Food product package formed by a sheet sealed on itself, method for manufacturing and filling such a packaging and blank

Abstract

Food product package formed by a sheet (10) resulting from a blank (70) with a plurality of sheets, each sheet of the blank having weakened portions (30, 31, 32, 33, 42, 43, 44, 53, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66), and a tongue (56) which is secured to a transverse edge (40) of the sheet, the sheet being folded along transverse weakened portions (42, 43, 44, 53, 66) in order to form a tube with a rectangular cross-section and being sealed on itself along a peelable or tearable transverse joint, the tongue (56) projecting longitudinally from the transverse joint, the sheet being sealed longitudinally along a longitudinal base joint, and the package being closed by longitudinally sealing the sheet on itself along a longitudinal top joint.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to packaging for a food product.

[0002] Processed and fresh cheeses are often presented in individually wrapped portions. Portion packages are traditionally made from thin aluminum foil, folded to form an open container into which the hot cheese is dispensed. An aluminum foil seal is then placed over the cheese, and the entire package is sealed. These portions have an easy-open system made using a plastic tear guide strip glued to the package before it is formed.

[0003] Such portion packs are economical to produce and provide relative airtightness, allowing the products mentioned to be preserved satisfactorily in difficult logistical conditions. Thus, it is possible to offer processed cheeses with shelf lives that can exceed 6 months and up to 1 year when transported and stored at room temperature, even in hot countries.

[0004] However, the seal of this type of packaging is not perfect. Over time, a loss of weight of the product can be observed due to the evaporation of some of its water, which demonstrates the existence of a leak in the packaging.

[0005] The method of sealing the lid on the cheese and the prior folding create chimneys into which the cheese can enter, water can evaporate and sometimes serum released by the cheese can flow out.

[0006] These leaks have a negative impact on the product's preservation. Indeed, the loss of water during preservation alters the product's texture and requires overdosing during packaging. Leaks also allow oxygen to enter the packaging and limit the shelf life by causing the product to go rancid. The leakage of whey and the proximity of the cheese to the outside environment can cause mold to appear on the outside of the packaging, which presents an unpleasant appearance to the consumer even if the product is not altered in the packaging.

[0007] JP H07-101463 describes a package consisting of a self-sealed sheet containing, for example, sliced ​​cheese. However, after filling the package with the hot, liquid cheese and then sealing the package to close it, the package containing the cheese must be shaped by passing it between two rollers and cooled to form slices, which has the effect of slowing down the production rate.

[0008] WO 2011 / 058237 describes a foldable packaging for a portionable food product, comprising a side strip having two longitudinal edges connected by two end edges, and having at least one curve and / or fold to provide a storage space for the food product, and a seal attached in a peelable manner to the end edges. However, such packaging requires the side strip and the seal to be produced separately, and to be assembled in a peelable manner by at least three successive seals, which prove complex to implement. In addition, the packaging thus formed has a large sealing surface, increasing the risks of leakage.

[0009] FR 2957062 describes a packaging of the aforementioned type, in particular for a portion of cheese, the packaging comprising a base and side walls folded perpendicular to the base and forming with the base a hermetic cavity, the packaging further comprising a lid secured to a side wall folded down and sealed on flat areas for fixing the other side walls. However, the blank required to produce this packaging, produced unit by unit, has numerous cuts which cause significant losses of material and mechanical complexity in forming the packaging. Furthermore, in the same way as for WO 2011 / 058237, the packaging thus formed has a large sealing surface increasing the risks of leakage.

[0010] FR2880869 A1 discloses a packaging sheet and a package with tear guide strips.

[0011] US5582342 discloses a package according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0012] An objective of the invention is to provide packaging for a food product which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and has good sealing quality, is simple to produce while maintaining high production rates.

[0013] For this purpose, the invention relates to a packaging for a food product according to claim 1.

[0014] Thanks to the invention, the packaging can be formed into volume, even when empty, from a single sheet. It is thus possible to use the packaging directly as a mold for a food product that would be deposited in liquid form in the packaging before its closure, which allows production savings by avoiding a step of shaping the food product before the packaging step and thus maintaining high production rates.

[0015] Another advantage of the invention concerns hygiene and preservation. By pouring the product directly into the packaging, it is only minimally exposed to the ambient air, limiting the risk of contamination. If, in addition, the product is poured at a temperature higher than the pasteurization temperature, between 60°C and 90°C at atmospheric pressure, preservation is further improved.

[0016] According to particular embodiments of the invention, the packaging also has one or more of the characteristics of dependent claims 2 to 6.

[0017] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing and filling at least one packaging for a food product according to claim 7.

[0018] According to particular embodiments of the invention, the method of manufacturing and filling the packaging also has one or more of the characteristics of claims 8 to 11.

[0019] The invention also relates to a blank of a plurality of sheets according to claim 12, for forming at least one package as described above, each sheet having weakenings comprising transverse weakenings, and a tab secured to a transverse edge of the sheet.

[0020] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which: there Figure 1 is a bottom view of a sheet, presented flat, for forming a package according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the Figure 2 is a bottom view of a blank, presented flat, consisting of a plurality of sheets according to the invention, the Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the main steps of a packaging forming and filling process, the Figure 4 is a perspective view of a tube formed with the blank of the Figure 2 , the packaging being closed, the Figures 5 à 8 are perspective views of a package formed with the sheet of the Figure 1 , at different stages of the packaging forming and filling process: the Figure 5 represents a package in the process of forming the tube shown in the fig 4 , before sealing the tab shown sealed on the Figure 4 , there Figure 6 represents the packaging at one end of the tube of the Figure 4 after sealing the tab and at the time of filling, one side is open, the other has a side seal, the Figure 7 represents the packaging just after filling, side sealing and cutting to separate the packaging from the tube, and the Figure 8 represents the closed packaging after folding down the side seals, the Figure 9 is a view similar to that of the Figure 8 , the packaging being opened, the Figure 10 is a bottom view of a sheet, presented flat, to form a package according to a first variant of the embodiment of the Figure 1 . there Figure 11 is a perspective view of a package being formed from the sheet of the Figure 10 , there Figure 12 is a view of the packaging of the figure 11 in the process of opening, the Figure 13 is a bottom view of a sheet, presented flat, to form a package according to a second variant of the embodiment of the Figure 1 not covered by the claims, and the Figure 14 is a perspective view of a string of wrappers formed with the blank of the Figure 2 according to a variant of a method of forming and filling the packaging according to the invention.

