Embodiments include a package for containing and dispensing a product. The package includes first and second layers; a product seal zone where the first layer is joined to the second layer, the product seal zone having an inner perimeter that defines an unsealed pouch area for containing the product and an outer perimeter; and a header zone adjacent to the outer perimeter of the product seal zone. The header zone includes a first tab; a second tab; a first tab-cut in the first layer within an unsealed portion of the header zone; and a second tab-cut in the second layer within the unsealed portion of the header zone. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Embodiments include a package for containing and dispensing a product. The package includes first and second layers; a product seal zone where the first layer is joined to the second layer, the product seal zone having an inner perimeter that defines an unsealed pouch area for containing the product and an outer perimeter; and a header zone adjacent to the outer perimeter of the product seal zone. The header zone includes a first tab; a second tab; a first tab-cut in the first layer within an unsealed portion of the header zone; and a second tab-cut in the second layer within the unsealed portion of the header zone. Other embodiments are also included herein.

A tetrahedral-shaped pouch can be opened by tearing from a cut in a first lateral sealing edge and along a longitudinal sealing substantially perpendicular to the first lateral sealing edge to conveniently access non-liquid food contents, such as seeds or nuts. A short longitudinal cut can be made into but not all the way through the first lateral sealing edge, adjacent where the longitudinal sealing is positioned on the first lateral sealing edge. When opening the pouch, by initiating a tear starting at the cut, the packaging material will tear along, but not cross the longitudinal sealing, since the longitudinal sealing is formed from an overlapped and doubly thick section of packaging material. The pouch will therefore open, on at least one side of the tetrahedron, along a predictable tear line following the longitudinal sealing, to form a bowl-shaped receptacle from which the contained food product can be conveniently accessed.

A tetrahedral-shaped pouch can be opened by tearing from a cut in a first lateral sealing edge and along a longitudinal sealing substantially perpendicular to the first lateral sealing edge to conveniently access non-liquid food contents, such as seeds or nuts. A short longitudinal cut can be made into but not all the way through the first lateral sealing edge, adjacent where the longitudinal sealing is positioned on the first lateral sealing edge. When opening the pouch, by initiating a tear starting at the cut, the packaging material will tear along, but not cross the longitudinal sealing, since the longitudinal sealing is formed from an overlapped and doubly thick section of packaging material. The pouch will therefore open, on at least one side of the tetrahedron, along a predictable tear line following the longitudinal sealing, to form a bowl-shaped receptacle from which the contained food product can be conveniently accessed.

Embodiments include a package for containing and dispensing a product. The package includes first and second layers; a product seal zone where the first layer is joined to the second layer, the product seal zone having an inner perimeter that defines an unsealed pouch area for containing the product and an outer perimeter; and a header zone adjacent to the outer perimeter of the product seal zone. The header zone includes a first tab; a second tab; a first tab-cut in the first layer within an unsealed portion of the header zone; and a second tab-cut in the second layer within the unsealed portion of the header zone. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Embodiments include a package for containing and dispensing a product. The package includes first and second layers; a product seal zone where the first layer is joined to the second layer, the product seal zone having an inner perimeter that defines an unsealed pouch area for containing the product and an outer perimeter; and a header zone adjacent to the outer perimeter of the product seal zone. The header zone includes a first tab; a second tab; a first tab-cut in the first layer within an unsealed portion of the header zone; and a second tab-cut in the second layer within the unsealed portion of the header zone. Other embodiments are also included herein.

A sealing jaw assembly for providing transversal seals to a tube of packaging material is provided. The sealing jaw assembly comprises a first pair of opposing sealing jaws (22a, 22b) being movable relative to each other to provide a first transversal seal (6a) to the tube (12), and a second pair of opposing sealing jaws (24a, 24b) being moveable relative to each other to provide a second transversal seal (6b) to the tube (12), wherein an angular distance between a first jaw (22a) of the first pair of jaws (22a, 22b) and a first jaw (24a) of the second pair of jaws (24a, 24b) is less than 90, and an angular distance between the first jaw (22a) of the first pair of jaws (22a, 22b) and a second jaw (24b) of the second pair of jaws (24a, 24b) is greater than 90.

A sealing jaw assembly for providing transversal seals to a tube of packaging material is provided. The sealing jaw assembly comprises a first pair of opposing sealing jaws (22a, 22b) being movable relative to each other to provide a first transversal seal (6a) to the tube (12), and a second pair of opposing sealing jaws (24a, 24b) being moveable relative to each other to provide a second transversal seal (6b) to the tube (12), wherein an angular distance between a first jaw (22a) of the first pair of jaws (22a, 22b) and a first jaw (24a) of the second pair of jaws (24a, 24b) is less than 90, and an angular distance between the first jaw (22a) of the first pair of jaws (22a, 22b) and a second jaw (24b) of the second pair of jaws (24a, 24b) is greater than 90.

One or more lasers (80, 100) form one or more crease lines (140, 150, 151) in a flexible wrapping material (60). The flexible wrapping material is then folded about the one or more crease lines when encapsulating an item to be wrapped within the flexible wrapping material. The flexible wrapping material may have poor dead-fold characteristics and can comprise a flow-wrapping material. A single laser or multiple lasers can serve to form the one or more crease lines. The crease lines can be formed on a same side of the flexible wrapping material or on both sides thereof. By one approach, folding the flexible wrapping material about the one or more crease lines forms, at least in part, a form-factor conformal pocket to accommodate the aforementioned item. By another approach, folding the flexible wrapping material about the one or more crease lines forms, at least in part, a gusset.

A method of producing packages from a tube of packaging material for a liquid food product, comprises reforming a flat web of packaging material into a cylindrical tube, feeding the tube of packaging material in first direction, filling the tube with a liquid food product, transversally sealing the tube, at regular intervals, into separate package volumes, wherein a longitudinal axis of every second transversal seal being parallel to each other, and a longitudinal axis of each adjacent transversal seal being perpendicular to each other, and wherein a longitudinal axis of each transversal seal is angled in a range between 15-30 in relation to a plane which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tube of packaging material. Also disclosed is a packaging material for use in the method, a package produced with the method, and a filling machine performing the method.