U.S. patent application number 11/969680 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-06 for method and apparatus for laser scored packaging.
This patent application is currently assigned to KRAFT FOODS HOLDINGS, INC.. Invention is credited to Paul Doll.
Application Number | 20080273821 11/969680 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39671839 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080273821 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Doll; Paul |
November 6, 2008 |
Method and Apparatus for Laser Scored Packaging
Abstract
A package formed via a vertical-form-fill-and-seal process
includes a web material with edge portions sealed to create a
vertical sleeve. The package also includes a first sealed end and a
second sealed end at either end of the vertical sleeve to create a
sealed package. The package includes a laser scribed ablation
pattern extending across the web material with ablated portions
having an about one to about three millimeter length separated by
non-ablated portions of about 0.25 and about 0.75 millimeter
length. The package has increased tensile strength to avoid
breaking during the vertical-form-fill-and-seal process and
provides a high likelihood that an outer edge and vertical seal of
the package include ablated portions to provide an easy-to-start
tear area to open the package. Also, the short spaces between
ablated portions increase the likelihood of tear propagation along
the ablation pattern, all the way across the package.
Inventors: |
Doll; Paul; (Madison,
WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITCH EVEN TABIN & FLANNERY
120 S. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 1600
CHICAGO
IL
60603-3406
US
|
Assignee: |
KRAFT FOODS HOLDINGS, INC.
Northfield
IL
|
Family ID: |
39671839 |
Appl. No.: |
11/969680 |
Filed: |
January 4, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11742754 |
May 1, 2007 |
|
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11969680 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
383/209 ;
53/451 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/5805 20130101;
B65B 2220/08 20130101; B65B 51/303 20130101; B65D 81/3272 20130101;
B65B 29/10 20130101; B65B 2230/02 20130101; B65B 9/2056 20130101;
B65B 9/213 20130101; B65B 9/20 20130101; B65B 9/2028 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/209 ;
53/451 |
International
Class: |
B65D 65/28 20060101
B65D065/28; B65B 9/20 20060101 B65B009/20 |
Claims
1. A package formed via a vertical-form-fill-and-seal process
comprising: a web material with a first edge portion and a second
edge portion opposite the first edge portion sealed together in a
seal with a first sealed end at a first end of the seal and a
second sealed end at a second end of the seal; wherein the first
sealed end and the second sealed end define a first package side
edge and a second package side edge wherein the first package side
edge and the second package side edge comprise folded web material;
an ablation pattern extending across the web material between the
first edge portion and the second edge portion wherein the ablation
pattern comprises a series of ablated portions about 1 millimeter
to about 3 millimeters in length separated by non-ablated portions
about 0.25 millimeters to about 0.75 millimeters in length such
that the ablation pattern defines a tear line across the package
such that the package substantially tears along the along tear line
and across the seal when a separating force is applied by a user at
the first package side edge or the second package side edge and
such that the web material maintains sufficient tensile strength to
withstand the vertical-form-fill-and-seal process substantially
without breaking.
2. The package of claim 1 wherein the package has a length from the
first sealed end to the second sealed end of about 75 millimeters
to about 200 millimeters.
3. The package of claim 1 wherein the web material comprises at
least two layers.
4. The package of claim 1 wherein the web material comprises: an
outer layer comprising at least one of a group comprising PET
(polyethylene terephthalate) and OPP (oriented polypropylene film);
and at least a second layer comprising at least one of a group
comprising PET, OPP, and foil.
5. The package of claim 1 wherein the ablated portions have a depth
less than a thickness of an outer layer of the package.
6. The package of claim 1 wherein the ablation pattern is
non-uniform.
7. The package of claim 1 wherein the first package side edge, the
second package side edge, and an edge of the seal have ablated
portions.
8. The package of claim 1 further comprising a second ablation
pattern disposed on a web material side opposite and substantially
in line with the ablation pattern.
9. The package of claim 1 wherein the seal comprises at least one
of a group comprising a fin-type seal and an overlap seal.
