Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02700895 2010-03-26
WO 2009/042682 PCT/US2008/077517
RELEASABLE HEAT SEAL WRAPPER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to manufacturing a wrapper of polymeric film, the
wrapper
having end flaps for folding and closing, and the end flaps having a heat
activated adhesive to
hold the end flaps closed.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A wrapper refers to a sheet of a material for wrapping an item, for
example, for
wrapping a ream of paper for storage and sale. The wrapper has an overlapping
longitudinal
seam and end flaps that are folded, closed and sealed to form a package that
encloses the ream of
paper. Typically, a wrapper has been made of a single ply or multiple plies of
polymeric material
coated with a coating of a material capable of forming heat bonded seals. A
sealing operation
was performed by applying heat and/or pressure on the overlapped longitudinal
seam and the
folded end flaps to melt the coating on the surface of the polymeric material
and form bonded
heat seals upon cooling and solidifying. The heat formed seals were
tenaciously strong, making it
difficult to open the packaging at the heat-sealed areas, particularly at the
end flaps. To open the
wrapper the end user would be unable to avoid tearing the packaging material,
thus destroying
the integrity of the wrapper and eliminating a means for storing paper that
remains in the
damaged packaging.
[0003] US 5,250,348 discloses a wrapper paper having a paper base layer coated
on one
surface by a low density polyethylene (LDPE) layer, and coated on an opposite
surface by
polyalkyleneimene, PEI, layer. The wrapper is formed into a wrapped package,
wherein the
wrapped package has folded end sections in which the LDPE layer and the PEI
layer overlap one
another. Further, a longitudinal seam of the wrapped package has the
overlapped LDPE layer and
PEI layer. Closing and sealing the folded end sections, as well as, the
longitudinal seam of the
wrapped package is accomplished by heat activating both the LDPE layer and the
PEI layer
where they overlap one another to create a heat seal bond that is stronger
than the base paper
layer itself.
[0004] Prior to the invention, the end flaps of single or multiple-layer
polymeric
wrappers were tenaciously heat bonded and sealed to such an extent that when
an end user
1
CA 02700895 2010-03-26
WO 2009/042682 PCT/US2008/077517
attempted to open the package end flap, the entire wrapper along the
longitudinal seam would
tear, thus destroying the packing integrity for storing any unused paper. The
torn wrapper lost its
structural integrity and customer appeal, and was further rendered unsuitable
for re-folding and
re-closing the tend flap to store the unused paper.
[0005] To retain customer appeal, it has been proposed to provide an easy-open
end flap,
which refers to a folded and closed end flap that is easily opened without
tearing the wrapper.
Further it has been proposed to cover the easy-open end flap with a label
having a peelable
adhesive that could peel away while opening the end flap, and thereafter be
reapplied to adhere
and re-close the end flap. However, to apply the adhesive label by machine
operation, in a
manufacturing environment, the easy-open end flap needed to be held closed by
a seal for a
duration long enough so that the end flap was held closed until the label was
applied over the
held-closed end flap. While this temporary seal was required to be easily
opened to provide an
easy-open wrapper, it also needed to be strong enough for going through a
mechanical
application of the adhesive label.
[0006] One solution was to provide a heat sealable coating on the entire outer
surface of
the wrapper that enabled the packaging end flaps to be torn or peeled open and
yet remain tacky
enough for the user to apply pressure to re-close the end flaps to store
unused paper in the
original wrapper. In essence, rather than coating the polymeric wrapper
material with a coating
that enable aggressive heat seals, the solution was to coat the polymeric
material with a less
tenacious heat sealable coating that enabled the user to peel open the end
flaps or the longitudinal
seam of the wrapped ream. The problem with this proposed solution was that
while the entire
packaging surface was coated with a material to enable heat sealing, the
sealing was not
tenacious enough to hold the wrapped reams together during shipping, handling
and storage of
the reams. As a result of the rigors of handling, transporting and storage on
retail shelves, as well
as exposure to envirommental factors; the wrapped reams frequently broke open
at the
longitudinal seam or end flap areas.