[0021] Sheet 10 of the figure 1 is intended for the constitution of packaging 12 of the figures 5 à 9 .

[0022] Sheet 10 of the figure 10 is intended for the constitution of the 12' packaging of figures 11 And 12 .

[0023] The sheet 10 is elongated in a longitudinal direction L.

[0024] Sheet 10 is made of a material having a contrast in stiffness between the weakenings and the material outside the weakenings, which is stiffer than the weakenings.

[0025] It is understood that the material is of sufficient rigidity to form flat surfaces, and whose rigidity can be locally reduced by weakenings.

[0026] Preferably, the sheet 10 is made mainly of paper or cardboard.

[0027] The paper or cardboard has a weight between 30g / m 2 and 200g / m 2.

[0028] Preferably, the paper or cardboard has a weight between 40 g / m 2 and 150 g / m 2

[0029] Even more preferably, the paper or cardboard has a weight of between 40g / m 2 and 80g / m 2.

[0030] According to another embodiment, the sheet 10 is made of a plastic material created by the assembly of different materials, forming a plastic complex. The materials eligible to participate in this complex include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films, polyethylene (PE) films, polypropylene (PP) films, polyamide (PA) films, polylactic acid (PLA) films or any other plastic film commonly used for food product packaging.

[0031] Advantageously, PET or PP are preferred to fulfill a structural role of the material when it includes other layers such as lacquers, PE film, PP film, sealing polymer having a sealing aid function.

[0032] The sheet 10 may also comprise layers of aluminum and / or paper. These materials have the advantage of having sufficient rigidity to form flat surfaces, and of possessing folding properties that are advantageous for the application, in particular the ability to maintain a fold, and to form preferential weakenings after crushing the material.

[0033] When paper or cardboard is used, it is necessary to treat the mass or surface to give it barrier properties to water, possibly to gases and the possibility of sealing.

[0034] Typically possible compositions for the sheet are, from the inside intended to be turned towards a food product P contained in the packaging 12, 12' towards the outside: Sealing layer and possibly water and gas barrier / Paper 40-80g / m 2 < / Sealing and / or protective layer; Sealing layer and possibly water and gas barrier / Paper 40-80g / m 2 < / Aluminum 10-20 µm / Sealing and / or protective layer; Sealing layer and possibly water and gas barrier / PET 10-20 µm / Sealing and / or protective layer; Sealing layer and possibly water and gas barrier / PET 10-20 µm / Paper 40-80 g / m 2 < / Sealing and / or protective layer; Sealing layer and possibly water and gas barrier / PET 10-20 µm / Aluminum 10-20 µm / Sealing and / or protective layer; Sealing layer and possibly water and gas barrier / PET 10-20 µm / Aluminum 10-20 µm / Paper 40-80 g / m 2 < / Sealing and / or protective layer.

[0035] The sealing layer and possibly water and gas barrier comprises, for example, at least one sealing lacquer, which can be supplemented or replaced by a polyolefin-based plastic coating or lamination.

[0036] Sealing lacquers are, for example, acrylic lacquers (methacrylate, acrylate, copolymer of these polymers with ethylene), nitrocellulose, vinyl (polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl acetate (PVacetate), polyvinyl laurate (PVLaurate), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyester-based lacquers, polyolefin-based lacquers.

[0037] The sealing and / or protective layer comprises, for example, at least one sealing lacquer from the examples listed above, also fulfilling the protective function, or at least one sealing lacquer from the examples listed above and at least one protective lacquer different from the sealing lacquer, for example a polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) lacquer.

[0038] The sheet 10 advantageously has a total thickness of between 50 µm and 250 µm, preferably between 50 µm and 120 µm.

[0039] The sheet 10 comprises a main region 20 and an end region 22 disposed at a longitudinal end 23 of the main region 20.

[0040] The main region 20 typically has a generally rectangular shape.

[0041] The main region 20 comprises five transverse panels 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, a central panel 24 and four side panels 25, 26, 27, 28 arranged two by two on either side of the central panel 24 in a transverse direction T substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.

[0042] The five transverse panels 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 are connected to each other by longitudinal weakenings 30, 31, 32, 33 extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L.

[0043] Subsequently, the two side panels 26, 27 connected to the central panel 24 are called proximal side panels 26, 27, the other two side panels 25, 28 are called distal side panels 25, 28.

[0044] Preferably, the two proximal side panels 26, 27 are of substantially identical shape and size.

[0045] Preferably, the two distal side panels 25, 28 are of substantially identical shape and size.

[0046] In other words, the sheet 10 is advantageously symmetrical with respect to a median longitudinal plane (not shown).

[0047] The main region 20 further comprises, within the transverse panels 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, four longitudinal panels 34, 35, 36, 37 extending substantially parallel to the transverse direction T.

[0048] The sheet 10 comprises two longitudinal edges 38, 39 and two transverse edges 40, 41.

[0049] The four longitudinal panels 34, 35, 36, 37 each extend from one longitudinal edge 38 of the sheet 10 to the other longitudinal edge 39.

[0050] The four longitudinal panels 34, 35, 36, 37 are connected to each other by transverse weakenings 42, 43, 44 extending substantially parallel to the transverse direction T.

[0051] The four longitudinal panels 34, 35, 36, 37 each comprise a central portion 34A, 35A, 36A, 37A, two proximal lateral portions 34B, 35B, 36B, 37B and two distal lateral portions 34C, 35C, 36C, 37C arranged two by two on either side of the central portion 34A, 35A, 36A, 37A in the transverse direction T and connected by the longitudinal weakenings 30, 31, 32, 33.

[0052] The transverse weakenings 42, 43, 44 open into the two longitudinal edges 38, 39 of the sheet 10.

[0053] Preferably, the two longitudinal panels 34, 35 closest to the end region 22 are of substantially identical shape and size to the two longitudinal panels 36, 37 furthest from the end region 22.

[0054] In the examples shown on the figures 1 And 13, the longitudinal panel 34 closest to the end region 22 further comprises two additional weakenings 45, 46; 47, 48, arranged in each proximal lateral portion 34B of this longitudinal panel 34.

[0055] The two additional weakenings 45, 46; 47, 48 of a proximal lateral part 34B of this longitudinal panel 34 form with the longitudinal weakening 31; 32 separating the proximal lateral part 34B from the central part 34A a substantially isosceles triangle whose apex is tangent to the longitudinal weakening 30; 33 separating the proximal lateral part 34B from the distal lateral part 34C.