10. A method of manufacturing a package comprising: laser scoring
an ablation pattern across a web material between a first edge
portion and a second edge portion of the web material wherein the
ablation pattern comprises a series of ablated portions about 1
millimeter to about 3 millimeters in length separated by
non-ablated portions about 0.25 millimeters to about 0.75
millimeters in length; feeding the web material into a
vertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device; sealing the web
material along a vertical direction to form at least one seal;
advancing the web material within the
vertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device; sealing and cutting the
web material horizontally across the at least one seal at a first
end of the package; cutting the web material at a second end of the
package with the ablation pattern between the first end and the
second end.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of laser scoring an
ablation pattern extending across a web material between a first
edge portion and a second edge portion of the web material wherein
the ablation pattern comprises a series of ablated portions about 1
millimeter to about 3 millimeters in length separated by
non-ablated portions about 0.25 millimeters to about 0.75
millimeters in length further comprises ablating the web material
to a depth less than a thickness of an outer layer of the
package.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of laser scoring an
ablation pattern extending across a web material between a first
edge portion and a second edge portion of the web material wherein
the ablation pattern comprises a series of ablated portions about 1
millimeter to about 3 millimeters in length separated by
non-ablated portions about 0.25 millimeters to about 0.75
millimeters in length further comprises ablating the web material
on two sides of the web material.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of laser scoring an
ablation pattern extending across a web material between a first
edge portion and a second edge portion of the web material is
performed after the step of feeding the web material into a
vertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of cutting the web
material at a second position with the ablation pattern between the
first position and the second position further comprises cutting
the web material with a length from the first end to the second end
of about 75 millimeters to about 200 millimeters.
15. The method of claim 10 wherein the ablation pattern is
non-uniform.
16. The method of claim 10 further comprising laser scoring a
second ablation pattern disposed on a web material side opposite
and substantially in line with the ablation pattern.
17. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of sealing the web
material along a vertical direction to form at least one seal
comprises sealing the web material to a second web material.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising laser scoring a
second ablation pattern extending across the second web material
wherein the ablation pattern comprises a series of ablated portions
about 1 millimeter to about 3 millimeters in length separated by
non-ablated portions about 0.25 millimeters to about 0.75
millimeters in length.
19. A package formed via a vertical-form-fill-and-seal process
comprising: a first web material sealed to a second web material at
a first side edge along a first side edge seal and at a second side
edge along a second side edge seal; a first sealed end sealing the
package between the first side edge seal and the second side edge
seal; a second sealed end sealing the package between the first
side edge seal and the second side edge seal; an ablation pattern
extending across at least the first web material between the first
side edge and the second side edge wherein the ablation pattern
comprises a series of ablated portions about 1 millimeter to about
3 millimeters in length separated by non-ablated portions about
0.25 millimeters to about 0.75 millimeters in length such that the
ablation pattern defines a tear line across the package such that
the package substantially tears along the along tear line and
across the first side edge seal and the second side edge seal when
a separating force is applied by a user at the first side edge or
the second side edge and such that the web material maintains
sufficient tensile strength to withstand the
vertical-form-fill-and-seal process substantially without
breaking.
20. The package of claim 19 further comprising a second ablation
pattern extending across the second web material between the first
side edge and the second side edge substantially in line with the
ablation pattern on the first web material.
21. The package of claim 19 wherein the package has a length from
the first sealed end to the second sealed end of about 75
millimeters to about 200 millimeters.
22. The package of claim 19 wherein the first web material and the
second web material comprises: an outer layer comprising at least
one of a group comprising PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and OPP
(oriented polypropylene film); and at least a second layer
comprising at least one of a group comprising PET, OPP, and
foil.
23. The package of claim 19 wherein the ablated portions have a
depth less than a thickness of an outer layer of the package.
24. The package of claim 19 wherein the ablation pattern is
non-uniform.
25. The package of claim 19 wherein the first side edge and the
second side edge have ablated portions.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending and
co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/742,754, entitled
Ingredient Package and Method and filed May 1, 2007, which is
incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates generally to packaging and more
particularly to easy-open foodstuff packaging.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Various packaging methods and types are known in the art.
Considerations for commercial packaging include protection of the
package's contents and usability of the package by a consumer or
user of the package's contents. In the case of packaged food items,
for example, the items generally are sealed into a package to
optimize shelf life. When a consumer purchases the product, the
consumer must then open the package to access the items stored
therein. Accessing the items through a sealed package, however, can
require sometimes excessive effort to open the package.
[0004] In certain packages, such as stick-pack packages, it is also
advantageous to easily, completely remove an end of the package to
allow the contents to be fully poured out. For example, where the
contents of a package are intended to be poured into a solution for
mixing, such as in a flavored drink product, the package should be
sealed to protect the contents from the outside moisture but also
be easily opened by a consumer. Such packages are typically made in
a vertical-form-fill-and-seal process wherein a web of material is
folded over and sealed. This sealed material is cut and sealed on
one end and then filled with the package contents. The second end
is then also cut and sealed, thereby sealing the contents of the
package therein. To open the package, a user must either pull apart
the seal or otherwise cut or tear the package.
