Packaging machine for manufacturing reinforced packages

Abstract

The packaging device includes a film conveyance subsystem (326a, 326b) for conveying a continuous film (324). The strip subsystem (331, 332) aligns at least one stiffening strip (333) with the film (324) along the film conveyance path, and the longitudinal axis of the stiffening strip (333) extends in the conveyance direction. At least one strip joining member (331) joins at least one stiffening strip (333) to the film (324). The strip subsystem (331, 332) can align at least a first stiffening strip (333a) and a second stiffening strip (333b) among at least one stiffening strip (333) with the film (324), and the first stiffening strip (333a) and the second stiffening strip (333b) are aligned side by side with their longitudinal axes extending in the direction of the conveyance direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a packaging apparatus. The present invention further relates to a packaging method.

Background Art

[0002] Background of the Invention A packaging machine can be used, for example, for consumers to efficiently produce a large number of packages with a small amount of bulk material. The efficiency of the packaging machine is important. For example, the production speed of the package is important. Also, the reliability of the machine and defect-free manufacturing are important. Furthermore, the characteristics of the packaging machine determine to a great extent the types of packages that can be produced by that machine.

[0003] European Patent Application Publication No. 2500286 discloses a vacuum form, filling, and sealing apparatus for packaging products on a product packaging line. A foil transport subsystem transports a foil in a transport direction along a foil transport path. A tubular foil former and a cutting member are provided. A first vacuum space member and a second vacuum space member are disposed on both sides of the foil transport path. The first vacuum space member includes a cavity having an opening facing the foil transport path. The first vacuum space member includes an edge surrounding the opening that matches the shape of the second vacuum space member. At least one actuator for closing the cavity by integrally pressing the vacuum space members to form an internal space.

[0004] EP 3371072 A1 discloses a package comprising at least one space for contents or an object, formed from at least one flexible part which is a flexible pillow-bag type container part, wherein at least one rigid / semi-flexible support part is attached to the at least one flexible part, and the at least one rigid / semi-flexible support part forms at least part of the wall structure of the package or product in the opened state, and the package or product further comprises at least one opening point, and the at least one flexible part and the at least one rigid / semi-flexible support part form at least one space for the object or contents when the rigid / semi-flexible material of the rigid / semi-flexible support part is bent and / or the package or product is opened at the rigid / semi-flexible support part, and the at least one opening point is suitable for causing the at least one rigid / semi-flexible support part to form a support structure for the space and the shape of the space when inflated, and the at least one flexible part is suitable for forming a space for the object or contents in accordance with the support structure formed by the at least one rigid / semi-flexible support part, and the package is self-standing. The method of manufacturing the package includes the step of attaching the flexible part and the rigid / semi-flexible support part of the package to each other by sealing or gluing them to each other in an edge region, and in this method, the package is manufactured in a line of several package blanks which are continuously arranged in a web-like form, the blanks are limited by tear lines or corresponding lines, a line is formed on the rigid / semi-flexible support part, and opening and closing means for the opening point of the package are added. The method of manufacturing the package advantageously includes a sealing process in which a package formed from a combination of a flexible material and a rigid / semi-flexible material and provided with the required lines is sealed in a pillow-bag type form and wound up into a package roll. In this type of package, it is often difficult to open the package from the rigid part, because it is not always certain that one can always grasp and subsequently open the rigid material of the opening line. Modifying the rigidity or thickness of the material to make it easier to open can cause a shortening of the shelf life of the product packed in the package.In connection with these types of blanks and packages, the bending characteristics and the rigid / semi-flexible material at the center of the material web can cause problems related to package formation and product filling. This packaging machine can even break harder materials, cause delamination between material layers, or have an adverse effect on the appearance of the material surface. In addition, the presence of harder material at the center or on one side of the web use can limit the package formation ability due to non-uniform withdrawal of the material and web placement. These types of blanks can reduce the production speed, or even result in the need to use individual packages, or even lead to the need for manual work. The types of blank materials having an upper part film and a lower part film require specific types of packaging in several stages, which is relatively slow and even involves manual work.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] Summary of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide an improved packaging machine.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To address this problem, a packaging device is provided, the packaging device comprising a film conveyance subsystem for conveying a continuous film in a conveyance direction along a film conveyance path; a strip subsystem configured to align at least one stiffening strip with respect to the film along the film conveyance path, wherein the longitudinal axis of the stiffening strip extends in the conveyance direction; at least one strip joining member configured to join at least one stiffening strip to the film; and.

[0007] With the strip subsystem and the strip joining member, the packaging device is particularly suitable for mass production. Due to its arrangement, packages can be efficiently reinforced with stiffening strips.

[0008] The strip subsystem can be configured to align at least a first stiffening strip and a second stiffening strip among at least one stiffening strip with respect to the film. The first stiffening strip and the second stiffening strip are aligned side by side on the package with their longitudinal axes extending in the direction of the conveying direction. At least one strip joining member is configured to join the first stiffening strip and the second stiffening strip to the film. By forming two parallel strips side by side on the film by a machine, the film is opened and expanded between the two aligned stiffening strips, and is formed into a useful package that can be a reinforcing tray. The first stiffening strip and the second stiffening strip may be spaced apart, for example, preferably by at most 2 centimeters, more preferably by at most 1 centimeter.

[0009] The strip subsystem may include a strip conveying subsystem for conveying a continuous stiffening strip towards the film. Such a continuous supply of the stiffening strip provides logistical advantages and can be efficiently processed by a machine.

[0010] The strip subsystem may include a strip folding subsystem for folding at least a part of the film at least doubly to form a plurality of layers of the film and to form a space for the stiffening strip between the plurality of layers of the film. The strip subsystem is configured to align at least one stiffening strip in the space for the stiffening strip between the plurality of layers of the film. The strip joining member is configured to join at least a part of the plurality of layers to each other and close the space for the stiffening strip to join the stiffening strip to the film. By enclosing the stiffening strip in the space between the layers of the film, the stiffening strip is not exposed to the external environment or the internal environment of the package.

[0011] The packaging device may include a tubular film former along a film conveyance path configured to fold a film from a flat film into a tubular film while the film moves along the film conveyance path, at least one cutting member for cutting the tubular film in a transverse direction with respect to the conveyance direction, and at least one transverse joining means for closing the package by joining the tubular film in a transverse direction with respect to the conveyance direction. These features provide a component for forming a package as a closed space for storing a product, with at least one reinforcing strip.

[0012] At least one cutting member may be configured to cut both the tubular film and at least one reinforcing strip in a single cutting operation. This reduces the amount of cutting required, thereby improving efficiency. Also, the length of the strip corresponds to the length of the package.

[0013] The strip subsystem may be configured to provide a reinforcing strip having a width in a transverse direction with respect to the conveyance direction that is at least one-eighth of the circumferential length of the tubular film. In this way, the reinforcing strip reinforces the package during storage and, particularly, after the package has been opened and spread out. For example, the width of the strip conveyance path may be at least one-eighth of the circumferential length of the tubular structure in which the tubular film former is configured to form the tubular film around it.

[0014] The packaging device may include corner joining means configured to join two layers of the tubular film near the corners of the package to separate the corners of the package from the main body volume of the package. This corner sealing tool may facilitate spreading out the package after opening since the product cannot be filled into the corners of the package.

[0015] The corner joining means may be configured to join two layers of the tubular film along a line separating the corners of the package from the main body volume of the package. This is a particularly efficient way to prevent the product from reaching the corners of the package.

[0016] The corner joining member may be rigidly coupled to the transverse joining member. In this way, the joining at the corner is combined with the transverse seal, which can make the machine less complex and / or more efficient.

[0017] The transverse joining means may include a joining member having a protrusion facing the film conveyance path, and the protrusion is between the tracks of the first supplementary rigid strip and the second supplementary rigid strip respectively. Thereby, the dispersion of the pressing force of the joining member is improved, and the joining strength in the space between the separated supplementary rigid strips can be improved.

[0018] The transverse seal bar may include a flexible surface facing the film conveyance path. Thereby, the dispersion of the pressing force of the joining member is improved, and the joining strength in the space between the separated supplementary rigid strips can be improved.

[0019] The apparatus may include a ribbing tool configured to rib at least one supplementary rigid strip in a transverse direction. This ribbing can make it easier to form a support structure when expanding the package.

[0020] The apparatus may include a rigid tubular structure, and the tubular film former is configured to form a tubular film around the rigid tubular structure. The strip conveyance subsystem is configured to align at least one supplementary rigid strip with the tubular film around the tubular structure. At least one strip joining member is configured to press towards the surface of the tubular structure. Thereby, particularly efficient and / or high-quality production of the package is provided.

[0021] The device may include longitudinal joining means between two of at least one strip joining member, and the longitudinal joining means is configured to integrally join two side end portions of the tubular film between two adjacent stiffening strips. Thereby, a compact design of the machine can be provided. The longitudinal joining line between the stiffening strips can function as a tear line. Further, since the strip seal and the longitudinal seal can be configured to operate simultaneously, an efficient manufacturing method can be provided thereby.

[0022] The device may include a spool holder configured to wind up the film with at least one stiffening strip sealed to the film. Thus, the film with the stiffening strip can be stored for later package manufacturing.

[0023] According to another aspect of the present invention, a packaging method is provided. This method includes conveying a continuous film in a conveying direction along a film conveying path, aligning at least one stiffening strip along the film conveying path with the film, the longitudinal axis of the stiffening strip extending in the conveying direction, joining the aligned at least one stiffening strip to the film, and.

[0024] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above features can be combined in any way considered useful. Further, the improvements and modifications described with respect to the device can equally apply to the method, and the improvements and modifications described with respect to the method can equally apply to the device.

[0025] Brief Description of the Drawings Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings are schematic and may not be drawn to scale. Throughout the drawings, similar items may be given the same reference numerals.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Detailed description of the embodiments Specific exemplary embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] The matters disclosed in this specification, such as detailed structures and elements, are provided to assist in an overall understanding of the exemplary embodiments. Thus, it is apparent that the exemplary embodiments can be implemented without these specifically defined matters. Also, not all well-known operations and structures are described in detail, as this would obscure the description with unnecessary detail.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a packaging apparatus. The illustrated packaging apparatus is an example of a vertical form, fill, and seal apparatus. The apparatus will be understood to have more elements not shown. Such elements include, for example, a housing, structural elements, a motor, and a product supply. These elements can be added by those skilled in the art in view of this specification and the drawings. Further, while this example is of a vertical form, fill, and seal apparatus, the techniques disclosed herein can alternatively be applied to other types of packaging apparatuses including, but not limited to, horizontal form, fill, and seal machines.

[0030] The packaging machine of FIG. 1 includes a vertically arranged filling tube 321, and a supply funnel (not shown) or another material feeding mechanism may be present at its inlet 322. Near the inlet 322, a guide element 323, such as a shoulder, is attached around the filling tube. This guide element 23 includes shoulder portions 323a and 323b. The shoulder portions 323a and 323b are shaped such that a strip of film material 324 from a roll passing through the shoulder portions 323a and 323b and then guided between the filling tube 321 and the guide element 323 forms a tubular film material 324a around the filling tube 321. The film may be made of plastic. Alternative materials such as paper or aluminum may be used alternatively. The passage of the film material 324 onto the guide element 323 is effected by conveying means 326a, 326b which may be arranged on the side of the vertically arranged filling tube 321. The conveying means 326a, 326b are an example of a film conveying subsystem. The conveying means 326a, 326b can be arranged in contact with the filling tube 321 by well-known means, and they allow the film material 324 to pass between the filling tube 321 and the conveying means 326a, 326b. Guide rollers 325a and 325b can be used to smoothly guide the film material 324, and further, they can provide a buffer for creating a desired pre-tension in the film material.

[0031] The first joining means 327 is arranged in a longitudinal direction oriented parallel to the film conveying path. The first joining means 327 is configured to join the free sides of the film container 324a made around the filling tube 321. The first joining means 327 can similarly be arranged in contact with the filling tube 321 by well-known means, and then the free sides 324c and 324d of the film material 324 existing between the filling tube 321 and the joining means 327 are joined, for example, by friction or heat. In this way, a tubular film 324a having a longitudinal joint 328 is made.

[0032] The filling tube 321, the guide element 323, and the first joining means 327 form an example of a tubular film former along the film conveyance path for converting the film from a flat film to a tubular film, because when the film is conveyed along the film path, the flat film at the inlet is converted to a tubular film at the outlet side.

[0033] The packaging machine may further include a second joining means 329 disposed on the outlet side of the filling tube 321 and oriented in a transverse direction with respect to the film conveyance path. The second joining means may have second joining members 329a and 329b that can be moved towards and away from each other by a suitable actuator. By moving the second joining members 329a and 329b towards each other, the film container 324a is integrally pressed between the two joining means, and then a transverse joint 330a is formed in the integrally pressed film material, for example, by heat or friction.

[0034] As a result, the film container 324a is closed from below and can then be filled therewith via the supply funnel 322 and the filling tube 321 with all kinds of products, such as cookies or candies. When the film container is filled, the film container 324a is moved downward by the conveying means 326a and 326b by a distance corresponding to the package dimensions. Then, the second joining means 329 forms a second transverse joint 330b in the film material above the product present in the film container 324a, and as a result, a closed film package 324b is obtained.

[0035] In certain embodiments, the transverse joints 330a or 330b are sized such that they can simultaneously function as the lower joints of the next film package. The second joining means 329a, 329b can also include two parallel and closely spaced transverse joining bars, such that the second joining means 329 can simultaneously create two parallel transverse joints in the film container 324a. Further, the second joining means 329a, 329b can include cutting or perforating means configured to cut the film material through a single joint or between two parallel joints, or to perforate the film material. Thus, the film package 324b can be separated from the film container 324a and stored or moved to another location from the packaging machine for further processing. Also, a vacuum subsystem can be provided to create a vacuum within the package before or during the generation of the transverse joints.

[0036] The packaging machine further includes a strip subsystem. The strip subsystem provides a strip conveyance path for conveying strips of material, particularly stiffening strips 333a, 333b, from storage facilities such as spools 335a, 335b towards and along the filling tube 321. The rolls 332a, 332b can be configured to align part of the strip conveyance path with the film conveyance path, for example around the tube 321. Another set of rolls 334a, 334b and other components can be provided, for example to form a buffer and / or to create tension in the strip material. Along the strip conveyance path, strip joining members 331a, 331b are provided which are configured to join the strips 333a, 333b around the filling tube 321 to the film 324c. The figure shows a strip subsystem that aligns two stiffening strips 333a, 333b with the film 324c. However, this is not limiting. There may be any number of components configured to align and join any number of stiffening strips to the film. As shown in the figure, the two strip conveyance paths can be arranged side-by-side (optionally spaced apart) parallel to the film conveyance path and the first joining means 327. The first joining means 327 can be arranged to join the sides of the film between the two strip conveyance paths. Also, the first joining means 327 can be installed between the first strip joining member 331a and the second strip joining member 331b.

[0037] Generally, the first joining means 327 may be configured to join the side edges of the film, the first strip joining member 331a may be configured to join the first stiffening strip 33a on one side of the side edge of the film to be joined, and the second strip joining member 331b may be configured to join the second stiffening strip 33b on the opposite side of the side edge of the film to be joined.

[0038] Figures 2 and 3 show the joining means 350 at two different positions. These joining means 350 are implementation examples of the joining means 329a and 329b in FIG. 1. The joining means 350 can be used in a packaging device, for example, a vertical forming, filling, and sealing device. FIG. 2 shows the joining means 350 where the joining members 350a and 350b are in the open position and there is a tubular film 324 between the joining members 350a and 350b. FIG. 3 shows the joining means 350 where the joining members 350a and 350b are in the closed position to clamp the film 324, join the film 324, and cut the film 324.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows the joining members 350a and 350b in the open position. The joining member 350a includes a cutting member 351 for cutting the tubular film 324 in a direction transverse to the conveying direction. The conveying direction is substantially downward in FIGS. 2 and 3. Therefore, in the figure, the film inlet side corresponds to the upper side and the film outlet side corresponds to the lower side. However, the illustrated principle can also be applied to different configurations such as a machine having a substantially horizontal film conveying path.

[0040] The first joining member 350a and the second joining member 350b are arranged on both sides of the film conveying path. The joining member 350a includes frame portions 363a and 364a, and the joining member 350b includes frame portions 363b and 364b. The frame portions are part of the structure of the device.

[0041] The joining members 350a and 350b can be dimensioned such that when the film is pressed flat, the length of the joining members is greater than the width of the tubular film. A complete transverse strip of the tubular film can be clamped between the joining members so that no unwanted creases can be made in the film material other than at the two ends of the clamped strip. Similarly, the joining members 350a and 350b are of a length sufficient to allow each pair of joining bars 359a, 359b and 360a, 360b to join a transverse strip of the tubular film.

[0042] Two pairs of joining bars 359a, 359b and 360a, 360b may be provided. Also, it is possible to use only one pair of the joining bars 360a, 360b on the outlet side of the vacuum space members 352a, 352b, but this may reduce the throughput of the apparatus. In the figure, the first pair of joining bars 359a, 359b are arranged on both sides of the film conveyance path, the second pair of sealing members 360a, 360b are arranged on both sides of the film conveyance path, and the cutting tool 351 is arranged between the first joining bar 359a of the first joining member 350a and the second joining bar 360a of the first joining member 350a. A space for receiving the cutting tool 351 is provided between the first joining bar 359b of the second joining member 350b and the second joining bar 360b of the second joining member 350b. In a particular alternative embodiment, a reciprocating cutting tool 351 may be provided between the first joining bar 359b of the second joining member 350b and the second joining bar 360b.

[0043] As shown in the drawing, at least one cutting member 351 may be arranged to cut the film 324 between the pair of sealing members 359a, 359b and the pair of sealing members 360a, 360b. For example, the cutting member 351 may be movable to cut or perforate the film.

