U.S. patent application number 10/393491 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-10 for recloseable bag.
Invention is credited to Winiecki, Gerald R..
Application Number | 20040109617 10/393491 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32468594 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040109617 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Winiecki, Gerald R. |
June 10, 2004 |
Recloseable bag
Abstract
A bag, method of making, and machine for making are disclosed.
The bag has an upper and lower portion. The lower portion has a
generally rectangular bottom with first, second, third and fourth
bottom edges. It also has a generally rectangular front, back left
and right walls, each having a lower edge joined with the a bottom
edge. The upper portion is joined to the lower portion. The bag has
one or more of a zipper closure, a top peak with a resealable
closure that extends the length thereof, four generally vertical
corner seals, extending part of the way up the walls, and a
resealable closure affixed along the entire length of the top.
Inventors: |
Winiecki, Gerald R.;
(Suring, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GEORGE R CORRIGAN
5 BRIARCLIFF COURT
APPLETON
WI
54915
US
|
Family ID: |
32468594 |
Appl. No.: |
10/393491 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10393491 |
Mar 20, 2003 |
|
|
|
10314912 |
Dec 9, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/64 ; 383/104;
383/120; 383/16; 383/5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B31B 2155/0012 20170801;
B65D 31/08 20130101; B65D 33/065 20130101; B31B 2170/20 20170801;
B31B 2160/20 20170801; B65D 33/105 20130101; B31B 70/8132 20170801;
B31B 2155/00 20170801 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/064 ;
383/104; 383/016; 383/120; 383/005 |
International
Class: |
B65D 033/16 |
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A bag comprising: a lower portion having a generally rectangular
bottom having first, second, third and fourth bottom edges, a
generally rectangular front wall, having a front lower edge joined
with the first bottom edge, a generally rectangular back wall,
having a back lower edge joined with the third bottom edge, a
generally rectangular left side wall, having a left lower edge
joined with the fourth bottom edge, and a generally rectangular
right side wall, having a right lower edge joined with the second
bottom edge; and an upper portion, joined to the lower portion, and
having a zipper closure at a top thereof.
2. The bag of claim 1, wherein the upper portion includes a top
peak having the zipper closure thereon, and wherein the top peak
has a length, and the zipper closure extends the length
thereof.
3. The bag of claim 1, further comprising: a first generally
vertical corner seal joining the front wall and the left side wall,
wherein the first corner seal does not extend the entire height of
the front and left side walls; a second generally vertical corner
seal joining the front wall and the right side wall, wherein the
second corner seal does not extend the entire height of the front
and right side walls; a third generally vertical corner seal
joining the back wall and the right side wall, wherein the third
corner seal does not extend the entire height of the back and right
side walls; and a fourth generally vertical corner seal joining the
back wall and the left side wall, wherein the fourth corner seal
does not extend the entire height of the back and left side
walls.
4. The bag of claim 1, wherein the right and left side walls each
have a generally vertical side seal extending from the top of the
bag towards the bottom.
5. The bag of claim 4, wherein the bag is one of a plurality of
bags formed from a film, and wherein the side seals separate
adjacent bags.
6. The bag of claim 4, wherein the side seals extend at least a
length toward the bottom such that they extend below an upper end
of the corner seals.
7. The bag of claim 6, wherein the side seals extend to the
bottom.
8. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bottom is a gusseted insert
sealed to the front and back walls.
9. The bag of claim 1, wherein the lower portion is comprised of a
laminated material.
10. The bag of claim 9, further comprising a handle sealed between
upper poly and lower laminate, near the top of the lower
portion.
11. The bag of claim 9, wherein the upper portion is comprised of a
poly material.
12. The bag of claim 11, wherein the laminate includes a poly layer
that extends to and forms the upper portion.
13. The bag of claim 1, wherein when filled with product to a fill
level, the shape of the filled portion is generally a cuboid.
14. The bag of claim 13, wherein when the bag is filled the upper
portion lays flat to form a top of the cuboid.
15. The bag of claim 1, wherein the zipper is a tamper-evident
feature seal.
16. A bag comprising: a lower portion having a generally
rectangular bottom having first, second, third and fourth bottom
edges, a generally rectangular front wall, having a front lower
edge joined with the first bottom edge, a generally rectangular
back wall, having a back lower edge joined with the third bottom
edge, a generally rectangular left side wall, having a left lower
edge joined with the fourth bottom edge, and a generally
rectangular right side wall, having a right lower edge joined with
the second bottom edge; and an upper portion, joined to the lower
portion, and having a top peak having a length, and having a
resealable closure at the top peak that extends the length
thereof.
17. The bag of claim 16, further comprising: a first generally
vertical corner seal joining the front wall and the left side wall,
wherein the first corner seal does not extend the entire height of
the front and left side walls; a second generally vertical corner
seal joining the front wall and the right side wall, wherein the
second corner seal does not extend the entire height of the front
and right side walls; a third generally vertical corner seal
joining the back wall and the right side wall, wherein the third
corner seal does not extend the entire height of the back and right
side walls; and a fourth generally vertical corner seal joining the
back wall and the left side wall, wherein the fourth corner seal
does not extend the entire height of the back and left side
walls.
