A PACKAGE COMPRISING MEANS FOR TEARING AND OPENING THE WRAPPER, A PROCESS AND A DEVICE FOR MAKING THE

SAME PACKAGE

Technical field

This invention relates mainly to a package having means for tearing the wrapper placed round a product.

The invention also addresses a process and device for making a wrapper for the package.

Background art

Known from the prior art are packages where a product, usually in the form of a box-shaped element containing cigarettes or a food product such as chewing gum or confectionery, is wrapped in a respective wrapper which is in turn in the form of a sheet or length of film obtained from a corresponding film or band of plastic material such as polypropylene.

More specifically, known from the prior art are packages or wrappers referred to as "fin seal" in the jargon of the field, which comprise a corresponding longitudinal closing fin and respective end closing end fins and which are particularly well sealed.

A prior art package of this kind is provided with a wrapper tear tape whose tearing action can be conveniently initiated thanks to gripping and pulling means comprising a respective end portion of the tear tape and a corresponding tab formed on the wrapper by corresponding slits defined in the zone of the wrapper superposed on the selfsame gripping end portion of the tear tape.

In practice, in prior art fin seal packages, the gripping end portion of the tear tape extends between opposed and joined wrapper end flaps which define a corresponding longitudinal fin of the wrapper and where the slits defining the gripping tab are made, whilst the opposite end of the tear tape remains completely outside the longitudinal fin. In effect, that way, the pulling action applied to the gripping means is propagated along the tear tape until the wrapper is completely torn.

According to the prior art, making product wrappers with the facilitated opening or tear tape incorporated in them involves coupling the tape to the film from which the respective sheet constituting the wrapper is obtained, in particular cut.

In the prior art, however, in order to avoid superposing the opposite ends of the single tear tape at the gripping tab, a plurality of tear tapes are applied to the film portions constituting a corresponding wrapper for a respective product.

In practice, according to the prior art, the tear tapes associated with the wrapper film are spaced by a certain longitudinal distance, or spacing, so that one of the two ends of the tear tape remains outside the wrapper fin, that is, outside the gripping tab obtained therefrom. In effect, it would not otherwise be possible to open the package because if both of the end portions of the tear element were superposed and incorporated in the flaps defining the gripping tab of the package, the pulling action applied to these portions of the tear tape trapped in the wrapper tab would not be able to propagate along a single branch of the tear tape itself, thus making it problematical to tear the wrapper open.

This process, however, which requires the single tear tapes applied to the wrapper film to be spaced apart, means that the devices for working on the tear tapes and films are necessarily complex and difficult to operate, and hence, expensive.

Aim of the invention

This invention proposes a novel solution, alternative to the solutions known up to now, and/or, more specifically, aims to overcome one or more of the above mentioned drawbacks, and/or to meet one or more of the needs mentioned in or inferable from the above.

Accordingly provided is a package comprising a product placed in a wrapper and means for tearing and opening the wrapper, the product being in particular in the form of a container, a packet, a box-shaped element or a group of products to be kept together, and the wrapper being in particular in the form of a sheet or length of film obtained from a corresponding film or band, especially of plastic material, such as polypropylene; the tearing means comprising an elongate element or tape which extends peripherally round the wrapper and which is adapted to tear the wrapper, and means for gripping and pulling the elongate element, the means for tearing and pulling comprising a respective end portion of the elongate element; characterized in that the means for gripping and pulling the elongate element comprise the opposite end portion of the elongate element, which is separate or separable from the main part wrapped around the product and from the other end portion of the selfsame elongate element.

That way, although there are two end portions of the tear tape trapped inside the respective wrapper fin, the pulling action applied to the end of the elongate tear element is transmitted only through the respective branch which that end is connected to. That means the wrapper is opened conveniently and easily.

Moreover, the package or, more specifically, the film provided with the elongate tear element from which the package can be obtained, is made using devices and apparatuses which are particularly simple compared to those used in the prior art and thus have a particularly advantageous construction cost.

