Patent Description:
In the food packaging field, plastic films are used to form packages. The plastic film wraps and protects the product also allowing the consumer to see the product and thus visually assess product features such as size, shape, and quality of the product. Plastic packages used in the packaging of food include a bag of plastic material into which the food product is inserted. The plastic bag is then sealed.

Although plastic bags are widely used, prior art solutions suffer from a number of drawbacks.

Primarily, plastic foils used to wrap products are generally relatively thick in order to provide a resistant enclosure for the product, thus resulting in the generation of relevant quantities of waste material. Additionally, plastic wraps used to package products are often difficult to open or require relatively complex designs in order to offer a package with a facilitated opening system. Finally, plastic material used to wrap products often results in packages of scarce aesthetic properties and/or not susceptible of receiving prints.

The object of the present invention is to solve the drawbacks and/or limitations of the above prior art.

A first object of the invention is to provide a package having an effective facilitated opening system to allow the user a simple and quick opening of the package.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a package that provides the user with a visual or tactile perception of the facilitated opening system.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a package substantially in the form of a plastic bag using a reduced quantity of plastic, yet guaranteeing and efficient and robust packaging.

Another object of the invention is a package of simple and cost-effective structure which at the same time can ensure a convenient and stable handling of the package during the opening of the latter.

An additional object is that of offering a package suitable for carrying prints, drawings, images and the like.

A yet further object is to provide process and apparatus for effectively making the mentioned package.

These and yet other objects, which will become more apparent from the following description, are substantially achieved by a package, an apparatus and a related process for manufacturing the package according to one or more of the accompanying claims and/or the follwing aspects. <CIT> shows packaging an article in a thermoplastic film by folding the film to form an envelope, placing the article in the centerfold of such envelope, and passing the film-circumscribed article through a heat-sealing zone.

A package according to the invention is disclosed in any one of appended claims <NUM>-<NUM>. <CIT> discloses a package according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

A process of making packages according to the invention is disclosed in any one of appended claims <NUM>-<NUM>.

Some embodiments and some aspects of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided only for illustrative and, therefore, nonlimiting purposes, in which:.

It should be noted that in the present detailed description, corresponding parts illustrated in the various figures are indicated by the same reference numerals. The figures may illustrate the object of the invention by representations that are not in scale; therefore, parts and components illustrated in the figures relating to the object of the invention may relate solely to schematic representations.

The terms upstream and downstream refer to a direction of advancement of a product to be packaged along a predetermined operating path in the respective production line.

The term product P means an article or a composite of articles of any kind. For example, the product may be of a foodstuff type and be in solid, liquid or gel form, i.e. in the form of two or more of the aforementioned aggregation states. In the food sector, the product may comprise: meat, fish, cheese, treated meats, prepared and frozen meals of various kinds.

The packaging apparatus described herein includes at least one control unit designed to perform the steps of the process for making the package. The control unit can clearly be only one or be formed by a plurality of different control units according to the design choices and the operational needs. The term control unit means an electronic component which can comprise at least one of: a digital processor (for example comprising at least one selected from the group of: CPU, GPU, GPGPU), a memory (or memories), an analog circuit, or a combination of one or more digital processing units with one or more analog circuits. The control unit can be "configured" or "programmed" to perform some steps: this can be done in practice by any means that allows configuring or programming the control unit. For example, in the case of a control unit comprising one or more CPUs and one or more memories, one or more programs can be stored in appropriate memory banks connected to the CPU or to the CPUs; the program or programs contain instructions which, when executed by the CPU or the CPUs, program or configure the control unit to perform the operations described in relation to the control unit. Alternatively, if the control unit is or includes analog circuitry, then the control unit circuit may be designed to include circuitry configured, in use, for processing electrical signals so as to perform the steps related to control unit. The control unit may comprise one or more digital units, for example of the microprocessor type, or one or more analog units, or a suitable combination of digital and analog units; the control unit can be configured for coordinating all the actions necessary for executing an instruction and instruction sets.

The film used for forming the bags and packages of the invention is made of plastic material, in particular polymeric material; the film is for example a flexible mono or multilayer material comprising at least an outer heat-weldable layer. In case of a multilayer film, the film may include an optional gas barrier layer and a one or more protective layers.

The film, in a currently preferred option, is a heat-shrinkable plastic film showing a free shrinking value at <NUM> (value measured in accordance with ASTM D2732, in oil) in the range from <NUM>% to <NUM>%, optionally from <NUM>% to <NUM>%, in particular from <NUM>% to <NUM>%, in both longitudinal and transverse directions. As used herein the terminology "heat-shrinkable," "heat-shrink," and the like, refer to the tendency of film to shrink upon the application of heat, such that the size of the film decreases while the film is in an unrestrained state. The plastic film material has preferably thickness comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>, optionally between <NUM> and <NUM>. In one example, the plastic film material has thickness comprised between <NUM> and <NUM> and is heat-shrinkable showing the free shrinking value indicated above.

Although, any plastic film with the above thickness, optionally made in shrinkable material with the above shrink properties would be adequate to implement the claimed invention, suitable exemplifying materials are disclosed in the following publications: <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>.

The tab applied to the plastic bags to form the packages of the invention is made, in particular entirely made, of paper, or paperboard, or PE or non-heat-shrinkable plastic material. In particular the tab is a thin strip, for example a thin rectangular strip.

The tab has thickness greater than the thickness of the plastic film material forming the plastic bag. In particular, the thickness of the tab is between <NUM> and <NUM>.

The sealing bands are preferably obtained by heat bonding or by gluing and may be either continuous sealing bands extending continuously and without interruption across a width or a length (entire width or entire length) of the plastic bag or discontinuous sealing bands comprising, along their extension, sealing zones intercalated by non-sealing zones.

In <FIG> is shown a first embodiment of a package <NUM> according to aspects of the invention. The package <NUM> comprises a plastic bag <NUM>, which delimits a seat <NUM> sealingly housing a product P: for example a food product P or a product of other nature.

