EP3208211B1 - Film packaging and method for packaging a product in a film packaging - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a film package having a front side extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and a rear side extending in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction. The front and the back are joined together by a transverse seal running in the transverse direction. The transverse sealing seam simultaneously forms an end edge of the foil packaging in the sense that the transverse sealing seam in the longitudinal direction delimits a packaging interior arranged between the front side and the rear side for receiving a product towards the environment. It is harmless if the front and / or the back protrude in the longitudinal direction of a side facing away from the packaging interior of the transverse sealing seam. The invention also provides a method for packaging a product, in particular in a film package according to the invention.

A generic film packaging can be produced particularly easily in a so-called "Form Fill and Seal" (FFS) process and filled at the same time. In this case, a film material for forming a front side extending in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction and a rear side extending in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction is supplied, so that a packaging interior is formed between the front side and the rear side. The product is arranged in the packaging interior space between the front side and the rear side, and the packaging interior is subsequently closed at least by a transverse sealing seam which connects the front side to the rear side and extends in the transverse direction.

Such methods are used in automatic packaging lines on an industrial scale to provide any products with easy-to-use outer packaging of a film material. The method is also suitable for any type of product. Thus, cuboid or bar-shaped products are particularly well suited for such a packaging process. But also bulk goods such as pellets, powders and even liquids can be processed in an FFS process, if it runs vertically as a so-called VFFS (Vertical Form Fill Seal) process. The film packaging is initially prefabricated so that it is tightly closed on the side and underside, so that the pourable product can be filled from above. The film packaging is then closed by a cross-seam on the head side.

In order to be able to withstand the high mechanical requirements due to transport and bag forming, it is preferred to use a film material with a high strength for carrying out FFS processes. Oriented or biaxially oriented polymer films such as OPET (oriented polyethylene terephthalate) or BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) are preferably used. Also cellulose-based film layers are particularly well suited for the application.

However, these materials have the disadvantage that they have an unpredictable cracking behavior. Although layers of material from the materials mentioned can easily be torn, the crack propagation then takes place largely at random. Even in the multi-layer film composite with other functional layers, such as sealing or cover layers, the cracking behavior is determined almost exclusively by the brittle layer. Therefore, film packages produced in the FFS process can only be very limited be opened by tearing open by the user. Rather, it is usually more convenient to open the foil packaging by loosening at least one sealed seam. This is known, for example, in the field of snack packaging.

Out JP 2001-294248 A is a film packaging with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known.
However, the crack propagation of the film packaging shown is still in need of improvement. In particular, despite the two weakening lines, the tear can migrate towards the edge, so that only one corner of the foil wrapper is torn off. In particular, large pieces of the packaged goods filling almost the entire interior of the film space can sometimes not be reliably removed from such an opening. Against this background, the object of the invention is to improve the handling properties of the foil packaging shown.
Nevertheless, it is desirable to provide a defined tear behavior even in modern FFS packaging. This may be necessary to reproducibly produce an opening of sufficient size, such as with bar-shaped products. As a result, the product can be removed, for example, as a whole. Even with pourable goods, a defined opening is essential to prevent uncontrolled dumping. At the same time, however, easy manufacturability should also be maintained.

The solution of this object and the subject of the invention is a film package according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 9. Preferred embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

The generic foil packaging has a front side extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and a rear side extending in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction. The front and back are joined together by a transverse transverse seam forming a terminal edge of the film package. According to the invention, at least two longitudinally extending lines of weakness are respectively arranged on the front side and the rear side and extend in the longitudinal direction over the entire front side and the entire rear side. The front side and the rear side preferably have at least one plastic layer with an oriented polymer, in particular OPET or BOPP. As a result of the arrangement according to the invention, a secure and reproducible tear-open behavior can also be ensured in the case of film packaging with a film material which tends to produce an uncontrolled formation of cracks, for example OPET or BOPP. The transverse sealing seam forming an end edge can be torn easily and at a defined point, after which a tear is guided between two adjacent weakening lines.

