Reclosable packages and method for forming, filling and sealing such packages

Abstract

Reclosable packaging systems are disclosed. The package construction comprises a single sheet or wrapper having a face panel extending between opposite sides and end edges, said sheet material being folded from opposite sides of the face panel into a tubular envelope shape and with longitudinal margins of the sheet material sealed into a seam opposite said face panel and extending between said end edges of the envelope, such that said seam is sealed at the edge to form a pilfer-proof seal and said seam comprises a zipper strip portion comprising reclosable separable fastener profiles aligned parallel to the sealed edge, and cross seals at said opposite end edges of the envelope. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for forming, filling and sealing such packages. These packages can be used for packaging such products as disposable wipes and food products.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A package construction, comprising a single sheet or wrapper having a face panel extending between opposite sides and end edges, said sheet material being folded from opposite sides of the face panel into a tubular envelope shape and with longitudinal margins of the sheet material sealed into a seam opposite said face panel and extending between said end edges of the envelope, such that said seam is sealed at the edge to form a pilfer-proof seal and said seam comprises a zipper strip portion comprising reclosable separable fastener profiles aligned parallel to the sealed edge, and cross seals at said opposite end edges of the envelope.  
     
     
         2 . The package according to  claim 1  wherein said seam has means for guiding severance or rupture for opening the pilfer-proof seal.  
     
     
         3 . The package according to  claim 2  wherein said guiding means comprises at least one notch at the end of the seam aligned between the pilfer-proof seal and the zipper strip.  
     
     
         4 . A material especially adapted for packaging in a horizontal form, fill and seal machine a blocky product having opposite faces and edges between said faces, comprising 
 a wrapper sheet having a panel area for engagement with a face of said product;    said sheet having portions that extend beyond said panel area and which are adapted to be wrapped into an envelope about said product by bringing said portions along said product edges and into overlying relation on the opposite face of said product;    said wrapper sheet being dimensioned to provide for cross seals at the ends of the envelope;    free margins of the wrapper sheet portions being adapted to be secured into a seam over said opposite face of said product having a pilfer-proof seal and adapted to be severed or ruptured to provide a package mouth opening for access to the product in the envelope, and the mouth opening being reclosable with reclosable zipper means aligned parallel to the pilfer-proof seal;    said zipper means comprising profiled resiliently flexible separable zipper strips.    
     
     
         5 . A method of forming in a horizontal form, fill and seal machine a product-enclosing package having an envelope with a face panel extending between opposite sides and end edges, and including folding a single wrapper sheet from opposite sides of the face panel into a tubular envelope shape and bringing longitudinal margins of the sheet material into position opposite said face panel and sealing the margins together into a seam extending between said end edges of the envelope, such that said seam is sealed at the edge to form a pilfer-proof seal and said seam comprises a zipper strip portion comprising reclosable separable fastener profiles aligned parallel to the sealed edge, and then effecting cross seals at said opposite end edges of the envelope.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said seam is formed by bringing said margins together in a projecting relation away from the said face panel, inserting and adhering a zipper strip portion and heat sealing the margins together.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , which comprises providing said seam with means for guiding severance or rupture for opening the pilfer-proof seal.  
     
     
         8 . A method of producing a wrapped bulky product-enclosing package, comprising 
 forming a sheet into a wrapper having a face panel extending between opposite sides and end edges of the wrapper;    folding the wrapper from opposite sides of the face panel into a tubular envelope shape;    sealing longitudinal margins of the wrapper into a seam opposite said face panel and extending between said end edges of the wrapper, such that said seam is sealed at the edge to form a pilfer-proof seal;    providing zipper means comprising reclosable separable fastener profiles aligned parallel to the edge of said seam,    providing said zipper means in the form of profiled resiliently flexible separable zipper strips; and    forming cross seals at said opposite end edges of the wrapper.    
     
     
         9 . A form, fill and seal machine for enclosing a product in a package envelope and adapted to receive a single continuous strip of wrapper sheet, and for folding said wrapper sheet into an envelope about the product and sealing the envelope; and comprising 
 means for receiving the sheet from source and with the sheet having a longitudinally extending panel area for engagement with a face of the product and longitudinal portions that extend laterally beyond the panel area with longitudinal margins of the sheet material;    means for delivering product to said panel area on said receiving means;    means for moving said longitudinal portions toward one another into envelope relation about the delivered product in cooperation with said panel area;    means for inserting a zipper strip portion comprising reclosable separable fastener profiles aligned parallel to the edges of said longitudinal portions and attaching said zipper strip within the margins of said longitudinal portions;    means for sealing margins of said longitudinal portions across said product;    means for cross sealing end edges of the envelope for fully enclosing the product within the envelope.