U.S. patent application number 10/240313 was filed with the patent office on 2003-03-27 for bag-in-box inner bag.
Invention is credited to Ichikawa, Makoto, Yoneyama, Michinori.
Application Number | 20030059130 10/240313 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18615873 |
Filed Date | 2003-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030059130 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yoneyama, Michinori ; et
al. |
March 27, 2003 |
Bag-in-box inner bag
Abstract
A bag-in-box inner bag which has compatibility established
therein between excellent self-standing ability and practical
strength when the inner bag is to be handled without an outer box
and which allows less liquid to remain during liquid discharge and
makes it easy to hold container and is superior in container
handling and handiness and which is rugged. This bag-in-box is a
bag-in-box inner bag in the form of a self-standing bag comprising
a front film having a charging/discharging spout, a rear film and a
bottom film inserted between these two films, the three films being
adhered by sealing, characterizing in that the bag-in-box inner bag
has a corner part in the upper region divided from the containing
part by the heat sealed part.
Inventors: |
Yoneyama, Michinori;
(Chuo-ku, JP) ; Ichikawa, Makoto; (Chuo-ku,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Sherman & Shalloway
413 N Washington Street
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
18615873 |
Appl. No.: |
10/240313 |
Filed: |
October 1, 2002 |
PCT Filed: |
March 23, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP01/02357 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/10 ;
229/117.35; 383/104; 383/107; 383/16; 383/9; 383/906 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/008 20130101;
B65D 77/065 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/10 ; 383/104;
383/107; 383/9; 383/906; 383/16; 229/117.35 |
International
Class: |
B65D 033/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 4, 2000 |
JP |
2000-101909 |
Claims
What is claim:
1. An inner bag for bag-in-box comprising, a front film with a
spout, a rear film and a self-standing bag prepared by adhering a
bottom film to be folded in between said front film and rear film
by heat sealing with said front and rear films, wherein said inner
bag for bag-in-box possesses a corner part divided from a
containing part by a heat sealed part at the upper position.
2. The inner bag for bag-in-box of claim 1, wherein a hole is made
in at least one corner part.
3. The inner bag for bag-in-box in accordance with claim 1 or claim
2, wherein the self-standing bag is a bag with a rectangular
sole.
4. The inner bag for bag-in-box of claim 3, wherein the triangle
part locating to the lower part of the rectangular sole is cut
off.
5. The inner bag for bag-in-box in accordance with any one of
claims claim 1 to claim 4, wherein the bottom film is made of a
laminate prepared by laminating so as a resin layer which is hard
to be adhered by heat sealing is arranged on the outermost surface,
and the front film and the rear film are adhered by heat sealing at
or closely to the crossing point of the side periphery and the
folding line of the bottom film by making a cut off part on said
bottom film.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the improvement for the
handling of a container for liquid which is generally called as a
bag-in-box, comprising an inner bag prepared by heat sealing
synthetic resin films and an outer box made of cardboard, which is
used for the purpose of filling up, preserving and transferring of
liquid. More in detail, the present invention relates to the
improvement of self-standing ability and mechanical strength of an
inner bag for bag-in-box when it is filled up with liquid and
handled without an outer box, further the present invention aims to
reduce the remaining amount of liquid in a container after whole
contents are discharged, and further to improve the easiness for
handling of the inner bag filled up with liquid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In general, a container for liquid composed of an inner bag
produced by heat sealing of synthetic resin films and an outer box
made of cardboard which is prepared for the purpose of filling up,
preserving and transferring of fluid such as liquid or powder is
commonly called as a bag-in-box, and ones whose capacity are from 5
to 20 liter are broadly used as a container for foods or medicines.
These containers are mainly applied for the business use, and
actually used as a container for materials of foods or medicines,
or as a large size container for subdivisional use. Recently, for
the purpose of severe sanitary controlling of production
environment of foods or medicines, the requirements to pick out an
inner bag from an outer box and carrying it in alone into
production environment so as to protect the producing environment
from the contamination by dusts generated from the outer box is
becoming more serious.
