Abstract: High oxygen barrier characteristics over a wide range of humidity conditions are obtained by providing a combination of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer and vinylidene chloride copolymer in separate component films of a composite film.

Abstract: A seal layer for an easy open package consisting essentially of 40% or less, by weight, of a first polymer having a melt flow index of less than 5 selected from the group consisting of ionomers and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, and 60% or more by weight of a second polymer having a melt flow index greater than 20 being selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, and modified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, whereby the second polymer is a low density polyethylene if the first polymer is an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

Abstract: A method is provided for vacuum packaging a molded meat product in a cook-in bag that includes the steps of vacuum stuffing a substantially deaerated moldable meat product into a thermoplastic bag lining a cooking mold, the bag having a length greater than the mold to define a bag neck; substantially removing any meat from the bag neck; and then, while still under vacuum, gathering and clipping the bag neck. Associated apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A forming shoulder for an HFFS machine comprises a pair of side wires 3a and 3b each comprising an upper limb 11 joined to a lower limb 14 at an elbow 12 and each supported near a respective end of a support bar 16. The width of the tube, defined by side walls where the tube passes inwardly of the two lower limbs 14 and by a floor (defined by the marginal portions of the film 10) and a ceiling (defined by the central portion 10a of the film spanning the gap between the two elbows 12), is adjustable by re-positioning of the side wires 3a and 3b on the support bar 16 and the height of the tube is adjustable by replacement of one pair of side wires by a different pair having an alternative geometry.

Abstract: A flexible film suitable for medical solution pouches and parenteral materials generally includes a sealant layer of ethylene propylene copolymer, modified ethylene propylene copolymer, or flexible copolyester; one or more interior layers including elastomeric polymeric materials, and an outer layer of ethylene propylene copolymer or a flexible copolyester.

Abstract: A five layered thermoplastic film may be utilized to form storm windows or packaging material. A preferred embodiment of the film comprises a core layer consisting essentially of either (a) a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate or (b) a three component blend of (a) a linear low density polyethylene, (b) a linear medium density polyethylene and (c) an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer. The preferred embodiment also comprises two intermediate layers each consisting essentially of a linear low density polyethylene, and two surface layers each consisting essentially of either a four component blend of (1) a linear low density polyethylene, (2) a linear medium density polyethylene, (3) a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate and (4) one or more light stabilizers, or a three component blend in which light stabilizers are not present.

Abstract: Improved shrink, toughness and barrier properties are achieved by a multi-layer, thermoplastic, shrink film having a substrate layer of very low density polyethylene and a gas barrier layer of vinylidene chloride copolymer or ethylene-vinyl-alcohol. The film is particularly useful for making bags for packaging large cuts of fresh red meat.

Abstract: Disclosed is a package for cheese, luncheon meat and the like having an easy open seal. The package comprises a pouch-like receptacle constructed from flexible thermoplastic film having at least two layers wherein the outer surface layer has a tensile strength greater than the bond strength between the outer layer and its adjacent layer. To form the easy open seal the edges of the mouth of the receptacle are folded inwardly, flattened, and a heat seal applied to compress and seal together the resulting four layers of film with the seal being located between the edges and the fold lines. The resulting two folds provide grippable halves which can be pulled apart thereby rupturing one of the outer layers and delaminating the film from the point of rupture to the edge of the film, the delamination occurring between the outer layer and the adjacent layer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an improvement in flexible side-sealed taped bags having an extended lip rear panel. The external surface of the rear panel is releasably secured, at least at one point, to at least one tape (preferably two tapes) whereby a plurality of the bags may be advantageously presented in imbricated form. The improvement includes extension of the side seals of the front bag panel to the rear bag panel. The length of the extended side seals being such that their termination points are extended beyond the bag mouth so that the forces imposed on the bag mouth during loading of a product into the bag, while the bag is secured to the tape(s), act on the side seals below the side seal termination points. During product loading, the bag preferentially releases or separates from the tape(s) rather than tearing or delaminating at the side seal termination points.

Abstract: A thermoplastic container has separate hinge means in the body and cover portions of the container which are similar or substantially identical. This four part hinged configuration simplifies tooling, and simplifies economy of production, while allowing easy assembly of the container and resulting in a secure hinge after assembly.

