Method and apparatus for a package with an easy open feature

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided to create a package with an easy open feature that has a fin seal spanning between opposing end seals. Flow-wrapping material utilized to form the package includes first and second opening feature portions. The first and second opening feature portions are disposed adjacent to opposing lateral edges of the flow-wrapping material. A plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines are disposed at least partially with the first opening feature portion and a tear initiation element is disposed laterally aligned with the pluralyt of laterally-disposed scribed lines. The tear initiation element is disposed such that it is closer to the second opening feature portion than the first opening feature portion.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 flow-wrapping material configured to be disposed about an item to form a package having a fin seal spanning between opposing end seals, the flow-wrapping material having first and second opening feature portions disposed adjacent opposing lateral edges of the flow-wrapping material;   a plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines disposed at least partially within the first opening feature portion; and   a tear-initiation element disposed on or in the flow-wrapping material laterally aligned with the plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines and closer to the first opening feature portion than to the second opening feature portion.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines do not intersect the lateral edges of the flow-wrapping material. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines extend at least slightly from the fin seal onto a sealed portion of the package. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the tear-initiation element is disposed on the sealed portion of the package. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tear-initiation element is disposed on the flow-wrapping material so that after formation of the package, the tear initiation element at least contacts an edge of the package. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the flow-wrapping material comprises a multi-ply material and the plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines do not extend through all plys of the multi-ply material. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the tear-initiation element comprises at least one laterally-disposed scored line that is laterally intermediate of the opening feature portions. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein at least one of the plurality of laterally-disposed scored lines is located such that the at least one laterally-disposed scored line is at least partially coincident with itself on both sides of the edge of the package. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tear-initiation element comprises at least one discontinuous scored line extending between the opening feature portions. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tear-initiation element comprises a notch formed through the flow-wrapping material. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines comprise three laterally-disposed generally-parallel scribed lines. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines comprise five laterally-disposed generally-parallel scribed lines. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines disposed at least partially within the second opening feature portion. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines are at least substantially coaxial with the second plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a second tear-initiation element disposed on the flow-wrapping material, wherein the first and second tear-initiation elements are spaced from one another and disposed on the flow-wrapping material so that after formation of the package, the first and second tear-initiation elements each contact an edge of the package. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the flow-wrapping material comprises a non-metalized material. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus comprising:
 flow-wrapping material configured to be disposed about an item to form a package having a fin seal spanning between opposing end seals, the flow-wrapping material having opposing lateral edges, each lateral edge having an opening feature portion adjacent thereto;   a first and second plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines disposed at least partially within the opening feature portions respectively, wherein the plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines do not extend to an adjacent lateral edge of the flow-wrapping material; and   wherein the flow-wrapping material is configured to be manipulated along a longitudinal axis thereof so that the lateral edges generally overlap to form the fin seal and wherein the opening feature portions at least partially overlap within the fin seal.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines extends fully through the flow-wrapping material. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising at least one tear-initiation element disposed on the flow-wrapping material so that after formation of the package, the tear-initiation element at least contacts an edge of the package, the tear-initiation element being generally laterally aligned with and intermediate of the first and second plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the tear-initiation element comprises at least one laterally-disposed scored line that is laterally intermediate of the opening feature portions and is located such that the laterally-disposed scored line will contact an edge of the package. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the tear-initiation element comprises at least one notch that is laterally intermediate of the opening feature portions and is located such that the at least one notch will contact an edge of the package. 
     
     
         22 . A package comprising:
 flow-wrapping material disposed about an item to form a fin seal spanning between opposing end seals, the flow-wrapping material having opposing lateral edges, each lateral edge having an opening feature portion adjacent thereto;   a first and second plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines disposed at least partially within the opening feature portions respectively, wherein the plurality of laterally-disposed scribed lines do not extend to an adjacent lateral edge of the flow-wrapping material; and   wherein the lateral edges generally overlap to form a fin seal and wherein the opening feature portions at least partially overlap within the fin seal.   
     
     
         23 . A method for forming a package having an opening feature, the method comprising:
 providing a web of material having opposing lateral edge portions having at least two laterally-disposed scribed lines in at least one of the lateral edge portions of the web of material and a tear-initiation element disposed on the web of material so as to be laterally aligned with the at least two laterally-disposed scribed lines and intermediate of the lateral edge portions;   manipulating the web of material generally in half so that the lateral edge portions generally align;   sealing the lateral edge portions together to form a fin seal, the at least two laterally-disposed scribed lines at least partially disposed within the fin seal.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein providing the web of material further comprises providing a web of material having at least two laterally-disposed lines in each of the lateral edge portions of the web of material. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein manipulating the web of material generally in half so that the lateral edge portions generally align comprises manipulating the web of material generally in half so that the at least two laterally-disposed lines in the lateral edge portions generally overlap one another.