Also provided is a process for making a wrapper to be placed around a product to define a corresponding package; the product being in particular in the form of a container, a packet, a box-shaped element or a group of products to be kept together, and the wrapper being in particular in the form of a sheet or length of film obtained from a corresponding film or band, especially of plastic material, such as polypropylene; the process comprises preparing, in particular feeding, the film or band provided with respective product tearing means, in particular in the form of a strip or band adapted to define an elongate element or wrapper tear tape, which in use extends peripherally round the product placed in the wrapper; characterized in that the tear strip or band extends for the full working length of the film; and in that the tear strip or band is provided with means for separating, or making separable, from each other the portion of the strip or band which is upstream of the separating means, and the corresponding portion of the strip or band which is downstream of the separating means, so that, in use, a respective end portion of the corresponding elongate tearing element is separate or separable from the main part wrapped round the product and from the other end portion of the selfsame elongate element.

Also provided is a device usable for making a wrapper to be placed around a product to define a corresponding package; the product being in particular in the form of a container, a packet, a box-shaped element or a group of products to be kept together, and the wrapper being in particular in the form of a sheet or length of film obtained from a corresponding film or band, especially of plastic material, such as polypropylene; the wrapper comprising a corresponding elongate tearing element and the film supporting a corresponding elongate strip or band adapted to define the elongate tearing element, the tear strip or band extending longitudinally along the selfsame film, characterized in that it comprises means for providing the tear strip or band with separating means between the portion of the strip which is upstream of the separating means, and the respective portion of the strip which is downstream of the separating means.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other innovative aspects are set out in the appended claims and the technical features and advantages are also apparent from the detailed description which follows of non-limiting example embodiments of it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figures 1 A to 1 F are perspective views illustrating the steps in the making of a package comprising the tear tape according to the invention;

- Figure 2 shows an enlarged view, in transversal cross section, illustrating the portion of the elongate tear element which is cut off the main portion of the selfsame elongate tear element;

- Figures 3A to 3C are perspective views showing how the wrapper is torn open using the elongate tear element or tape according to the invention;

- Figure 4 is a top plan view of the film from which the product wrapper is obtained, showing in particular the steps of the process for making the wrapper;

- Figure 5 is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of a device for cutting the elongate tear element or tape according to the invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

Figures 1 A to 1 F illustrate steps in the making of a fin seal package which uses an elongate tear element or tape 15 according to the invention.

In practice, a product 1 1 , preferably in the form of a packet or box-shaped element, is placed in a respective wrapper 13.

As illustrated, the product 1 1 has opposite transversal end faces 1 1 a, 1 1 b, between which respective longitudinal faces extend, the latter comprising opposite main faces, normally the wide front and rear product faces 1 1 c, 1 1 d, and opposite narrower faces 1 1 e, 1 1 f, extending between the main faces 1 1 c, 1 1 d.

The product wrapper 1 1 is in turn preferably in the form of a sheet or length of film, especially of plastic material, in particular polypropylene, which can be conveniently heat sealed and which is wrapped round the product to be packaged, defining corresponding superposed panels or portions, preferably in contact with the respective faces of the wrapped product.

Of the superposed panels, the ones superposed on the transversal end faces 1 1 a, 1 1 b are denoted by the reference labels 13a, 13b, whilst those superposed on the opposite main faces 1 1 c, 1 1 d and on the opposite lateral faces 1 1 e, 1 1 f of the product are denoted by the reference labels 13c, 13d, 13e, 13f.

In practice, the longitudinal seal or join of the package is in the form of a respective fin 13g which protrudes laterally from the wrapper itself and which is located at a respective lateral face 1 1 e of the product, the longitudinal fin 13g being obtained by joining, in particular by heat-sealing, lateral wrapper flaps 13'g, 13"g placed opposite each other and joined, as illustrated in Figure 1 B.

The longitudinal fin 13g is then folded and joined, in particular by heat- sealing, to the wrapper flap 13e which is superposed on and in contact with the corresponding lateral face of the product, in particular the lateral face 1 1 e of the product.

The package C also comprises first and second transversal end seals which are in the form of respective transversal end fins 13h, 13h, which close the wrapper round the product and which are obtained by joining, in particular by heat-sealing, opposed wrapper end flaps 13'h, 13'h protruding longitudinally beyond the corresponding transversal face 13a, 13b of the wrapper.

Each transversal end fin 13h, 13h is folded on the respective wrapper flap 13a, 13b which is superposed on and in contact with the corresponding transversal product face 1 1 a, 1 1 b and joined thereto, in particular by heat sealing, as may be inferred from Figure 1 E.

