US-20260125194-A1 - PACKAGING FOR A PLURALITY OF FOOD ITEMS, PACKAGED FOOD PRODUCT, FLOW WRAP PACKAGING SEALING JAWS, FLOW WRAP PACKAGING APPARATUS, METHOD OF PACKAGING FOOD ITEMS

Abstract

Packaging for food items, a packaged food product, and methods for packaging food items are disclosed. Such packaging has a sealed cavity for containing food items, and comprises a continuous sheet of packaging material that wraps around and defines the cavity and which is sealed at the ends of the cavity by end seals and along the cavity by a longitudinal seal. The first end seal and the longitudinal seal are each permanent seals and the second end seal is an openable and recloseable seal. A packaged food product comprises food items packaged in such packaging. Also disclosed is a method for packaging food items, sealing jaws for forming such first and second end seals, and packaging apparatus comprising such sealing jaws.

Inventors

• Lucian Emil MOISE
• Olivier LESCOP
• Sara Patricia NUNES CASTILHO
• Rochelle KASSINEN

Assignees

• pladis (UK) Limited

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20240502

Priority Date

20230503

Claims (20)

1. 1 . Packaging for a plurality of food items, the packaging having a sealed cavity for containing the plurality of food items, wherein the packaging comprises a continuous sheet of packaging material that wraps around and defines the cavity and which is sealed at a first end of the cavity by a first end seal, at a second opposed end of the cavity by a second end seal, and along the cavity by a longitudinal seal, the longitudinal seal extending from the first end seal to the second end seal, the sheet of packaging material having an inner surface and an opposed outer surface, wherein the first end seal and the longitudinal seal are each permanent seals free from pressure sensitive adhesive, wherein the end seals each join a portion of the inner surface of the sheet to another portion of the inner surface of the sheet, wherein the second end seal is an openable and recloseable seal cold sealed with a pressure sensitive adhesive, wherein the first and second ends have corresponding edge profiles, and wherein the packaging comprises at least two overlaid opening tab elements along the second end seal, wherein each opening tab element is arranged to be gripped by a user to aid opening of the second end seal, and wherein the opening tab elements are arranged so that portions of packaging sealed together at the second end seal are pulled apart when the tab elements are pulled away from each other.
2. 2 . Packaging according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet of packaging material is a monolayer or multilayer plastic film, and wherein the packaging is form-fill-seal flow-wrap packaging.
3. 3 . Packaging according to claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the openable and recloseable second end seal is the only seal at the second end of the cavity.
4. 4 . Packaging according to any preceding claim , wherein the first and second end seals and the longitudinal seal are the only seals that close the cavity.
5. 5 . Packaging according to any preceding claim , wherein the first and second end seals and the longitudinal seal are the only seals formed between portions of the sheet of material.
6. 6 . Packaging according to any preceding claim , wherein the first end seal and the longitudinal seal are each heat-sealed.
7. 7 . Packaging according to any preceding claim , wherein the first end seal and the longitudinal seal are each substantially free from adhesive, such as pressure-sensitive adhesive.
8. 8 . Packaging according to any preceding claim , wherein the packaging is openable without tearing the sheet of packaging material.
9. 9 . Packaging according to any preceding claim , wherein the sheet of packaging material is a multi-layer laminate packaging material, and wherein the packaging is openable without delamination of the multi-layer laminate packaging material.
10. 10 . Packaging according to any preceding claim , wherein the packaging has a first end comprising the first end seal, and a second end comprising the second end seal, wherein the first end of the packaging comprises a plurality of cut-outs corresponding in size, shape and arrangement to the at least two opening tab elements at the second end of the packaging.
11. 11 . A packaged food product comprising a plurality of food items packaged in packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 10 .
12. 12 . The packaged food product of claim 11 , wherein the food items are baked confectionery items, such as biscuits and/or cookies.
13. 13 . Flow wrap packaging sealing jaws configured to form first and second end seals of the packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , or of a packaged food product according to claim 11 or claim 12 ; wherein the jaws comprise: a first set of opposed sealing surfaces for pressing layers of packaging film together to form the first end seal, a second set of opposed sealing surfaces for pressing layers of packaging film together to form the second end seal, and a film cutter for cutting the packaging film between the first and second seals; and wherein the first set of sealing surfaces are configured to form the first end seal as a permanent end seal, and the second set of sealing surfaces are configured to form the second end seal as an openable and recloseable seal.
14. 14 . Sealing jaws according to claim 13 , wherein the first set of sealing surfaces are heated sealing surfaces, and the second set of sealing surfaces are unheated sealing surfaces, optionally wherein the sealing jaws comprise a thermally insulating temperature deflector disposed between the first set of sealing surfaces and the second set of sealing surfaces.
15. 15 . Sealing jaws according to claim 13 , comprising an ultrasonic welder configured for ultrasonic welding of packaging material pressed between the first set of sealing surfaces.
16. 16 . Flow wrap packaging apparatus for forming packaging according to any one of claims 1-10 , or for providing a packaged food product according to claim 11 or claim 12 , wherein the apparatus comprises: sealing jaws according to any one or claims 13 to 15 , and rollers or further sealing jaws for forming the longitudinal seal of the packaging.
