A primary package (10; 110; 210; 310;510; 610; 810) for being lockably received in an outer sleeve (700), the primary package comprising a main body panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 512; 612; 812) and a retention tab (14; 114; 214; 314; 512; 612; 812) hingedly connected together along a fold line (17; 117; 217; 317; 517; 617; 817), the retention tab having at least one embossment (18; 118; 218; 318; 518; 618; 818), the fold line having been integrally formed in the primary package.

An improved former provides an insert at the lip of the former to enable packaging material to travel smoothly over the former. The insert lays smoothly on the top surface of the former. The insert is sized approximately one half the width of the packaging material that travels over the insert. The former provides a raised textured surface that enables the packaging material to travel over the former into the aperture. The insert constructed with a smooth top surface is located adjacent at least a portion of the aperture. The insert provides a smooth surface for the packaging material to travel across when entering the aperture.

One or more implementations of a multi-layer film include a first layer non-continuously bonded to a second pigmented layer. The multi-layer film includes an unexpected appearance differing from the appearance of the pigmented layer. In one or more embodiments, the multi-layer film includes a metallic appearance despite the pigmented layer being devoid of metallic pigment. The multi-layer film also includes areas that are visually distinct from areas of the film with the unexpected appearance. The visually-distinct areas comprise areas in which the first layer non-continuously is in intimate contact with the second pigmented layer. The visually-distinct areas have the appearance of the pigmented layer or another appearance. One or more implementations also include methods of making multi-layer films and bags with an unexpected appearance and visually-distinct areas.

One or more implementations of a multi-layer film include a first layer non-continuously bonded to a second pigmented layer. The multi-layer film includes an unexpected appearance differing from the appearance of the pigmented layer. In one or more embodiments, the multi-layer film includes a metallic appearance despite the pigmented layer being devoid of metallic pigment. The multi-layer film also includes areas that are visually distinct from areas of the film with the unexpected appearance. The visually-distinct areas comprise areas in which the first layer non-continuously is in intimate contact with the second pigmented layer. The visually-distinct areas have the appearance of the pigmented layer or another appearance. One or more implementations also include methods of making multi-layer films and bags with an unexpected appearance and visually-distinct areas.

According to some illustrative embodiments, a protective product is provided that includes: at least one expandable slit paper sheet, said at least on expandable slit paper being expanded between opposing ends of said slit paper; a first embossed paper sheet facing said expanded slit paper sheet and a second paper sheet facing an opposite side of said at least one expanded slit paper sheet, at least one of said first embossed paper sheet and said second paper sheet being fixed to said expanded slit paper sheet at the opposing ends of said expanded slit paper sheet and thereby maintaining said expanded paper in its expanded state, said first embossed paper sheet having a plurality of embossings that increase the rigidity of said embossed paper sheet, whereby inhibiting deformation of said embossed paper sheet that is fixed to said expanded slit sheet paper.

According to some illustrative embodiments, a protective product is provided that includes: an envelope having a two-layer wall structure, the two-layer wall structure including a) a first outer paper layer, and b) a second inner paper layer, wherein the second inner paper layer includes width-wise positional variations of the side surface of the second inner sheet that cushions items placed within an inner pouch of the envelope, and forms an interior wall of the inner pouch of the envelope and directly contacts the items placed within the inner pouch of the envelope. In some preferred implementations, the width-wise positional variations of the side surface of the second inner paper layer includes pleats, undulations and/or embossments, and, preferably, the pleats, undulations and/or embossments include ridges that extend perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to an outlet of the envelope.

According to some illustrative embodiments, a protective product is provided that includes: at least one expandable slit paper sheet, said at least on expandable slit paper being expanded between opposing ends of said slit paper; a first embossed paper sheet facing said expanded slit paper sheet and a second paper sheet facing an opposite side of said at least one expanded slit paper sheet, at least one of said first embossed paper sheet and said second paper sheet being fixed to said expanded slit paper sheet at the opposing ends of said expanded slit paper sheet and thereby maintaining said expanded paper in its expanded state, said first embossed paper sheet having a plurality of embossings that increase the rigidity of said embossed paper sheet, whereby inhibiting deformation of said embossed paper sheet that is fixed to said expanded slit sheet paper.

A triangle sandwich packaging machine includes paired grips for holding vicinities of both sides of a bag mouth of a triangle sandwich packaging bag, a mover intermittently moving the paired grips in every one of packaging stations, and a spatula inserting mechanism for forming a crest on the triangle sandwich packaging bag held by the paired grips to shape an opening. Also provided is a triangle sandwich packaging method including a moving step of intermittently moving the paired grips holding the triangle sandwich packaging bag in every one of the packaging stations, an opening step of opening the triangle sandwich packaging bag into a sectorial shape and a spatula inserting step of forming a crest on the triangle sandwich packaging bag held by the paired grips to shape an opening and inserting a spatula for shaping the opening.

A primary package (10; 110; 210; 310; 510; 610; 810) for being lockably received in an outer sleeve (700), the primary package comprising a main body panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 512; 612; 812) and a retention tab (14; 114; 214; 314; 512; 612; 812) hingedly connected together along a fold line (17; 117; 217; 317; 517; 617; 817), the retention tab having at least one embossment (18; 118; 218; 318; 518; 618; 818), the fold line having been integrally formed in the primary package.

According to some illustrative embodiments, a system and method is provided that includes, e.g., means for continuously conveying an assembly of layered sheets including a first paper sheet, at least one expanded sheet and a second paper sheet in a conveying flow between, e.g., a rotary mandrel or member at an upstream position in a direction of conveyance and a rotary die crushing and cutting tool, with said rotary mandrel or member and said rotary die crushing and cutting tool maintaining the at least one expanded sheet in an expanded state, said rotary tool having a crushing component that crushes a portion of the at least one expanded sheet such as to form a flap forming region of an envelope and a cutting component that cuts the assembly of layered sheets such as to separate individual envelope units.