Pouch-like container with faces made of materials having different characteristics, and method for manufacturing it

Abstract

A pouch-like container with faces made of materials having different consistencies and/or characteristics, particularly for solid, granular or fluid products. Conveniently, one of the two faces is produced from a scarcely flexible sheet, while the other face is produced from a much lighter and preferably transparent sheet in order to show the contained product. The low-flexibility face has ribs to preset a deformability and set the final shape that the container will assume. The container is manufactured by coupling, along longitudinal lines (lateral borders) and transverse lines, two sheets which are unwound continuously from two rolls. The tougher sheet is pre-ribbed along lines which force a controlled deformation, forming the container when it is filled with the product.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pouch-like container with faces made of materials having different characteristics, comprising: a first sheet being constituted by a tough and solid, yet flexible, material; and a second sheet being constituted by a lightweight flexible and preferably transparent material; said first and second sheets being heat-sealed along a predefined contour line so as to form a pouch.  
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the material of the first sheet is flexible so that it can be at least rolled up, and has good mechanical characteristics and a low cost.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the material of which said second sheet is constituted is lightweight, transparent, of a good quality and has resistance to external agents.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising ribs formed on said first sheet made of tough material, said ribs constituting a deformation guide for obtaining an intended shape of the container.  
     
     
         5 . A method for manufacturing a container as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising the following operating steps performed on a same machine: 
 a) preparing a roll of relatively heavy and tough material for constituting a first sheet, with uniformly spaced ribs thereof;    b) coupling, with a packaging machine, said first sheet to a second sheet of a much lighter flexible material along two longitudinal lateral lines and a transverse base line, as referred to an advancement direction of the machine;    c) filling the container with product to be contained, and optionally deforming, with auxiliary deformation means, the first sheet along said ribs;    d) closing, by heat-sealing, an open part of the container used for filling.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , performed on continuous packaging machines.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , performed by producing individual containers in the form of pouches, to be filled subsequently.