Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE
PACKAGING FILM, PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE FOR
THIS PACKAGE
DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a packaging film.
The invention further relates to a method of
manufacture for a package using the packaging film
according to the first paragraph.
The invention further relates to a package produced
from a packaging film according to the first paragraph.
BACKGROUND
A packaging film of the genre specified initially in
the first paragraph is known, for example, from the
European Patent Application EP0473517A2. Linear
weakenings are incorporated in the packaging film with
the aid of laser beams, which weakenings define an
opening strip which can be torn from the composite of
the packaging film by the application of force by a
user. The packaging film further has marginal sealing
regions which serve to close the package. When the
packaging film is processed in roll form, the packaging
film is unwound from a roll on which the packaging film
is wound and the packaging film is folded around a
product. At the same time, inside edge regions, i.e.
the sealing regions, of the packaging film, are pressed
onto one another and sealed.
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In the known packaging film, there is the problem that
in the case of material weakenings which extend, for
example, transversely to the unrolling direction of the
packaging film, the required stability of the packaging
film for roll-form processing can only be achieved with
difficulty or even not at all, and specifically
particularly when relatively thin films are involved.
In addition, known pull tabs provided in the composite
with the opening strip in order to release the opening
strip from the packaging film have proved
problematical. Such pull tabs, frequently also
designated as opening initiating means, usually
protrude from the package or are integrated in the
packaging film in a very exposed position on one or two
of the overlapping edges of the packaging film. The
protruding or exposed position of the opening
initiating means brings with it the risk of an
unintentional initiation of opening. In particular, the
opening initiating means integrated on the edge of the
packaging film have a similarly negative effect on the
stability of the packaging film, as is the case in the
case of the material weakenings defining the opening
strip when these material weakenings extend as far as
the edge of the packaging film.
It is therefore the object of the invention to provide
a packaging film, a method of manufacture for a
packaging film and a package fabricated using the
packaging film so that the previously specified
problems are avoided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object is achieved on the one hand by a packaging
film according to claim 1 and on the other hand by a
method for manufacturing a package according to claim
and by a package according to claim 14.
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The subject matter of the invention is therefore a
packaging film for producing a package, wherein the
packaging film comprises a first edge and a second edge
in the longitudinal direction, and comprises a first
material weakening zone and a second material weakening
zone which extend between the first edge and the second
edge and between them define an opening strip, wherein
the material weakening zones end at a distance from the
edges, and have a first sealing region adjacent to the
first edge and a second sealing region adjacent to the
second edge, wherein the sealing regions are localised
on that side of the packaging film intended as the
inner side of the package and the material weakening
zones extend into the sealing region, and comprises
opening initiating means which are disposed at a
distance from at least one of the edges, wherein an
edge region between the respective edge and the opening
initiating means is free from these opening initiating
means.
Additionally the subject matter of the invention is a
method for manufacturing a package using a packaging
film according to the invention, comprising the
following process steps: unrolling and supplying the
packaging film in web form and producing a longitudinal
fin by looping the packaging film and sealing the
packaging film along the edges in the sealing regions,
wherein the opening initiating means disposed at a
distance from one of the edges, despite the existence
of the edge region between the respective edge and the
opening initiating means, which edge region is free
from these opening initiating means, are accessible in
the longitudinal fin so that they can be handled
freely.
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A longitudinal fin produced in this way is designed in
technical language as longitudinal turn-down seam or
longitudinal turn-down sealing seam because it is
turned down onto the package after being produced and
nestles against the package.
The subject matter of the invention is further a
package that has been produced by the method according
to the invention using the packaging film according to
the invention.
As a result of the measures according to the invention,
it is advantageously achieved that when handling the
packaging film in roll form, no more stability problems
occur because the edge regions of the packaging film
are on the one hand free from material weakening zones
and on the other hand free from opening initiating
means. In addition, the packaging film affords the
advantage that all the functions for opening the
package are completely integrated in the packaging
film. This means that no modifications need to be made
to existing packaging machines and these machines can
be operated at full speed despite the functions for
opening the package being completely integrated. The
integration according to the invention of the function
for opening the package at a distance from the edges
leaving an edge region free ensures the required
stability of the packaging film when producing the
package by machine so that the risk of tearing when
processing a web of packaging film in roll form is
avoided.