[0005] Various features have been added to such packages to assist
the consumer in opening the package. By one approach, the side of
the package is cut to provide the consumer with a starting point in
tearing open the package. This approach, however, requires that the
package be sealed around the cut portion which takes additional
manufacturing resources and efforts. By another known approach, the
side edge of the package is flawed by a physical micro-abrasion
process that weakens the side of the package such that the package
tears more easily on the edge when a user applies a tearing force
to open the package. Under this approach and the above cutting
approach, however, the package will merely tear along weak areas
naturally present in the package material such that the tear may
not propagate straight across the package. Moreover, the tear
typically stops at the seal running the length of the package
without undue additional force applied by the user.
[0006] Another known method for assisting the opening of a package
includes weakening the package material along a given line such
that a tear will likely propagate along that line when opening the
package. One such method includes ablating the package material
with a laser. The laser damages the package material along a line
across the material without cutting entirely through the package
material. Thus, when a user tears at the package, the package is
more likely to tear along the laser-damaged portion. When a package
is scored by a laser all the way across the package, however, the
package is too often so weakened that it cannot stay intact during
its manufacturing process or during normal handling by a user
before the package is intended to be opened.
[0007] It is known to laser score a pattern into a package material
to provide additional strength for a load carrying package, such as
a bag of soil or similar relatively heavy material. Previous
disclosures teach a ratio of the length of laser scored to
non-scored material along a tear line for such an application to be
about one to two; in other words, the laser will score a line of
about one half the length of intermediate non-scored material
between each scored portion. Having the increased amount of
non-scored portions relative to the scored portions provides
increased material strength for such load carrying bags, but for
smaller foodstuff packaging, such a ratio of laser scoring
typically will not satisfactorily carry a tear line cleanly and
consistently straight across a package or ensure that laser scoring
will be present on the package and seal edges to provide an
increased ease of starting a tear and propagating a tear across a
package seal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The above needs are at least partially met through provision
of the method and apparatus for laser scored packaging described in
the following detailed description, particularly when studied in
conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 comprises a plan view of a web material for use in
creating a package as configured in accordance with various
embodiments of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 comprises a bottom plan view of package as configured
in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 comprises a top plan view of a portion of a package
as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the
invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 comprises a top plan view of the portion of a package
of FIG. 3 while a tearing force is applied by a user to an edge of
the package;
[0013] FIG. 5 comprises a side view of a package as configured in
accordance with various embodiments of the invention with an end
completely removed such that the contents can be fully emptied;
[0014] FIG. 6 comprises a perspective view of a three layer web
material as configured in accordance with various embodiments of
the invention;
[0015] FIG. 7 comprises an elevation view of a three layer web
material along a cross-section along an ablation pattern as
configured in accordance with various embodiments of the
invention;
[0016] FIG. 8 comprises a perspective view of a two layer web
material as configured in accordance with various embodiments of
the invention;
[0017] FIG. 9 comprises an elevation view of a two layer web
material along a cross-section along an ablation pattern as
configured in accordance with various embodiments of the
invention;
[0018] FIG. 10 comprises a perspective view of a web material to be
formed into a package having a fin-type seal as configured in
accordance with various embodiments of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 11 comprises a perspective view of a package having a
fin-type seal as configured in accordance with various embodiments
of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 12 comprises a perspective view of a web material to be
formed into a package having an overlap seal as configured in
accordance with various embodiments of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 13 comprises a perspective view of a package having an
overlap seal as configured in accordance with various embodiments
of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 14 comprises a perspective view of a package having two
web materials as configured in accordance with various embodiments
of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 15 comprises a cross-sectional view along line Z-Z of
the package of FIG. 14;
[0024] FIG. 16 comprises a perspective view of elements of a
vertical-form-fill-and-seal device.
[0025] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the
figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not
necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or
relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be
exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve
understanding of various embodiments of the present invention.
Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or
necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not
depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these
various embodiments of the present invention. It will further be
appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or
depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in
the art will understand that such specificity with respect to
sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that
the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical
meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons
skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where
different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth
herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, a
package formed via a vertical-form-fill-and-seal process includes a
web material with edge portions sealed to create a vertical sleeve.