The plastic bag <NUM> has plastic film walls <NUM>: in the example shown, the plastic bag has two opposite plastic film walls <NUM>. A sealing band <NUM> connects together opposed wall portions 4a of the plastic film walls <NUM>; a connecting zone <NUM> is thereby formed comprising the mentioned sealing band <NUM> and connecting together opposed mutually facing wall portions 4a of the plastic film walls <NUM> of the plastic bag: in the example shown, the connecting zone <NUM> is at a top region of the bag <NUM>.

Going into greater detail, the plastic bag shown in <FIG> is for example made from a single plastic foil (i.e. a single piece of plastic in sheet form, which may have monolayer or a multilayer structure) and the connecting zone <NUM> of the plastic bag is formed by mutually facing ends of the opposed film wall portions 4a of the same single plastic film, by the sealing band <NUM> and by one or more further sealing bands as hereinafter explained.

In practice, the plastic bag <NUM> of <FIG> is formed by bending a single plastic foil at a bend zone <NUM>, which in the specific example takes the shape of a fold line, to form the two opposing film walls <NUM>, which are joined together at the mentioned bend zone or fold line <NUM> and at the connecting zone <NUM> by the sealing band <NUM>; the two opposing film walls <NUM> are also joined together, at side edges thereof, by transverse sealing bands <NUM> extending from the fold line <NUM> to the sealing band <NUM>, in order to hermetically close the product into the seat <NUM> which is basically delimited by the transverse sealing bands <NUM> (at both sides of the bag), by the sealing band <NUM> (at the top region of the bag <NUM>) and by the fold line <NUM> (at the bottom region of the bag <NUM>). As it can be seen from <FIG>, the bend zone <NUM> forms two mutually facing plastic film walls <NUM> having first ends connected at the bend zone <NUM> and second ends, opposed to the first ends and distal with respect to the bend zone <NUM>: the product P located in a volume V positioned between the first ends and the said second ends of the mutually facing plastic film walls.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the sealing band <NUM> extends adjacent and parallel to a peripheral border <NUM> (top border in the figures, which also defines the top border of the bag <NUM> and which may be basically coincident with the top border of the sealing band) of the mutually facing ends of the opposed film walls <NUM>, and the easy opening feature is oriented transversally to the sealing band <NUM>. The sealing band <NUM> shown in the example is basically a straight band, but nothing excludes that the sealing band may be undulated or has non straight shape as long as it extends transversally to the transverse sealing bands <NUM> all the way from one sealing band <NUM> to the opposite sealing band <NUM> in a way to gas tightly close the seat <NUM>.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a tab <NUM> is coupled with the connecting zone <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>. In detail, the tab <NUM> is fixed to the connecting zone of the bag <NUM> is a way to intimately adhere to the same connecting zone, such that the tab maintains substantial planarity and smoothness of the plastic material forming the connecting zone. As shown in the figures, the tab <NUM> includes an easy opening feature <NUM> located at one of its perimeter edges <NUM>: in particular, the easy opening feature is a notch (i.e., a cutout or an indent through the thickness of the tab creating a discontinuity in the tab perimeter) or a weakening line (i.e., formed by a localized reduction of thickness or by a sequence of holes or short cuts positioned to form a line of weakness in the tab material departing from the tab perimeter) or a cut (i.e. a cut line through the thickness of the tab with no removal of tab material leaving opposed borders of the cut itself in contact the one with the other); the notch or cut or weakening line extends from the top perimeter <NUM> of the tab across a portion of the tab: for example in case of a substantially rectangular tab, the notch or weakening line may extend across at least <NUM>% of the minor dimension of the tab. As shown in the drawings, the notch or wakening line <NUM> is oriented towards the seat <NUM> and is oriented transversally to the sealing band <NUM>, such that acting on the tab will cause a propagation of line of fracture on the tab directed transversally to the same sealing band <NUM>.

With particular reference to <FIG>, the connecting zone <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> is formed by mutually facing ends of the opposed walls <NUM> forming a sort of pocket where the tab <NUM> is inserted and blocked. In detail, the tab <NUM> is coupled with the connecting zone of the plastic bag such that each one of the tab opposed prevalent surfaces intimately adheres to a respective one of the inner surfaces of the opposed wall portions 4a (see <FIG>). In other words, the tab is sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the opposed wall portions 4a of the plastic bag <NUM>. Furthermore, in order to keep the tab <NUM> in position, the connecting zone <NUM> comprises, in addition to said sealing band <NUM> (which may be regarded as a first sealing band), also a second sealing band <NUM> positioned at a distance from the first sealing band <NUM>: the tab <NUM> is positioned in the pocket between the first sealing band and the second sealing band. At least one of said first sealing band and second sealing band <NUM>, <NUM> (preferably the first sealing band) is designed to guarantee gas tight sealing of the seat <NUM> from an environment external to plastic bag and is therefore a continuous sealing band extending across a width of the plastic bag and connecting the two transverse sealing bands <NUM>. The other of said first and second sealing bands <NUM>, <NUM> (preferably the second sealing band) may be either similar to the first sealing band or a discontinuous sealing band comprising sealing zones intercalated by non-sealing zones. As mentioned, in the example of <FIG>, the tab <NUM> is substantially rectangular and the first and second sealing bands <NUM>, <NUM> are parallel and at a distance to each other sufficient to define a pocket sized to receive the tab.

Again with reference to the exemplifying drawings of <FIG>, the sealing bands <NUM> and <NUM> are elongated and in particular present a length in a direction of prevalent development, preferably parallel to a tab top edge, and a width measured perpendicular to the direction of prevalent development which is significantly smaller than the length: in the exemplifying drawings the width of the sealing band may be from <NUM> to <NUM>, while the length of each sealing band may significantly greater such as from <NUM> to <NUM> or even more mm.

In accordance with a further aspect the plastic bag <NUM> is a vacuumized bag: consequently the inner surfaces of the opposite wall portions 4a adhere to the product and also may adhere to each other in certain parts of the seat <NUM> not occupied by the product.