[0003] However, an inner bag made of an ordinary synthetic resin
film is a flat square bag whose four sides are sealed, and when the
inner bag is filled up and handled without an outer box, the
following problems are arisen. That is, the self-standing ability
of the bag is very poor, and since there is no handling part, the
handling of the inner bag is very bad. Further, in a case when the
inner bag of flat square shape is set in the outer box and entire
contents in the inner bag is discharged, there is also a problem
that the small portion of the contents is easily remaining between
the films at the corners of the inner bag. Concerning the above
mentioned problems, there is a strong demand from the consumers of
the bag-in-box to develop a new inner bag for bag-in-box having
self-standing ability, with easiness in handling and the amount of
remaining liquid is small.
[0004] Regarding to the improvement of the self-standing ability,
uses of molded type containers having good shape maintaining
stability fabricated by a blow molding method or by a vacuum
forming method can be considered. However, from the view point that
the reduction of the amount of garbage is currently strongly
required and from the view point of the manufacturing costs, an
inner bag for bag-in-box made of film, which is recognized to have
a good disposable adaptability and to be lower price, is requested.
The gazette type inner bag disclosed in Japanese Utility Model
Laid-open Publication JP64-9174 has adequate self-standing ability
as a container when taken out from an outer box and handled.
Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication
JP2-8736, in a case of said gazette type inner bag, an upper
folding part can be used as a handling part, and can be said as the
more desirable shape than a flat shape bag (refer to FIG. 11 and
FIG. 12).
[0005] However, even if the said gazette shape bag, when it is
filled up, the shape of the bag becomes to have peculiarity that
the frame part of it is more swollen than the bottom part and the
center of gravity of it exists at the higher position, therefore,
the self-standing ability of it is not sufficient. Further,
concerning the case to discharged the contents in an inner bag
without an outer box, it is necessary to hold the container by one
hand for the easiness of work, therefore, when the gazette shape
inner bag is handled by using an upper folded in part as the handle
part, the easiness for holdling is not sufficient.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is carried out to dissolve the above
mentioned problems and the object of this invention can be
illustrated as follows. That is, the object of the present
invention is to provide good self-standing ability and substantial
mechanical strength to a filled up inner bag for bag-in-box when it
is handled without an inner bag. Further, the object of the present
invention is to obtain an inner bag for bag-in-box characterized
that the remaining amount of the liquid at the discharging
operation is small, the easiness for holding of the container is
improved and easiness in handling and convenience are improved and
having strong mechanical strength.
[0007] The inner bag for bag-in-box of the present invention is
comprising, a front film with a spout, a rear film and a
self-standing bag prepared by adhering a bottom film to be folded
in between said front film and said rear by heat sealing with said
front and rear films, wherein said inner bag for bag-in-box
possesses at the upper position a corner part divided from a
containing part by a heat sealed part.
BRIEF ILLUSTRATION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is the plane view of the folded state of one example
of the inner bag for bag-in-box of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is the plane view of the folded state of the other
example of the inner bag for bag-in-box of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is the plane view of the folded state of the other
example of the inner bag for bag-in-box of the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is the cross sectional view by A-A' line of the inner
bag of FIG. 3.
[0012] FIG. 5 is the perspective illustration of the inner bag for
bag-in-box of FIG. 1 in which liquid is filled up without an outer
box.
[0013] FIG. 6 is the perspective view illustrating the discharging
operation of the contents from the inner bag for bag-in-box of FIG.
1 filled up with liquid after taken out from the outer box.
[0014] FIG. 7 is the other example of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 8 is the other example of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 9 is the other example of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 10 is the perspective diagram illustrating the
discharging operation of the contents setting the inner bag to the
outer box.
[0018] FIG. 11 is the plane view of the folded state of a
conventional gazette type inner bag for bag-in-box.