The web material also includes a first sealed end and a second
sealed end at either end of the vertical sleeve to create a sealed
package. The package includes a laser scribed ablation pattern
extending across the web material with ablated portions having an
about one millimeter to about three millimeters length separated by
non-ablated portions of about 0.25 millimeter to about 0.75
millimeter length. The package typically has a vertical length of
about 75 millimeters to about 200 millimeters.
[0027] So configured, the package provides a sealed container that
a user may open along the package's ablation pattern. The package
may contain foodstuffs such as drink powders, dessert powders,
snack nuts, condiments, and toppings that are poured into another
container or directly into a consumer's mouth. The laser ablation
pattern, having a dash score length of about one millimeter to
about three millimeters and a space between scores of about 0.25
millimeters to about 0.75 millimeters, provides the web material
with increased tensile strength so as to avoid breaking during the
conventional vertical-form-fill-and-seal process, but also provides
a high likelihood that an outer edge of the package includes an
ablated portion to provide a user an easy-to-start tear area to
open the package. Similarly, this pattern provides a high
likelihood that an edge of the vertical seal has an ablated portion
such that the tearing of the package more easily propagates across
the seal. Also, the short spaces between the ablated portions
increase the likelihood that the tear will propagate in a line
along the ablation pattern, all the way across the package, so that
the end of the package is relatively easily and completely removed
to allow unrestricted access to the package's contents.
[0028] In other words, a longer dash or continuous line for the
ablation pattern will excessively weaken the web material, and a
shorter dash will make the web material more difficult to open. A
longer space between ablated portions will likely allow the tear to
move away from the score line, and a shorter space between ablated
portions will reduce the tensile strength to mimic a solid score.
As such, a dash pattern in accordance with the teachings of this
disclosure provides a preferred combination of features for such
packages.
[0029] These and other benefits may become clearer upon making a
thorough review and study of the following detailed description.
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2,
an example package that is compatible with many of these teachings
will now be presented. A package 10 formed via a
vertical-form-fill-and-seal process includes a web material 12 with
a first edge portion 14 and a second edge portion 16 opposite the
first edge portion 14 that are sealed together in a seal 18. The
package 10 includes a first sealed end 20 at a first end 22 of the
seal 16 and a second sealed end 24 at a second end of the seal 16.
Any of the above described seals may be made by conventional
methods, including, for example, the application of heat and
pressure to create a laminate seal. With these seals, the contents
of the package 10 are protected from outside elements such as
moisture and/or oxygen that may affect the quality of the
contents.
[0030] The first sealed end 20 and the second sealed end 24 define
a first package side edge 28 and a second package side edge 30
wherein the first package side edge 28 and the second package side
edge 30 are folded web material created by and between the edges of
the sealed ends 20 and 24. The folded web material may be creased
along fold lines 15 and 17 to better define the side edges for the
user or may be rounded portions of the web material transitioning
from the front of the package 10 to the back.
[0031] With continuing reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the package
10 also includes an ablation pattern 32 extending across the web
material 12 between the first edge portion 14 and the second edge
portion 16. The ablation pattern 32 includes a series of ablated
portions 34 about one to about three millimeters in length
(designated, for example, by line 35 in FIG. 6) separated by
non-ablated portions 36 about 0.25 to about 0.75 millimeters in
length (designated, for example, by line 37 in FIG. 6) such that
the ablation pattern defines a tear line 39 across the package
10.
[0032] With such an ablation pattern, the package 10 substantially
tears along the along tear line 39 and across the seal 18 without
varying from the tear line 39 when a separating force is applied by
a user at the first package side edge 28 or the second package side
edge 30 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The range of ablation portion
lengths and non-ablated portion lengths taught herein also
increases the likelihood that the first package side edge 28, the
second package side edge 30, and an edge 29 of the seal 18 have
ablated portions 34, thereby improving the ease at which the
package 10 begins tearing and continues tearing through the seal 18
without a substantial increase in tearing force applied by the
user. So configured, the user may more easily remove the entire
package end to release the package contents 11 as illustrated in
FIG. 5. Moreover, the web material 12 maintains sufficient tensile
strength via the non-ablated portions 36 to withstand the
vertical-form-fill-and-seal process substantially without
breaking.
