Packaging an article with a packaging sheet including a longitudinal fin seal and a transverse tear strip

Abstract

In packaging of articles such as chocolate bars the articles are wrapped on a packaging line by a respective one of sheet portions of a continuous packaging sheet in turn such that the longitudinally extending side edges are brought together and are sealed by a cold seal material together to form a sealed longitudinal fin seal along the article and ends of the sheet portions at each end of the article are sealed to enclose the article. The sheet portions are than severed each from the next to separate the wrapped articles. An improved tear strip is disclosed extending transversely across the sheet portion from a position at or adjacent the first side edge to a position at or adjacent the second side edge for guiding the tearing action of the sheet portion transversely when pulled. The tear strip is formed by applying, during the printing of the wrapping material for supply to the line, a band of a hot melt liquid material and causing the liquid material to set or harden and to bond to the surface with sufficient strength to guide the tearing action of the sheet portion in the transverse direction. The tear strip is arranged on the sheet inwardly of the fin seal such that the tearing action is commenced by a tab formed between notches in the fin and is guided in the sheet by the tear strip.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a method for packaging an article or articles in which a sheet of packaging material is wrapped around the article or articles to enclose the article thus defining end seals and a longitudinally extending fin seal, and in particular an arrangement in which there is provided a tear strip to allow tearing through the longitudinal fin seal and around the packaging material thus transversely separating the packaging material into two portions allowing one end of the article or articles to be exposed.

[0002] The present invention is primarily concerned with food articles such as candy bars, cookies or the like but other articles can also be wrapped using the same methods and features set forth hereinafter.

[0003] Many articles such as food products including candy bars are wrapped in the above manner. The packaging material is provided in a longitudinally continuous sheet forming individual sheet portions each of which is wrapped around a respective one of a line of the articles to be wrapped. The sheet portions are then separated by a cutting action across the width of the wrapped article at the ends of the sheet portion so as to form individual wrapped articles for packaging and sale.

[0004] Where the product is a food product such as a candy bar, it is often damaged by application of sufficient heat to effect a heat sealing action and therefore the packaging material uses a cold seal adhesive in bands along the side edges and across the ends of the sheet portions.

[0005] Many packaging materials such as cigarette packages include a tear tape which is bonded to the overwrap material on the inside surface so that the tear tape can be grasped and pulled to provide a tearing action of the overwrap material. It is well established that such tear tapes are used where the tear tape is applied longitudinally of the packaging material in sheet form so that the tear tape in continuous form is simply applied onto the continuous overwrap material and carried thereby into the wrapping process.

[0006] However in regard to candy bars and similar products it is well known that it is desirable to provide a tear tape in the transverse direction, as opposed to the normal longitudinal direction, so that the tearing action passes through the longitudinally extending fin seal and thus can be pulled tearing the fin seal and tearing the wrapper transversely so as to separate the wrapper into two parts. An upper part can then be removed from the candy bar exposing the upper part of the bar leaving a lower part of the packaging still wrapping around the bar so that the user can access the upper part of the bar for biting while holding the lower part still encased in the packaging material.

[0007] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,249 (Gorrieri) issued June 1st, 1993 is disclosed a wrapper of this general type in which a tear tape is applied transversely of the packaging material with one end extending through the band of adhesive so as to pass through the fin seal when formed and the other end terminating at the inner edge of the band of adhesive. The end portion of the tear tape which passes through the fin seal carries an additional layer of the adhesive material so that when wrapped around the article the bands of adhesive can seal together to fully enclose and encapsulate the article while the end of the tear tape projects outwardly through the fin seal for tearing.

[0008] While this patent apparently discloses an arrangement which would satisfy this general need, the arrangement shown has not apparently achieved any commercial success since few if any products of this type utilise a tear tape in this manner.