[0007] Another solution to provide a less tenacious seal and easier opening
package
utilized a manufacturing apparatus that applied a varnish pattern with three
dots void of varnish
to expose more minimal heat sealable areas in the end flaps of the wrapper.
The varnish material
inhibited the formation of heat seals in all areas but the three dots,
exposing a much smaller heat
sealable surface in the end flaps. Surviving heat seal areas were relied upon
to seal the end flaps
2
CA 02700895 2010-03-26
WO 2009/042682 PCT/US2008/077517
temporarily closed long enough so the adhesive label could be applied in a
mechanical operation.
In some occurrences the surviving heat seal areas held too tightly so that
when an end user
removed the adhesive label, the packaging toe and the easy-open feature was
lost. Moreover, in
some occurrences an overabundance of the varnish material could inhibit the
formation of a large
enough heat seal area, to such an extent that the end flaps would open
prematurely, before the
adhesive labels could be applied by the manufacturing apparatus. An invention
was needed to
overcome these two problems and provide a wrapper that retains the easy-open
end flap while
enabling a heat sealed end flap to be held closed feature, while holding a
heat sealed end flap
closed long enough for mechanical application of a removable adhesive label.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A wrapper for a ream of paper includes, a foldable sheet to wrap the
ream of
paper, the foldable sheet having at least one foldable end flap, and wherein;
the sheet has a heat
sealable, polymeric material surface, the foldable end flap has a heat
activated sealant thereon for
bonding to the polymeric material surface to hold the end flap folded, and the
sealant has a tear
strength or adhesive bond strength, or both, less than that of the polymeric
material surface to
unfold the folded end flap by tearing or de-bonding the sealant without
tearing or de-bonding the
polymeric material surface.
[0009] A method of making a wrapper for a ream of paper includes, laminating a
sheet
with a polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material provides a heat
sealable, polymeric
material surface on the sheet and the sheet is foldable to wrap a ream of
paper; applying a heat
activated sealant on a foldable end flap of the sheet to form one or more heat
activated seals for
bonding to the polymeric material surface to hold the end flap folded; and the
sealant having a
tear strength or adhesive bond strength, or both, less than that of the
polymeric material surface
to unfold an end flap by tearing or de-bonding the sealant without tearing or
de-bonding the
polymeric material surface.
[0010] According to an embodiment of the invention, the wrapper has a
longitudinal
overlap seam, and the coating on the polymeric material forms a heat activated
seal of the
overlap seam. The sealant targeted for and applied to the end flap areas has a
heat-activated tear
strength or adhesive bond strength, or both, substantially less than that of
the surface of the
polymeric material, enabling a sufficient seal and the easy opening of a
closed end flap by
3
CA 02700895 2010-03-26
WO 2009/042682 PCT/US2008/077517
tearing or de-bonding the sealant without tearing the polymeric wrapper
material and destroying
the packaging integrity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent by way of
example
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0012] Fig. 1 is an isometric view of an individual wrapper that is cut from a
continuous
sheet of a packaging material having one or more wrappers to be cut therefrom.
[0013] Fig. lA is a fragmentary end view of the wrapper disclosing layers or
laminates.
[0014] Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the wrapper of Fig. 1 that has been
turned over.
[0015] Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the wrapper of Figs. 1 and 2 partially
wrapped to
form an enclosure having at least one open end.
[0016] Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, and disclosing a partially folded
end flap.
[0017] Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, and disclosing a fully folded and
closed end flap.
[0018] Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, and disclosing another embodiment
of a wrapper
having a partially folded end flap.
[0019] Fig. 7A is a schematic view of a first printing pass performed by a
manufacturing
apparatus.
[0020] Fig. 7B is a schematic view of a laminating pass performed by a
manufacturing
apparatus.