An arbitrary number of opening strips corresponding to
the respective requirements can be provided. The
orientation of the opening strip can also deviate from
an orientation normal to the edges of the packaging
film. Ultimately, its shape can also vary along the
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edges of the opening strip. The opening initiating
means are aligned and positioned so that they cooperate
with the material weakenings when a tensile or
compressive force is exerted on them preferably from
the plane of the packaging film. They then bring about
an introduction of force into the opening strip so that
a tear forms along the material weakening zones which
act as a predetermined breaking point or zone and the
opening strip can be released from the packaging film.
The material weakening zones can be configured to be
flat or linear. They can be produced, for example, by
an embossing process in which the packaging film is not
completely penetrated in order to ensure its tightness.
Preferably, however, they are produced by using a laser
beam. They can be produced on that side of the
packaging film which serves as the outer side of the
package.
The sealing zones can, for example, be coated with a
peelable coating. Such a coating can be provided, for
example, by a sealable medium such as, for example, a
cold seal adhesive. This solution is advantageous if
heat-sensitive foodstuffs such as, for example,
chocolate are to be packaged with the packaging. The
coating can then be made on both sealing zones or only
on one sealing zone.
The sealing zones can, however also acquire their
peelability from the inner layer of the packaging film
itself if, for example, peelable polymers are used for
this purpose. In this case, the inner layers of the
packaging film can be heat-sealed to one another. This
solution is possible if no consideration or very little
consideration needs to be given to possible heating of
the product to be packaged during the sealing process.
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The sealing zones run substantially in the longitudinal
direction immediately adjacent to the edges or
indirectly adjacent to the edges at a distance from the
edges.
The distance between the edges and the ends of the
material weakening zones can, for example, be the same
for both edges. According to a preferred exemplary
embodiment, however, a first distance between the first
edge at which the material weakening zones end on the
one side is greater than a second distance between the
second edge at which the material weakening zones end
on the other side. This asymmetry of the distances
enables easy folding of the packaging film to form a
tube, wherein the edges can be disposed substantially
congruently and for example, opening initiating means
can simply be arranged symmetrically in relation to the
edges.
The opening initiating means can be formed, for
example, by an opening tab glued onto the opening strip
or welded together with said strip. However, such a
construction is relatively complex and therefore
disadvantageous. It has proved to be particularly
advantageous if the opening initiating means comprise a
first slit which is formed at a position corresponding
to an intermediate space between the material
weakenings, wherein this first slit is localised
adjacent to the second edge having a distance from the
second edge corresponding to the second distance. The
opening initiating means positioned in such a manner
allow a direct tearing of the opening strip at that end
of the opening strip that is adjacent to the second
edge. A user of the package can, for example grip into
the first slit with his fingernail and apply the
necessary tensile force to start a release of the
opening strip.
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The form of the opening initiating means is preferably
given by a first slit, wherein this first slit can be
produced, for example, by cutting with a knife, by
stamping a material strip or by cutting with the aid of
laser. It is advantageous to use the laser if this
laser is already used for other processing steps on the
packaging film. The width of the first slit can be kept
as small as possible to avoid any unintentional or
accidental initiation of the opening. In another
embodiment, the width of the slit can, however, also
have an appreciable width, which can sometimes
facilitate access to the slit.
The packaging film can have opening initiating means
formed only on one side adjacent to the second edge.
However, the opening initiating means can also be
formed on both sides adjacent to the two edges. In this
case, the opening initiating means advantageously have,
in addition to said first slit, a further first slit
which is localised adjacent to the first edge having a
distance from the first edge corresponding to the
second distance. These geometrical relationships are
advantageous if the edges of the packaging films are to
be localised congruently in a longitudinal fin of the
package. However, if there should be a difference in
the position of the two edges, the position of the
opening initiating means formed on both sides must be
adapted according to the said difference in the
position of the edges in order to obtain a congruent
positioning of the opening initiating means in. the
longitudinal fin.
Regardless of whether the opening initiating means are
formed on one side or on both sides, they can in
principle be achieved exclusively through said slit.