[0009] Despite therefore the existence of this prior patent indicating a general solution to this problem, there remains an outstanding need for a method of wrapping an article of the type which forms a longitudinal fin seal which effectively and commercially allows the article to be wrapped while providing a transverse tear strip which allows the user to tear open the wrapper in the transverse direction through the fin seal and around the package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a method of wrapping an article which allows the packaging material to be readily torn for the user to access the article. The term “article” used herein may refer to a single element such as a candy bar or may refer to multiple elements together such as a row of cookies or a collection of potato chips or like snack foods.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the invention, therefore, there is provided a method of wrapping articles comprising:

[0012] providing a plurality of the articles to be wrapped in a packaging line;

[0013] forming an elongate supply roll containing a sheet of packaging material for wrapping the articles, the sheet having first and second longitudinally extending transversely spaced side edges and being defined by sheet portions arranged end to end along the sheet;

[0014] providing the supply roll of the sheet at the packaging line;

[0015] withdrawing the sheet from the supply roll such that the sheet extends longitudinally of the packaging line;

[0016] wrapping each article in the packaging line by a respective one of the sheet portions of the packaging sheet in turn such that the longitudinally extending side edges are brought together and are sealed together to form a longitudinal fin seal along the article;

[0017] sealing together ends of the sheet portions at each end of the article to enclose the article;

[0018] transversely severing the sheet portions each from the next to separate the wrapped articles;

[0019] and providing on each sheet portion a tear strip extending transversely across the sheet portion from a position at or adjacent the first side edge to a position at or adjacent the second side edge for guiding the tearing action of the sheet portion transversely when pulled;

[0020] wherein the tear strip is formed by applying onto a surface of each sheet portion a band of a liquid material and causing the liquid material to set and to bond to the surface;

[0021] and wherein the tear strip when set is arranged to have sufficient strength to guide the tearing of the sheet portion in the transverse direction.

[0022] Preferably the band of liquid material is applied on the inner surface where it does not interfere with the outside printing, although it may be applied on the outer surface on top of or in a space between the outside printing where it may be made visible by coloring or the like.

[0023] In one option, the band of liquid material is applied by printing, for example by a gravure roller.

[0024] In another option, the band of liquid material is applied by spraying.

[0025] Preferably the liquid material is a hot melt, although other materials which can be applied to the surface as a liquid or semi-liquid and can set to provide firstly a bond to the surface to remain attached to the surface without the necessity of additional adhesive material and also the necessary strength when set to guide the tearing action.

[0026] By the term “liquid”, is intended any material which can flow sufficiently to be applied to the surface of the sheet and can then set. The application may be by way of extrusion or transfer or spraying.

[0027] Preferably the tear strip is applied prior to forming the sheet into the supply roll.

[0028] Preferably the outside surface of the sheet carries printed indicia relating to the article and wherein the tear strip material is applied on a printing line with printing of the outside surface by using one of the commercially available printing processes.

[0029] Preferably, when the strip is applied on the inner surface and the inner surface at each of the first and second side edges carries a band of a sealing material, the tear strip is applied between at least one of the bands and the inner surface so as to be covered by the band and so as to allow direct contact and sealing between the bands when wrapped around the article.

[0030] Preferably the outside surface of the sheet carries printed indicia relating to the article and wherein the liquid material and the bands are applied on a printing line with printing of the outside surface.

[0031] Preferably the bands are formed from a cold seal material for use with food products such as candy bars which cannot accept the heat necessary for heat sealing.

[0032] Preferably the liquid material when set has a thickness less than 0.002 inch so as avoid interfering with forming the sheet into the supply roll.

[0033] Preferably the tear strip material co-operates with tearing notches on each side of strip in each of the first and second side edges.

[0034] The tear strip material preferably extends to the edge of the sheet at only one edge so as to start the tearing action when the notched portion of the fin seal is pulled.

[0035] However the tear strip material may only extend between the bands and thus be located only in the area around the wrapper outside of the fin seal to guide the tearing action in that area. Tearing of the fin seal itself can be effected by forming a tab between two notches which are spaced sufficiently to be grasped by the fingers of the user and are sufficiently deep to allow the user to grasp the tab and to pull the tab to tear through the fin seal, with the torn portion of the fin seal aligning with the tear strip material on the wrapper part to guide the further tearing action after the fin seal is torn.

