IT201900002729A1 - Laminated casing material, process for its manufacture and casing comprising this laminated material - Google Patents

Description

Laminated casing material, process for its manufacture and casing comprising this laminated material

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present description relates to a laminated material for wrapping, in particular wrapping for food use such as bags or trays. The present description also relates to a casing comprising such laminated material and a process for manufacturing the laminated material.

FRAMEWORK OF THE DESCRIPTION

WO 2018/163078 describes a laminated material provided with two layers of plastic material joined by a layer of pressure adhesive also known as PSA (Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive), which adhesive allows the separation and subsequent union of at least one tongue obtained by engraving at least one of the two layers. An area of the adhesive layer is free of adhesive to facilitate the opening of the tongue.

The two layers of this known laminated material substantially have the same extension, so that the cost of an envelope which comprises it is relatively high.

To limit costs, known adhesive labels are applied to the outside of an envelope comprising an incision made on a single layer. However, these labels can be easily tampered with and / or do not have an attractive aesthetic appearance.

SUMMARY OF DESCRIPTION

The purpose of the present description is therefore to provide a laminated material free from such drawbacks. Said object is achieved with a laminated material, a casing and a manufacturing process the main characteristics of which are specified in the attached claims.

Thanks to the particular ribbon-like conformation of the second layer, the laminated material has a lower cost and is lighter than laminated materials comprising two layers having the same extension, since less film and adhesive are used. Furthermore, the manufacturing process of the laminated material is simpler and cheaper, especially if a plurality of tapes usable as a second layer are obtained from a single sheet provided with an adhesive screen.

Furthermore, the second layer thus produced is cheaper than an adhesive label of a known type and offers the advantage of being able to be joined to opposite edges of the envelope obtained from the laminated material, so as to have a more resistant closure which can also act as a tamper evident seal. For this purpose, both layers preferably comprise heat-sealable films.

The ribbon conformation of the second layer also allows this layer to be arranged inside the wrapper, so as to improve both the aesthetics and the safety of the wrapper with respect to adhesive labels, especially if the incision in the first layer is substantially straight and / or arranged entirely along an adhesive-free strip between the two layers.

The second layer, if placed outside the casing, can also be without an incision, since, being shaped like a tape, the adhesive-free area can be arranged along an edge, so as to form a lip for the opening the casing, which can also act as a tamper evident seal.

The laminated material can also be easily and quickly produced in series as a continuous sheet which can be supplied in rolls, from which several sheets are obtained which can be used to form envelopes or close trays.

Therefore, an envelope obtained from the laminated material according to the present description is aesthetically better, safer, cheaper and / or simpler to produce than envelopes obtained from known laminated materials or from single-layer sheets provided with an adhesive label.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and characteristics of the laminated material, of the envelope and of the process according to this description will be evident to those skilled in the art from the following detailed and non-limiting description of some of their embodiments with reference to the attached drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows a top view of the laminated material according to a first embodiment;

Figure 2 shows the enlarged section II-II of Figure 1;

figure 3 shows a bottom view of the laminated material of figure 1;

- Figure 4 shows a top view of the laminated material according to a second embodiment;

figure 5 shows the enlarged V-V section of figure 4;

figure 6 shows a bottom view of the laminated material of figure 4;

- Figure 7 shows a top view of the laminated material according to a third embodiment;

- figure 8 shows the enlarged section VIII-VIII of figure 7;

figure 9 shows a bottom view of the laminated material of figure 7;

- Figure 10 shows a top view of the laminated material according to a fourth embodiment;

- figure 11 shows the enlarged section XI-XI of figure 10;

figure 12 shows a bottom view of the laminated material of figure 10;

Figure 13 shows a front view of an envelope comprising the laminated material of Figure 1;

figure 14 shows a front view of an envelope comprising the laminated material of figure 4;

figure 15 shows a front view of an envelope comprising the laminated material of figure 7;

figure 16 shows a front view of an envelope comprising the laminated material of figure 10;

- figure 17 shows a top view of a tray comprising the laminated material of figure 1;

- figure 18 shows a top view of a tray comprising the laminated material of figure 4;

- figure 19 shows a top view of a tray comprising the laminated material of figure 7;

- figure 20 shows a top view of a tray comprising the laminated material of figure 10;

- figure 21 shows a top view of a first phase of the process for manufacturing the laminated material of figure 4;

Figure 22 shows a side view of a second step of the process for manufacturing the laminated material of Figure 4.