[0044] Figure 4A shows the joining member 350a as seen from the side facing the film 324, having the joining bars 359a and 360a and the cutting line 353a therebetween.

[0045] Figure 4B shows a second embodiment of the joining member 350a. In this alternative embodiment, there are additional diagonal joining bars 381a, 382a which extend from the joining member 359a near both ends of the joining member 359a, in opposite directions to each other, against the film conveyance direction, and to the side opposite the other joining member 360a. There are also additional diagonal joining members 383a, 384a which extend from the joining member 360a near both ends of the joining member 360a, in opposite directions to each other, along the film conveyance direction, and to the side opposite the other joining member 359a. Further, diagonal joining members 381b, 382b, 383b, 384b (see, for example, FIG. 13) corresponding to the diagonal joining members 381a, 382a, 383a, 384a may be provided in the second coupling means 350b. Their appearance may be the same as that of the diagonal joining members 381a, 382a, 383a, 384a. By using the diagonal joining members, the corners of the package can be sealed simultaneously with the creation of the transverse seal. It will be understood that the diagonal joining members can be oriented at any suitable angle α with respect to their transverse joining members, for example 45 degrees, preferably 20 to 70 degrees.

[0046] FIG. 4C shows a third embodiment of the joining means 350a. In this embodiment, a first protrusion 385a is provided on the first joining member 359a, and a second protrusion 385b is provided on the second joining member 360a. Both protrusions extend toward the film conveyance path, and both protrusions are located between the two strip conveyance paths, for example, at the center of the joining bars 359a, 360a. The thickness of these protrusions may correspond to, for example, the thickness of the stiffening strip. FIG. 4D shows a side view of a third embodiment of the joining bar 359a of the joining member 350a having the protrusion 385a. The joining bars 359b, 360b of the other transverse joining member 350b may have similar protrusions at corresponding positions so that they contact when the joining bars are integrally clamped. However, this is not essential because the effect of additional clamping strength between the two strip conveyance paths can also be achieved by the protrusions of either one of the joining bars 359a and 359b and either one of the joining bars 360a and 360b. The protrusions 385a, 385b may be made of the same material as the rest of their respective joining bars. Alternatively, the protrusions 385a, 385b may be made of a material softer than the rest of the joining bars. This may be advantageous, for example, in overcoming variations in the distance between the strip conveyance paths.

[0047] Further alternatively, instead of the protrusions, the entire joining bar may have a soft layer, and as a result, the joining bar can better join a film having a rough surface. For example, one or both of the joining bars 359a and 359b may have such a soft layer, and one or both of the joining bars 360a and 360b may have such a soft layer.

[0048] It should be understood that the features of the second and third embodiments of the joining member can be combined. That is, both the diagonal joining members 381, 382, 383, 384 and the protrusions 385a, 385b may be provided.

[0049] Figures 5 - 13 show a vertical forming, filling, and sealing machine 500 of another embodiment. The figures also show two spools 501a, 501b which are examples of storage locations for stiffening strips before they are applied to the package. For the first spool 501a, the strip along the strip conveyance path 503a is also partially shown. For the sake of explanation, for the second spool 501b, the strip is not shown. Generally, the mechanical components for the first strip conveyance path 503a and the second strip conveyance path are similar or identical. In the drawings, these items are indicated by similar numbers with suffixes a and b respectively. Thus, the features described with respect to one stiffening strip conveyance path equally apply to the other stiffening strip conveyance path. Figure 5 shows a front view, Figure 6 shows a rear view, Figure 7 shows a left side view, Figure 8 shows a right side view, and Figure 9 shows a top view of the machine 500 and the two spools 501, 502. The funnel 504 is configured to receive the product such that the product enters into the tubular structure 505. The shoulder 506 is configured to fold the film around the tubular structure 505 while the film (not shown) is being conveyed along the film conveyance path. The roll 507a is configured to receive the stiffening strip 503a and guide it into the grooving device 508a configured to groove the stiffening strip 503a. Another roll is configured to convey the stiffening strip onto it towards the tubular structure 505 (the film around it). The longitudinal joining means 509 is configured to integrally join the side ends of the tubular film and join the stiffening strip 503 to the film. The transverse joining and cutting means 511 is arranged perpendicular to both the film conveyance path and the strip conveyance path and is configured to close the ends of the package and create a cut or perforation between the continuously made packages. It will be understood that the cutting or perforating function is optional.

[0050] FIG. 9 shows a top view of an exemplary packaging machine and, in particular, shows that the tubular structure 505 can have two flat surfaces 510a, 510b along two strip conveyance paths. These flat surfaces 510a, 510b can correspond to the strip joining members 1203a, 1203b. The strip joining members 1203a, 1203b may each be configured to abut these flat surfaces 510a, 510b, and the strip joining members 1203a, 1203b can be configured to oppose and (and abut) towards these flat surfaces 510a, 510b. In an alternative embodiment, the strip joining member may be configured to operate with a non-flat surface of the tubular structure, such as a cylindrical surface.

[0051] FIG. 10 shows a spool 501a that can be used to store strips of material. The spool 501b may be similar to the spool 501a. Further, this type of spool can be used as a source from which the packaging machine 500 receives stiffening strips. Such a spool can be used as a source of strip material for any of the exemplary packaging machines disclosed herein. The roll 501a may include an interruption 1001 to avoid inadvertent rotation. The roll 501a may further include a buffer 1002 having one or more rollers configured to create a specific tension in the strip. In certain alternative embodiments, the spools 501a, 501b may be replaced, for example, by a stiffening strip folded in a zigzag. Further alternatively, in certain alternative embodiments, the continuous strip is replaced by a stack of individual strips. For example, the packaging apparatus comprises means for taking one or two or more strips from the stack, aligning one or more strips with the film, and joining one or more strips to the film.

[0052] Figure 11 shows the details of the packaging machine 500. First, it shows the roll 507a, on which the strip is received from the spool 501a. Further, the figure shows the ribbing device 508a. The ribbing devices 508a, 508b can be provided, for example, on the packaging machine 500 or on the spools 501a, 501b. The ribbing devices 508a, 508b may alternatively be omitted. For example, pre-ribbed strips may be used, or ribbing may be omitted completely. The ribbing device 508a can be configured to create transverse ribbing lines in the strip 503a. Further, the ribbing device can otherwise strengthen the strip 503, for example, by punch holes, creases. The ribbing can help to correctly fold the reinforcing strip when opening the package.

[0053] FIG. 12 shows another detail of the packaging machine 500. In particular, the figure shows in more detail the means of the longitudinal joining members. As shown in the figure, these include a pair of longitudinal joining members 1201a, 1201b for integrally joining the ends of the package film, and strip joining members 1203a, 1203b on both sides of the pair of longitudinal joining members 1201a, 1201b for joining strip pieces to the film. The joining means 509 is disposed on the outside thereof along the tubular structure 505. During operation, in order to integrally join the side edges of the film, the pair of longitudinal joining members 1201a, 1201b move together to clamp the ends of the film together and join (e.g., seal) the ends to each other. On each side of the longitudinal joining members 1201a, 1201b, there are strip joining members 1203a, 1203b. According to the strip conveying track, the strip piece is moved between the joining member 1203a and the tubular structure 505. Also, the film piece is moved between the joining member 1203a and the tubular structure 505. The joining member 1203a may be configured to press the tubular structure 505 and join (e.g., seal) the strip 503a to the film. The joining member 1203b may be configured to operate in the same manner to join another strip to the film on the opposite side of the longitudinal sealing members 1201a, 1201b. In an alternative embodiment, the strip joining members 1203a, 1203b and the longitudinal joining members 1201a, 1201b may be disposed at another location along the film conveying path as long as they function to join the lateral edge portions of the tubular film and join the stiffening strips. Preferably, the stiffening strips are joined onto the film near the lateral edge portions on both sides of the film.

[0054] FIG. 13 shows in more detail the transverse joining and cutting means 511 of the packaging machine 500. The configuration of the transverse joining and cutting means 511 is quite similar to the configuration shown in FIG. 4B. The joining and cutting means 511 includes joining members 350a and 350b. The joining member 350a includes joining bars 359a and 360a. The joining member 350b includes joining bars 359b and 360b (not shown).

[0055] The cutting blade 351 is between two adjacent transverse joining bars 359a, 360a. Two opposing adjacent transverse joining bars 359b, 360b correspond to the transverse joining bars 359a, 360a. The joining bars 359a, 360a can move along the sliders 1301, 1302 towards the joining bars 359b, 360b. The film can be clamped between the pairs of opposing joining bars when the corresponding joining bars move together, and the tubular film can be joined along two adjacent transverse joining lines. The film can be cut by the cutting blade 351 between two adjacent transverse joining lines (with the strip joined thereto).

[0056] The corner joining members 1311a, 1312a, 1313a, 1314a correspond to the corner joining members 1311b, 1312b, 1313b, 1314b. The corner joining members 1311a, 1312a extend from the transverse joining member 350a in the film conveyance direction. The corner joining members 1313a, 1314a extend obliquely from the transverse joining member 50a along the film conveyance direction, opposite to the corner joining members 1311a, 1312a. The corner joining members 1311b, 1312b extend from the transverse joining member 350b in the film conveyance direction. The corner joining members 1313b, 1314b extend from the transverse joining member 350b, opposite to the corner joining members 1311b, 1312b, along the film conveyance direction.

[0057] In the illustrated embodiment, each corner joining member has a diagonal joining bar that extends diagonally with respect to the transverse and longitudinal directions. In the illustrated embodiment, each corner joining member also has a triangular support structure that connects the diagonal joining members to their respective transverse joining members. The position of the corner joining member along each transverse joining member 50a, 50b can be configured, for example, by sliders and rails 1303 on each transverse joining member, and fixing means (e.g., screws 1304 for fixing the slider along the rail 1303). The diagonal joining bar can be configured to join the film along the diagonal. In an alternative embodiment, the diagonal joining bar can be replaced by joining means having any desired shape configured to join the film in any region or spot along the diagonal or in any region or spot on the triangle between the diagonal and its respective joining member. FIG. 14 shows, for example, a package made by the machine of FIG. 5. The package includes a tubular film 1401 joined along longitudinal joining lines 1403 and transverse joining lines 1404, 1406. Two stiffening strips 1402a, 1402b are sealed onto the film on both sides of the longitudinal joining line 1403. These stiffening strips 1402a, 1402b extend through the transverse joining lines 1404, 1406 to the edges of the package. The width of the stiffening strip is about 1 / 4 of the circumference of the package. In another embodiment, the width of the stiffening strip can be at least 1 / 8, preferably at least 1 / 6, more preferably at least 1 / 5 of the circumference of the package. Preferably, the width of the stiffening strip is at most 1 / 4 of the circumference of the package.

[0058] Figure 15 shows package 1400 at various stages of its product life. Figure 15A shows package blank 1501, which includes film 1401 and has two stiffening strips 1402a and 1402b at opposite edges of the film. Stiffening strips 1402a, 1402b have transverse ribbing lines 1043. This package blank 1501 may be manufactured as an intermediate product on a roll of film by a package blank machine. In packaging machine 500, typically the package is closed directly when joining the stiffening strips to the film, and as a result, the flat packaging blank 1501 may not be visible in the illustrated form. However, in an alternative embodiment where the stiffening strips are joined to the film before the film is transferred over the shoulder and a tube is formed, the shape of Figure 15A can be formed.

[0059] Figure 15B shows a perspective view of package 1400. Figure 15C shows package 1503 after being torn open along the longitudinal joining line between the two stiffening strips and unfolded, with the stiffening strips folded along their ribbing lines.

[0060] In certain embodiments, the longitudinal joining member is not between two adjacent strip joining members. In certain embodiments, the strip joining means and the strip conveyance path may be disposed on the back side of the tubular structure, while the longitudinal joining means is on the front side of the tubular structure (where the two lateral edges of the film touch each other). For example, between two adjacent strip joining members, there may be an opening tool such as a wire inserted into the package and / or a tool for joining the opening tool to the film.

[0061] Alternative implementations are also possible. For example, the ribbing devices 508a, 508b can be disposed anywhere along the strip conveyance path. These can be integrated with spools 501a, 501b instead of packaging machine 500.

[0062] In certain embodiments, the packaging process can be divided into two steps by providing two separate machines, namely, one machine for forming a package blank with a stiffening strip and another machine for forming, filling, and sealing a package using the package blank.

[0063] In certain embodiments, the packaging machine includes a folding unit configured to fold the film at least doubly so that a strip having a plurality of layers of film is formed. The strip subsystem can be configured to align the stiffening strip in the space 1607 between two of those layers 1603. FIG. 16A shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the folded film having a space 1606 for a product such as food and a longitudinal end 1604 of the film 1605. The strip joining means can be configured to join the layers 1603 of the double-folded film 1605 around the stiffening strips 1601, 1602 so that the stiffening strips 1601, 1602 are completely surrounded by the film 1605. FIG. 16B shows a schematic view of the package obtained after the double-folded layers 1603 of the film 1605 are integrally joined. The stiffening strips 1601, 1602 are laminated between the double-folded layers 1603 of the film 1605. In the example of the figure, the longitudinal joining line 1604 is between two adjacent double-folded film portions 1603, each having the stiffening strips 1601, 1602.

[0064] Figure 17 shows a schematic view of a packaging machine 1700 that generates packet 1702. The reference numbers used in Figure 17 are the same as those used in Figure 1. Therefore, for reasons of brevity, the same features will not be described in detail again. The packaging machine 1700 is configured to process a continuous supply of flexible film 324. The tubular shape is formed at guide element 323. Further, a strip folding subsystem 1701 is provided that doubles and folds a portion of the film 324 into the form shown in Figure 18. The guide element 323 is made to allow at least one stiffening strip 333 (typically two stiffening strips as 1601 and 1602) to be inserted between the doubly folded layers 1603. The first joining means 327 forms a longitudinal seal 1604. The strip joining means 331 joins the doubly folded layers of the film such that the stiffening strips 1601, 1602 are locked between the doubly folded layers as shown in Figure 16B. The product is provided through inlet 322, and the transverse seal and cutting means 350a, 350b provide transverse sealing and cutting as described above. It will be understood that the guide element 323 can be made to facilitate the insertion of the stiffening strip 333 between the doubly folded layers of the film 324. Further, in an alternative embodiment, the guide element 323 and the strip folding subsystem 1701 are combined into a single guide and folding unit.

[0065] The above example is shown as a vertical form, fill, and seal machine, but this is not limiting. Similar techniques can be implemented as a horizontal form, fill, and seal machine.

[0066] Generally, throughout this specification, the joining member can be implemented, for example, in the form of a bar or a roller. Throughout this specification, the joining means can be, for example, a sealer. Throughout this specification, the joining means can be configured to join pieces of material, particularly films or strips, by, for example, heat, pressure, hot glue, or adhesive tape. Other types of joining means are not excluded.

[0067] The packaging method may include the steps of conveying a continuous film in a conveying direction along a film conveying path, aligning at least one reinforcing strip along the film conveying path with the film, wherein the longitudinal axis of the reinforcing strip extends in the conveying direction, and joining the at least one aligned reinforcing strip to the film. For example, the packaging machine or packaging forming line described herein may be used to manufacture packages or package blanks.

[0068] For example, the step of aligning at least one reinforcing strip with the film may include aligning a continuous source of the reinforcing strip with the foil. Alternatively, this step of aligning at least one reinforcing strip may include aligning individual strip pieces, e.g., strip pieces corresponding to the dimensions of the package to be manufactured. Further, the aligning step may include aligning a first reinforcing strip near a first longitudinal edge of the film and aligning a second reinforcing strip near a second longitudinal edge of the film. The distance between the aligned reinforcing strip and the end of the film may correspond to the width of the joining line for integrally joining the ends, with an optional margin added. The thickness of each reinforcing strip may preferably be at least 1 / 8 and at most 1 / 4 of the width of the film. The aligning step may be carried out using an aligning unit or strip subsystem of the machine, as described herein. It will be understood that the method steps of alignment and joining may result in a package blank that may be a useful semi-finished product.

[0069] The method may further include, for example, ribbing or creasing the reinforcing strip by means of a ribbing device. This ribbing or creasing may be carried out at any stage of the method.

[0070] This method may further include, for example, forming a film into a tubular shape using a tubular film forming machine or forming unit, and joining longitudinal edges with joining means or a seal. It should be noted that the alignment and joining of the stiffening strips may be performed before or after forming the tubular shape. In a vertical system, the stiffening strips may advantageously be aligned and joined to the film after the step of forming the tubular shape.

[0071] The method may further include supplying a product within the package. This step can be performed before or after forming the tubular film. In a horizontal system, the product may preferably be supplied onto the film before forming the tubular film. In a vertical system, the product may preferably be supplied into the tubular forming film through the tubular structure.

[0072] The method may further include joining the film with transverse joining means along a line transverse to the conveying direction. Preferably, the transverse joining means is configured to follow the contours of the film and the stiffening strips. That is, between the stiffening strips, the transverse joining members preferably extend further towards each other, taking into account that the film portion with the stiffening strips is thicker than the film portion without the stiffening strips. The method may further include joining film pieces, for example, along a diagonal joining line, at the corners of the package near the ends of the transverse seal, to prevent the product within the package from reaching the corners of the package. The method may further include cutting or perforating the film transversely. These joining and cutting / perforating steps are described in more detail elsewhere in this disclosure in relation to the joining and cutting means.

[0073] Alternatively, the packaging method may start from a package blank after the stiffening strips have already been joined to the film, and as a result, the steps of aligning and joining the stiffening strips may be omitted.

[0074] In certain embodiments, the alignment step may be replaced or enhanced by a strip folding step. The method then includes folding the longitudinal strip of the film at least double and joining the double-folded strips of the film by joining means to form a stiffening strip. The method may further include inserting the stiffening strip between the layers of the double-folded strips of the film by a strip subsystem of the packaging machine before joining the stiffening strip.