It is also to be noted that in another aspect which characterizes the bag of the enclosed <FIG> the bag is made of a heat-shrinkable plastic film showing a free shrinking value at <NUM> (value measured in accordance with ASTM D2732, in oil) in the range from <NUM>% to <NUM>%, optionally from <NUM>% to <NUM>%, in particular from <NUM>% to <NUM>%, in both longitudinal and transverse directions. In particular, the connecting zone of the bag, in the final package, is made of heat-shrinkable material which has been heat shrunk such that, on the one hand, the plastic film material intimately adheres to the tab surfaces and, on the other hand, the tab keeps the plastic material flat and smooth (with thus enhanced aesthetical properties including enhanced clarity), and with the easy opening feature <NUM> being able, when operated to trigger formation of a rupture in the tab, to also trigger a corresponding rupture propagation in the film material forming the connecting zone thus facilitating opening of the bag <NUM>.

In this respect, it is noted that the tab is a body distinct from the bag and more rigid than the plastic film forming the bag: for example the tab is a made, in particular entirely made, of paper, or paperboard, or PE or other non-heat-shrinkable plastic material and has thickness greater than the thickness of the plastic film material forming the plastic bag. For example, the thickness of the tab is between <NUM> and <NUM>, while the thickness of the plastic film material of the bag <NUM> is comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>, optionally between <NUM> and <NUM>, more optionally between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Going now into the geometric details of the tab, the tab <NUM> comprises a first and second flap 10a and 10b, adjacent to each other: the easy opening feature <NUM>, in particular said notch, cut or said weakening line, extends from a tab edge <NUM> in correspondence of a tab intermediate region 10c between the first and second flaps 10a and 10b. The first and second flaps are operable by a user and may move from a substantially coplanar condition to an angularly offset and/or teared apart condition (basically the two flaps may be separated by either pulling the two flaps apart and/or by tilting the two flaps): as the user moves the first and second flaps apart from each other, this causes propagation of a fracture line from the easy opening feature across the tab and, subsequently, determines formation of a rupture across the plastic bag connecting zone.

As shown in dashed lines in <FIG>, the bag <NUM> comprises a further easy opening feature <NUM>, in particular a further notch, cut or a further weakening line, formed in the plastic material of the bag and extending from peripheral border <NUM> of the walls <NUM> and of plastic bag <NUM>, adjacent to the connecting zone <NUM> of the bag or partly crossing the connecting zone <NUM>. The optional further notch, cut or further weakening line <NUM> is oriented towards said seat <NUM>: in accordance with a further aspect, the further notch, cut or further weakening line <NUM> is aligned with the notch, cut or weakening line <NUM> present in the tab, and may further facilitate easy opening of the plastic bag <NUM> at the connecting zone <NUM>. As it is visible from <FIG>, the further notch, cut or further weakening line <NUM> may extend from the peripheral border <NUM> and transversally cross part or the entirety of the second sealing band <NUM>.

In <FIG> a second embodiment of a package <NUM> according to other aspects of the invention is shown. The package <NUM> of <FIG> has most of its features in common with the package of <FIG> described above: thus, to avoid repetitions, only the differences between the two embodiments will be now discussed; in <FIG>, the same reference numerals used in <FIG> will be adopted to identify features corresponding to those of <FIG> embodiment.

Differently from the package of <FIG>, the second embodiment shown in <FIG> has the tab <NUM> coupled to an external surface of the bag <NUM> and in particular to an outer surface of the connecting zone <NUM>.

For example, <FIG> show a single tab element which is intimately bonded (e.g., heat bonded or adhesively bonded) to the outside of the plastic bag connecting zone <NUM>, such that one of the tab prevalent surfaces entirely and intimately adheres to the outer surface of one the opposed wall portions 4a of the plastic bag <NUM>. Note that it is possible to foresee a tab active on two opposed wall portions 4a: in this case the tab would have one prevalent surface having a portion that intimately adheres to the outer surface of one of the opposed wall portions and a consecutive portion that adheres to the outer surface of the other of the opposed wall portions (in practice the tab could in this case be formed by a single element folded the top peripheral border <NUM> of the bag, and adhesively or heat bonded to the opposed wall portions). In both the above cases, the easy opening features would extend from a perimeter edge of the/each tab <NUM> and be oriented towards the seat <NUM>. In a further option, two distinct tab elements could be envisaged, each tab element adhering to the outer surface of one respective wall portions (e.g., by adhesive or heat bonding), with a respective easy opening feature, in particular notch or weakening line, extending from the top edge of the tab and directed towards the seat <NUM>.

A further difference of the second embodiment shown in <FIG> is that the connecting zone <NUM> has one single sealing band <NUM>, which is configured to gas tightly seal the seat <NUM> from an environment external to plastic bag. The example of <FIG> has therefore a single tab element adhering above the outer surface of one film wall portion 4a and specifically above the single sealing band <NUM>, with the easy opening feature <NUM> (notch, cut or weakening line) extending from a top edge <NUM> of the single tab element. As already mentioned, according to a variant, two separate tab elements may be envisaged each adhering to the outer surface of the respective film wall portion 4a and specifically to the outer surface of the connecting zone <NUM>: each separate tab element would have a respective easy opening feature, in particular notch, cut or weakening line, extending from a top edge of each tab element and directed towards the seat <NUM>. A further alternative, may use two tab elements connected at a folding line of the tab: each tab element in this case adheres to the outer surface of the respective film wall portion, above the single sealing band <NUM>, with a respective easy opening feature, in particular notch or weakening line, extending from the folding line of the tab.

A further peculiar aspect of the second embodiment of <FIG> is that the single sealing band <NUM> is relatively large, while still having a length in a direction of prevalent development, preferably parallel to a tab top edge; in particular, and the band <NUM> of the example of <FIG> has a width measured perpendicular to the direction of prevalent development which is significantly smaller than the length: in the second embodiment the easy opening feature present in the tab, in particular the notch or weakening line, extends above at least <NUM>%, or at least <NUM>%, of the width of the sealing band <NUM>.

