Film bag designed as a return bag and method of producing a film bag

Abstract

Film bag (1) designed as a return bag wherein the front film layer (2) and the rear film layer (3) are formed by a continuous film portion (6) along the bottom edge (10) of the film bag (1); wherein the film bag (1) is provided with a set of continuous suspension apertures (17, 18), preferably at the top edge (11), each consisting of two perforated apertures (17.1; 18.1) with an incision (19.1; 20.1); wherein the front film layer (2) is provided with a first line of weakening (12) and an adhesive strip (13), both of which extend substantially parallel to the bottom edge (10) of the film bag, and wherein the first line of weakening (12) extends above the adhesive strip (13) and wherein the adhesive strip (13) is provided on the inside of the front film layer (2).

Description

[0001] Title: Film bag designed as a return bag and method of producing a film bag

[0002] Description:

[0003] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a film bag designed as a return bag provided with suspension apertures, preferably suitable for use in a bundle on a set of support pins.

[0004] According to a second aspect, the invention also relates to a method of producing the film bag designed as a return bag, preferably suitable for use in a bundle on a set of support pins.

[0005] According to a third aspect, the invention also relates to the use of the film bag designed as a return bag.

[0006] NL1012033 in the name of the Applicant describes a method and a device for arranging a film bag in an outer box or crate. The film bags are usually made of a plastic material, such as PP, multilayered film, HDPE, MDPE, LDPE, etc., but may also be made of a different material, such as for example paper. The film bags are provided with lateral hems and have an entirely open top side, due to the fact that no weld or seal is provided on the top side. In NL1012033, the film bags are opened by the described device and spread out using an automatic opening mechanism, and are then arranged in a holder, such as an outer box or a crate. The film bags are provided with two continuous suspension apertures, by means of which a bundle of film bags can be arranged on and suspended from a set of support pins. NL1022290 in the name of the Applicant discloses a film bag for use in the device according to NL1012033, wherein the film bag is provided with two perforated apertures, wherein incisions are provided on the perforated apertures of the front film layer and of the front lateral hem portions, and wherein no incisions are provided on the rear film layer and the rear lateral hem portions. As a result thereof, it is easier to open the film bag by hand or using the positioning device, since the front perforated apertures can be moved over the support pins easily, whereas it is more difficult to move the rear perforated apertures over the support pins, due to the fact that the rear perforated apertures have substantially the same diameter as the support pins and that the perforated apertures are clamped onto the support pins to a certain degree and experience resistance when being moved on the support pins.

[0007] A particular embodiment of the film bag is the shirt shaped bag or shirt bag for short. The shirt bag is a shirt-shaped film bag with integrally formed handles, as is described and illustrated in LIS2011 / 0164836 and US 4,676,378. The shirt bags (T-shirt bag or handle bag or vest-shaped shopping bag) may be formed with or without a lateral hem or a lateral fold made of tubular film material. The top edge and the bottom edge are sealed, following which a U-shaped part is cut out on the top side of the bag. This results in a shirt bag with two handles. When using lateral hems, the opened handles on the front and rear side of the shirt bag comprise two film layers. The film bags and the shirt bags are preferably made of a lightweight, flexible and strong thermoplastic material. NL1043347 in the name of the Applicant describes a shirt bag which has been especially designed for use in a positioning device for shirt bags. NL 2038346 in the name of the Applicant describes a shirt bag which has been especially designed for manually removing a shirt bag from a bundle of shirt bags on a set of support pins. To this end, these shirt bags are also provided with two continuous suspension apertures. These continuous suspension apertures are produced in the handles by providing perforated apertures, so that the shirt bags can be pushed onto the pins. In order to automatically open and spread out the shirt bag for positioning and placing the shirt bag in a holder, such as a crate or container, a device with an automatic opening mechanism as described by the Applicant in NL2023945 is used. Preferably, incisions are also provided on the perforated apertures of the front film layer and of the front lateral hem portions and no incisions are provided on the rear film layer and the rear lateral hem portions.

[0008] In particular, the support pins for the film bags and the shirt bags are provided with a protuberance or a widening at their ends, so that the rear portions of the film bag or the handles of the shirt bag without an incision on the perforated aperture remain clamped on the protuberance and the film bag and the shirt bag can be opened fully and reliably.

