EP1254846B1 - 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 a flexible package, of the type comprising a body initially closed at one end in a region intended to be open, the body having at least two sides whose longitudinal edges are connected to each other according to a longitudinal weld extending along the height of the body, at least one of the flanges 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 granulated products such as 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 lower transverse weld formed at the base of the body and an upper transverse weld initially formed at the upper end of the body. In order to take the products contained in the package, the upper weld is totally or partially broken or the upper end of the package is totally or partially detached. The open package is a pocket whose access is possible from the upper end which forms a neck defining an access passage inside the pocket.

After removal of the upper transverse weld, it is difficult to maintain the neck closed to prevent leakage of the remaining products contained in the pocket.

To keep closed such packages, it has been proposed to provide an adhesive tape attached to the body, one end of which is permanently sealed on the outside of the body of the package and the other end of which is adapted to be glued to the body. opposite side of the body of the package after the neck has been folded on itself now so the neck compressed between the body of the package.

Also known metal blades reported at the end of the neck, these metal blades having on both sides plastically deformable extensions allowing after the neck has been wound on itself to fold the extensions of the blade of the share and other neck to keep it in its rolled position.

Retaining means of the wound portion of the neck to allow a reliable reclosing of the package are relatively expensive to implement since they require to report on the package of the outer elements. US 5078509 discloses another resealable package.

The object of the invention is to propose a flexible packaging that can be closed easily and whose manufacturing cost is reduced.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a flexible package of the aforementioned type, characterized in that it comprises a tear-promoting weakening line which is formed on the shutter along the longitudinal weld, said weakening line delimiting on the shutter, at least one strip at least locally detachable from the body of the package and an adhesive carried by a strip, which adhesive is adapted to ensure a subsequent bonding of the strip 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 comprises one or more of the following characteristics:

• the shutter comprises, in the region bearing the adhesive, the superimposed extensions of the two panels;
• the shutter has, in the region bearing the adhesive, only one of the extensions of the two faces;
• the longitudinal weld is of the leather against flesh type;
• the longitudinal weld is flesh-flesh type;
• the adhesive is disposed along one side of a strip facing the body of the package;
• the adhesive is a pressure-reactive adhesive, which adhesive is initially interposed between a strip and the outer surface of one of the sections of the package, the adhesion strength of the adhesive on the surface of the strip being greater than the adhesion strength of the adhesive to the outer surface of the pan;
• it comprises a removable protective film initially covering the adhesive carried by the band; and
• the adhesive is an adhesive selected 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 with reference to the drawings in which:

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

The flexible package 10 shown on the figure 1 is intended for example for the packaging of coffee powder, or any other powder or granular product, food or otherwise.

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

More specifically, in the embodiment shown, the flexible package 10 forms a pocket 20 to be open at its upper end. 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 neck 24 generally free 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 faces 26A, 26B. These two panels are connected to one another according to the height of the package, 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 along the length of the neck 24, an internal fold forming a bellows enabling the two main faces 26 to be brought together in the region of the upper transverse weld 18.

According to the invention, the packaging incorporates means for retaining a wound portion of the neck of the package initially opened to allow a reliable reclosing thereof.

The longitudinal weld 14 is of the flesh-flesh type, that is to say that it is made by joining together the surfaces of the sheet defining the inside of the package.

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

In addition, a line of weakness 42 is formed in the flap 36 along the entire length of the package along the weld 14. This line of weakness defines in the flap two extension strips 43A and 43B superimposed. This line of weakness 42 promotes the tearing of the sheet forming the package along the weld 14. It consists for example of a precut line formed of an alignment of notch openings or not.

Finally, an adhesive that can not be activated by compression is placed on one of the extension strips 38 and 40 on the face of this strip facing the package.

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

The adhesive 44 and the facing surfaces of the panel 26A and the strip 43A are adapted so that the adhesion of the adhesive 44 to the strip 43A is greater than the adhesion of the adhesive 44 to the panel 26A.

The adhesive 44 is for example a cold glue, or a "hot melt". The adhesive is arranged in zones in the case of the use of a "hot melt" or by coating in the case of a coating of "hot melt" solvent. Alternatively, the adhesive consists of double-sided tape, double-sided adhesive tape, or repositionable adhesive coating.

For the manufacture of such a package, a packaging sheet still integrated with a strip from a reel is glued with the adhesive 44 on one of its edges to a width less than the width of the strip 43A. The strip is then placed around a tubular shaper having a generally rectangular section. The sheet thus wound around the tubular shaper sees its two longitudinal edges close to each other, and applied to one another along the face of the sheet facing the shaper. The longitudinal weld 14 is then performed by clamping the longitudinal edges between two heating jaws. The welding is carried out at a distance from the longitudinal edges in order to leave the extensions 38A and 38B free of any welding. When placing the band around the shaper, the adhesive 44, initially carried by the edge of the band, is applied to the outer surface of the body in the region to form the pan 26A.

Before performing the longitudinal weld 14, the weakening line 42 is formed in the extensions 38A, 38B by a suitable tool, such as cutting teeth wheels, or a precut laser beam. The line of weakness is made on the tape still in reel. This line can be continuous or discontinuous.

If the sheet that constitutes the package is multilayer, the line of weakness 42 may be formed only in the outer layers of the sheet.