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According to a preferred exemplary embodiment however,
the opening initiating means comprise a second slit and
a third slit and the first slit is connected to the
second slit and the third slit, and the second slit
extends from the first slit in the direction of the
first material weakening zone and the third slit
extends from the first slit in the direction of the
second material weakening zone. In this advantageous
embodiment of the opening initiating means, the three
slits inside the edges of the packaging film, that is,
at a distance with an edge region free from opening
initiating means, form a tab which allows relatively
easy access to the opening strip. The tab can, for
example, be pressed out as simply as possible from the
plane of the packaging film by the finger of a user and
grasped, for example, with two fingers in the side of
the packaging film from which the tab has been pressed
out from the packaging film. By tearing on the tab, the
opening strip can be released from the composite of the
packaging film along the material weakening zones.
In the case of heat-sealing coatings, the width of the
slits of the opening initiating means should be
sufficiently large to be able to avoid any
unintentional closure of the respective slit due to the
melting of the sealing layer in the longitudinal fin
if, for example, the edges of the packaging film are
localised congruently in the longitudinal fin of the
package and if the opening initiating means are formed
on both sides and positioned congruently.
That edge region that is free from the opening
initiating means has a tear zone. As desired, the tear
zone can be torn from the film by a user so that access
to the opening initiating means is facilitated.
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If the opening initiating means are provided adjacent
to both edges of the packaging film, it has proved to
be advantageous if a separating slit is formed which
runs between the material weakening zones along the
first edge at a distance measured from the first edge
which is greater than or equal to the first distance
inside the first sealing region. This separating slit
allows sealed-together regions of the packaging film to
be peeled away from one another when tearing the
packaging film with the aid of the opening initiating
means and specifically beginning at the position of the
separating slit. When starting to tear at the opening
initiating means, a break is initially formed in the
packaging film along the material weakening zones in
both sealed-together layers of the packaging film. This
break finally reaches the separating slit. From the
separating slit the break in the packaging film does
not continue into the two layers of the packaging film
which are sealed onto one another. Rather, the break
only continues in that part of the packaging film which
does not have the separating slit. Therefore, this part
not having the separating slit is peeled away from the
other part to which it is sealed. Only after the
opening strip has been separated along the packaging
film around the package is the separating slit again
reached at its end and possibly the other part of the
packaging film still remaining in the sealing zone is
separated from the packaging film by completely
removing the opening strip.
The size and configuration of the separating slit can
vary according to the requirement profile, which
relates on the one hand to the width of the separating
slit and on the other hand to the length of the
separating slit. In order to enable reliable peeling of
the two sealed-together parts of the packaging film, it
has provided advantageous if the separating slit
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extends beyond the material weakening zones or, in
other words, beyond the width of the opening strip,
therefore is longer than the distance between the
material weakening zones. This separating slit can be
produced, for example, by cutting with a knife, by
stamping a material part or by cutting with the aid of
a laser beam. In particular, when the material
weakening zones are produced using a laser, it has
proved advantageous to also use this laser to produce
the separating slit.
It has proved to be particularly advantageous if a
third material weakening zone and a fourth material
weakening zone is formed between the further first slit
and the separating slit, wherein the third material
weakening zone runs between the first material
weakening zone and the end region of the further first
slit and the fourth material weakening zone runs
between the other end region of the further first slit.
The third and fourth material weakening zones are not
formed as cuts or stampings because otherwise the tab
thus formed would fall out from the packaging film
during production of the packaging film if the third
and fourth material weakening zones were to end at the
separating slit. The type and configuration of the
third and fourth material weakening zone can be the
same as the first and second material weakening zone or
it can be adapted according to the tearing process to
be achieved. It therefore preferably comprises an
embossing, a scoring or a perforation of the packaging
film. A perforation is possible because no tightness is
required in the sealing regions. The third and fourth
material weakening zones define the direction of
tearing in the sealing zone starting from the tab
towards the separating slit and avoid any uncontrolled
propagation of the tear in the sealing region.
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As specified initially, in the method for manufacturing
a package using packaging film according to the
invention, it is advantageous if the opening initiating
means disposed at a distance from one of the edges
despite the existence of the edge region between the
respective edge and the opening initiating means, which
edge region is free from these opening initiating
means, are accessible in the longitudinal fin so that
they can be handled freely. Only if the opening
initiating means are formed so that they can be handled
freely in the longitudinal fin can they develop their
effect for initiating the opening of the opening strip.
