Cover Weakened For Tearing, E.g., Having Integral Tear Strip Patents (Class 53/133.8)
  • Patent number: 11006581
    Abstract: A bale wrap mechanism including a frame including a wrap chute formed from one or more perimeter walls, where the wrap chute includes a wrap axis extending longitudinally therethrough, and where the one or more perimeter walls at least partially define a passageway, a first rail fixedly coupled to the frame, a first shuttle movable along the length of the first rail, where the first shuttle includes a second rail that is transverse to the first rail, a second shuttle movable along the length of the second rail, wherein the second shuttle includes a mounting point, and a shaft coupled to the mounting point, where the shaft is configured to rotatably support the roll of wrap material thereon, and where the shaft is configured to travel along a wrap path during a wrapping process, where the wrap path surrounds the passageway, and where the wrap path is non-circular in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy J. Kraus, Henry D. Anstey, Uri Blich
  • Patent number: 10632668
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of forming selected portions of integral sheets of material are disclosed. Unformed portions of the sheets may remain undistorted during the forming process, allowing them to contain text, art work, or other desired information without material risk of the information being degraded or becoming unintelligible during the forming process. This result may be accomplished, moreover, with less trim than usually occurs in conventional forming processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventor: William C. Shanley, IV
  • Publication number: 20150101282
    Abstract: Provided is a medicine dispensing and packing apparatus including a sheet feeding apparatus, a medicine putting unit, a sealing apparatus, and a control unit. The control unit controls the sheet feeding apparatus and the sealing apparatus to pack medicine. A plurality of packets formed by the sheet feeding apparatus and the sealing apparatus include a plurality of medicine-containing packets and a plurality of empty packets in which the medicine is not packed. The control unit controls the sheet feeding apparatus and the sealing apparatus to: form the plurality of empty packets upstream of the plurality of medicine-containing packets in the feeding direction; and form at least one empty packet of the plurality of empty packets such that the lengthwise size thereof is smaller than that of each of the plurality of medicine-containing packets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8951590
    Abstract: A tubular bag packaging for bar-shaped food products is made of a film with first and second longitudinal edges. The film has a first seal section at the first longitudinal edge. A flap section at the second longitudinal edge has a second seal section along the second longitudinal edge. The film is closed at the seal sections by forming a continuous back seam in longitudinal direction as a fold-over seam. The film is sealed at transverse edges by transverse seams. The back seam has end face edges adjoining the transverse seams. The flap section has a linear separation cut as a tearing aid disposed on at least one of the end face edges and extending away from the end face edge in longitudinal direction. The film in the area of the second seal section with linear separating cut has a pressure deformation line that extends in longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ritter Schönbuch Vermögensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Dieter Hätinger, Johannes Graf
  • Patent number: 8800250
    Abstract: An easy-open and reclosable package includes a pouch including a discrete laminate including a tape including a base strip coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive, and a panel section having a die cut defining a die cut segment, the panel section adhered by the PSA to the base strip; the panel section anchored to a first side panel; the second surface of the base strip anchored to the inner surface of a second side panel; and a product in the pouch. The die cut segment is so arranged with respect to the pressure sensitive adhesive that when the package is opened, the package can be reclosed by adhering the pressure sensitive adhesive to the first side panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew W. Moehlenbrock
  • Patent number: 8640431
    Abstract: In a medicine packaging machine including a medicine accommodating mechanism for accommodating plural medicines, a chute for guiding medicines arbitrarily taken out from the medicine accommodating mechanism to a medicine packaging sheet, and a medicine packaging mechanism having a heater for thermally welding the medicine packaging sheet, the heater is provided with an incision tooth for forming an incision at an edge portion of the medicine packaging sheet at the same time when the medicine packaging sheet filled with the medicines. Furthermore, a cutting mechanism for cutting at a predetermined position a separate package bag formed by thermally welding the medicine packaging sheet is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinori Hatsuno, Masayoshi Ogura, Hideyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8316623
    Abstract: A method of forming a sealed seam between a tear-off film (12), that is provided with a tear-off strip, and a packaging member (14), the method including at least one sealing step, in which the packaging member (14) and the film 12 are compressed between a lower die (20) supporting the packaging member (14) and an upper die (22) such that an annular sealed seam (28) is formed in the peripheral portions of the film (12) and the packaging member (14), in which wherein, during a sealing step or in a subsequent non-sealing step, the sealing seam (28) is partly destroyed or weakened at is internal peripheral edge (30) in the vicinity of the tear-off strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Rainer Naroska Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Marcus Naroska
  • Patent number: 8156715
    Abstract: A packaging for reams of cut paper involving tear tapes made of plastic or paper maternal inserted into the ream wrap. The tear tapes may be pulled to tear off and open one end of the wrapped ream, leaving the remaining packaging intact to serve as a storage and dispenser for partial reams of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Coating Excellence International LLC
    Inventors: Michael R. Nowak, David W. Schneider
  • Patent number: 8100875