[0036] In one alternative, the notches are cut in the fin seal after it is formed on the packaging line, since this avoids notches in the sheet material which may cause unintentional tearing when the sheet is being handled during winding, unwinding or transport.

[0037] In another alternative the notches in each of the first and second side edges are formed in the sheet prior to forming the sheet into the supply roll and are arranged so that when wrapped, the notches in the first and second side edges are aligned Preferably the tear strip extends to the first side edge so as to extend into the fin seal and terminates short of the second side edge so that it avoids forming a complete loop around the wrapper thus clearly defining the direction of tear.

[0038] Preferably the tear strip extends to the first side edge and terminates at the edge of or short of the band at the second side edge.

[0039] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of packaging articles comprising:

[0040] providing a plurality of the articles to be wrapped in a packaging line;

[0041] forming an elongate supply roll containing a sheet of packaging material for wrapping the articles, the sheet having first and second longitudinally extending transversely spaced side edges and being defined by sheet portions arranged end to end along the sheet;

[0042] providing the supply roll of the sheet at the packaging line;

[0043] withdrawing the sheet from the supply roll such that the sheet extends longitudinally of the packaging line;

[0044] wrapping each article in the packaging line by a respective one of the sheet portions of the packaging sheet in turn such that the longitudinally extending side edges are brought together and are sealed together to form a sealed longitudinal fin seal along the article;

[0045] sealing together ends of the sheet portions at each end of the article to enclose the article;

[0046] transversely severing the sheet portions each from the next to separate the wrapped articles;

[0047] and providing on each sheet portion a tear strip extending transversely across the sheet portion from a position at or adjacent the first side edge to a position at or adjacent the second side edge for guiding the tearing action of the sheet portion transversely when pulled;

[0048] wherein the tear strips for each of the sheet portions are applied to the sheet prior to forming the sheet into the supply roll so as to be carried by the supply roll for supplying to the packaging line.

[0049] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of packaging articles comprising:

[0050] providing a plurality of the articles to be wrapped in a packaging line;

[0051] forming an elongate supply roll containing a sheet of packaging material for wrapping the articles, the sheet having first and second longitudinally extending transversely spaced side edges and being defined by sheet portions arranged end to end along the sheet;

[0052] providing the supply roll of the sheet at the packaging line;

[0053] withdrawing the sheet from the supply roll such that the sheet extends longitudinally of the packaging line;

[0054] wrapping each article in the packaging line by a respective one of the sheet portions of the packaging sheet in turn such that the longitudinally extending side edges are brought together and are sealed together to form a sealed longitudinal fin seal along the article;

[0055] sealing together ends of the sheet portions at each end of the article to enclose the article;

[0056] transversely severing the sheet portions each from the next to separate the wrapped articles;

[0057] providing along each of the first and second side edges a band of sealing material for sealing the first and second side edges together to form the fin seal;

[0058] and providing on each sheet portion a tear strip extending transversely across the sheet portion from a position at or adjacent the first side edge to a position at or adjacent the second side edge for guiding the tearing action of the sheet portion transversely when pulled;

[0059] wherein the tear strip is applied to the inner surface of the sheet portion between the inner surface and the band at least at the first edge so-as to be covered by the band and so as to allow direct contact and sealing between the bands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] Embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0061] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a sheet of packaging material for packaging articles in a packaging line.

[0062] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the wrapped articles in a packaging line.

[0063] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the sheet of packaging material of FIG. 1.

[0064] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the wrapped article of FIG. 2.

[0065] FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevational view of a process of forming the sheet of FIG. 1.

[0066] FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevational view of a process of packaging of FIG. 2.

[0067] FIGS. 7 and 8 show alternate schematic side elevational views of a process of applying the tear strip material of the process of FIG. 5.

