EP1254846A1 - Reclosable flexible package - Google Patents

Abstract

The packaging comprises a body, initially sealed at one end, comprising two parts (26A,26B) whose longitudinal edges are connected together along a longitudinal weld (14). One of the parts extends outwards from the body beyond the weld to form a flap (36). A weakened tearing line (42) is formed on the flap along the weld. This tearing line delimits a band (43A) locally detachable from the body and an adhesive (44) carried by the band for later sticking of the band against the package external surface.

Description

The present invention relates to flexible packaging, of the type comprising a body initially closed at one end in a region intended to be open, the body comprising at least two sides whose edges longitudinal are linked to each other in a longitudinal weld extending along the height of the body, at least one of the sections extending outside the body beyond the longitudinal weld for a flap.

Many food products, such as powdery products such as coffee and flour, liquid products, or granular products like pasta and rice are packaged in flexible packaging of the aforementioned type. These packages are formed from one or more welded sheets. They generally have at least one transverse weld lower formed at the base of the body and a transverse weld upper initially formed at the upper end of the body. In order to take the products from the packaging, the upper seal is totally or partially ruptured or the upper end of the packaging is totally or partially detached. Open packaging constitutes a pocket which is accessible from the upper end which forms a collar delimiting an access passage inside the pocket.

After removing the upper transverse weld, it is difficult keep the neck closed in order to avoid the leakage of the products remaining contained in the pocket.

To keep such packages closed, it has been proposed to provide an adhesive strip attached to the body, one end of which is sealed to remains on the outside of the packaging body and the other end is suitable to be glued to the opposite side of the body the packaging after the collar has been folded in on itself so the collar compressed between the body of the package.

We also know metal blades reported at the end of the neck, these metal blades having extensions on both sides plastically deformable allowing after the collar has been rolled up on itself to fold down the blade extensions on either side of the collar to keep it in its rolled up position.

The means for retaining the wound part of the neck to allow a reliable reclosure of the packaging is relatively expensive to implement work since they require to bring on the packaging of the external elements.

The object of the invention is to provide flexible packaging which can be easily closed and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

To this end, the invention relates to flexible packaging of the aforementioned type characterized in that it includes a weakening line favoring the a tear which is formed on the flap along the longitudinal weld, said line of weakness delimiting on the flap, at least one strip at the less locally detachable from the packaging body and a worn adhesive by a strip, which adhesive is adapted to ensure subsequent bonding tape against the outer surface of the package.

• le volet comporte, dans la région portant l'adhésif, les prolongements superposés des deux pans ;
• le volet comporte, dans la région portant l'adhésif, l'un seulement des prolongements des deux pans ;
• la soudure longitudinale est de type cuir contre chair ;
• la soudure longitudinale est de type chair contre chair ;
• l'adhésif est disposé suivant une face d'une bande tournée vers le corps de l'emballage ;
• l'adhésif est une colle réactivable par pression, laquelle colle est initialement interposée entre une bande et la surface extérieure de l'un des pans de l'emballage, la force d'adhérence de l'adhésif à la surface de la bande étant supérieure à la force d'adhérence de l'adhésif à la surface extérieure du pan ;
• il comporte un film amovible de protection recouvrant initialement l'adhésif porté par la bande ; et
• l'adhésif est un adhésif choisi dans le groupe consistant en un "hot melt", une colle à froid, un ruban adhésif double face, et un cordon adhésif.