When producing the longitudinal fin, two different
process sequences are possible according to the
respective configuration of the packaging film.
In a first embodiment the opening initiating means are
only formed on one side adjacent to one of the edges.
According to this embodiment, when producing the
longitudinal fin, that edge on which the opening
initiating means are formed and the other edge are
aligned such that that edge on which the opening
initiating means are formed projects so far beyond the
other edge in the longitudinal fin that the opening
initiating means are localised above the other edge.
The opening initiating means are then not covered by a
region of the packaging film free from opening
initiating means in the longitudinal fin since this
ends below the opening initiating means in the
longitudinal fin. As a result, this can be handled
freely.
According to a second embodiment of the packaging film,
the opening initiating means are formed on both sides
adjacent to both edges of the packaging film. When
producing the longitudinal fin, the two edges are
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aligned so that the opening initiating means formed on
both sides are localised congruently in the
longitudinal fin. In this case, it is also ensured that
the opening initiating means formed adjacent to one of
the edges are not accidentally covered by a region of
the packaging film free from opening initiating means
or are sealed therewith. Its free handling is thereby
ensured.
A tubular packaging structure thus produced is finally
sealed on a top or on a bottom side or on the left and
right side of the package to be produced and separated
from the packaging film.
The plastic film can in principle be formed by a
monomaterial. According to a preferred exemplary
embodiment, however, the plastic film is achieved by a
composite material which has been produced, for
example, by extrusion laminating or adhesive
laminating. The composite material can comprise a
plurality of layers of plastic or a combination of
plastic layers with metal layers or paper layers etc.
Usually, the composite material has a non-sealable
material on the film outer side which is printed
according to customer specifications. In such an
application, it has also proved to be advantageous if
the inner side of the packaging film is metallised. For
example and not listed definitively, polyester (PET),
polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyamide
(PA) can be used as materials for the plastic layer.
When producing a composite material, a layered
composite or a combination of the previously listed
materials can be used. In addition to the coatings or
intermediate layers already mentioned, paper layers or
further metal layers or combinations of these layers
can be used for this purpose. The laminating adhesives
can be any materials known in practice. All peelable
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coatings known in practice (polymers, cold seal
adhesives or self-adhesive materials) whose peeling
force does not exceed 3 N/15 mm can be used.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The invention is explained once again in further detail
hereinafter with reference to the appended figures by
means of exemplary embodiments to which the invention
is not, however, restricted. In the different figures
the same components are provided with identical
reference numbers. In the figures, schematically:
Fig. 1 shows a view of the inner side of a first
exemplary embodiment of a packaging film
according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows a view of the outer side of the
packaging film according to Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 shows a conceptual diagram of a fin formation
with the packaging film according to Fig. 2
with fin turned down to the left;
Fig. 4 shows the conceptual diagram according to
Fig. 3 with fin turned down to the left;
Fig. 5 shows a packaging film according to the
invention fabricated according to the
conceptual diagram from Fig. 3 and 4 in a
first perspective;
Fig. 6 shows the package according to Fig. 5 in a
second perspective;
Fig. 7 shows the package according to Fig. 5 in a
further perspective;
Fig. 8 shows a view of the inner side of a second
exemplary embodiment of a packaging film
according to the invention;
Fig. 9 shows a view of the outer side of the
packaging film according to Fig. 8;
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Fig. 10 shows a package according to the invention
fabricated using the packaging film from Fig.
8 and 9 in a first perspective; and
Fig. 11 shows the package according to Fig. 10 in a
second perspective.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows a packaging film 1 according to the
invention for producing a plurality of packages 17 (see
Figs. 5 to 7) . Each segment Sn_1, Sn and Sn+1 is formed
identically. The boundaries of the segments S,-1, S, and
S. are indicated by imaginary dividing lines Ti and T2
at which the packaging film 1 is segmented by a cutting
process when producing the packages 17. The packaging
film 1 comprises a first edge 2 and a second edge 3 in
the longitudinal direction LR (indicated by an arrow).
The packaging film 1 which is spread out flat has been
previously unwound from a roll (not shown).