As shown in dashed lines in <FIG>, the bag <NUM> comprises a further easy opening feature <NUM>, in particular a further notch, cut or a further weakening line, formed in the plastic material of the bag and extending from peripheral border <NUM> of the walls <NUM> and of plastic bag <NUM>, adjacent to the connecting zone <NUM> of the bag or partly crossing the connecting zone <NUM>. The optional further notch, cut or further weakening line <NUM> is oriented towards said seat <NUM>: in accordance with a further aspect, the further notch, cut or further weakening line <NUM> is aligned with the notch, cut or weakening line <NUM> present in the tab, and may further facilitate easy opening of the plastic bag <NUM> at the connecting zone <NUM>. As it is visible from <FIG>, the further notch, cut or further weakening line <NUM> may extend from the peripheral border <NUM> and transversally cross part the sealing band <NUM>.

In <FIG> a third embodiment of a package <NUM> according to other aspects of the invention is shown. The package <NUM> of <FIG> has the same features of the package of <FIG> described above, with the exception of one of the first or second sealing bands, in particular the second sealing band <NUM>, which is a discontinuous sealing band comprises sealing zones (for example in the form of short segments) intercalated by non-sealing zones: the discontinuous second sealing band <NUM> may extend parallel to the top border <NUM> from the left to the right transverse sealing band <NUM>. As the remaining features of the embodiment of <FIG> correspond to those of the first embodiment of <FIG>, the same reference numerals used in <FIG> are adopted and the description thereof is not repeated.

In <FIG> a fourth embodiment of a package <NUM> according to other aspects of the invention is shown. The package <NUM> of <FIG> has the same features of the package of <FIG> described above, with the exception that the single sealing band <NUM> is narrower compared to <FIG> and narrower compared to the tab <NUM>: in practice the tab <NUM> has a length in a direction of prevalent development, preferably parallel to a tab top edge, and has a width measured perpendicular to the direction of prevalent development which is significantly smaller than the length, but larger than the width of the single sealing band <NUM>.

In this case, the package includes a further easy opening feature <NUM>, in particular a further notch, cut or a further weakening line, formed in the plastic material of the bag and extending from peripheral border <NUM> of the walls <NUM> and of plastic bag <NUM>. The optional further notch, cut or further weakening line <NUM> is oriented towards said seat <NUM>: in accordance with a further aspect, the further notch, cut or further weakening line <NUM> is aligned with the notch, cut or weakening line <NUM> present in the tab, and may further facilitate easy opening of the plastic bag <NUM> at the connecting zone <NUM>. As it is visible from <FIG>, the further notch, cut or further weakening line <NUM> may extend from the peripheral border <NUM> but not reach the sealing band <NUM>. Alternatively, the notch, cut or weakening line may partly cross the sealing band <NUM>.

As the remaining features of the embodiment of <FIG> correspond to those of the second embodiment of <FIG>, the same reference numerals used in <FIG> are adopted and the description thereof is not repeated.

In <FIG> a fifth embodiment of a package <NUM> according to other aspects of the invention is shown. The package <NUM> of <FIG> has the same features of the package of <FIG> described above, with the exception that the single sealing band <NUM> is narrower compared to <FIG> and narrower compared to the tab <NUM>: in practice the tab <NUM> has a length in a direction of prevalent development, preferably parallel to a tab top edge, and has a width measured perpendicular to the direction of prevalent development which is significantly smaller than the length, but larger than the width of the single sealing band <NUM>. Moreover, the tab <NUM> is active on two opposed wall portions 4a and has one prevalent surface having a portion that intimately adheres to the outer surface of one of the opposed wall portions and a consecutive portion that adheres to the outer surface of the other of the opposed wall portions: in practice the tab <NUM> is formed by a single element folded around the bag peripheral border <NUM>, in particular around the top peripheral border <NUM> of the bag, and adhesively or heat bonded to the opposed wall portions 4a. Furthermore, the easy opening feature on the tab <NUM> may be a notch, cut or weakening line on both opposed portions of the folded tab and thus extend from the tab folding line (parallel to the peripheral border of the bag <NUM>) towards the seat <NUM>.

The embodiment of <FIG> is identical to that of <FIG> with the exception that in this example the tab is active on the two opposed wall portions 4a (in this respect similar to <FIG> embodiment). In the case of <FIG> the tab has one prevalent surface that has a portion that intimately adheres to the outer surface of one of the opposed wall portions and a consecutive portion that adheres to the outer surface of the other of the opposed wall portions (in practice the tab could in this case be formed by a single element folded around the top peripheral border <NUM> of the bag, and adhesively or heat bonded to the opposed wall portions).

Apart from the peculiarities described above, the remaining features of the embodiment of <FIG> correspond to those of the second embodiment of <FIG> and thus are not repeated and same reference numbers are used to identify corresponding features.

<FIG>schematically show further embodiments, which represent additional variants of the package of <FIG> (tab <NUM> applied internally between walls <NUM>). In practice, in the embodiments of <FIG> the tab <NUM> is again inserted between mutually facing wall portions 4a (similar to <FIG>), but in correspondence of a zone of the bag <NUM> close to the bend zone or line <NUM>. In these variants the bag has a first connecting zone 6a including mutually facing wall portions 4a of the first ends of the plastic film walls <NUM> (i.e. the ends of the film walls proximal or adjacent to the bend zone <NUM>). At least one sealing band extends at a distance from bend zone <NUM>, optionally in a direction parallel to the same bend zone <NUM>.

In the variants of <FIG> it is provided a second connecting zone 6b (in a position opposite to the bend zone <NUM>) including mutually facing wall portions of second ends of the plastic walls <NUM>: at the second connecting zone 6b a respective further sealing band 5b is provided which extends across the width of the plastic bag <NUM> and which is a continuous sealing band creating a tight seal at the top border <NUM> of the bag <NUM>.

As it can be seen from the figures, in <FIG> the tab <NUM> is trapped between the opposed wall portions 4a and between a first and a second continuous sealing band 5a, 13a optionally extending parallel to the bend zone or fold line <NUM>.

In <FIG> the tab <NUM> is trapped between the opposed wall portions 4a and between a first and a second non-continuous sealing band 5a, 13a (i.e. each sealing band 5a, 13a is formed by sealing zones intercalated by non-sealing zones) optionally extending parallel to the bend zone or fold line <NUM>.