18. The bag of claim 17, wherein the right and left side walls each
have a generally vertical side seal extending from the top of the
bag towards the bottom.
19. The bag of claim 18, wherein the bag is one of a plurality of
bags form from a film, and wherein the side seals separate adjacent
bags.
20. The bag of claim 19, wherein the side seals extend at least a
length toward the bottom such that they extend below an upper end
of the corner seals.
21. The bag of claim 18, wherein the side seals extend to the
bottom.
22. The bag of claim 17 wherein the bottom is a gusseted insert
sealed to the front and back walls.
23. The bag of claim 22, wherein the lower portion is comprised of
a laminated material.
24. The bag of claim 23, further comprising a handle sealed between
layers of the laminate, near the top of the lower portion.
25. The bag of claim 24, wherein the upper portion is comprised of
a poly material.
26. The bag of claim 24, wherein the laminate includes a poly layer
that extends to and forms the upper portion.
27. The bag of claim 22, wherein when filled with product to a fill
level, the shape of the filled portion is generally a cuboid.
28. The bag of claim 27, wherein when the bag is filled the upper
portion lays flat to form a top of the cuboid.
29. The bag of claim 16, wherein the closure is a tamper proof
seal.
30. The bag of claim 16, wherein the top of the bag is a peak
formed at least partially from a top edge on each of the front and
back walls.
31. A bag comprising: a generally rectangular bottom having first
and second pairs of generally parallel sides; a first pair of
generally vertical walls attached at lower edges thereof to the
first pair of generally parallel sides; a second pair of generally
vertical walls attached at lower edges thereof to the second pair
of generally parallel sides; four generally vertical corner seals,
each joining one of the first pair of generally vertical walls to
one of the second pair of generally vertical walls, wherein a
plurality of the corner seals do not extend the entire height of
the generally vertical walls.
32. The bag of claim 31, wherein the plurality of the corner seals
is all four of the corner seals.
33. The bag of claim 31, wherein a top of the bag is a peak formed
at least partially from a top edge on each of the first pair of
generally vertical walls, and further wherein each of the second
pair of generally vertical walls has a generally vertical side seal
extending from the top of the bag towards the bottom.
34. The bag of claim 33 wherein the side seals extend at least a
length toward the bottom such that they extend below an upper end
of the corner seals.
35. The bag of claim 34 wherein the side seals extend to the
bottom.
36. The bag of claim 33, wherein a resealable closure is disposed
along at least a portion of the peak.
37. The bag of claim 36, wherein the resealable closure is disposed
along the entire peak.
38. The bag of claim 37, where the resealable closure is a
zipper.
39. The bag of claim 36 wherein the resealable closure is a
zipper.
40. The bag of claim 33, wherein the bag is one of a plurality of
bags formed from a film, and wherein the side seals separate
adjacent bags.
41. The bag of claim 31, wherein the bottom is a gusseted insert
sealed to the first pair of walls.
42. The bag of claim 41, wherein the lower portion is comprised of
a laminated material.
43. The bag of claim 42, further comprising a handle sealed between
layers of the laminate, near the top of the lower portion.
44. The bag of claim 43, wherein the upper portion is comprised of
a poly material.
45. The bag of claim 42, wherein the laminate includes a poly layer
that extends to and forms the upper portion.
46. The bag of claim 41, wherein when filled with product to a fill
level, the shape of the filled portion is generally a cuboid.
47. The bag of claim 46, wherein when the bag is filled the upper
portion lays flat to form a top of the cuboid.
48. The bag of claim 36, wherein the resealable closure is tamper
proof.
49. The bag of claim 36, wherein the first pair of generally
vertical walls are formed from two webs of material with a gusset
insert to form the bottom.
50. A plurality of bags formed from first and second webs moving in
a machine direction, each bag having first and second machine
direction edges and wherein each bag is formed with spaced
transverse seals extending the width of the webs, and further
having a resealable closure mounted on the first machine direction
edge of the bag, and further having a gusseted insert and a bottom
seal on the second edge of the bag, and further having a plurality
of corner seals, disposed between the transverse seals, and
extending a portion of the way from the from the bottom seal toward
the resealable closure.
51. The bag of claim 50, further having angle seals extending from
each transverse seal to the bottom seal, wherein each angle seal
meets the transverse seals and the bottom seals at a distance from
a point where the transverse seals meet the bottom seal.
52. The bag of claim 50, wherein the webs are comprised of a poly
layer extending from the bottom seal to the resealable closure, and
the webs are further comprised of a multi-wall portion extending
from the bottom seal part of the way to the resealable closure.
53. The bag of claim 52, wherein the multi-wall portion extends the
same distance the corner seals extend.
54. The bag of claim 53, further comprising handle sealed to the
bag between a wall of the multi-walled portion and the poly
layer.
55. The bag of claim 50, further comprising handles sealed to the
bag.
56. The bag of claim 50, wherein the resealable closure is a
zipper.
57. The bag of claim 56, wherein when filled with product to a fill
level, the shape of the filled portion is generally a cuboid.