[0075] In certain embodiments, in the packaging process, the package blank is formed from a single material film, which is folded by a folding tool to form a material film that is partially longitudinally folded more than double. A stiffening strip may be disposed between the layers of the material film folded more than double, and the stiffening strip may be made of a rigid or semi-flexible material.

[0076] A package forming line may be provided, which includes a material feeding section and a product feeding section, a package forming section, a sealing and cutting section, and a packaged product section. The package forming line includes a folding module in a sealing and cutting unit for forming a longitudinal seal of the longitudinal edge of a tubular material blank of flexible material.

[0077] According to an advantageous aspect, providing details such as creases, cuts, perforation lines, etc. for the package in the material blank film of the material blank film is configured to be carried out in addition to the package blank forming line including a detail forming stage, in any tools, equipment, etc. for these.

[0078] According to an advantageous feature, the material feeding unit includes an unwinder for unwinding the material blank film from the material blank film roll and a guide roll for guiding and feeding the material blank film. The product feeding unit is provided for feeding the product to be packaged onto the material blank film. The package forming unit includes a folding module for folding the package from the material blank film. The sealing and cutting unit includes a longitudinal sealing module and a cutting knife and / or a sealing jaw for separating the packaged product package and finishing the seal of the packaged product package.

[0079] According to an advantageous aspect, the package is formed only in the packaging forming line at the product filling stage, and the box-like form is formed only when the package is opened.

[0080] FIG. 19A shows an example of a package blank forming line 100, that is, a material blank manufacturing process part of a package manufacturing process. The package blank forming line 100 includes a printing unit 101, a tooling unit 102, and a winding unit 103, and a seating unit can be provided at this position instead of the winding unit 103. In the example of FIG. 19A, the package blank film W is formed of two material films W1, W2, which are supplied by unwinding the material film W1, W2 from the material film rolls 10; 20. The material films W1, W2 are first unwound in the unwinders 19; 29 and not only slit into two material films during the unwinding process, but two separate reels of the same material can also be used. Next, the material films are supplied for the application of ink, varnish, and coating in the ink, varnish, and coating parts in the printing unit 101, and these can also be made into one single unit where the material films W1, W2 are supplied to different roll pairs 11A, 11B. The ink, varnish, and coating parts 11; 21 include roll pairs 11A, 11B; 21A, 21B formed by one roll 11A; 21A located above the corresponding material films W1; W2 and the other roll 11B; 21B located below the material films W1; W2. Thus, the material films W1; W2 are guided between the rolls of each roll pair 11A, 11B; 21A, 21B. After the ink, varnish, and coating parts 11; 21, the material films W1; W2 are dried by a dryer 12, typically an air recirculation oven if a barrier or similar coating is applied during the process; 22 in the printing unit 101. The tooling unit 102 includes rotary die cutters / slit tools 13, 23 for die cutting and slitting the material films W1, W2 to the desired width and forming the material films W1, W2 into the desired blank shape. Suction units 14, 24 are provided to remove any waste material.After die cutting and slitting by the rotary die cutter / slit tool 13 and blank formation, an adhesive is applied to at least one of the material film W1 or a part thereof by the adhesive application means 15, advantageously by the glue gun 15 or the laminating roller, and then the material films W1; W2 are joined in a laminating unit 30, for example a heat laminator or a high frequency welding unit, followed by a dryer 32 for drying the joined blank film. Thereafter, the blank film is further slit by the rotary die cutter / slit tools 13, 23 to form details therein and is guided to the rotary die cutter / slit tools 13, 23. A suction unit 34 is provided to remove any waste material. Thereafter, the material blank film W is wound up on a material blank film roll 40 in a winder 45 in the winding unit 103. In the example of FIG. 19A, the material blank film is manufactured from two or more material films which are fed into the process from their respective supply lines. A photocell 52 is provided to position and align the materials at the desired positions for combining the materials. In addition, an apparatus for processing the remaining material is provided and the remaining material can be guided to a suction pipe and / or wound up on a material roll depending on its type. If the amount of the remaining material is large, it may be usable for other package manufacturing depending on the treatment that can be performed on the material before recovering the remaining material.

[0081] FIG. 19B shows a package blank forming line 100, which is an example of the material blank manufacturing process section of the package manufacturing process. The package blank forming line 100 includes a printing unit 101, a tooling unit 102, and a winding unit 103. In the example of FIG. 19B, the package blank film W is formed of one material film W1, which is supplied by unwinding the material film W1 from the material film roll 10. The material film W1 is first unwound by the unwinder 19 and then supplied for ink, varnish, and coating application in the ink, varnish, and coating section 11 in the printing unit 101. The ink, varnish, and coating section 11 includes a roll pair 11A, 11B formed by one roll 11A located above the material film W1 and the other roll 11B located below the material film W1. Thus, the material film W1 is guided between the rolls of each roll pair 11A, 11B. After the ink, varnish, and coating section 11, the material film W1 is dried by a dryer, typically an air recirculation oven when a barrier coating is applied in the process 12 in the printing unit 101. The tooling unit 102 includes a rotary die cutter / slit tool 13 for die-cutting and slitting the material film W1 to a desired width and forming the material film W1 into a desired blank shape. The suction unit 14 is provided to remove any waste material. After die-cutting, slitting, and blank formation by the rotary die cutter / slit tool 13, the material film W1 is guided to the folding tool 16. The folding tool 16 advantageously includes a plow roller and a folding roller for forming a multiply-folded material film, and the multiply-folded material film is guided to a heat laminator / rotary die cutter 35 for joining the layers of the doubly-folded material film and further slitting and forming the material blank film W. After the die cutter / slit tool 13, an adhesive laminator and other devices can be provided to further stiffen the folded material area. The heat laminator / rotary die cutter 35 may also be equipped with a high-frequency welding tool.The attracting unit 34 is provided to remove any waste material. Thereafter, the material blank film W is wound onto the material blank film roll 40 in the winder 45 within the winding unit 103. In the example of FIG. 19B, an example of a printing process combined with the application of a sealable coating is schematically shown. This process includes the drying of the printing substance, and additionally, the printing process may also include the drying of a sealable coating, such as a barrier coating, such as a heat seal and / or a cold seal and / or a dispersion coating of a barrier coating. After printing, the surface coating material can be punched using a cylindrical rotary die for folds, ribs, cuts, perforations, etc. In this example, the material blank is manufactured from one material film. The double-fold structure is formed into a tubular shape of the material film in the packaging process on the packaging forming line. Correspondingly, the material blank film is manufactured by printing and coating in the material manufacturing process and can only be joined in the packing process.

[0082] FIGS. 19A to 19B show an example of a package blank forming line 100, in which the winding unit 103 is replaced by a sheeting unit 103X shown by a dashed line, and individual package blanks are cut from the material blank film to produce individual package blanks.

[0083] Figures 20A to 20C show examples of a packaging apparatus having a package forming line 110 of a package manufacturing process. In these examples, the package forming line 110 is a horizontal form-fill-seal machine (HFFS) for use in a flow pack process. The package forming line 110 includes a material feeding unit 104A and a product feeding unit 104B, a package forming unit 105, a sealing and cutting unit 106, and a packaged product unit 107. The material feeding unit 104A includes a material feeding unit, which includes an unwinder 41 for unwinding a material blank film W from a material blank film roll 40, a buffer 51A having a guide roll 51 for guiding and feeding the material blank film W forward, and a photocell 52 for controlling the running of the material blank film F along the running of the material blank film F. The product feeding unit 104B includes at least one conveyor 53 provided for feeding the product F to be packaged. The package forming unit 105 includes a forming unit 54 for folding a package from the material blank film W. The running of the material blank film W and the running of the product F to be packaged merge at the forming unit 54, the material blank film F is folded into a package state, and the product F to be packaged is guided onto the material blank film W at a selected package position. The sealing and cutting unit 106 includes a longitudinal sealing module 56 and a conveyor 57. The combination of the blank film W and the product P is transferred on the conveyor 57, and the longitudinal sealing module 56 provides a seal for each packaged product package FP. The sealing and cutting unit 106 also includes a cutting knife and a sealing jaw 58 for separating the packaged product package FP and completing the seal of the packaged product package FP. The packaged product package FP is positioned in the packaged product unit 107 for storage or transportation to retail. Below Figures 20A to 20C, the formation of the packaged product package FP from the material blank film W at each part of the package forming line 110 is shown.

[0084] As can be seen from the example of FIG. 20A, the material blank film roll formed into the material blank film roll can be made from two material films joined by lamination, or the material blank film roll can be made from one material film having a double fold or several joined blank material films in the material manufacturing process before entering the package forming and packaging process. In this case, the folding of the rigid material should be configured so that the rigid material or the flexible material is not damaged during folding. In addition, due to the forming unit design and / or the use of an effective sealing tool, the high-speed running of the material blank film and the formation and sealing of the material blank film into the package are ensured.

[0085] FIG. 20B shows an example for providing a package with a harder structure, which is configured to be formed from a material supplied to a forming unit for a material blank film formed of a flexible material from separate rolls. These from the materials supplied from separate rolls are guided to a sealing unit while being controlled by information received from a photocell or other corresponding control means, where a longitudinal seal is provided with the details of the material blank film if not provided previously on another die-cutting station. In a particular embodiment, the folding unit 54 of FIG. 20B can be configured to fold the material blank film into a plurality of double-folded layers. Further, the sealing and cutting part can have an aligning unit that aligns a material (for example, a reinforcing strip) supplied from a separate roll between two of the plurality of double-folded layers.

[0086] Figures 21A to 21C show an example of a package forming line 110 of a package manufacturing process. In this embodiment, the package forming line 110 is a vertical form-fill-seal machine (VFFS process) for use in a flow pack process. The package forming line 110 includes a material feeding unit 104A with a buffer 51A, a material loop for redirecting the film flow towards the forming unit 105 as needed, a package forming unit 105 and a product feeding unit 104B, a sealing and cutting unit 106, and a packaged product unit 107. The material product unit 104A includes a material feeding unit including an unwinder 41 for unwinding a material blank film W from a material blank film roll 40, a guide roll 51 for guiding, stabilizing, and feeding the material blank film forward during the process, and a buffer 51A including a photocell 52 along the travel of the material blank film W for controlling the travel of the material blank film W. The package forming unit 105 includes a forming unit 54 for folding a package from the material blank film W, advantageously including a forming shoulder 54. The product feeding unit 104B, advantageously a filling tube 104B, supplies the product F to a packaging position on the material blank film W. The travel of the material blank film W and the product F to be packaged converges at the forming tube 55, where the material blank film F is folded and the product F to be packaged is guided to the package position on the material blank film W at the selected package position. The sealing and cutting unit 106 includes a longitudinal sealing module 56 for sealing the package longitudinally and, advantageously, a conveyor 57 formed by a side drive belt. The combination of the material blank film W and the product P is transferred onto the conveyor 57 on both sides of the forming tube 55, and the longitudinal sealing module 56 provides the seal for each packaged product package FP. The sealing and cutting unit 106 also includes a cutting knife and a sealing jaw 58 for separating the packaged product package FP and completing the seal of the packaged product package FP at the top and bottom of the package. The packaged product package FP is positioned in the packaged product unit 107 for storage or transportation to retail.In the forming section, the forming shoulder 54 is shaped to provide the pack with the desired shape and to guide the material blank film to the correctly positioned forming tube 55. The forming tube 55 is positioned between the forming shoulder 54 and the sealing module 56. The forming tube 55 is provided to form the material blank film into its surrounding tubular form, corresponding to its shape and to position the seal at the desired location. The forming shoulder 54 is configured to fold the material blank film and guide it around the forming tube 55. Advantageously, the forming shoulder 54 and the forming tube 55 form one changeable unit, the shape, size and other specifications of which vary according to the material blank film that fits the desired package measurements. In the longitudinal seal of different types of packages, the shape and size of the seal can be defined within the longitudinal sealing module 56 according to the desired opening method for opening the packaged product package and the gripping part required therefor. The packaged product package FP can be, for example, a pillow bag PB or a gusset bag GB. In this specification and the claims, the term pillow bag type package means both pillow bags and gusset bags, as well as other corresponding pouch-like packages.

[0087] According to advantageous aspects and embodiments, a process and an apparatus for manufacturing a package include, as a first main part, a material blank manufacturing process part 100, in which a material blank film W or a package blank P is manufactured. The material blank film W is manufactured in a printing press, advantageously in a flexographic printing press, in a single production step. The manufacturing can also be based on digital printing or gravure printing, intaglio printing techniques. The material blank film W can be produced by joining two material films W1;W2 or by folding one material film W1 to form a double or more folded material film W1. In each case of manufacturing the material blank film W, pre-printed material films W1;W2 can be used. The package blank forming line 100 includes a printing unit 101, a tooling unit 102, and a winding unit. In the winding unit, the material blank film W is wound onto a winder 45. Optionally, the packaging blank can be folded into a tubular shape, sealed with a longitudinal seal and one end seal, and made into individual pillow bag-type packages using a seating unit. In an optional seating unit, the package blank is cut, i.e., seated, from the material blank film.

[0088] When the material blank film W is made of two material films W1, W2 (FIG. 19A) unwound from the material film rolls 10, 20 by the unwinders 19, 29, then the ink, varnish, and coating in the printing unit 101 and the ink, varnish, and coating are fed in the coating section 11, and one or more surfaces of the material filling section can be printed on one or both sides. As an advantageous aspect, the ink is supplied to an anilox roll, i.e., a gravure roll, via a chamber doctor, and through its surface, the ink is applied to the printing roll 11B and thence to the surfaces of the material films W1, W2. The applied ink, varnish, and coating substances can have heat-sealing properties and / or barrier properties, e.g., properties that prevent the permeation of oxygen, impurities such as mineral oil, vapor, or water. The ink, varnish, and coating substances, e.g., biopolymer emulsions or polysaccharides, can also provide desired additional rigidity and adhesion properties, and to achieve the desired barrier properties, the thickness of the package material can be reduced to reduce the weight or the package. The amount of ink, varnish, or coating substance depends on the number of roll pairs 11A, 11B. The dryers 12, 22 are used to dry the ink, varnish, and coating substances as well as the material films W1, W2. The dryer 12 can be a recirculation oven, in particular, for drying and curing the barrier coating. Also, each ink section can have its own dryer. The material films W1, W2 can also be corona-treated by corona treatment means (not shown) in connection with the unwinding in the unwinders 19, 29 to facilitate the subsequent handling of the material films W1, W2.

[0089] After the printing unit 101, the material films W1, W2 are supplied to the tooling unit 102. When the material blank film W is manufactured from two material films W1, W2, the tooling unit advantageously includes one or two rotary die cutters / slit tools 13, 23, 33, a glue gun 15, a lamination unit 30, such as a heat laminator or a high-frequency welding unit, a dryer 32, followed by a winder 45 to the winding unit 103. In the tooling unit 102, the material films W1, W2 are die cut and / or slit by the first rotary die cutter / slit tools 13, 23 so as to correspond to the form and size of the package blank. The remaining material of the material films W1, W2 is guided to the suction fans 14, 24. Thereafter, an adhesive substance can be applied to at least one of the material films W1, W2 by the glue gun 15 or the lamination unit 30 to form a package blank. The surface areas of the material films W1, W2 with and without adhesive are aligned, where one is advantageously a rigid / semi-flexible material film and the other is a flexible material film, and the material films W1, W2 are joined to the material blank film W to provide the function of the final package FP together with any folds, creases, perforations, and / or cut lines of the material blank. The functions of the final package can include, for example, a structure that facilitates opening of the pack, a structure that reinforces the package to form a box-like package structure for utilizing the product packed in the package, or a reinforced detailed structure that facilitates division of the product packed in the pack. In addition, advantageously, the composition of the adhesive substance can also affect the properties of the package formed from the package blank. The adhesive substance can be, for example, a wet adhesive, a UV-adhesive, or a biopolymer emulsion having, for example, a polysaccharide base.Instead of, or in addition to, glulamination, a hot melt can also be applied by the glue gun 15 to the material films W1, W2 in the longitudinal direction, i.e., the running direction of the material films W1, W2, thereby providing a strong grip and rigidity to the selected bonding portions of the material films W1, W2, while still allowing the other portions of the material films W1, W2 to have flexibility and ductility at the same time. Preferably, in the manufacture of the material blank film, two different material films W1, W2 are used, one of which is significantly harder / semi-flexible than the other. The hard / semi-flexible film can be made of cardboard, carton, cardboard, fiber fabric, plastic film, biomaterial film, or a corresponding material manufactured in roll form. The flexible film, i.e., the material film with lower rigidity, can be made of paper, plastic film, biomaterial film, fiber fabric, or a corresponding material manufactured in roll form. Typically, the hard / semi-flexible material film has its feeding part at the end of the package blank forming line 100. The material films W1, W2 can be pre-cut and / or pre-slit into partial films having the desired shape and size. The material film of the hard / semi-flexible material film can be die-cut and / or slit into a preform corresponding to the form planned to be formed by the first rotary die cutter from the material film on the winder. When manufacturing the material blank film W of the two material films W1, W2, typically, a feeding part for the preformed hard / semi-flexible material film is provided at the end of the package forming line 100, and a feeding part for the more flexible material film that can also be pre-printed is provided on the side and / or in the center of the package forming line 100. The feeding parts for the material films W1, W2 can also be arranged in reverse, or it is also possible to arrange both feeding parts for the material films W1, W2 at the end of the package forming line 100, especially when this is advantageous considering the need for printing. In this case, the printing is provided by another printing roll. In the lamination unit 30, after the glue gun 15, the material films W1, W2 are joined to form the material blank film W.After the lamination unit 30, the material blank film W is guided to the rotary die cutter / slit tool 33 via the second dryer 32, where the blanks in the material blank film W are provided with the final width, form, and functional characteristics. The rolls of the rotary die cutter 33 form the creases, markings, perforations, and cutting lines of the blanks of the material blank film W. The rotary die cutter 33, in an advantageous embodiment, includes a die cut roll in which one or two die cut rolls or their counter rolls are formed as a roll pair. In particular, in the case of the material blank film W that is not folded, or when die cutting is performed on the first die cutting tool 13, instead of the rotary die cutter 33, only the slit tool 33 can be provided. The slit tool 33 slits the material blank film W to the desired width. In the winding section, the material blank film W is wound onto the material blank film roll 40 in the winder 45 so as to be transferred for package manufacturing.