[0033] With reference to FIGS. 6 through 9, the web material 12 and
ablation patterns 32 are further discussed. The web material 12 may
include one or more layers of material, although typically the web
material 12 includes at least two layers. A multi-layer web
material 12 includes at least an outer layer 40 comprising at least
one of a group including PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and OPP
(oriented polypropylene film). The outer layer 40 will typically
include branding and product information. A second layer 42
includes at least one of a group comprising PET, OPP, and foil,
typically including sealant for a two layer structure. An optional
third layer 44 may operate as a sealant layer typically comprising
primarily PE (polyethylene) or other material suitable for
contacting the package's contents 11 and providing adequate seal
characteristics as generally known in the art with the second layer
acting as a barrier. Any one or more of the layers may also be
metalized to increase the protection of the package's contents
11.
[0034] Typically, the ablated portions 34 are scribed with carbon
dioxide lasers during the manufacturing of the web material 12 and
prior to the vertical-form-fill-and-seal manufacturing process,
although the ablated portions 34 may be scribed during the
vertical-form-fill-and-seal process. Other types of lasers may be
used to create the ablated portions 34.
[0035] In a typical approach for the laser scribing, as shown in
FIGS. 7 and 9, the ablated portions 34 have a depth less than a
thickness of an outer layer 40 of the package 10. This depth
maintains the integrity of the package seal and strength of the web
material 12. Although the ablation pattern 32 is generally shown
herein as a uniform pattern, the ablation pattern 32 may have a
non-uniform pattern 50 within the length ranges for the ablated and
non-ablated portions as taught herein.
[0036] By another approach, a second ablation pattern 48 may be
disposed on a web material side 46 opposite and substantially in
line with the first ablation pattern 32. Additionally, various
approaches to the laser scoring placement are possible, including,
for example, a single ablation pattern on an outer portion of the
package 10, a single ablation pattern on an inner portion of the
package 10, single ablation patterns substantially in line with
each other on the outside and inside portions of the package 10,
double ablation patterns on the inside and/or outside portions of
the package, and so forth.
[0037] Referring now to FIGS. 10 through 13, the seal 18 of the
first edge portion 14 to the second edge portion 16 of the web
material 12 may include any type of seal known in the art but will
typically comprise a fin-type seal 52 or an overlap seal 62. Such
seals are known in the art, but will be described briefly for
clarity. With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, a fin-type seal 52 is
formed by folding the web material 12 such that the inner portions
46 of the first edge portion 14 and second edge portion 16 touch.
These edge portions are sealed together and folded against the
package 10, thereby creating a "fin." When the ablation pattern 32
extends across the whole web material 12, the ablation pattern 32
creates a line of weakness across the fin-type seal 52 thereby
rending the seal more easily torn. When the ablation pattern 32 is
configured according to the teachings of this disclosure, an
ablated portion 34 is more likely positioned on an edge 29 of the
fin-type seal 52 to help the propagation of the tear to continue
across the seal 52.
[0038] With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, an overlap seal 62 is
formed by folding the web material 12 such that one of either the
first edge portion 14 and second edge portion 16 overlaps the
other. FIG. 12, for example, shows the first edge portion 14
overlapping with the second edge portion 16. These edge portions
are then sealed together, eliminating a need for a folded portion
like the fin-type seal 52. When the ablation pattern 32 extends
across the whole web material 12, the ablation pattern 32 creates a
line of weakness across the overlap seal 62 thereby rending the
seal more easily torn. When the ablation pattern 32 is configured
according to the teachings of this disclosure, an ablated portion
34 is more likely positioned on an edge 29 of the fin-type seal 62
to help the propagation of the tear to continue across the seal
62.
[0039] By a different approach, and with reference to FIGS. 14 and
15, a package 100 may include two web materials 102 and 104 sealed
together to define an interior space 105. By one method, the first
web material 102 is sealed to the second web material 104 at a
first side edge 114 along a first side edge seal 128 and at a
second side edge 116 along a second side edge seal 130. The package
100 also includes a first sealed end 120 and a second sealed end
124 sealing the package 100 between the first side edge seal 128
and the second side edge seal 130. An ablation pattern 32 as
described above extends across at least the first web material 102
between the first side edge 114 and the second side edge 116 such
that the ablation pattern 32 defines a tear line 39 across the
package 100. So configured, the first side edge seal 114 and the
second side edge seal 116 have a high likelihood of having ablated
portions 34, the package 100 substantially tears along the along
tear line 39 and across the first side edge seal 128 and the second
side edge seal 130 when a separating force is applied by a user at
the first side edge 114 or the second side edge 116. The web
materials 102 and 104 also maintain sufficient tensile strength to
withstand the vertical-form-fill-and-seal process substantially
without breaking.