58. The bag of claim 1, wherein the resealable closure is tamper
proof.
59. The bag of claim 50, wherein the transverse seals separate
adjacent bags.
60. A machine for making bags from first and second films
comprising: an input section, including at least one driven roller
disposed to contact the film, wherein the film follows a film path
and moves in a machine direction along the film path therein, and a
sealing section, downstream along the film path of the input
section, including at least a second driven roller disposed to
contact the film, wherein the film follows the film path and moves
in the machine direction along the film path therein, wherein the
sealing section further includes; two transverse sealers, spaced in
the machine direction, wherein each bag is formed with spaced
transverse seals extending the width of the webs, a resealable
closure fixture, mounted on a first machine direction edge of the
bag, a gusseted insert fixture, on a second machine direction edge
of the bag, and a plurality of corner sealers, disposed between the
transverse sealers, and extending a portion of the way from the
from the gusseted insert fixture toward the resealable closure
fixture.
61. The bag of claim 60, further comprising angle sealers,
extending from each transverse sealer to the gusseted insert
fixture, wherein each angle sealer meets the transverse sealers and
the gusseted insert fixture at a distance from a point where the
transverse sealers meet the gusseted insert fixtures.
62. A method of making a bag, comprising: forming a lower portion
having a bottom with four side walls, each adjacent to two of the
other side walls and each attached on lower edges thereof to the
bottom; forming an upper portion, joined to the lower portion, and
having a top; and affixing a zipper closure to the top.
63. The method of claim 62, wherein the top forms a peak having a
length, and affixing includes affixing a zipper the entire
length.
64. The method of claim 63, wherein forming a lower portion
comprises sealing adjacent walls to form four corner seals that do
not extend the entire height of the adjacent walls.
65. The method of claim 62, further comprising forming, on two of
the four walls, generally vertical seals extending from the top of
the bag towards the bottom.
66. The method of claim 64, further comprising forming a plurality
of bags by repeating the method.
67. The method of claim 64, wherein forming the bottom includes
sealing a gusseted insert to a first and second film.
68. The method of claim 64, further comprising sealing a handle to
the lower portion.
69. A method of making a bag, comprising: forming a lower portion
having a bottom with four side walls, each adjacent to two of the
other side walls and each attached on lower edges thereof to the
bottom; forming an upper portion, joined to the lower portion, and
having a top peak having a length; and affixing a resealable
closure along the entire length of the top peak.
70. The method of claim 69, wherein forming a lower portion
comprises sealing adjacent walls to form four corner seals that do
not extend the entire height of the adjacent walls.
71. The method of claim 70, further comprising forming, on two of
the four walls, generally vertical seals extending from the top of
the bag towards the bottom.
72. The method of claim 71, further comprising forming a plurality
of bags by repeating the method.
73. The method of claim 72, wherein forming the bottom includes
sealing a gusseted insert to a first and second film.
74. The method of claim 64, further comprising sealing a handle to
the lower portion.
75. A method of making a bag, comprising: forming a lower portion
having a bottom and first and second pairs of generally parallel
sides walls, each adjacent to two of the other side walls and each
attached on lower edges thereof to the bottom; forming four
generally vertical corner seals, each joining one of the first pair
of generally vertical walls to one of the second pair of generally
vertical walls, wherein the corner seals do not extend the entire
height of the vertical walls; and forming an upper portion, joined
to the lower portion.
76. A method of forming a plurality of bags from first and second
webs moving in a machine direction, comprising: forming spaced
transverse seals extending the width of the webs; affixing a
resealable closure mounted on a first machine direction edge of the
bag; affixing a gusseted insert to a second machine direction edge
of the bag; and forming a plurality of corner seals, disposed
between the transverse seals, and extending a portion of the way
from the from the bottom seal toward the resealable closure.
77. A bag comprising: a generally rectangular bottom having first
and second pairs of generally parallel sides; a first pair of
generally vertical walls having a first height attached and at
lower edges thereof to the first pair of generally parallel sides;
a second pair of generally vertical walls having a second height
and attached at lower edges thereof to the second pair of generally
parallel sides; a plurality of corner means for joining along less
than the first and second heights each of the first pair of
generally vertical walls to one of the second pair of generally
vertical walls.
78. The bag of claim 77, wherein a top of the bag is a peak formed
at least partially from a top edge on each of the first pair of
generally vertical walls, and further wherein each of the second
pair of generally vertical walls has a generally vertical side seal
extending from the top of the bag towards the bottom.
79. The bag of claim 78 wherein the side seals extend at least a
length toward the bottom such that they extend below an upper end
of the corner means.
80. The bag of claim 77, wherein means for resealably closing the
bag is disposed along at least a portion of a top of the bag.
81. A machine for making bags from first and second films
comprising: an input section, including at least one driven roller
disposed to contact the film, wherein the film follows a film path
and moves in a machine direction along the film path therein, and a
sealing section, downstream along the film path of the input
section, including at least a second driven roller disposed to
contact the film, wherein the film follows the film path and moves
in the machine direction along the film path therein, wherein the
sealing section further includes; means for forming two transverse
seal, spaced in the machine direction, wherein each bag is formed
with spaced transverse seals extending the width of the webs, means
for affixing a resealable closure on a first machine direction edge
of the bag, means for affixing a gusseted insert on a second
machine direction edge of the bag, and a plurality of means for
forming corners that are disposed between the transverse seals and
extend a portion of the way from the from the gusseted insert
fixture toward the resealable closure.