The packaging film 1 further comprises a first material
weakening zone 4 and a second material weakening zone
5. The two material weakening zones 4 and 5 extend
between the first edge 2 and the second edge 3 in the
transverse direction to the longitudinal direction LR
of the packaging film 1. An opening strip 6 is defined
between them. The material weakening zones 4 and 5 end
on one side at a first distance Al from the first edge
2. The material weakening zones 4 and 5 end on the
other side at a second distance A2 from the second edge
3. The first distance Al is greater than the second
distance A2.
The packaging film 1 further comprises two sealing
regions 9A and 9B oriented in the longitudinal
direction LR which are localised adjacent to the first
edge 2 or the second edge 3. As shown in Fig. 1, the
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sealing regions 9A and 9B are implemented on a side of
the packaging film 1 which is intended as inner side 1A
of the package 17. The material weakening zones 4 and 5
extend into the sealing regions 9A and 9B. Transverse
sealing regions 19A and 19B used for closure of the
package 17 on the left and right side, run transversely
to the longitudinally oriented sealing regions 9a and
9B.
The packaging film 1 further comprises opening
initiating means 10 which are each disposed at a
distance from one of the edges 2 or 3, wherein one edge
region RB between the respective edge 2 or 3 and the
opening initiating means 10 is free from these opening
initiating means 10. In the packaging film according to
the invention, accordingly neither the material
weakening zones 4 and 5 nor the opening initiating
means 10 are guided out as far as the respective edge 2
or 3. The packaging film 1 according to the invention
therefore has respectively one material strip at the
edge in which there is no weakening of the composite of
the packaging film 1. This material strip is therefore
formed free from weakening. This appreciably increases
the stability of the packaging film 1 and makes it
particularly suitable for roll-form handling in which
the packaging film is unrolled at relatively high speed
from a roll and supplied to a further processing.
The opening initiating means 10 comprises a first slit
11 which is formed at a position corresponding to the
intermediate space between the material weakening zones
4 and 5. In the present case, the first slit 11 is
localised adjacent to the second edge 3 at a distance
from the second edge 3 according to the second distance
A2. The first slit 11 runs parallel to the second edge
3. A further first slit 11 is also provided parallel to
the first edge 2 symmetrically to the longitudinal axis
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of the packaging film 1. This further first slit 11 is
localised between the first edge 2 and the end of the
material weakening zones 4 and 5.
The opening initiating means 10 further comprises a
second slit 12 and a third slit 13. The first slit 11
is further connected to the second slit 12 and the
third slit 13. The second slit 12 extends from the
first slit 11 in the direction of the first material
weakening zone 4. The second slit 13 extends from the
first slit 11 in the direction of the second material
weakening zone S.
In the case of the opening initiating means 10 disposed
adjacent to the second edge 3, the second slit 12 opens
into the first material weakening zone 4 and the third
slit 13 opens into the second material weakening zone
5. In the case of the opening initiating means 10
disposed adjacent to the first edge 2, the second slit
12 does not open directly into the first material
weakening zone 4 and the third slit 13 does not open
directly into the second material weakening zone 5.
The opening initiating means 10 are formed on both
sides adjacent to the two edges 2 and 3 of the
packaging film 1 and are identically dimensioned. The
length of the first slit 11 in this case substantially
corresponds to the distance of the two material
weakening zones 4 and 5 from one another. The length of
the second slit 12 and the third slit 13 is determined
so that at the f irst edge they do not extend into the
material weakening zones 4 and 5. That edge region RB
of the packaging film 1 that is situated adjacent to
the opening initiating means 10 and between the opening
initiating means 10 and the respective edge 2 and 3,
has the function of a tear-off zone 14. This will be
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discussed subsequently in the functional description of
the package 17.
The packaging film 1 further comprises a separating
slit 15 which runs between the material weakening zones
4 and 5 along the first edge 2 at a distance measured
from the first edge 2 which is equal to the first
distance Al inside the first sealing region 9A. The
separating slit 15 is slightly longer than the distance
between the two material weakening zones 4 and 5 and
runs parallel to the first edge 2. It therefore
protrudes on both sides of the material weakening zones
4 and 5 beyond the opening strip 6 defined between
them. The function of the separating slit 15 will also
be discussed subsequently in the functional description
of the package 17. At this point it should also be
noted that the separating slit 15 can also be disposed
at a distance measured from the first edge 2 that is
greater than the first distance 1. This means that the
separating slit 15 need not precisely connect these
material weakening zones 4 and 5 at the end of the
material weakening zones 4 and 5. Measured from the
first edge 2, it can also lie further inside the
packaging film 1, provided that it is still located in
the first sealing region so that the tightness of the
package 17 is ensured.