According to particular embodiments, the packaging includes one or more of the following characteristics:

• the flap comprises, in the region carrying the adhesive, the superimposed extensions of the two sides;
• the flap comprises, in the region carrying the adhesive, only one of the extensions of the two sides;
• the longitudinal weld is of the leather against flesh type;
• the longitudinal weld is of the flesh against flesh type;
• the adhesive is arranged along one side of a strip facing the body of the package;
• the adhesive is a pressure-reactivable adhesive, which adhesive is initially interposed between a strip and the outer surface of one of the sides of the packaging, the adhesive adhesion force on the surface of the strip being greater the adhesive strength of the adhesive on the outside surface of the panel;
• it comprises a removable protective film initially covering the adhesive carried by the strip; and
• the adhesive is an adhesive chosen from the group consisting of a "hot melt", a cold glue, a double-sided adhesive tape, and an adhesive bead.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un emballage selon l'invention, avant ouverture ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en section transversale de l'emballage de la figure 1, prise suivant le plan π ;
• les figures 3, 4 et 5 sont des vues analogues à celle de la figure 1 illustrant des stades successifs de la refermeture de l'emballage ; et
• les figures 6 à 9 sont des vues identiques à celle de la figure 1 pour des variantes de réalisation de l'emballage selon l'invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package according to the invention, before opening;
• Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging of Figure 1, taken along the plane π;
• Figures 3, 4 and 5 are views similar to that of Figure 1 illustrating successive stages of reclosing the packaging; and
• Figures 6 to 9 are views identical to that of Figure 1 for alternative embodiments of the packaging according to the invention.

The flexible packaging 10 shown in FIG. 1 is intended by example to the packaging of coffee powder, or any other product powder or granules, food or not.

It is formed of a single flexible sheet 12 folded in on itself longitudinally and joined in a longitudinal weld 14. The packaging is closed at its lower end by a transverse seal 16 and at its upper end by a transverse weld 18.

More specifically, in the embodiment shown, the packaging flexible 10 forms a pocket 20 intended to be open at its end higher. The pocket 20 comprises a body 22 constituting the vertical trunk of the pocket, this trunk being intended to contain the packaged products. The body 22 is extended towards the upper end of the body by a collar 24 generally devoid of product.

The pocket 20 has two opposite main faces 26 extending parallel to each other and two side faces 28 connecting the main faces 26 and extending parallel to each other.

The longitudinal weld 14 defines on one of the main faces of the pocket two adjacent sides 26A, 26B. These two sides are connected one to the other according to the height of the packaging, by the longitudinal weld 14.

At the lower end, the body is closed by a bottom 30 obtained by folding the sheet. The lower transverse weld 16 is applied against the bottom 30.

The lateral faces 28 have at their upper end following the length of the neck 24 an internal fold forming a bellows allowing the approximation of the two main faces 26 in the region of the transverse weld upper 18.

According to the invention, the packaging incorporates means allowing the retention of a rolled-up part of the neck of the initially opened packaging in order to allow a reliable reclosure of it.

The longitudinal weld 14 is of the flesh against flesh type, that is to say that it is made by pressing the surfaces of the sheet against each other delimiting the interior of the packaging.

The longitudinal weld 14 is arranged away from the two edges longitudinal of the leaf. Thus, between the weld 14 and the longitudinal edges of the sheet is delimited a flap 36 articulated at the weld 14, this component being initially held against the pan 26A. In the mode of envisaged embodiment, the flap 36 is formed of two extensions 38A, 38B of sections 26A and 26B, beyond the weld 14.

In addition, a weakening line 42 is provided in the flap 36 along the entire length of the packaging along the weld 14. This line attenuation defines in the flap two extension strips 43A and 43B superimposed. This weakening line 42 promotes tearing of the sheet forming the packaging along the weld 14. It is constituted for example a pre-cut line formed by an alignment of notches open or not.

Finally, an adhesive which is not very activatable by compression is placed on one extension strips 38 and 40, on the face of this turned strip to the packaging.

More specifically, in the embodiment envisaged, an adhesive 44 is arranged over the entire surface of the strip 43A extending the pan 26A, the adhesive 44 thus being interposed between the facing surfaces of the pan 26A and from band 43A.

Adhesive 44 and facing surfaces of pan 26A and strip 43A are adapted so that the adhesion of the adhesive 44 on the strip 43A is greater the adhesion of the adhesive 44 to the pan 26A.