Abstract: A multi-layered thermoplastic polyolefin film having an improved combination of physical characteristics is disclosed. In particular, the multi-layered film evidences an improved combination of elongation, elastic memory, tear resistance and heat shrinkability. Preferred five layer embodiments of the film comprise (1) a core layer of either a low density polyethylene homopolymer or an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer or a blend of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer with a linear low density polyethylene; (2) two adjacent intermediate layers of a linear low density polyethylene and (3) two surface layers of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically loading side seal bags, at least two at a time, which comprises delivering the bags to a first position below a rod conveyor which has a gap therein through which the bags are pulled and loaded in a second position. The bags are then conveyed away on the rod conveyor. Speed of loading is increased because succeeding bags are moved to the first position while the previous bags are loaded at the second position. The movement from the first to second position is short and relatively quick.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improvement upon the blown bubble process for forming thin heat sealable films from an extruded tubular structure. The utilization of a spray nozzle, internal to the extruded tubular structure, to provide a thin inner coating of a liquid polyorganosiloxane greatly reduces the internal film welding of extruded tubular polyolefin materials which internally weld at their processing temperature. Additionally, reduction of the internal welding allows films of reduced thickness to be manufactured.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming containers useful in vacuum packaging applications which require that the packaged product be wrapped in an air-impervious enclosure.According to one aspect of the invention, the method comprises a step wherein a substrate of an air pervious, semipervious or impervious material is mold formed, and a subsequent step wherein an impervious film is applied on the molded substrate and adhered thereto to produce an impervious substrate. In another aspect, a product is placed on the impervious substrate and enclosed by an impervious film in a vacuum skin packaging process.

Abstract: A package of imbricated bags is provided that is adapted for dispensing and opening such bags one at a time. The package includes a chain of adhesively imbricated bags in overlying sequence, each bag being adhesively but releasably attached to adjacent bags and having an open mouth end directed toward the leading end of the chain, and a container for the chain having an elongate, constricted opening through which the leading end of the chain is directed. The length of the opening is less than the bag chain width by a selected extent sufficient to cause the mouth of each bag to open in response to transverse constriction as the chain is advanced through the opening, provided that the width of the opening is sufficiently narrow so as to resistively confront the lower edge of the mouth of a bag being pulled through the opening. A method for making the bag package is also provided.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable thermoplastic film includes a food contact layer; a second layer of propylene homopolymer or copolymer, ethylene copolymer, butylene homopolymer or blends thereof; an adhesive layer; a layer of unplasticized vinylidene chloride copolymer; another adhesive layer; and an optical clarity layer.

Abstract: A method is provided for enhancing yield of a cook-in packaged meat product that includes first providing an adhering cook-in container including a flexible thermoplastic envelope being substantially conformable to a contained meat product and having an inner surface of a selectively irradiated ionomer of a metal salt neutralized copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, then conforming the container about a selected meat product and cooking the packaged product, whereupon the inner surface of the envelope bonds to the meat product to substantially prevent cook-out of fluids. An associated cook-in container is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a heat shrinkable, high barrier laminate film which includes a hot blown, melt oriented high oxygen barrier film, of relatively high crystallinity and correspondingly relatively low ultimate elongation, laminated to a stretch oriented base film having a shrink tension substantially greater than that of said barrier film, the extent of orientation of said base film being sufficient such that its ultimate elongation is reduced so as to be commensurate with that of said barrier film. In one preferred mode, the barrier film is a layflat tubular film having its interior layflat surfaces laminated together. Representatively, the high barrier layer of the barrier film is vinylidene chloride copolymer having at least about 85% by weight vinylidene chloride content, preferably at least about 90%. Associated methods for making the laminate films are also provided.

Abstract: A machine for packaging articles in continuous tubular material, which may be formed by rolling the marginal edges of a flat web around a succession of the product articles to bring the marginal edges into contact and then sealing them continuously to complete the tube, comprises a pair of transverse sealing jaws 14 and 15 which each include a hemi-cylindrical chamber 24 having gas-pervious walls 16 and defining a cylindrical space 25 initially centrally divided by the film between two successive product articles 1.The film extending diametrically across the space 25 is first of all severed and then suction is applied to the gas-pervious walls 16 to draw the film into contact with the walls 16. To the righthand side of the space 25 is a double impulse sealing system 18, 19 centrally divided by a knife 21 which separates a righthand pack 28 from the film in the space 25, and to the lefthand side of that space 25 is a further double impulse sealing system 18, 20, again with a knife 22 to effect separation.

Abstract: A heat-sterilizable laminate film especially useful for making disposible pouches for sterile injectable compositions comprises an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer layer and on either side of the said layer a layer of a propylene-ethylene copolymer which may contain an impact modifier. The laminate may be cross-linked by irradiation.