[0009] The film bags from NL1022290 and the shirt bags from NL1043347 and NL2038346 have a significant drawback. The suspension apertures are provided and produced in the film bags by means of piercing or punching using a piercing or punching element. In this case, a small snippet of film material is pierced or punched out of the film for every perforated aperture. If lateral hems are used, four round snippets are formed from the four film layers for every continuous perforated aperture in the case of the film bags from NL1022290 and the shirt bags from NL1043347. For two continuous suspension apertures, eight round film snippets for every film bag and every shirt bag are formed. These snippets have to be removed and cannot be allowed in the film bags and cannot end up between foodstuffs which are to be packaged in the film bags, since otherwise the film bags will not meet the legal hygiene requirements for packaging foodstuffs. In NL2027113 in the name of the Applicant, the perforated apertures of the continuous suspension apertures are provided as incisions, so that no material is removed by piercing or punching the film layers, and no snippets or waste is formed. By making the front incisions of the front perforated apertures in the front film layer and in both front lateral hem portions longer than the rear incisions of the rear perforated apertures in the rear film layer and in both rear lateral hem portions, the front film layer and the front lateral hem portions can easily be pushed over the support pins, while the rear film layer and the rear lateral hem portions encounter a greater resistance against displacement over the support pins, as a result of which the film bag can easily be opened by hand or by using an automatic opening mechanism.

[0010] Below, all bags with or without continuous suspension apertures are denoted by the term film bag, thus including film bags with a handle, such as shirt bags.

[0011] In the case where such film bags are being used for packaging products by machine or by hand which have to be sent by a sender, such as a mail-order company, to a recipient, such as an online customer, the known film bags have a drawback. In order to properly protect the product, the film bag is in some cases closed, for example by closing the opening on the top side of the film bag, by for example welding or sealing. Usually, the film bag is disposed of by the recipient after the film bag has been opened and the product packaged therein has been removed, since the opened film bag has become unusable for re-use. In other cases, the product is packaged in a large film bag by the sender and the film bag is wound around the product one or more times and possibly even sealed further using a piece of tape or adhesive tape. This has the drawback that a significant amount of packaging material is used in this instance, and that in many cases it is also not possible to re-use the film bag packaging. A significant portion of the products dispatched to the recipient by the sender is returned to the sender by the recipient. In particular in the case where clothing is sent, it is often the case that the recipient considers the product to be the wrong size, or an undesirable style or color. There is therefore a need for a film bag which can be used for return shipments, after this film bag has been used by the sender to dispatch the product to the recipient. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a film bag which can easily and reliably be opened by hand or by an opening mechanism of a packaging device from a bundle of film bags on support pins at high frequency, wherein the film bags are provided with continuous suspension apertures in the film portions in order to be able to suspend the film bags from support pins, wherein the film bags can be used by the recipient to return the product to the sender in order to achieve a saving in packaging material or to limit waste.

[0012] According to a first aspect of the invention, the film bag which is designed as a return bag comprises: a front film layer; a rear film layer; wherein the front film layer and the rear film layer are formed by a continuous film portion along the bottom edge of the film bag; and wherein the front film layer and the rear film layer on the left-hand side and on the right-hand side of the film bag are mutually connected to each other by a left-hand film connection and a right-hand film connection; wherein the film bag is provided with a set of continuous suspension apertures, preferably at the top edge, each consisting of two perforated apertures through the front film layer and two perforated apertures through the rear film layer, so that the film bag is designed to be suspended on a set of support pins; wherein both perforated apertures in the front film layer are provided with an incision which extends from the perforated aperture; wherein the front film layer of this film bag is provided with a first line of weakening and an adhesive strip, both of which extend substantially parallel to the bottom edge of the film bag, wherein the line of weakening extends above the adhesive strip and wherein the adhesive strip is provided on the inside of the front film layer.

[0013] Due to the fact that the line of weakening and the adhesive strip are arranged parallel to each other in the front film layer, the film bag can easily be opened by pulling it open along the line of weakening and can then be closed again by means of the adhesive layer.

[0014] Preferably, the first line of weakening is selected from a perforated line, a score line, a punched and connected cutting line or cutting opening; and the lefthand film connection and the right-hand film connection are selected from a sealing or welding seam, an adhesive connection, a punched connection. In particular, the left-hand film connection and the right-hand film connection extend from the top edge to the bottom edge of the film bag. As a result thereof, the film bag is completely closed on its underside.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, the front film layer is provided with second lines of weakening near the left-hand film connection and the right-hand film connection which extend substantially parallel to the left-hand film connection and the right-hand film connection of the film bag. Preferably, the second lines of weakening extend from the first line of weakening to the adhesive strip and / or to the bottom edge of the film bag. In particular, the second lines of weakening extend from the first line of weakening as far as onto or below the adhesive strip. By providing second lines of weakening, the film bag can be opened more easily, due to the fact that the bottom portion of the front film layer comes away from the film connections.

