US 11,679,903 B2
Method and apparatus for forming a package with protected seal
Cem H. Yildirim, Parkville, MO (US); and Christian J. Uebele, Kansas City, MO (US)
Assigned to MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMUELLER SE & CO. KG, Wolfertschwenden (DE)
Filed by MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMUELLER SE & CO. KG, Wolfertschwenden (DE)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/244,325.
Prior Publication US 2022/0348364 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. B65B 9/04 (2006.01); B65B 61/06 (2006.01); B65B 7/16 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 9/04 (2013.01) [B65B 7/164 (2013.01); B65B 7/168 (2013.01); B65B 61/06 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming a package, the method comprising:
forming, at a forming station of a packaging machine, a package base in a film so that the package base has a pocket; and
attaching, at a first cover application station of the packaging machine, a first cover layer on the package base so that the first cover layer partially covers the pocket, and so that access to the pocket is provided to position a product in the pocket after the first cover layer has been attached to the package base;
wherein the first cover layer comprises one or more strips of material that each cover a longitudinally extending side edge of the package base when attached to the package base, and wherein the one or more strips of material do not fully cover end edges of the package base.