Weakening lines are linear or strip-shaped areas of the film material whose mechanical resistance is reduced. A line of weakness can control crack propagation within a sheet material, as cracks tend to propagate to the areas of least mechanical strength. A weakening line can be produced, in particular, by reducing the material thickness and / or local changes in the material properties, as can be done in the production of the film material or else subsequently. In particular, weakening lines can be continuous or in sections be formed interrupted. A sectionally interrupted line of weakness is to be understood in the context of the invention as a perforation which has a uniformly recurring pattern over its entire extent in the longitudinal direction.

The respective at least two weakening lines are expediently arranged on the same outer surface of the front side or the rear side. They preferably have the same penetration depth into the material of the front side or the rear side and, in the case of a multilayer structure, extend into the same partial layers. Particularly preferably, the at least two weakening lines are constructed identically.

Characterized in that according to the invention a plurality of lines of weakness are provided both at the front and at the back, a particularly advantageous opening of the film packaging can be made possible. The film package is divided by tearing between the two lines of weakness along the longitudinal direction. Thus, a bar-shaped product in partial opening from the head side only partially protrude from the opening and are thus consumed piecewise. For example, a food bar can be eaten like a partially opened banana. Alternatively, after completely separating one half of the bag package, the product as a whole may be removed in the transverse direction.

This is particularly advantageous if the film package has a greater extent in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal extent) than in the transverse direction (transverse extent). A particular advantage can be achieved if the longitudinal extent is more than 1.5 times, in particular more than twice the transverse extent, since then already small deviations in the Crack propagation can prevent the film packaging can be separated clean longitudinally.

By parallel guidance of at least two longitudinally extending lines of weakness respectively at the front and back can be ensured in the film package according to the invention in spite of a stiff film component, a roughly rectilinear tear behavior. At the same time the risk of tearing along the weakening lines during the packaging process is minimal, since the film material is mainly stressed and stabilized by the transversely extending connecting tools for the production of the transverse seam. Shearing forces or bending moments perpendicular to the front or back, which could cause crack initiation, hardly occur. This is all the more true if the longitudinal direction of the front side and the back side is identical to a machine direction in which the film material is transported during the packaging process.

The transverse sealing seam preferably extends over the entire width of the front side and the rear side. This way, a tight seal can be achieved at this end edge without additional aids. In addition, the film packaging is stabilized by the transverse sealing seam over the entire width. Depending on the application, the transverse seam can be created by hot or cold sealing. An adhesive bond is also possible within the scope of the invention.

Particularly preferably, a tear-in aid is arranged on the transverse sealing seam. As a result, the initiation of a crack in the transverse sealing seam can be simplified. The tearing aid can, for example, as at least one notch or be formed a zigzag-shaped cutting edge. This can extend over the entire width of the transverse sealing seam or be limited to areas in which the crack initiation is to take place preferably. In particular, the tearing aid is arranged only in the region between the weakening lines and not in marginal areas between the lateral outer edges of the foil packaging and the nearest weakening line.

Particularly preferably, the weakening lines are aligned parallel to one another. As a result, a corridor of constant width can be made available for the crack propagation.

It is particularly preferred to arrange equidistantly at least three lines of weakness in the transverse direction on the front side and / or the back side. As a result, the position of the crack initiation in a larger area can be left to the user. Nevertheless, a once initiated crack in the channel formed by the two nearest lines of weakness is forwarded almost linearly to the opposite end edge of the film packaging.

According to the invention, the weakening lines in the transverse direction are restricted to one area. In this way, the user can be instructed to tear open the foil packaging in the designated area. This can additionally be supported by a suitably positioned tear aid and / or an optical marking of the area. This is particularly in question when the product may conveniently be touched directly only in certain areas. According to the invention, the weakening lines are provided in the middle third of the film package.

Preferably, at least the outer, that is, a lateral edge of the packaging closest, weakening lines are aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction. As a result, the crack propagation always takes place in such a way that the lateral edges of the bag are not reached. As a result, a complete division of the film packaging is possible.

It is particularly preferred if each weakening line on the front side is aligned congruently with a weakening line on the rear side. This results in the same boundary conditions on the front as well as on the back in the crack formation.

In a preferred embodiment, the front side and the rear side are formed from a single film section. This film section can be consistently provided over its entire width with lines of weakness. The film section may conveniently be closed by a so-called fin seam, in which a part of the inside of the film section is joined to another part of the inside of the film section, or an overlapping area to a film tube.

