Abstract: A package comprising a container, a closure assembly which includes a tearing portion. The container includes a sidewall, a closed end and an end with an opening. The closure assembly includes a central panel covering the container opening and a circumferential edge secured to the container. The tearing portion allows the closure to be opened for access to the contents of the package.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymeric composition which acts as an improved cold seal mechanism over prior art cold seal structures. The composition comprises a blend of 40% to 80% by weight of a tacky adhesive and 60% to 20% by weight of a lower viscosity, non-tacky resin. The composition has a seal strength of at least 0.2 lbs per inch when sealed to itself at a temperature of less than 120.degree. F., and can be formed into a film for subsequent use in packaging.

Abstract: A coextruded multilayer polymeric film for use as a chub film having a core layer of an oxygen barrier material and layers disposed on either side of the core layer comprising a blend of an ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer formed from a polymerization reaction in the presence of a single site catalyst and a tie or adhesive, or alternatively a blend of a tie or adhesive and an ethylene acid copolymer, including a neutralized ethylene acid copolymer such as an ionomer. The film also comprises outer sealant layers comprising a blend of an ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer formed from a polymerization reaction in the presence of a single site catalyst and optionally a compound selected from the group consisting of LLDPE, having a density of between about 0.910 g/cc to about 0.940 g/cc, and an ethylene acid copolymer.

Abstract: A high temperature steam-sterilizable flexible pouch package includes a non-woven barrier web, a perforated plastic intermediate web, and an imperforate plastic upper web. Line heat seals bonding the webs form a cavity into which high temperature sterilizing steam may enter after passing through the barrier and intermediate webs. The line heat seal bonding the upper and intermediate webs is of the delamination failure type. An access opening is provided for insertion of an object to be sterilized into the cavity after which the access opening is sealed, enclosing the object in the cavity. After high temperature steam sterilizing, the package is opened by peeling apart the upper web from the intermediate web which causes a delamination failure of the line heat seal. Preferred materials enable vacuum cycle steam sterilization at a temperature of at least 270.degree. F.

Abstract: Packaging machinery alignment, and a package having tear initiation and tear control, result from laser scoring of the package substrate, particularly, by providing at least two substantially parallel, substantially straight or linear, laser scores across the entire width of such package substrate.

Abstract: An Improved Oxygen Scavenging Polymer containing unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds, functions as an antioxidant when the unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds are triggered by the presence of moisture, wherein the unsaturated polymer contains one or more alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl groups or combinations thereof, and the polymer is used in articles.

Abstract: The present invention is a reformed container end and a method of forming the container end. The container end includes a center panel surrounded by a countersink having an inner wall, an outer wall, and a countersink bottom. The countersink bottom includes a first arcuate segment having a small radius and a second arcuate segment having a larger radius. The container end may also include a portion wherein the center panel is slightly expanded and the inner wall is further reformed to direct potential buckling away from the nose of a pour opening panel.

Abstract: A sterilizable flexible pouch package includes a non-woven barrier web, a perforated plastic intermediate web, and an imperforate plastic upper web. Line heat seals bonding the webs from a cavity into which sterilizing steam may enter after passing through the barrier and intermediate webs. The line heat seal bonding the upper and intermediate webs is of the delamination failure type. An access opening is provided for insertion of an object to be sterilized into the cavity after which the access opening is sealed, enclosing the object in the cavity. After sterilizing, the package is opened by peeling apart the upper web from the intermediate web which causes a delamination failure of the line heat seal. Preferred materials enable steam sterilization at temperature of 270.degree. F.

Abstract: The present invention is a reformed container end and a method of forming the container end. The container end includes a center panel surrounded by a countersink having an inner wall, an outer wall, and a countersink bottom. The countersink bottom includes a first arcuate segment having a small radius and a second arcuate segment having a larger radius. The container end may also include a portion wherein the center panel is slightly expanded and the inner wall is further reformed to direct potential buckling away from the nose of a pour opening panel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reforming the bottom of a container (20) and a container made by that method is disclosed. The container for which this method and apparatus are suitable has an outer annular wall (26); a convex U-shaped portion (28); a preformed bottom wall (30), including a center domed portion (32); and an annular wall (34) joining the domed portion and the convex U-shaped portion. The method comprises supporting the bottom peripheral profile portion and bringing a reforming means (36) into engagement with the annular wall. The reforming means is brought to bear against the annular wall to rework the annular wall. The reforming means can also reform the outer annular wall.

