Production of sterile packages

Claim 1

A process for the manufacture of a multi-layered composite packaging laminate which is internally sterile and which is intended for the sterile packing of products, preferably in liquid and/or paste form, between layers of the laminate but which is without such products between layers of the laminate, said laminate comprising at least two individual strips, one of which comprises thermoplastic material and each of which being made of a material which is impermeable to at least some fluids, said strips being adhered together in a fluid-tight manner at least at their edges, whereby the adjacent surfaces of the two strips lie in opposed, facing relationship, and said adjacent surfaces being sterile and being readily separable from each other under the action of pulling forces applied to the individual strips in divergent directions at a temperature which is, at most, equal to the softening temperature of the thermoplastic material, said process comprising: advancing said strips with said surfaces facing each other; adhesively securing the strips to each other with a fluid-tight seal at least at their edges with a sterile material which permits the strips to be readily separable from each other under the action of pulling forces applied in divergent directions at a temperature which is, at most, equal to the softening temperature of the thermoplastic material, whereby the strips may be readily separated after they have been secured together to permit enclosing a product by at least one of said strips; and sterilizing at least said surfaces during the advance of the strips so that the surfaces are sterile when the adhesive securing of the strips to each other is completed.