[0056] By "substantially isosceles" it is understood that the angles formed between the base of the triangle and the vertex are substantially equal, to within 5%.

[0057] Likewise, the longitudinal panel 36 identical to the longitudinal panel 34 closest to the end region 22 further comprises two additional weakenings 49, 50; 51, 52, arranged in each proximal lateral portion 36B of this longitudinal panel 36.

[0058] The two additional weakenings 49, 50; 51, 52 of a proximal lateral part 36B of this longitudinal panel 36 form with the longitudinal weakening 31; 32 separating the proximal lateral part 36B from the central part 36A a substantially isosceles triangle whose apex is tangent to the longitudinal weakening 30; 33 separating the proximal lateral part 36B from the distal lateral part 36C.

[0059] The other longitudinal panels 35 and 37 are free of additional weakening.

[0060] Alternatively, as shown in the figure 10 , the longitudinal panel 35 adjacent to the panel 34 closest to the end region 22 further comprises two additional weakenings 45, 46; 47, 48, arranged in each proximal lateral portion 35B of this longitudinal panel 35.

[0061] The two additional weakenings 45, 46; 47, 48 of a proximal lateral part 35B of this longitudinal panel 35 form with the longitudinal weakening 31; 32 separating the proximal lateral part 35B from the central part 35A a substantially isosceles triangle whose apex is oriented towards the nearest longitudinal edge 38; 39, and is distant from the longitudinal weakening 30; 33 separating the proximal lateral part 35B from the distal lateral part 35C.

[0062] The panel 34 closest to the end region 22 is devoid of additional attenuations.

[0063] Likewise, the longitudinal panel 37 identical to the longitudinal panel 35 adjacent to the panel 34 closest to the end region 22 further comprises two additional weakenings 49, 50; 51, 52, arranged in each proximal lateral portion 37B of this longitudinal panel 37.

[0064] The two additional weakenings 49, 50; 51, 52, of a proximal lateral part 37B of this longitudinal panel 37 form with the longitudinal weakening 31; 32 separating the proximal lateral part 37B from the central part 37A a substantially isosceles triangle whose apex is oriented towards the nearest longitudinal edge 38; 39, and is distant from the longitudinal weakening 30; 33 separating the proximal lateral part 37B from the distal lateral part 37C.

[0065] The longitudinal panel 36 identical to the longitudinal panel 34 closest to the end region 22 is devoid of additional weakenings.

[0066] The end region 22 is connected to the main region 20 by a transverse weakening 53 extending in the transverse direction T.

[0067] The transverse weakening 53 opens into the two longitudinal edges 38, 39 of the sheet 10.

[0068] The end region 22 comprises a strip 54 extending in the extension of the main region 20.

[0069] In the examples shown on the figures 1 And 10 , the longitudinal weakenings 30, 31, 32, 33 open into the two transverse edges 40, 41 of the sheet 10.

[0070] In the example shown in the figure 13 , the longitudinal weakenings 30, 31, 32, 33 open on the one hand into the transverse edge 41 of the sheet 10 opposite the end region 22 and on the other hand into the strip 54 of the end region 22.

[0071] The end region 22 further comprises a tab 56 extending projecting from the sheet 10 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0072] The tab 56 is secured to the transverse edge 40 of the sheet 10 located on the side of the end region 22.

[0073] By "solidar" it is understood that the tab 56 is integral with the transverse edge 40 of the sheet 10.

[0074] The tab 56 comprises an end 57 connected to the strip 54 of the end region 22 and a free end 58. The free end 58 allows the tab 56 to be gripped to facilitate the opening of the package 12 once the package 12 has been formed.

[0075] The tab 56 extends for example from an extension of the longitudinal weakenings 31, 32 connecting the proximal side panels 26, 27 to the central panel 24.

[0076] The sheet 10 has longitudinal tear guide strips 60, 61 following the longitudinal weakenings 31, 32 connecting the proximal side panels 26, 27 to the central panel 24.

[0077] The tear guide strips 60, 61 extend beyond the longitudinal weakenings 31, 32 into the strip 54 of the end region 22 and at least partially following the contours of the tab 56.

[0078] Each tear guide strip 60, 61 opens at one end into a transverse edge 41 of the sheet 10 opposite the tab 56 and at another end into the free end 58 of the tab 56.

[0079] The tear guide strips 60, 61 are for example in the form of a weakening of the sheet 10 in its thickness, in particular by means of a half-meat pre-cut using blades or laser treatment.

[0080] Alternatively or additionally, the tear guide strips 60, 61 are in the form of strips laminated to the sheet 10.

[0081] The tear guide strips 60, 61 have both a guiding role to prevent the tear from spreading over the area where the tear guide strips 60, 61 are placed, and a mechanical reinforcement of the sheet to enable it to withstand the traction of the opening. The tear guide strips 60, 61 are preferably along the longitudinal weakenings 31, 32 connecting the proximal side panels 26, 27 to the central panel 24, these longitudinal weakenings 31, 32 being intended to form edges of the packaging 12, 12', which allows a complete opening making at least three faces of the food product P and up to five faces of the food product P accessible, and therefore allowing easier access to the food product P by the consumer.

[0082] The sheet 10 further comprises four transverse weakenings 62, 63, 64, 65 each opening at one end into the nearest longitudinal edge 38, 39, and at another end into the vertex of one of the four substantially isosceles triangles formed by the additional weakenings 45, 46; 47, 48; 49, 50; 51, 52.

[0083] Alternatively, the transverse weakenings 62, 63, 64, 65 are formed during the folding of the sheet 10. The sheet 10 before folding is then devoid of these transverse weakenings 62, 63, 64, 65.

[0084] As shown in the figures 1 And 10 , the sheet 10 has a transverse weakening 66 connecting the longitudinal panel 37 furthest from the end region 22 to a sealing hem 67.

[0085] The transverse weakening 66 opens into the two longitudinal edges 38, 39 of the sheet 10.

[0086] The sealing hem 67 makes it possible to split the sheet in the sealing area in order to reinforce it. The sealing hem 67 prevents the transverse edge 41 of the sheet 10 opposite the end region 22 from being in direct contact with the food product P once the sheet 10 is folded, and thus avoids a risk of diffusion of water or fat by capillarity in the sheet if the latter is not treated in the mass.

