Abstract: A rectangular paperboard container includes an improved opening top structure which, when opened, provides a completely open top container. The container includes a tear line which extends substantially along the front and two side upper edges of the container. The tear line defines an openable top portion of the container which, when opened, is hingedly attached along the rear upper edge of the container. Preferably, the front tear line is located in a front panel of the container, and is spaced slightly downwardly from the front upper edge. The side tear lines can be located in either the respective side panels or in a top cover, and are also spaced from the respective upper side edges. In accordance with the present invention, an opening tab is operatively connected to the container along the upper front edge thereof. The opening tab is adapted to be folded against the front panel and substantially covers and protects the front tear line.

Abstract: A rectangular paperboard package is fabricated from a single precut and prescored blank of paperboard material. The package includes a top panel having first and second side panels having upper edges connected to opposite parallel edges of the top panel. The first and second side panels are each provided with front extension portions which cooperate to define a front panel and are sealingly connected to define a vertically extending front fin seal. The side panels are further provided with rear extension portions which cooperate to define a rear panel and are sealingly connected to define a vertically extending rear fin seal. The top panel includes front and rear extension portions which cooperate with upper extension portions of the front and rear panels to define front and rear top fin seals. The bottom panel of the package is formed by cooperating lower extension portions of the first and second side panels which define an intermediate bottom fin seal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a unique method for packaging a product in individual packets constructed of a sheet of flexible material. In the method of the present invention, a sheet of flexible packaging material is formed into a generally U-shaped channel having spaced apart vertical sidewalls. The facing surfaces of the sidewalls are sealed at horizontally spaced apart locations to define a plurality of open top packets. A predetermined amount of a flowable product is introduced into each of the open top packets. Next, the upper corner portions of each individual packet are sealed and a prdetermined portion is cut from each upper corner. The upper corner portions of each packet then are pulled away from one another in a generally horizontal direction to urge the spaced apart upper marginal edges of the sidewalls of the packet toward one another. After the upper corner portions have been pulled away from one another, the upper marginal edges of the packets are sealed together to close the packet.

Abstract: A machine for making and filling packets has an intermittently fed sheet material which is recurrently severed into packet strips. These strips are successively pushed downwardly by a battery of filling tubes which shift vertically, bear against the sheet strip, and fold it into a vertical trough-shaped receptacle open at the top. After the filling tube battery has moved downwardly, sets of vertically spaced sealing or clamping jaws operate to effect laterally spaced side seals in an upper strip and conjointly create top seals in the lower or preceding sheet strip. Product is metered to the packet strips. The sealed packets are severed from the strip after the sealing operation. The filled packet has outwardly bowed side walls and the juncture of the bottom wall and the side walls will assume a line, the configuration of which is a function of the size and cross-sectional configuration of the filling tubes, providing a unique advantageous form.