    Abstract: A single-use ostomy appliance is described including an ostomy coupling for releasable coupling first and second portions at a stomal orifice. The two portions may be separable body-side and non-body-side parts, or the two portions may be portions of a unitary ostomy device such as a controlled evacuation device. The coupling includes a mechanical fastener configured such that the coupling is rendered substantially not resecurable after the fastener is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: ConvaTec Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: John Cline, John L. Blum, Gary Stacey, Phillip Davies, Trevor Beckett
  • Patent number: 7938998
    Abstract: A method for forming substantially parallel linear scratches on a thermoplastic resin film, comprising bringing the film into sliding contact with a means having a lot of fine projections for forming linear scratches, and pressing the film onto the linear-scratch-forming means from the opposite side of the linear-scratch-forming means by a film-pressing means, in a region in which the film is in sliding contact with the linear-scratch-forming means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventors: Seiji Kagawa, Yoichiro Kagawa
  • Patent number: 7726098
    Abstract: Tandem, vertically-aligned vertical form, fill, and seal (VFFS) assemblies enable a method for manufacturing an ingredient package. An inner ingredient-bearing package is manufactured by a first superior VFFS assembly, which inner package is then downwardly displaced to a second inferior VFFS assembly. The inner package and a second ingredient are deposited (filled) into an open-ended outer packaging material being formed by the inferior VFFS assembly. After deposing the inner package and the second ingredient into the formed outer package, the outer package and inner package are sealed to one another at superior ends thereof to finally form an ingredient package. The finally formed package may be removed from partially formed packages in superior adjacency thereto. The finally formed package compartmentalizes the first and second ingredients for later consumer consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventor: Paul Edward Doll
  • Patent number: 7681375
    Abstract: A horizontal bag-making machine having a packaging material delivery unit, a product delivery unit, and a folding, sealing, and separating unit for folding the packaging material into a tube, sealing the folded packaging material in the directions transverse and parallel to a conveying direction and for cutting the packaging material into individual bag packages also has a tear-open assistance unit located in the conveying direction between the product delivery unit and the folding, sealing, and separating unit. The tear-open assistance unit produces an overlap of material in the separation region, the overlap of material extending at least approximately transversely to the conveying direction of the packaging material, and releasably fixes the overlap of material in the separation region. The bag packages produced in this way are easy to open yet are still in accordance with stringent hygiene regulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Wipf, Thomas Reissig, Daniel Moreno Horn
  • Patent number: 7621106
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a tampon wrapper that is a polyethylene film tube having at least a first sealed end with a notch in the first sealed end, and a number of perforations extending from the notch along the axial length of the tampon wrapper. The wrapper is quiet, easy to open, and provides a sanitary method of storing a used applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Playtex Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas L. Tackett, Robert Jorgensen, Keith Edgett, Peter Preisner, Wojtek Drewnowski
  • Patent number: 7596927
    Abstract: A tamper-evident band is provided which includes a pull tab which is more easily located and more easily grasped by a consumer for removing the tamper-evident band from a container. A method is also disclosed for applying a heat-shrinkable band to a container such that the band is correctly conformed to the configuration of the container with the pull tab properly located for ease of identification and ease of removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Inventor: Jerry W. Moser
  • Patent number: 7416521
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a composite packaging material for easy-open packages includes means for pulling a running length of packaging film, the film having defined rupture characteristics. The packaging film is perforated with a sequence of spaced apart at least one perforation separated from another at a substantially constant fixed interval between adjacent ones of the sequence along the length of the film. A tape with a continuously extending dry edge is formed from a continuous supply of tape and tape pieces are formed and spaced apart along the length of the film. Successive discrete pieces of tape are adhered to the packaging film in overlying sealing relationship to successive ones of the sequence of at least one perforation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Inventors: Harold M. Forman, Trevor G. Smith, Alfred E. Kettell
  • Publication number: 20080135441
    Abstract: A blister pack comprising a plurality of spaced blister cavities each configured to receive and store an individual dose of medicament for inhalation by a user is disclosed. The pack includes a foil layer and an outer polymer layer and each blister cavity, or a number of blister cavities, are separated from an adjacent blister cavity, or number of adjacent blister cavities, by a region of weakness formed by substantially removing or displacing a portion of the outer polymer layer from the foil layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Vectura Group PLC
    Inventors: Andreas Mark Meliniotis, Peter Alan Evans, Stephen William Eason, Quentin John Harmer
  • Patent number: 7341085
    Abstract: A station for the application of segments of openable/reclosable strip on a plastic film web destined to form bags, includes a device for sealing segments of strip at intervals on the film and a device for punching predefined zones of film. The punching device and the sealing device are positioned in the station along the film path to act in sequence in the same zone for punching the film and sealing the segments in the predefined points of the film keeping the film stationary between the film punching operation and the corresponding operation for sealing a segment on the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Ilapak Research & Development S.A.