EXAMPLE REALIZATION FORMS

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, it can be seen that the laminated material according to the first embodiment comprises at least a first layer 1 joined to at least a second layer 2 by means of at least one layer of adhesive 3 arranged between the layers 1, 2, so to form a sheet of laminated material, preferably continuous to be wound onto a roll. The first layer 1 and / or the second layer 2 preferably comprise at least one film of plastic material, in particular a plastic material suitable for being heat-sealed, for example polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and / or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), having a thickness between 10 and 150 microns, while the adhesive 3 is preferably a pressure adhesive (PSA) which allows both the separation of the first layer 1 from the second layer 2 by manual traction and their subsequent adhesion by pressing the first layer 1 on the second layer 2, and / or vice versa. Preferably, the first layer 1, the second layer 2 and the adhesive 3 are substantially transparent, so that the resulting laminated material is substantially transparent.

At least a first incision 4, in particular in the shape of a tongue, for example in the shape of a U or V, is made in the first layer 1, so as to form in the first layer 1 a portion 1a which can be separated from the second layer 2 while maintaining joined to the second layer 2 the remaining portion 1b of the first layer 1. At least one end of the first incision 4 is preferably provided with a curl 5. The first incision 4 can also be closed, so as to form a continuous cut, for example of shape substantially pentagonal, rectangular or elliptical, in the first layer 1.

The adhesive layer 3 comprises at least one zone 6 which is free of adhesive and is arranged between the first layer 1 and the second layer 2. An end portion 1c of the portion 1a of the first layer 1 which can be taken by a user and separated from the second layer 2 is preferably arranged over the adhesive-free zone 6 of the adhesive layer 3.

At least a second incision 7, in particular in the shape of a tongue, for example in the shape of a U or V, can be made in the second layer 2, so as to form in the second layer 2 a portion 2a which can be separated from the second layer 2 keeping the remaining portion 2b of the second layer 2 joined to the first layer 1. The second incision 7 is preferably arranged at a predetermined distance from the adhesive-free zone 6 of the adhesive layer 3.

The second incision 7 is preferably surrounded at least partially by the first incision 4, and / or the portion 1a of the first layer 1 completely encloses the portion 2a of the second layer 2, and / or the tips of the portions 1a, 2a of the layers 1, 2 are facing the same opening direction D, which can also act as an axis of symmetry for these portions 1a, 2a, and / or the ends of the first incision 4 and of the second incision 7 are arranged along axes A1, A2 substantially parallel to each other and / or substantially perpendicular to said opening direction D. Other embodiments may also not be symmetrical.

In an alternative embodiment, the second incision 7 can have at least one interruption, in particular at the tip of the portion 2a, which can act as an anti-tampering seal, since the second layer 2 tears at the point of the interruption of the second incision 7 during the first opening.

The second layer 2 is shaped as a continuous ribbon which extends along a longitudinal axis LA and which has a width W2 substantially smaller than the width W1 of the first layer 1. Preferably, the width W2 of the second layer 2 is less than 50%, in detail between 20% and 30%, of the width W1 of the first layer 1.

The adhesive-free zone 6 of the adhesive layer 3 can also develop along the longitudinal axis LA of the second layer 2, in particular forming one or more strips aligned and / or parallel to each other, for example a continuous strip, and / or a or more zones 6 without adhesive arranged at substantially equal distances to each other and aligned along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis LA.

Preferably, the first layer 1 is a sheet which develops along the longitudinal axis LA and has a plurality of first incisions (in the figures only a first incision 4 is shown) arranged in series at substantially equal distances to each other along a substantially parallel axis to the longitudinal axis LA. In the present embodiment also the second layer 2 comprises a plurality of second incisions 7 (in the figures only a second incision 7 is shown) arranged in series at substantially equal distances along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis LA. The opening direction D of the first incision 4 and / or of the second incision 7 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA.

