Easy open bag

Abstract

An easy open bag and method for making the same. A film is fed into a jaw assembly comprising a first seal jaw comprising a blade gap and a second seal jaw comprising a removable insert. The removable insert comprises a blade pin. When the first and second seal jaws are mated, a notch is formed. The film also comprises a score line in the outer layer. Upon tearing the notch the tear propagates along the score line. Thus, the package can be easily opened by initiating a tear at a tear notch.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An improved jaw assembly for sealing a package, said assembly comprising:
 a first seal jaw comprising a blade gap;   a second seal jaw comprising:
 a removable insert. 
   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said removable insert further comprises a blade pin. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said removable insert further comprises a locking device, wherein said locking device is coupled to said blade pin. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3  wherein said blade pin is vertically adjustable relative to said insert. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said removable insert comprises a base stem and a gasket ring. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein said bottom seal comprises a stem hole, wherein said stem hole is sized to mate with said base stem, and wherein said second seal jaw further comprises a gasket channel located on said stem hole. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said removable insert is a uniform insert. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first seal jaw comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein said second seal jaw comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein said removable insert is located on said lower portion of said second seal jaw, wherein said upper portions of said first and second seal jaws mate to form a bottom seal, and wherein said lower portions of said first and second seal jaws mate to form a top seal. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said blade gap is located about ¾ inch from the centerline on said first seal jaw. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said insert comprises non-linear sides. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said insert fits within said second seal jaw in only one orientation. 
     
     
         12 . A method for making a flexible film package said method comprising the steps of:
 a) feeding a first flexible film into a fill and seal machine, wherein said film web comprises an outer layer comprising at least one score line;   b) forming said first flexible film web into a tube;   c) sealing said first flexible film web at the bottom of said tube, thereby forming a bottom seal on a first resultant package;   d) filling said first resultant package with product;   e) sealing at the top of said first resultant package, thereby forming a top seal; and   f) creating a notch in said top seal, thereby forming a first final package, wherein said notch is formed a desired distance from the centerline of said top seal;   wherein said sealing step and said creating step occur simultaneously.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said feeding of step a) comprises feeding a layer of oriented polypropylene. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said feeding step a) comprises feeding said flexible film into a vertical form, fill, and seal machine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said creating step comprises creating a notch above said at least one score line. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said creating step comprises creating a notch to the right of the centerline of said top seal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said creating step comprises creating a notch, wherein said notch does not extend to the top of said top seal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said creating step said desired distance is about ¼ inch to about one inch from the centerline of said top seal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said feeding step comprises feeding a first flexible film comprising graphics, and wherein said graphics are oriented during said feeding step so that after the top seal is formed in step f) the graphics are readable when the top and bottom seals are oriented parallel to a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said feeding step comprises feeding a first flexible film comprising graphics, and wherein said graphics are oriented during said feeding step so that after the top seal is formed in step f) the graphics are readable when the top and bottom seals are oriented perpendicular to a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said feeding of step a) comprises feeding into a horizontal form, fill, and seal machine. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 g) feeding a second flexible film into a fill, and seal machine, wherein said second film web comprises an outer layer comprising at least one score line; 
 h) forming said second flexible film web into a tube; 
 i) sealing said second flexible film web at the bottom of said tube with a pair of seal jaws, thereby forming a bottom seal on a second resultant package; 
 j) filling said second resultant package with product; 
 k) sealing at the top of said second resultant package with a pair of seal jaws, thereby forming a top seal; and 
 l) creating a notch in said top seal, thereby forming a second final package, wherein the distance between the centerline of said top seal and said notch is about the same for both said second final package and said first final package. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said feeding step g) comprises feeding a second flexible film layer such that said second final package is wider than said first final package. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said feeding step g) comprises feeding a second flexible film layer such that said first final package is wider than said second final package. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said pair of seal jaws remains unaltered for both said first and said second flexible film layers. 
     
     
         26 . A method for making a notch for adaptable film widths in a jaw assembly, said jaw assembly comprising:
 a first seal jaw comprising a blade gap;   a second seal jaw comprising:
 a removable insert comprising a blade pin, wherein said blade pin mates with said blade gap; 
   said method comprising the steps of:   a) feeding a first tube comprising a left edge and a right edge into said jaw assembly;.   b) sealing said tube by mating said first seal jaw with said second seal jaw, thereby forming a seal;   c) creating a notch in said tube by mating said blade gap with said blade pin;   wherein said feeding step comprises aligning said at least one of said edges so that said notch is located a desired distance from the centerline of said seal.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising the step of repeating steps a-c wherein during said feeding step a second tube is fed into said jaw assembly, wherein said second tube is wider than said first tube, and wherein the jaw assembly is unaltered. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising the step of repeating steps a-c wherein during said feeding step a second tube is fed into said jaw assembly, wherein said first tube is wider than said first tube, and wherein the jaw assembly is unaltered. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said feeding step comprises feeding a first tube, wherein said first tube comprises a pre-made pouch.