[0016] In yet another alternative embodiment, the left-hand film connection and the right-hand film connection extend from the top edge up to an end point at a distance from the bottom edge of the film bag, so that the front film layer and the rear film layer are not connected to each other between the end point of the film connection and the bottom edge of the film bag. As a result thereof, the film bag is not entirely closed along its underside. This has the advantage that the film bag can more easily be opened by hand along the first line of weakening.

[0017] Preferably, the end point of the left-hand film connection and / or the righthand film connection is situated near or on the line of weakening, so that the film bag can easily be opened along the first line of weakening.

[0018] According to a second aspect of invention, the method of producing a film bag designed as a return bag for use in a bundle on a set of support pins comprises the following steps: providing a continuous film web; producing a line of weakening and an adhesive strip parallel to the centre line of the continuous film web; folding the continuous film web about the centre line by folding the lefthand side and the right-hand side of the continuous film web on top of each other in such a way that the adhesive strip is positioned on the inside of the front film layer, and that the top edge of the film bag is formed by means of the front film layer and the rear film layer, wherein the bottom edge of the film bag is formed by a folded continuous film portion of the continuous film web near the centre line, cutting and / or sealing / welding film portions in the transverse direction to the continuous film web, so that film bags are formed, wherein the transverse cutting lines form the right-hand side and the left-hand side of the film bags. By means of this method, it is possible to continuously produce, from a film web, a roll of film bags suitable as return bags with a line of weakening and an adhesive strip in the film bag.

[0019] In particular, the method furthermore comprises the following steps: producing a set of continuous suspension apertures, each consisting of two perforated apertures through the front film layer and two perforated apertures through the rear film layer, so that the film bag is designed to be suspended on a set of support pins.

[0020] In particular, the method furthermore comprises the following steps: making an incision at each of the perforated apertures in the front film layer, with the incision extending from the perforated aperture.

[0021] According to a third aspect of the invention, the use of the film bag designed as a return bag according to a first aspect of the invention for shipping a product between a sender and a recipient and vice versa comprises the following steps: removing a film bag from a bundle of film bags on a set of support pins; opening the film bag along the open top edge; inserting a product to be shipped into the film bag; welding / sealing the film bag by providing a sealing weld between the top edge and the product; sending the film bag containing the product by the sender to the recipient; producing a receiving aperture near the bottom edge in the film bag by the recipient of the film bag by opening the first line of weakening in the front film layer; removing the product from the film bag through the receiving aperture; if the product has to be returned to the sender by the recipient, the use of the film bag furthermore comprises the following steps: inserting a product to be shipped into the film bag through the receiving aperture; closing the receiving aperture by means of the adhesive strip; sending the film bag containing the product from the recipient to the sender. These and other aspects of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached figures. In these figures, identical reference numerals always refer to identical or similar components and parts.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a continuous film web of a roll which is being folded to form a film bag;

[0023] Fig. 2A shows a top view of the continuous film web from Fig. 1 ,

[0024] Fig. 2B shows a side view of the continuous film web from Fig. 1 ,

[0025] Fig. 3A shows a perspective view of a film bag,

[0026] Fig. 3B shows a cross section AA of the film bag from Fig. 3A,

[0027] Fig. 4A shows a perspective view of a welded film bag containing a product and a continuous film connection,

[0028] Fig. 4B shows a perspective view of a welded film bag containing a product and an open film connection,

[0029] Fig. 5A shows a perspective view of a welded film bag containing a product and vertical second lines of weakening,

[0030] Fig. 5B shows a perspective view of the opened film bag from Fig. 5A,

[0031] Fig. 6A shows a perspective view of a film bag containing a product which has been reclosed by means of the adhesive strip,

[0032] Fig. 6B shows a cross section BB of the reclosed film bag containing a product from Fig. 6A.