Abstract: A method of reforming a countersink (14) of a container end (10) from a shell (10') is disclosed. A shell (10') is provided having a center panel (12') including an initial panel height (A') and an initial panel diameter (D'). The shell further has an integral countersink (14') including an initial countersink depth (A'), an inner wall (30') and an outer wall (32') being joined by a curved countersink bottom (34'). The bottom has an initial bottom radius (R1). The panel (12') is joined to the inner wall (30') of the countersink by a curved shoulder (36') having an initial shoulder radius (R2'). The shell is reformed by decreasing the panel height, increasing the panel diameter and decreasing the countersink depth. The reformed shell (14") is further reform by increasing the panel height and further decreasing the countersink depth.

Abstract: Methods for injection molding and injection blow-molding multi-layer plastic articles, including containers and parisons for forming containers, which comprise providing a plurality of co-injection nozzle means for injecting plastic materials into associated injection cavities to form each article, providing streams of polymeric materials to form corresponding layers of the articles, moving each stream separately to plural nozzle means, separately receiving the streams in the plural nozzle means, and injecting the streams to form the multi-layer plastic articles. Preferably, each stream of material which is to form a corresponding layer of the articles is provided with substantially the same polymer flow, preferably from where each stream is split and moved to each nozzle means. Valve means can be employed in each nozzle means for positively controlling preferably substantially simultaneously the flow and nonflow of respective materials into the central channel of the nozzle means.

Abstract: An easy open tear control package, preferably a pouch, from a film of polymeric barrier material is disclosed. Methods and films for making of such packages are also disclosed. The easy open tear control feature arises from roughening portions of the outer or inner surface of the films, prior to fabricating into the package. The roughened portion is on one face or on each face of the package and is at least a full width of a seal when the film is made into the package. The roughened portion can extend the entire width of the package and can be of any desired length.

Abstract: A die necking method and apparatus for producing a smooth tapered wall between the container side wall and a reduced diameter neck includes a plurality of rotatable necking turrets that each have a plurality of identical necking substations each having a necking die. The necking dies in the respective turrets have an internal configuration to produce a necked-in portion on the container which has a first arcuate segment integral with the container side wall and a second arcuate segment integral with the reduced diameter neck. The necking substations also have a floating form control element that engages the inner surface of the container to control the portion of the container to be necked. The necked-in portion is reformed in each succeeding turret by dies to produce a smooth tapered wall between the arcuate segments.

Abstract: Method and device for drawing and ironing a metallic or metalloplastic can by utilizing a chamber arranged for flow of lubricant therethrough, including an input opening and an output opening, and which is placed upstream of at least one drawing die. The chamber includes an annular, long and narrow, cylindro-conical antechamber located upstream of the die, adjacent to the external surface of the can which is being drawn, the antechamber having a length lo between 3 and 50 mm, and a thickness jo between 25 and 200 .mu.m.

Abstract: A steam sterilizable pouch is disclosed. The pouch includes a non-woven steam-permeable bottom web. A multi-layer intermediate web is bonded to the bottom web. The multi-layer web is substantially steam impermeable, except for a perforated steam-permeable region. The intermediate web includes top and bottom layers. A steam-impermeable top web is bonded by a first line heat seal to the top layer of the intermediate web. A cavity having a heat sealable access opening is located between the top web and the top layer. At least a portion of the first line heat seal is peelable after steam sterilization of the pouch at 270.degree. F., the peel strength being from 3/4 to 5 pounds per inch. The bonding of the intermediate web to the bottom web is by a second line heat seal that is located peripherally outside of the perforated steam permeable region of the intermediate web.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are formulations of polyvinylidene chloride, methyl acrylate and substantially no ethylene vinyl acetate which have high gas, especially oxygen, barrier properties and which maintain said high gas, especially oxygen, barrier properties after retorting; films and film-packages such as pouches from such formulations; and, methods of preparing foods employing such film-packages.

Abstract: Multi-layer films having an outer sealant layer which readily delaminates from the adjacent sealant layer are disclosed. For retort applications, preferably one of the outer or adjacent sealant layers is comprised of a majority of ethylene moieties and the other of the outer or adjacent sealant layers is comprised of a majority of propylene moieties. The film is especially well-suited for use as a lidstock sealed to a container, such as a tray.

Abstract: Linear low density polyethylene is used in multiple layer, molecularly oriented films. Novel blends of linear low density polyethylene with ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer are disclosed, and used in molecularly oriented multiple layer films. Bags made from the multiple layer films are especially useful for shrink packaging, and particularly for shrink packaging of meats having large cavities.