Full mouth opening flow wrapper package

Abstract

The disclosure pertains to method for manufacturing reclosable packages, bags or pouches using a flow wrapper machine wherein, typically, a self-mating reclosure or zipper sealed inside of the package. In a first embodiment, self-mating reclosures are placed transversely on the web and a flow wrapping machine wraps the web around the food product thereby forming a machine direction fin seal. Transverse direction end seals are likewise formed. In a second embodiment, the web includes quad seals formed by a drag sealer at positions which will become corners of the package. Similar to the method of the first embodiment, the flow wrapping machine wraps the web around the food product thereby forming a fin seal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process of forming a package, including the steps of:
 providing a sheet of web;   providing a length of reclosure transversely on a side of the web;   loading product on the sheet of web; and   providing a flow wrapping machine for bringing edges of the sheet of web together, wrapping the product, and sealing the edges of the sheet of web together thereby forming sides of a package, whereby the reclosure is on an interior of the package.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  further including the step of forming first and second end seals. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the first and second end seals are formed in a transverse direction on the web. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the reclosure is parallel to the first and second end seals. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the reclosure is separated from the first and second end seals. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the reclosure is inwardly situated from the first and second end seals. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the length of reclosure is shorter than a width of the sheet of web. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the length of reclosure is self-mating. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the reclosure includes a plurality of interlocking elements. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9  wherein the reclosure is a zipper having a male profile and a female profile. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the steps of bringing edges of the sheet of web together and sealing the edges of the sheet of web further include the step of forming a fin seal with the edges of the sheet of web. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the sheet of web is formed from polymeric material. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the steps of providing a sheet of web and providing a length of reclosure transversely on a side of the web are performed by providing a sheet of web wherein lengths of reclosures have been pre-applied thereto. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13  wherein the reclosures are pre-applied to the sheet of web at a location remote from the flow wrapper machine. 
     
     
         15 . A process of forming a package, including the steps of:
 providing a sheet of web with a first side and a second side;   forming a plurality of machine direction seals on a first side of the web;   providing a length of reclosure transversely on a second side of the web;   loading product onto the sheet of web; and   providing a flow wrapping machine for bringing edges of the sheet of web together, wrapping the product and sealing the edges of the sheet of web together thereby forming sides of a package.   
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the seals are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the length of reclosure is shorter than a width of the sheet of web. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the length of reclosure is self-mating. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the step of bringing the edges of the sheet of web together results in the reclosure being on the interior of the package. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the step of bringing the edges of the sheet of web together results in the machine direction seals being on an exterior of the package. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the package includes corners and wherein the machine direction seals are formed at the exterior of the corners. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the plurality of machine direction seals includes four seals and wherein four corresponding corners are formed on the package. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the package includes four walls. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the sheet of web is formed from polymeric material. 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the step of providing a sheet of web and the step forming a plurality of machine direction seals on a first side of the web are performed by providing spool including a sheet of web with the machine direction seals formed thereon.