In <FIG> the tab <NUM> is trapped between the opposed wall portions 4a and between a first non-continuous sealing band 5a and a second continuous sealing band 13a (i.e. first sealing band 5a is formed by sealing zones intercalated by non-sealing zones) optionally extending parallel to the bend zone or fold line <NUM>.

In <FIG> the tab <NUM> is trapped between the opposed wall portions 4a and between a continuous sealing band 5a (optionally parallel to bend zone <NUM>) and the bend zone or fold line <NUM>.

In <FIG> the tab <NUM> is trapped between the opposed wall portions 4a and between a non-continuous sealing band 5a (formed by sealing zones intercalated by non-sealing zones and optionally parallel to bend zone <NUM>) and the bend zone or fold line <NUM>.

Apart from the peculiarities described above, the remaining features of the packages of <FIG> correspond to those of the first embodiment of <FIG> and thus are not repeated and same reference numbers are used to identify corresponding features.

<FIG>schematically show further embodiments, which represent additional variants of the package of <FIG> (tab <NUM> applied externally to the bag wall or walls <NUM>). In practice, in the embodiments of <FIG> the tab <NUM> is applied externally to the bag (as in <FIG>), but in correspondence of a zone of the bag <NUM> close to the bend zone or line <NUM>. In these variants the bag has a first connecting zone 6a including mutually facing wall portions 4a of the first ends of the plastic film walls <NUM> (i.e. the ends of the film walls proximal or adjacent to the bend zone <NUM>). One sealing band 5a extends at a distance from bend zone <NUM>, optionally in a direction parallel to the same bend zone <NUM>.

As it can be seen from the figures, in <FIG> the tab <NUM> is bonded (e.g., glued or hot bonded) to the external surface of the first end of a wall portion <NUM> above the first continuous sealing band 5a, which optionally extends parallel to the bend zone or fold line <NUM>. In this case the first sealing band 5a has a width larger than or equal to the width of the tab <NUM> which may completely or partially overlap the sealing band 5a (width is measured parallel to the transverse seal lines or in any case perpendicular to the direction of prevalent extension of the tab <NUM>/sealing band5a). The easy opening feature <NUM> is a notch, a cut, or a weakening line extending across a portion of the tab <NUM> and departing from the edge <NUM> of the tab adjacent to the bend zone or fold line <NUM>.

In <FIG> the tab <NUM> is a folded tab and has two portions each one bonded (e.g., glued or hot bonded) to one respective external surface of the first end of a respective wall portion <NUM>. In this example each portion of the tab has a width larger than the width of the underling first continuous sealing band 5a (width is measured parallel to the transverse seal lines or in any case perpendicular to the direction of prevalent extension of the tab <NUM>/seal line 5a), which optionally extends parallel to the bend zone or fold line <NUM>. In practice, each portion of the folded tab <NUM> may completely or partially overlap the sealing band 5a. The easy opening feature <NUM> is a notch, a cut, or a weakening line extending across a portion of both the tab opposed portions and departing from the edge <NUM> of the tab, which corresponds to the tab folding line positioned just adjacent to the bend zone or fold line <NUM> of bag <NUM>.

The embodiment of <FIG> is identical to that of <FIG> with the exception that the first sealing band 5a has a width smaller than the width of the tab <NUM> (again width is measured parallel to the transverse seal lines or in any case perpendicular to the direction of prevalent extension of the tab <NUM>/sealing band5a).

The embodiment of <FIG> is identical to that of <FIG> with the exception that in this example each portion of the tab has a width equal to or smaller than the width (again width is measured parallel to the transverse seal lines or in any case perpendicular to the direction of prevalent extension of the tab <NUM>/sealing band 5a) of the underling first continuous sealing band 5a.

Apart from the peculiarities described above, the remaining features of the packages of <FIG>correspond to those of the second embodiment of <FIG> and thus are not repeated and same reference numbers are used to identify corresponding features.

In <FIG> a last embodiment of a package <NUM> according to other aspects of the invention is shown. The package <NUM> of <FIG> has the same features of the package of <FIG> described above, with the exception that the single sealing band <NUM> is narrower compared to <FIG> and narrower compared to the tab <NUM>: in practice the tab <NUM> has a length in a direction of prevalent development, preferably parallel to a tab top edge, and has a width measured perpendicular to the direction of prevalent development which is significantly smaller than the length, but larger than the width of the single sealing band <NUM>. Additionally (and different from the example of <FIG>), the tab extends well beyond the top peripheral border <NUM> of the bag <NUM> and the easy opening feature <NUM> on the tab may not reach a zone of the tab overlapping the sealing band <NUM>. Finally, the package includes a further easy opening feature (not shown in <FIG>), in particular a further notch, cut or a further weakening line, may be formed in the plastic material of the bag, extend from peripheral border <NUM> towards said seat <NUM>, be aligned with the easy opening feature <NUM>, and partly cross the sealing band <NUM>.

Although in the embodiments described above the package comprises a plastic bag of perfectly rectangular form, this is not necessarily always the case; furthermore, the plastic bag is shown to have a width smaller than its height (with reference to the plane of <FIG>), but of course the width of the bag may be equal or larger than its height.

Additionally, in variants not shown of the packages described above, the plastic bag <NUM> may be formed by two separate sheets (instead of one sheet bent along zone/line <NUM>): in this case instead of bend zone <NUM>, there would be a further sealing band, with the rest of the features of the packages <NUM> described above remaining unchanged.

Another object of the present invention is a process and a related apparatus for making the package <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, it is shown an apparatus <NUM> which, under the control of at least a control unit <NUM>, is configured for executing a process of making the packages of the type shown in <FIG>, <FIG>. The process comprises advancing products P to be packaged along an operating path: in particular, the products P may be displaced by a conveyor <NUM>, controlled by control unit <NUM>, along said operating path and towards a zone where a film <NUM> is positioned around the products P. In particular, the film <NUM> may be fed by a supply roll <NUM> and displaced along the operating path: before reaching the products P, the film <NUM> passes through a guide device <NUM> (for example in the form of a collar) which confers a tubular or almost tubular shape to the film <NUM> (by almost tubular shape it is intended a shape of a tube with a longitudinal side open). In reality, in the example of <FIG> and <FIG>, the film <NUM> is not closed as a real tube but has a longitudinal opening on one longitudinal side (the reason for this will be explained herein below) thus conferring an almost tubular shape to the same film downstream the guide device <NUM> of the tube. Alternatively, the guide device <NUM> could form the film into a real tube or, in a further alternative, a pre-formed tubular film could be fed from a dedicated supply.

