rate of approximately from 1 to 5 g/m². They can be applied in the form of solution or dispersion or even in the molten state. Coating deposition techniques which are well known to a person skilled in the art may be employed, such as, for example, heliographic or flexographic printing or else offset printing.

[0009] As the central body portion which encloses the product is without sealable coating, the product is advantageously not in contact with the sealable coating. The use of a cold-sealable and pealable composition allows for obtaining sealing without applying additional heat, which might influence the product, and further allows for a very fast sealing operation thereby providing a package which is easy to manufacture. Furthermore, the use of a cold-sealable and pealable composition provides a package that can be opened easily by gripping the tabs and pulling them apart.

[0010] According to the invention at least one of the tabs may be provided with an embossed pattern whereby it is prevented that the contacting outer surfaces of the tabs adhere to each other and thereby make it difficult to separate and grip the tabs.

[0011] Additionally, according to the invention the tabs may be folded onto the outer surface of the package thereby providing a pleasant appearance of the package.

[0012] The tabs may be of essentially equal width.

[0013] Furthermore, according to the invention one of the tabs may be wider than the other tab whereby it becomes easier to grip the tabs.

[0014] Moreover, according to the invention the tabs may be folded so that the wider tab is arranged onto the narrower tab.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the cold-sealable composition is a resealable, cold-sealable composition.

[0016] By the term resealable, cold-sealable composition is to be understood a composition or coating which is able to provide cold sealing after an initial cold sealing has been provided and subsequently pealed in order to open the package. The strength of the subsequent sealing needs not necessarily be as strong as the initial cold sealing. The use of a resealable, cold-sealable composition allows for reclosing and resealing of the package and is therefore a highly desired feature in situations where the entire product is not to be used at one time.

[0017] In order to be able to grip the tabs the width thereof is at least 1 mm. Preferably, the width of the tabs is between 1 mm and 15 mm and especially between 3 mm and 10 mm.

[0018] The package according to the invention is advantageously used for packing a food product being a chocolate bar.

[0019] The packaging material used for the package according to the invention may be any foldable packaging material such as a paper-based material, a material based on one or more polymers such as a monofilm and co-extruded film, a laminated film, optionally comprising a barrier layer such as a vacuum-deposited layer or a metalfoil or a combination of the mentioned layers and/or foils.

[0020] Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for packing a block shaped food product according to the invention.

[0021] This object is obtained by a method comprising the steps of:

a) arranging the food product on the inner surface of the central body portion of the sheet,

b) folding the sheet around the product such that the product is enclosed by the central body portion of the sheet and the side portions abut each other, and

c) providing the longitudinal seal in the abutting areas,

d) bringing the end portions into abutting relation, and

e) providing the end seals, and wherein the flap portion of each of the side portions is folded and optionally sealed onto itself to form the tabs before or during step c.

[0022] Preferably, the flap portion of each of the side portions is folded onto itself prior to step a).

[0023] According to the invention the method may further comprises the step of providing an embossed pattern in at least one of the tabs.

[0024] Furthermore, according to the invention the method may further comprise the step of folding the tabs onto the package after having provided the longitudinal seal.

[0025] As mentioned above, the package according to the invention is especially suited for packing of food products such as chocolate bars. Consequently, the method according to the invention for producing the package according to the invention is preferably carried out on a conventional horizontal form fill and sealing machine (HFFS) being modified so as to provide the tabs and optionally for providing an embossed pattern in at least one of the tabs.

[0026] When producing the package on a HFFS, the longitudinal seal of the package extends in the direction in which the packaging material is conveyed within the packaging machine. However, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to a package being manufactured in such a way.

[0027] In the following an embodiment of the invention is described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows schematically a rectangular sheet for forming a package according to the invention,

figure 2 shows the sheet in figure 1, flap portions of side portions thereof being folded and sealed onto themselves inner face to inner face to form tabs and a product being placed on the sheet,

figure 3 illustrates in enlarged scale an end view of the sheet of figures 1 and 2 at an advanced stage of forming the package according to the invention,

figure 4 is a perspective view of a finished package according to the invention,

figure 5 illustrates a partly open package, and

figure 6 illustrates a modified package in a view corresponding to that of fig. 3.

[0028] Figure 1 shows schematically a generally rectangular sheet 1 of a flat, foldable packaging material which is conveyed in the direction shown by the arrow MD in the packaging machine. The sheet 1 comprises an inner surface being visible in figure 1 and an outer surface. The sheet 1 includes a central body portion 2 for enclosing the top, bottom, side and end faces of a blocked shaped product 3 to be packed. In figures 2, 3 and 5 the block shaped product 3 is illustrated as a chocolate bar. In figures 1 and 2 the outline of the central body portion 2 is shown by means of a broken line 4. As shown in figures 1 and 2 the inner surface of the sheet is provided with a frame shaped portion 5 surrounding the central body portion 2 and being provided with a sealable coating of a cold-sealable and pealable composition. As shown in figure 1 the sealable coating extends up to the very edges of the sheet. The frame shaped sealable portion 5 comprises opposite side portions 6, 7 and opposite end portions 8, 9. By comparing figures 1 and 2 it can be seen that a flap portion 10, 11 of each of the side portions 6, 7 is folded inwardly along a folding line 12, 13 and sealed inner face to inner face to form tabs 14, 15. It should be noted that the tab 15 is wider than the other tab 14.

[0029] In the following a method for packing a food product 3 by using the sheet 1 shown in figure 1 is described.

