A blank for forming a packaging container, the blank comprising: a sheet defining an internal side and an external side of the packaging container; wherein the sheet comprises: a plurality of side panels separated from one another by side crease lines; a plurality of flaps, each one of the flaps extending from one of the side panels and being joined to the respective side panel by a flap crease line, each pair of adjacent flaps forming an inner flap and an outer flap; a sealant film disposed on the internal side of the sheet and having areas which are bonded to a portion of each one of the side panels and to a portion of each one of the flaps; wherein the sealant film comprises an unbonded area between the areas bonded to adjacent inner and outer flaps to allow the inner flap to first be folded inwards before the outer flap is folded onto the inner flap to form an end panel of the packaging container, with the sealant film forming a seal between the flaps.

A method of forming reinforced packages. The method can comprise moving a blank in a machine direction on a blank conveyor, and forming a tubular web while moving a first web of material and a second web of material in the machine direction. The forming the tubular web can comprise at least partially sealing at least a portion of the first web and the second web together to form a sealed margin of the tubular web. The method further can comprise forming a liner by cutting the tubular web, forming an attached blank by attaching the liner to the blank, and moving the attached blank in the machine direction on the blank conveyor.

A method for forming a container using a machine includes extracting a blank from a magazine, transferring the blank in a blank transfer direction X, and positioning the blank on a deck. The method also includes translating a pick-up assembly from a first end to a second end along a horizontal direction Y perpendicular to the blank transfer direction X, the translating including transferring a web from a first location proximate the first end to a second location proximate the second end. The method further includes depositing, at the second location, the web into an at least partially overlying relationship with the blank to form a blank assembly, transferring the blank assembly along the deck in the blank transfer direction X while translating the pick-up assembly from the second end back to the first end, and wrapping the blank assembly around a mandrel to at least partially form the container.

A method of sealing reinforced packages. The method can comprise moving an open-ended package in a downstream direction on a package conveyor by engaging the open-ended package with a chain flight of the package conveyor moving in the downstream direction. The method further can comprise forming a bag with a closed end by engaging at least a seal portion of a tail section of an open-ended tube portion of the open-ended package between the chain flight of the package conveyor and a hot plate positioned adjacent the package conveyor. The chain flight can move with the tail section in the downstream direction relative to the hot plate, which can transfer thermal energy to the tail section to at least partially form a seal along the seal portion in the tail section to at least partially form the closed end of the bag.

A reinforced package comprising a carton comprising a plurality of panels that can comprise a first side panel connected to a front panel along a first fold line, a back panel connected to the first side panel along a second fold line, and a second side panel connected to the front and/or back panels. The reinforced package further can comprise a bag that can have an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space. The carton can be positionable in non-erect and erect positions, and the carton can be configured to support the bag in the erect position. The first and second side panels can comprise retention features for at least partially retaining the carton in the erect position, and the retention features can comprise at least a V-shaped fold line extending in the first side panel from the first fold line.

A reinforced package comprising a carton comprising a plurality of panels that can comprise a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, and at least one back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel. A bag can be attached to the carton and can have an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product. The carton can be positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased. The carton can support the bag in the erect position and can have retention features for retaining the carton in the erect position.

A blank for forming a packaging container, the blank comprising: a sheet defining an internal side and an external side of the packaging container; wherein the sheet comprises: a plurality of side panels separated from one another by side crease lines; a plurality of flaps, each one of the flaps extending from one of the side panels and being joined to the respective side panel by a flap crease line, each pair of adjacent flaps forming an inner flap and an outer flap; a sealant film disposed on the internal side of the sheet and having areas which are bonded to a portion of each one of the side panels and to a portion of each one of the flaps; wherein the sealant film comprises an unbonded area between the areas bonded to adjacent inner and outer flaps to allow the inner flap to first be folded inwards before the outer flap is folded onto the inner flap to form an end panel of the packaging container, with the sealant film forming a seal between the flaps.

A reinforced package for holding a product. The reinforced package comprises a carton comprising a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, at least one back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and at least one bottom panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel. A bag can comprise an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product. The bag can be at least partially received in the interior of the carton. The carton is positionable in a non-erect position and in an erect position.

A reinforced package comprising a carton comprising a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise a front panel and a back panel disposed opposite to the front panel. The carton can comprise a bottom wall foldably connected to the front panel along a first curved fold line and to the back panel along a second curved fold line. The reinforced package further can include a bag at least partially attached to the carton. The bag can be at least partially defining an interior space for holding a product. The carton can be positionable in a non-erect position and in an erect position. At least the bottom wall and the first curved fold line can be configured to retain the carton in the erect position.

A process for producing bags comprising: feeding a bottom web, a first side web and a second side web in a conversion process, each of the webs having a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the first side edge of the first side web is aligned with the first side edge of the second side web, the second side edge of the first side web is aligned with the first side edge of the bottom web, and the second side edge of the second side web is aligned with the second side edge of the bottom web, thereby forming an inverted T-shaped web comprising a base having first and second wing portions and a riser, wherein the first wing portion comprises the bottom web and first side web, the second wing portion comprises the bottom web and the second side web, and the riser comprises the first and second side webs; sewing the first side web to the bottom layer in the first wing portion with a repeating pattern comprising a truncated triangle having a narrow portion and wider portion, and a tab separating the triangles, wherein the narrow portion of the triangle points toward the second side edge of the first side web; sewing the second side web to the bottom layer in the second wing portion with a repeating pattern comprising a truncated triangle having a narrow portion and wider portion, and a tab separating the triangles, wherein the narrow portion of the triangle points toward the second side edge of the second side web; contacting the first and second wing portions by folding them toward each other, thereby forming a folded web; rotating the folded web to the horizontal; sewing the first and second webs together in the riser with a repeating pattern comprising a flat-bottomed U shape with tabs separating the repeating U's, where the flat bottom of the U faces the first side edge of the first and second side webs, and the tabs separating the flat-bottomed U's are bisecting the tab separating the triangles in the first and second wing portions, thereby forming a web of sewn bags; cutting the web along the edge of sewn bags to remove the sewn portion corresponding to the flat bottom portion of the flat bottom U shape parallel to the edge, thereby forming a web of open top bags; and transversely cutting the web of open top bags at the middle of the truncated triangles and bisecting the repeating U's, thereby forming separate, open bags, and optionally scrap material.