As illustrated, the fins 13h, 13h have a respective central portion 131, 131 and opposite lateral tabs 13i, 13i, which protrude laterally or transversely beyond the lateral product faces 1 1 e, 13f and which are advantageously folded on the corresponding wrapper flap 13e, 13f which is superposed on and in contact with the corresponding lateral product face 1 1 e, 1 1 f and joined thereto, in particular by heat sealing, as may be inferred from Figure 1 F.

As illustrated, the package also comprises means for tearing and opening the wrapper, in the form of an elongate element or tape 15, which extends peripherally round the wrapper, along the trace of the selfsame elongate element.

The tear means 15 comprise means for gripping and pulling the elongate element, the means for tearing and pulling comprising a respective end portion 1 15' of the elongate element and, preferably as illustrated, a wrapper tab 1 13', being in particular superposed on the gripping end portion of the elongate element.

Advantageously, the elongate tear element has a second, opposite end portion 1 15" which is held together with the gripping and pulling portion 1 15' between opposed and joined wrapper end flaps 13'g, 13"g which define a corresponding longitudinal fin 13g, in particular a longitudinally protruding fin of the wrapper.

Advantageously, the second end portion 1 15" of the elongate element is separated or separable, preferably through a corresponding separating cut, from the main part 1 15p of the selfsame elongate element which extends peripherally round the wrapper to be torn.

Thus, by puling the gripping and pulling tab of the tear tape, or rather, the end portions of the tear tape, the pulling action which causes the wrapper to tear is transmitted only through the continuous - uninterrupted - stretch 1 15' of the gripping portion 1 15', 1 15" of the elongate element to the main part of the latter, extending on the part of the wrapper surrounding the product, allowing the wrapper to be easily torn and gradually opened.

In practice, as may be inferred from Figures 3A to 3C, pulling the tear tape 15 gradually tears the wrapper along the full path of the tear tape.

Further, applying the elongate element to the film from which the wrapper is obtained can be done easily and without necessitating complex devices, as was the case in the prior art. In effect, advantageously, the tear strip or band can be made in the form of a continuous tear strip which can be applied to the entire wrapping film.

In practice, as shown in Figure 3A, pulling the tab 1 13' which encloses the end portions 1 15', 1 15" of the elongate element or tear tape initiates tearing starting from the tear tape end 1 15' which is integral with the part 1 15p of the elongate element or tear tape that surrounds the product.

Inferable in particular from Figure 4 is an advantageous preferred process for making a wrapper 13 for a product 1 1 to define a corresponding package provided with advantageous means for tearing and opening the wrapper.

The process allows making a wrapper 13 placed round a product, which, as already mentioned, may be a container, a packet, a box-shaped element, a group of products to be kept together, or any other type of product.

The sheet or length 13 of wrapping film is obtained from a corresponding film or tape 1 13, in particular of plastic material, such as polypropylene. In practice, the process comprises preparing an elongate film or tape 1 13, in particular feeding a film or tape 1 13 along a respective longitudinal feed direction and being provided with respective product tearing means, which are in particular in the form of a continuous elongate strip or band 1 15 and which are adapted to define, for each wrapper, an elongate element or tape 15 for tearing and opening the wrapper, the elongate element or tape being adapted, in use, that is, when the package is finished, to extend peripherally round the product placed in the wrapper; in particular in a plane perpendicular or transversal to the longitudinal axis of the product. According to this advantageous process, the tear strip or band 1 15 extends, or is applied to the film, along the longitudinal direction of product feed for the full working length of the selfsame film 1 13, and the tear strip or band 1 15 is provided with means for separating, or making separable, from each other the portion 1 15a of the strip or band which is upstream of the separating means, and the portion 1 15b of the strip or band which is downstream of the separating means, so that, in use, that is, when the user applies a pulling action to it, a respective end portion 1 15" of the corresponding elongate tearing element is separate or separable from the main part 1 15p wrapped round the product and from the other end portion 1 15' of the selfsame elongate element 15.

In practice, according to the process, the tear strip or band 1 15 is provided with means 1 17 for separating the respective portions upstream 1 15a and downstream 1 15b of the elongate strip or band 1 15 by a longitudinal spacing L corresponding to the length of the wrapper to be made.

According to the process, the tear strip or band 1 1 5 is provided with separating means 1 17 between the respective upstream portion 1 15a and downstream portion 1 15b of the elongate strip or band 1 15, the separating means 1 17 being provided in the vicinity of a zone 1 19 of the film 1 13 where the corresponding wrapper is divided from the adjacent wrapper, or downstream wrapper.