[0021] Fig. 7C is a schematic view of another printing pass performed by a
manufacturing apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] The present invention provides a wrapper of polymeric material or
cellulosic
material having a surface of polymeric material or coated with a material for
heat sealing at the
longitudinal seam of the wrapper, with a foldable end flap for folding and
closing, wherein the
end flap has a heat-activated sealant thereon to form one or more heat-
activated seals bonding to
the polymeric material and holding the end flap closed. The present invention
provides a method
of making a wrapper by laminating together a first sheet having a polymeric
material surface
suitable for heat sealing with a second sheet having a polymeric material
surface suitable for heat
4
CA 02700895 2010-03-26
WO 2009/042682 PCT/US2008/077517
sealing, wherein one of the sheets has been printed with printed graphics
depicting product
marking or logos, for example, and applying a heat activated sealant in
targeted zones on the
foldable end flap area of each wrapper to form one or more heat activated
seals bonding to the
coating on the polymeric material of the wrapper and holding the end flap
closed.
[0023] Fig. 1 discloses a thin sheet wrapper 100 comprised of a continuous,
thin sheet or
laminate 104 of polymeric material coated with a polymeric material surface
that is laminated to
a continuous, thin sheet or laminate 102, Fig. lA, comprising, either a single
ply, or multiple ply,
polymeric material in its entirety, or a paper coated with a polymeric
material surface or
laminated to a polymeric material. Further, the sheet 102 in Fig. 1 A
comprises a pre-coated EB
adhesive 103, activated by electron beam (EB) energy, to laminate with the
printed surface of the
sheet 104. The surface of the polymeric material in either laminated structure
may or may not be
flood coated on both surfaces with a material enabling heat sealing, such as,
a minimized flash
coating comprising an acrylic polymer. Accordingly, the wrapper 100 includes,
but is not
limited to a single ply 240 gauge film, a 120g film/120g film laminated
structure, a solid
film/paper laminated structure, or a polymer coated paper structure. Printed
graphics 106, for
example, company and/or brand name logos and text, are sandwiched between the
sheets or
laminates 102, 104. For example, the sheet 104 is transparent and is reverse
printed with the
printed graphics 106. The printed graphics 106 are protected by, and are
viewed through, the
transparent sheet 104. Further, for example, the sheet 104 comprises a 120
gauge polypropylene
sheet coated on both surfaces with a minimized flash coating, wherein the
flash coating
comprises an acrylic polymer that will bond with a heat activated polymer of
similar composition
or with PVC and with a heat activated adhesive, i.e., a heat activated
sealant. The sheet 102
comprises either a duplicate of the first sheet, or a paper-based sheet with a
minimized flash
coating, wherein the flash coating comprises acrylic polymer or polyvinyl
chloride PVC polymer
that will bond with a heat activated polymer of similar composition or with a
heat activated
adhesive. The polymers disclosed herein include but are not limited to a
polymer, copolymer or
terpolymer.
[0024] Fig. 1 discloses an individual wrapper 100 to be severed from a
continuous
wrapper material or packaging material having one or more individual wrappers
100. Each
individual wrapper 100 is to be formed with fold lines 108, 110, 112, 114 to
form
CA 02700895 2010-03-26
WO 2009/042682 PCT/US2008/077517
correspondingly numbered, folded edges of a wrapper enclosure or package 300
in Fig. 3. In
Fig. 1, the wrapper 100 has edges 116, 118 that overlap to form an overlap
seam 302 in Fig. 3.
[0025] In Figs. 1 and 3, the wrapper 100 has an end flap 120 that is adapted
to be folded
and closed. Another end flap 138 is adapted to be folded and closed. A process
for folding and
closing the end flap 120 similarly applies to folding and closing the end flap
138. Fig. 4
discloses at least one partially folded and closed end flap 120, resulting
from the following
process. A part of the end flap 120 is folded inwardly by folding along fold
lines 122, 124, 126 in
Figs. 1 and 3, and by inwardly folding portions of the previously folded edges
108, 110 in Fig. 3.