17. 17 . A method of packaging food items, the method comprising the steps of: forming a sheet of packaging material into a tube closed along its side and at one end so that a surface of the sheet forms an inner surface and an opposed surface of the sheet forms an outer surface of the packaging, wherein the tube is closed along its side by a permanent longitudinal seal and at the one end by a permanent first end seal, placing food items to be wrapped in the tube, and closing the tube at a second opposed end with a second openable and recloseable seal to define a cavity containing the food items; wherein the sheet is sealed to itself at each of the longitudinal and end seals; and wherein the method provides a packaged food product according to claim 11 or claim 12 .
18. 18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein portions of the sheet joined together to form the first end seal and/or the longitudinal seal are pressed together between heated rollers and/or heated jaws.
19. 19 . The method of claim 17 or claim 18 , wherein portions of the sheet joined together to form the first end seal and/or the second end seal are pressed together and welded, optionally by thermal or ultrasonic welding.
20. 20 . The method of any one of claims 17 to 19 , wherein portions of the sheet joined together to form the second end seal are pressed together between unheated rollers and/or jaws.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a U.S. national phase application of PCT International Application No. PCT/GB 2024/051152, filed May 2, 2024, which claims priority to GB Application No. 2306539.4, filed May 3, 2023, the entireties of all of which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns packaging. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns re-sealable packaging having a cavity for containing a plurality of food items. The packaging may include a combination of permanent and re-sealable/re-closeable seals. For example, the packaging may comprise a continuous sheet of packaging material that wraps around and defines a cavity, and which is sealed at a first end of the cavity by a first end seal, at a second opposed end of the cavity by a second end seal, and along the cavity by a longitudinal seal that extends from the first end seal to the second end seal, wherein the first end seal and the longitudinal seal are each permanent seals, and the second end seal is an openable and re-closable seal. The invention also concerns a method of packaging a plurality of food items, and packaged food items. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various forms of packaging have been utilised to contain, protect and maintain the freshness of food products. Packaging films are widely used to provide low cost, light-weight and durable packaging. Many packaging films are made from plastics materials, and/or may be mono-layer or multi-layer (also known as laminate) films. Typically, a film is wrapped around one or more food products, and joined to itself, e.g. by welding or with adhesives. In a horizontal flow-wrap packaging system (also known as form-fill-seal horizontal bagging), products are placed on a sheet of film which has been formed into a tube-shaped arrangement, and the film is closed at each end by end seals and along the length of the packaging between the ends by a fin seal or a lap seal. Fin seals are also known as A-A seals, or inside-inside seals, because the inside face of one edge of the film joins to the inside face of the opposed second edge. Lap seals are also known as A-B seals, or inside, outside seals, because the inside face of one edge of the film joins to the outside face of the opposed second edge. In form-fill-seal vertical bagging systems, a bag is formed from a sheet of film similar to the package formed by a form-fill-seal horizontal bagging system, except that the packaging is oriented so that the open end faces upwards rather than sideways, and products are dropped into the packaging from above. Once the packaging is filled, the open end is closed by an end seal. Traditionally, such film-based packaging has been arranged to be torn open by the user. Some films are provided by points of weakness and/or slits to make the film readily tearable, and some are provided with reinforcing strips to help guide tear formation. Such tear-open packaging, while relatively inexpensive and straightforward to manufacture and use to wrap food items, does not allow the package to be re-sealed. Unless a consumer wishes to consume the entire contents of a pack upon opening, they are often left to choose between either finding a new container for the product, or allowing food items to spoil and/or spill out of the torn packaging. Cold-seal horizontal form-fill-seal flow wrap packaging is described in UK Patent No. GB2349862B (Dairy Crest Ltd.), incorporated herein by reference. Various types of re-sealable packaging have been devised. European Patent Application Publication No, EP1477425A1 (Amcor Flexibles Europe A/S) discloses tearable resalable packaging utilising cold seal adhesives. While the tear location is said to be better controlled than previously known packs, it appears that care is still required to ensure correct usage. U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,145A (Kraft General Foods), incorporated herein by reference, discloses recloseable packaging for sliced food products-the packaging comprises a flap, which may be pre-cut or defined by end seals having permanent and resealable sections. The flap and seal arrangement is relatively complex and requires specialist film manufacturing and/or packaging equipment. The flap is openable at its end and sides to facilitate removal of slices without undue distortion. International (PCT) Publication No. WO2014067673A1 (Amcor), incorporated herein by reference, discloses a recloseable flow pack for a single, tablet-shaped food product. All seals on pack are openable and recloseable, allowing the packaging film to be fully peeled back and opened to access the tablet inside. It is disclosed that a particular adhesive pattern aids reseal. The pack is suited to tablet products that can be conveniently held in place during opening and reclosing of the packaging. A similar packaging system for a tablet food product is disclosed in US Patent Application Publication No. US2011/0266180