[0030] The flap portion 10, 11 of each of the side portions 6, 7 is folded inwardly to form the tabs 14, 15 as described above. The tabs 14, 15 are provided with an embossed pattern 16, 17. Thereafter, the food product 3 is placed onto the central body portion 2 of the sheet 1 as shown in figure 2. Subsequently, the sheet is folded around the food product 3 such that the side portions 6, 7 abut each other and a longitudinal seal 18 is formed between the side portions 6, 7 being provided with the cold-sealing composition. This stage of the method is shown in figure 3 from which it can be seen that the inwardly folded flap portions 10, 11 of the tabs 14, 15 face each other.

[0031] The next step in the formation of the package is to fold the upstanding mutually sealed side portions 6, 7 with the tabs 14, 15 down onto the outer surface of the package, the wider tab 15 being arranged on top of narrower tab 14 as shown in figure 4. Subsequently, end seals 19, 20 are formed by bringing the inner surface of each of the end portions into contact with itself and optionally apply a moderate pressure. Accordingly, a finished package as shown in figure 4 is obtained.

[0032] It should be noted that the folding of the flap portion of each of the side portions to form the tabs may be carried out before arranging the product 3 on the sheet as described above However, it should be noted that the formation of the tabs may be performed after the product has been placed on the sheet and up to and even during the formation of the longitudinal seal. Similarly, the tabs may be provided with the embossed pattern at any stage during the formation of the package.

[0033] In order to open the package the user raises the tabs, grips each of the tabs and pulls them away from each other whereby the package is easily opened as shown in figure 5. The embossed pattern 16, 17 of the tabs 14, 15 makes it easy for the user to raise, separate and grip the tabs, as the embossed pattern prevents that the tabs adhere to each other and to the outer surface of the package.

[0034] It should be noted that the tabs need not be of different width. As shown in figure 6 the tabs 15' and 14' are of essentially the same width. Due to the preferred embossed pattern of at least one of the tabs 14', 15', the user can readily separate and grip the tabs.

[0035] Additionally, it should be noted that the desired peel strength of cold seals is 300-600 cN/15mm. In order to obtain said peel strength, seals are generally formed by means of seal jaws providing at least a moderate pressure in order to thereby immediately obtain the desired peel strength. However, tests have shown that the tabs may be formed without applying a pressure to the inwardly folded flap portion of each of the side portions. Depending on the cold-sealing composition used for the coating, it is sufficient to fold each flap portion inwardly into contacting relation inner face to inner face, whereby a bonding strength of 10-50 cN/15mm is obtained. However, after a period of time, i.e. 48 hours, the seal obtains the desired strength of 300-600 cN/15mm.

[0036] Finally, it should be noted the cold sealable composition advantageously is a resealable, cold sealable composition thereby allowing the user to reclose and reseal the package after the initial opening thereof, when the entire product is not used or consumed at one time.

Claims

1. Package for packing a generally block shaped product (3) especially a food product, comprising a generally rectangular sheet (1) of a flexible, foldable packaging material provided with an inner surface of sealable coating, said sheet including a central body portion (12) for enclosing the top, bottom, side and end faces of said block shaped product and opposite side portions (6, 7) and opposite end portions (8, 9) adjacent to the central body portion and forming a frame shaped portion (5) surrounding the central body portion (2), a flap portion (10, 11) of each of the side portions being folded inwardly and optionally sealed inner face to inner face to form tabs (14, 15), said sheet being folded around the product such that the body portion encloses the block shaped product with the inner surface facing the product, the inner surface of one of the side portions (6) abuts the inner surface of the other side portion (7), the side portions being mutually sealed by means of a longitudinal seal (18) and the inner surface of each of the end portions (8, 9) abuts itself, each of the end portions being sealed by means of an end seal (19, 20), characterized in that the central body portion (2) enclosing the product is essentially without the sealable coating, and that the frame shaped portion (5) surrounding the central body portion is provided with a sealable coating of a cold sealable and pealable composition preferably extending essentially up to the very edges of the sheet.

2. Package according to any of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the tabs (14, 15) is provided with an embossed pattern.

3. Package according to claim 1 and/or 2 wherein the tabs (14, 15) are folded onto the outer surface of the package.

4. Package according to any of the preceding claims wherein one of the tabs (15) is wider than the other tab (14).

5. Package according to claims 3 and 4 wherein the tabs are folded so that the wider tab (15) is arranged on top of the narrower tab (14).

6. Package according to any of the preceding claims wherein the cold sealable composition is a resealable cold sealable composition.

7. Package according to any of the preceding claims wherein each of the tabs (14, 15) have a width of at least 1 mm, preferably a width of between 1 and 15 mm.

8. Use of a package according to any of the preceding claims for packing a food product being a chocolate bar.

9. Method for packing a block shaped food product by means of a package according to any of the claims 1 to 7, comprising the steps of:

a) arranging the food product on the inner surface of the central body portion of the sheet,

b) folding the sheet around the product such that the product is enclosed by the central body portion of the sheet and the side portions abut each other,

c) providing the longitudinal seal in the abutting areas,

d) bringing the end portions into abutting relation, and

e) providing the end seals, and wherein the flap portion of each of the side portions is folded and optionally sealed onto itself to form the tabs before or during step c.

10. Method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of providing an embossed pattern in at least one of the tabs.

11. Method according to claim 9 or 10 further comprising the step of folding the tabs onto the package after having provided the longitudinal seal.

Drawing