Rollable re-closeable packaging and method for producing such a packaging

Abstract

The invention relates to a package with a roll-up re-sealing system and a process for the production of such a package, especially flexible bags. It was the object of the invention to develop a package of the generic kind described, and also a process for producing it which is suitable for the repeated sealing, storage and repeated removal of liquid, dry, powdery, granular or pelletised contents, such that the package is inexpensive to produce, meets the requirements of protecting the integrity of the product, and is user-friendly, characterised in that a package consists completely or partially of a conditioned multi-layer composite material, or that it at least has an adhesive label made from the conditioned multi-layer composite material on one package wall, beginning in the region of the opening, that the package repeatedly rolls up monoaxially, automatically and in a controlled manner, from the package opening in the direction of the bottom of the package as far as the level of the contents at any particular time and seals itself, and that the process of rolling up and sealing is implemented by the properties of the conditioned multi-layer composite material of the package or the adhesive label.

1 . A package made of flexible material that can be repeatedly sealed by rolling up, characterised in that a package ( 1 ) consists entirely or partially of a conditioned multi-layer composite material ( 2 ), or that the package ( 1 ) consists of any multi-layer composite material ( 3 ) and an adhesive label ( 4 ) made from the conditioned multilayer composite material ( 2 ) is disposed on at least one package wall ( 1 ′) beginning in the region of the opening, that, after conditioning, the package ( 1 ) repeatedly rolls up monoaxially, automatically and in a controlled manner, from the package opening in the direction of the bottom of the package as far as the level ( 5 ) of the contents ( 6 ) at any particular time and seals itself, and that the process of rolling up and sealing is implemented by the properties of the conditioned multi-layer composite material ( 2 ) of the package ( 1 ) or of the adhesive label ( 4 ), the properties being transferred to the package ( 1 ) either directly or by the adhesive label ( 4 ).  
     
     
         2 . The package as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the multi-layer composite material ( 3 ) consists of a composition of at least two layers, which are laminated or pasted in a conventional manner, that at least one layer as desired ( 3 ′) or ( 3 ″), consisting of a polymer, varnish or foam, possesses an internal frozen-in stress that expands or contracts during a conditioning process as a result of heat treatment and thus forms a conditioned multi-layer composite material ( 2 ) which rolls up monoaxially, and that by giving the layers of the composition different material thicknesses and/or different dimensional stabilities, different roll-up diameters and roll-up thicknesses can be implemented.  
     
     
         3 . The package as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that, in addition to the conditioned multi-layer composite material ( 2 ) of the package ( 1 ) or the adhesive label ( 4 ), the package ( 1 ) is combined in the region of the opening with a conventional reinforcement ( 7 ) to catch the upper edges of the package opening.  
     
     
         4 . The package as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the process of rolling up and sealing can be transferred to the unspecified multi-layer composite material ( 3 ) of the package ( 1 ) by tapes or strips ( 8 ) of rubber or flat elastomer disposed on at least one package wall ( 1 ′) of the package ( 1 ) and applied under a tensioning force.  
     
     
         5 . A process for manufacturing the package as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the unspecified multi-layer composite material ( 3 ) is conditioned on conventional machines or facilities for manufacturing packages ( 1 ) before, during or after the process of shaping, filling and sealing the package ( 1 ), by means of heat treatment, that the conditioning is extended to the entire multi-layer composite material ( 3 ) or is limited partially to definable regions of the multi-layer composite material ( 3 ) of the package ( 1 ) or of the adhesive label ( 4 ), and that the adhesive label ( 4 ) is conditioned before or after it is stuck to the multi-layer composite material ( 3 ) of the package ( 1 ).