[0090] When the material blank film W is manufactured by folding the material film W1 (FIG. 19B), after the printing unit 101, the material film W1 is guided into the tooling unit 102, which includes one or more rotary die cutters 13, a folding unit 16, a lamination unit 35, such as a heat laminator or a high-frequency welding unit, and a winding unit 103 with a winder 45 for winding the material blank film W onto a roll 45. After the printing unit 101 where the material film W1 is processed in the same way as when manufacturing the material blank film W from two material films W1, W2 as described above, the material film W1 is die cut and / or slit in the rotary die cutter 13 to a preliminary shape and size for the material blank. The material film W1 is transferred to the folding tool 16 in the folding unit 102, where a part of the material film W1 is folded so as to be at least partially double-folded in the width direction. When the material film W1 is double-folded and there is a hard, thicker material strip (reinforcing strip) between the folded layers of the material film W1, a part of the material film W1 and a flexible, thinner part are provided in the width direction of the material film W1. From the folding tool 16, the material film is advantageously guided to the heat laminator 35, in which the folded layers of the folded material film W1 are joined. The heat laminator 35 advantageously includes a heating roll and a press roll, between which the material film W1 is guided. In the heat laminator 35, the layers of the folded material film W1 with a heat-sealable coating layer in the printing unit 101 are joined to the other folded layers at the heating position. By heat lamination technology, the manufactured material blank film W can be formed from one material film into a double-folded material film W1 by the folding tool 16 in the folding unit. The heat laminator 35 may also include a rotary die cutter, whereby one tooling unit provides both lamination and the folding, creasing, perforating, and / or cutting lines of the material blank.The touring unit 102 can also be used for slitting the material film W1. When the heat laminator 35 is used, separate steps for adhesive application and lamination can be excluded from the manufacturing process. At the end of the material blank film W production line 100, the material blank film W is wound onto the material blank film roll 40 by the winder 45 for transfer to further manufacturing steps for producing the package P and the filled package FP.

[0091] In the production of individual packages, for example, a horizontal form-fill-seal (HFFS) machine (Figs. 20A - 20C) can be used on a package forming line 110 for the package manufacturing process. In this case, the package is manufactured as a pillow-bag type flexible package. The material blank film W is unwound from a material blank film roll 40 by an unwinder 41 at a material blank film feeder 104 and supplied to the package forming line 110 from below the package forming line 110, that is, as a lower film supply. Alternatively, an upper film supply can be used. The material blank film W is guided through a buffer 51A that includes a guide roll 51 for guiding, stabilizing, and packaging the material blank film W so that it meets and feeds with the product F to be packaged and is supplied to the package forming line 110. The guide roll 51 on the buffer 51A can be a nip roll, that is, a nip is formed between two rolls 51 and the material blank film W1 is guided through the nip. The guide roll 51 can also be a drive roll, a lead roll, or a tension roll 51 according to the need for guidance. The running of the material blank film W can be controlled by a photocell 52, which follows the running of the material blank film W, adjusts feeding and alignment, and guides the material blank film W to a folding unit 54 so that a package is formed from the material blank film W. In the folding unit 54, advantageously, a plow is provided for folding the material blank film W into a tubular form around the product F supplied from a product feeder 104B. Advantageously, the material blank film W is accurately aligned so that the blank P in the material blank film W is not damaged during folding. In particular, the rigid / semi-flexible portion of the material blank film W is prone to damage during folding.

[0092] In the folding unit 54, the material blank film W is folded into a tubular form around the product F. The product f is supplied onto the material blank film W by the conveyor 53 or by a corresponding feeding means, for example an extruder. While the material blank film W is folded into a tubular form, the contacted longitudinal upper edges are sealed by the sealing roll of the longitudinal sealing module 56 in the seal and cut unit 106 to form the longitudinal seal of the filled package FP. When the material blank film W is supplied to the package forming line 110 from above, the longitudinal seal is formed from the longitudinal lower edges. The height of the filled package FP can be adjusted by various means used to flatten the package or, for example, to remove air from the package. At this stage, the tubular material blank film W with the product is guided between the sealing jaws 58 which also include a cutting knife for cutting the filled package FP into individual filled packages FP to seal the end seals of the filled package FP.

[0093] In the manufacture of individual packages, for example, a vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) machine (Figs. 21A - 21C) can be used on the package forming line 110 of the package manufacturing process. In this case, the package to be manufactured can be a pillow-bag type flexible package. The material blank film W is unwound in the unwinder 41 and guided towards filling. The feeding can be from below as a lower film supply or from above as an upper film supply, for example, by a material supply roll or an electric material supply roll, as shown in Figs. 21A - 21C. The material blank film W is guided through a buffer 51A that includes guide rolls 51 for guiding the material blank film, stabilizing it, and feeding it to the package forming line 110 to meet the feeding of the product F to be packaged. The guide roll 51 can be a nip roll, i.e., a nip is formed between two rolls 51 and the material blank film W1 is guided through the nip. The guide roll 51 can also be a drive roll, a lead roll, or a tension roll 51 depending on the need for guidance. The running of the material blank film W can be controlled by a photocell 52, which follows the running of the material blank film W, adjusts the feeding and alignment, and guides the material blank film W to the folding unit 54 so that a package is formed from the material blank film W. The feeding of the material blank film W can be configured in various ways, for example, through only some of the guide rolls on the buffer 51A or through all the guide rolls 51. Also, by selecting the position of the guide roll 54, various paths of the material blank film W can be constructed. The path for feeding the material blank film W is selected and constructed based on the configuration and control of the package forming line 110, as well as on the characteristics of the product to be filled in the package, the size, shape, opening method, and / or the position of the opening point of the package. Also, other characteristics of the package and the product can be taken into account. The folding unit 54 advantageously includes a forming tube and a forming shoulder / forming collar for folding the material blank film W around the forming tube into a tubular form.

[0094] Typically, the material blank film W is guided obliquely upward, advantageously at a steep angle as seen from the horizontal level, to the folding unit 54 such that the edge of the material blank film W is folded over the forming shoulder / forming collar around the forming tube through a narrow slit. In the case of a thicker material blank film W, it is advantageous to use a sharper angle to guide the thicker material blank film W around the forming tube. A special forming die part / forming collar can be provided to guide the material blank film W, which has a more gentle angle and a slightly wider slit, and additionally, optionally, a special shape for the thicker portion of the material blank film W. On the other hand, the thicker material blank film W can also be guided downward to the folding unit 54, in which case the thicker portion of the material blank film W can be utilized for the supply of the material blank film W above the package production line 110, whereby the material blank film W is in an upward position adjusted in the direction of the forming tube, and only then does the folding of the package start around the forming tube within the folding unit 54. Thereby, better running performance of the thicker material blank film W is achieved, and in addition to damage to the surface of the material blank film W, wrinkles and creases are avoided regardless of the thickness of the material blank film W. In this case, for the package forming line 110, advantageously, except when the existing configuration of the folding unit 54 is not available, a replaceable special folding unit without a forming shoulder / forming collar, a film supply system, and a frame for the drive roll, a free film loop, and additional folding rolls are provided immediately before the folding unit 54 to guide the feeding direction of the material blank film W downward and around the forming tube of the folding unit 54. In this case, a photocell 52 with an optional mirror is arranged in the free film loop to control the supply of the material blank film W. If the material blank film W is not observed by the photocell, the drive roll guides the material blank film W into the free film loop as required.The running of the drive roll is controlled by commands received from the photocell 52 such that a desired amount of the material blank film W is within the free film loop and the packages can be cut. The package forming line 110 also includes, as an advantageous aspect, a control system which is adapted to control the driver roll and the photocell 52. The folding unit 54 includes a forming shoulder and a forming tube. In the folding unit 54, the material blank film W is guided through a slit between the forming shoulder and the forming tube around the forming tube and is folded into a tubular form. The forming shoulder and the forming tube are dimensioned based on the characteristics of the material blank film W, in particular based on the hard / semi-flexible and flexible portions, such that the material blank film W is folded around the forming tube without being damaged. Preferably, the forming shoulder is configured in accordance with the material blank film W such that the feeding angle of the material blank film W through the slit is at a low gradient. Additionally, as an advantageous aspect, the slit is dimensioned with a tolerance such that the thickest portion of the material can also be guided through the slit. The tolerance of the slit is also dimensioned such that the material blank film W is guided to the required position around the forming tube. To facilitate and streamline the guiding of the material blank film W, the forming tube can be shaped to correspond to the feeding of the material blank film W. The shape, size, and other specifications of the forming tube vary according to the desired package measurements of the material blank film, in particular the allocation, position, and dimensions of the thicker and thinner portions of the material blank film W. In this case, the shape of the forming tube depends on the position, size, and shape of the thickest portion of the material blank film W. The forming shoulder and the forming tube of the folding unit 54 fold the longitudinal edges of the material blank film W adjacent to each other and seal the edges to form the longitudinal seal of the package in the longitudinal sealing module 56. The longitudinal seal can seal to different types of seals. Then, the edges of the folded material blank film W are sealed in the longitudinal sealing module 56. The longitudinal sealing module 56 also controls, as an advantageous aspect, the feeding of the material blank film W and the folding of the material blank film W into a tubular form.

[0095] The product is supplied onto the tubular material blank film W via the filling tube 104B, and one or more products are dropped from the supply device through the filling tube 104B onto and into the tubular material blank film W. Then, the end seals of the package are sealed between the sealing jaws, with the lower end seal first. Next, the filled, lower-end-sealed, and longitudinally-sealed package is guided downward by the side drive belts according to the desired cut length, i.e., the height of the filled package FP, and the upper edge seal of the package is closed between the sealing jaws. The upper and lower edge seals of the packages arranged adjacent to each other are preferably closed simultaneously. The cutting knife forms the packages into individual filled packs by cutting the material blank film W between the upper and lower seals arranged adjacent to each other for the packages arranged adjacent to each other.

[0096] Package P can be manufactured from a material blank film W by folding the material blank film W at least twice into a material film with the material film folded at least twice, folding it with a stiffening strip between the double-folded layers of the double-folded material film so that the sealable surfaces of the material blank film W contact each other or the stiffening strip, filling the product F into the material blank film W / package in the package production line 110, and cutting a blank of the desired package size into individual package blanks of the corresponding size. The material blank film W includes a rigid / semi-flexible material and a flexible material, which are continuous material portions in the longitudinal direction of the material blank film forming the uniform material blank film W and from one blank position to the next blank position. The package is advantageously manufactured from the material blank film by using a package forming line 110 based on a horizontal form-fill-seal (Figs. 20A - 20C) or vertical form-fill-seal (Fig. 21) package forming process, or by filling individual stand-alone packages including bottom or corner-sealed pillow bags. The process type is selected based on the characteristics and / or dosage of the product to be packaged and / or based on the requirements of the manufacturing technology. Different types of packages can be manufactured from the material blank film W, for example, pillow bags, gusset bags, stand-up bags, three-side-sealed bags, four-side-sealed bags.

[0097] The package blank includes a rigid / semi-flexible material portion and a flexible material portion, which together form the package. The package may be formed from a material blank film such that the flexible material portion is folded over the other side of the material blank within the folding unit to form a uniform surface on this side. The rigid / semi-flexible portion of the material blank film is folded over to the opposite side to provide a central seal. The rigid / semi-flexible portion has longitudinal or diagonal die-cut score lines, perforations, ribs, or cut lines, which form the functional characteristics of the package for opening the package to a box-like form to remove and / or access and / or reach the product within the package. When the package is opened, the rigid / semi-flexible component is folded at the die-cut to form the sides of the box-shaped pack. Between the flexible portions formed, a flexible portion formed and sealed with a longitudinal seal of the pack by a sealing unit is, in an advantageous aspect, set such that the sealable surfaces of the flexible material abut each other in a longitudinal position when viewed from the other side, i.e., by forming a longitudinal seal. A narrow flexible region aligned with the plane of the rigid / semi-flexible material is provided between the rigid / semi-flexible material portion and the longitudinal seal to facilitate sealing the longitudinal seal by the sealing jaw. The size of the narrow flexible region depends on the type of seal used (pinch, fin, lap seal, etc.) and the size of the package and is thus defined for each package. The rigid / semi-flexible portion may be manufactured from multiple flexible materials that are folded during the manufacture of the material blank film. The longitudinal sealing by the sealing jaw also joins the rigid / semi-flexible portions as longitudinal pinch seals, but there is no flexible portion between them.

[0098] If the total width of the rigid / semi-flexible portion remains smaller than the width of the material blank film, the width of the rigid / semi-flexible portion can also be reduced so that the rigid / semi-flexible portion does not extend to the edge of the material blank film. This provides a larger space for packing the product in a closed package without the need to provide another structural property, such as a gusset bag structure, to the flexible portion of the material blank film W. The area for the end seal may also contain less rigid / semi-flexible material, but the rigid / semi-flexible material extends at least partially to the area for the end seal to provide the winding characteristics of the material blank film W onto and from the material blank roll 40 and to provide a continuous material blank film that can withstand the pulling through the package forming line 110. The package can be filled manually or semi-automatically by a continuous operating band sealing device using a sealing roller. In the band sealing device, each sealing roller transports the package forward and at the same time closes the seal by heating. Advantageously, this type of package can be tightly sealed by an automatic horizontal pouch machine that fills the product and uses a package made of either an individual blank or the material blank film. In each case, to close the seal portion of the material formation, the color is first pressed into a flat form and the edges of the material are folded together to facilitate the seal. The filled package closed by the longitudinal seal can be easily opened by tearing the flexible material in the direction of the longitudinal seal over the length of the seal and then either wrapping the rigid / semi-flexible portion with the flexible material or tearing the material in the seal area, further folding and separating the material. Also, a reclosable opening means, such as a fastener type structure or an easy peel type or sticker type structure, can be provided.

[0099] The filled package FP, which is achieved by being packed according to any of the above examples, or by filling the product into the package and closing the package with a manually operable sealing device, can be packed into a disposable or reusable transport package. The individual filled packages can, for example, be stacked on top of each other when the flat side of the package is placed on the bottom or on a transport package for the next package, or can be overlapped in a side-by-side or vertical position such that one of the surfaces of the individual filled packages abuts against the surface of the transport package. Regardless of the stacking method, the filled packages can be tightly packed into the transport package so that there is no empty space between them. This provides a more efficient packing of the filled packages compared to the case of packing known packages. The packing of the filled packages for transport can be manual or automatic. A plurality of individual filled packages can be grouped into a bundle by not making a cross-cut between the individual filled packages at the final stage of the package forming line, or by tying together a plurality of individual filled packages to form a bundle by means of a wraparound or corresponding means.

[0100] If necessary for individual packages, a protective gas can be supplied during the filling stage on the package forming line, and this protective gas is for protecting the product within the package, for example, to prevent quality degradation or damage. The rigid / semi-flexible part of the package can be used to provide the package with brackets, folding parts, or corresponding structures that can be opened before transportation to protect the packaged product. In the case of very delicate products, an extended upper structure of the longitudinal seal can be utilized, whereby the rigid / semi-flexible part is folded onto the sides of the box-shaped package during the filling stage and before transportation. In this case, during transportation, the product is within the rigid / semi-flexible box-shaped package, and the rigid / semi-flexible sides of the package protect the product even if the top and bottom of the package are made of flexible material. The bottom of the package can also be partially or completely made of rigid / semi-flexible material. Despite the box-shaped form of individual packages, they are space-saving because no empty space remains between them, which is because an inclined shape within the pack is not required for package formation. In addition, due to the color structure, the packages can be completely filled, thus also avoiding empty space inside the packages.

[0101] After transportation, the filled package is in a state where it can be sold at the point of sale. At the point of sale, due to its various installation possibilities, the filled package takes up little space, thus achieving space savings. In response to transportation, the filled packages can be stacked in a side-by-side or vertical position such that one side of the package contacts the surface and the largest surface area is visible. Regardless of the stacking method of individual filled packages, the packages can be neatly stacked at the point of sale, for example, on the shelves of a display rack or cabinet. This allows more individual packages to be placed in the same shelf space, thus improving the installation efficiency. By not making cross-cuts between individual filled packages at the final stage of the package forming line, or by binding a plurality of individual filled packages together to form a bundle by means of wraparound or corresponding means, a plurality of individual filled packages can be grouped into a bundle. Individual filled packages can also be hung on the arms of the shelves at the point of sale by providing the package with euro slots, triangular holes, or punch holes for hanging. By die-cutting creases, perforations, ribs, or cutting lines in the material blank film, the package can be made into an independent package so that it can be placed, for example, standing on the shelves at the point of sale.

[0102] After using or emptying the package of the filled product, the package can be folded at the folded positions multiple times and recycled in a flat form, thus saving waste disposal and reducing the need to empty waste bins so frequently. The folding of the empty package can be done without tearing the separated parts of the package or without any kind of preparation for folding. The package can also be recycled without folding since it flattens in the case of a pillow bag or stand-up bag type after emptying. The package material can be used as recycled raw material for new packages or turned into compost. The package can be recycled or composted as is, or the different material layers can be separated before these actions are carried out.

[0103] In certain embodiments, the packaging machine is configured to apply an opening tool, such as a stiffening strip and wire as described above, to the film. The opening tool can be used by the end user of the package to open the package by cutting the film and the stiffening strip. The opening tool may extend in the center of the stiffening strip with its longitudinal direction in the direction of the conveying direction, so that the end user of the completed package can cut the stiffening strip into two stiffening strips aligned side by side on the package and can spread the opened package into a tray shape.