[0068] In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] In FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is shown the structure of a packaging sheet for packaging a line of articles so that each article is individually wrapped by a portion of the sheet for separation from the remaining articles and for individual sale to consumers.

[0070] The sheet comprises a base sheet 10 formed of a suitable plastic or paper material or laminate of such materials which has the required characteristics to protect the wrapped article against degradation and is to carry a layer of printed indicia on the outside surface for identification and advertising purposes to the consumer. The selection of such materials is well known to one skilled in the art and therefore the details of such materials will not be included here. As shown in FIG. 3 the base material 10 carries the printed indicia indicated at 11 on the outer surface. The base material 10 includes side edges 12 and 13 and the sheet is divided longitudinally into individual sheet portions by imaginary dividing lines 15 where the sheet is intended to be cut after the packaging process is complete as explained hereinafter.

[0071] Each sheet portion includes along its side edges 12 and 13 a band 16 of a cold seal adhesive material. Each sheet portion includes at its ends 15 a band 17 of a cold seal adhesive material. Each sheet carries on its inside surface, that is the surface opposite the printed indicia 11 a printed strip 20 of a tear strip material. The tear strip material is applied using generally a printing process as explained hereinafter to form a band of material extending from an end 21 adjacent the side edge 12 to an end 22 adjacent the side edge 13. The band has a constant width across the sheet. The band is formed from a liquid material which sets in contact with the inner surface of the sheet so as to bond directly to the sheet and so as to provide a layer on the sheet. The layer has sufficient thickness generally less than 0.002 inch so that when set it simply provides sufficient strength to direct the tear line so that it follows across the width of the wrapper rather than having any longitudinal components along the wrapper. Packaging material of this type tears very easily and therefore it is merely a matter of guiding the tearing action rather than providing sufficient strength to initiate the tearing action or to prevent breaking of the packaging material during the tearing action.

[0072] The liquid material is preferably a hot melt so that it sets when cooled but other materials can be used which can be applied as explained hereinafter but set to provide the bonding action and the strength required. Setting by heating or by radiation using light or heat can be used. Setting using catalytic action can be used. The material selected should have the necessary bonding action that it remains integral with the packaging material. The material selected should have, when used on the inside surface, characteristics so that it is compatible with the article. Thus food products require the use of a material which does not contaminate or degrade the food product.

[0073] The ends 21 and 22 of the tear strip are preferably as shown in that the end 21 at or slightly inward of the inside edge of the band 16. This leaves a narrow gap between the fin seal and the end of the tear strip in which the packaging material can break longitudinally to initiate the tearing action in one direction around the wrapper. The other end 22 of the tear strip extends to the edge 13. However in other embodiments the end 22 may be located at or slightly inward of the inside edge of the band 16 at that edge. In yet further embodiments, both ends may extend into the band of cold seal adhesive.

[0074] A tab for initiating the tearing action is formed by two notches 25 and 26 provided in the edge 13 and extending inwardly from the edge on either side of the tear strip 20. The notches as show break out onto the edge 13 or the notches may be wholly located within the fin seal and thus not break out on either the inside edge of the band 16 nor at the edge 13. The notches are then merely to provide a tab portion of a width so that it can be grasped by the fingers of the user and pulled by those fingers in one direction around the periphery so as to start the tearing action. The notches 25 and 26 are directly aligned with notches 25A and 26A at the opposite edge 12.