Downstream the guide device <NUM> the almost tubular film 23a advances along the operating path and is positioned around the products P. Upstream the guide device <NUM> (i.e., when the film is still flat or substantially flat) or at the guide device or immediately downstream the guide device, a tab applicator <NUM> operates to position a respective tab <NUM> in correspondence of an area of the film <NUM> destined to form the connecting zone of each plastic bag. Each tab may be positioned as a discrete tab or in the form of a continuous strip (in this case consecutive portions of the same strip define the tab for each bag under formation). The tabs may be simply positioned or glued or slightly heat bonded to the film <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> then provides, again under control of unit <NUM>, for actuating a seal bar <NUM> configured to form transversal seals <NUM>, oriented transversally to a direction of advancement of the film <NUM> along the operating path.

In a first alternative, the seal bar <NUM>, as the tubular or almost tubular film advances, forms spaced apart transverse seals thus creating a plurality of consecutive interconnected plastic bags <NUM>, which are positioned adjacent to each other along said operating path and which are open in correspondence of the area which will become the connecting zone <NUM> in the final packages. In other words, at this stage of the process, the interconnected bags <NUM> may be semi-sealed interconnected bags having an opening (which in the specific example is positioned on the left side of the bags with respect to an advancement direction, but which could alternatively be on the right side on the top side or on the bottom side depending on the apparatus design and specifically on the position of the vacuum station destined to suck gas from the interconnected semi-sealed bags). The semi-sealed bags may then be separated from each other by a blade <NUM>' after removal of gas from the bags and after having sealed the opening or open end portion of each bag through which gas is extracted. Each one of the plurality of consecutive plastic bags formed from the tubular or almost tubular film 23a hosts a respective product and proceeds to a vacuum station <NUM>, where the open end portions of each bag <NUM> enter into one or more vacuum chambers which evacuate gas from the bags. Once the bags have been vacuumized, they reach a sealing station <NUM> where the first and second sealing bands <NUM> and <NUM> are formed thereby sealing the seat <NUM> of each bag <NUM>; moreover, as the tabs <NUM> had been positioned well before formation of the sealing bands <NUM> and <NUM>, each respective tab is sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the opposed wall portions 4a of the corresponding plastic bag <NUM> and trapped between the two sealing bands <NUM>, <NUM>.

In a second alternative to what just described, the seal bar <NUM> may be configured to form both the transversal seals <NUM>, oriented transversally to a direction of advancement of the film <NUM> along the operating path, and a transverse cut that separates each bag from the consecutive bag. In this case the seal bar <NUM> (or the seal bars in case more than one seal bar is provided) carries at its bottom two parallel seal bands and a blade positioned between the two seal bands. The seal bar <NUM> is thus configured, again preferably under the control of control unit <NUM>, to create two parallel transverse seals (as shown in <FIG>) one forming the left sealing band <NUM> of an upstream bag under formation and one forming a right sealing band <NUM> of a downstream bag just formed (with reference to the direction of advancement of the tubular/almost tubular film 23a along the operating path shown in <FIG> and <FIG>). The seal bar <NUM>, as the tubular or almost tubular film advances, forms spaced apart transverse seals thus creating a plurality of consecutive already separated plastic bags <NUM> (although it is not excluded that the blade on the seal bar <NUM> may be designed to leave a small connection between adjacent bags such as a small plastic tab which is then broken at the end of the process), which are positioned adjacent to each other along said operating path and which are open in correspondence of the area which will become the connecting zone <NUM> in the final packages. In other words, at this stage of the process, the bags <NUM> are semi-sealed bags having an opening (which in the specific example is positioned on the left side of the bags with respect to an advancement direction, but which could alternatively be on the right side on the top side or on the bottom side depending on the apparatus design and specifically on the position of the vacuum station destined to suck gas from the interconnected semi-sealed bags). The blade <NUM>' in this alternative is not necessary. As it is visible from <FIG>, <FIG>, each one of the plurality of consecutive plastic bags <NUM> formed from the tubular or almost tubular film 23a hosts a respective product and proceeds to vacuum station <NUM>, where the open end portions of each bag <NUM> enter into one or more vacuum chambers which evacuate gas from the bags. Once the bags have been vacuumized, they reach a sealing station <NUM> where the first and second sealing bands <NUM> and <NUM> are formed thereby sealing the seat <NUM> of each bag <NUM>, as already described.

In accordance with a further aspect, the process provides a step of heat treating the portion of each consecutive bag where said seat <NUM> is defined (i.e., basically the main part of each bag with the exclusion of the part destined to define the connecting zone in the final package) to heat shrink said portion of each consecutive bag around the respective product. This heat treating step may be performed using a heat generator <NUM>, such as a hot air generator or an IR heater, or other type of heater operative at or upstream the vacuum station <NUM>. The step of heat treating does not involve heat treating the portion of each bag destined to form the connecting zone, which is maintained thermally insulated from any heat source or sources, for example using a thermal screen or a thermal insulator <NUM> interposed between the heat generator and the portion of film <NUM> destined to form the connecting zone of each bag. In greater detail, the above step of heat treating takes place on each package under formation before or during step of withdrawing gas from said plastic bags, and in any case preferably before sealingly close the seats <NUM> of the plastic bags. In the example shown, the step of heat treating is achieved using hot air, optionally hot air at a temperature comprised between 100C° and <NUM>, in particular from <NUM> and <NUM>.