[0104] The present invention further relates to a package blank and a package. More precisely, the present invention further relates to a package blank configured to be folded into a package for food, the package blank being configured to be formed from a material blank film that is a flexible material, the material blank film including a blank for the package indicated by alignment marks for a cutting line in a specified transverse cutting region between two package blanks arranged adjacent to and continuously with each other, the blank being configured to be separated along this cutting line, and the package blank including folding lines for forming the outer shape of the package by folding. The present invention further relates to a package, particularly for food, the package being configured to be formed from a package blank, the package blank being configured to be formed from a material blank film that is a flexible material, the material blank film including a blank for the package indicated by alignment marks for a cutting line in a specified transverse cutting region between two package blanks arranged adjacent to and continuously with each other, the blank being configured to be separated along this cutting line, and the package blank including folding lines for forming the outer shape of the package by folding.

[0105] European Patent Application Publication No. 2057076 discloses a container for food or similar products, which is an integral blank of a flexible material and includes a container and an integral lid formed from an integral blank of a flexible material having a lamination of a heat-sealable plastic material on one side of the flexible material that is on the inside of the container. The container or the container is integrally held by tabs on adjacent walls of the container located on the outside of the container and is integrally heat-sealed by the heat-sealable plastic lamination. This type of package typically has a complex structure with different types of adhesive tabs and protrusions, which requires more material for manufacturing the package as well as more adhesive substances. In addition, more folds, creases, and blank portions are required, which increases the material thickness of the package or the packaging blank and requires more storage space, especially when tight packing is required. The package is typically openable by tearing one of the sealed parts or opening a lock tab, which requires including complex shapes and additional materials in the material blank and causes the loss of tight-packing characteristics. Also, typically, a bundle of individual package blanks is created for transportation, and during transportation, due to folds, creases, etc. for the closure tabs, support structures, etc., especially due to the irregular shape of the blank, the space required for transportation increases. In the case of individual packages, typically, the packaging of the product can also be done with only one package at a time, so the product needs to be separately placed in the filling position to fill the product. In addition, the packaging and closing of this type of package require individual steps and package parts arranged for each individual package at specific positions. This reduces the speed of the packaging process due to the increase in steps and time. In some cases, manual work may also be required.

[0106] European Patent Application Publication No. 1814803 discloses a package for heating food therein, the package including a sleeve for receiving the food therein, the sleeve having an outer surface and an internal cavity and being formed at least partially from susceptor material, and a heat insulating material joined to a portion outside the sleeve, the heat insulating material including at least one void occupied by a heat insulating gas. This type of package is typically only openable by pressing on an edge or bottom, thereby causing the package form to be in a deep shape and thus making product handling difficult. This type of package also typically requires the use of adhesive tape or the like to form the package structure, which is typically done separately for each individual package. A system and method for a reinforced package formed at least in part of this type are disclosed, for example, in International Publication No. 2019032436, which corresponds to what is described above and thus typically suffers from the same types of drawbacks. In the case of individual packages, it is possible to package the product with one package at a time, and thus it is necessary to place them separately at the filling position in order to fill the product. In addition, for packaging and closing, separate package parts are required for each individual package at individual steps and specific positions. This results in an increase in steps and time, thereby reducing the speed of the packaging process. In some cases, manual work may also be required. Also, manufacturing package blanks on this type of production line requires a complex system specialized for manufacturing this type of unique packaging structure only, and there are few options for the size, shape, and opening position of the package without significantly changing the production line.

[0107] European Patent Application Publication No. 3371072 discloses a package. In relation to this type of package, the bending characteristics and the rigid / semi-flexible material in the center of the material web can cause problems regarding the formation of the package and the filling of the product. The packaging machine can even break the harder material, cause delamination between the layers of the material, or affect the appearance of the material surface.

[0108] In the manufacturing process of a package made from two film parts arranged on top of each other, a separate packaging line may be required. In this process, a box-shaped package may first be manufactured from the lower film part, and then the box-shaped package may be closed by the upper film part. This increases the manufacturing cost when a mold for forming a tray form is required for each specific size and shape, and also typically reduces the speed of the process because each tray needs to be positioned separately for filling.

[0109] One object of the present invention is to provide a package blank in which the problems and drawbacks associated with known package blanks are eliminated or at least minimized.

[0110] One object of the present invention is to provide a package in which the problems and drawbacks associated with known packages are eliminated or at least minimized.

[0111] In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved package for foodstuffs and bulk-type products.

[0112] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a package blank configured to be folded into a package for food, the package blank being configured to be formed from a material blank film which is a flexible material, the material blank film including a blank for the package indicated by alignment marks for a cutting line in a specified transverse cutting area between two package blanks arranged continuously adjacent to each other, along which cutting line the blanks are configured to be separated, the package blank including folding lines for forming the outer shape of the package by folding, the material blank film of the flexible material being continuous and provided with two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material portions of a rigid or semi-flexible material, the two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of the rigid or semi-flexible material including at least partially longitudinally at least doubly folded flexible material to the two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of the rigid or semi-flexible material, the two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of the rigid or semi-flexible material being spaced apart in the transverse direction of the blank, the flexible material being provided between the longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of the rigid or semi-flexible material, and the package blank being further configured to form opening means for the package between the rigid / semi-flexible material portions by joining the edges of the flexible material to form a longitudinal seal by the joined edges.

[0113] According to an advantageous feature of the present invention, the package blank is configured such that food is filled before separating the package blank from the material blank film.

[0114] According to an advantageous feature of the present invention, the package blank further includes a stiffening material region of a rigid or semi-flexible material within a transversely extending region.

[0115] According to an advantageous feature of the present invention, the package blank includes stiffening regions extending longitudinally and / or transversely formed of a material blank film additive material.

[0116] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the package blank includes structural details such as folds, ribs, perforations, and / or cutting lines, and combinations thereof.

[0117] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the package blank includes mechanically pressed material regions, and / or material regions coated with an adhesive coating, and / or cutting lines, folding lines, and / or structural details formed by hot sealing or high-frequency welding with a heat laminator.

[0118] According to the invention, in particular, a package for food is configured to be formed from a package blank, which is configured to be formed from a material blank film that is a flexible material. The material blank film includes a package blank indicated by alignment marks for a cutting line in a specified transverse cutting region between two package blanks arranged adjacent to and continuously with each other. Along this cutting line, the blank is configured to be separated. The package blank includes folding lines for forming the outer shape of the package by folding. The package formed from the flexible material of the material blank film is continuous and is provided with two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material portions of a rigid or semi-flexible material. The two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of the rigid or semi-flexible material include at least partially longitudinally at least double-folded flexible material to the two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of the rigid or semi-flexible material. The two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of the rigid or semi-flexible material are spaced apart in the transverse direction of the blank. The flexible material is provided between the longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of the rigid or semi-flexible material. The package blank is further configured to form an opening means for the package between the rigid / semi-flexible material portions by joining the edges of the flexible material to form a longitudinal seal by the joined edges.

[0119] According to an advantageous feature of the present invention, the package is configured to have a box-like shape only after the package is opened, and the box-like shape is defined by the selection of the folding lines of the package blank.

[0120] According to an advantageous feature of the present invention, the package is configured to have a box-like shape only after the package is opened, and the box-like form is defined by the selection of the structural details of the package blank.

[0121] According to an advantageous feature of the present invention, the package is configured to have a pillow-bag-like shape when filled with food.

[0122] According to an advantageous feature of the present invention, the folding lines of the package are combined with different types of line forms at the folding lines or have portions that are partially removed in areas of the rigid / semi-flexible material parts.

[0123] According to an advantageous feature of the present invention, the deformed form of the box-like shape of the opened package is defined by changes in the number and position of the folding lines.

[0124] According to an advantageous feature of the present invention, the rigid / semi-rigid material parts of the package include open or unattached material layer areas configured to provide space for another additional product within the package.

[0125] According to an advantageous feature of the present invention, the top or bottom of the package includes a longitudinal seal and / or a tear line for removing the top or bottom of the package.

[0126] According to an advantageous feature of the present invention, the package includes a longitudinal seal configured to be extended to form the top of the package.

[0127] To summarize the main and advantageous features of these aspects of the present invention, the novel and inventive features of the package blank and the package are discussed below.

[0128] The package blank includes a longitudinal stiffening material portion that extends continuously along the longitudinal direction of the package blank material film, a folding line, and, in advantageous embodiments, structural details such as creases, ribs, cuts, and combinations thereof. However, the filled package formed from the package blank is openable into a box-like shape when filled and opened to access the product therein, and the longitudinal reinforcing material portion formed from a rigid / semi-flexible material portion is formed by folding the material film into a material folded more than once in the longitudinal direction of the material film and / or by adding a continuous layer of rigid or semi-flexible material over one or more partial regions of the material film in the longitudinal direction of the material film.

[0129] A package according to one embodiment is made by separating it from one package blank portion of a continuous package blank film and from other package blank portions on the continuous package blank film. The opening portion of the package is provided by an edge of a flexible material that is joined between the rigid / semi-flexible material portions so as to form an opening means. The package is openable by tearing or separating the joined edges of the flexible material between the rigid / semi-flexible material portions. The opening means can also be made reclosable. The package is openable into a box-like form. The desired form of the box-like form is defined by the selection of the folding line and, optionally, by the selection of structural details such as creases, ribs, and / or cutting lines of the package blank. The package can be folded into a flat form after use by utilizing the same structural details.

[0130] A package according to another embodiment is made by separating it from one package blank portion of a continuous package blank film and from other package blank portions on the continuous package blank film. The box-shaped upper wall is formed by joining the edges of the flexible material of the package blank between the rigid / semi-flexible material portions. The opening and closing part of the package is provided in the seal area between the rigid / semi-flexible material portions of the flexible material portion, closes by joining the material surfaces, and opens by tearing or separating the material surfaces. The package can also be made openable by tearing or pulling at the opposite side, i.e., at the bottom of the box-shaped form of the package. In addition to closing the package by folding and joining the ends of the flexible material, a handle can be formed for carrying the package by hand.

[0131] Preferably, the package blank, especially for a food package, is configured to be formed from a material blank film including a flexible material and a rigid or semi-flexible material. The material blank film is configured to be formed from at least one material film, and includes a package blank, printed alignment marks for cutting two blanks arranged adjacent to each other to identify the ends of the blanks and to separate the blanks into individual blanks and / or packages, and / or for creasing, perforating, ribbing, or cutting lines. In this material blank film, the flexible material is continuous, and two continuous longitudinally extending film regions of rigid or semi-flexible material are provided spaced apart in the cross-sectional direction, whereby the flexible material is provided between the longitudinally extending film regions of rigid or semi-flexible material. In the package blank, the rigid or semi-flexible material is configured to be formed by folding the flexible material at least doubly to form two longitudinally extending film regions of rigid or semi-flexible material spaced apart in the cross-sectional direction.

[0132] According to an advantageous aspect, the rigid material and the flexible material of the rigid or semi-flexible material can be manufactured from one material film provided with different material properties for the region forming the rigid material part of the rigid or semi-flexible material part. Thus, the material blank film can provide additional rigidity for the rigid part.

[0133] According to an advantageous aspect, the alignment marks of the cutting lines enable the package edges to be read, for example, by a photocell or similar reading means during blank formation and package formation, and in this way, cutting and sealing at the correct positions are provided.

[0134] Preferably, in particular for food packages, the package is formed from a package blank configured to be formed from a material blank film comprising a flexible material and a rigid or semi-flexible material, the material blank film being configured to be formed from at least one material film, the package blank and alignment marks provided between two blanks arranged adjacent to each other for separating the blanks into individual blanks and / or packages and / or for cutting lines with creases, perforations, ribbing, or cutting lines, in this material blank film, the flexible material is continuous and two continuous longitudinally extending film regions of rigid or flexible material are provided spaced apart in the cross-sectional direction, whereby the flexible material is provided between the longitudinally extending film regions of rigid or semi-flexible material, the material blank film is folded into a tubular form, the longitudinal seal is configured to be formed from the longitudinal edges of the flexible material, in the package, the rigid or semi-flexible material is configured to be formed by folding the flexible material at least double into two continuously longitudinally extending film regions of rigid or semi-flexible material arranged spaced apart in the cross-sectional direction. Thus, from the material blank film, the package is formed by folding the material blank film into a tubular form, sealing two edges to fill the package, and sealing the package by closing the filled edge of the package after filling.

[0135] According to an advantageous aspect, in the package blank, at least a double - layer flexible material is arranged spaced apart in the transverse direction such that a single - layer flexible material is provided between film regions extending in the longitudinal direction of the at least double - layer flexible material. This eliminates the need to supply several material films to create semi - flexible and flexible structures, and if that were necessary, the use of a special supply system to position each material correctly relative to each other and adhesives to bond the films, which can be difficult to adjust for each material and the adhesives can compromise recyclability. According to an advantageous aspect, the double - folded material provides a semi - flexible / rigid portion of the material film. The rigidity of the semi - flexible / rigid portion can be increased by joining the folded material portions. As an advantageous aspect, the joining is provided by utilizing a sealable surface layer, typically a coating, of the folded material portions. The surfaces of the folded material portions of the package blank can be joined, for example, by high - frequency welding by a mechanical press. Thus, enhanced rigidity is provided in the region of the folded material portions. Crease lines, such as by embossing, can be mechanically pressed to provide the desired pattern or combination of patterns on the package blank. High - frequency welding keeps the inner surface of the material forming the inner part of the package from contacting within the package blank, thereby protecting the product and maintaining the properties of the material providing the sealability as desired. As an advantageous aspect, the rigidity of the double - folded material portion can be improved by the thickness of the coating layer and / or by using, for example, a polysaccharide grid. The joining of the material films can also be provided by hot - sealing, cold - sealing, adhesive - sealing, or by using only a mechanical press. The double - folded portion may be fully joined or may have unjoined partial regions, for example, such that the package is formed during opening. Simultaneously with the joining, functional details such as crease lines, perforations, ribs, and / or cut - off lines may be provided in the semi - flexible / rigid portion. In addition, a dense patterning may be provided to facilitate bending the package during opening.

[0136] According to an advantageous aspect, if the folding of the material film does not provide the required rigidity of the material for some parts, additional longitudinal material film layers can be provided for the required parts. These additional material film layers can be provided in the forming and / or filling stage in the package forming process. The step of bonding the additional material film layer to the material blank film is, as an advantageous aspect, after the material blank film has been formed into a tubular form. The bonding can be provided by hot or cold sealing and / or by mechanical pressing by utilizing the surface sealing properties that the material film may have. At the same time, as an advantage, creases, ribs, cuts, etc. can be provided on the material blank film simultaneously with or prior to the attachment of the material.

[0137] According to an advantageous aspect, the roll of the material blank film includes periodic printing, creases, perforations, ribs, and / or cuts, etc. that define the structure, functionality, and visual appearance of the package formed from the blank of the material blank film. The periodicity is defined, as an advantageous aspect, by alignment marks that can be read by a packaging machine, and thus the packaging machine can identify one of the alignment marks from the passing material blank film. As an advantageous aspect, separate from the printing of the alignment mark structure of the blank, it is configured to be formed on the package filled with the product, thereby obtaining a tubular bag type / tubular form during filling. The package blank includes a flexible material film that is double-folded or multi-folded immediately before the formation of the package and its folding into a tubular form. At the same time, as an advantageous aspect, any details required for the formation of the blank are provided. In relation to the manufacture and / or printing of the material film, some details, especially those requiring high precision or fine adjustment, can be provided.

[0138] According to an advantageous aspect, when a harder material is also provided for the seal area, it can be formed to be thinner and have higher flexibility, for example, by cutting away material from respective areas of the blank material film, for example, from the area that will form the longitudinal seal. Thus, a longitudinal seal area that is more flexible and easier to open is provided.

[0139] According to an advantageous aspect, in the package, at least a double-layer flexible material is arranged spaced apart in the transverse direction such that a single-layer flexible material is provided between film regions of the at least double-layer flexible material that extend longitudinally. According to a further advantageous aspect, the material of the single-layer flexible material located between the at least double-layer flexible material regions can be stiffened by an additional separate rigid material layer that forms the bottom of the package in the completed package. According to a further advantageous aspect, the at least double-layer flexible regions can be separated from each other by longitudinal folds, ribs, perforations, and / or cut lines.

[0140] According to an advantageous aspect, the package is configured to be formed by filling a product into a package blank of a material blank film, whereby the package obtains a bag-like form. As an advantageous aspect, when the bag-like package is opened, the package obtains a box-like form. Thus, according to an advantageous aspect, the package is first formed by filling the product, and the box-like form of the package is formed only when the package is opened.

[0141] Preferably, the package blank is formed of one material film, which is folded and is a material film folded partially longitudinally more than once.

[0142] According to an advantageous aspect, the material blank film can provide details such as folds, cuts, perforation ribs, etc. for the package.

[0143] Due to the present invention and its advantageous features, many advantages are achieved: The package is very suitable for storing its contents, using the contents, and transporting between storage and use. The use of the contents, for example eating / serving the foodstuffs therein from the package, is easy because the package has rigid side walls at its use location. Also, a good gripping part and position for easy opening can be obtained from the package. In particular, it is advantageous that the package can be used for perishable foods in that the rigid position of the side walls is already formed in the package during the manufacture of the package from a material blank film. The material blank film also provides a flexible upper configuration of the package, and thus no separate upper part is required for the package. The manufacture of the package blank and the package can be carried out with only minor modifications to various types of existing packaging lines. An important advantage of this advantageous aspect is that when the blank and the package are formed from one material film, it is possible to wind a substantially longer film on one roll of the material blank film of the same diameter compared to known solutions. Then, this reduces the need for material blank film roll changes, thus providing a longer continuous production time without interruption. Therefore, the package can be produced efficiently and with high quality. Advantageously in connection with the present invention, the folded material part can be manufactured thinner than in known solutions, enhancing the stability of the roll, thereby reducing manufacturing interruptions and achieving higher productivity. In addition, less space is required for the material blank film rolls needed for a specific number of packages, thus achieving savings in transport costs.

