Abstract:
The invention relates to a packaged product  3  or group of products  33,  such as a candy, wherein said product  3  or group of products  33  has an elongated form, wherein the package comprises at least one film  1,2  which encloses said product  3  or group of products  33,  and wherein part of said film  1,2  extends from at least one outer end of the product  3  or group of products  33,  and wherein said part of the film is bent away from the direction of the axis of the elongated product or group of products back towards a part of the film  2  that surrounds the product  3  and is bonded therewith. The invention also relates to an easy opening arrangement for packaged products, and to an array  19  or bandoleer of products with reduced packaging material.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/838,684, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, which, in turn, is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/529,132, filed on Apr. 30, 2010, which issued on Aug. 13, 2013 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,505,716. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/529,132 is, in turn, a U.S. §371 Patent Application of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2008/052303 filed on Feb. 26, 2008, which claims the benefit of European Application No. 07103511.7, filed on Mar. 5, 2007. The entire contents of the aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for any and all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a packaged product or group of products, such as a candy, wherein the package comprises at least one film which encloses said product or group of products. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Such a product is described in WO 2005/019036, wherein an array of packaged candy bars is disclosed. The current invention aims at improving packaged products such that they are cheap in production, easy and efficient to handle and store, have improved display opportunities, are easy to open, and/or require little packaging material. 
         [0004]    It is an aim of some aspects of the invention to provide a packaged candy bar that is easy to open, compared to the manner in which currently candy bars have to be opened. In order to arrive at the invention, the inventor has studied how people “open” their fruit, and discovered that there was one favorite fruit in terms of easy opening, namely the banana. Thus a package was designed that mimics much of the features of a banana peel and that is at the same time easy and fast to produce. 
         [0005]    Also it is an aim of some aspects of the invention to provide a package that has excellent display opportunities, and at the same time minimizes the need for packaging material. It was recognized that a large flat printing area without folds or other obstacles on the outside of the package is desirable. In traditional packages of a multitude of candy bars this is achieved by arranging the candy bars (which may or may not be individually packaged) side by side in an array, and wrapping said array in an enclosure, such that the flat side of the enclosure covering the upper side of the candy bars forms one large flat printing area. The invention also aims at improving the printing area of one single packaged candy bar, while minimizing the packaging material. Traditionally packaged candy bars often have a fin at the bottom, formed by the sealed longitudinal sides of the packaging film. 
         [0006]    It is a further aim of some aspects of the invention to provide a simple and easy to produce package wherein a multitude of block shaped candy bars can be packed in a dense manner while minimizing the use of packaging material, and yet having a large printing area on the outside surface. Traditional bandoleer packaging methods provide a relatively large printing area, but they are not suitable for packaging block shaped products such as candy bars in a dense manner. 
         [0007]    Even further aims and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the current specification. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    According to one aspect of the invention part of said film extends from at least one outer end of the product  3  or group of products  33 , and said part of the film is bent backwards towards a part of the film  2  that surrounds the product and is bonded therewith. By pulling said bent extending part of the film, the part of the film that surrounds the product  3  and that is bonded to the bent part is torn apart, and thereby the package is opened in a very easy, efficient and hygienic manner. 
         [0009]    In the preferred embodiment said product  3  or group of products  33  has an elongated form and said part of the film is bent away from the direction of the axis (x-axis, as shown in  FIG. 5A ) of the elongated product  3  or group of products  33 , back towards said part of the film  2  that surrounds the product  3  and is bonded therewith. Preferably the area adjacent the outer end  26  of said bent part  21  of the film  1 , 2  is not bonded to the other part of the film  2 , such that a person can grab and pull said unbonded part. In the preferred embodiment said bond is provided by a cold seal. However, other types of bonds may be chosen. 