[0019] FIG. 12 is the perspective illustration of a conventional
type inner bag for bag-in-box in which liquid is filled up.
THE BEST EMBODYMENT TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION
[0020] As mentioned above, the shape of the inner bag of the
present invention is so called standing pouch, characterized by
being prepared by inserting a bottom film which is folded in into
inner side between a front film and a rear film and the side
periphery part of these films are adhered by heat sealing. When the
inner bag of this shape is empty and folded in, it is flat and not
bulky, however, when the bag is filled up with liquid, the bottom
film is opened and becomes an excellent inner bag with good
self-standing ability.
[0021] Further, it is possible to prepare a corner part by dividing
a containing part with a oblique heat sealed part formed from the
side periphery part toward the upper periphery part. By preparing
said corner part, in a case to discharge the contained liquid in
the inner bag by turning the bag upside down, it can be possible to
reduce the remaining amount of liquid in the upper part of the
inner bag. Furthermore, it is desirable to make a hole in the
corner part, because the hole can act as a handle part and make the
easiness of handling better in cases when the inner bag is
transferred without an outer box or when the contents in the inner
bag is discharged. The outer periphery surrounding the hole can be
sealed by heat or not be sealed by heat, however, it is preferable
not to prepare a heat sealed part surrounding the hole, because the
mechanical strength is improved and the function as the handle part
becomes more reliable and the load burdened to fingers becomes
smaller.
[0022] It is also preferable to prepare a handle part at the upper
position of the upper sealing part instead of making a hole in a
corner part.
[0023] The preferable shape of a bottom film of the inner bag of
the present invention is rectangular or square. And as the type of
the inner bag, the DOY PACK (registered trademark) type having
radius in bottom seal or a so-called square bottom type having a
bottom straight line seal and a oblique heat sealed part can be
mentioned. And it is desirable to use the inner bag with square
bottom, because said inner bag becomes stable when it is filled up
with contents and placed in an outer box. Further, at the lower
part of the inner bag of the present invention a bottom film is
folded in into inner side between a front film and a rear film and
the outer periphery side of these films are adhered by heat
sealing. In this case, it is desirable to prepare a oblique belt
shape heat sealed part which traverses from the crossing point of
crease of folding part of the bottom film and the front film or the
rear film or near the crossing point to the voluntary point of the
heat sealed part of the lower side of the inner bag.
[0024] And, a case that a film on the outermost surface of which a
resin layer not easily sealed by heat is arranged, such as a
co-extruded multi layered film of polyamide and polyethylene or a
laminate film prepared by laminating a polyolefin resin layer with
a biaxial orientated film is used as the bottom film of the inner
bag of the present invention will be illustrated as follows.
Namely, a structure that a front film and a rear film are adhered
by heat sealing can be obtained at the position where the side
periphery heat sealed part is sealed by heat by making a cutting
off part e.g. a punch hole in the bottom film at the corresponding
position to the side periphery heat sealed part locating lower than
the crossing point of above mentioned oblique belt shape heat
sealed part and the side periphery heat sealed part. By said
structural feature, the bottom film expands when contents is filled
up into the inner bag, and the sole part of the bag forms a solid
body and provides excellent self-standing ability to the filled up
inner bag. And by preparing above mentioned oblique heat sealed
part, it becomes possible to reduce the remaining amount of liquid
between films at the corner of the bottom part when contained
liquid is discharged from the inner bag.
[0025] Further, by above mentioned structural feature, even if a
laminate film based on not-stretchable film e.g. a biaxial
orientated film is used as the bottom film, since a front film and
a rear film locating at the lower position from the crossing point
of above mentioned oblique belt shape heat sealed part and the side
periphery heat sealed part are adhered each other by heat sealing,
it is possible to prevent the opening of the bottom film when inner
pressure is loaded to the inner bag. Therefore, the stress burdened
to the crossing point of the folding line of the bottom film and
the side periphery heat sealed part can be reduced, and the
substantial mechanical strength against the abnormal impact caused
by careless falling down of the inner bag can be improved.