[0144] In the course of the following description, like elements are identified using like numbers and signs according to different figures illustrating the present invention and its advantageous embodiments. In the figures, some repetitive reference signs may be omitted for clarity.

[0145] Examples of the package forming line 110 of the package manufacturing process for the modified types of packages shown in FIGS. 26 to 29 are shown in FIGS. 22A to 22B. In these examples, the package forming line 110 is a horizontal pouch machine process (HPF process). The package forming line 110 includes a material feeding section 104A having a buffer 51A, a package forming section 105, a product feeding section 104B, a filling section 104C, a tray forming section 108, a tray sealing section 109, and a packaged product section 107. The material product section 104A includes a material feeding unit including an unwinder 41 for unwinding the material blank film W from the material blank film roll 40, and a buffer 51A including a guide roll 51 for guiding and supplying the material blank film W forward to the package forming section 105 in the process via the forming unit 54. The package forming section 105 includes a film guide 61, longitudinal sealing means 62, a separate die cut plate 62A, a tear notch 63, a cutting knife 64, and a photocell 52 along the travel of the material blank film W for controlling the formation of the material blank film W. A separate die cut plate 62A is disposed between the longitudinal sealing means 62. The details of the blank can be punched using the separate die cut plate 62A or together with the longitudinal sealing means 62. The package forming section 105 for folding from the material blank film W into the package is followed by a package capturing means 65 and product feeding and filling sections 104B, 104C, where the product is fed and filled into the corresponding package position on the material blank film W. In the tray forming section 108, the tray is formed from the package of the material blank film W, and the tray is sealed at the tray sealing section. The packaged product package FP is in the packaged product section 107 for transportation to a storage location or retail. In the central right portion of FIGS. 22A to 22C, the formation of the pack / tray in steps PI, PII, PIII, PIV, PV, and PVI, FP is shown. At the bottom of FIGS. 22A to 22C, the formation of the packaged product package FP from the material blank film W at each part of the package forming line 110 is shown.The formation of the material blank film and the formation of the package are carried out as described above, but the filling of the package is carried out simultaneously at the stage of opening the package in its box-like form. The filled package is closed by sealing the package ends, since the flexible material forms the upper structure of the package and the area to be sealed. The upper structure can be folded onto the package after sealing. In the example of FIG. 22B, an alternative is shown in which a harder material is added to the material blank film. The material product section 104A includes a material feeding unit including two unwinders 41S for unwinding the material blank films W, WS from the material blank film rolls 40; 40; 41S. In this embodiment, the harder material blank film WS is unwound from two material blank film rolls 40; 41S, and the material blank film W is guided forward in the process and supplied to the package forming section 105 via the folding unit 54S and guided via the guide roll 51. In the example of FIG. 22C, an alternative is shown in which the material blank film is substantially completely manufactured in the packaging process, and thus the package blank forming process and the package forming process are functionally combined. The material film is first folded multiple times within the folding unit and then guided to the forming unit. Both sides of the material are folded and aligned with each other and sealed and cut into individual packages. The details of the package can be formed in connection with the seal by a die-cutting tool if not provided previously. While the package is being opened in its box-like form, the package is filled with the product, and finally, the package ends are closed by sealing as described above. In this example, rectangular box-shaped packages are manufactured, which are optimal from the perspective of transport and / or storage space requirements since the packages can be placed in close contact with each other.

[0146] As shown in FIGS. 23A - 23B, it is also possible for the material blank film W to be formed into a material lamination bottom blank roll 40 made from two material films for a horizontal pouch machine. The material blank film W includes a package blank P formed of a flexible material FM and a rigid or semi - flexible material RM. To separate the blank P into individual blanks P or packages FP, an alignment line for the alignment marks C for the cutting line is provided between two blanks P arranged adjacent to each other. In addition, the material blank film W is provided with creases, perforations, ribbing, or cutting lines S. The continuous flexible material FM is provided with two longitudinally extending film regions of the rigid or semi - flexible material RM spaced apart in the transverse direction, such that the flexible material FM is provided between the longitudinally extending film regions. In addition, the rigid or semi - flexible material RM includes transversely extending portions of the rigid or semi - flexible material RM spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, such that the flexible material FM is provided between the transverse portions. The blank type in FIG. 23A provides a wider flexible material region outside the rigid material region for providing the upper structure of the package and closing a stand - up type back - type package. By narrowing the width of the flexible material, pillow bag or gusset bag type packages can also be formed from this type of material blank film. In the blank type of FIG. 23B, the rigid material also forms the bottom structure of the package, which is advantageous when it is necessary to quickly make the package stand up in the specified shape. The bottom structure can be separated by creases, stitches, ribs of the rigid region, or cutting lines of the flexible region. The bottom structure can also include functional details created by creases, stitches, ribs, and / or cutting lines. These blank types are very suitable for products that are susceptible to the influence of pressure. They are also suitable for the packaging process of forming stand - up bags, gusset bags, or pillow bag type packages, and the packaging process of filling individual packages.

[0147] In FIGS. 24A - 24B, an example of a material blank film W formed on a material lamination blank roll 40 made from two material films W1; W2 for a VFFS (vertical form - fill - seal) or HFFS (horizontal form - fill - seal) process is schematically shown. The material blank film W includes a blank P of a package formed of a flexible material FM and a rigid or semi - flexible material RM. To separate the blank P into individual blanks P or packages FP, alignment lines for cutting - line alignment marks C are provided between two blanks P arranged adjacent to each other. In addition, the material blank film W is provided with creases, perforations, ribbing, cutting lines, or combinations thereof. In this example, the continuous flexible material FM is provided with two continuous longitudinally extending film regions of the rigid or semi - flexible material RM spaced apart in the transverse direction, such that the flexible material FM is provided between the longitudinally extending film regions of the rigid or semi - flexible material RM. In the figure, a cross - sectional view A - A of the material blank film W is shown. This type of material blank film is particularly suitable for the manufacture of pillow bags and gusseted bags. The width of the flexible region outside the rigid region is such as to form a longitudinal seal, for example, a pinch - seal type seal in this flexible region. The width and shape of the seal region and the region adjacent thereto without a seal can be varied to provide features for easy gripping and opening of the ready - packaging. In addition, other longitudinal seal types such as pinch - seals, fin - seals, lap - seals, offset - seals, their reverse versions, etc. are possible, which can be used for opening the package by tear - open or pull - open. Different techniques such as hot - sealing, cold - sealing, ultrasonic methods can be used to bond the materials. The material blank film can be provided with structural and / or functional details to provide the desired opening and / or package - structure characteristics, which can also provide further hardness and rigidity to the material blank film. In addition, as shown in the example of FIG. 3B and as already explained with respect to FIG. 2B, additional hard materials may be provided.

[0148] Figures 25A - 25B schematically show further advantageous examples of one material film W1 (Figs. 1A - 1B) for the VFFS or HFFS process. The material blank film W includes a blank P of a package formed from a flexible material FM of a single - layer flexible material FMS and a rigid or semi - flexible material of at least two - layer flexible material FMD. In order to separate the blank P into individual blanks P or packages FP, an arrangement line for alignment marks C for cutting lines is provided between two blanks P arranged adjacent to each other. The lines indicating the alignment marks C in the figures are highly simplified in the figures, but it should be noted that in reality, the alignment marks are printed marks of various appearances. In addition, the material blank film W is provided with creases, perforations, ribbing, or cutting lines S. The creases, perforations, ribbing, or cutting lines S are provided especially for adhering the material layers to each other when mechanically pressed using a die - cutting tool. The material layers can also be mechanically pressed or joined by adhering a coating to the surface, or by hot - sealing using a heat laminator, or by utilizing high - frequency welding. In addition, a polysaccharide grid or a similar biodegradable substance, or a continuous material that enhances the structural rigidity between at least one of its double - layer flexible material regions (FMD) can be added. Mechanically pressing can include embossed fold lines and pressed ones to provide a desired pattern or combination of patterns. The double - folded portion can be entirely joined, embossed, creased, ribbed, cut, and / or treated with a hardening substance, or can have a sub - region that is not joined, for example, to form a package during opening. Simultaneously with joining, the semi - flexible / rigid portion for joining can be provided with functional details such as fold lines, perforations, ribs, and / or cutting lines. In addition, a dense patterning can be provided to make it easier to fold the package during opening.In this example, the continuous flexible material FM is folded to include two longitudinally extending film regions of at least two layers of flexible material FMD spaced apart in the transverse direction, such that a single layer of flexible material FMS is provided between the longitudinally extending film regions of the at least two layers of flexible material FMD. In the figure, a cross-sectional view A-A of the material blank film W is shown. In the example of FIG. 4A, a material blank film for a form-fill-seal process is shown, where in this case, the doubly folded material forms a rigid portion of the material when the materials are joined and aligned. To reinforce this rigid portion of the material, additional continuous material may also be added between the doubly folded materials. In this case, the doubly folded material is also provided in the region of the longitudinal seal, thereby stiffening this region. The doubly folded material can be removed from the region of the longitudinal seal, if desired, during the material production stage, for example by punching. The doubly folded material can also be left on the region of the longitudinal seal, if desired. The folded material can be joined, for example, by hot sealing, cold sealing, or an ultrasonic method. The material blank film can also be provided with structural and / or functional details as described above. In the example of FIG. 4B, a multiply folded rigid material portion of a material blank film for a form-fill-seal (VFFS or HFFS) process is shown. The rigid material portion is formed from the joined and aligned materials within the folded regions. In this example, the region of the longitudinal seal is provided with a single material. The package is formed by folding in the flexible regions, where creases, ribs, and / or perforation lines may be provided. Also, substances such as dispersions, varnishes, adhesives, and / or polysaccharides, or adding continuous material between at least one of the folded material regions (FMD) can also be used to improve the folding at the desired locations of the material blank film. This type of material blank film is particularly suitable for the manufacture of pillow bags and gusset bags. The width of the flexible region outside the rigid region is such that a longitudinal seal, for example a pinch seal type seal of this flexible region, is formed.In addition, other longitudinal seal types are possible, such as pinch seals, fin seals, lap seals, offset seals, and their reverse versions, which can be used for opening the package by tear-open or pull-open. Different techniques, such as hot sealing, cold sealing, ultrasonic methods, can be used to bond the materials. The material blank film can be provided with structural and / or functional details to provide the desired opening and / or package structure characteristics, which can also provide additional hardness and rigidity to the material blank film. When the width of the flexible material increases at the edge of the material after the rigid region as described above, the same material can also be applied to the HPF (horizontal pouch machine) process.

[0149] In FIGS. 26A - 26D, variants of the package details are schematically shown. In FIG. 26A, a variant of the end seal ZE of the package FP is shown. In FIG. 26B, a variant of the structure and form of the fold line CL of the package. In FIG. 26C, a variant of the number of fold lines CL of the package is shown. In FIG. 26D, a variant of the rigid / semi-flexible material region LA of the package FP, which is laminated or otherwise attached, folded, or otherwise strengthened, is shown.

[0150] Figure 26A shows a modified form of the end seal ZE of the package FP. Typically, the end seal ZE has a rectangular form, which is the first example from the left. As can be seen from these embodiments, this rectangular form can be tacked in within the central region of the end seal. This makes it easier to open the package FP along the longitudinal seal Z, because the longitudinal seal Z can be opened up to the tacked-in portion of the end seal ZE. In addition, it is also easier to open the package into a box-like form, because the ends of the flexible material between the rigid / semi-flexible parts are folded in a gusseted manner, whereby the rigid / semi-flexible ends of the box-shaped package are also positioned opposite each other. The tacking-in can be provided, for example, as a triangular tacking-in that follows the folding of the flexible material against the inner wall structure of the package during the forming of the flexible material, as shown in the second example from the left. This is advantageous, for example, when using a fiber-based material to facilitate the forming of the material as the bottom and against the inner wall structure. This also minimizes the folds inside the package, and if there are such folds, the filled product may remain in the folds, resulting in the prevention or greater difficulty in achieving the box-like form.

[0151] In the example of Figure 26A, the end seal ZE of the package FP extends substantially transversely, as can be seen from the first example from the left. The width of the end seal ZE may vary. As shown in the second and third examples from the left, the end seal ZE may also include an additional seal portion AZ, which assists in the folding of the flexible material to a desired position in the box-like form of the package. This is advantageously provided, as an advantageous aspect, by positioning the additional seal portion AZ at an oblique position with respect to the end seal ZE, whereby the box-like form of the package can be achieved without creating folds or wrinkles, and it is not possible for the product to be filled up to the corners of the package. In the two examples on the right, the end seal ZE includes a detailed form DZ, for example, a narrower or wider portion having a curved outer shape that assists in opening the package FP into a box-like form.

[0152] FIG. 26B shows a modified form of the structure of the package FP and the form of the folding line CL, the structure and form of which are selected according to the characteristics of the rigid / semi-flexible material and can be defined by case-by-case. In addition, other characteristics of the package such as size can affect the opening of the package into its box-like form and thus the selection of the structure and form of the folding line CL. By means of the folding line CL, it is also possible to change the appearance of the package when providing further stiffening characteristics to the package and its box-like shape.

[0153] In the example at the left end of FIG. 26B, a perforated cutting line for the folding line CL of the package FP is shown. In the next three examples to the left in FIG. 26B, different types of crease lines, cutting lines, ribbing lines, etc. are shown, which are combined with different types of line forms in the folding line CL or, in the region of the rigid / semi-plastic material part, advantageously partially removed on the side of the rigid / semi-flexible material part and / or additional folding lines CL are formed by stiffening with a lamination region LA outside the folding line CL, thereby improving the folding of the rigid semi-flexible material part and / or the opening of the package FP into its box-like form can be controlled regardless of changes in the characteristics of the rigid / semi-flexible material part. Therefore, considering the selected material, crease lines, cutting lines, ribbing lines, etc. forming the folding line CL can be selected. In the last two examples on the right side of FIG. 26B, there is one or more folding lines CL at a slightly inclined position when viewed in the transverse direction, which makes it possible to change the hardness and / or configuration of the side surface of the box-like package. This enhances the stiffening of the side surface of the box-like package in accordance with the selected contour shape and its function as a locking system for this shape. In addition, the shape of the package can be adjusted to assist the opening characteristics and / or product access characteristics of the package. In addition to straight and / or slightly inclined lines, other types of lines including curves can be created.

[0154] FIG. 26C shows a variant of the number of folding lines CL of the package, and the box shape of the package is formed upon opening by that number of folding lines CL. In addition, the dimensions and size of the package can be changed by designing different types and numbers of folding lines CL.

[0155] In the example of FIG. 26C, a package FP is shown that includes one or more transverse crease lines, cut lines, scored lines, etc. and / or folding lines CL. By varying the number and position of the folding lines CL, the box-like form of the opened package is changed. Thus, the opened package can have more corners, curved portions and / or its geometric shape can be changed by varying the number and position of the folding lines CL.

[0156] FIG. 26D shows a variant of the rigid / semi-flexible portion LA, and as an advantageous embodiment, a variant of the rigid / semi-flexible material region LA of the package FP that is laminated or otherwise attached, folded or otherwise strengthened. Depending on the method of joining the materials, the materials are joined over the entire area or these partial areas. When the materials are joined throughout, they can be firmly adhered and function well to open the package into a box shape upon opening. When the materials are joined only partially, the unjoined areas can be utilized, for example, for forming windows and for other functional characteristics, such as for providing pockets for catlary, etc. Further, the materials can be joined only along the edge regions of the rigid / semi-flexible materials, and these edge regions remain on the sides of the longitudinal seal of the package, thereby allowing the materials to be joined more quickly during the manufacture of the package at the package forming line. The rigid / semi-flexible material region can also be strengthened by adding continuous material between at least one of the folded material regions or over this region.

[0157] In the example of FIG. 26D, the rigid / semi-rigid material part, advantageously the lamination part LA, may include non-adhesion, i.e., an open area UA, and in the package FP, these non-adhesion areas UA provide space for other additional products (e.g., for tableware and napkins). Thus, instead of requiring multiple packages (one per product), multiple products can be packaged in one package. The non-adhesion area UA can also change the rigidity of the side of the package in the box-like form of the package.

[0158] Typically, when changing the size, the width is doubled and the height is tripled. The end seals of the pillow bag type package can be rectangular, and these can be designed to facilitate the formation of the seal and / or the opening of the package and / or the folding into the box-like form of the package.

[0159] Figure 27 schematically shows advantageous examples of modified forms of opening of the box-shaped package FP. The package is advantageously manufactured by the process of FIGS. 26A - 26C. As can be seen from the figure, the package FP includes the sides of a rigid or semi-flexible material RM; FMD and a flexible material FM with end seals ZE on the inside and top of the package FP. In the example at the upper left position of the figure, the package FP is provided with a tear line that provides an opening means OM. The tear line for pull-open type opening is formed from the folded longitudinal seal of the flexible material FM. By removing the tear line OM, the package FP can be opened up to the example at the upper right position of the figure when the user can access the inside of the package FP. The tear line can also extend across the end side of the package FP as shown in the example at the lower position of the figure, and in the example at the lower position of the figure, the opening means OM is arranged by a scored perforation, ribbing, or cutting line S formed in the material blank P along the upper edge of the package FP. The tear line can extend above the top of the package as shown in the lower left and central positions of the figure, or below the top of the package as shown in the lower right position of the figure. When the package is opened by pulling the peelable material, the package can be folded into a box-like form. The package can also be provided with additional tear lines arranged outside the longitudinal seal area, thereby changing the opening point of the package. This type of package is suitable for horizontal pouch filling or vertical pouch filling processes. As can be seen from the example of FIG. 27, the top or bottom of the package FP can be removed by tearing along the longitudinal seal ZE or along the tear line. The starting point of the tear can be provided on the package FP as a tear notch TN of the opening means OM. The opening means OA can also include another band or similar material along the tear line to assist in tearing and opening. Thus, tearing and opening are controlled, and the package FP becomes even more visually impressive.