         [0010]    Preferably the film is provided with a cut  24  and/or a weakened line in the area of the bond with the part of the film  1 , 2  that is bent, such that said cut  24  and/or weakened line in said film  2  is covered and sealed in an airtight manner by said bent part of the film  2 . Preferably said cut  24  is substantially U-shaped or V-shaped, wherein the curve of said U-shape or the point of said V-shape extends away from the outer end of the product  3  or group of products  33 . Adjacent said cut  24  and/or weakened line preferably a further weakened line  25  is provided in the film  2  extending at both sides from said cut  24  and/or weakened line, and extending around the axis of the product  3  along at least half the circumference of the product. Said further weakened line  25  is preferably provided in one of two films  2  between two opposite sealed sides of the film  2 . Hereby the packaging can be peeled open easily like a banana. 
         [0011]    Also in the preferred embodiment the package comprises two substantially rectangular films  1 , 2  which are sealed together and enclose said product  3  or group of products  33 . One of said films  1  is in the preferred embodiment substantially flat and the other film  2  is shaped to fit at least partially around the product  3  or group of products  33 . The shaped film  2  has in the preferred embodiment a substantially U-shaped cross section in the direction transverse (in a y plane,  FIG. 5A ) to the product  3  or group of products  33 , wherein the flat film  1  is sealed to the edges of the U-shaped film  2 , such that the sealed parts of the films  1 , 2  both extend outwardly, away from the product  3 . The package that is formed this way has a flat side without a fin, having an increased printing area. 
         [0012]    The bent part  21  or parts of the sealed films are preferably bonded to the ridge of the U-shaped film  2  that extends away from the flat film. The bent part  21  or parts of the sealed films are preferably bonded to said ridge near the outer ends of the product  3  or group of products  33 . The bent part  21  or parts of the sealed films are in a first embodiment folded twice to form sharp perpendicular angles  40 ,  42 , once near the plane of the flat film  40 , and once near the plane through the ridge of the U-shaped film  42  to which the sealed films are bonded. Preferably the bent part  21  or parts of the sealed films are folded close to the outer ends of the product  3  or group of products  33 . 
         [0013]    In another embodiment the bent part  21  or parts of the sealed films are folded back once to form a sharp small angle at a distance from the outer ends of the product  3  or group of products  33 . Thereby a still larger printing area is provided on the package. 
         [0014]    The invention also relates to a bandoleer or an array  19  of packaged products  3  or groups of products  33  as described above, wherein the products are connected to each other at opposite longitudinal sides  44  of said products, in particular through parts of said rectangular two films  1 , 2  that are sealed together. 
         [0015]    The invention furthermore relates to an array  19  of packaged products  3 , such as candies, wherein said products  3  or groups of said products  33  have an elongated form and extend parallel to each other, wherein the package comprises two substantially rectangular films  1 , 2  which are sealed together and enclose said products  3  or groups of products  33 , wherein one of said films is substantially flat  1  and the other film is shaped to fit  2  at least partially around the products  3 . 
         [0016]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention the parts of the sealed films  1 , 2  extending from the outer ends of the products  3  or groups of products  33  are bent out of the plane of the flat film  1  and bonded to the other, shaped, film  2  in order to give the array  19  rigidity in the direction transverse to the products  3  or groups of products  33 . 
         [0017]    In the preferred embodiment, the shaped film  2  has a substantially corrugated form in the direction transverse (in a y-plane,  FIG. 5A ) to the products, wherein the flat film  1  is sealed to the ridges of the corrugated film  2  that extend on one side of the products  3 . Preferably the bent parts of the sealed films  1 , 2  are bonded to the ridges of the corrugated film  2  that extend away from the flat film  1 . 
         [0018]    Preferably, the sealed areas between the products  3  are weakened, such that the packaged products  3  can be easily separated. Preferably the products  3  are positioned transversely (a longitudinal (x) axis of the products is perpendicular to a longitudinal (z) axis of the films,  FIG. 5A ) with respect to the elongated films  1 , 2 . In the preferred embodiment the portions of the films  1 , 2  that are sealed together between the products  3  are provided with a score  20  extending between both side edges of the films, and an elongated cut  32  is provided on the centre part of said score  20 , which cut has a length of approximately 10%-30% of the length of the products. Hereby the products  3  can be easily separated while still a rigid array  19  is obtained through relatively firmly connected bent sides. 