[0075] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the sheet wraps around an article 30 by a folding action 31. In this way the article is laid on one half of the sheet and the other half is folded over the article thus overlying the band 16 at the edge 12 onto the band 16 at the edge 13 and folding the band 17 in half so as to adhesively encapsulate the article 30 within the wrapped sheet portion. In this folding action, the strip 20 is wrapped around the article on the inside surface so that it is in contact with the article and the overlying bands 16 form the fin seal 16A which extends longitudinally the article. Generally the fin seal is folded flat so that it lies flat against the bottom of the article so as to provide an attractive appearance. The alignment of the notches 25, 25A and 26, 26A ensures that when the sheet portion is wrapped around the article, the notches directly align and directly overlie to form a complete notch structure through the fin seal thus defining the tab 32 as a portion of the fin seal 16A ready to be pulled by the consumer.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 4 the tear strip 20 extends to the edge 13 so that it passes through the fin seal underneath the adhesive band that is between the band and the sheet. Thus the bands 16 directly contact each other in the wrapped position shown in FIG. 4 and the tear strip does not interfere with the adhesive effect so that there is no possibility of air leakage at the tear strip. As the tear strip material is relatively thin, it does not provide any form of step or significant change in thickness on the inside surface of the sheet material so that the band and its adhesive effect is not compromised in any way.

[0077] In another arrangement (not shown) the tear strip is spaced inwardly from both bands of adhesive so that the strip acts as a guide only for the tearing action after that tearing action has been commenced at the tab in the fin seal formed by the two spaced notches.

[0078] As the end 21 of the tear strip is spaced slightly from the band 16, this leaves an area 33 of the packaging material which is free from the band and is able to be torn or broken in a direction transverse to the tear strip thus allowing the tear strip to be pulled by grasping the tab 32 and pulling it in a direction of the arrow P causing the tear to propagate around the wrapper. The propagation of the tear is guided by the tear strip until it reaches the end 21 so the tear can pull through the opening thus releasing the tear strip and the portion of wrapper attached thereto from the remainder of the wrapper and thus dividing the wrapper into two parts of one of which can be pulled away from the bar or article to expose that end of the article.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 6, a supply roll S of the sheet 10 is provided at a conveyor 40 of the articles 30. The conveyor carries the articles in a row so that each article is placed on the continuous length of the strip 10 at a respective one of the sheet portion so as to be wrapped by that sheet portion. The supply roll S is continuous in the sense that it includes a plurality of the sheet portions arranged end to end with a length of the supply as long as possible either in rolled form as a simple helical role of the sheet material or in fan folded and stacked form. The supply roll S of course will have a finite length and therefore will require to be connected to the leading end of a further supply when the supply is exhausted.

[0080] The sheet from the supply roll S is thus unrolled and fed along the row of the articles so the articles are placed on the sheet and acted upon by a folder 41 which acts to fold the sheet material as explained hereinafter so as to overly the bands. A sealing press 42 is provided down stream of the folder either in the form of rollers or a shaped rectangular frame structure which engages over the article and onto the bands so as to effect the proper sealing action of the band in the overlying condition. Downstream of the sealing press is provided a cutter 43 which acts to cut each article from the next adjacent article at the intended cut lines 15.

[0081] Thus the supply roll S carries all of the elements necessary for forming the wrapper including the bands of cold seal adhesive, the tear strips, the printed indicia and the notches.

[0082] The method for forming the sheet is shown in FIG. 5 and comprises a supply S1 of the sheet material slit to the required width. The sheet material passes through a printer 45 which applies the indicia 11 onto the outer surface of the wrapper. Downstream of the printer 45 is provided an applicator 46 which applies the tear strip material as explained hereinafter. Downstream of the application station 46 is provided a setting station 47 which acts to set the material. In the case of a hot melt material, the setting station 47 comprises simply a chill roller which chills and therefore sets the hot melt material. Where the strip material is formed from a heat setting compound, the setting station 47 may comprise a heating zone or an irradiation zone as is well known to one skilled in the art.

[0083] Downstream of the setting zones 47 is provided an applicator 48 for the cold seal adhesives. This generally comprises a printing roller so that the cold seal adhesive material is applied in a transfer action from a printing roller onto the inner surface of the sheet and over the tear strip material where necessary.

[0084] Downstream of the adhesive applicator 48 is provided a notch cutting station 49 which comprises a cutting roller shaped to provide the required notches at the required location which presses against an anvil roller and provides a cutting action at the side edges as explained herein before. Downstream of the cutting station 49 is provided a windup station 50 which acts to wind the material into a helical roll or to form the strip into another form of package as required as well known to one skilled in the art.