Another part of the end flap 120 is folded inwardly by folding along fold
lines 128, 130, 132 in
Figs. 1 and 3, and by inwardly folding portions of the previously folded edges
112, 114 in Fig.3.
In Figs. 1 and 3, other fold lines 134, 136 of the wrapper 100 is present for
another portion of the
wrapper 100 to be folded inwardly, Fig. 4, to form correspondingly nurnbered
folded edges, and
to partially close the open end, Fig. 4. Figs. 1, 4 and 5 disclose a remaining
trapezoidal shaped
portion 140 of the end flap 120 that is folded inwardly along a fold line 142
to complete the
closing of an end of the wrapper 100.
[0026] Fig 1 discloses the sheet or laminate 104 having a heat activated
sealant 144
applied as a thin coating selectively on triangular selected surface areas of
the at least one end
flap 120. The sealant is preferably transparent, and for illustration purposes
is shown by
stippling. A triangular first surface area is bounded by the fold lines 108,
124. A triangular
second surface area is bounded by the fold lines 110, 126. A triangular third
surface area is
bounded by the fold lines 112, 132. A triangular fourth surface area is
bounded by the fold lines
114, 130. The sealant 144 is applied in a pattern that is within the
triangular surface areas,
including, but not limited to, the shape of the triangular surface areas. When
the sheet laminate
104 is folded as shown in Fig. 4, the surface of the sheet laminate 104 will
abut the selected
surface areas having the heat activated sealant 144 thereon. Subsequently,
heat and/or pressure is
applied to activate the sealant 144 to form a bond and heat seal with the
abutting surface of the
sheet laminate 104, thereby holding the folded portions of the end flap 120
closed and forming a
moisture resistant seal.
[0027] Fig. 2 discloses that the sheet laminate 102 has a heat activated
sealant 144a,
similar to the sealant 144, applied as a thin coating selectively on
triangular surface areas of the
sheet laminate 104 bounded by the fold lines 108, 124 and bounded by the fold
lines 114, 130,
6
CA 02700895 2010-03-26
WO 2009/042682 PCT/US2008/077517
respectively. The sealant 144a is applied in a pattern that is within the
triangular surface areas,
including, but not limited to, the shape of the triangular surface areas.
Further, the heat activated
sealant 144 is applied to selected surface areas, one of which comprises the
trapezoidal shaped
portion 142 of the end flap 120. When the sheet laminate 102 is folded as
shown in Figs. 4 and 5,
the surface of the sheet laminate 102 will abut the selected surface areas
having the heat
activated sealant 144 thereon. The folding and closing of the trapezoidal
shaped portion 142 will
completely close the end flap 120, as shown in Fig. 5.
[0028] Figure 6 discloses an alternative embodiment wherein the heat activated
sealant
144b, similar to the sealant 144, is applied as a thin coating solely on the
surface area of the
trapezoidal shaped portion 142 of the end flap 120. The sealant 144b is
applied in a pattern that
is within the trapezoidal surface area, including, but not limited lo, the
shape of the trapezoidal
surface area. The folding and closing of the trapezoidal shaped portion 142
will completely close
the end flap 120, as shown in Fig. 5.
[0029] The wrapper shown in Fig. 5 typically wraps a ream of paper sheets.
Heat and
pressure is applied on the closed end flap 120 to activate the sealant 144 to
form a bond and heat
activated seal with the abutting surface of the sheet laminates 102, 104,
holding the folded
portions of the end flap 120 closed and forming a moisture resistant seal.