         [0019]    The invention also relates to a bandoleer or an array  19 , wherein the thickness of the products  3  in the direction perpendicular (y-direction,  FIG. 5A ) to the plane of the bandoleer or array  19  is larger than, preferably at least two times, more preferably at least three times the distance between the products  3  in the longitudinal direction (z-direction,  FIG. 5A ) of the bandoleer or array  19 . 
         [0020]    Preferably, the products  3  are packaged in a removable enclosure, wherein the products  3  are positioned on a first sheet  1  which is continuously moved in a transport direction (z-direction), wherein the products  3  are covered by a second sheet  2  which is continuously moved in the same transport direction (z-direction) and which is aligned substantially plane-parallel to the first sheet  1 , and wherein the first and second sheets  1 , 2  are sealed together near the outer edges of the individual products  3  or grouped products by a sealing device  16 . 
         [0021]    The sealing device preferably comprises sealing ribs  12  extending substantially transversely to the transport direction on one side of the moving sheets, wherein said sealing ribs  12  are being moved at the same speed as the sheets  1 , 2  and the sealing ribs  12  seal the first  1  and second sheets  2  together in between the moving products  3 . Thereby the sheets  1 , 2  can move continuously, without the need to interrupt the movement for sealing the sheets  1 , 2  together. Preferably the sealing device comprises a rotating frame  10 , the rotation axis of said frame  10  extending transversely (x-direction) to the transport direction (z-direction), wherein said sealing ribs  12  extend from a coaxial cylindrical surface of said frame  10 . 
         [0022]    In order to prevent damage to the products, in particular if the products have a substantial height, at least one of said sheets  2  is preferably pre-shaped to fit at least partially around the products  3  before the film  2  comes into contact with the products  3 . Said pre-shaping action is preferably performed by a pre-shaping device comprising a first rotating shaping frame  10  on one side of the moving sheet  2  and a second rotating shaping shape  11  on the opposite side of the moving sheet  2 , the rotation axes of both frames extending transversely (x-direction) to the transport direction (z-direction) of the sheet  2 , wherein said frames  10 ,  11  comprise co-operating protruding shaping ribs  12 ,  13  extending substantially transversely to the rotation axes (x-direction), wherein the shaping ribs  12 , 13  of both frames  10 ,  11  move between each other, and wherein said shaping ribs  12 , 13  are being moved at the same speed as the pre-shaped sheet  2 . Preferably the first pre-shaping frame  10  is positioned such that it guides the pre-shaped film  2  towards the other moving sheet  1  while including the products  3 . Preferably the first pre-shaping frame  10  is the same frame as the rotating frame  10  of the sealing device, and the shaping ribs  12  on said frame are said sealing ribs  12 . 
         [0023]    The described method is particularly advantageous when the products have an elongated form and are positioned transversely (in an x plane) on the first moving sheet  1 . The sealing ribs  12  may for instance comprise hot seal means. Preferably however the sealing ribs  12  comprise ultrasonic welding means, in particular when the products  3  have ingredients that melt easily. Preferably the sealed areas between the products  3  are perforated or scored, such that the packaged products  3  stay attached to each other, but can be easily separated. 
         [0024]    At least one of said sheets  2  is preferably pre-shaped by a pre-shaping device to fit at least partially around the products  3  before the sheet  2  comes into contact with the products  3 , wherein said pre-shaping device comprises a first rotating shaping frame  10  on one side of the moving sheet  2  and a second rotating shaping frame  11  on the opposite side of the moving sheet  2 , the rotation axes of both drums extending transversely (x-direction) to the transport direction (z-direction) of the sheet), wherein said frames  10 , 11  comprise co-operating protruding shaping ribs  12 , 13  extending substantially transversely to the rotation axes (x-direction), wherein the shaping ribs  12 , 13  of both frames  10 , 11  move between each other, and wherein said shaping ribs  12 , 13  are being moved at the same speed as the pre-shaped sheet  2 . 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    The invention will be illustrated by way of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic perspective view of a packaging device; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic side view of a detail of the packaging device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  shows a further schematic side view of a detail of the packaging device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of an array of packaged products; 
           [0030]      FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C  show perspective views of an array of packaged products and its use. 