[0040] It is possible to have a second ablation pattern 132
extending across the second web material 104 between the first side
edge 114 and the second side edge 116 substantially in line with
the ablation pattern 32 on the first web material 102. Other
configurations of ablation patterns are possible and considered
within the scope of this disclosure.
[0041] With reference to FIG. 16, a method for manufacturing a
package 10 according to the teachings of this disclosure will be
described. The method includes laser scoring an ablation pattern 32
across a web material 12 between a first edge portion 14 and a
second edge portion 16 of the web material 12 and (as generally
indicated by reference number 210) feeding the web material 12 into
a vertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device 200. As depicted in
FIG. 16, the ablation pattern 32 was laser scored during the
manufacture of the web material 12 and prior to its feeding into
the vertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device 200. By another
approach, lasers may be incorporated into the
vertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device 200 such that the
ablation pattern 32 may be added after feeding the web material 12
into the vertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device 200. By yet
another approach, the laser scoring may ablate the web material 12
on two sides of the web material 12 and substantially in line with
the ablation patterns on either side of the material. The web
material 12 is then sealed along a vertical direction to form at
least one seal 18, and advanced within the
vertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device 200. The web material 12
is sealed and cut horizontally across the at least one seal 18 at a
first end 22 of the package 10. The web material 12 is then cut at
a second end 26 of the package 10 with the ablation pattern 32
between the first end 22 and the second end 26. Typically, the
second cut severs the web material 12 such that the length from the
first end 22 to the second end 26 is about 75 millimeters to about
200 millimeters.
[0042] Although the vertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device 200
depicted in FIG. 16 is designed to create a fin-type seal, the
above described method can be applied to any of the other package
seals described herein, including, for example, an overlap seal
package and a dual web material package. For instance, the step of
sealing the web material along the vertical direction to form a
seal may include sealing the web material 12 to a second web
material. In this example, two vertical seals at the vertical edges
of the web materials may be created at this step. Similarly, the
second web material may be laser scored with a second ablation
pattern. Other variations of the laser scoring pattern and sealing
process will be recognized by those skilled in the art.
[0043] So configured, the package created by such a method and as
described herein provides relative ease of starting to open the
package when compared to previous methods provided to consumers to
help open relatively small web-based packaging. Moreover, the tear
more reliably propagates along the tear line and more easily
propagates past vertical seals in the packaging. For example, a
test was conducted to compare the tear forces needed to be applied
over time while propagating a tear through a typical fin-type seal
package. The test was conducted as follows. A package with a laser
score pattern was fit with taped extensions to mimic the rolling
wrist action of a user. The portion of the package below the score
line was fixed securely in the test device, while the extension
tape affixed to the portion above the score line was secured in the
tear tester jaws. The testing device was a Vinatoru seal strength
tester. The tester jaws pulled the tape from the opposite side of
the package and progressed across the top of the package and upward
at a 30 degree angle. The tester jaws were fitted with a force
transducer and the instantaneous force was recorded at regular
intervals.
[0044] FIG. 17 illustrates the results of the test. The laser
scribed, dashed ablation pattern as described herein (labeled
"Dash") allows for the package to open with approximately the same
force, or ease of opening, as having a continuous laser score line
(labeled "Continuous") in the web material. Both of the laser
scored packages necessitated substantially less opening force than
the notched approach (labeled "Notch Edge/Fin") and the
micro-abrasion approach (labeled "Fancy Cut" for the FANCY CUT
brand of packaging).
[0045] As demonstrated in the table of FIG. 18, however, the dashed
ablation pattern has a consistently improved tensile strength over
packages having a continuous score line. The data presented in FIG.
18 was collected by measuring the tensile strength of packages
using an Instron testing device. The data demonstrates that the
ablation pattern has sufficiently improved tensile strength over a
continuous score line so as to be less likely to break in a
vertical-form-fill-and-seal process while having approximately the
same opening force, as shown in FIG. 17.
[0046] Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety
of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with
respect to the above described embodiments without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, many of the
example embodiments discussed herein refer to generally rectangular
shaped packages with specified, distinct edges. Other
configurations such as oval or round packages are possible. Also,
any variation of multiple scoring lines to provide multiple tear
lines in a package can be provided. Such modifications,
alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the
ambit of the inventive concept.
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