[0087] In the example shown in the figure 10 , the sheet 10 advantageously also has two primers 68, 69 intended to facilitate the opening of the packaging 12' by tearing.

[0088] For example, one of the two leaders 68 is substantially parallel to the transverse direction T and extends in the strip 54 between the tear guide strips 60, 61, and the other leader 69 is located in the sealing hem 67 between the tear guide strips 60, 61 and forms two circular arcs each extending from the vicinity of a tear guide strip 60; 61 and opening into the nearest transverse edge 41 of the sheet 10.

[0089] The central parts 34A, 35A, 36A, 37A of the four longitudinal panels 34, 35, 36, 37 are intended to form faces 100, 102, 104, 106 of the packaging 12.

[0090] The faces 100, 102, 104, 106 typically comprise a front face 100 opposite a rear face 102 receiving the tongue 56, and two transverse lateral faces 104, 106.

[0091] Advantageously, the front 100 and rear 102 faces are square in shape.

[0092] According to the first preferred embodiment shown in the figure 7 , the side faces 104, 106 are rectangular in shape, not square, so that the package 12 obtained is a rectangular parallelepiped.

[0093] In the example shown in the figure 11 , the side faces 104, 106 are also square in shape so that the resulting packaging 12' is a cube.

[0094] According to another variant, the front 100 and rear 102 faces are rectangular in shape, not square, and the side faces 104, 106 are rectangular in shape, not square, so that the packaging 12 obtained is a rectangular parallelepiped.

[0095] It is understood that depending on the variants, the cube-shaped packaging may not have a sealing hem and may have a peelable transverse seal and that the parallelepiped shape may have a hem and starters and may have a tearable transverse seal.

[0096] "Peelable" means a waterproof attachment, by gluing or sealing, allowing the two parts thus attached to be separated manually during normal use of the packaging without tearing them.

[0097] A blank 70 comprising a plurality of sheets 10 is shown in the figure 2 The sheets 10 are joined to each other by the longitudinal edge 38, 39.

[0098] The packaging 12; 12' is preferably intended to comprise a food product P, in particular an individual portion of food product P, for example and not limited to: a portion of dairy products such as, but not limited to, cheese, products comprising a cheese base and / or a dairy base, a portion of dairy substitute products, a portion of composite products comprising at least one dairy base and at least one other non-dairy base, for example a cereal and / or legume base, a portion of food products based on plant materials, a portion of confectionery or chocolate products, a portion of cooking aid products such as stock cubes or derivatives.

[0099] According to a particular embodiment, the packaging 12; 12' contains a food product P.

[0100] A method of manufacturing and filling at least one package 12; 12' will now be described.

[0101] The process, the flowchart of which is shown in the figure 3 includes at least: a step 80 of providing the blank 70 of a plurality of sheets 10, each sheet 10 having the weakenings 30, 31, 32, 33, 42, 43, 44, 53, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 comprising transverse weakenings 42, 43, 44, 53, 66, and a tab 56 secured to a transverse edge 40 of the sheet 10; a step 81 of folding the blank 70 according to the transverse weakenings 42, 43, 44, 53, 66 of each sheet 10 to form a tube 122 of rectangular or square section and of transversely sealing the blank 70 on itself to form a transverse seal 110 which can be peeled or torn, the tab 56 of each sheet 10 projecting longitudinally from the transverse seal 110, and, for each sheet 10, a step 82 of longitudinally sealing the sheet 10 to form a longitudinal bottom seal 114 thus defining an interior cavity 122 capable of containing a food product P;a step 83 of filling the interior cavity 122 with food product P, and a step 84 of closing the packaging 12;12' by longitudinally sealing the sheet 10 on itself to form a longitudinal head seal 120 spaced from the longitudinal bottom seal 114, the transverse seal 110 extending from one longitudinal seal 114, 120 to the other, the longitudinal head seal 120 of the sheet 10 forming the longitudinal bottom seal 114 of the following sheet 10. ;

[0102] In the supply step 80, the blank 70 of a plurality of sheets 10 is advantageously in the form of a reel.

[0103] In a sub-step 86, the blank 70 is unwound, for example, by techniques known in the packaging of food products.

[0104] The following steps are described for each of the sheets 10 of the blank 70.

[0105] In a substep 87, the tear guide strips 60, 61 are formed.

[0106] The tear guide strips 60, 61 are for example in the form of a weakening of the sheet 10 in its thickness, in particular by means of a half-meat pre-cut using blades or laser treatment.

[0107] Alternatively or additionally, the tear guide strips 60, 61 are in the form of strips laminated to the sheet 10.

[0108] During a sub-step 88, before or after the production of the tear guide strips 60, 61, the longitudinal weakenings 30, 31, 32, 33, transverse weakenings 42, 43, 44, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and additional weakenings 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 are formed.

[0109] The longitudinal weakenings 30, 31, 32, 33, transverse weakenings 42, 43, 44, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and additional weakenings 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 are for example produced by crushing the sheet 10.

[0110] The crushing is carried out by a projecting metal tool pressing the sheet 10 arranged in a counterpart in the form of a groove receiving the metal tool.

[0111] Crushing is particularly suitable for materials such as paper or cardboard, but also for certain plastics.

[0112] Alternatively or additionally, the longitudinal weakenings 30, 31, 32, 33, transverse weakenings 42, 43, 44, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65 and additional weakenings 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 are for example produced by removing a portion of the sheet 10 in its thickness, via a mid-flesh pre-cut obtained by blades or by laser treatment.

[0113] In this case, the weakening for folding is partly confused with the tear guide strips 60, 61 in the form of a weakening of the sheet 10, the opening being carried out according to the folding weakenings.

[0114] The creation of such weakenings makes it possible to reduce the rigidity of the sheet along precise lines to allow its folding during the shaping of the sheet 10 before filling and the finalization of its shaping after filling.

[0115] During a sub-step 89, in order to form an opening system, a part of the sheet 10 is for example cut on one of the longitudinal edges 38, 39 of the sheet 10 to create the tab 56.

[0116] Alternatively, the tab 56 is made by a combination of cutting and folding.

[0117] For example, two straight cuts are made in the sheet perpendicular to the edge on which the tab is made, and the sheet is folded back on itself at 45° outside each cut to form a point. The part of the sheet folded to form the tab is sealed and glued to prevent the tab from unfolding.