           [0031]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show side views of two embodiments of packaged products; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  shows a schematic view of the location of cuts, weakened lines and seal areas on the package in the embodiment of  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3  the packaging device has a first roll of flexible plastic film  1  (or more rigid plastic coated cardboard in an alternative embodiment) on one side and a second roll of flexible plastic film  2 . Instead of plastic film also plastic coated film (for instance plastic coated metallic foil) may be used. The elongated candy bars  3  are placed transversely (in an x plane) on a first endless conveyor  4 . A separation device  5  has a barrier which moves up and down at regular intervals for spacing the candy bars  3  a pre-defined distance apart. 
         [0034]    The second conveyor  6 , the third conveyor  7 , the fourth conveyor  8 , the fifth conveyor  9 , as well as film  1  all move at the same speed, which is larger than the speed of conveyor  4  in order to accommodate the larger mutual distance of the candy bars. 
         [0035]    The flexible plastic film  2  is first led between two rollers  31 , which are provided with cutting knives to provide U-shaped cuts  24  in the film as shown in  FIG. 8 , and is subsequently led between co-operating rotating shaping drums  10 ,  11 . Both drums  10 ,  11  have protruding shaping ribs  12 ,  13  which during rotation are moved between each other like a gear unit, thereby corrugating the plastic film  2  into the desired shape. The drum  10  has flexible suction cups  14  between its ribs  12  which hold the pre-shaped film  2  by a vacuum action force. 
         [0036]    The pre-shaped film  2  is placed on top of the moving candy bars  3  by the drum  10  while they are at the same time being transferred by the conveyor  6  onto the moving film  1 . In this manner the candy bars  3  are enclosed in the flat film  1  and the pre-shaped plastic film  2 . When the ribs  12  are at their lowest point  2  they push the plastic film  2  onto the plastic film  1 , where the plastic film  2  is welded to plastic film  1  by a first ultrasonic welding device  22 , which co-operate with ultrasonic welding means present in the sealing ribs  12 . In this manner a series of interconnected tubes is formed, each tube comprising a candy bar. By changing the opening time of the separation device  5  also two or more candy bars  3  can be grouped together and enclosed in a single tube thereby (See also,  FIG. 5C ). 
         [0037]    Subsequently the transverse seals between the candy bars  3  are perforated or scored by a rotating drum  24  having scoring or perforating ribs  15 . Then the ends of the film  2  which extend from the sides of the candy bars  3  are pushed down by two further ultrasonic sealing devices  16  and sealed to the film  1 , thereby forming sealed parts  21 , whereby the candy bars  3  are enclosed inside both films in an airtight manner. Preferably the outer ends of both films  1 ,  2  coincide, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . At this stage the candy bars  3  form an endless array of interconnected packaged products. The separation drum  17  separates the products into arrays  19  of for instance six candy bars each by means of cutting ribs  18 . 
         [0038]    A folding device  30  folds both longitudinal sides of the package with the sealed outer ends  21  upwards near the outer bottom edges of the packaged products  3  and may fold them again over the outer upper edges of the shaped layer  2 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The sealed sides that extend from the outer ends of the products  3  are thereby folded back to the part of the film  2  that surrounds the product  3  and is bonded thereto as will be explained later. 
         [0039]    The array  19  of candy bars  3  as shown in  FIG. 4  has a flat layer  1  on the bottom side and a shaped plastic film layer  2  on the top side which is sealed onto the cardboard layer  1  in between the candy bars  3 . These transverse seals have scores or perforations  20  so that individual products can be easily torn off, without breaking the seal. Both sealed longitudinal sides of the package with the sealed outer ends  21  are folded upwards and may be sealed to the sides of the film  2 , giving the array  19  such rigidity that it can subsequently be treated as a box. In the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 4  layer  1  is a plastic coated cardboard, which adds to the rigidity of the array. The layer  1  may however also be a flexible film. 
