Method and Apparatus to Create a Contoured Flow Wrap Package

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a flow wrapper disposed and sealed about a product. The flow wrapper has a sealed leading edge and a sealed trailing edge, wherein at least one of the sealed leading edge and the sealed trailing edge comprise a non-linear seal, and the sealed leading edge and the sealed trailing edge are different from one another with respect to a lateral contour across the flow wrapper. The apparatus may further comprise at least one non-linear periphery.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a product;   a flow wrapper having a sealed leading edge and a sealed trailing edge and wherein the flow wrapper is disposed and sealed about the product, wherein;
 at least one of the sealed leading edge and the sealed trailing edge comprises a non-linear seal; 
 the sealed leading edge and the sealed trailing edge are different from one another with respect to a lateral contour across the flow wrapper. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the product is edible. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein both of the sealed leading edge and the sealed trailing edge comprise non-linear seals. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the non-linear seals of the sealed leading edge and the sealed trailing edge comprise arcuate seals. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the arcuate seals of the sealed leading edge and the sealed trailing edge oppose one another. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the sealed leading edge and the sealed trailing edge further comprises at least one non-linear periphery. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the at least one non-linear periphery is complimentary to a corresponding seal edge. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 providing a product;   disposing the product within a flow wrapper;   forming a leading seal and a trailing seal across the flow wrapper on either side of the product, wherein
 at least one of the leading seal and the trailing seal comprises a non-linear seal; 
 the leading seal and the trailing seal are different from one another with respect to a lateral contour across the flow wrapper. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the product is edible. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein both of the leading seal and the trailing seal comprise non-linear seals. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the non-linear seals of the leading seal and the trailing seal comprise arcuate seals. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the arcuate seals of the leading seal and the trailing seal oppose one another. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein forming a leading seal and a trailing seal across the flow wrapper on either side of the product further comprises using separate stations to form the leading seal and the trailing seal. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising cutting a leading periphery edge and a trailing periphery edge on either side of the product, wherein at least one of the leading periphery edge and the trailing periphery edge comprises a non-linear periphery edge. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the non-linear periphery edge is complimentary to a corresponding one of the leading seal and the trailing seal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein cutting the leading periphery edge and the trailing periphery edge on either side of the product further comprises using a die to cut the leading periphery edge and the trailing periphery edge. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the die is a rotary die. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein cutting a leading periphery edge and a trailing periphery edge on either side of the product further comprises using a separate station to cut the leading periphery edge and the trailing periphery edge.