[0085] Turning now to FIGS. 7 and 8 there are shown alternative arrangements for applying the tear strip material present in FIG. 7 is shown a gravure roller 55 which acts to transfer the strip material 56 from a supply onto the sheet 10 as the sheet 10 moves over the roller.

[0086] In FIG. 8 is shown an alternative arrangement in which the material is sprayed onto the sheet 10 by a spray bar 57 which applies the strip material transversely across the width of the sheet as the required location on the sheet passes over the spray bar 57.

[0087] While the use of a tear strip material of a printed liquid band which sets on the sheet is most preferred, in some arrangements it may be necessary to use a strip of greater strength where the strip is applied at the printing station as described before but is formed by a separate tape material applied by to the sheet and attached thereto by adhesive.

[0088] Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A method of packaging articles comprising:

providing a plurality of the articles to be wrapped in a packaging line;

forming a supply roll containing an elongate sheet of packaging material for wrapping the articles, the sheet having first and second longitudinally extending transversely spaced side edges and being defined by sheet portions arranged end to end along the sheet;

providing the supply roll of the sheet at the packaging line;

withdrawing the sheet from the supply roll such that the sheet extends longitudinally of the packaging line;

wrapping each article in the packaging line by a respective one of the sheet portions of the packaging sheet in turn such that the longitudinally extending side edges are brought together and are sealed together to form a sealed longitudinal fin seal along the article;

sealing together ends of the sheet portions at each end of the article to enclose the article;

transversely severing the sheet portions each from the next to separate the wrapped articles;

and providing on each sheet portion a tear strip extending transversely across the sheet portion from a position at or adjacent the first side edge to a position at or adjacent the second side edge for guiding the tearing action of the sheet portion transversely when pulled;

wherein the tear strip is formed by applying onto a surface of each sheet portion a band of a liquid material and causing the liquid material to set or harden and to bond to the surface;

and wherein the tear strip when set or hardened is arranged to have sufficient strength to guide the tearing action of the sheet portion in the transverse direction.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the band of liquid material is applied on the inner surface.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the band of liquid material is applied by printing, for example by a gravure roller.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the band of liquid material is applied by spraying.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid material is a hot melt.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tear strip is applied prior to forming the sheet into the supply roll.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the outside surface of the sheet has printed thereon indicia relating to the article and wherein the liquid material is applied on a printing press with the printing on the outside surface of the package.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the inner surface at each of the first and second side edges carries a band of a sealing material and wherein the tear strip is applied between at least one of the bands of sealing material and the inner surface so as to be covered by the band of sealing material and so as to allow direct contact and sealing between the bands of sealing material when wrapped around the article.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the outside surface of the sheet has printed thereon indicia relating to the article and wherein the band of liquid material and the bands of sealing material are applied on a printing press with the printing on the outside surface.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the bands of sealing material are formed from a cold seal material.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid material when set or hardened has a thickness less than 0.002 inch so as avoid interfering with forming the sheet into the supply roll.

12. The method according to claim 1 including providing tearing notches on each side of strip in each of the first and second side edges.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the notches are cut in the fin seal after it is formed.

14. The method according to claim 12 where the notches in each of the first and second side edges are formed in the sheet prior to forming the sheet into the supply roll and are arranged so that when wrapped around the article, the notches in the first and second side edges are aligned

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the tear strip is arranged on the sheet inwardly of the fin seal such that the tearing action is commenced by a tab formed between the notches and is guided in the sheet by the tear strip.

16. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tear strip extends to the first side edge and terminates short of the second side edge.

17. The method according to claim 8 wherein the tear strip extends from the first side edge and terminates at the edge of or short of the band of sealing material at the second side edge.