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

The packaging is used as illustrated Figures 3 to 5 .

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

The first stage of the reclosing of the package consists of moving the upper portion of the strip 43A away from the strip 26A and partially separating 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 band 43A and pulls it down the bag.

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

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

To ensure the reclosing of the packaging, and as shown on the figure 4 , the neck 24 is folded on itself several times to form a winding 58. This winding is formed along the main face 26 of the package having the weld 14. During the folding of the neck, the glued tab 50 is kept away from the winding 58.

As illustrated on the figure 5 after the neck 24 of the package is folded to form the coil 58 to the portion of the bag still containing articles, the glued tab 50 is folded transversely over and around the coil 58, free end of the tab 50 being bonded to the main face of the package opposite the main face carrying the weld 14.

It will be understood that the winding 58 is kept wound by the action of the tab 50 bonded, on the one hand, around the winding and secured at each of its ends, the main faces of the package.

In this position, the package is reliably closed.

Alternatively, the line of weakness 42 does not extend over the entire height of the package. It is limited to the top of the package in the neck area.

On the Figures 6 to 9 , there are shown alternative embodiments of a package according to the invention.

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

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

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

For sealing the package, after initial opening, and as in the previous embodiment, the strips 43A and 43B are detached from the body of the package at their upper end where the package is opened. This partial detachment is effected by breaking the line of weakness 42. However, the strips 43A and 43B remain attached to the body of the package in the lower part thereof.

After winding the neck of the package, the protective film 48 is partially or completely removed from the upper end of the strip 43A, thus updating the adhesive 46. The strip 43A thus glued is then reported on and around the winding to hold it in place.

In the embodiment of the figure 7 , the strip 43A is removed during the manufacture of the package and the surface of the strip 43B facing 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 of the sheet 12 defining the inside of the package and not the outer surface, as in the previous embodiments.

The reclosing of the packaging is carried out as previously by partial cutting of the upper end of the strip 43A and by removal of the protective film 48, the glued portion of the band 43B being folded over the wrapped neck of the package.

On the Figures 8 and 9 are represented packages formed from a single sheet whose longitudinal weld 14 is of flesh-to-leather type, that is to say that it is made by fitting against one another the opposite surfaces of the sheet delimiting the packaging.

Thus, only one of the faces 26B of a main face of the package extends outside the package. The flap 36 then consists of a single extension 38B. As in the previous embodiments, a line of weakness 42 is formed in this extension, along the longitudinal weld 14 to define a band 43B. In the embodiment of the figure 8 , this strip bears on its surface facing the body of the package and in particular the panel 26A an adhesive 46 initially covered with a protective film 48.

On the contrary, in the embodiment of the figure 9 adhesive 44 is disposed between the facing surfaces of the strip 43B and the panel 26A.

In this embodiment, the two surfaces of the sheet forming the package 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 outside. . Thus, the adhesion of the adhesive 44 to the strip 43B is greater than the adhesion of the adhesive to the outer surface of the panel 26A.

Whatever the embodiment described here, it is understood that the package can be closed reliably, the winding formed from the collar can not itself unfold. In addition, the reclosing of the packaging is guaranteed by means having a very low cost, this means can be manufactured simultaneously with the bag packaging products. Finally, the establishment of the retention means of the winding is relatively easy for the user.

Claims (9)

1. Flexible packaging (10) comprising a body (22) initially closed at one end in a region intended to be open, the body (22) comprising at least two sections (26A, 26B) whose longitudinal edges are bonded to each other along a longitudinal weld (14) lying along the height of the body (22), at least one of the sections (26A, 26B) extending outside the body beyond the longitudinal weld (14) in order to form a flap (36), a line of weakness (42) which favors tearing and which is formed on the flap (36) along the longitudinal weld (14), the said line of weakness (42) defining, on the flap (36), at least one strip (43A; 43B) which can be detached at least locally from the body (22) of the packaging characterized in that an adhesive (44; 46) is borne by a strip (43A; 43B), which adhesive (44; 46) is suitable for providing subsequent sticking of the strip against the outer surface of the packaging.
2. Packaging according to Claim 1, characterized in that the flap (36) comprises, in the region bearing the adhesive (44, 46), superimposed extensions (38A, 38B) of the two sections (26A, 26B).
3. Packaging according to Claim 1, characterized in that the flap (36) comprises, in the region bearing the adhesive (44, 46), only one (38B) of the extensions of the two sections (26A, 26B).
4. Packaging according to Claim 3, characterized in that the longitudinal weld (14) is of the outer face against inner face type.
5. Packaging according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the longitudinal weld (14) is of the inner face against inner face type.
6. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive (44; 46) is placed along one face of a strip (43A; 43B) turned toward the body (22) of the packaging.
7. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive (44; 46) is a pressure-sensitive adhesive, which adhesive is initially inserted between a strip (43A; 43B) and the outer surface of one (26A) of the packaging sections, the adhesion force of the adhesive to the surface of the strip (43A; 43B) being greater than the adhesion force of the adhesive to the outer surface of the section (26A).
8. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a detachable protective film (48) initially covering the adhesive (46) borne by the strip.
9. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive is an adhesive chosen from the group consisting of a hotmelt, a cold-setting adhesive, a double-sided adhesive tape and an adhesive bead.

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