In accordance with a further aspect, the process may include an additional step of heat treating, which takes place after sealingly close the plastic bags and after the tabs are fixed to the respective connecting zones of each plastic bag: in greater detail the additional heat treating is designed to exclusively heat treating the connecting zone of each bag to heat shrink the same connecting zone and cause contraction of the film material against the tab <NUM>, which thus efficiently maintains the material flat and smooth. The additional heating step is achieved using an additional heater <NUM>, for example and additional hot air generator conveying hot hair exclusively to the connecting zone <NUM>, optionally operative to provide hot air at a temperature comprised between <NUM> ° and <NUM>, in particular from <NUM> and <NUM>. Alternatively, and as shown in <FIG>, the additional heater <NUM> may comprise a heated belt acting in contact on the connecting zone or a pair of heated belts acting on opposite sides of each interconnected plastic bag. For example each heated belt of the additional heater <NUM> may have a width of at least <NUM> or of at least <NUM>, preferably comprised between <NUM> and <NUM> and may be heated to a temperature from 100C° and <NUM>, in particular from <NUM> and <NUM> in the tract of the belt(s) in contact with the bag connecting zone <NUM>. The heated belt(s) may be made in Teflon or at least have a surface acting in contact with the plastic bags <NUM> covered with a layer of Teflon.

Finally, the process may provide for separating the plastic bags from each other (if the bags are still interconnected) to form packages described herein above with reference to <FIG>. Alternatively to what described above instead of the additional heater in line with the rest of the apparatus <NUM>, the connecting zone may be heated to cause shrinking at a station separate from the line shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

Although the above process is suitable to make the packages of <FIG>, those skilled in the art will understand that the same process may also be used for making the packages of <FIG> (simply the sealing bars <NUM> will be designed to create at least one non-continuous sealing band <NUM>, or for making the packages of <FIG> (in this case the tab will be positioned next to the bend zone or fold line <NUM> and the seal bars <NUM> will be positioned and designed to form the first and second connecting zones 6a, 6b described above in connection with the examples of <FIG>).

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, it is shown an alternative apparatus <NUM> which, under the control of at least a control unit <NUM>, is configured for executing a process of making the packages of the type shown in <FIG>. Similar to the above described process, the process executed by the apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG> comprises advancing products P to be packaged along an operating path: in particular the products P may be displaced by a conveyor <NUM>, controlled by control unit <NUM>, along said operating path and towards a zone where a film <NUM> is positioned around the products P. In particular, the film <NUM> may be fed by a supply roll <NUM> and displaced along the operating path: before reaching the products P, the film <NUM> passes through a guide device <NUM> (for example in the form of a collar), which confers a tubular or almost tubular shape to the film <NUM>. In reality, in the example of <FIG>, the film <NUM> is not closed as a real tube but has a longitudinal opening on one longitudinal side (to allow evacuation of air in the subsequent vacuum station <NUM>) thus conferring an almost tubular shape to the same film downstream the guide device <NUM> of the tube. Alternatively, the guide device <NUM> could form the film into a real tube or, in a further alternative, a pre-formed tubular film could be fed from a dedicated supply.

Downstream the guide device <NUM> the tubular or almost tubular film 23a advances along the operating path and is positioned around the products P.

The apparatus <NUM> then provides, again under control of unit <NUM>, for actuating one or more seal bars <NUM> configured to form transversal seals, oriented transversally to a direction of advancement of the film <NUM> along the operating path. Also in the example of <FIG> and <FIG> the seal bar <NUM> may be according to one or the other of the two alternatives described above in connection with the example of <FIG> and <FIG>. The seal bars <NUM>, as the tubular or almost tubular film advances, form spaced apart transverse seals <NUM>, thus creating a plurality of consecutive interconnected plastic bags <NUM> (which are then separated from each other by blade <NUM>'), which are positioned adjacent to each other along said operating path and which are open in correspondence of the area which will become the connecting zone in the final packages. Alternatively, the seal bar <NUM> may include two (e.g., bottom) adjacent seal bands and a blade interposed between the adjacent seal bands (thus blade <NUM>' may not be necessary) and thus form separated bags <NUM> with sealing bands <NUM> and with an open end portion, as described above for the second alternative of example of <FIG> and <FIG>. As it is visible from <FIG> and <FIG>, each one of the plurality of consecutive plastic bags formed from the tubular or almost tubular film <NUM> hosts a respective product P and proceeds to a vacuum station <NUM>, where the open end portions of each bag enter into one or more vacuum chambers which evacuate gas from the bags. Once the bags have been vacuumized, they reach a sealing station <NUM> where the single sealing band <NUM> is formed thereby sealing the seat <NUM> of each bag <NUM>.

In accordance with a further aspect, the process executed by the apparatus of <FIG> and <FIG> provides a step of heat treating the portion of each consecutive bag where said seat <NUM> is defined (i.e., basically the main part of each bag with the exclusion of the part destined to define the connecting zone in the final package) to heat shrink said portion of each consecutive bag around the respective product. This heat treating step may be performed using a heat generator <NUM>, such as a hot air generator or an IP heater, operative at or upstream the vacuum station <NUM>. The step of heat treating does not involve heat treating the portion of each bag destined to form the connecting zone which is maintained thermally insulated from any heat source or sources, for example using a thermal screen or a thermal insulator <NUM> interposed between the heat generator and the portion of film <NUM> destined to form the connecting zone of each bag. In greater detail, the step of heat treating takes place on each package under formation before or during step of withdrawing gas from said plastic bags, and in any case preferably before sealingly close the seats <NUM> of the plastic bags. Also in the example of <FIG>, the step of heat treating is achieved using hot air, optionally hot air at a temperature comprised between <NUM> ° and <NUM>, in particular from <NUM> and <NUM>.

Then the process of <FIG> provides for positioning a respective tab <NUM> in correspondence of the connecting zone of each plastic bag: this step takes place for example by action of tab applicator <NUM> after having sealingly closed each bag: each tab <NUM> is fixed, in particular adhesively or heat bonded, to the outer surface one or both of the opposed wall portions 4a of each plastic bag <NUM> at connecting zone <NUM>.