    Inventor: Valter Tinivella
  • Patent number: 7325370
    Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine for making a pouch style package is provided, comprising an optional bulge forming station for forming a puff or bulge; a heating and filling station for creating seals and filling the pouch; and an optional flap making station comprising a mechanism for folding over a flap and sealing the inside portion of the flap to the front face of the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Sanford Redmond, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanford Redmond
  • Patent number: 7234286
    Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing a package include: a package-joining belt forming step for forming a package-joining belt (PC) in which packages (P) each containing a material filled in between superposed films and each sealed by joint portions (PA) and a side edge portion (PF) are joined with each other by the joint portions (PA), the package-joining belt forming step including: a superposing process of forming superposed films; a joint portion forming process of forming band-shaped joint portions (PA); a side edge portion forming process of forming band-shaped side edge portion (PF); and a filling process of filling the material; and a scar forming step for forming plural elongate scars (100) each extending adjacent and substantially perpendicularly to the side edge in the side edge portion (PF), wherein the package-joining belt forming step and the scar forming step are carried out, while the package-joining belt is drawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Ajinihon K.K.
    Inventors: Kazumichi Oshita, Kenji Shinbutsu, Yoichi Tominaga
  • Patent number: 7065937
    Abstract: A standup bag for granular products or the like and a method of manufacturing the bag. The standup bag is manufactured from an extruded heat scalable material and includes both an integral handle and a perforation to facilitate opening and pouring out the contents of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: HB Creative LLC
    Inventor: James I. Tankersley
  • Patent number: 7037250
    Abstract: A method of forming a perforated tear line in a bag to form an easy-open corner portion. The perforation blade includes a base formed to span the corner portion of the bag. The base has a first end adapted to extend to the end edge of the bag proximate a seal line, and a second end adapted to extend to one side edge of the bag. A series of closely spaced perforation teeth are formed with the base, and are adapted to penetrate the first and second walls of the bag to form a corresponding series of perforations at the corner portion of the bag. A starter tooth is formed at the first end of the base, and is adapted to cut a starter nick in a skirt of the bag between the end edge and the proximate seal line. A burst protection gap is formed between the starter tooth and a first of the series of perforation teeth. The burst protection gap is adapted for safely receiving the seal line of the bag to prevent severing the seal line when cutting the perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Exopack-Thomasville LLC
    Inventor: Timothy L. Albright
  • Patent number: 6983576
    Abstract: To retain the virginity of cylindrical articles packed in a cylindrical article package, the present invention provides a package of a novel structure and a fabrication method for the same. More specifically, the present specification discloses a package wherein a film has a slit at least either one of an upper end face and a lower end face of the package in a portion thereof corresponding to a boundary between the adjacent cylindrical articles, and more specifically, a package wherein the film has a slit along the boundary between the adjacent cylindrical articles, and is curved in such a manner as to conform to the outer circumferential surfaces of the cylindrical articles located adjacent to the boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Ono, Katsuhiko Kumakura, Minoru Kouda, Tomotaka Kawano, Shoji Katori
  • Patent number: 6912825
    Abstract: A flexible stand-up liquid pouch is formed from a sheet of foil film laminate material whereby opposed side walls of the material are folded together with sealed circumferential edges to form an enclosed chamber. A liquid is provided in the chamber, and the side walls of the sheet material which form the container have raised portions which, when sealed together, cooperatively form an internal straw restraining passage inside the container. The straw restraining passage communicates with the liquid chamber and a straw is held loosely captive inside the straw restraining passage and is axially displaceable therein. The straw restraining passage defines a reduced cross-sectional area of the chamber, and the pouch is manufactured with a weakened portion on an upper portion of the pouch, whereby the weakened portion can be torn by a user, thus enabling the internal straw to emerge, due to the buoyancy of the straw, from the interior of the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Inventor: Rahul A. Kothari