Third material weakening zones 19 and fourth material
weakening zones 20 are formed between the further first
slit 11, more precisely between the ends of the
associated second and third slits 12 and 13, and the
separating slit 15. The third material weakening zone
19 runs between the first material weakening zone 4 and
the end region of the second slit 12. The fourth
material weakening zone 20 runs between the second
material weakening zone 5 and the end region of the
third slit 13.
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Figure 2 shows the side of the packaging film 1 which
is intended as an outer side 1B of the package 17. The
packaging film 1 shown in Fig. 1 was folded over about
its longitudinal axis. The outer side 1B substantially
consists of a plastic layer. Two print control marks 16
can be seen on this outer side 1B. The opening
initiating means 10 as well as the separating slit 15
can also be seen. The material weakening zones 4 and 5
are not visible at all or barely visible (indicated by
interrupted lines) since these are produced on the side
of the packaging film 1 intended as inner side 1A of
the package 17.
The use of the packaging film 1 in a method according
to the invention for manufacturing a package 17
according to the invention, as shown in Figures 5 to 7
is explained hereinafter. In the method the packaging
film 1 is initially unrolled from a roll and the
packaging film 1 is supplied in web form to a packaging
machine such as, for example, a flowpack packaging
machine (not shown). As visualised in the conceptual
diagrams according to Figs. 3 and 4, in the packaging
machine a longitudinal fin 18 is produced by forming
the packaging film 1 into a tube and sealing the
packaging film 1 along the edges 2 and 3 in the sealing
regions 9A and 93.
For reasons of clarity the two sealing regions 9A and
9B are shown separately from one another which in
reality is not the case with sealed sealing regions 9A
and 9B. The edges are then congruent and depending on
the viewing direction according to Fig. 3 or Fig. 4,
only one of the edges 2 or 3 is visible. In Fig. 3 the
longitudinal fin 18 is shown folded to the right so
that the second edge 2 is disposed above the third edge
3. This is the typical position of the longitudinal fin
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in a finished package 17. In Fig. 4 the longitudinal
fin 18 is shown folded to the left. Now the rear side
of the longitudinal fin 18 can be seen which in the
finished package usually abuts against the package 17.
In this position of the longitudinal fin the separating
slit 15 can also be seen.
In the present case, the opening initiating means 10
arranged corresponding to the first and the second edge
2 and 3 are formed on both sides adjacent to the edge
regions RB. When producing the longitudinal fin 18, the
two edges 2 and 3 are aligned so that the two opening
initiating means 10 are congruent in the longitudinal
fin 18. Consequently, the opening initiating means 10
are integrated so that they can be handled freely in
the longitudinal fin 18 although they are not located
on the outer edges 2 and 3 thereof.
An opening function of the package with the aid of
Figures 5 to 7 is explained hereinafter with reference
to a first exemplary embodiment of a package 17
according to the invention, i.e. a package of a
chocolate bar manufactured from a packaging film 1
according to the invention with a cold seal adhesive
peel coating according to Figs. 1 to 2.
In Fig. 5 the situation shown in Fig. 3 is
substantially visualised with regard to the observation
of the longitudinal fin 1. In the present case,
however, the longitudinal fin 18 is shown completely
erect, that is projecting away from the package 17, and
the package 17 is viewed from the side. In this
situation the longitudinal fin 18 can easily be gripped
from behind by a finger and the tab formed by the
opening initiating means 10 can be pressed out from the
longitudinal fin 18 in the forward direction, that is
from the plane of the drawing. The tab thus pressed out
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can easily be gripped, e.g. with the fingers of the
other hand and the opening strip 6 can then be torn out
completely from the packaging film 1 around the package
17 or at least torn out as far as the longitudinal fin
18, so that the package 17 does not fall into two
parts.
In Fig. 6 the situation shown in Fig. 4 is
substantially visualised with regard to the observation
of the longitudinal fin 1. Compared to Fig. 5, however,
the package 17 has been turned through 180 about its
longitudinal axis. The separating slit 15 can be
clearly seen on the rear side of the fin 18 which is
usually placed against the package 17.
If the tab formed by the opening initiating means 10 as
shown in Fig. 7 (this approximately corresponds to the
view according to Fig. 5) is now pulled out from the
longitudinal fin 18 from the plane of the drawing (in
the direction opposite to the viewing direction), a
break propagates in the longitudinal fin 18 through the
sealed-together regions of the packaging film 1 as far
as the separating slit. From the separating slit 15 the
break only propagates in the front part. In the plane
of the drawing this is the upper position of the
longitudinal fin 18. From the separating slit 15 the
sealing regions 9A and 9B which are sealed onto one
another, are only separated from one another or peeled
from one another. The inner side 1A of the packaging
film 1 is visible in the region of the longitudinal fin
18 which is peeling away from one another.
Preferably the tab formed by the opening initiating
means 10 is also exposed, as shown in Fig. 7. For this
purpose the tear-off region 14 is torn off from the
package 17, which makes it easier to grip the opening
initiating means 10.
CA 02732913 2011-02-28
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21 -
A further exemplary embodiment of the packaging film 1
is shown in Figures 8 and 9. In the present case, the
opening initiating means 10 are only formed on one
side. In the present case, the two material weakening
zones 4 and 5 can easily be brought so close to the
first edge 2 that the edge region RB is sufficiently
large to ensure the required stability of the packaging
film 1.
Figures 10 and 11 show a second exemplary embodiment of
a package 17 according to the invention which has been
fabricated from the packaging film 1 shown in Figures 8
and 9.
In the present case, when producing the longitudinal
fin 18, the second edge 3 on which the opening
initiating means 10 are formed, and the other (first)
edge 2 are aligned so that the second edge 3 projects
so far beyond the first edge 2 in the longitudinal fin
18 that the opening initiating means 10 are localised
above the first edge 2. This situation is shown in Fig.
11 in which the rear side of the longitudinal fin 18 is
visible. According to this embodiment, the longitudinal
fin 18 is only implemented in sections by sealed-
together parts of the packaging film 1. The remaining
(unsealed) region of the longitudinal fin 18 which
projects beyond this common region is only implemented
as single-layer by the packaging film 1, the inner side
1A of the packaging film 1 being visible here.
In the present case, the separating slit 15 can also be
dispensed with since this is substantially virtually
formed by the first edge 2 of the packaging film 1
ending below the opening initiating means 10. When
tearing on the tab formed by the opening initiating
means 10 out from the plane of the drawing (see Fig. 10
CA 02732913 2011-02-28
- 22 -
but not shown in detail), the break initially
propagates along the opening strip 6 in the
longitudinal fin 18 in the direction of the double-
layer sealed region of the longitudinal fin 18. In this
case, the break is only produced in the outer single-
layer region of the longitudinal fin 18. Even after
reaching the two-layer region of the longitudinal fin
18, the break only propagates in the same layer of the
longitudinal fin where it was previously produced. From
the first edge however, the sealed-together sealing
regions 9A and 9B peel away as was described in the
preceding exemplary embodiment.
It is finally noted once again that the package
described in detail hereinbefore and the method for
producing this package as well as the packaging film
merely comprise exemplary embodiments which can be
modified by the person skilled in the art in various
ways without departing from the scope of the invention.
It is noted for the sake of completeness that the use
of the indefinite articles "a" or "one" does not
preclude the relevant features being able to be present
in multiple form. Features of the other exemplary
embodiments disclosed in connection with one exemplary
embodiment can also be used in combination with
features disclosed there. The proportions of the
features presented can also vary without departing from
the concept of the invention.
CA 02732913 2011-02-28
23 -
REFERENCE LIST
1 Packaging film
1A Inner side of the packaging film
1B Outer side of the packaging film
2 First edge
3 Second edge
4 First material weakening zone
Second material weakening zone
6 Opening strip
7 Third material weakening zone
8 Fourth material weakening zone
9A First sealing region
9B Second sealing region
Opening initiating means
11 First slit
12 Second slit
13 Third slit
14 Tear-off region
Separating slit
16 Print control marks
17 Package
18 Longitudinal fin
RB Edge region
Al First distance
A2 Second distance
LR Longitudinal direction
Sn-1, Sn, Sn+1 Segment
T1, T2 Dividing line