82. A bag making machine, comprising: means for forming a lower
portion having a bottom with four side walls, each adjacent to two
of the other side walls and each attached on lower edges thereof to
the bottom; means for forming an upper portion, joined to the lower
portion, and having a top; and means for affixing a zipper closure
to the top.
83. The bag making machine of claim 82, wherein the means for
forming a lower portion includes means for sealing adjacent walls
to form four corner seals that do not extend the entire height of
the adjacent walls.
84. The bag making machine of claim 83, further comprising means
for forming, on two of the four walls, generally vertical seals
extending from the top of the bag towards the bottom.
85. The bag making machine method of claim 84, wherein the means
for forming the lower portion includes means for sealing a gusseted
insert to a first and second film.
86. The bag making machine of claim 84, further comprising means
for sealing a handle to the lower portion.
87. A bag making machine, comprising: means for forming a lower
portion having a bottom with four side walls, each adjacent to two
of the other side walls and each attached on lower edges thereof to
the bottom; means for forming an upper portion, joined to the lower
portion, and having a top peak having a length; and means for
affixing a resealable closure along the entire length of the top
peak.
88. The bag making machine of claim 87, further comprising means
for forming, on two of the four walls, generally vertical seals
extending from the top of the bag towards the bottom.
89. The bag making machine of claim 87, wherein the means for
forming the lower portion includes means for sealing a gusseted
insert to a first and second film.
90. The bag making machine of claim 89, further comprising means
for sealing a handle to the lower portion.
91. A bag making machine for making a bag, comprising: means for
forming a lower portion having a bottom and first and second pairs
of generally parallel sides walls, each adjacent to two of the
other side walls and each attached on lower edges thereof to the
bottom; means forming four generally vertical corner seals, each
joining one of the first pair of generally vertical walls to one of
the second pair of generally vertical walls, wherein the corner
seals do not extend the entire height of the generally vertical
walls; and means for forming an upper portion, joined to the lower
portion.
92. A bag making machine for forming a plurality of bags from first
and second webs moving in a machine direction, comprising: means
for forming spaced transverse seals extending the width of the
webs; means for affixing a resealable closure mounted on a first
machine direction edge of the bag; means for affixing a gusseted
insert to a second machine direction edge of the bag; and means for
forming a plurality of corner seals, disposed between the
transverse seals, and extending a portion of the way from the from
the bottom seal toward the resealable closure.
93. The bag making machine of claim 92, further comprising angle
sealers, extending from each transverse sealer to the gusseted
insert fixture.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the art of bag
making.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are many type of bags and equipment to make them. Bags
are designed with various manufacturing concerns in mind, including
ease of manufacturing, handles, type of material, type of closure,
as well as features related to the bag when filled with product
such as ability to stand on its own, the ability to stack easily,
the ability to display the product name when stacked, etc. Often
designing a bag to enhance one or more features results in a trade
off of other features.
[0003] For example, relatively easy to manufacture bags with a
zipper are made by sealing one machine direction edge of a bag to
form the bottom, and affixing a zipper on the other machine
direction edge. However, while easy to manufacture, the bag cannot
stand on its own. Affixing, as used herein, includes attaching so
that it is not easily removed, such as sealing, melting, together,
gluing, etc. Machine direction edge, as used herein, includes an
edge that is parallel to the machine direction. Machine direction,
as used herein, includes the direction a film travels through a
machine.
[0004] Different uses for bags make certain features more or less
important. For example, bags used for pet food would preferably
have a two-dimensional bottom so that the bag can stand on its own
when filled. Another desirable feature for pet food bags is that
they form a cuboid when filled, to make shipping and stacking in
stores easier. (Cuboid, as used herein, includes a six sided shape
with generally right angles between the sides.) Moreover, they
would preferably present a side of the bag (as opposed to the top
or bottom) when stacked so customers can easily read the label.
Handles (one or more straps, loops, etc that may be used to pick up
a bag) make a bag that is heavy when filled easier to carry. Also,
a bag formed of multiple walls helps avoid dimpling of the outer
walls of the bag by the pet food and help prevent grease saturation
to the outer surface (thus preserving the appearance of the bag).
Customers might also prefer a pet food bag with a resealable
closure (a closure that may be resealed by the consumer, such as a
zipper, hook and loop, friction fit, etc.), and/or has a
tamper-evident feature (a feature that can be visually inspected to
determine if it has been opened previously). Of course, ease of
manufacture is desirable to reduce costs.
[0005] Most bags produced thus far cannot provide all or even most
of these features. For example, typical pet food bags have
non-resealable tops. Also, they cannot stand on their own, and
their shape is not conducive to stacking. If they are stacked, it
is usually on their side, and the stack is often unstable, with
only a thin profile of the top of each bag visible to the
customer.