With reference to Figures 4 to 6, it can be seen that the laminated material according to the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, in that it comprises at least a first layer 1 joined to at least a second layer 2 by means of at least one layer of adhesive 3 arranged between the layers 1, 2. However, the opening direction D of the first incision 4 and / or of the second incision 7 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis LA. Furthermore, the zone 6 without adhesive 3 has a closed shape, i.e. it is entirely surrounded by the adhesive 3, for example a substantially circular or elliptical shape, and is arranged under a section of the first incision 4 substantially in the shape of an arc of a circle or ellipse surrounding the terminal portion 1c of the first layer 1, so that a user can easily grasp and lift this terminal portion 1c. In the present embodiment, a plurality of areas 6 without adhesive 3 are arranged in series substantially at the same distance between the layers 1, 2 along a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis LA. At least one end of the second incision 7 is preferably provided with a curl 8.

With reference to Figures 7 to 9, it can be seen that the laminated material according to the third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, in that it comprises at least a first layer 1 joined to at least a second layer 2 by means of at least one layer of adhesive 3 arranged between the layers 1, 2. However, the first incision 4 is arranged entirely on the adhesive-free zone 6 between the layers 1, 2. In particular, the adhesive-free zone 6 is a strip arranged between two strips of adhesive 3 and / or the first incision 4 is continuous. Preferably, the first incision 4 is substantially straight and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis LA. The first incision 4 thus divides the first layer 1 into a first portion 1a which has an end portion 1c adjacent to the first incision 4 and arranged on the adhesive-free area 6 from a second portion 1b of the first layer 1. In this embodiment, the the extension of the first portion 1a of the first layer 1 is preferably greater than the extension of the second portion 1b of the first layer 1.

With reference to figures 10 to 12, it can be seen that the laminated material according to the fourth embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, in that it comprises at least a first layer 1 joined to at least a second layer 2 by means of at least one layer of adhesive 3 arranged between the layers 1, 2. However, the second layer 2 comprises an adhesive-free zone 6 arranged along one of its edges, in particular an edge substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis LA, so as to form a lip 2c of the second layer 2 which does not is in contact with a layer of adhesive and which is able to be grasped to separate the second layer 2 from the first layer 1. In this embodiment the second layer 2 may also include no incision and / or the first incision 4 may be arranged at a certain distance from the adhesive-free zone 6 of the adhesive layer 3.

Figures 13 to 16 show four envelopes, in particular four envelopes, respectively made with each of the four embodiments of the laminated material, in which this laminated material is cut, if made as a continuous sheet, so as to obtain one or more sheets substantially rectangular in shape with two edges substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis LA, ie substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of the second layer 2 (shown with dashed lines in Figures 13 to 15) and two edges substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA. The first layer 1 extends substantially over the entire sheet, while the second layer 2 extends only between two opposite edges, in particular the edges substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA.

In a first step of producing the casings, the laminated material is folded and two opposite edges of the first layer 1, in particular the two edges substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis LA, are joined together, in particular heat-sealed, so as to form at least a longitudinal flap 9. A content, for example food, can be arranged in the tubular body resulting from the laminated material joined along two opposite edges from the longitudinal flap 9, after which the tubular body is closed by joining, in particular by heat sealing, two halves of each of the two edges substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA, so as to form two transverse edges 10 which include edges of the first layer 1 and of the second layer 2 joined together.

In the envelopes made with the first two embodiments of the laminated material, shown in Figures 13 and 14, the first incision 4 in the first layer 1 faces towards the outside of the envelope at a certain distance from the two transverse flaps 10 and on the opposite side with respect to the longitudinal flap 9. The second layer 2 with the second incision 7 faces the inside of the envelope.