[0026] Furthermore, it is possible to make at least one similar cut
off part at further lower position than above mentioned cut off
part or preferably at a corner part, and to adhere a front film and
a rear film each other by heat sealing at said cut off part. By
above mentioned structural feature, it becomes possible to improve
the self-standing ability by providing a shape maintaining ability
to the inner bag, and the effect to prevent the opening of the
bottom film when inner pressure is loaded to the inner bag can be
increased, therefore the substantial mechanical strength against
the abnormal impact caused by careless falling down of the inner
bag can be improved.
[0027] Still further, it is possible to make the bottom film of the
inner bag open easily so that the operation for filling up the
inner bag becomes easy by cutting off lower corner parts locating
at the outer periphery of above mentioned oblique heat sealed part
along with the oblique seal part. However, when this part is cut
off, the self-standing ability of the inner bag and the mechanical
strength against the falling down of the inner bag are
deteriorated, it is necessary to select the materials and
constitution of the inner bag voluntarily according to the required
function level for the inner bag. And, when a laminate prepared so
as a resin layer not easily sealed by heat is arranged on the
outermost surface is used as the bottom film of the inner bag, it
is desirable to cut off a lower angled corner part locating closely
below the crossing point of a oblique sealing part and a side
periphery heat sealed part.
[0028] The present invention will be illustrated more in
detail.
[0029] As the materials of the inner bag used in the present
invention, a polyolefin film e.g. polyethylene or polypropylene
film can be used by alone, further, a laminated film can be also
used. As the laminate, a laminated film prepared by following
constitution can be used. Namely, a resin layer having good
adhesive ability by heat sealing e.g. polyolefin type resin such as
polyethylene or polypropylene (CPP) is arranged in the inmost
layer, and a film having relatively high mechanical strength such
as biaxial orientated polyamide, biaxial orientated polyester or
biaxial orientated polypropylene is used as a base material. For
the purpose to add a further necessary function, other kind of film
can be further laminated. For example, according to the required
function, a laminated film which laminates an adequate functional
film can be voluntarily selected. For example, when the
moisture-proof ability is necessary, a silica evaporated film or
copolymer of ethylene-vinylalcohol can be added to the laminate,
and when a light shielding ability is necessary, an aluminum foil
or an aluminum metalized film can be added to the laminate. For
example, a laminate film composed of polyester, aluminum foil and
polyethylene, a co-extruded multi layered film of EVOH and
polyethylene or a co-extruded multi layered film of polyamide, EVOH
and polyethylene can be mentioned. Further, these films can be used
alone or can be used by overlapping with polyethylene single film
without adhering, however, not intending to be limited to them.
[0030] Examples of the present invention are illustrated in
accordance with the drawings.
[0031] FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 are the examples of an inner bag for
bag-in-box of the present invention showing the folded state. And
FIG. 4 is the A-A' line cross sectional view of the inner bag of
FIG. 3.
[0032] In FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, 1 is an inner bag, 2 is an upper heat
sealed part, 3 is a lower heat sealed part, 4 is a bottom film in
folded in state, 5, 5' are through holes maked in the bottom film
before sealing process, 6 is a front film of the inner bag, 7 is a
rear film of the inner bag, 8 is a side periphery heat sealed part,
9 is a oblique heat sealed part at the bottom and 10 is an upper
oblique heat sealed part. 14 is a spout for pouring the contents
out.
[0033] To the folded in bottom film 4 a through holes 5 and 5' are
previously made closely under the crossing point 12 of side
periphery heat sealed part 8 and lower oblique heat sealed part,
then by adhering the side periphery by heat using the front film
and rear film are sealed by heat at this hole.
[0034] Further, a handle hole 15 is prepared at the outer side of
the upper oblique heat sealed part 10.