[0006] One prior art bag that did provide some of these features is
shown in U.S. Pat. No. D444,948, to Buchanan et al. That bag has a
rectangular bottom and a cuboid shape (when filled). Even when
filled the top can lay flat on the top of the cuboid, for ease of
stacking. The side of the bag is presented to the customer when
stacked. A handle is attached, and a hook and loop top seal allows
for resealing. While this bag has advantages over the prior art it
would be costly to manufacture, and the top resealable closure does
not extend across the entire top--thus the entire top isn't
resealable.
[0007] Accordingly, a bag that enjoys one or more of the features
mentioned above, yet is not expensive or difficult to manufacture,
is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention a bag comprises
a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion has a
generally rectangular bottom with first, second, third and fourth
bottom edges. It also has a generally rectangular front, back left
and right walls, each having a lower edge joined with the a bottom
edge. The upper portion is joined to the lower portion, and has a
zipper closure at a top thereof.
[0009] According to a second aspect of the invention a bag includes
the upper portion is joined to the lower portion, and has a top
peak with a resealable closure that extends the length thereof.
[0010] According to a third aspect of the invention a bag includes
a lower portion and an upper portion joined to the lower portion.
The lower portion has a generally rectangular bottom with first and
second pairs of generally parallel sides. Pairs generally vertical
walls are attached at lower edges thereof to the pairs of generally
parallel sides. Four generally vertical corner seals, each joining
one of the first pair of generally vertical walls to one of the
second pair of generally vertical walls, extend part of the way up
the generally vertical walls.
[0011] According to a fourth aspect of the invention a plurality of
bags are formed from seven individual webs moving in a machine
direction. Each bag is formed with transverse seals extending the
width of the webs. Each bag has a resealable closure mounted on a
first machine direction edge of the bag, and a folded web gusset
and a bottom seal on the second machine direction edge of the bag.
A plurality of corner seals are disposed between the transverse
seals, and extend a portion of the way from the from the bottom
seal toward the resealable closure.
[0012] According to a fifth aspect of the invention a machine for
making bags from four different films includes an input section,
and a sealing section. Each section has at least one driven roller
that contacts the film as it follows a film path and moves in a
machine direction. The sealing section is downstream of the input
section, and has two transverse sealers, spaced in the machine
direction, such that each bag is formed with spaced transverse
seals extending the width of the webs. It also has a resealable
closure fixture, mounted on a first machine direction edge of the
bag, and a gusseted insert fixture, on a second machine direction
edge of the bag, and a plurality of corner sealers, disposed
between the transverse sealers, and extending a portion of the way
from the from the gusseted insert fixture toward the resealable
closure fixture.
[0013] According to a sixth aspect of the invention a method of
making a bag includes forming a lower portion with a bottom and
forming an upper portion, joined to the lower portion, and having a
top, and affixing a zipper closure to the top.
[0014] According to an eighth aspect of the invention a method of
making a bag includes forming a lower portion having a bottom and
two pair of generally parallel sides walls, each side wall being
adjacent to two of the other side walls and each attached on lower
edges thereof to the bottom. Also, four generally vertical corner
seals are formed, and each joins one of the first pair of generally
vertical walls to one of the second pair of generally vertical
walls. The corner seals do not extend the entire height of the
generally vertical walls. An upper portion is formed and joined to
the lower portion.
[0015] According to a ninth aspect of the invention a method of
forming a plurality of bags from seven individual webs moving in a
machine direction, comprises forming spaced transverse seals
extending the width of the webs, affixing a resealable closure
mounted on a first machine direction edge of the bag, affixing a
gusseted insert to a second machine direction edge of the bag, and
forming corner seals between the transverse seals, that extend only
a portion of the way from the from the bottom seal toward the
resealable closure.
[0016] According to a tenth aspect of the invention a method of
making a bag includes forming a lower portion to have a bottom with
four side walls attached on lower edges thereof to the bottom, and
forming an upper portion, joined to the lower portion, and having a
top peak with a resealable closure affixed along the entire length
of the top peak.
[0017] The upper portion includes a top peak with a zipper closure
and/or a tamper-evident feature that extends the length thereof, in
various embodiments.
[0018] Four generally vertical corner seals join the front wall and
the left side wall, and the corner seals do not extend the entire
height of the walls, in another embodiment.
[0019] The side walls each have a generally vertical side seal
extending from the top of the bag towards the bottom, below an
upper end of the corner seals or to the bottom in various
embodiments.
[0020] The bag is one of a plurality of bags formed from a film,
and the side seals separate adjacent bags in another
embodiment.
[0021] The bottom is a folded web forming a gusset and sealed to
the front and back walls in another embodiment.
[0022] The lower portion is comprised of a laminated material,
and/or the upper portion is comprised of a poly material, in
various embodiments
[0023] A handle is sealed between layers of the laminate and poly
material, near the top of the lower portion in another
embodiment.
[0024] The bag, when filled with product to a fill level, the shape
of the filled portion is generally a cuboid, and/or the upper
portion lays flat to form a top of the cuboid, in various
embodiments.
[0025] The peak is formed at least partially from a top edge on
each of the front and back walls, in another embodiment.
