The present invention discloses pre-cut multilayer packaging material comprising pre-cuts throughout more than one layer, and in particular multilayer polymeric films comprising paper and/or aluminium materials wherein all layers are completely cut except for one remaining layer, that is only partially cut.
The present invention also discloses a die-cutting process for the manufacturing of such pre-cut multilayer packaging materials.
In the present invention, the expressions “pre-cut”, “incised”, “slit”, “pre-slit” or “scored” have the same signification.
Furthermore, in the present invention, the expression “multilayer material” is taken in its general sense and includes laminates with paper or aluminium, monolayer polymeric films comprising at least one additional layer such as a printing layer, primer layer, adhesive/seal layer-cold seal (CS) or release lacquer (RL) for instance.
Pre-cut multilayer materials are well known by those skilled in the art of packaging. Nevertheless, the prior-art multilayer materials generally exhibit a pre-cut limited to one layer. Multilayer materials of superposed pre-cut monolayers obtained by the lamination of several pre-cut monolayers are also known in the art.
EP 1 817 165 discloses a multilayer film comprising a plurality of continuous, parallel, side-by-side incisions to facilitate the reduction of the breaking load, said incisions partially affecting the thickness of the most rigid layers and being obtained by removing material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,659 discloses a laminated film bag wherein the polyolefin resin film has score lines of a depth representing about 5% of the thickness of the film. In this case again, only one layer is scored.
U.S. Pat. NO. 4,903,841 discloses a pouch formed of a laminate sheet, one side of the heat-sealable plastic layers having a surface-roughened zone to ease the tearing of the pack. Here again, only one layer is pre-slit.
US 2005/0084636-A1 discloses a flexible multilayer packaging comprising tear-initiation areas and directional tear zones. In this case, only one layer of the multilayer film is scored, essentially by a laser score.
U.S. Pat. NO. 5,630,308 discloses a method for performing tear initiation and tear control by laser scoring. Only one layer of the multilayer film is scored.
EP 0 345 930 B1 discloses a closable pouch comprising a zone that is roughened with side-by-side incisions. Here again, only one layer of the multilayer film comprises those incisions.
EP 0 596 747 A1 discloses an easy open package comprising slits penetrating through one of the film layer but not the other layers. Said slits facilitate the rupture of all layers of the film when force is applied to affect an easy opening of the package made from the film.
The present invention aims to provide a pre-cut multilayer packaging material comprising a plurality of layers entirely cut with the exception of one layer, said layer being only partially cut.
Furthermore, a process for the manufacturing of such pre-cut multilayer packaging films is disclosed.
The present invention discloses a pre-cut multilayer packaging material comprising a plurality of successive, entirely cut layers with the exception of one layer, said layer being only partially cut.
Specific embodiments of the present invention disclose at least one or an appropriate combination of the following features:
The present invention further discloses a process for pre-cutting a multilayer packaging film according to the invention comprising the following subsequent steps:
A particular embodiment of the process of the present invention also discloses that the rotary die-cutting is performed via a flexible die-cutting plate arranged on a magnetic cylinder.
The present invention further discloses a form fill and seal packaging comprising a pre-cut multilayer packaging material according to the invention.
Various lamination structures in various optical options are possible. Non-limitative examples are white, transparent, and metalized versions of the multilayer material according to the present invention.
Illustrative general structures of the pre-cut packaging material of the present invention are the following:
The examples were performed with the following process parameters:
Structure:
Heat-seal lacquer/PET 12 μm/print layer/PE 25 μm (represented in
Width: 130 mm
Cut-off: 170 mm
Trial Parameters:
Test Results on the Pre-Cut Film:
Film stability (tensile strength):
Structure:
OPP 20 μm/adh./print/OPP 20 μm (represented in
Width: 300 mm
Cut-off: 200 mm
Trial Parameters:
Test Results on the Pre-Cut Film:
Film stability (tensile strength):
Structure:
print layer/OPP 20 μm/metalized OPP 15 μm cold-seal
Width: 105 mm
Cut-off: 130 mm
Trial Parameters:
Test Results on the Pre-Cut Film:
Film stability (tensile strength):
Structure:
print layer/OPP 40-CS (represented in
Width: 66 mm
Cut-off: 147 mm
Trial Parameters:
Test Results on the Pre-Cut Film:
Film stability (tensile strength):
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
10178129.2 | Sep 2010 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2011/061624 | 7/8/2011 | WO | 00 | 6/13/2013 |