The present invention is directed to a method of forming a bottom-gusseted package, wherein each package includes an inwardly-extending, pleat-like gusset at the bottom of the package. To permit heat-sealing formation of each package, the sleeve from which each gusset is formed comprises a lamination of two differing polymeric materials, a sealant layer and a non-sealant layer, so that only an exterior surface of each sleeve, at which the sealant layer is positioned, exhibits the desired heat-sealing characteristics. To facilitate package formation, the sleeves from which the bottom gussets are formed are maintained in a closed or sealed configuration during package formation by providing a heat-sealed bond at the edge of each sleeve. In one embodiment, portions of the non-sealant layer are vaporized to provide sealable surface regions of the sealant layer. In an alternative embodiment, a lamination of the sealant and non-sealant layers is formed such that the sealant layer extends laterally beyond the non-sealant layer, to thereby provide sealable surface regions of the sealant layer.

A container formed of a common one-piece thermoplastic substrate. The container has an overlapping seam having an overlap magnitude. At a location that is five times the overlap magnitude away from the overlapping seam, the container wall has a container wall Opacity less than about 50%. At a corresponding position along the overlapping sea, the overlapping seam has a seam Opacity that is less than 200% of the container wall Opacity.

A tape applicator consistent with the present disclosure may include a tape applicator configured for applying a tape, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive tape to a carton (e.g., for sealing and/or assembling the carton). One or more rollers may be utilized to aid in applying the pressure sensitive adhesive tape to a carton. Furthermore, a wiper aids in applying pressure sensitive adhesive tape to a carton (e.g., before and/or after the one or more rollers). The wiper may be a split wiper having a first portion and a second portion, which allows for applying adhesive tape to a carton when the carton is under-packed or over-packed, and thus, the flaps of the carton are not level with respect to each other (e.g., the edges are not located in the same plane).

A container blank having an article handling feature for handling the container blank as well as the flexible packages made therefrom during manufacture, and method of making flexible packages using such a feature are described herein. Also described herein is an array of flexible packages containing a common article handling feature provided by such a method.

A container may include an envelope made of flexible material, wherein the envelope includes lower and upper ends, and wherein the envelope is closed at least at the lower end. The envelope may include: opposite first walls, each having an edge at the lower end; a base at the lower end, configured to rest upon a support surface; and a pair of additional walls between the first walls, wherein each additional wall is joined to the first walls via a pair of additional edges, and wherein each additional wall has a lower folding zone at the base. Each edge may be defined by a heat seal formed between a first wall and the base. The base may be formed with a shape that defines a concavity designed to face the support surface. The base may include a pair of half-parts separated by a central fold to define the concavity.

A paper-based composite container for an off-gassing product includes a paperboard can body having a substantially gas-impervious liner attached to an inner surface thereof, and a pair of substantially paper-based end closures attached to the opposite ends of the can body, each end closure defining a generally cylindrical sealing panel in contact with an inner surface of the can body. Heat-sealable materials are disposed on opposing surfaces of the sealing panel and can body. The sealing panels of the end closures are attached to the can body by heat seals. The heat seal for at least one of the end closures is discontinuous such that at least one vent channel extends through the heat seal to establish fluid communication between an interior of the container and the environment outside the container. The at least one vent channel is operable to vent excess gas pressure from the interior of the container.

A flexible package assembly may include a pouch configured to hold a fluid, a valve fluidly coupled with the pouch and having an open outlet, the valve defining a conduit through which the fluid may be directed to the open outlet responsive to pressure being applied to the pouch to force the fluid toward the valve. A frangible seal may be disposed between the pouch and the open outlet of the valve or disposed within the valve at the open outlet, the frangible seal may be configured to retain the fluid within the pouch until the frangible seal is broken by the pressure applied to the pouch.

An apparatus for joining a first film portion and a second film portion together along a seal line. The apparatus includes a horn and anvil. The anvil is positioned close to the horn. The horn or anvil has a face that is rotatable about a rotation axis. The face has a raised profile, and a height thereof has a dimension corresponding to 50% to 150% of a thickness of the first film portion or the second film portion. The face is positioned such that the raised profile extends along the circumference such that continuous running contact is provided between the raised profile and the other of the one of the horn or the anvil when rotated about the rotation axis, to form the seal line without any external structure to control a distance between the horn/anvil. A tapered bonding profile, a traction pattern, and a cut-and-seal feature are also disclosed.

Multilayer Films have a first skin layer that is prepared from a high density polyethylene and a second skin layer (also referred to as the sealant layer) that is prepared from a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) having a density of from 0.90 to 0.92 g/cc and a Dilution Index, Yd, of greater than 0°. Seals can be prepared by placing two pieces of this film against each other such that the sealant layers are in contact with each other, then applying heat to at least one high density skin layer such that heat is transmitted/conducted through the multilayer film in a sufficient amount to melt the sealant layer and form a seal. The use of LLDPE having a Dilution Index of greater than 0° has been found to improve the sealing performance of multilayer films in comparison to multilayer films where the sealant layer is a conventional LLDPE having a Dilution Index of less than 0°.

A paper-based composite container for an off-gassing product includes a paperboard can body having a substantially gas-impervious liner attached to an inner surface thereof, and a pair of substantially paper-based end closures attached to the opposite ends of the can body, each end closure defining a generally cylindrical sealing panel in contact with an inner surface of the can body. Heat-sealable materials are disposed on opposing surfaces of the sealing panel and can body. The sealing panels of the end closures are attached to the can body by heat seals. The heat seal for at least one of the end closures is discontinuous such that at least one vent channel extends through the heat seal to establish fluid communication between an interior of the container and the environment outside the container. The at least one vent channel is operable to vent excess gas pressure from the interior of the container.