         [0040]    The array  19  of candy bars  3  as shown in  FIG. 5A  has a flat flexible plastic film layer  1  on the bottom side and a flexible shaped plastic film layer  2  on the top side which is sealed onto the flat layer  1  in between the candy bars  3 . These transverse seals each have a score  20  and a central cut  32  along said score, so that individual products can be easily torn off, as shown in  FIG. 5B , without breaking the seal. Both longitudinal sides of the package that extend away from the products  3  and which have sealed ends  21  are folded upwards near the outer bottom edges of the packaged products  3  and folded again over the outer upper edges of the shaped, corrugated layer  2 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , and sealed to the ends of the top surface (ridges) thereof, giving the array  19  such rigidity that it can subsequently be treated as a box. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the longitudinal sides of the package are folded only once at a sharp angle at a substantial distance from the outer ends of the products  3  before being sealed to the ends of the top surface (ridges) of the shaped, corrugated layer  2 , whereby a larger display area of the package is achieved. Whereas in  FIG. 7  the folds at the outer ends are shown approximately halfway the bottom and the top planes of the product, in another preferred embodiment (not shown) the folds at the outer ends extend in or near the bottom plane of the product, i.e. the plane extending through the bottom film  1 , whereby an extended flat display area of the film  1  is achieved. 
         [0041]    The array  19  can be shipped to and exposed in shops, and sold to the public, without the need to enclose it in a further layer of wrapping material. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5A , contrary to prior art bandoleers, the distance between the products in the array is relatively small compared to the height of the products. Said distance is for instance less than 10 or 5 mm, whereas the height of the candy bars is for instance more than 15 or 25 mm. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 8  the shaped film  2  is provided with cold seal areas  28 ,  23 . These cold seal surfaces  22 ,  23  are provided on the film  2  before it is fed into the packaging device. The cold seal areas  28  form two continuous bands near both outer sides of the film  2 . At least on one side a band between the cold seal area  28  and the outer end of the film  2  is however not provided with cold seal material, in order to leave a grabbing portion  26 . The cold seal areas  23  are rectangular areas which are provided on those locations on the film  2  that form the seal areas near the outer ends of the top surfaces of the shaped film  2  as shown. On one side of the film  2  for each packaged product a U-shaped cut  24  is provided. The cold seal area  23  surrounds said cut  24 , such that when the seal area  28  of the sealed part  21  of the films  1 ,  2  is pressed onto the seal area  23  on the top surface of the shaped film  2 , said part  21  is bonded to the film  2  and said cut  24  is sealed in an airtight manner. The U-shaped cut  24  is oriented such that the curve of the U points towards the centre of the product  3 , whereas the legs of the U point towards the outer end of the product  3 . The film  2  is furthermore provided with a score  25  that runs parallel to said one side of the film  2 , and through the outer ends of the legs of the U-shaped cuts  24 . The seal area  23  of the sealed side  21  is bonded to at least a portion  27  of the film  2  between the score  25  and the outer end of the package. 
         [0044]    When a person takes a packaged product in one hand, and pulls the grabbing portion  26  of the sealed side  21  with the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 5C , the seal area  28  on the side  21  will pull at the U-shaped seal area inside the cut  24  and the seal area above score  25 , and thereby the score  25  will break and the entire peel-off section  27  forming the outer end of the package will be separated from the rest of the film  2 , such that the package will be opened and the products  3 - 1 ,  3 - 2  will be revealed and stick out of the package. By pulling the grabbing portion  26  or the peel-off section  27  even further, the flat film  1  will be separated from the shaped film  2  along their side edges that are sealed together, very similar to the way a banana is peeled open. Thereby the packaged product can be easily opened and consumed by a person, without touching the product.