[0035] FIG. 5 shows the filled up state of the inner bag for
bag-in-box of FIG. 3 with liquid without an outer box. The bottom
film is extended and forms a sole of the container. Since the inner
bag is characterized to have full-cheeked shape, center of gravity
of the bag locates at the lower position, the excellent
selfstanding ability can be obtained.
[0036] And, since the front film and the rear film of the bag are
forming one body by through hole heat sealed parts 5 and 5', the
film at the crossing point 12 does not extend and the substantial
mechanical strength can be improved.
[0037] FIG. 6 is showing the discharging process of the contents
from the filled up inner bag for bag-in-box of FIG. 3 by taking out
the bag from the outer box. The upper part of the bag is double
folded and two upper handle parts are grasped by one hand by piling
up them each other and one corner part of the bottom part is
grasped by another hand. Thus, the handling of the inner bag is
very easy.
[0038] FIG. 7 is the other example of the present invention, and
shows that a bottom angled corner is cut off remaining the heat
sealed part of the front film and the rear film of the bottom
part.
[0039] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are also the other examples of the present
invention and showing that a handle part 16 is formed at the upper
position of the upper heat sealed part 2.
[0040] And, FIG. 10 is the perspective diagram of the inner bag
illustrating the state that the content in the inner bag is
discharged while the inner bag is set to the outer box.
[0041] In the meanwhile, FIG. 11 is the perspective illustration of
an example of an inner bag for bag-in-box of the conventional
gazette shape type bag-in-box and FIG. 12 is an example of an inner
bag for bag-in-box of the conventional gazette shape type
bag-in-box.
POSSIBILITY FOR THE INDUSTRIAL USE
[0042] As mentioned above, the inner bag for bag-in-box of the
present invention is characterized to have structural features
described below. That is, a bottom film is folded in to the inner
side and put between lower part of a front film and a rear film,
then the outer periphery side of these films is adhered by heat
sealing. A oblique belt shape heat sealed part which traverses from
the crossing point of crease of folding part of the bottom film and
a front film or a rear film or near the crossing point to the
voluntary point of the heat sealed part of the lower side of the
inner bag is prepared. And a front film and a rear film are adhered
by heat sealing at the position where the side periphery is sealed
by making a cutting off part e.g. a punch hole in the bottom film
at the corresponding position to the side periphery heat sealed
part locating lower than the crossing point of above mentioned
oblique belt shape heat sealed part and the side periphery heat
sealed part. By performing above mentioned structural feature, it
becomes possible to provide an excellent self-standing ability to
the inner bag and to reduce the remaining amount of liquid between
films at the corner of the bottom part when contained liquid is
discharged from the inner bag. Further, in a case when the abnormal
inner pressure is loaded to the inner bag, the stress burdened to
the crossing point of the folding line of the bottom film and the
side periphery heat sealed part can be reduced, and the substantial
mechanical strength against the abnormal impact caused by careless
falling down of the inner bag can be improved.
[0043] Further, by preparing a oblique heat sealed part which
connect an upper heat sealed part and side periphery heat sealed
part on both corners of the upper part of the bag, in a case to
discharge the contained liquid in the inner bag by turning the bag
upside down, it can be possible to reduce the amount of remaining
liquid in the upper corner part of the inner bag.
[0044] Furthermore, it is possible to seal the side periphery by
making a hole in the bottom film closely lower the crossing point
of above mentioned lower oblique heat sealed point and side
periphery heat sealed part, and to cut off the outer part of said
oblique heat sealed part along with the oblique seal part remaining
the heat sealed part of the front film and the rear film. Thus, it
becomes possible to make the bottom film of the inner bag open
easily so that the operation for filling up the inner bag becomes
easy.
[0045] Still further, by making a hole for handling at the outer
side of the oblique heat sealed part connecting an upper heat
sealed part and side periphery heat sealed part on both corners of
the upper part of the bag, easiness of handling of the filled up
inner bag without outer box can be accomplished.
* * * * *