[0026] One pair of generally vertical walls are formed from seven
individual webs of material which includes a folded web to form the
bottom, in another embodiment.
[0027] Angle seals extend from each transverse seal to the bottom
seal, and each angle seal meets the transverse seals and the bottom
seals at a distance from a point where the transverse seals meet
the bottom seal, in another embodiment.
[0028] Other principal features and advantages of the invention
will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the
following drawings, the detailed description and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is photograph from a front view of a bag in
accordance with the invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 is photograph from a perspective view of a bag in
accordance with the invention;
[0031] FIG. 3 is schematic of a perspective of a bag in accordance
with the invention;
[0032] FIG. 4 is schematic of a perspective of a bag in accordance
with the invention;
[0033] FIG. 5 is schematic of a bag formed in accordance with the
invention;
[0034] FIG. 6 is schematic of bags being formed in accordance with
the invention;
[0035] FIG. 6A is a view along section A-A of FIG. 6; and
[0036] FIG. 7 is schematic of bag machine in accordance with the
invention.
[0037] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention
in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
in its application to the details of construction and the
arrangement of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out
in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting. Like reference numerals are
used to indicate like components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] While the present invention will be illustrated with
reference to it should be understood at the outset that the
invention is described with respect to a preferred bag with
preferred seals and manufactured in a preferred manner, the
invention can also be implemented with other bags, having other
shapes, made with other seals, and manufactured in other ways.
[0039] Generally, the preferred embodiment is a bag made to stand
on its own when filled, and to a bag with seals disposed in a
desirable fashion such that the bag is inexpensive to manufacture,
and can have a full length resealable closure. More specifically,
the bag has a lower portion that when filled with product has a
generally cuboid shape, and an upper portion that lays flat on the
top of the cuboid. Generally a cuboid, as used herein, includes
shapes that are similar to cuboids, but do not need to have
generally 90 degree angles between sides, for example the sides may
angle outward.
[0040] The bottom is generally rectangular, and the lower portion
has four generally vertical walls with lower edges attached to
bottom edges (i.e., the edges of the rectangular bottom).
Alternatives provide for non-vertical walls and non-rectangular
bottoms. The walls extend upward at generally 90 degree right
angles, and the front and back are generally parallel, as are the
side when filled. Generally rectangular, as used herein, includes a
four sided shape that has generally 90 degree angles. Generally 90
degree angles, as used herein, includes angles that appear close to
90 degrees, and serve the purpose of a 90 degree angle. Wall, as
used herein, includes the sides of the bag. Vertical, as used
herein, includes generally perpendicular to the bottom of the
bag.
[0041] Four corner seals join the front and back walls to side
walls. The four corner seals extend to the top of the lower
portion, or to the fill level, in the preferred embodiments. The
seals can extend higher or lower in alternative embodiments. The
corner seals and rectangular bottom help the bag stand on its own
when filled, and to have a cuboid shape.
[0042] Each side wall has a side seal (i.e., a seal on a side,
preferably midway front to back), disposed generally vertically,
and midway front to back. The side seal extends from the top of the
bag towards the bottom, preferable to the lower portion, and more
preferably to the bottom. Thus, the only seals extending to the top
are the side seals, and the top of the bag is a peak formed from
the top edges of the front, back and side walls, and extending from
side seal to side seal. The upper portion of the bag does not have
corner seals, and the peak is that which would be made if the
mid-sides of a rectangle (at the top of the side seals) are pulled
outward, drawing the front and back toward each other, until they
meet and form a peak having a length equal to length of a side wall
plus the length of the front or back wall. The lower part of the
upper portion retains its rectangular shape, because it is attached
to the lower portion, which has the four corner seals, and is
filled with product. The upper edge of the lower portion may also
include an insert to help retain the rectangular shape where the
upper and lower portions meet.
[0043] FIGS. 1 and 2 are front and perspective views, respectively,
of a bag 100 such as that described above. The lower portion of bag
100 is preferably comprised of a laminate or laminated material
(such as some pet food bags are currently made of, e.g.), including
a poly layer. One advantage of the multi-walled construction is the
inner web helps provide product support to the bag to prevent the
outer web surface of the bag from dimpling. Another advantage is
that multi-walled construction help to prevent the greases that are
typical in pet foods from saturating through the outer surface of
the bag. Still another advantage is that a multi-walled
construction using a thin poly inner layer and a thin laminated
material outer layer is less costly than a single thick laminated
material outer layer. The poly layer extends to, and forms, the
upper portion. The flexible poly upper portion is easily folded
upon itself to form the top of the cuboid, thus the bag is easily
stacked, and the side is displayed.
[0044] Handles are sealed between the overlapping poly upper
portion and the lower laminate layers, near the top of the lower
portion, on the front and back walls. Sealing the handles to bag
100 in this manner gives good strength to the handle attachment
area, and allows the user to easily carry the bag. A zipper
closure, or other resealable closure, is preferably mounted to
extend the entire length of the top peak.