According to the process, the tear strip or band 1 1 5 is provided with separating means 1 17 between the respective upstream portion 1 15a and downstream portion 1 15b of the elongate strip or band 1 15, the separating means 1 17 being provided at a zone 1 19 of the film 1 13 where means 121 , 121 are provided for defining a corresponding tab for gripping and pulling the elongate tearing element.

In use, that is, when the package is finished, the gripping tab 1 13' is defined by corresponding portions 1 13a, 1 13b of the wrapper flaps which define the longitudinal fin 13g of the package.

According to the process, the tear strip or band 1 1 5 is provided with separating means 1 17 between the respective upstream portion 1 15a and downstream portion 1 15b of the elongate strip or band 1 15, at a distance d from the zone where a transversal dividing line 1 19 between corresponding wrappers is provided, in particular, the distance d being less than the width of the corresponding sealing fin 15g of the respective wrapper. Advantageously, the process comprises providing the tear strip or band 1 15 with a respective separating cut 1 17 between the respective upstream portion 1 15a and downstream portion 1 15b of the elongate strip or band 1 15.

More specifically, the separating cut 1 17 of the tear strip or band 1 15 extends in the layer of film 1 13 under the tear strip or band 1 15 itself.

In practice, a wrapper is obtained which, in use, allows making a package like the one illustrated in Figures 1 A to 1 F and in Figure 2.

According to a further aspect of the process, the film or tape is provided with means 121 , 121 adapted to define a tab 1 13' for gripping the tear means.

More specifically, the means adapted to define a tab 1 13' for gripping the tearing means are in the form of a respective cut, in particular respective cuts 121 , 121 made in the film 1 13.

More specifically, the means 121 , 121 adapted to define a tab 1 13' for gripping the tearing means are in the form of respective cuts made in the film along the longitudinal feeding direction of the film itself, in particular at a respective border zone 1 19 of the corresponding sheet or length of film defining the respective wrapper, that is to say, at the zone where the transversal cutting line 1 19 separating the respective wrapper from the remaining upstream part of the film or tape 1 13.

More specifically, the means adapted to define a tab 1 13' for gripping the tearing means are in the form of respective first and second cuts 121 , 121 , in particular parallel to each other, which are made in the film 1 13 at the respective sides of the tearing strip or band 1 15.

Figure 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a device which can be used to make a wrapper 13 placed round a product 1 1 to define a corresponding package and which, in particular, implements this process for making a wrapper provided with advantageous tearing means.

The device 10 operates on a film or tape 1 13 which bears a corresponding continuous tear strip or band 1 15 extending longitudinally along the selfsame film 1 13, in particular for the full working length thereof, and advantageously comprises means 12 for providing the elongate tear strip or band 1 15 with separating means between the respective portion 1 15a of the strip which is upstream of the separating means and the respective portion 1 15b of the strip which is downstream of the separating means 1 17.

In practice, there are means 12 which are adapted to provide the elongate tear strip or band 1 15 with separating means 1 17 between the respective upstream portion 1 15a and downstream portion 1 15b of the elongate strip or band 1 15 following a longitudinal pulling action applied, in use, on the elongate tearing element.

In practice, there are means 12 which are adapted to provide the elongate tear strip or band 1 15 with separating means 1 17 between the respective upstream portion 1 15a and downstream portion 1 15b, at a respective part of the film which defines a corresponding wrapper.

In practice, obtained from the film, in particular through corresponding transversal cuts, are parts, or sheets, or pieces of film of predetermined length L corresponding to the desired wrapper length.

Advantageously, the separating means 1 17 are provided in the film at longitudinal distances L corresponding to the length of the wrapper to be made.

In practice, there are means 12 which are adapted to provide the elongate tear strip or band 1 15 with separating means 1 17 between the respective upstream portion 1 15a and downstream portion 1 15b of the strip or band 1 15, at a zone 1 19 of the film 1 13 where the corresponding wrapper is divided from the adjacent wrapper, or downstream wrapper.

In practice, there are means 12 which are adapted to provide the tear strip or band 1 15 with separating means 1 17 between the respective upstream portion 1 15a and downstream portion 1 15b of the strip or band 1 15 at a zone 1 19 of the film 1 13 where means, or longitudinal cuts, 121 , 121 are provided for defining a corresponding tab for gripping and pulling the elongate tearing element.

