Sonoco Development Incorporated

Francis J Bensur

Jeffrey M Schuetz

Richard F Jaisle

A laminate packaging material for use with food products, and a retortable pouch comprising that material, are disclosed. The laminate material includes an outer polyethylene terephthalate layer, a nylon second layer, and a polypropylene inner layer. A solventless adhesive is used to bond the layers together. The solventless adhesive includes surface-modified exfoliated montmorillonite clay platelets. The platelets lie generally parallel to the plane of the laminate, and overlap to form a barrier to oxygen and other volatile materials. The retortable pouch is formed by heat sealing the edges one of more sheets of the laminate such that the polypropylene layers face inward and are welded together. The pouch and its contents can then be pasteurized by heat-treatment without degradation of the laminate or the heat seal.

Laminate packaging material

A package having a re-sealable seal is formed from a flexible sheet having its opposite longitudinal edge portions sealed together to form a tubular structure with a permanent longitudinal seal. Two permanent end seals are formed transversely across the tubular structure to seal the product inside the package. A re-sealable seal is formed adjacent one of the permanent seals. The re-sealable seal is formed by a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to a first region of the inner surface of the sheet proximate the one permanent seal and a heat seal coating applied over the pressure-sensitive adhesive so as to cover the pressure-sensitive adhesive. and a heat seal coating applied over a second region of the inner surface of the sheet. The first and second regions of the inner surface are placed in contact with each other and the heat seal coatings thereon are sealed together to initially form the re-sealable seal. When the first and second regions of the sheet are pulled apart upon opening of the package, the pressure-sensitive adhesive separates from the first region and remains with the second region. The second region is pressed against the first region to reclose the package.

Growing community of inventors

Noblesville, IN, United States of America

Francis J Bensur