Heating to a heat
activation temperature renders the surfaces of the polymeric materials of the
layers 102, 104 to a
melt bonding state. Accordingly, adequate heat is applied to the overlapped
and closed seam 302
in Fig. 5 to melt and bond together the overlapped surfaces of the polymeric
materials, such as
the acrylic polymer on the polypropylene sheet, or the polyethylene on the
paper sheet. The
overlapped surfaces of the polymeric materials form heat activated tenacious
bonds and seals of
polymer-to-polymer construction. The folded end flap 138 is similarly folded
and sealed by the
application of heat and pressure to form heat activated tenacious bonds and
moisture resistant
seals of polymer-to-polymer construction. Alternatively, the end flap 138 is
constructed with the
sealant 144 similarly as the end flap 120 is constructed with the sealant 144.
According to a
preferred embodiment, the sealant 144 is activated to a melt bonding state at
the same
temperature that melts and forms heat activated, tenacious bonds and seals of
polymer-to-
polymer construction. According to an alternative embodiment, the heat
activation temperature
of the sealant 144 is substantially lower than the heat activation temperature
for rendering the
surfaces of the polymeric materials of the layers 102, 104 to a melt bonding
state. Thereby, a
7
CA 02700895 2010-03-26
WO 2009/042682 PCT/US2008/077517
lower temperature is used in a manufacturing operation to activate the sealant
144 to an adhesive
state.
[0030] According to an embodiment of the invention, each heat seal to be
formed by the
sealant 144 and an abutting polymeric surface will have a tear strength or
adhesive bond
strength, or both, substantially less than that of the surface of the
polymeric materials of the
respective sheet laminates 102 or 104, such that the closed end flap 120 is
opened by tearing or
de-bonding the sealant 144 without tearing or de-bonding the stronger
polymeric materials. The
sealant has a heat activated tear strength or adhesive bond strength, or both,
substantially less
than that of the polymeric materials of the sheet laminates 102, 104 to open a
closed end flap by
tearing or de-bonding the seal without tearing the polymeric material or de-
bonding moisture
resistant seals formed by heat activating the polymeric material. Further, the
tenacious bonds and
seals on the seam 302 and on the folded and closed end flap 138 continue to
hold and retain the
shape of the wrapper 100, permitting the wrapper 100 to be opened at the end
flap 120 to remove
paper, and to be used as a tear-free, easy-open resealable package, and
thereby an undamaged
package for unused paper remaining in the package.
[00311 Further it has been proposed to cover the easy-open end flap 120, shown
closed in
Fig. 5, with a label, not shown, having a peelable adhesive that could peel
away while opening
the end flap 120, and thereafter be reapplied to adhere and re-close the end
flap 120. Such a label
does not comprise an embodiment of the invention. To apply the adhesive label
by machine
operation, in a manufacturing environment, the easy-open end flap 120 needs to
be held in place,
at least partially closed, as shown in Fig. 5, by the sealant 144 until the
label has been applied,
and until the bond on the removable label is later broken, for example, by
peeling to remove the
label, followed by opening the wrapped package.
[0032] An embodiment of a suitable heat activated sealant 144 or binder
comprises an
aqueous dispersion, or emulsion, of a thermoplastic acrylic polymer of about
48-52 weight
percent and the remainder as water. The sealant constituents include small
quantities of butyl
acrylate (141-32-2) and methyl methacrylate (80-26-6). The sealant has a glass
transition
temperature of 7 C. Drying above the minimum film forming temperature leaves a
clear,
colorless film, which is medium hard, elastic and slightly taclcy at room
temperature. After
drying the sealant heat activation is required for the sealant to form a bond.
The film is soluble in
8
CA 02700895 2010-03-26
WO 2009/042682 PCT/US2008/077517
most organic solvents, with the exception of alphatic hydrocarbons. The air
dry tensile strength
is 410 psi (pounds per square inch) at an ultimate elongation of 600%.
[0033] The sealant 144 is suitable for use as a binder for laminates of
fabric, paper, PVC,
polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, leather and acrylics. The sealant can be
applied by spraying,
printing, nip padding, impregnating and roll or knife coating. It can be
mechanically foamed.
Methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose or hydroxyethyl cellulose are
suitable thickeners in
acid pH. Hardening agents and surfactants are applicable additives in the
sealant.
[0034] The sealant 144 has a heat activated tensile strength of 260 psi,
pounds per square
foot at 500% elongation. The tensile strength at 300% elongation is 130 psi.
The tensile strength
at 100% elongation is 70 psi. Thus, the elasticity of the sealant is reduced
by hardeners to reduce
the elongation capability, and to reduce the tensile strength corresponding to
the reduction in
elongation. Reduced tensile strength is desirable to provide an easy-open end
flap 120. The seal
of the folded and closed end flap 120 is easily broken at slight elongation
thereof. According to
an embodiment of the invention, once the seal is broken, it does not reseal at
room temperature.
According to an embodiment of the invention breaking the seal is accomplished
by hand
operation of a person who has removed the peelable adhesive label, and has
unfolded the end
flap 120 to break the seal without tearing the wrapper. According to another
embodiment of the
invention, breaking the seal occurs with the passage of time while under a
peelable adhesive
label.
[0035] According to a further embodiment, the sealant 144 comprises a peelable
acrylic
polymer or peelable and releasable, pressure sensitive adhesive sealant 144 of
the type disclosed
by US 7,101,615 as a pressure sensitive, peelable or releasable adhesive
composition whose
tackiness is brought about only by thermal activation. Such a sealant 144 on
the wrapper 100 is
only slightly tacky until heat and/or pressure is applied to the folded and
closed end flap 120
shown in Fig. 5 to heat activate the sealant 144, and effect a pressure
sensitive, peelable adhesive
state. Thereafter, the heat activated, pressure sensitive, peelable adhesive
state sealant 144 holds
the end flap 120 closed and sealed. According to an embodiment of the
invention, the sealant 144
holds the end flap 120 sealed and closed for a duration long enough to apply a
peelable adhesive
label by way of a mechanical apparatus. Later, the peelable adhesive label can
be removed by
peeling the label, and thereafter, the wrapper is opened by urging the sealant
144 either to de-
bond or tear before the wrapper 100 tears, which preserves the structural
integrity of the package
9
CA 02700895 2010-03-26
WO 2009/042682 PCT/US2008/077517
formed by the wrapper 100 to store paper that remains in the package.
According to another
embodiment of the invention, the package formed by the wrapper 100 is folded,
closed and
sealed by the sealant 144 without the presence of a peelable adhesive label,
and the end flap 120
is easily opened by de-bonding or tearing the sealant 144, and the end flap
120 is re-closable by
later re-folding and closing the end flap 120, and re-adhering the pressure
sensitive, peelable
adhesive state sealant 144.
[0036] Fig. 7A depicts a first pass performed by a manufacturing apparatus
700a for
making a continuous wrapper 100 into one or more individual wrappers 100. The
sheet or
laminate 104 is unrolled from a supply ro11702 and is transported by one or
more conveyors 704,
where needed to transport the sheet 104 to, and though, sequential worlc
stations of the
manufacturing apparatus 700, which includes the manufacturing apparatus 700a
depicted in Fig.
7A. One exemplary conveyer 704 is shown, and includes, but is not limited to,
a continuous
loop, belt conveyor 704. The sheet 104 is conveyed to a work station
comprising a printer 706
that reverse prints the printed graphics 106 for each wrapper 100. Repeated
reverse printing will
print repeated printed graphics 106 for multiple wrappers 100 on the
continuous sheet 104. In an
alternative embodiment of the invention, instead of the printed graphics 106
being printed onto
the sheet or laminate 104, a transparent sheet or laminate 104 is pre-printed
with reverse printed
graphics 106.
[0037] After applying, by printing, the printed graphics 106, the sheet 104 is
turned over
by web turning bars 708, depicted schematically in Fig. 7A, such that, the
unprinted side of the
sheet 104 is conveyed by one or more, exemplary conveyors 710 to another work
station printer
712 that prints the sealant 144 according to the pattern depicted in Fig. 1,
such that the sealant
144 is on the same side of the sheet 104 through which the printing 106 is
viewed. The sheet 104
emerges from the first pass apparatus 700 with the sealant 144 on one side,
and the printed
graphics 106 on a reverse side of the sheet 104. The sealant 144 is on a
surface of the sheet 104
that will become the exterior or outside of a package to be formed with the
wrapper 100. It is
desirable to roll up the sheet 104 on a take-up roll or ree1714.
[0038] Fig. 7B depicts a laminating pass performed by the manufacturing
apparatus 700b
provided as a portion of the manufacturing apparatus 700. A continuous roll
716 of the sheet 102
is unrolled to supply the sheet 102 that has been pre-coated with the EB
adhesive 103, Fig. 1A,
on the undersurface. The sheet 104 is supplied from the first pass with the
printed graphics 106
CA 02700895 2010-03-26
WO 2009/042682 PCT/US2008/077517
facing the interior between the sheets 102, 104. One or more conveyors 718
convey the abutting
sheets 102, 104 together through an EB laminator 720 that applies electron
beam (EB) energy to
the sheet 102, wherein the EB energy activates the EB adhesive 103 to an
adhesive state. Further,
the EB laminator 720 applies laminating pressure to laminate the sheets 102
and 104 while the
EB adhesive is in an adhesive state. Upon emerging from the EB laminator 720,
the laminated
sheets 102, 104 are permanently laminated with the printed graphics 106
protected between the
laminated sheets 102, 104. It is desirable to roll up the laminated sheets
102, 104 onto a take-up
roll, not shown, similar to the take-up roll 714, Fig. 7B.
[0039] Fig. 7C depicts another printing pass performed by the manufacturing
apparatus
700c provided as a portion of the manufacturing apparatus 700. From the
laminating pass, the
laminated sheets 102, 104 are conveyed by one or more conveyors 722 through a
work station, a
printer 724 that applies the sealant 144a, according to the pattern depicted
in Fig. 2, or,
alternatively, according to the pattern of sealant 144b depicted in Fig. 6.
Emerging from the
printer 724 the laminated sheets 102, 104 comprise one or more individual
wrappers 100. Each
wrapper 100 will have the sealant 144 on an exterior surface of the sheet 104.
Each wrapper 100
will have the sealant 144a, or alternatively the sealant 144b, on an interior
surface of the sheet
102. The printed graphics 106 are on an interior surface of the sheet 104. The
EB adhesive 103 is
on an interior surface of the sheet 102. The one or more wrappers 100 are
desirably rolled up
onto a take-up roll or reel 726. Each individual wrapper 100 is later severed
from the remaining
wrappers 100, and used to make an easy-open package.
[0040] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the sheet 102
is printed
with the printed graphics 106 that are viewed through the transparent sheet
104, and the
transparent sheet 104 is pre-coated with the EB adhesive 103 prior to
lamination with the printed
surface of the sheet 102.
[0041] This description of the exemplary ethbodiments is intended to be read
in
connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of
the entire
written description. In the description, relative terms such as "lower,"
"upper," "horizontal,"
"vertical,", "above," "below," "up," "down," "top" and "bottom" as well as
derivative thereof
(e.g., "horizontally," "downwardly," "upwardly," etc.) should be construed to
refer to the
orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion.
These relative terms
are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be
constructed or
11
CA 02700895 2010-03-26
WO 2009/042682 PCT/US2008/077517
operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling
and the like, such
as "connected" and "interconnected," refer to a relationship wherein
structures are secured or
attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening
structures, as well as
both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described
otherwise.
[0042] Patents and applications referred to herein are expressly incorporated
by reference
in their entirety herein. Although the invention has been described in terms
of exemplary
embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be
construed broadly,
to include other variants and embodiments of the inverition, which may be made
by those skilled
in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the
invention.
12