[0118] This sub-step 89 can be carried out before, during or after the sub-step 87 of forming the tear guide strips 60, 61 and the sub-step 88 of forming the longitudinal weakenings 30, 31, 32, 33, transverse weakenings 42, 43, 44, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65 and additional weakenings 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53. The formation of the tab 56 is obtained by simple cutting in the sheet 10, or by a combination of one or more cuts and one or more folds.

[0119] In the particular case of the embodiment shown in the figure 10 , the primers 68, 69 are further formed by simple cutting in the sheet 10, or by a “half-flesh” cut.

[0120] The formation of the primers 68, 69 can be carried out during the sub-step 88 of forming the longitudinal weakenings 30, 31, 32, 33, transverse weakenings 42, 43, 44, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65 and additional weakenings 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 or during the sub-step 89 of producing the tab 56.

[0121] At step 81 of folding the blank 70, each sheet 10 is folded back on itself along the transverse weakenings 42, 43, 44 to form a front face 100, a rear face 102, and two transverse lateral faces 104, 106 with an angle of 90° between two consecutive faces 100, 102, 104, 106.

[0122] As shown in the figures 1 And 10 , the sealing hem 67 is folded back as shown in the figure 5 along the transverse weakening 66 connecting the hem 67 to the longitudinal panel 37 furthest from the end region 22, towards the outside of the packaging 12; 12' so that folding the sheet 10 on itself along the transverse weakenings 42, 43, 44 brings the strip 54 and the sealing hem 67 opposite each other.

[0123] The tab 56 and the strip 54 are folded back onto the rear face 102 along the transverse weakening 53.

[0124] The blank 70 of a plurality of sheets 10 thus folded forms a tube 112 of rectangular section shown in the figure 4 .

[0125] The tab 56 projects longitudinally from the transverse joint 110.

[0126] By rectangular section, it is understood rectangular or square.

[0127] To form the tube 112 from a plurality of sheets 10, a swan-neck type forming equipment is for example used, the outlet of which has a rectangular section and is extended by a pipe of section identical to the outlet section of the cheese equipment.

[0128] Thanks to the joint action of the forming equipment and the transverse weakenings 42, 43, 44, 53, a tube 112 of rectangular section is obtained.

[0129] The equipment for producing the packaging 12;12' advantageously includes counterparts for maintaining the geometry of the tube 112 from the outside, by pressing it against the pipe.

[0130] The counterparts are typically simple plates arranged tightly around the tube 112, or drive rollers.

[0131] During the folding step 81 of the blank 70 of a plurality of sheets 10 shown in the figures 1 And 10, for each sheet 10, the strip 54 is sealed to the sealing hem 67 as packages 12 are produced by the process.

[0132] The sealing is of the “flesh-flesh” type.

[0133] The sealing is for example carried out by heating or ultrasonic rollers applied to the tube 112, or by heating or ultrasonic bars applied to the tube 112.

[0134] The strip 54 once sealed forms a transverse seal 110 of the packaging 12; 12'.

[0135] The transverse seal 110 is peelable or tearable.

[0136] The sealing hem 67 prevents the transverse edge 41 of the sheet 10 opposite the end region 22 from being in direct contact with the food product P once the sheet 10 is folded. This geometry is particularly suitable for materials which cannot be directly brought into contact with the product, in particular paper or cardboard-based materials. When the transverse seal 110 is peelable, as shown in the figure 9 , this sealing must be carried out with precise settings.

[0137] A tearable 110 cross seal as shown in the figure 12 is obtained using primers 68, 69.

[0138] In the particular case of the example shown in the figure 13 , not protected by the claims, without sealing hem, for each sheet 10, the tab 56 and the strip 54 are folded down on the rear face 102 along the transverse weakening 53 as packages 12' are produced by the method.

[0139] The strip 54 is sealed to the back face 102.

[0140] This seal is of the “leather-flesh” type, giving a peelable type weld so as to obtain a truly easy opening at the end of the process.

[0141] The sealing is for example carried out by heating or ultrasonic rollers applied to the tube 112, or by heating or ultrasonic bars applied to the tube 112.

[0142] In this example, the sheet 10 must not, in its thickness, present any sensitivity to the food product P contained in the packaging 12. Indeed, on the transverse edge 41 of the sheet 10 opposite the end region 22, all of the constituent materials of the sheet 10 are exposed and therefore exposed to direct contact with the food product P. To remedy this, this example requires either using a naturally resistant material, or covering this area where the food product P is exposed with a sealing layer and possibly a barrier to water and gases as defined above.

[0143] This problem is particularly important for materials sensitive to water and grease, particularly paper and cardboard.

[0144] In step 82 of longitudinal sealing of the sheet 10, the sheet 10 is sealed longitudinally in the vicinity of one of the two longitudinal edges 39 to form a bottom longitudinal seal 114 as shown in the figure 6 .

[0145] The longitudinal sealing in the vicinity of said longitudinal edge 39 results in the formation of a bellows 116, as shown in the figure 6 , by folding along the four additional weakenings 47, 48, 51, 52 located on the side of said longitudinal edge 39 towards the inside of the packaging 12, folding along the longitudinal weakening 32 connecting the central panel 24 and the proximal side panel 27, folding along the longitudinal weakening 33 connecting the proximal side panel 27 and the distal side panel 28, and folding along the two transverse weakenings 63, 65 each opening at one end into the vertex of one of the two substantially isosceles triangles formed by the additional weakenings 47, 48, 51, 52 located on the side of said longitudinal edge 39.

[0146] Preferably, the foldings to form the bellows 116 are carried out simultaneously.

[0147] Alternatively, the longitudinal sealing in the vicinity of said longitudinal edge 39 results in the formation of two points 116' instead of bellows, projecting longitudinally outwards from the longitudinal seal 114, as shown in the figure 11 , by folding along the four additional weakenings 47, 48, 51, 52 located on the side of said longitudinal edge 39 towards the outside of the packaging 12, folding along the longitudinal weakening 32 connecting the central panel 24 and the proximal side panel 27, folding along the longitudinal weakening 33 connecting the proximal side panel 27 and the distal side panel 28, and folding along the two transverse weakenings 63, 65 each opening at one end into the vertex of one of the two substantially isosceles triangles formed by the additional weakenings 47, 48, 51, 52 located on the side of said longitudinal edge 39.

[0148] Preferably, the folds to form the points 116' are carried out simultaneously.