[0033] Figs. 1 , 2A, 2B show a roll 34 of film material, wherein a continuous film web 30 extends from the roll 34 towards the right-hand side in the figure. The left-hand side 31 and the right-hand side 32 of the film web 30 are folded upwards and onto each other about centre line 15 in order to form a front film layer 2 and a rear film layer 3 of continuous film portions 6. A line of weakening 12 and an adhesive strip 13 are provided parallel to the centre line 15 of the continuous film web 30. The adhesive strip 13 is provided on the top side of the continuous film web 30, so that the adhesive strip 13 is positioned on the inside of the front film layer 2 after the left-hand side 31 and the right-hand side 32 have been folded upwards and against each other. The continuous film web 30 is then cut into continuous film portions 6, which film portions are folded over the bottom edge 10 of the film bag 1 to be formed and comprise the front film layer 2 and a rear film layer 3. The cutting of the continuous film web 30 into film portions 6 is performed on the folded continuous film web 30 in the transverse direction, in Fig. 1 and 2B with transverse, vertical cutting lines, in order to form left- hand side 4 and right-hand side 5 of the film web 6 and the film bag 1 . Preferably, the vertical cutting lines are provided using sealing or welding bars, so that the left-hand film connection 7 and the right-hand film connection 8 of the film bag 1 are formed in one step, but alternatively the cutting and welding may also be performed separately in two steps.

[0034] Figs 3A and 3B show the film bag 1 which has been formed and cut free and is designed for use as a return bag, comprising a front film layer 2, a rear film layer 3, with the front film layer 2 and the rear film layer 3 being formed by a continuous film portion 6 along the bottom edge 10 of the film bag 1 . The front film layer 2 and the rear film layer 3 on the left-hand side 4 and on the right-hand side 5 of the film bag 1 are mutually connected to each other by means of a left-hand film connection 7 and a right-hand film connection 8. At the top edge 11 , the film bag 1 is provided with a set of continuous suspension apertures 17, 18, each consisting of two perforated apertures 17.1 , 18.1 through the front film layer 2 and two perforated apertures 17.4, 18.4 through the rear film layer 3. As a result thereof, the film bag 1 can be suspended on a set of support pins. The two perforated apertures 17.1 , 18.1 in the front film layer 2 are provided with an incision 19.1 , 20.1 , which extends from the perforated aperture 17.1 ; 18.1. In the illustrated example, the incisions 19.1 , 20.1 extend towards the top edge 11 , but the incision may extend in all directions. As a result thereof, the film bag can easily be removed from the pins by hand or by an automatic opening mechanism and be opened. The front film layer 2 is provided with a first line of weakening 12 and an adhesive strip 13, both of which extend substantially parallel to the bottom edge 10 of the film bag. The first line of weakening 12 extends above the adhesive strip 13 and the adhesive strip 13 is provided on the inside of the front film layer. If desired, the adhesive strip 13 is provided with a removable protective strip. The first line of weakening 12 and the adhesive strip 13 are provided in the bottom portion of the front film layer 2 near the bottom edge 10, so that a (receiving) aperture can be provided near the bottom edge 10 by the recipient for removing the product packaged in the film bag and optionally replacing the product in the latter in case the product has to be returned to the sender. The first line of weakening 12 may be selected from a perforated line, a score line, a punched and connected cutting line or cutting opening or another known weakening of the film material used. The left-hand film connection 7 and the right-hand film connection 8 may be selected from a sealing or welding seam, an adhesive connection, a punched connection or other known connections for the film material used.

[0035] Fig. 4A shows an embodiment of the film bag 1 wherein the left-hand (not visible) and right-hand 8 film connection extend from the top edge 11 to the bottom edge 10 of the film bag 1. A product is inserted into the film bag 1 through the open top edge 11 and subsequently film bag 1 is closed by providing a sealing weld 41 between the product and the top edge 11 . The unused portion of the film bag with the continuous suspension apertures may, if desired, be removed before dispatch and be recycled. Fig. 5A shows a film bag 1 in which the top portion of the film bag 1 has been removed. Due to the fact that the film connections 7, 8 extend from the top edge 11 to the bottom edge 10, the film bag 1 is closed (in an airtight manner).

[0036] Fig. 4B shows an embodiment of the film bag 1 wherein the left-hand film connection and the right-hand film connection 8 extend from the top edge 11 to an end point 9 at a distance from the bottom edge 10 of the film bag 1 , so that the front film layer 2 and the rear film layer 3 are not connected to each other between the end point 9 of the film connection 7, 8 and the bottom edge 10 of the film bag 1. Now, the film bag 1 is open from the bottom edge 10 up to the end point 9 on both sides. As a result thereof, it becomes easier for the recipient of the film bag 1 to make a receiving aperture 42 near the bottom edge 10 in the film bag 1 by opening the first line of weakening 12 in the front film layer 2. If the end point 9 of the left-hand film connection 7 and / or the right-hand film connection 8 is near or on the line of weakening 12, the recipient can easily produce the receiving aperture 42 by inserting a finger in the opening and tearing open the front film layer 2 along the line of weakening 12.

