SORBENT PACKAGING

In an elongated strip of desiccant packages each package includes a body formed from spun bonded non-woven polyethylene; a lateral seal at each end of the body, the seal comprising a knurled direct, adhesive free, seal having intersecting sealing lines each of which is arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the package; a longitudinal seal extending between the lateral seals printed indicia on the package disposed substantially between the lateral seals, and spaced from the longitudinal seal, the longitudinal and lateral sealing areas being substantially free of printing; at least one registration mark( on the body, the mark disposed at a known distance from at least one of the lateral seals, and outside of the sealing area; a sorbent material within the body. A method for inserting desiccant packages into product containers includes the steps of: providing an elongated strip of preprinted desiccant packages having a length at least 1000 times its width, the preprinted desiccant packages comprising first printed indicia and at least one index mark spaced from the indicia, the printed indicia and the index mark comprising food grade ink; feeding the packets to a cutter sensing the index mark; inhibiting the feeding step if no index mark is present; cutting individual packets from the strip in registration with the index mark in an area free from printed indicia; and inserting the cut packets into the product package