[0149] Longitudinal sealing is typically achieved by two jaws arranged opposite each other on either side of the sheet 10

[0150] The sealing time is preferably between 0.2 seconds and 0.5 seconds. Sealing is as quick as possible so as not to impact production speed.

[0151] The bottom longitudinal seal 114 does not need to be peeled to open the package 12 once formed, and can be soiled, thus the longitudinal sealing is advantageously carried out in a strong manner to ensure a good seal.

[0152] Preferably, the longitudinal sealing is an ultrasonic sealing, particularly suitable in the present method.

[0153] Ultrasonic sealing allows sealing even when a weld area is soiled or through a food product P contained in the packaging 12.

[0154] To ensure good longitudinal folding, the folding and sealing are preferably carried out in the vicinity of the downstream end of the forming equipment allowing the formation of the tube 112, the forming equipment being in this situation used as a counterpart of the folding.

[0155] Downstream end means the end located downstream of the forming operation.

[0156] The longitudinal bottom seal 114 of a sheet 10 is typically produced at the same time as a longitudinal top seal 120 closing the previous sheet 10.

[0157] The sheet 10 folded back on itself and sealed longitudinally along a longitudinal bottom seal 114 defines an interior cavity 122 capable of containing a food product P.

[0158] In filling step 83, once the longitudinal bottom seal 114 of a sheet 10 has been formed, the interior cavity 122 of the sheet 10 is filled with food product P.

[0159] For this purpose, the sheet 10 is moved beyond the end of the forming equipment.

[0160] A pipe located inside the forming equipment makes it possible to dose the food product P into the interior cavity 122.

[0161] In order to be able to carry out the filling, the forming equipment has vertical geometry, and its upstream end is located above its downstream end.

[0162] Upstream end means the end located upstream of the forming operation.

[0163] The dosage is preferably carried out at temperatures between 20°C and 90°C, preferably between 30°C and 80°C.

[0164] The food product P during dosing is in the liquid or viscous state so as to occupy the entire interior cavity 122.

[0165] Preferably, the pipe is lowered at the time of dosing and raised at the end of dosing so that the level of food product P discharged is as close as possible to the maximum level reached after dosing and to avoid the risk of splashing on the tube 112 and the forming equipment.

[0166] The dosage of food product P must be precise in volume.

[0167] Advantageously, the pipe is lowered to the vicinity of the longitudinal bottom seal 114 just sealed and rises as the dosage progresses to always remain slightly above the level of food product P in the interior cavity 122, this in order to avoid trapping air bubbles in the packaging 12 once formed.

[0168] At the closing step 84, once the interior cavity 122 of the sheet 10 is filled with food product P, the longitudinal head seal 120 closing the packaging 12 is formed by folding and longitudinal sealing in the vicinity of the longitudinal edge 38 opposite the longitudinal bottom seal 114 already formed.

[0169] In the same way as for forming the longitudinal bottom seal 114 before filling the interior cavity 122, the longitudinal sealing in the vicinity of the longitudinal edge 38 results in the formation of a bellows 130, as shown in the figure 7 , by folding along the four additional weakenings 45, 46, 49, 50 located on the side of said longitudinal edge 38, folding along the longitudinal weakening 31 connecting the central panel 24 and the proximal lateral panel 26, folding along the longitudinal weakening 30 connecting the proximal lateral panel 26 and the distal lateral panel 25, and folding along the two transverse weakenings 62, 64 each opening at one end into the vertex of one of the two substantially isosceles triangles formed by the additional weakenings 45, 46, 49, 50 located on the side of said longitudinal edge 38.

[0170] Preferably, the foldings to form the bellows 130 are carried out simultaneously.

[0171] As a variant of the bellows 130, the longitudinal sealing in the vicinity of said longitudinal edge 38 results in the formation of two points 130' projecting longitudinally outwards from the longitudinal seal 120, as shown in the figure 11 , by folding along the four additional weakenings 45, 46, 49, 50 located on the side of said longitudinal edge 38 towards the outside of the packaging 12, folding along the longitudinal weakening 31 connecting the central panel 24 and the proximal side panel 26, folding along the longitudinal weakening 30 connecting the proximal side panel 26 and the distal side panel 25.

[0172] Preferably, the folds to form the points 130' are carried out simultaneously.

[0173] The longitudinal seal closing the sheet 10 is advantageously carried out just above the level of the food product P so as to leave a reduced or zero head space.

[0174] The longitudinal sealing closing the sheet 10 is for example carried out by two jaws arranged opposite each other on either side of the sheet 10 at a high temperature for a sealing time of between 0.2 seconds and 0.5 seconds.

[0175] Preferably, the longitudinal seal closing the sheet 10 is an ultrasonic seal making it possible to seal through the food product P and thus obtain a packaging 12 without headspace.

[0176] The head longitudinal seal 120 is typically made at the same time as the bottom longitudinal seal 114 of the following sheet 10 before filling.

[0177] The method comprises for example an additional step 90 of separating two successive packages 12; 12' by cutting. The package 12, 12' is cut longitudinally in the vicinity of the longitudinal head seal 120 closing the sheet 10 and separated from the tube 112 at the same time as the formation of the longitudinal head seal 120 or immediately after, without an intermediate step.

[0178] The package 12 is typically cut longitudinally in the vicinity of the longitudinal head seal 120 using a knife.

[0179] Following the steps previously described, thanks to the rigidity of the sheet 10 and the weakenings carried out to obtain a folding, a packaging 12 is obtained, shown in the figure 7 , which takes the form of a partially parallelepiped bag having two gussets 116, 130 corresponding to the two longitudinal seals.

[0180] The interior cavity 122 is hermetic due to the longitudinal and transverse seals.

[0181] According to a variant, a 12' package is obtained, shown in the figure 11 , which takes the form of a partially cubic bag having two points 116', 130' per longitudinal seal 114, 120 extending longitudinally outwards corresponding to the two longitudinal seals.

[0182] It is understood that a partially parallelepiped packaging may alternatively have two points per longitudinal joint and that a partially cubic packaging may have two gussets.

[0183] The package 12, 12' typically forms an individual portion of food product P.

[0184] Optionally, a final step 91 of shaping the packaging 12;12' of the figure 7 consists of folding the two longitudinal seals 114, 120 against the packaging 12; 12' in order to obtain a parallelepiped shape, as shown in the figure 8 , or a cubic shape.

