Method and a Device for Heat-Sealing a Film/Foil Onto a Peripheral Top Edge of a Packaging and Such a Packaging

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for sealing an opening of a packaging, in which the packaging includes at least a peripheral wall with a peripheral top edge. The peripheral top edge forms the contour of the opening, including the following process steps: positioning a flexible film/foil layer over the peripheral top edge in such a way that the opening is completely covered and the film/foil layer overhangs beyond the peripheral top edge; heat-sealing the film/foil layer to the peripheral top edge of the packaging; folding the part of the film/foil layer overhanging beyond the opening towards the peripheral wall; heat-sealing the folded-over film/foil layer to the peripheral wall at a distance from the peripheral top edge, in which case a contact point of a device for heat-sealing the folded-over film/foil layer to the peripheral wall at a distance from the peripheral top edge does not move with respect to the film/foil layer during the heat-sealing, at least for as long as the contact point is in contact with the film/foil layer. The invention also relates to a device for heat-sealing according to the above method, and to a packaging manufactured in this way.

Claims

1. A method for sealing an opening of a packaging, in which the packaging comprises at least a peripheral wall with a peripheral top edge, which peripheral top edge forms the contour of the opening, comprising the following process steps: a. positioning a flexible film/foil layer over the peripheral top edge in such a way that the opening is completely covered and the film/foil layer overhangs beyond the peripheral top edge; b. heat-sealing the film/foil layer to the peripheral top edge of the packaging; c. folding the part of the film/foil layer overhanging beyond the opening towards the peripheral wall; d. heat-sealing the folded-over film/foil layer to the peripheral wall at a distance from the peripheral top edge, wherein a contact point of a device for heat-sealing the folded-over film/foil layer to the peripheral wall at a distance from the peripheral top edge does not move with respect to the film/foil layer during the heat-sealing, at least for as long as the contact point is in contact with the film/foil layer.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contact point approaches the film/foil layer only in a direction towards the peripheral wall and forces the film/foil layer towards the peripheral wall during heat-sealing.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heat-seal locations are uniformly distributed on the peripheral wall of the packaging in a peripheral direction.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the part of the film/foil layer overhanging beyond the peripheral top edge is arranged in wave- or zigzag-shaped folds when heat-sealing the film/foil layer against the peripheral wall of the packaging at the at least one heat-seal location.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one contact point moves in a substantially circular motion towards the heat-seal location on the peripheral wall of the packaging during folding over in step c, the centre of the circle being situated on the plane of the peripheral top edge.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the folding in step c is performed with at least one directional component perpendicular to a plane which is enclosed by the peripheral top edge.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the film/foil layer is also punched before and/or during one of the steps a-c.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the film/foil layer is heat-sealed to the peripheral top edge so as to be medium-tight with the packaging.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heat-seal on the peripheral top edge and/or the peripheral wall of the packaging is detachable.

10. A device for sealing an opening of a packaging with a film/foil, wherein the packaging comprises at least a peripheral wall with a peripheral top edge, which peripheral top edge forms the contour of the opening, the device comprising a holder for the packaging; means for positioning a flexible film/foil layer over the peripheral top edge in such a way that the opening is completely covered and the film/foil layer overhangs beyond the peripheral top edge; a first heat-seal element which is movable to and from the opening of a packaging placed in the holder and is configured to heat-seal a film/foil layer onto the peripheral top edge of a packaging placed in the holder; a bending element for bending the part of the film/foil overhanging beyond the peripheral top edge over the peripheral top edge as far as against the peripheral wall of a packaging; a second heat-seal element, which is movable to and from the peripheral wall of a packaging placed in the holder, wherein the second heat-seal element, at least when touching the peripheral wall, is only movable perpendicularly to the plane of the packaging and the film/foil folded against it.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the second heat-seal element is at least movable in a direction towards the peripheral wall, and wherein the second heat-seal element is configured to force the film/foil layer towards the peripheral wall during heat-sealing.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the device also comprises a punching member configured for punching the film/foil layer.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein the bending element, the first and the second heat-seal element are formed by one component.

14. A packaging, comprising a bottom, a peripheral wall which extends from the bottom and has a peripheral top edge on the side facing away from the bottom, which peripheral top edge forms the contour of an opening, a flexible film/foil layer which completely covers the opening and overhangs beyond the peripheral top edge, a first heat-seal which extends on and is substantially limited by the peripheral top edge, and a second heat-seal by means of which the part of the film/foil extending beyond the peripheral top edge is bonded to the peripheral wall, at a distance from the peripheral top edge , wherein the first and second heat-seal are produced by fusing at least the film/foil.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The present method and device will be explained in more detail below by means of the following figures, in which

[0024] FIGS. 1a-1c show a diagrammatic view of the method, and

[0025] FIGS. 2a and 2b show a diagrammatic view of a variant embodiment of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Here, FIGS. 1a-1c diagrammatically show the steps of the method for sealing an opening of a packaging 3, wherein the packaging comprises at least a peripheral wall 4 with a peripheral top edge 1, which peripheral top edge 1 forms the contour of the opening, comprising the following process steps: positioning a flexible film/foil layer 2 over the peripheral top edge in such a way that the opening is completely covered and the film/foil layer 2 overhangs beyond the peripheral top edge 1 is illustrated in FIG. 1a; heat-sealing 5 the film/foil layer to the peripheral top edge 1 of the packaging 3 is illustrated in FIG. 1b;

[0027] folding the part of the film/foil layer 2 overhanging beyond the opening towards the peripheral wall 4; heat-sealing the folded-over film/foil layer 2 to the peripheral wall 4 at a distance from the peripheral top edge 1, in which case a contact point 6 of a device for heat-sealing the folded-over film/foil layer 2 to the peripheral wall 4 at a distance from the peripheral top edge 1 does not move with respect to the film/foil layer 2 during the heat-sealing, at least for as long as the contact point 6 is in contact with the film/foil layer 2, is shown in FIG. 1c. During folding over, the at least one contact point 6 of the device moves in a substantially circular motion 7 towards the heat-seal location 6 on the peripheral wall 4 of the packaging, the centre of the circle 5 being situated on the peripheral top edge 1.

[0028] FIGS. 2a and 2b diagrammatically show the device for sealing an opening of a packaging with a film/foil, wherein the packaging comprises at least a peripheral wall with a peripheral top edge, which peripheral top edge forms the contour of the opening, the device comprising a holder for the packaging; means for positioning a flexible film/foil layer over the peripheral top edge in such a way that the opening is completely covered and the film/foil layer overhangs beyond the peripheral top edge; a first heat-seal element 9 which is movable to and from the opening of a packaging placed in the holder and is configured to heat-seal a film/foil layer onto the peripheral top edge of a packaging placed in the holder; a bending element for bending the part of the film/foil overhanging beyond the peripheral top edge over the peripheral top edge as far as against the peripheral wall of a packaging; a second heat-seal element 8 which is movable to and from the peripheral wall of a packaging placed in the holder, wherein the second heat-seal element, at least when touching the peripheral wall, is only movable perpendicularly to the plane of the packaging and the film/foil folded against it.