Abstract: A method includes providing an article including an oxygen scavenger; forming the article into a container; placing an oxygen sensitive product into the container; and exposing the container to actinic radiation at a dosage effective to sterilize the container, and trigger the oxygen scavenger in the article. Alternative methods are also disclosed. A package includes a container, the container including an activated oxygen scavenger; wherein the container is sterilized; and wherein an oxygen sensitive product is disposed in the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing wrinkles in a film includes a first pair of cylindrical rollers including a first roller and a second roller, the first and second roller each in parallel juxtaposed relation to each other, and each having a substantially smooth surface; and a second pair of cylindrical rollers including a third roller and a fourth roller, the third and fourth roller each in parallel juxtaposed relation to each other, and at least one of the third and fourth roller having a chevron pattern disposed on the surface thereof; the first pair of rollers being adjacent to and spaced apart from the second pair of rollers. A method for reducing wrinkles is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A system for dispensing a pumpable product comprises a product well; a pouch disposed in a substantially U-shaped arrangement in the product well, the pouch comprising a first wall and a second wall, and a fitment disposed on the first wall of the pouch, wherein the pouch contains the pumpable product; and a pump device in connected relationship with the fitment of the pouch. A method for dispensing a pumpable product, and a pouch, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A film includes a core layer having an amorphous polyamide; two intermediate layers, disposed on opposite surfaces of the core layer, including a semicrystalline polyamide; two adhesive layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective intermediate layer, including a polymeric adhesive; and two outer layers, each disposed on a surface of a respective adhesive layer, including an ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, or propylene/alpha olefin copolymer; and a second outer layer, disposed on a surface of a respective adhesive layer, including amorphous polyamide, semicrystalline polyamide, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, or propylene/alpha olefin copolymer. The film can alternatively have a core layer including a polymeric adhesive, and two intermediate layers each having an amorphous polyamide. A method of packaging a product using these films, and a package, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A reclosable pouch includes a base portion; a plurality of walls, the walls in communication with the base portion; a top portion, the top portion in communication with the walls; a discrete panel; and a reclosable zipper. An apparatus for making the pouch, and a method of making the pouch, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tray-type package is disclosed which includes a polyester support member, a product contained on the support member, and a lidding film containing the product and sealed to the periphery of the support member, the lidding film including a sealant layer of a polyester copolymer having greater than about 50% by mole of glycol polymerization units. Preferably, the support member is a foamed or nonfoamed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) tray and the lidding film is a multilayer film which includes a glycol-modified PET sealant layer. Also disclosed is a lidding film having a sealant layer of a blend of a glycol-modified PET and at least one further polymeric component.

Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine has an ultrasonic vibration emitter head 11 positioned outside the tube being formed by the overlapping of the margins 3 and 5 of a film web, and an anvil 13 positioned inside the tube defined by those margins, the anvil being mounted on an anvil carrier 25 which is supported by a frame element entirely independent of the forming box 1 used to fold the film, so as to isolate the anvil from vibrations sustained from the forming box. The anvil carrier can be mounted directly to a carrier body for the ultrasonic vibration emitter, and preferably has the shape of an inverted letter J where the anvil is positioned near the toe 25a of the J, the mounting to the sealing machine frame is at the top of the stem 25c of the J, with a slot 25b between the toe 25a and the stem 25c.

Abstract: A film includes a core layer including a polyamide; two intermediate layers, disposed on opposite surfaces of the core layer, including an adhesive; and two outer layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective intermediate layer, comprising an ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer; wherein the two outer layers each constitute at least 27% of the total thickness of the film. The core layer can include either a single polyamide layer, or three layers wherein two layers of polyamide have therebetween a layer comprising a polymeric adhesive. The film is made preferably by a hot blown process at a blow up ratio of between 2.0:1 and 3.0:1. A process and package are also described.

Abstract: A package with improved clarity and a thinner lidstock includes a product support member having a cavity formed therein; a product disposed in the cavity; and an oriented, heat shrinkable lidstock film disposed over the product, and sealed to the product support member. A method of packaging a product includes the steps of providing a product support member having a cavity formed therein, and a flange around the perimeter of the member; placing the product in the cavity formed by the product support member; placing an oriented, heat shrinkable film over the product; sealing the oriented, heat shrinkable film to the flange of the product support member; and cutting at least some of the oriented heat shrinkable film extending beyond the perimeter of the product support member. The lidstock film optionally can be peeled apart after the package has been made, for example to peel an oxygen impermeable portion from a permeable substrate.

Abstract: Novel articles and packages are disclosed. Disclosed is the non-invasive use of a luminescent compound to detect and measure concentrations of oxygen dissolved in solids, particularly polymeric materials present in multi-layered packaging materials. The measurement is made independent of the oxygen concentration of the surrounding atmosphere. The invention is especially useful as a quality assurance check to verify oxygen scavenger activation during the assembly of modified atmosphere and vacuum packages. A solid article includes a film including an oxygen barrier layer; and a layer including an oxygen scavenger; and a patch including an oxygen barrier; and an oxygen indicator including a luminescent compound; wherein the patch is adhered to the film; and wherein the oxygen indicator is disposed between the oxygen barrier of the patch, and the oxygen barrier of the film. A package, and a bottle, each having the oxygen indicator, are also disclosed.