  • Patent number: 6910995
    Abstract: A method of making a reclosable plastic bag (38) having a fin seal (35) which provides a weakness area (23, 80, 81, 84, 86) that extends into at least one side of the fin seal (35). Perforation axes (19, 20) for opening the reclosable plastic bag (38) may be aligned with the weakness area (23, 80, 81, 84, 86). A reclosable bag (38) made in accordance with the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Schneider, Nigel Knight, Stanley Piotrowski, Patricia I. Norek, Jeffrey Griffin, David J. Matthews
  • Patent number: 6889483
    Abstract: An easy-opening feature in a flexible package is provided by forming a tear feature in the package material by slitting, perforating, or otherwise forming a stress riser in the material, and affixing a label to the package material so that the label adheres to the tear feature. The formation of the tear feature and affixing of the label are performed prior to wrapping a product in the package material and sealing the material, and preferably are performed while the package material is moving along a path in a packaging apparatus. The label in one embodiment includes a detachable middle portion that tears free of the rest of the label upon pulling the detachable portion, such that remaining portions of the label remain on the package adjacent the opening created by the tear feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen F. Compton, Roger J. Morrissette, Mitchell W. Smith, Sr., Frank B. Edwards
  • Patent number: 6865860
    Abstract: A form-fill sealing machine (1) for manufacturing resealable packages (W) includes a tearable line forming device (30) that serves to form tearable lines (104) in a film (F). A labeling device (40) serves to stick re-stickable labels (103) onto the film in positions to cover respective tearable lines. A tube forming device (60) serves to form the film into a tubular film (T). A first sealing device (80) serves to seal lapped edges of the tubular film so as to form a lengthwise sealed portion (111). A second sealing device (90) serves to seal the tubular film in a crosswise direction, so that crosswise sealed portions (109) are formed on the tubular film. Each tearable line is positioned between two adjacent crosswise sealed portions and adjacent to one of two adjacent crosswise sealed portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Arakawa, Takeo Matsui
  • Patent number: 6845597
    Abstract: A compact form-fill-seal machine capable of the high speed production, collation and loading into cartons of a variety of small dispensing packages with instant opening features including fault lines in the lower containment formation. It can make a variety of formations in the upper cover member as well as fault lines. It also produces simple cups and tubs. The machine operates at extremely high efficiency with practically every known thermoformable plastic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Sanford Redmond, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanford Redmond
  • Patent number: 6826889
    Abstract: A rigid of smoking articles is made to have improved shelf life and to be resealable. A barrier material is sealed around the rigid pack. The rigid pack has a potential or actual access aperture extending from a top face into a major face. The barrier material has a line of severance or weakening defining a flap, which is in register with the potential or actual access aperture. Over the flap is a layer which overlaps it on each severable side with a portion having permanently-tacky adhesive. A non-adhered pull tab is preferably provided on the layer. To open the pack the user lifts the flap and if necessary the access aperture. After removal of a smoking article the gap in the barrier layer is reclosed and released by the repositioning of the adhesive layer, carrying with it the flap of barrier material. A machine for assembling the pack is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: British American Tobacco Limited
    Inventor: Michael Patrick Parker
  • Patent number: 6823649
    Abstract: A method of encapsulating a topical composition in a breakable capsule, includes the steps of elastically deforming at least a portion of a first deformable film that is impermeable to the composition so as to constitute at least one blister; injecting the topical composition into the blister; applying a second film that is impermeable to the composition onto the first film so as to close the blister; and sealing the second film and the first film together around the periphery of the blister, the portion of the first film being suitable for shrinking after release of the capsule so as to cause the pressure inside the capsule to be greater than atmospheric pressure. While the capsule is being made, at least one weak region is made in the blister, thus making the capsule suitable for being broken by exerting pressure on the capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Taiki Corporation, Ltd.