[0185] Packaging 12 of the figure 8 comprises a front face 100, a rear face 102, two transverse side faces 104, 106 and two longitudinal side faces 140, 142.

[0186] Typically, the package 12 is placed in a former comprising an inlet and an outlet, the inlet having a funnel shape and the outlet having a section corresponding to that of the desired package 12.

[0187] In the inlet of the conformer, slots are provided to allow the insertion of the bellows 116, 130, the slots then having an inclination towards the front face 100 or the rear face 102 of the packaging 12 to fold the bellows 116, 130 onto the two longitudinal lateral faces 140, 142 of the packaging 12.

[0188] Depending on the material used, an adhesive or heat is used to reactivate a heat-sealing varnish previously deposited on the material in order to fix the bellows 116, 130 on the two longitudinal lateral faces 140, 142 of the packaging 12.

[0189] In the embodiment where tips 116', 130' are formed instead of gussets 116, 130 during sealing, the last optional shaping step comprises for example the following steps: the longitudinal seals 114, 120 are folded flat onto the longitudinal side faces 140, 142 of the package 12', then the tips 116', 130' are folded down onto the longitudinal side faces 140, 142 of the package 12, or onto the front face 100 or the rear face 102 of the package 12.

[0190] The folding of the sealing tips 116', 130' is done for example by means of a former separate from the forming equipment for forming the tube 112, during the advancement of the packaging 12', or by means of a mobile mechanical system.

[0191] It should be noted that the food product P is still in a liquid or viscous state during this stage.

[0192] The last optional shaping step 91 allows improved storage of the packages 12; 12' by reducing the volume occupied by the packages 12; 12' and contributes to the shaping of the food product P in the package 12, 12' by reinforcing the longitudinal side faces 140, 142.

[0193] Advantageously, the packaging 12;12' is itself packaged in a secondary packaging (not shown) also fulfilling the role of mold for setting the food product P in the packaging 12;12' in the desired shape.

[0194] If necessary, such secondary packaging may be provided with compartments for receiving each packaging 12;12' individually while the food product P sets and until the food product P is consumed by the consumer.

[0195] Optionally, in order to obtain the most perfect geometry possible, the packaging 12; 12' is for example inserted into a mold, or a conformer maintaining it in the desired geometry while the food product P gels and takes on its final texture.

[0196] This step of taking the texture of the product P is advantageously accelerated by rapid cooling of the product P in its packaging 12;12' kept in shape.

[0197] To open the package 12, a consumer grasps the free end 58 of the tab 56 and pulls in a single movement following the longitudinal weakenings 31, 32 connecting the proximal side panels 26, 27 to the central panel 24 so that the food product P is accessible as shown in the figure 9 .

[0198] The tear guide strips 60, 61 facilitate the guiding of the opening so that the food product P is accessible on at least three faces of the package 12, 12', preferably five faces when the package 12, 12' is opened.

[0199] In a particular embodiment of the package 12, 12', the tear guide strips 60, 61 facilitate the guiding of the opening so that the food product P is accessible on exactly three faces of the package 12, 12'.

[0200] Access to the product on three sides makes it easy for the consumer to grasp and consume, for example by removing it from the packaging in one piece to bite into it.

[0201] After tearing, the consumer only has to, if he wishes, release the two longitudinal side faces 140, 142 and thus gain very wide access to the product, for example to place it on bread without touching it with his fingers.

[0202] Product losses are thus reduced, and the product is easy to consume.

[0203] The primers 68, 69 participate in the opening of the packaging 12' by weakening the sheet 10 which is thus easier to tear.

[0204] Opening the 12 pack is therefore very simple.

[0205] According to a variant of the method of manufacturing and filling the packaging 12, a plurality of packagings 12 is presented in the form of a string 200 where the packagings 12 are integral with each other, the longitudinal bottom seal 114 of a packaging 12 being merged with the longitudinal top seal 120 of the adjacent packaging 12, as shown in the figure 14 .

[0206] For this purpose, the shaping of the tube 112 as well as the filling process are identical to that described above.

[0207] The method comprises for example an additional step 90' of forming a longitudinal pre-cut between two successive packages 12;12'.

[0208] The pre-cut is formed longitudinally in the vicinity of the longitudinal head seal 120 closing the sheet 10 and separated from the tube 112 at the same time as the formation of the longitudinal head seal 120 or immediately after, without an intermediate step.

[0209] Step 91 of folding down the gussets 130 or the tips 116 only concerns the end packagings 12 of the string 200 in this embodiment.

[0210] The knife is replaced by a serrated blade forming a longitudinal pre-cut between two successive packages 12.

[0211] Thus, the cut between the packages 12 is not total and the packages 12 remain integral with each other.

[0212] The 12-unit packs can be easily separated from the string thanks to the pre-cutting made by the serrated blade.

[0213] The 12-pack packages are then optionally over-wrapped in secondary packaging.

[0214] Secondary packaging is, for example, a sheet made of cardboard surrounding a string of packaging consisting of an even number of packages superimposed two by two, the sheet of secondary packaging being sealed on itself along a longitudinal seam.

[0215] Alternatively, the unit packages are glued together with a weak adhesive. The front of one unit package is glued to the back of the adjacent package.

Claims

1. A packaging (12 ;12') for a food product (P) formed by a sheet (10) resulting from a blank (70) with a plurality of sheets (10) secured to one another by a longitudinal edge (38, 39), each sheet (10) being intended to form a package (12, 12'), each sheet (10) of the blank (70) having a tongue (56) secured to a transverse edge (40) of the sheet (10), the tongue (56) having a free gripping end (58), each sheet (10) of the blank (70) being folded to form a tube (122) of rectangular cross-section and sealed to itself along a peelable or tearable transverse joint (110), with the tongue (56) projecting longitudinally from the transverse joint (110), each sheet (10) of the blank (70) being sealed longitudinally along a longitudinal base joint (114), thereby defining an inner cavity (122) suitable for containing a food product (P) poured into the inner cavity (122), and the package (12; 12') being closed by longitudinally sealing the sheet (10) to itself along a longitudinal top joint (120) spaced from the longitudinal base joint (114), the transverse joint (110) extending from one longitudinal joint (114, 120) to the other, said package being characterised in that : the sheet (10) has longitudinal tear guide strips (60, 61), each opening at one end into a transverse edge (41) of the sheet (10) opposite the tongue (56) and at another end into the free end (58) of the tongue (56), each sheet (10) of the blank (70) further having weakenings (30, 31, 32, 33, 42, 43 , 44, 53, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) comprising transverse weakenings (42, 43, 44, 53, 66), each sheet (10) of the blank (70) being folded along the transverse weakenings (42, 43, 44, 53, 66) to form said tube of rectangular cross-section, the sheet (10) further has a transverse weakening (66) along which the sheet (10) is folded towards the outside of the package (12; 12') to form a sealing hem (67) under the transverse joint (110).