Abstract: An article of manufacture includes an oxygen scavenger and an amorphous silica. The article can be in the form of e.g. a film or sealing compound. A package can be made from the article for containing an oxygen-sensitive article such as food. The amorphous silica reduces migration of odor causing by-products of the oxygen scavenging process. A method of making an article of manufacture having reduced migration of by-products of an oxygen scavenging reaction includes providing an article including an oxygen scavenger and an amorphous silica; and exposing the article to actinic radiation.

Abstract: A polymeric film comprises at least one layer, the at least one layer comprising a vinylidene chloride composition, the composition comprising 100 parts, by weight of the composition, of a vinylidene chloride copolymer; between 0.1 and 10 parts, by weight of the composition, of a stabilizer; between 0.1 and 10 parts, by weight of the composition, of a lubricant; and between 0.1 and 10 parts, by weight of the composition, of a hydrophilic clay. Alternatively, a polymeric film includes at least one layer, the at least one layer including a vinylidene chloride composition, the composition including 100 parts, by weight of the composition, of a vinylidene chloride copolymer; between 0.1 and 10 parts, by weight of the composition, of a soap of a fatty acid; and between 0.1 and 10 parts, by weight of the composition, of a hydrophilic clay. A blister pack can be made from either film.

Abstract: A forensic evidence container includes a first flexible panel, the first flexible panel including a material having a moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 10 gm/24 hours-100 square inches; a second flexible panel, the second flexible panel including a material having a moisture vapor transmission rate of equal to or less than 5 gm/24 hours-100 square inches; an opening capable of providing access to the interior of the forensic evidence container; an adhesive, applied to the first panel or second panel, having a free surface so arranged as to seal the opening on superposition of the first panel and the second panel; and a tamper evident device arranged on the first or second panel. A peelable flexible third panel, including a material having a moisture vapor transmission rate of equal to or less than 5 gm/24 hours-100 square inches, can optionally be peelably adhered to the first flexible panel.

Abstract: A bi-axially oriented, heat-shrinkable multi-layer film comprising a core layer (A) comprising an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), a first outer layer (B) comprising an ethylene homo- or co-polymer and a second outer layer (C), which may be equal to or different from the first outer layer (B), comprising an ethylene homo- or co-polymer, characterized in that said film has been bi-axially oriented at an orientation ratio in the longitudinal direction higher than 4:1, preferably higher than 4.5:1, more preferably of at least 5:1 and at an orientation ratio in the cross-wise direction higher than 4:1, preferably higher than 4.5:1, more preferably of at least 5:1, is obtained by a process which comprises melt extrusion of the film polymers through a flat die and orientation of the obtained cast sheet simultaneously in the longitudinal and the transversal directions by a simultaneous tenter.

Abstract: A coextruded, retortable film includes a core layer having an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer; two intermediate layers including a polyamide; two adhesive layers including a polymeric adhesive; and two outer layers including low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and/or propylene/alpha olefin copolymer. A method of packaging a product using this film, and a package, are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for triggering an oxygen scavenging film includes the means for emitting UV-C light, means associated with said light defining a film path, means for feeding an oxygen scavenging film into the system to trigger the oxygen scavenging film. The film may comprise an oxidizable organic compound and a transition metal catalyst.

Abstract: A multiple layer film useful in moisture barrier packaging applications has at least one layer comprising a blend of propylene polymer or copolymer, and a hydrocarbon resin; and two additional layers comprising a propylene polymer or copolymer, ethylene alpha olefin copolymer, ionomer, polybutene, or blends thereof. A core layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer or other oxygen barrier material, or high density polyethylene, can be included in some embodiments. A preferred embodiment of the multi-layer film exhibits excellent moisture barrier and optical properties, and shrink properties as well if the film has been oriented. High oxygen barrier is also a feature in embodiments including EVOH or other oxygen barrier materials.

Abstract: A thermoplastic multi-layer film with an even number of layers containing first and second outermost layers each containing ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having between 14 and 22 wt. % vinyl acetate, first and second inner layers each containing vinylidene chloride copolymer, and first and second contiguous layers separating first and second inner layers from each other, each layer containing ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

Abstract: A multiple layer film useful in moisture barrier packaging applications has at least one layer comprising a blend of propylene polymer or copolymer, and a hydrocarbon resin; and two additional layers comprising a propylene polymer or copolymer, ethylene alpha olefin copolymer, ionomer, polybutene, or blends thereof. A core layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer or other oxygen barrier material, or high density polyethylene, can be included in some embodiments. A preferred embodiment of the multi-layer film exhibits excellent moisture barrier and optical properties, and shrink properties as well if the film has been oriented. High oxygen barrier is also a feature in embodiments including EVOH or other oxygen barrier materials.

Abstract: The multilayer shrink film of the present invention provides very low shrink tension approximating some PVC films, while providing relatively high free shrink characteristics and relatively low shrink temperatures. The preferred film has three layers including a relatively thick core layer comprising a polymeric material or blend of polymeric materials having a relatively low melting point, typically less than about 100° C., two outer layers comprising a polymeric material or blend of polymeric materials having a relatively high melting point, typically greater than about 100° C., the material of the outer layers having a melting point at least about 10° C. higher than the melting point of the material of the core layer.