In practice, the separating means 1 17 are provided at a distance d from the zone or transversal dividing line defining a division between corresponding wrappers, the distance d being less than the width of the corresponding sealing fin 15g of the respective wrapper when it is placed round the product, as may be well inferred from Figure 2.

The means for providing the elongate tear strip or band 1 15 with separating means 1 17 between the respective upstream portion 1 15a and downstream portion 1 15b are advantageously in the form of means 12 for cutting the elongate tear strip 1 15.

More specifically, the means 12 for cutting the tear strip or band 1 15 also cut the layer of film underneath the zone or point of cutting the tear strip or band.

In practice, the layer of film is completely cut together with the layer of tear strip or band.

More specifically, the cutting means 12 comprise a cutting element, or blade, 12a and opposing means 14 for the cutting element 12a, between which the film 1 13 bearing the tear strip or band 1 15 extends or is positioned.

Advantageously, the cutting means 12 comprise movable supporting means 12b for the cutting element, or blade, 12a designed to move the selfsame cutting element 12a between a position close to the tear strip or band 1 15, where the cutting element 12a engages and cuts the tear strip or band 1 15, and a position away from the tear strip or band.

As illustrated, the movable supporting means of the cutting element are in the form of a rotatable body from which the cutting element 12a protrudes radially, that is, extends radially beyond the cylindrical outside surface of the rotatable body 12b.

In practice, as may be inferred from Figure 5, the rotatable supporting body 12b of the cutting element 12a rotates on itself while remaining at the same distance from the tear strip or band. Advantageously, the means for providing the elongate tear strip or band 1 15 with the separating means 1 17 are movable longitudinally along the strip or band 1 15 and/or along the film 1 13.

In practice, thanks to the relative movement of the means 12 for providing the separating means, it is possible to position the separating means 1 17 at any desired longitudinal position relative to the wrapper, or sheet, or length of film, such as to allow obtaining wrappers or sheets of any desired length, as necessary for the product to be packaged.

In practice, advantageously, the cutting means 12, which comprise the cutting element 12a and its supporting element 12b, and the opposing means 14 are mounted on a respective carrier which is movable longitudinally of the strip or band 1 15 and/or of the film 1 13.

As illustrated, the device comprises means 21 for providing the film 1 13 with means 121 , 121 for defining a tab for gripping the elongate tearing element 15, in particular for gripping the end portions of the selfsame elongate tearing element.

Advantageously, the means for providing the film 1 13 with means for defining a tab 1 13' for gripping the elongate tearing element 15 are in the form of means 21 for cutting the film 1 13.

More specifically, the cutting means 21 make a pair of parallel cuts 121 , 121 which are provided at the sides of the tear strip or band 1 15, at the zone or transversal line dividing the respective wrappers, that is, at the zone where the transversal cut dividing the respective wrappers is made. The means 21 for cutting the film 1 13 and which are adapted to make the tab for gripping the elongate tear element 15 comprise respective supporting means 21 b for a corresponding cutting element 21 a, these supporting means 21 b being movable in such a way as to move the cutting element 21 a between a position close to the tear strip or band 1 15, where the cutting element 21 a engages and cuts the film 1 13, and a position away from the film 1 13.

Advantageously, the movable supporting means are in the form of a rotatable body 21 from which the cutting element 21 protrudes radially. The rotatable body 21 b which supports the means for defining the gripping tab also rotates about an axis which is parallel to the film and which remains fixed relative to the film 1 13 itself.

The cutting element 21 a is carried by a corresponding block 21 c, which is advantageously engageable with, or connectable to, and disengageable, or removable, from the supporting means, in particular the movable supporting means 21 b, to allow substituting the cutting element 21 a for a different cutting element adapted in particular to make a different tab for a different type of wrapper.

Advantageously, the means 12 for providing the elongate tear strip or band 1 15 with separating means 1 17 are movable relative to the means 21 for providing the film 1 13 with means for defining a tab for gripping the elongate tearing element 15.

Means are advantageously provided for driving the means 12 which provide the elongate tear strip or band 1 15 with separating means 1 17. Means are also advantageously provided for driving the means 121 for defining a tab for gripping the elongate tearing element.

The invention described above is susceptible of industrial application. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that several changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, described in depth above. In particular, one skilled in the art could easily imagine further embodiments of the invention comprising one or more of the features described herein. It will also be understood that all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.