[0037] Fig. 5A shows an alternative embodiment of the film bag 1 wherein the front film layer 2 is provided with second lines of weakening 14 near the left-hand film connection and the right-hand film connection 8 which extend substantially parallel to the left-hand film connection 7 and the right-hand film connection 8, respectively, of the film bag 1 in a vertical direction. In this embodiment, the film bag is closed (in an airtight manner) during transport and the recipient can create a larger receiving aperture 42 due to the fact that the front film layer 2 is opened both along the first line of weakening 12 and along the second lines of weakening 14. Preferably, the second lines of weakening 14 extend from the first line of weakening 12 to the adhesive strip 13 and / or to the bottom edge 10 of the film bag 1 , so that the receiving aperture 42 can be opened along the first 12 and second lines of weakening 14 in one continuous movement. By allowing the second lines of weakening 14 to extend from the first line of weakening 12 as far as onto or below the adhesive strip 13, the receiving aperture 42 can easily be closed again by means of the adhesive strip. Fig. 5B shows the opened film bag 1 with receiving aperture 42. The product which has been placed in the film bag 1 by the sender can now easily be moved into and out of the film bag by the recipient.

[0038] Figs. 6A, 6B show how the product 40 is being returned to the sender by the recipient using the film bag 1 from the sender as packaging for the product 40. The receiving aperture 42 is closed by means of the adhesive strip 13 on the bottom portion of the front film layer 2 by sticking this adhesive strip onto the top portion of the front film layer 2.

[0039] Figs. 3A - 6B show the use according to a third aspect of the invention of the film bag 1 designed as a return bag for shipping a product 40 between a sender and a recipient and vice versa, comprising the following steps: removing a film bag 1 from a bundle of film bags 1 on a set of support pins by the sender; opening the film bag 1 along the open top edge 11 ; inserting a product 40 to be shipped into the film bag 1 ; welding / sealing the film bag 1 by providing a sealing weld 41 between the top edge 11 and the product 40; sending the film bag 1 containing the product 40 by the sender to the recipient; making a receiving aperture 42 near the bottom edge 10 in the film bag 1 by the recipient of the film bag 1 by opening the first line of weakening 12 in the front film layer 2; removing the product 40 from the film bag 1 through the receiving aperture 42; if the product 40 has to be returned to the sender by the recipient, the use furthermore comprises the following steps: inserting a product 40 to be shipped into the film bag 1 through the receiving aperture 42; closing the receiving aperture 42 by means of the adhesive strip 13; sending the film bag 1 containing the product 40 from the recipient to the sender. In an alternative embodiment of the film bag, the adhesive strip is provided on the outside of the front film layer 2, preferably using a removable protective strip, so that the bottom portion of the front film layer 2 of the receiving aperture 42 can be closed by sticking it onto the adhesive strip 13 on the top portion of the front film layer 2.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Film bag (1) designed as a return bag comprising: a front film layer (2); a rear film layer (3); wherein the front film layer (2) and the rear film layer (3) are formed by a continuous film portion (6) along the bottom edge (10) of the film bag (1); and wherein the front film layer (2) and the rear film layer (3) on the left-hand side (4) and on the right-hand side (5) of the film bag (1) are mutually connected to each other by a left-hand film connection (7) and a right-hand film connection (8); wherein the film bag (1) is provided with a set of continuous suspension apertures (17, 18), preferably at the top edge (11), each consisting of two perforated apertures (17.1 ; 18.1) through the front film layer (2) and two perforated apertures (17.4; 18.4) through the rear film layer (3), so that the film bag (1) is designed to be suspended on a set of support pins; wherein both perforated apertures (17.1 ; 18.1) in the front film layer (2) are provided with an incision (19.1 ; 20.1) which extends from the perforated aperture (17.1 ; 18.1); characterized in that the front film layer (2) is provided with a first line of weakening (12) and an adhesive strip (13), both of which extend substantially parallel to the bottom edge (10) of the film bag, wherein the first line of weakening (12) extends above the adhesive strip (13) and wherein the adhesive strip (13) is provided on the inside of the front film layer (2).