    Inventor: Bernard Pauchet
  • Publication number: 20030192287
    Abstract: A method for hermetically sealing a bulk article wherein a strip of wrapping material is initially positioned onto an article such that extending ends of the wrapping material strip extend from away from an edge of the article, each end having a different length. The article is rotated to cause the ends of the strip to cover an uncovered side of the article with a fin-like section extending therefrom away from the article which can be sealed without contacting the article. The fin-like section is cooled and folded onto the top of the article so as to form an axial seam. Lateral ends of the wrapping material strip are then sealed to complete the hermetic sealing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Detail Machine Company
    Inventor: Terrance VanAlstine
  • Patent number: 6609998
    Abstract: A method and a machine for making a plastic film bag with opposed closable end openings as well as a double compartment bag is described. The bags may be formed from J-folded, U-folded or tubular film sheets. In one embodiment, a bag is formed with a gusseted end adjacent which a zipper closure and a detachable end is provided and at the other end of the bag there is provided an opening which is closable by a closure tag. The method and machine are also adaptable to form double-ended closure bags having two distinct compartments, each accessible by a respective one of the end closure. The bags formed by the method and machine have various uses such as carrying two separate articles, each article being accessible from one of the opposed ends of the bags. The double compartment bags may also contain two different products, each accessible separately through a zipper closure. The bags may also be formed with a flap provided with wicket holes to support the bag in an automatic bag filling machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Glopak Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lauzon, Ritchie Baird, Guy J. Houle, Pierre Papineau, Richard Beauchesne
  • Patent number: 6539688
    Abstract: A hermetically sealed package for food items, such as loaves of processed cheese, employing plastic film with serrated ends and an accessible tear strip, which together provide points of focus for easy opening of the package without unwanted tearing or undesirable contamination of the food item. A process for forming this package also forms part of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Fahs, David Sullivan, Michael Nooyen
  • Publication number: 20030051440
    Abstract: A system and method for producing a partially perforated tear line on a substrate material uses an high energy beam to ablate the substrate material at a depth less than full depth of the substrate. By varying the output energy level of the high energy beam for varying time intervals, a substrate material is weakened to provide an easy open feature without significantly reducing the tensile strength of the substrate material. The ratio of partial perforated to unablated substrate material may vary according to almost any ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: Preco Laser Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Chow, Dan B. Miller, Kurt A. Hatella
  • Publication number: 20020152722
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a tamper resistant seal on a plastic bag containing a loaf of bread or other products is disclosed. The neck of the bag is flattened, gripped between a pair of upper inboard and outboard gathering belts and a pair of lower inboard and outboard gathering belts adjacent opposite sides of a segment of the neck of the bag. A row of perforations is formed in the bag neck as the bag moves adjacent a roller provided with teeth or cutting elements. Heated air jets are directed to engage the segment of the bag bridging between the inboard and the outboard gathering belts for fusing panels of the bag together to form a sealed strip spaced from the row of perforations in the bag neck to facilitate removal of the sealed strip from the bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Luther B. Stoddard, Jerry Dale Pack
  • Patent number: 6440051
    Abstract: A method and a machine for making a plastic film bag with opposed closable end openings as well as a double compartment bag is described. The bags may be formed from J-folded, U-folded or tubular film sheets. In one embodiment, a bag is formed with a gusseted end adjacent which a zipper closure and a detachable end is provided and at the other end of the bag there is provided an opening which is closable by a closure tag. The method and machine are also adaptable to form double-ended closure bags having two distinct compartments, each accessible by a respective one of the end closure. The bags formed by the method and machine have various uses such as carrying two separate articles, each article being accessible from one of the opposed ends of the bags. The double compartment bags may also contain two different products, each accessible separately through a zipper closure. The bags may also be formed with a flap provided with wicket holes to support the bag in an automatic bag filling machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Glopak, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lauzon, Ritchie Baird, Guy J. Houle, Pierre Papineau, Richard Beauchesne
  • Patent number: 6427420
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a pack, particularly intended for undergoing preservation treatment, from at least one film (10) comprising two plastic layers, an upper (11) and a lower (12), which form the outer and inner faces of said pack, and a light-metal central layer (13) sandwiched between said upper and lower layers. According to the invention, prior to the operations to make said pack, a laser beam is applied solely to the lower layer of said film, said lower layer forming the inner face of said pack, in order to produce, virtually in the entire thickness of said lower layer, at least one perforation (14) forming at least one precut line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Unisabi