2. The package (12 ;12'), according to claim 1, wherein the sheet (10) is predominantly made of paper, cardboard or plastic, or a complex comprising one or more layers of paper and plastic, or one or more layers of plastic and aluminium, or several layers of plastic, or one or more layers of paper, plastic and aluminium.

3. The package (12 ;12') according to the claim 1 or 2, wherein the weakenings (30, 31, 32, 33, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) of the sheet (10) comprise at least four longitudinal weakenings (30, 31, 32, 33), four transverse weakenings (42, 43, 44, 53) and eight additional weakenings (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52), two of the four longitudinal weakenings (30, 33) and the eight additional weakenings (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52) being intended to form two longitudinal gussets (116, 130) or four points (116', 130') projecting longitudinally outward from the two longitudinal joints (114, 120).

4. The package (12; 12') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, having a partial parallelepiped shape formed by four faces (100, 102, 104, 106) and two longitudinal gussets (116, 130) or four points (116', 130') projecting longitudinally outward from the two longitudinal joints (114, 120).

5. The package (12) according to claim 3, having a parallelepiped shape in which the two longitudinal gussets (116, 130) or the four points (116', 130') projecting longitudinally outward from the two longitudinal joints (114, 120) are folded over.

6. The package (12') according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sheet (10) has at least two primers (68, 69) to facilitate the opening of the package (12'), the transverse joint (110) being tearable.

7. A method for manufacturing and filling at least one package (12; 12') for food product (P), comprising at least the following steps: a step (80) of providing a blank (70) comprising a plurality of sheets (10) secured to one another along a longitudinal edge (38, 39), each sheet (10) being intended to form a package (12, 12'), each sheet (10) having a tongue (56) secured to a transverse edge (40) of the sheet (10), the tongue (56) having a free gripping end (58), a step (81) of folding the blank (70) to form a tube (122) of rectangular cross-section and transversely sealing the blank (70) to itself to form a peelable or tearable transverse joint (110), the tongue (56) of each sheet (10) projecting longitudinally from the transverse joint (110), and, for each sheet (10), a step (82) of longitudinally sealing the sheet (10) to form a longitudinal base joint (114) thereby defining an inner cavity (122) suitable for containing a food product (P), a step (83) of filling the inner cavity (122) with a food product (P), and a step (84) of closing the package (12; 12') by longitudinally sealing the sheet (10) to itself to form a longitudinal top joint (120) spaced from the longitudinal base joint (114), the transverse joint (110) extending from one longitudinal joint (114, 120) to the other, the longitudinal top joint (120) of one sheet (10) forming the longitudinal base joint (114) of the following sheet (10), said process being characterised in that : the sheet (10) has longitudinal tear guide strips (60, 61), each opening at one end into a transverse edge (41) of the sheet (10) opposite the tongue (56) and at another end into the free end (58) of the tongue (56), each sheet (10) has weakenings (30, 31, 32, 33, 42, 43, 44, 53, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66) comprising transverse weakenings (42, 43, 44, 53, 66), the blank (70) in step (81) being folded along the transverse weakenings (42, 43, 44, 53, 66) of each sheet (10) to form said tube of rectangular cross-section, the sheet (10) further having a transverse weakening (66) along which the sheet (10) is folded towards the outside of the package (12 ; 12') to form a sealing hem (67) under the transverse joint (110).

8. The method for manufacturing and filling according to claim 7, further comprising, simultaneously with or after the step (84) of closing the package (12 ;12'), an additional step (90) of separating two successive packages (12 ;12') by cutting.

9. The method for manufacturing and filling according to claim 7, further comprising, simultaneously with or after the step (84) of closing the package (12 ;12'), an additional step (90') of forming a longitudinal pre-cut between two successive packages (12 ;12').

10. A method for manufacturing and filling according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein in the filling step (83) the food product (P) is poured in a liquid or viscous state and solidifies in the package (12 ; 12').

11. The method for manufacturing and filling according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the blank (70) is supplied in reel form, the method further comprising, prior to the step (81) of folding the blank (70), a sub-step (86) of unwinding the blank (70), and, for each sheet (10), a sub-step (87) of forming tear guide strips (60, 61), a sub-step (88) of forming the weakenings (30, 31, 32, 33, 42, 43, 44, 53, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66), a sub-step (89) of forming the tongue (56) and optionally of forming primers ( 68 , 69 ).

12. A blank (70) with a plurality of sheets (10) for forming at least one package (12 ; 12') according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the sheets (10) being joined together by a longitudinal edge (38, 39), each sheet (10) being intended to form a package (12, 12'), each sheet (10) of the blank (70) further having weakenings (30, 31, 32, 33, 42, 43 , 44, 53, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66), comprising transverse weakenings (42, 43, 44, 53, 66), and a tongue (56) secured to a transverse edge (40) of the sheet (10), each sheet (10) of the blank (70) can be folded according to transverse weakenings (42, 43, 44, 53, 66) to form a tube (122) with a rectangular cross-section and can be sealed on itself along a peelable or tearable transverse joint (110), the tongue (56) projecting longitudinally from the transverse joint (110), each sheet (10) of the blank (70) can be sealed longitudinally along a longitudinal base joint (114) thereby defining an internal cavity (122) suitable for containing a food product (P) poured into the inner cavity (122), and the package (12 ; 12') can be closed by longitudinally sealing the sheet (10) to itself along a longitudinal top joint (120) spaced from the longitudinal base joint (114), the transverse joint (110) extending from one longitudinal joint (114, 120) to the other, the tongue (56) having a free gripping end (58), the sheet (10) having longitudinal tear guide strips (60, 61), each opening at one end into a transverse edge (41) of the sheet (10) opposite the tongue (56) and at another end into the free end (58) of the tongue (56), the sheet (10) further having a transverse weakening (66) along which the sheet (10) is folded towards the outside of the package (12; 12') to form a sealing hem (67) under the transverse joint (110).

Images