In the envelope made with the third embodiment of the laminated material, shown in Figure 15, the first incision 4 in the first layer 1 faces the outside of the envelope, on the opposite side with respect to the longitudinal flap 9, but connects the two transverse flaps 10. The portion of the first incision 4 arranged on a transverse flap 10 can be sealed during the creation of the transverse flap 10, in which case the first layer 1 will tear along this transverse flap 10 during the first opening of the envelope, thus acting as an anti-tamper seal. The portion of the first incision 4 arranged on a transverse flap 10 may also not be sealed during the creation of the transverse flap 10, in which case this portion of the first layer 1 will separate from the transverse flap 10 during the first opening of the envelope. The second layer 2 with the second incision 7 faces the inside of the envelope.

In the envelope made with the fourth embodiment of the laminated material, shown in Figure 16, the first incision 4 in the first layer 1 faces towards the inside of the envelope, on the opposite side with respect to the longitudinal flap 9, while the second layer 2 , preferably without a second incision, faces the outside of the envelope, so that to open the envelope it is sufficient to grasp the lip 2c of the second layer 2. As in the third embodiment, the portion of the second layer 2 arranged on a transverse flap 10 can be sealed during the creation of the transverse flap 10, in which case the second layer 2 will tear along this transverse flap 10 during the first opening of the envelope, thus acting as a tamper evident seal. The portion of the second layer 2 arranged on a transverse flap 10 may also not be sealed during the creation of the transverse flap 10, in which case this portion will separate from the transverse flap 10 during the first opening of the envelope.

Figures 17 to 20 show four casings, in particular four trays which have one or more protruding perimeter edges (shown with a dashed line) and which are respectively closed by a sheet of each of the four embodiments of the laminated material, in which this sheet is joined, preferably heat-sealed, along the edges of each tray. The first layer 1 extends substantially over the entire tray, while the second layer 2 extends only between two opposite edges of the tray.

With reference to Figure 21, it can be seen that, in a first operational phase of the laminated material manufacturing process, a sheet 11 of the same material as the second layer 2, preferably wound on a roller 12, is pulled in the direction of the arrows towards an applicator 13 which applies on a surface of the sheet 11 a screen of adhesive 14 provided with areas 6 free of adhesive. The adhesive-free zones 6 can be obtained by not applying adhesive to the sheet 11 or by first applying a continuous layer of adhesive and then deactivating this adhesive in the zones 6 by means of liquid or solid substances. For example, to make the second embodiment of the laminated material, the adhesive screen 14 comprises a matrix of areas 6 without adhesive arranged on one or more rows and one or more columns, for example ten columns and a high number of rows. The sheet 11 with the adhesive screen 14 is then cut in the direction of advancement by a cutting unit 15, so as to form a plurality of tapes 16, each of which is provided with a layer of adhesive 3 comprising at least one continuous strip free of adhesive, for example to make the second layer 2 of the first, third and fourth embodiment of the laminated material, and / or a plurality of zones 6 without adhesive, substantially arranged at the same distance from each other, as in figure 21, for making the second layer 2 of the second embodiment of the laminated material. The tapes 16 thus obtained are preferably wound onto rollers 17. An anti-stick tape (not shown in the figures) can be applied to the adhesive layer 3 of a tape 16 before it is wound onto a roll 17.

With reference to Figure 22, it can be seen that, in a second operational phase of the manufacturing process, the first layer 1 preferably wound on a roller 18 is pulled in the direction of the arrows towards one or more first auxiliary rollers 19 which join the first layer 1 to the second layer 2 by means of the layer of adhesive 3 applied to the surface of the second layer 2. The anti-stick tape, if applied to the layer of adhesive 3, is removed from the second layer 2 before joining the second layer 2 to the first layer 1. At least one die cutter, in particular a roller die cutter 20, forms the first incision 4 in the first layer 1 and / or the second incision 7 in the second layer 2. The roller die cutter 20 also forms further first and second incisions in series, substantially placed at the same distance from each other, after which the laminated material 21 is collected, preferably on a roller 22.

In a subsequent step, not shown in the figures, the laminated material 21 can be taken from the roller 22 and cut to obtain a plurality of sheets, each provided with at least one or more first incisions 4, which sheets can be used to make envelopes for food use, for example the casings of figures 13 to 20.