In accordance with a further aspect, also the process of <FIG> and <FIG> may include an additional step of heat treating, which takes place after sealingly close the plastic bags and after the tabs are fixed to the respective connecting zones of each plastic bag: in greater detail the additional heat treating is designed to exclusively heat treating the connecting zone of each bag to heat shrink the same connecting zone and cause contraction of the film material against the tab, which thus efficiently maintains the material flat and smooth. The additional heating step is achieved using an additional heater <NUM>, for example and additional hot air generator, optionally operative to provide hot air at a temperature comprised between <NUM> ° and <NUM>, in particular from <NUM> and <NUM>.

Alternatively, and as shown in <FIG>, the additional heater <NUM> may comprise heated belt acting in contact on the connecting zone or a pair of heated belts acting on opposite sides of each interconnected plastic bag. For example each heated belt of the additional heater <NUM> may have a width of at least <NUM> or of at least <NUM>, preferably comprised between <NUM> and <NUM> and may be heated to a temperature from 100C° and <NUM>, in particular from <NUM> and <NUM> in the tract of the belt(s) in contact with the bag connecting zone <NUM>.

The heated belt(s) may be made in Teflon or at least have a surface acting in contact with the plastic bags <NUM> covered with a layer of Teflon.

Finally, the process may provide for separating the plastic bags from each other (if the bags are still interconnected) to form packages described herein above with reference to <FIG>.

Alternatively to what described above, instead of the additional heater in line with apparatus <NUM>, the connecting zone may be heated to cause shrinking at a station separate from the line shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

Although the above process and apparatus of <FIG> and <FIG> is suitable to make the packages of <FIG>, those skilled in the art will understand that the same process may also be used for making the packages of <FIG> (the sealing bar <NUM> will be designed to create a sealing band <NUM> narrower than that of <FIG>), or the packages of <FIG> (the sealing bar <NUM> will in this case be designed to create a sealing band <NUM> narrower than that of <FIG> and the tab applicator will be designed to apply a tab folded on both sides of each bag), or the packages of <FIG> (the sealing bar <NUM> will in this case be designed to create a sealing band <NUM> narrower than that of <FIG> and the tab applicator will be designed to apply a tab extending beyond the peripheral edge <NUM> of the bag <NUM>), or the packages <FIG> (in this case the tab will be positioned next to the bend zone or fold line <NUM> and the seal bars <NUM> will be positioned and designed to form the first and second connecting zones 6a, 6b described above in connection with the examples of <FIG>).

In the processes and packages described above the tab is a made, in particular entirely made, of paper, or paperboard, or non-heat-shrinkable plastic material; furthermore the tab has thickness greater than the thickness of the plastic film material used in the process to form the plastic bags <NUM>. In particular, the thickness of the tab is between <NUM> and <NUM>, whilst the plastic film material has thickness comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>, optionally between <NUM> and <NUM>, more optionally between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Finally, although the attached drawings show an apparatus where the products and the bags under formation are moved along a horizontal operating path, nothing excludes that the packages disclosed herein might be obtained using a vertical type machine where a film is shaped according to a tubular shape and moved along a vertical trajectory. In this case the film may for example come from a feed roll, be shaped by a guide device (for example in the form of a collar) which confers a tubular or almost tubular shape to the film (by almost tubular shape it is intended a shape of a tube with a longitudinal, in this case vertical, side open) such as to have opposed longitudinal edges which are then sealed by a sealer operative an a side of the tubular film. Transverse (i.e., in this case horizontal) seals are then carried out on the tubular film to form a plurality of interconnected packages. Before making the top transverse seal on each package a product is position or fed into each semi-sealed package and, if desired, each package may be vacuumized. As described for the above processes, the body of each package where the product is housed may be heat shrunk (i.e. with hot air) and the connecting zone of each package may also be heat shrunk (separately from the rest of the bag to cause contraction of the film material at the zone where the tab is located). Finally, the interconnected bags are separated to form the packages described above.

Again, although in the above processes, it is described that the heat treatments are achieved with hot air, according to a possible alternative applicable to the above described processes instead or in addition to performing the heat treatments with hot air as above described, the plastic bags, or the packages obtained after separation of the plastic bags, may be heat treated offline at a dedicated heat treatment, using hot air and or hot liquid.

In a further aspect, a process of making packages is disclosed which may be used for making the packages described above or also for making packages without any tab. In practice, it is possible to refer to <FIG> where the steps of applying the tab <NUM> are removed. This last process comprises the following steps:.

According to an aspect of this process, vacuumization may start after initiation of the heat shrinking of the portion of the plastic bag where the product is seated (or of the entire plastic bag), which as shown in the figures may take place in line with the step of vacuumization in the same apparatus, for example using hot air acting on the plastic bag portion hosting the product.

In a possible aspect first heat shrinking of the portion of the plastic bag where seat <NUM> is defined takes place (using hot air) and then vacuumization by applying vacuum to the at least one opening may take place with vacuumization lasting few seconds (e.g., from <NUM> to <NUM> or <NUM> seconds) after termination of the heat shrinking step.

Claim 1:
A package comprising:
a plastic bag (<NUM>) delimiting a seat (<NUM>) sealingly housing a product (P), the plastic bag (<NUM>) having
- one or more plastic film walls (<NUM>), and
- at least one connecting zone (<NUM>; 6a, 6b) comprising at least one sealing band (<NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM>; 5a; 5a, 13a) connecting together mutually facing wall portions (4a) of said plastic film walls (<NUM>),
a tab (<NUM>) coupled with the at least one connecting zone (<NUM>; 6a, 6b) of the plastic bag (<NUM>),
wherein the tab (<NUM>) includes an easy opening feature (<NUM>) at one or more of its perimeter edges,
characterized in that
the plastic bag (<NUM>) comprises a further easy opening feature (<NUM>),
wherein the further easy opening feature (<NUM>) is formed in the plastic material of the plastic bag (<NUM>) and extends from a peripheral border (<NUM>) of the plastic bag (<NUM>), and wherein the further easy opening feature (<NUM>) is either adjacent to the connecting zone (<NUM>; 6a, 6b) of the plastic bag (<NUM>) or partly crosses the connecting zone (<NUM>), in particular partly or completely crosses the at least one sealing band (<NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM>; 5a; 5a, 13a) of the plastic bag (<NUM>).