Methods of self-folding flexible packages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10981708-B2
Application number	US-201815988035-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2018
Priority date	May 26, 2017
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

Methods of making packages from flexible material, wherein the packages include one or more self-folds formed by applying activation energy to the flexible material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making a loaded packaged product, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) forming a flexible material into a flexible package;
(b) filling the flexible package with one or more products, to make a filled flexible package;
(c) closing the filled flexible package, to make the packaged product; and
(d) loading the packaged product into a parent container, to form a loaded packaged product;
wherein during at least one of steps (a) to (d), the flexible material is moving and at a particular time, during or after the forming, and before the filling, and while the flexible material is moving, applying to at least a portion of the flexible material, activation energy, which at least contributes to self-folding in the portion, such that the self-folding forms at least part of a self-fold, which is present in the flexible material of the loaded packaged product.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particular time occurs during the forming.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein, at the particular time, the flexible material is in the form of a continuous web.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the particular time occurs after the flexible material is folded.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the particular time occurs after the flexible material is sealed.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particular time occurs after the forming but before the filling.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more products are susceptible to the activation energy; and
the flexible material is unshielded.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein, when the applying begins, the portion is unfolded.

9. The method claim 1 , wherein, when the applying begins, the portion is substantially flat.

10. The method claim 1 , wherein the self-folding forms substantially all of the fold.

11. The method claim 1 , wherein the self-folding forms all of the fold.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Rogers Neil John
• Remus Michael
• O'Donnell Hugh Joseph

Classifications

• B65D75/20 Primary

  in sheets or blanks doubled around contents and having their opposed free margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding · CPC title

• B65B5/022

  for making bags · CPC title

• B65B47/02

  with means for heating the material prior to forming · CPC title

• B65B1/04

  Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles · CPC title

• B65B43/06

  from more than one web · CPC title