In an alternative form of the method, which is advantageous for making the fourth embodiment of the laminated material, a continuous adhesive layer narrower than the second layer 2 can be applied to the first layer 1 before joining the first layer 1 to the second layer 2, so to leave a zone 6 free of adhesive along one edge of the second layer 2.

Any variations or additions can be made by those skilled in the art to the embodiment described and illustrated here, remaining within the scope of the following claims. In particular, further embodiments may include the technical characteristics of one of the following claims with the addition of one or more technical characteristics described in the text or illustrated in the drawings, taken individually or in any reciprocal combination.

Claims (16)

CLAIMS 1. Process for manufacturing laminated materials (21), which includes the following operational steps: - joining a first layer (1) to at least a second layer (2) by means of at least one layer of adhesive (3) arranged between these layers (1, 2), in which at least one area (6) of the layer of adhesive (3) it is free of adhesive and is arranged between the first layer (1) and the second layer (2); - make at least a first incision (4) in the first layer (1), so as to form in the first layer (1) a portion (1a) which can be separated from the second layer (2) keeping the remaining portion (1b) of the first layer (1); characterized in that the second layer (2) is shaped as a continuous ribbon which develops along a longitudinal axis (LA) and which has a width (W2) substantially smaller than the width (W1) of the first layer (1). 2. Process according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second layer (2) is obtained by cutting into strips a sheet (11) provided with an adhesive screen (14) which comprises a plurality of adhesive-free areas (6). Process according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the adhesive screen (14) comprises a plurality of adhesive-free areas (6) arranged on one or more rows and one or more columns. 4. Laminated material (21) comprising a first layer (1) joined to at least a second layer (2) by means of at least one adhesive layer (3) disposed between these layers (1, 2), in which at least one zone (6) of the adhesive layer (3) is free of adhesive and is arranged between the first layer (1) and the second layer (2), in which at least a first incision (4) is made in the first layer (1), so as to form in the first layer (1) a portion (1a) which can be separated from the second layer (2) keeping the remaining portion (1b) of the first layer (1) joined to the second layer (2), characterized in that the second layer (2) is shaped as a continuous ribbon which develops along a longitudinal axis (LA) and which has a width (W2) substantially smaller than the width (W1) of the first layer (1). Process or laminated material (21) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the width (W2) of the second layer (2) is less than 50% of the width (W1) of the first layer (1). Process or laminated material (21) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a second incision (7) is made in the second layer (2), so as to form a portion (2a) in the second layer (2) which can be separated from the second layer (2) keeping the remaining portion (2b) of the second layer (2) joined to the first layer (1). 7. Process or laminated material (21) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first layer (1) and the second layer (2) comprise at least one film of plastic material suitable for being heat-sealed. Process or laminated material (21) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive-free zone (6) of the adhesive layer (3) extends along the longitudinal axis (LA) of the second layer (2) . Process or laminated material (21) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first incision (4) is arranged entirely on the adhesive-free area (6) of the adhesive layer (3). 10. Process or laminated material (21) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the first incision (4) is continuous, substantially rectilinear and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (LA). Process or laminated material (21) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive-free zone (6) of the adhesive layer (3) is arranged along an edge of the second layer (2), so as to form a lip (2c) of the second layer (2) which is not in contact with a layer of adhesive. Process or laminated material (21) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive layer (3) comprises a plurality of adhesive-free areas (6) arranged between the first layer (1) and the second layer ( 2) at distances substantially equal to each other and aligned along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (LA). 13. Casing, characterized in that it comprises a laminated material according to one of claims 4 to 12, in which the second layer (2) connects two opposite edges of the casing. 14. Casing according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that the second layer (2) faces the outside of the casing. Enclosure according to claims 11 and 13, characterized in that the second layer (2) does not comprise the second incision (7) and comprises the lip (2c) which is not in contact with a layer of adhesive. 16. Casing according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that the second layer (2) has the second incision (7) and faces the inside of the casing.