18. A method of packaging articles comprising:

providing a plurality of the articles to be wrapped in a packaging line;

forming a supply roll containing an elongate sheet of packaging material for wrapping the articles, the sheet having first and second longitudinally extending transversely spaced side edges and being defined by sheet portions arranged end to end along the sheet;

providing the supply roll of the sheet at the packaging line;

withdrawing the sheet from the supply roll such that the sheet extends longitudinally of the packaging line;

wrapping each article in the packaging line by a respective one of the sheet portions of the packaging sheet in turn such that the longitudinally extending side edges are brought together and are sealed together to form a sealed longitudinal fin seal along the article;

sealing together ends of the sheet portions at each end of the article to enclose the article;

transversely severing the sheet portions each from the next to separate the wrapped articles;

and providing on each sheet portion a tear strip extending transversely across the sheet portion from a position at or adjacent the first side edge to a position at or adjacent the second side edge for guiding the tearing action of the sheet portion transversely when pulled;

wherein the tear strips for each of the sheet portions are applied to the sheet prior to forming the sheet into the supply roll so as to be carried by the supply roll for supplying to the packaging line.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the outside surface of the sheet has printed thereon indicia relating to the article and wherein the tear strip is applied on a printing press with the printing on the outside surface of the package.

20. The method according to claim 18 wherein the tear strip is applied on the inner surface.

21. The method according to claim 18 wherein the inner surface at each of the first and second side edges carries a band of a sealing material and wherein the tear strip is applied between at least one of the bands of sealing material and the inner surface so as to be covered by the band of sealing material and so as to allow direct contact and sealing between the bands of sealing material.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the outside surface of the sheet has printed thereon indicia relating to the article and wherein the tear strips and the bands are applied on a printing press with the printing on the outside surface of the package.

23. The method according to claim 21 wherein the bands of sealing material are formed from a cold seal material.

24. The method according to claim 18 wherein the tear strip has a thickness less than 0.002 inch so as avoid interfering with forming the sheet into the supply roll.

25. The method according to claim 18 including providing tearing notches on each side of strip in each of the first and second side edges.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the notches are cut in the fin seal after it is formed.

27. The method according to claim 25 wherein the notches in each of the first and second side edges are formed in the sheet prior to forming the sheet into the supply roll and are arranged so that when wrapped, the notches in the first and second side edges are aligned

28. The method according to claim 25 wherein the tear strip is arranged on the sheet inwardly of the fin seal such that the tearing action is commenced by a tab formed between the notches and is guided in the sheet by the tear strip.

29. The method according to claim 18 wherein the tear strip extends to the first side edge and terminates short of the second side edge.

30. The method according to claim 21 wherein the tear strip extends to the first side edge and terminates short of the band of sealing material at the second side edge.

31. A method of packaging articles comprising:

providing a plurality of the articles to be wrapped in a packaging line;

forming a supply roll containing an elongate sheet of packaging material for wrapping the articles, the sheet having first and second longitudinally extending transversely spaced side edges and being defined by sheet portions arranged end to end along the sheet;

providing the supply roll of the sheet at the packaging line;

withdrawing the sheet from the supply roll such that the sheet extends longitudinally of the packaging line;

wrapping each article in the packaging line by a respective one of the sheet portions of the packaging sheet in turn such that the longitudinally extending side edges are brought together and are sealed together to form a sealed longitudinal fin seal along the article;

sealing together ends of the sheet portions at each end of the article to enclose the article;

transversely severing the sheet portions each from the next to separate the wrapped articles;

providing along each of the first and second side edges a band of sealing material for sealing the first and second side edges together to form the fin seal;

and providing on each sheet portion a tear strip extending transversely across the sheet portion from a position at or adjacent the first side edge to a position at or adjacent the second side edge for guiding the tearing action of the sheet portion transversely when pulled;

wherein the tear strip is applied to the inner surface of the sheet portion between the inner surface and the band of sealing material at least at the first edge so as to be covered by the band of sealing material and so as to allow direct contact and sealing between the bands of sealing material.

32. The method according to claim 31 wherein the bands of sealing material are formed from a cold seal material.

33. The method according to claim 31 wherein the tear strip extends to the first side edge and terminates short of the band of sealing material at the second side edge.