[0160] Figure 28 schematically shows an advantageous example of the closing step of the box-shaped package FP. As can be seen from the figure, the package FP comprises a side surface of a rigid or semi-flexible material RM; FMD and a flexible material FM provided with end seals ZE on the inside and the top of the package FP. The closing proceeds from the position at the upper left of the figure to the second position from the left at the bottom of the figure, and six steps are shown in the example of the figure. Alternative cases of the last two steps are shown at the two positions on the lower right side of the figure. In the first step, the rigid or semi-flexible material RM; FMD is bent along the fold line S formed in the blank P. In the second step, the package is fully opened into a square shape, the rigid or semi-flexible material RM; FMD forms the side surface of the package FP, and the end seals ZE are located on two opposite side surfaces of the package FP. The flexible material F forms the inside of the package FP, and the upper ends of the flexible material F between each end seal ZE are separated and spaced apart to form an access inside the package FP. In the third step, the upper ends of the flexible material F between each of the end seals ZE are positioned to abut against each other, and the upper edge is folded to form a longitudinal seal Z, which is finished in the fourth step. In the fifth step, the longitudinal seal Z is pressed against the top of the package FP, and in the sixth step, the longitudinal seal is folded outwardly to extend to two opposite side surfaces of the package FP or folded inwardly to extend to two opposite side surfaces of the package FP. To discard the package, the package can be folded back into a flat state using folds, cuts, scored lines, etc., and the material layers can also be separated if necessary.

[0161] As can be seen from the example of FIG. 28, in the package FP, the longitudinal seal Z extends to assist in forming the upper part of the package FP and can be closed by the end seal ZE in its box-like form. Thereby, the package can be filled up to its upper part, and as a result, the box-like form is already realized during the filling of the package. This is advantageous, for example, when the product to be packaged is delicate. Also, layered packaging is possible, whereby a visually comfortable result is obtained because the layers are stable. An additional advantage is that the upper part of the package is formed of the same packaging material (flexible material part) as the other parts of the package, and thus no separate cover is required.

[0162] FIG. 29 schematically shows an advantageous example of carrying the box-shaped package FP. The longitudinal seal Z can also be configured by bending and integrally attaching the confluence point of the end seal ZE and the longitudinal seal Z to form a handle ZH for the user to grip the package with his own hand H. Therefore, a part of the upper part of the package FP can be used as the handle ZH formed of the package material itself, and no separate handle part or separate bag for carrying the package is required.

[0163] Figure 30 schematically shows an example of an advantageous example of the opening step of a pillow bag or gusset bag type package FP. As can be seen from the figure, the package FP includes a rigid or semi-flexible material RM; FMD on the side surface, a flexible material FM inside the package FP, and an end seal ZE. In the example of the figure, the package FP is provided with a tear line that provides an opening means OM. The tear line is formed from a folded longitudinal seal of the flexible material FM. By removing the tear line OM and folding the side surface of the package FP, the package FP can be opened so that the user can access the inside of the package FP. The package FP is formed by scoring, perforating, ribbing, or cutting lines S formed on the material blank P up to the opening position. In the example of Figure 30, the pillow bag type package is opened by tearing the entire range from the longitudinal seal to the end seal along the longitudinal seal. The package may be provided with a tear notch located at the end of the longitudinal seal. After opening, the package can be bent into a box-like form guided along the structural details of the package. In order to increase the amount of product filled in the package, the area of the flexible material can extend up to the edge of the material outside the rigid or semi-flexible material. In order to discard the package, the packaging material can be refolded into a flat state using folds, cuts, ribbing lines, etc., and the material layers can be separated if necessary.

[0164] Figure 31 schematically shows an example of an advantageous example of the opening step of a pillow bag or gusset bag type package FP. As can be seen from the figure, the package FP includes a rigid or semi-flexible material RM; FMD on the side, a flexible material FM inside the package FP, and an end seal ZE. In the example of the figure, the package FP is provided with a tear line, which is formed as a tensile region in this example to provide an opening means OM. The tensile region is formed on the longitudinal seal of the flexible material FM. Also, the sealing portion needs to have peelable characteristics, width, shape, and other specifications as necessary to enable an easy tensile function of the opening means. By pulling the opposing flexible material layers away from above the sealing region and folding the sides of the package FP, the package FP can be opened, thereby allowing the user to access the inside of the package FP. The package FP is formed by a crease, perforation, ribbing, or cutting line S formed in the material blank P up to the opening position. This package type is opened by pulling a material layer having peelable characteristics. The material blank may include sealing varnish, ribbing on both sides of the position of the longitudinal seal, or these may be firmly sealed and mechanically processed to facilitate opening. The opening line may be formed as a reclosable opening line provided with, for example, a fastener type tear line. The reclosable characteristic of the tear line or opening line can be provided, for example, during the package forming stage in the package forming process.

[0165] In the examples of FIGS. 27 to 31, the material blank film to be formed can be made from two material films joined by lamination, or the material blank film can also be made from one material film with a double fold or a plurality of joined blank material films. The folding of the rigid material should be configured so that the rigid or flexible material is not damaged during folding. The material blank film can first be folded at least partially double, and then the material blank film is folded around the product to be packaged, sealed, and becomes a package. Further, additional rigid / semi-flexible continuous material can be placed between at least one of the folded material regions to form a combination of two other methods of forming the material blank.

[0166] When the product F in the package FP is taken out or used and the inside of the package FP becomes empty and the box-shaped package is to be discarded, the empty package EP can be folded for disposal. In the first step, the package EP in the form of a square is folded into a flat state, whereby the end seals ZE are at the positions farthest from each other and a flat form is achieved. In the second step, the package is folded double and the flexible part FM is bent towards the rigid or semi-flexible part RM; FMD. In the third and fourth steps, the package EP is folded by bending the ends towards the central part of the package EP.

[0167] In FIGS. 32A to 32D, an example of a package formed from a package blank is schematically shown. FIGS. 32A to 32D show various stages of the life cycle of a first package. The various stages of the life cycle include the package blank film stage, the tubular form stage, the package stage, and the package opening stage during use.

[0168] FIG. 32A shows a package blank film formed on a material lamination blank roll made from two material films. The material blank film includes a package blank P formed of a flexible material FMS and a rigid or semi-flexible material FMD. The material blank film W is provided with creases, perforations, ribbing, cutting lines, or combinations thereof. In this embodiment, the continuous flexible material FMS is provided with two longitudinally extending film regions of the rigid or semi-flexible material FMD spaced apart in the transverse direction, such that the flexible material FMS is provided between and closed off by the longitudinally extending film regions of the rigid or semi-flexible material FMD.

[0169] FIG. 32B schematically shows an example of a folded film in tubular form by the package material blank film after the edges of the double-folded layers on the package material blank film are integrally joined. FIG. 32B also shows a folding structure in which the package blank includes a package blank P formed of a flexible material FMS of a single-layer flexible material FMS and a rigid or semi-flexible material of at least one double-layer flexible material FMD. The material layers can also be joined by mechanically pressing, or by adhering a coating to the surface, or by hot sealing with a heat laminator, or by using high-frequency welding. In addition, a polysaccharide grid or similar biodegradable substance, or adding a continuous material between at least two flexible material regions (FMD) that enhance the rigidity of the structure can also be used. From the material blank film, the package is formed by folding the material blank film into a tubular form and sealing a longitudinal seal configured to be formed from the longitudinal edges of the flexible material.

[0170] Figure 32C shows a perspective view of an example of a package obtained after a package FP and a layer of a package material blank film folded double are joined together. In this package, the rigid or semi-flexible material is configured to be formed by folding the flexible material at least double into two continuously longitudinally extending film regions of the rigid or semi-flexible material spaced apart in the transverse direction. According to an advantageous aspect, the package is configured to be formed by filling a product on a package blank of the material blank film, whereby the package obtains a back-like form.

[0171] Figure 32D shows an empty package EP in an opened position for use. The opening of the package is provided between the rigid / semi-flexible material parts by joining the edges of the flexible material to form an opening means. The desired form of the box-like form is defined by the selection of the folding lines and, if necessary, the structural details such as the creases, ribs, and / or cutting lines of the package blank. From this opened state, the package can be folded into a flat form after use by utilizing the same structural details.

[0172] When the product in the package FP is removed or used and the inside of the package FP is empty and the pillow-type package is to be discarded, the empty package EP can be folded for disposal. In a first step, the package EP is folded into a flat state, whereby the end seals ZE are in the position furthest from each other and a flat form is obtained. In the second and third steps, the package EP is folded by bending the ends towards the central part of the package EP.

[0173] When a pillow bag type package FP having a tear line that provides an opening means OM is opened by removing the tear line and folding the side surface of the package FP, the package FP can be opened so that a user can access the inside of the package FP. The package FP is formed from a material blank P by scoring, perforating, ribbing, or a cutting line S formed up to an opening position. This package type is opened by separating a material layer having a peelable property. This package type is particularly suitable for making various sizes. Typically, when changing the size, the width is doubled and the height is tripled. The end seals of the pillow bag type package can be rectangular, and these can be designed to facilitate the formation of the seals and / or the opening of the package and / or the folding of the package into a box-like form.

[0174] The material blank film W can provide the function of the final material blank and for any folding, creasing, perforating, and / or cutting lines of the material blank. The function of the final package can include, for example, a structure that facilitates opening of the pack, a structure that reinforces the package to form a box-like package structure for utilizing the product packed in the package, or a reinforced detailed structure that facilitates division of the product packed in the pack. The material blank film can include cardboard, carton, cardboard, fiber fabric, plastic film, hard / semi-flexible films of biocompatible material films. The material blank film can include paper, plastic film, biocompatible material film, fiber fabric, or flexible films of corresponding materials, i.e., less rigid material films. The material blank film can be folded double, with a hard, thicker part and a flexible, thinner part provided in its width direction. The material blank film can be formed into a tubular form around the product. Based on the characteristics of the material blank film W, particularly based on the hard / semi-flexible part and the flexible part, the material blank film W is folded. The longitudinal edges of the material blank film W are folded adjacent to each other and sealed at the edges, thereby forming a longitudinal seal of the package. The longitudinal seal can be sealed to different types of seals. The material blank film W is folded into a double-folded material blank film, and the surfaces of the material blank film W are in contact with each other. As a result, the hard / semi-flexible parts of the material film are aligned with the lower part of the material blank film W like a mirror image on both sides. When the bottom of the package or a part thereof is formed from a hard / semi-flexible material, the material blank film W is provided with creasing, perforating, ribbing, or cutting lines. These details of the material blank can be punched out. Both sides of the package can be folded as the same mirror image on both sides of the formed package, and the material blank film W remains flat.The material blank, and thus the package, can include applied inks, varnishes, and coating materials, which can have heat-sealing and / or barrier properties, which can include coating materials having barrier properties such as preventing the permeation of, for example, oxygen, impurities such as mineral oil, vapors or water. The inks, varnishes, and coating materials, such as biopolymer emulsions or polysaccharides, can also provide desired additional stiffness, adhesion properties, and also provide a weight or package reduction due to a reduction in the thickness of the package material. Typically, the opening of the package for filling is provided by pulling apart from each other from the sides of the package. The creasing, perforating, ribbing, or cutting lines on both sides of the package facilitate the use of the rigid / semi-flexible part of the package for filling. When pushed towards the center of the pack in the rigid / semi-flexible material, the rigid / semi-flexible material opens into a box-like shape, and the surfaces of the mirror-image flexible parts at the top of the package are pulled apart from each other, and the package is fully opened with respect to the width of the package for filling, thereby making it easier to fill the pack with the product. To fix the box-like shape of the package, an adhesive, an adhesive surface material, or a locking mechanism can be provided inside the folded outer surface of the folded part and / or the bottom of the package. When the flexible parts of the package are aligned and the edges on both sides abut against each other, i.e., when the opening of the package is formed, the package can be sealed, and thus the closed upper part of the package FP filled with the product F will be formed from the flexible part PIV. Optionally, the edges of the opening of the closed package FP can be folded towards the rigid / semi-flexible part of the package PV.

[0175] Package P is manufactured from a material blank film W by folding the material blank film W into a material film folded at least doubly so that the sealable surfaces of the material blank film W abut each other, filling the product F into the material blank film W / in the package on a package production line 110, and cutting the blank into individual package blanks of a corresponding size in a desired package size. The material blank film W includes a rigid / semi-flexible material and a flexible material, which are continuous material portions in the longitudinal direction of the material blank film and form a uniform material blank film W from one blank position to the next blank position. Different types of packages, namely pillow bags, gusset bags, stand-up bags, or three-side seal bags, or four-side seal bags, can be manufactured from the material blank film W.

[0176] The package blank includes a rigid / semi-flexible material part and a flexible material part that form the package. The package is formed from a material blank film, with the flexible material part folded to the opposite side of the material blank to form a folding unit, creating a uniform surface on this side. The rigid / semi-flexible part of the material blank film W is folded to the opposite side to provide a central seal. The rigid / semi-flexible part has longitudinal or diagonal die cuts, perforations, ribbing, or cutting lines, which are used to open the package into a box-like form for taking out, and / or to serve and / or reach the product inside the package, forming the functional characteristics of the package. When the package is opened, the rigid / semi-flexible parts are folded at the die-cut parts to form the sides of the box-shaped pack. Between the arranged rigid / semi-flexible parts of the formed flexible part, the sealed longitudinal seal of the package is produced by the sealing unit, advantageously by bringing the sealable surfaces of the flexible material into contact with each other in a longitudinal position as seen from the other surface, i.e., by forming a longitudinal seal. Advantageously, the package is opened by tearing or separating the flexible material in a pinch seal. The height of the longitudinal seal can be adjusted to make it easier to tear the pack open, and advantageously, the height is increased for better gripping characteristics. Further technical solutions can also be provided to facilitate opening and tearing of the pack, such as ribbing at the ends of the longitudinal seal, tear notches. Also, reclosable opening means as tear lines, for example, fastener-type structures or easy peel-type or sticker-type structures can be provided. A narrow flexible region aligned with the plane of the rigid / semi-flexible material is provided between the rigid / semi-flexible material part and the longitudinal seal to facilitate the sealing of the longitudinal seal by the sealing jaw. The size of the narrow flexible region depends on the type of seal used (pinch, fin, lap seal, etc.) and the size of the package and is thus defined for each package. The rigid / semi-flexible part can be manufactured from multiple flexible materials that are folded in layers during the manufacture of the material blank film.In longitudinal sealing by means of a sealing jaw, rigid / semi-flexible parts are also joined as longitudinal pinch seals, but there is no flexible part between them.

[0177] The width of the rigid / semi-flexible portion can also be made smaller, so that when the overall width of the rigid / semi-flexible portion remains smaller than the width of the material blank film, the rigid / semi-flexible portion does not extend to the edge of the material blank film. This provides a larger space for the product to be packaged when the package is closed and eliminates the need to provide additional structural features such as gusset bag structures in the flexible portion of the material blank film W. The area for the end seals can also contain less rigid / semi-flexible material, but the rigid / semi-flexible material extends at least partially into the area for the end seals to provide winding characteristics of the material blank film onto and from the material blank roll 40 and to provide a continuous material blank that can withstand tension throughout the package forming line 110. In addition, the longitudinal seal formed in the flexible material portion can be extended such that the flexible collar functions as a lid-like structure for opening and closing the package. The material of the collar can be folded after filling the package to form the top of the package, and at the same time, the rigid / semi-flexible portions can be folded to form the sides of the box-shaped package by bringing the sealable surfaces of the flexible material portions into longitudinal contact with each other as viewed from the other side of the material. The package can be filled manually or semi-automatically by a continuous motion band sealing apparatus using sealing rollers. In the band sealing apparatus, the individual sealing rollers transport the package forward and at the same time close the seal by heating. Advantageously, this type of package can be filled and tightly sealed with a product using an automatic horizontal pouch machine that uses packages made from either individual blanks or material blank films. In each case, to close the seal portion of the material forming the collar, it is first pressed into a flat form, whereby the edges of the material abut and fold against each other to facilitate sealing. The filled package closed by the longitudinal seal can be easily opened by tearing the flexible material in the direction of the longitudinal seal over the length of the seal and then either wrapping the flexible material around the rigid / semi-flexible portion or tearing the material in the seal area, further folding the material, and separating it.Also, it is possible to tear the flexible material along the edge of the rigid / semi-flexible material exactly across the upper region of the pack. The height of the longitudinal seal can be adjusted to facilitate opening the pack by tearing, and in an advantageous aspect, the height is increased for better gripping characteristics. Further technical solutions can be provided to facilitate opening and tearing of the package, such as scoring at the ends of the longitudinal seal, providing tear notches. Also, reclosable opening means, such as a fastener type structure or a zip peel type or sticker type structure, can be provided.

[0178] The filled package FP can be packed in a disposable or reusable transport package. Individual filled packages can be stacked on top of each other, for example, with the flat and even surface of the package facing downwards, or when placed from one transport package to the next, or they can overlap laterally or in a vertical position such that one of the sides of an individual filled package abuts against the surface of the transport package. Regardless of the stacking method, the filled packages can be tightly packed in the transport package with no empty space between them. This allows the filled packages to be packed more efficiently compared to packing known packages. The packing of filled packages for transport can be done manually or automated. A plurality of individual filled packages can also be grouped together as a bundle by not cutting the transverse cut between the individual filled packages at the final stage of the package forming line, or by tying, winding or corresponding means to group a plurality of individual packages together.