[0045] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, schematics showing two
perspective views of bag 100 show its various features. Three of
the four corner seals 201 can be seen to join or seal adjacent
walls, such as side wall 203 and front wall 205. (Seals are
indicated as thick lines). It may be seen that corner seals 201 do
not extend the entire height of the generally vertical walls. In
the preferred embodiment they extend only to the top of the
laminated lower portion. Join, or joined with, as used herein,
includes attaching such that the attached items are not easily
removed, for example, by sealing, melting, together, gluing, etc.
Corner seal, as used herein, includes seals that will form a corner
of the bag after it is filled.
[0046] Two bottom seals 207 are shown, as well as angle seals 211,
which are on the side walls. They will be explained in greater
detail below. Angle seals, as used herein, includes seals at an
angle (other than 90 degrees) to the machine direction. Bottom
seal, as used herein, includes the seals that will be at the bottom
of a bag after it is filled.
[0047] Side seal 213 is shown, and extends from the top of bag 100
to the bottom in the preferred embodiment. It may be seen that the
corner seals on the lower portion and the rectangular bottom helps
form the cuboid bag shape, while the lack of corner seals on the
upper portion allow the top of the bag to form a peak 214 with a
zipper 215 extending the entire length thereof. A tamper proof or
evident zipper feature seal 217 (such as that known in the prior
art) is also shown. Other resealable closures may be used,
including friction fit, hook and loop, etc. Handles are also
shown.
[0048] Referring now to FIG. 5 a schematic of bag 100, as produced
in "lay flat" fashion is shown. Also, FIGS. 6 and 6A shows multiple
bags 100 in production. Bag 100 may be produced in a "lay flat"
fashion, and is relatively inexpensive to make. Bag 100 is
preferably formed from 4 continuous films 601-604 (FIG. 6). The
films are generally parallel and follow a parallel film path
through the machine.
[0049] Films 601 and 604 form the outer layer of the lower portion,
and are preferably poly laminates that may have be printed with
labels and/or decorative matter. Films 602 and 603 form the inner
layer of the lower portion and are preferably made from a material
(poly, olefin, nylon, etc.) that provides a desired property
(impact resistance, strength, wear, etc.). The inner layer is a
cross-filament laminate in the preferred embodiment. Poly films 611
and 612 overlap film 101-104 (at 108) and form the upper portion. A
zipper 609 is applied, and a gusset insert 610 is also shown. The
various films are sealed to form the desired bag,
[0050] The upper poly portion can be sealed to the lower laminate
portion. The laminate will form the lower part 501 of bag 100, and
the poly portion will form the upper portion 503 of the bag.
Transverse seals 201 (generally perpendicular to the machine
direction) are formed across the laminate portion only to form the
corner seals. Transverse seals 213 are formed across the poly and
laminate portions to form the side seals. Angle seals 211 are
formed at an angle between side seals 213 and corner seals 201. The
angle seals help to give the bag it's cube shape when filled.
[0051] The folded laminated 610 which forms the gusset web is
sealed to the two laminate portions, on the machine direction edge
to form the bottom of the bag. Gusseted insert, as used herein,
includes a folded portion is sealed or affixed to one or more
films, to form at least one gusset.
[0052] Side seals 213 also indicate the end of one bag and the
start of the next.
[0053] The seal can be cut in 1/2 using a guillotine style knife to
help separate adjacent bags from one another, as is known in the
art (separate includes physically disjoining or denoting the end of
a leading bag and the start of a succeeding bag). Adjacent bags, as
used herein, includes bags next to one another as they are formed
from continuous film or films.
[0054] A zipper with a tamper-evident feature is affixed to the
machine direction edge opposite the gusseted insert. The zipper is
continuous because the peak extends the length of the side plus the
front--thus there is no portion which cannot have the recloseable
seal (which is different from the prior art). Other resealable
closures are used in alternative embodiments.
[0055] Handles are sealed between the overlapping poly upper
portion and the lower portion laminate near the top of the lower
portion, which allows the user to easily carry heavy bags.
[0056] Referring now to FIG. 7, a machine for making the bag 100,
described above is a pouch machine 700, and includes nine modules:
a web drive module 1, corner sealer module 2, a handle applicator
module 3, a extension module 4, a longitudinal & zipper sealer
module 5, a cross seal module 6, a cross seal extension module 7, a
slider applicator module 8, and a cut off module 9. Some of the
modules such as 6, 8 and 9 include drawrolls or driven rollers (20,
21 and 22) which move the web through the process in intermittent
motion. Each drawroll 6, 8 and 9 can be programmed to move the webs
through the process to hold a web stop position in relationship to
a printed registration mark utilizing registration eyes or other
sensors 23, 24 and 25.
[0057] Web drive module 1 is an example of an input section. Input
section, as used herein, includes a processing station that
receives a film and feeds it to subsequent processing stations, it
may include machinery for folding the film. Slider applicator
module 8 is an example of a slider station with a resealable
closure fixture. Resealable closure fixture, as used herein,
includes a fixture that affixes a resealable closure to a film, and
it may encompass distinct zipper and slider stations. Slider
station, as used herein, includes a processing station applies a
"slider" onto a pouch, usually in the machine direction. Cut off
module 9 is an example of a cut-off station. Cut-off station, as
used herein, includes a processing station that cuts the film, such
as that used to separate adjacent pouches (such as at the side
seals). Zipper sealer module 5 is an example of a zipper sealer
station. Zipper sealer station, as used herein, includes a
processing station that welds or forms a zipper onto a pouch,
usually in the machine direction.