Preferably, the front side and the rear side are connected at least at one side edge by a side fold. The gusset may be formed from the same film section as the front and / or the back or from a separate film section. A gusset can increase the interior of the bag and improve the stacking behavior. Preferably, the gusset is formed without weakening lines to limit the crack propagation on the front and back. Alternatively or additionally, the film package may be equipped on the opposite side of the transverse seam with a floor stand.

A preferred film material for forming a film package according to the invention is a multi-layer laminate having an outer layer of BOPP having a thickness of 20 microns and an inner layer of metallized biaxially oriented polypropylene (metBOPP) with a thickness of also 20 microns connected to the outer layer by a laminating adhesive layer. The metallized polymer layer serves as a barrier to a water vapor and oxygen passage. The outer layer may be provided on the inner layer facing the inside with a print. The outer layer is substantially transparent so that the pressure is visible from the outside while being protected from damage by the outer layer. If the film package is to be closed in the cold-sealing process, a layer of cold-seal adhesive may additionally be applied to the inside of the inner layer.

The invention is based on a method for packaging a product in a film package, in which a film material is fed to form a front side extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and a rear side extending in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction, such that between the front side and the back is formed a packaging interior. The product is placed between the front and back in the packaging interior. Subsequently, the packaging interior is closed by at least one transverse seam which connects the front side to the back and extends in the transverse direction. According to the invention, at least two longitudinally extending weakening lines are arranged on the front side and the rear side, which extend over the entire length of the front side and the rear side in FIG Extend longitudinally. The method is particularly suitable for providing a film packaging according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the film material for the front and the back is fed endlessly. After packaging, the foil package with the product contained therein is cut to length after or during formation of the transverse seal. Here, the film material is severed in the transverse seal seam. Alternatively, it is also possible to sever the film material only partially, in particular in the form of a perforation. As a result, a predetermined breaking point is created, which can be opened later by the user or a machine.

Conveniently, the full or partial parting line passes through the sealed seam. As a result, remain on both sides of the dividing line areas where the front and the back are connected. As a result, a part of the transverse sealing seam, which closes off the pouch interior of the foil packaging, at the same time serve as a footsealing seam for delimiting a foil pouch produced subsequently in a continuous process. At the same time, the sealing seam forms the end of the film packaging in the longitudinal direction, so that the front and the back are not separable from each other and can be torn open together.

Furthermore, it is expedient to provide the foil wrapper at an end edge with a tear-in. This can be configured for example as a zigzag cut. This can be done particularly preferably simultaneously with the cutting to length of a continuously produced film packaging. Preferably, the tearing aids are arranged so that they can be effective between those longitudinally extending lines of weakness. hereby a crack initiation between at least two lines of weakness is favored, so that the crack can not then uncontrollably emigrate to a lateral end of the film packaging.

Preferably, the film material for the front and / or the back is supplied with prefabricated lines of weakness as a semi-finished product. As a result, the packaging system can be made more compact as a whole, since the film material does not first have to be produced and / or reworked. It is also particularly easy to use a prefabricated multilayer laminate as the film material, in which the weakening lines are formed on inner layers or inner boundary surfaces of layers. As a result, a uniform, higher-quality impression is produced externally by the film laminate. Moreover, if the longitudinal direction coincides with the machine direction, the feeder can be made very simple, since the front and back do not have to be arranged in a specific position relative to each other.

In another preferred embodiment, the lines of weakness are introduced into the front and / or the back before filling the product. Laser cutting, punching, mechanical material removal (so-called scraping) or mechanical embossing are particularly suitable for this purpose. Again, it is advantageous if the longitudinal direction coincides with the machine direction, since then the lines of weakness can be introduced continuously and without synchronization.

Conveniently, a film tube is formed prior to filling the product from a single web, the front and the back includes. The film tube can be closed by a so-called fin seam or by an overlap connection.

Fig. 1

Draufsicht auf eine nicht erfindungsgemäße Folienverpackung,

Fig. 2A

nicht erfindungsgemäßes Verfahren in einer Ausgestaltung als VFFS-Prozess,

Fig. 2B

Ausgestaltung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens als HFFS-Prozess,

Fig. 3A

geöffnete Folienverpackung in einer weiteren Ausführungsform und

Fig. 3B

teilgeöffnete Folienverpackung in noch einer weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform.

The invention will be explained with reference to drawings, which illustrate only embodiments. They show schematically:

Fig. 1

Top view of a non-inventive film packaging,

Fig. 2A

noninventive method in one embodiment as a VFFS process,

Fig. 2B

Embodiment of the method according to the invention as HFFS process,

Fig. 3A

opened film package in a further embodiment and

Fig. 3B

partially opened film package in yet another embodiment of the invention.

The Fig. 1 shows a film package 1 with a in a longitudinal direction l and a transverse direction q extending front side 2. Here, the extension of the film package 1 in the longitudinal direction l (longitudinal extent) is greater than the extension in the transverse direction q (transverse extent). Behind the front side 2 and covered by this a back 3 is arranged, which also extends in the longitudinal direction l and the transverse direction q. The front side 2 and the back 3 are at lateral edges 4 of the film package 1 to form a circumferential Foil tube interconnected. At an upper and lower end edge 5, the front side 2 and the back 3 are connected to each other by a transverse sealing seam 6. As a result, the arranged between the front 2 and the back 3 packaging interior is sealed. Both on the front side 2 and on the rear side 3 a plurality of lines of weakness 7 are arranged, which extend in the longitudinal direction 1 over the entire front side 2 and the entire rear side 3.

In the present embodiment, the transverse seam 6 extends both at the top and at the bottom over the entire width of the front side 2 and the back 3 in the transverse direction q. At the end edges 5, a tear-in aid 15 in the form of a zigzag cut extending into the transverse sealing seams 6 is provided, which likewise extends over the entire width of the film package 1 in the transverse direction q. The weakening lines 7 are arranged parallel to each other and to the longitudinal direction l of the film package 1 and distributed over the entire width of the film package 1 in the transverse direction q between the outer edges 4 equidistant.

In Fig. 2A an embodiment of a method is shown, with which an embodiment of a foil packaging can be produced. A film material 8 for forming both the front side 2 and the back 3 of the film package 1 is withdrawn as a prefabricated semi-finished product from a roll. In this case, weakening lines 7, which extend parallel to the transport direction of the film material 8, are already arranged in the film material 8. The web of the film material 8 is subsequently folded over so that its lateral edges 9 are brought into contact with each other in such a way that the lateral edges 9 adjoining inner surfaces of the film material 8 are in flat contact. In this area, the film material is connected to itself by a so-called fin seam, so that a circumferential film tube 10 is formed. In these, a product 14 can be filled through a hopper 11, which may also be pourable. In a subsequent combined cutting and sealing station 12, a transverse sealing seam 6 is formed transversely to the transport direction on the film tube 10 and at the same time divided along its extent approximately in the middle. As a result, a film package 1 according to the invention is separated from the film tube 10 and this closed at the same time with a top-side transverse seam. Likewise, a Fußsiegelnaht is formed simultaneously, which closes the remaining film tube 10 and thus forms the basis for a subsequently produced film bag 1.

A synchronization between the movement of the material web 8 and the sealing station 12 is not necessary, since the lines of weakness 7 run in the transport direction anyway. It is also possible to produce film packages 1 of different sizes from the same film material 8 by varying the timing of the sealing station relative to the transport speed of the film material 8.

In Fig. 2B an alternative process design is shown as a HFFS (horizontal FFS) system. In this case, the film material intended for forming the front side 2 and for forming the rear side 3 is supplied as separate film webs 8, 8 '. Both are provided with already extending in the direction of transport lines of weakness 7. On the guided on a conveyor belt 13 sheet material 8 for forming the back 3, a product 14 is placed by means of a feed, not shown. This is then with the Sheet material 8 'to form the front side 2 covered. The front side 2 and the back 3 are connected to each other in the region of the lateral edges 4 by longitudinal sealing seams. Subsequently, in a combined cutting and sealing station 12, a transverse sealing seam extending transversely to the transport direction is introduced, which connects the front side 2 to the rear side 3. At the same time, the transverse sealing seam 6 is divided to lengthen a single film packaging 1 along its longitudinal direction.

The FIGS. 3A and 3B show possible variants for opening a film package in two embodiments. In the Fig. 3A both the weakening lines 7 and the tearing aids 15 are arranged only in the left half of the film package 1. The film package can be divided by tearing at a tear-in 15 and a running at or between the lines of weakness 7 tear in this area. Thereafter, the smaller part of the film packaging is removed, so that a - in the embodiment cuboid - product 14 protrudes laterally from the packaging interior between the front side 2 and the back 3. The product 14 can already be used in this state or taken in the transverse direction q.

In a further variant of the invention according to Fig. 3B the weakening lines 7 and the tear aid 15 are arranged only in a middle third of the front side 2 and the back 3 of the film package 1. The film package 1 is partially torn from a closing edge 5 forth and pulled apart at the top. As a result, the product 14 which is bar-shaped in the exemplary embodiment projects out of the opening in the longitudinal direction l. The product 14 can thus be handled safely without having to touch it.

Claims (13)

1. A film packaging (1) having a front side (2) extending in a longitudinal direction (1) and a transverse direction (q) and a rear side (3) extending in the longitudinal direction (1) and in the transverse direction (q), wherein the front side (2) and the rear side (3) are interconnected by a transverse sealing seam (6) running in the transverse direction (4), which forms a terminating edge (5) of the film packaging, wherein in each case at least two lines of weakness (7) running in the longitudinal direction (1) are arranged on the front side (2) and on the rear side (3), which lines of weakness extend over the entire front side (2) and the entire rear side (3) in the longitudinal direction (1), characterized in that the lines of weakness (7) are restricted in the transverse direction (q) to the middle third of the front side (2) and the rear side (3) of the film packaging (1).
2. The film packaging (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the transverse sealing seam (6) extends over the entire width of the front side (2) and the rear side (3).
3. The film packaging (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a first tear aid (15) is arranged on the transverse sealing seam (6).
4. The film packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lines of weakness (7) are aligned parallel to one another.
5. The film packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in each case at least three lines of weakness (7) are arranged on the front side (2) and the rear side (3), wherein the lines of weakness (7) on the front side (2) and/or the rear side (3) are arranged in the transverse direction (q) equidistantly between an outermost left line of weakness and an outermost right line of weakness.
6. The film packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least the outer lines of weakness (7) are aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction (1).
7. The film packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the front side (2) and the rear side (3) are formed from a single piece of film.
8. The film packaging (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the front side (2) and the rear side (3) are interconnected at at least one lateral edge (4) by a side gusset.
9. Method for packaging a product (14) in a film packaging (1) according to claims 1 to 8, wherein a film material (8) is supplied to form a front side (2) extending in a longitudinal direction (1) and a transverse direction (q) and a rear side (3) extending in the longitudinal direction (1) and the transverse direction (q), so that a packaging interior is formed between the front side (2) and the rear side (3), wherein the product is arranged between the front side (2) and the rear side (3) in the packaging interior and the packaging interior is then closed at least by a transverse sealing seam (6) which connects the front side (2) to the rear side (3) and which extends in the transverse direction (q), wherein at least two lines of weakness (7) running in the longitudinal direction are arranged in each case on the supplied film material (8) to form the front side (2) and the supplied film material (8, 8') to form the rear side (3), which lines of weakness extend over the entire length of the front side (2) and the rear side (3) in the longitudinal direction (1), characterized in that the lines of weakness (7) are arranged on the supplied film material (8, 8') so that they are arranged in a middle third in the transverse direction (q) of the front side (2) and the rear side (3) of the film packaging (1).
10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the film material (8, 8') for the front side (2) and the rear side (3) is supplied continuously and that the film packaging (1) with the product (14) contained therein is cut to length during or after the formation of the transverse sealing seam (6).
11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the film material (8, 8') for the front side (2) and the rear side (3) is supplied with prefabricated lines of weakness (7) as a semi-finished product.
12. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the lines of weakness (7) are introduced into the front side (2) and the rear side (3) before filling with the product, in particular by laser cutting, punching, mechanical removal of material or mechanical embossing.
13. The method according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that before filling with the product (14), a film tube (10) is formed from a single web of the film material (8), which film tube surrounds the front side (2) and the rear side (3).

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