The adhesive 44 consists for example of a cold glue, or a "hot melt ". The adhesive is arranged in zones when using a" hot melt ”or by coating in the case of a“ hot melt ”coating based solvent. As a variant, the adhesive consists of a double-sided adhesive tape, a double-sided adhesive bead or a repositionable adhesive coating.

For the manufacture of such packaging, a packaging sheet still integrated into a strip from a reel is glued with adhesive 44 on one of its edges over a width less than the width of the strip 43A. The strip is then placed around a tubular former having a generally rectangular section. The sheet thus wrapped around the tubular former has its two longitudinal edges brought together one of the other, and applied one on the other along the side of the sheet facing the conformator. The longitudinal weld 14 is then carried out by clamping longitudinal edges between two heating jaws. Welding is done away from the longitudinal edges in order to leave the extensions 38A and 38B free of solder. When placing the band around the conforming, the adhesive 44, initially carried by the edge of the strip, is found applied to the external surface of the body in the region intended for form the pan 26A.

Before making the longitudinal weld 14, the line attenuation 42 is formed in the extensions 38A, 38B by a suitable tool, such as sharp-toothed wheels, or a harness precut laser. The weakening line is made on the tape again on reel. This line can be continuous or discontinuous.

If the sheet which constitutes the packaging is multilayer, the line weakening 42 can be formed only in the outer layers of the sheet.

The manufacture of the packaging is completed as known per se by realization simultaneous upper and lower transverse welds of two consecutive packages and by the separation of these two packages.

The packaging is used as illustrated in Figures 3 to 5.

In Figure 3, the packaging is partially shown while a corner of the upper end of the neck 24 has been cut to ensure rupture partial of the upper transverse weld 18 and thus allow access to the inside of the pocket.

The first stage of reclosing the packaging is to remove the upper part of the strip 43A of the pan 26A and to be partially separated the strip 43A from the rest of the package, by breaking the line of weakness 42 from its upper end.

To do this, the user grasps the upper end of the strip 43A and pulls it down from the bag.

Due to the difference in adhesion of the adhesive 44 on the surface of the strip 43A and on the pan 26A, the adhesive is entrained with the strip 43A, covering most of the exposed surface thereof.

The detached part of the strip, at least over most of the length of the neck 24 constitutes a tab 50 still secured to the lower part of the packaging body. The base 52 of the strip, constituting the part still linked to the body of the bag, is located substantially in the extreme region filling the packaging.

To re-close the packaging, and as illustrated on the Figure 4, the neck 24 is folded over itself several times to form a winding 58. This winding is formed along the main face 26 of the packaging with the weld 14. During the folding of the neck, the glued tab 50 is kept away from the winding 58.

As illustrated in Figure 5, after the neck 24 of the package is folded back to form coil 58 up to the part of the sachet containing still articles, the glued tab 50 is folded transversely above and around the winding 58, the free end of the tab 50 being stuck on the main face of the packaging opposite the main face bearing welding 14.

It is understood that the winding 58 is kept wound by the action of the tab 50 glued, on the one hand, around the winding and secured, to each of its ends, of the main faces of the packaging.

In this position, the packaging is reliably closed.

Alternatively, the weakening line 42 does not extend over the entire packaging height. It is limited to the upper part of the packaging in the region of the pass.

Figures 6 to 9 show alternative embodiments a package according to the invention.

In these different embodiments, the identical parts or analogous to those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numbers.

The embodiment of FIG. 6 does not differ from that of FIG. 2 that in that the adhesive 44 is replaced by the association of a layer of adhesive 46, initially covered by a removable protective film 48.

It is understood that, in this embodiment, the flap 36 is left independent of pan 26A against which it is however pressed.

For sealing the packaging, after initial opening, and as in the previous embodiment, the bands 43A and 43B are detached from the body of the package to their upper end where the package is open. This partial detachment is effected by breaking the weakening line 42. However, the bands 43A and 43B remain integral with the body of the packaging in the lower part of it.