2. Film bag (1) according to Claim 1 , wherein the first line of weakening (12) and the adhesive strip (13) are provided in the bottom portion near the bottom edge (10) of the front film layer (2).

3. Film bag (1) according to Claims 1 - 2, wherein the first line of weakening (12) is selected from a perforated line, a score line, a punched and connected cutting line or cutting opening.

4. Film bag (1) according to Claims 1 - 3, wherein the left-hand film connection (7) and the right-hand film connection (8) are selected from a sealing or welding seam, an adhesive connection, a punched connection.

5. Film bag (1) according to one of the preceding Claims 1 - 4, wherein the left-hand film connection (7) and the right-hand film connection (8) extend from the top edge (11) to the bottom edge (10) of the film bag (1).

6. Film bag (1) according to Claim 5, wherein the front film layer (2) near the left-hand film connection (7) and the right-hand film connection (8) is provided with second lines of weakening (14) which extend substantially parallel to the left-hand film connection (7) and the right-hand film connection (8) of the film bag (1).

7. Film bag (1) according to Claim 6, wherein the second lines of weakening (14) extend from the first line of weakening (12) to the adhesive strip (13) and / or to the bottom edge (10) of the film bag (1).

8. Film bag (1) according to Claim 7, wherein the second lines of weakening (14) extend from the first line of weakening (12) as far as onto or below the adhesive strip (13).

9. Film bag (1) according to one of the preceding Claims 1 - 4, wherein the left-hand film connection (7) and the right-hand film connection (8) extend from the top edge (11) to an end point (9) at a distance from the bottom edge (10) of the film bag (1), so that the front film layer (2) and the rear film layer (3) are not connected to each other between the end point (9) of the film connection (7, 8) and the bottom edge (10) of the film bag (1).

10. Film bag (1) according to Claim 9, wherein the end point (9) of the lefthand film connection (7) and / or the right-hand film connection (8) is situated near or on the line of weakening (12).11 . Method of producing a film bag (1) designed as a return bag for use in a bundle on a set of support pins, comprising the steps: providing a continuous film web (30); producing a line of weakening (12) and an adhesive strip (13) parallel to the centre line (15) of the continuous film web (30);folding the continuous film web (30) about the centre line (15) by folding the left-hand side (31) and the right-hand side (32) of the continuous film web (30) on top of each other in such a way that the adhesive strip (13) is positioned on the inside of the front film layer (2), and that the top edge (11) of the film bag (1) is formed by means of the front film layer (2) and the rear film layer (3), wherein the bottom edge (10) of the film bag (1) is formed by a folded continuous film portion (6) of the continuous film web (30) near the centre line (15), cutting and / or sealing / welding film portions (6) in the transverse direction to the continuous film web (30), wherein the transverse cutting lines form the right-hand side (5) and the left-hand side (4) of the film bags (1).

12. Method according to Claim 11 , wherein the method furthermore comprises the following steps: producing a set of continuous suspension apertures (17, 18), each consisting of two perforated apertures (17.1 ; 18.1) through the front film layer (2) and two perforated apertures (17.4; 18.4) through the rear film layer (3), so that the film bag (1) is designed to be suspended on a set of support pins (29).

13. Method according to Claim 12, wherein the method furthermore comprises the following steps: making an incision (19.1 ; 20.1) at each of the perforated apertures (17.1 ; 18.1) in the front film layer (2), with the incision extending from the perforated aperture (17.1 ; 18.1).

14. Use of the film bag (1) designed as a return bag according to Claims 1 - 10, or a film bag produced according to Claims 11 - 12, for shipping a product between a sender and a recipient and vice versa comprises the following steps: optionally removing a film bag (1) from a bundle of film bags (1) on a set of support pins; opening the film bag (1) along the open top edge (11); inserting a product (40) to be shipped into the film bag (1); welding / sealing the film bag (1) by providing a sealing weld (41) between the top edge (11) and the product (40); sending the film bag (1) containing the product (40) by the sender to the recipient;making a receiving aperture (42) near the bottom edge (10) in the film bag (1) by the recipient of the film bag (1) by opening the first line of weakening (12) in the front film layer (2); removing the product (40) from the film bag (1) through the receiving aperture (42); if the product (40) has to be returned to the sender by the recipient, the use of the film bag furthermore comprises the following steps: inserting a product (40) to be shipped into the film bag (1) through the receiving aperture (42); closing the receiving aperture (42) by means of the adhesive strip (13); sending the film bag (1) containing the product (40) from the recipient to the sender.

Images