    Inventors: Alain Olivieri, Vincent Ferry, Daniel Blanchard, Jean-François Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 6421988
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a packing, sealing and cutting machine for plastic film comprising a film-delivery device mounted with a film tension adjusting button and a rolling needle delivery shaft such that the film is provided with a plurality of holes during the delivering of the film. A separation rod and an electrostatic elimination rod are provided along the path of the delivering of the film so that the delivery of the film is smooth. The front delivery seat is positioned by a teethed rack to adjust the movement of the packed object. The sealing and cutting knife driving device drive the vertical and horizontal knife to seal and to cut the film after an object is packed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventor: Shao-Yi Chiu
  • Patent number: 6343876
    Abstract: An easily openable sealed package bag (P) which hermetically seals a material to be packed (W), such as liquid, powder and viscous material, by longitudinally and laterally sealing three or four sides of a package film (F). A seal opening notch (N) comprising a cut is formed in a sealed portion (S) of the package bag (P) in such a way as to extend in a direction of depth of the sealed portion (S). The sealed portion (S) is also formed with a bent portion (B) adjacent to the seal opening notch (N). The easily openable sealed package bag is capable of enhancing the ease with which the package bag can be opened and the ease with which a seal opening portion can be identified by sight or by touch, without producing cut chips of the package bag. An apparatus for manufacturing such easily openable sealed package bags is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimori Takahashi, Yasuhito Miyazawa, Yuuichi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6334288
    Abstract: In an apparatus mounted on an automatic machine for packaging articles into blister packs, a working station (A) applies numeric codes to a blister band and a scoring station (B) equipped with scoring members (20), traces scoring lines on the blister band. In a cropping station (C) the blister packs are separated from the blister band, and in a disposal station (D), the remaining off-cuts are chopped. All these working stations are connected to a support body (1) and provided with plates (5,125) acted upon by pressers (53,54,55) which are released by motorised releasing elements (60,80). The pressers and plates clamp each of the devices for numbering (10), cutting (20), and severing (30) the blister band. The releasing elements (60,80) act on the pressers to allow substitution and automatic adjustment, performed by an automatic adjustment system (110), of devices for numbering (10), cutting (20), and severing (30) the band in relation to the size of blister packs to be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Amaranti, Alessandro Alessandri
  • Patent number: 6328203
    Abstract: An opening feature for a beverage container with at least one extrusion over void area, a pull tab affixed to the package in the perimeter of the void area, and a perforation of the package film in the perimeter of the pull tab to allow for a simple low cost structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Richard A. Tedford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6293073
    Abstract: The present invention relates to sealed pouches, and apparatus and processes for producing the same. The pouch includes contoured first and second lateral edges, with each lateral edge having concave and convex surfaces. The concave surface of the first lateral edge is substantially opposite the convex surface of the second lateral edge and the convex surface of the first lateral edge is substantially opposite the concave surface of the second lateral edge. Accordingly, a distance between the first and second lateral edges is substantially the same for all elevations of the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy G. Caudle
  • Patent number: 6234943
    Abstract: Packaging, particularly for a carton of cigarette packs, includes opening structure permitting easy access to one or more of the objects or packs of cigarettes which it contains. The opening structure includes a line of pre-weakened resistance, comprising pre-cuts, either passing completely through the material constituting the packaging or incompletely through the thickness of that material. Individual pre-cuts may be separated by interconnected attachment portions. The line of weakened resistance may partially or completely surround a surface disposed on one, two, or three faces of the packaging. Structure for starting the opening may be provided. A process and a device permitting such packaging are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventor: Maurice Copin
  • Patent number: 6223501
    Abstract: A perforating apparatus for use in the formation of shrink film packages is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a bottom seal tool with a plurality of peninsula regions forming a plurality of window areas. Each pair of window areas has a knife receiving area to receive a knife retaining block. The retaining block contains a perforation knife that extends beyond the surface of the sealing tool a sufficient distance to perforate the packages. At least one screw member extends through the peninsula, contacting the retaining block and securing the retaining block within the retaining channel. A change plate, having slots dimensioned and located to receive the knife blades is placed over the sealing tool surface. The packages are placed on the change plate and sealed by contacting the package with the upper platen. The upper platen is provided with a nonconductive material positioned to receive the knife blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Wayne Ringer