After winding the neck of the packaging, the protective film 48 is partially or completely removed from the top end of the tape 43A, thus updating the adhesive 46. The strip 43A thus glued is then attached to and around the winding to keep it in place.

In the embodiment of Figure 7, the strip 43A is removed during the manufacture of the packaging and the surface of the strip 43B turned towards the pan 26A is covered with adhesive 46, this adhesive being initially protected by a removable film 48.

In this embodiment, the adhesive 46 is applied to the surface sheet 12 delimiting the interior of the packaging and not on the exterior surface, as in the previous embodiments.

The packaging is closed as before by partial cutting of the upper end of the strip 43A and by removing the protective film 48, the glued part of the strip 43B being folded over the wrapped neck of the package.

In Figures 8 and 9 are shown packages formed from a single sheet whose longitudinal weld 14 is of the flesh type against leather, that is to say it is made by pressing the surfaces together opposite of the sheet delimiting the packaging.

Thus, only one of the sections 26B of a main face of the packaging is extends outside of the package. The flap 36 then consists of a single extension 38B. As in the previous embodiments, a weakening line 42 is provided in this extension, the along the longitudinal weld 14 in order to delimit a strip 43B. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, this strip bears on its turned surface towards the body of the packaging and in particular the pan 26A an adhesive 46 covered initially with a protective film 48.

In contrast, in the embodiment of Figure 9, the adhesive 44 is disposed between the facing surfaces of the strip 43B and the pan 26A.

In this embodiment, the two surfaces of the sheet forming the packaging are adapted so that the adhesion of the adhesive 44 is greater on the surface forming the inside of the package than on the surface forming the exterior. Thus, the adhesion of the adhesive 44 on the strip 43B is greater than the adhesion of the adhesive to the external surface of the pan 26A.

Whatever the embodiment described here, it is understood that the packaging can be reliably closed, the winding formed from the collar can not take place by itself. In addition, the resealing of the packaging is guaranteed by a means having a very low cost, this means possibly be produced simultaneously with the pouch packaging the products. Finally, putting in place of the winding retaining means is relatively easy to the user.

Claims (9)

Flexible package (10) comprising a body (22) initially closed at one end in a region intended to be opened, the body (22) comprising at least two sides (26A, 26B), the longitudinal edges of which are linked to one another 'other according to a longitudinal weld (14) extending along the height of the body (22), at least one of the sides (26A, 26B) extending outside the body beyond the longitudinal weld (14 ) to form a flap (36), characterized in that it comprises a weakening line (42) favoring the tear which is formed on the flap (36) along the longitudinal weld (14), said line weakening (42) delimiting on the flap (36), at least one strip (43A; 43B) at least locally detachable from the body (22) of the packaging and an adhesive (44; 46) carried by a strip (43A; 43B ), which adhesive (44; 46) is adapted to ensure subsequent bonding of the strip against the external surface of the packaging. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the flap (36) comprises, in the region carrying the adhesive (44, 46), the superimposed extensions (38A, 38B) of the two sides (26A, 26B). Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the flap (36) comprises, in the region carrying the adhesive (44, 46), one (38B) only extensions of the two sides (26A, 26B). Packaging according to claim 3, characterized in that the longitudinal weld (14) is of the leather against flesh type. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the longitudinal weld (14) is of the flesh against flesh type. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive (44; 46) is arranged along one face of a strip (43A; 43B) facing the body (22) of the packaging. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive (44; 46) is a pressure-reactivable adhesive, which adhesive is initially interposed between a strip (43A; 43B) and the outer surface of one (26A) of the sides of the packaging, the adhesive adhesion force on the surface of the strip (43A; 43B) being greater than the adhesive adhesion force on the outer surface of the panel (26A) ). Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a removable protective film (48) initially covering the adhesive (46) carried by the strip. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive is an adhesive chosen from the group consisting of a "hot melt", a cold glue, a double-sided adhesive tape, and an adhesive bead.

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