[0179] If necessary for individual packages, a protective gas can be supplied at the filling stage of the package forming line, and this protective gas is for protecting the product within the package, for example, for protecting against quality degradation or damage. The rigid / semi-flexible part of the package can be used to provide the package with brackets, folds, or corresponding structures that can be opened before transportation in order to protect the packaged product. In the case of very delicate products, an extended upper structure of the longitudinal seal can be utilized, whereby the rigid / semi-flexible part is folded onto the sides of the box-shaped package already at the filling stage and before transportation. In this case, during transportation, the product is inside the rigid / semi-flexible box-shaped package, and the rigid / semi-flexible sides of the package protect the product even if the top and bottom of the package are made of flexible material. The bottom of the package may also be partially or completely made of rigid / semi-flexible material. Regardless of the box-shaped form of the individual packages, these are space-saving because no empty space remains between them, which is because an inclined shape within the pack is not required for package formation. In addition, the package can be completely filled by the color structure, thus also avoiding empty space inside the package.

[0180] After transportation, the filled package is in a state where it can be immediately displayed at the point of sale. Since the filled package can be installed in various ways and thus occupies little space, space savings at the point of sale are achieved. In response to transportation, the filled package can, as an advantageous aspect, be arranged to overlap laterally or in a vertical position such that one of the sides of the package contacts the surface and the maximum surface area is visible. Regardless of how the individual filled packages are stacked, the packages can be neatly stacked at the point of sale, for example, on the shelves of a display rack or cabinet. This allows more individual packages to be placed in the same shelf space, thus improving the placement efficiency. A plurality of individual filled packages can also be grouped together as a bundle by not cutting the transverse cut portions between the individual filled packages at the final stage of the package forming line, or by tying, winding or corresponding means to group the plurality of individual packages together. The individual filled packages can also be hung on the arms of the shelves at the point of sale by providing the package with euro slots, triangular holes, or punch holes for hanging. By die-cutting fold lines, perforations, ribbing, or cutting lines in the material blank film, the package can be made into a self-standing package, for example, to be placed standing on the shelves at the point of sale.

[0181] After using or emptying the package of the filled product, the package can be folded into a multiply folded state and recycled in a flat form, thus saving waste disposal and eliminating the need to frequently empty waste bins. The folding of the empty package can be done without tearing the separated parts of the package or without any kind of preparation for folding. After emptying the package, it remains flat inside a pillow bag or a stand-up bag type case and can thus be recycled without folding. The package material can be used as recycled raw material for new packages or turned into compost. The package can be recycled or composted as is, or the different material layers can be separated before these actions are taken.

[0182] In the manufacturing process of the package blank, the package blank material film can be manufactured by folding one material film into a continuous package blank material film. Printing, surface treatment, die cutting, possible adhesive application, folding, and slitting are provided in one continuous operation from one roll to another. Preferably, the joining of the folded material layers can be provided by surface treatment of the surfaces of the materials to be joined, for example, by coating or varnishing, and no adhesive substance component or other non-recyclable substance component need be used. The rigid / semi-flexible material provided with the folded flexible material film part can be made harder by pressing and crease-rib-cutting-patterning, and / or by activation of the surface substance by heating, and / or by incorporating a reinforcing substance of recyclable material, such as a polysaccharide grid. If a higher rigidity is desired in the rigid / semi-flexible part, the package blank material film can be manufactured from two materials, in which case the rigid / semi-flexible material is supplied as a longitudinal continuous material pre-cut to the desired width for the desired longitudinal region, or is cut from one material roll of the rigid / semi-flexible material and guided during the processing stage. Printing, surface treatment, die cutting, possible adhesive application, folding, and slitting are provided in one continuous operation to the material blank film roll.

[0183] In the manufacturing process of the package, the material blank film can be manufactured by starting the process from the manufacturing of the material blank film by folding, die cutting, and pressing steps related to the blank manufacturing related to the folding step before the forming and sealing steps, that is, from the material film to the completed filled package. In addition to the flexible material film, if a further rigid / semi-flexible film material is used, the flexible material film is supplied in the supply stage, and the rigid / semi-flexible material is provided with structural details in a separate stage or in relation to the sealing stage, before the forming and sealing stages. In the packing stage, two types of material blanks can be used.

[0184] In the above description, several functions and elements have been described with respect to specific features and examples. However, those functions and elements may be implemented by other features and examples regardless of whether they are described or not. Although features have been described with respect to specific embodiments or examples, those features may also exist in other embodiments or examples regardless of whether they are described or not.

[0185] So far, only some advantageous examples of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention should not be narrowly limited to these examples, and many modifications and changes are possible within the present invention.

[0186] Specific aspects are defined in the following examples.

Examples

[0187] Example 1. A package blank (P) configured to be folded into a package (FP) for food (F), the package blank (P) being formed of a material blank film (W) that is a flexible material (FM), the material blank film (W) including a blank (P) for the package (FP) indicated by alignment marks (C) for a cutting line in a specified transverse direction cutting region between two package blanks (P) arranged continuously adjacent to each other, the blank (P) being configured to be separated along this cutting line, the package blank (P) including folding lines (CL) that form the outer shape of the package (FP) by folding, the material blank film (W) of the flexible material (FM) being continuous, two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material portions of a rigid or semi-flexible material (RM; FMD) being provided, the two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of the rigid or semi-flexible material (RM; FMD) including at least a portion of the flexible material (FM) that is at least doubly folded longitudinally so as to form two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of the rigid or semi-flexible material (FM; FMD), the two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of the rigid or semi-flexible material (RM; FMD) being spaced apart in the transverse direction of the blank (P), the flexible material (FM) being provided between the longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of the rigid or semi-flexible material (RM; FMD), and the package blank (P) further being configured to form opening means for the package (FP) between the rigid / semi-flexible material portions by joining the edges of the flexible material portion (FM) to form a longitudinal seal (Z) by the joined edges.

[0188] Example 2. The package blank according to Example 1, characterized in that the package blank (P) is configured such that food is filled before separating the package blank (P) from the material blank film (W).

[0189] Example 3. The package blank (P) according to Example 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises a stiffening material region of a rigid or semi-flexible material in a region extending in the transverse direction.

[0190] Example 4. The package blank (P) according to any one of Examples 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a stiffening region extending in the longitudinal direction and / or the transverse direction formed by a material added to the material blank film (W).

[0191] Example 5. The package blank (P) according to any one of Examples 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises structural details (S) such as folds, ribs, perforations, and / or cut lines and combinations thereof.

[0192] Example 6. The package blank (P) according to any one of Examples 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a cut line (C), a folding line (CL), and / or a structural detail (S) formed by mechanically pressing a material region and / or coating a material region by coating with an adhesive and / or by hot sealing with a hot laminator or by using high-frequency welding.

[0193] Example 7. A package (FP) especially for food (F), the package (FP) being configured to be formed from a material blank film (W) which is a flexible material (FM), the material blank film (W) including a blank (P) for the package (FP) indicated by an alignment mark (C) for a cutting line in a specified transverse direction cutting region between two package blanks (P) arranged continuously adjacent to each other, the blank (P) being configured to be separated along this cutting line, the package blank (P) including folding lines (CL) which form the outer shape of the package (FP) by folding, the package being formed from a material blank film (W) of a continuous flexible material (FM), two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material parts of a rigid or semi-flexible material (RM; FMD) being provided, the two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of a rigid or semi-flexible material (RM; FMD) including a flexible material (FM) which is at least partially folded double longitudinally so as to become two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of a rigid or semi-flexible material (FM; FMD), the two continuous longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of a rigid or semi-flexible material (RM; FMD) being arranged spaced apart in the transverse direction of the blank (P), the flexible material (FM) being provided between the longitudinally extending stiffening material regions of a rigid or semi-flexible material (RM; FMD), the package blank (P) further being configured to form opening means for the package (FP) between the rigid / semi-flexible material parts by joining the edges of the flexible material part (FM) to form a longitudinal seal (Z) by the joined edges.

[0194] Example 8. The package according to Example 7, characterized in that the package (FP) is configured to have a box-like shape only after opening of the package, and the box-like shape is defined by the selection of the folding lines (CL) of the package blank (P).

[0195] Example 9. The package (FP) is configured to have a box-shaped form only after the package is opened, and the box-shaped form is defined by the selection of the structural details (S) of the package blank (P). The package according to Example 7 or 8, characterized in that.

[0196] Example 10. The package (FP) is characterized in that it is configured to have a pillow-bag shape when filled with food (F). The package according to any one of Examples 7 to 9.

[0197] Example 11. The folding line (CL) of the package (FP) is characterized in that it is combined with different types of linear forms within the folding line (CL), or a part thereof is partially removed in the region of the rigid / semi-flexible material part. The package according to any one of Examples 7 to 10.

[0198] Example 12. The deformed form of the box-shaped form of the opened package (FP) is characterized in that it is defined by changing the number and position of the folding lines (CL). The package according to any one of Examples 7 to 11.

[0199] Example 13. The rigid / semi-rigid material part of the package (FP) includes an open or unattached material layer region (UA) configured to provide space for other additional products within the package (FP). The package according to any one of Examples 7 to 12, characterized in that.

[0200] Example 14. The upper or bottom part of the package (FP) includes a longitudinal seal (ZE) and / or a tear line for removing the upper or bottom part of the package (FP). The package according to any one of Examples 7 to 13, characterized in that.

[0201] Example 15. The package (FP) includes a longitudinal seal (ZE) configured to be extended to form the upper part of the package (FP). The package according to any one of Examples 7 to 13, characterized in that.

[0202] The examples and embodiments described in this specification serve to illustrate rather than limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to devise alternative embodiments defined by the appended claims and their equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The reference signs placed within parentheses in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the claims. Items described as separate entities in the claims or description may be implemented as a single hardware or software item combining the features of the described items.

[0203] Specific aspects are defined in the following clauses.

[0204] 1. In a packaging apparatus, a film conveyance subsystem (326a, 326b) for conveying a continuous film (324) in a conveyance direction along a film conveyance path; a strip subsystem (331, 332) configured to align at least one stiffening strip (333) with the film (324) along the film conveyance path, wherein a longitudinal axis of the stiffening strip (333) extends in the conveyance direction; at least one strip joining member (331) configured to join at least one stiffening strip (333) to the film (324); and a packaging apparatus comprising the same.

[0205] 2. The strip subsystem (331, 332) is configured to align at least a first stiffening strip (333a) and a second stiffening strip (333b) among at least one stiffening strip (333) with the film (324), and the first stiffening strip (333a) and the second stiffening strip (333b) are aligned side by side on the package with their longitudinal axes extending in the direction of the conveyance direction. At least one strip joining member (331) is configured to join the first stiffening strip (333a) and the second stiffening strip (333b) to the film. The packaging device according to claim 1.

[0206] 3. The packaging device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the strip subsystem includes a strip conveyance subsystem (334, 332) for conveying a continuous stiffening strip towards the film (324).

[0207] 4. The strip subsystem includes a strip folding subsystem (1701) for forming a plurality of layers (1603) of the film by at least doubling a part of the film (324) to form a space (1607) for the stiffening strip (1601) between the plurality of layers (1603) of the film (1605). The strip subsystem is configured to align at least one stiffening strip (333) in the space (1607) for the stiffening strip between the plurality of layers (1603) of the film (324). The strip joining member (331) is configured to join the stiffening strip to the film by closing the space (1607) for the stiffening strip (333) by overlapping and joining at least a part of the plurality of layers (1603) with each other. The packaging device according to any one of the preceding claims.

[0208] 5. A tubular film former (323, 321) along the film conveyance path configured to fold the film (324) from a flat film (324c, d) into a tubular film (324a) while the film (324) moves along the film conveyance path, at least one cutting member (351) for cutting the tubular film (324) in a transverse direction with respect to the transfer direction, and at least one transverse joining means (329) for closing the package by joining the tubular film (324) in a transverse direction with respect to the conveyance direction. The packaging device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising.

[0209] 6. The packaging device according to claim 5, wherein at least one cutting member (351) is configured to cut both the tubular film (324a) and at least one stiffening strip (333) in a single cutting operation.

[0210] 7. The packaging device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the strip subsystem (332, 331) is configured to provide a stiffening strip (333) having a width in a direction transverse to the conveying direction and at least one-eighth of the circumferential length of the tubular film.

[0211] 8. The packaging device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising corner joining means (381a) configured to join two layers of the tubular film near a corner of the package so as to separate the corner of the package from the main body volume of the package.

[0212] 9. The packaging device according to claim 8, wherein the corner joining means (381a) is configured to join two layers of the tubular film along a line separating the corner of the package from the main body volume of the package.

[0213] 10. The packaging device according to claim 9, wherein the corner joining means (381a) is rigidly coupled to a transverse joining member (359a).

[0214] 11. The device according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the transverse joining member (359a) of the transverse joining means has a protrusion (385a) facing the film conveying path, and the protrusion (385a) is between the respective tracks of the first stiffening strip (333a) and the second stiffening strip (333b).

[0215] 12. The device according to any one of claims 5 to 11, wherein the transverse joining member (359a) of the transverse joining means includes a flexible layer facing the film conveying path.

[0216] 13. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a ribbing tool configured to rib at least one stiffening strip in a direction transverse to the stiffening strip.

[0217] 14. Further comprising a rigid tubular structure, the tubular film forming machine is configured to form a tubular film around the rigid tubular structure, The strip conveying subsystem is configured to align at least one stiffening strip with the tubular film around the tubular structure, At least one strip joining member is configured to press towards the surface of the tubular structure, The apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 13.

[0218] 15. Further comprising longitudinal joining means between two of at least one strip joining member, the longitudinal joining means being configured to integrally join two side end portions of the tubular film between two adjacent stiffening strips, the apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 14.

[0219] 16. In a packaging method, conveying a continuous film in a conveying direction along a film conveying path, aligning at least one stiffening strip with the film along the film conveying path, wherein a longitudinal axis of the stiffening strip extends in the conveying direction, and joining at least one aligned stiffening strip to the film. A packaging method comprising.

Claims

1. In a packaging device, A film transport subsystem (326a, 326b) for transporting a continuous film (324) in the transport direction along the film transport path, A strip subsystem (331, 332) configured to align at least one stiffening strip (333) with the film (324) along the film transport path, wherein the longitudinal axis of the stiffening strip (333) is connected to the strip subsystem (331, 332) extending in the transport direction, At least one strip joining member (331) configured to join the at least one stiffening strip (333) to the film (324), A tubular film forming machine (323, 321) along the film transport path is configured to fold the film (324) from a flat film (324c, d) into a tubular film (324a) while the film (324) moves along the film transport path, At least one cutting member (351) for cutting the tubular film (324) in a transverse direction with respect to the transport direction, At least one transverse joining means (329) for closing the package by joining the tubular film (324) in a direction transverse to the transport direction, Includes, The aforementioned package is a packaging device that can be opened and spread out onto a reinforced tray.

2. The aforementioned packaging device is The strip subsystems (331, 332) are configured to align at least one stiffening strip (333a) and a second stiffening strip (333b) of the at least one stiffening strip (333) with the film (324), and the first stiffening strip (333a) and the second stiffening strip (333b) are aligned side by side on the package with their longitudinal axes extending in the direction of the transport direction. The at least one strip joining member (331) is configured to join the first stiffening strip (333a) and the second stiffening strip (333b) to the film. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The packaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the strip subsystem includes a strip transport subsystem (334, 332) for transporting the continuous stiffened strip toward the film (324).

4. The strip subsystem includes a strip folding subsystem (1701) for folding a portion of the film (324) at least twice to form a plurality of layers (1603) of the film, and for forming a space (1607) for the stiffening strip (1601) between the plurality of layers (1603) of the film (1605), wherein the strip subsystem is configured to align the at least one stiffening strip (1601) within the space (1607) for the stiffening strip between the plurality of layers (1603) of the film (324), The strip joining member (331) is configured to join the stiffening strip to the film by joining at least a portion of the plurality of layers (1603) to each other, thereby closing the space (1607) for the stiffening strip (333). The packaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2.

5. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cutting member (351) is configured to cut both the tubular film (324a) and the at least one stiffening strip (333) in a single cutting operation.

6. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the strip subsystem (332, 331) is configured to provide the stiffening strip (333) having a width in the transverse direction with respect to the conveying direction that is at least one-eighth of the circumference of the tubular film.

7. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a corner joining means (381a) configured to join the two layers of the tubular film near the corner of the package, thereby separating the corner of the package from the volume of the package body.

8. The packaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the corner joining means (381a) is configured to join the two layers of the tubular film along a line that separates the corner portion of the package from the main body volume of the package.

9. The packaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the corner joining means (381a) is rigidly coupled to the transverse joining member (359a).

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transverse joining member (359a) has a projection (385a) facing the film transport path, and the projection (385a) is located between the respective tracks of the first stiffening strip (333a) and the second stiffening strip (333b).

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transverse joining member (359a) of the transverse joining means includes a flexible layer facing the film transport path.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a grooving tool configured to groove at least one stiffening strip in a transverse direction relative to the stiffening strip.

13. The tubular film forming machine further includes a rigid tubular structure, and is configured to form the tubular film around the rigid tubular structure. The strip transport subsystem is configured to align the at least one stiffening strip with the tubular film surrounding the tubular structure. The at least one strip joint member is configured to brace toward the surface of the tubular structure. The apparatus according to claim 1.

14. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a longitudinal joining means between two of the at least one strip joining members, wherein the longitudinal joining means is configured to integrally join the two side ends of the tubular film between the first stiffening strip (333a) and the second stiffening strip (333b).

15. In packaging methods, The process involves transporting a continuous film in the transport direction along the film transport path, Aligning at least one stiffening strip with the film along the film transport path, wherein the longitudinal axis of the stiffening strip extends in the transport direction, The alignment of at least one stiffening strip is joined to the film, As the film (324) moves along the film transport path, the film (324) is folded from a flat film (324c, d) into a tubular film (324a), The tubular film (324) is cut in a direction transverse to the transport direction. The package is closed by joining the tubular film (324) in a direction transverse to the transport direction, Packaging methods including

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