[0058] The lower portion material unwind 10, feeds the web in a
continuous motion from roll stock through the Vee folder 11, which
folds the web in approximately 1/2 and slits the web into two
individual sheets prior to entering the web drive module 1.
[0059] The web drive module 1, has a driven rubber nip roller which
feeds the webs in continuous motion into a dancer roll system which
allows the webs to exit the web drive module for downstream
processing in intermittent motion.
[0060] The corner sealer module 2, forms the corner seals that
extend across the full width of only the lower portion material. It
also allows for the registration compensation required to register
the printing of the lower portion material to the printing of the
inserted bottom gusset panel received from the inserted bottom
gusset unwind 13, prior to sealing. The inner web material unwind
12, feeds the inner web material into the corner sealer module 2,
which seals the lower portion material to the inner web material,
thus forming the multi-wall bag construction feature.
[0061] The handle applicator module 3, feeds and seals a
polyethylene carrying handle to the inner side of each individual
side of the bag 100.
[0062] The extension module 4, includes an upper portion material
unwind 14, which slits the upper portion material in approximately
1/2 and feeds the individual slit webs into the extension module 4,
for downstream longitudinal sealing. A zipper material unwind 15,
feeds the zipper track material into position for downstream zipper
sealing.
[0063] The longitudinal & zipper sealer module 5, has a
multiple of upper and lower heated longitudinal sealing bars
positioned opposite each other to finish seal the inserted bottom
gusset material to the lower portion material at it's lower machine
direction edge, thus creating the bottom seal and forming the bag
bottom. It also finish seals the two individual webs of upper
portion material to the two individual upper machine direction
edges of the lower portion material, thus captivating and finish
sealing the handle material between the overlapping upper portion
material and lower portion material. It also has upper and lower
heated zipper sealing bars positioned opposite each other to finish
seal the zipper track material to the inner surfaces of the upper
machine direction edges of the upper portion material.
[0064] The cross seal module 6, has a multiple of upper and lower
heated angle sealing bars 16, positioned opposite each other in a
cross machine direction to form the angular seals required to
produce a generally rectangular bag bottom. It also has a multiple
of upper and lower heated cross sealing bars 17, positioned
opposite each other to finish seal and form the side seals of
successive pouches in a cross machine direction. Servo drawroll 22,
is positioned within cross seal module 6, to move the web through
the process in registration and control web tensions in the cross
sealing section.
[0065] The cross seal extension module 7, has a multiple of upper
and lower water cooled bars 18, positioned opposite each other in a
cross machine direction to cool the side seals prior to downstream
individual pouch cut-off.
[0066] The slider applicator module 8, has a servo drawroll 21, to
move the web through the process in registration and control web
tensions through the cut-off section. The slide zipper closure
mechanism and zipper track end termination clips are applied to the
zipper track, thus creating the resealable bag 100 closure
feature.
[0067] The cut-off module 9, has a servo drawroll 20, to move the
web through the process in registration and feed the web to the
servo cut-off knife which cuts the bag side seal in approximately
1/2, thus creating individual bags 100.
[0068] The stacking conveyor 19, accepts the individual cut bags
100, in a stack formation for easy operator packing and
handling.
[0069] A gusseted insert fixture for sealing a gusseted insert is
provided in the preferred embodiment, and is comprised of the
sealing sections or modules. Gusseted insert fixture, as used
herein, includes a fixture that applies a gusseted insert to one or
more films. Sealing section, as used herein, includes one or more
sections of a bag machine that includes one or more seal bars or
other devices to form a seal on a film.
[0070] Cross sealer station or module, as used herein, includes a
processing station that forms a cross-seal, such as the seals
forming the bottom of the bag. Cross seal extension station, as
used herein, includes a processing station that forms cross seals
over an extended length. Angle sealers, as used herein, includes
seal bars (or other seal-creating devices) disposed to create a
seal angled (other than 90 degrees) relative to the machine
direction. Corner sealers, as used herein, includes seal bars (or
other seal-creating devices) disposed to create a seal that will
form a corner of the bag after it is filled. Transverse sealers, as
used herein, includes seal bars (or other seal-creating devices)
that apply a transverse seal.
[0071] A machine capable of having the appropriate sealing and
other stations to implement the present invention is one such as
that described in detail in U.S. patent application 20020155936,
Wied et al. (and has as a co-inventor the inventor of the present
invention), filed Apr. 23, 2001, and entitled Modular Pouch
Machine, hereby incorporated by reference. Alternatives provide for
the invention to implemented with other systems, that might or
might not be modular.
[0072] Numerous modifications may be made to the present invention
which still fall within the intended scope hereof. Thus, it should
be apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the
present invention a method and apparatus for a bag and machine to
make it that fully satisfies the objectives and advantages set
forth above. Although the invention has been described in
conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that
many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace
all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall
within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *