U.S. patent application number 11/585727 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-26 for bag with a gas filling compartment, method for manufacturing the same, method for sealing gas in the same and method for packaging the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Masanori Yasuhira.
Application Number | 20070092164 11/585727 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37726716 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070092164 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yasuhira; Masanori |
April 26, 2007 |
Bag with a gas filling compartment, method for manufacturing the
same, method for sealing gas in the same and method for packaging
the same
Abstract
A bag made of an outer bag 3 and an inner bag 2. The inner bag,
inside the outer bag, has an opening in the upper edge, and the
inner and outer bags are sealed along the upper edges, on either
side of the respective bags, to form sealed portions 8 and 9, and
the inner bag and outer bag are further sealed together at two
lateral side edges and lower edge to form sealed portions 11 and 12
and sealed portion 13, thus forming gas filling compartments 14 and
15. Cut-ins 18 and 19 are formed in the upper comers of the outer
bag, and supplemental sealed portions 16 and 17 connected to the
sealed portions 8 and 9 are formed. Air (gas) is blown into the gas
filling compartments 14 and 15 through the cut-ins and then the
overall bag mouth including the cut-ins is sealed.
Inventors: |
Yasuhira; Masanori;
(Iwakuni-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KODA & ANDROLIA
2029 CENTURY PARK EAST
SUITE 1140
LOS ANGELES
CA
90067
US
|
Assignee: |
Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
37726716 |
Appl. No.: |
11/585727 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/3 ; 206/522;
383/109 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/03 20130101;
F17B 1/00 20130101; B65B 55/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/003 ;
383/109; 206/522 |
International
Class: |
B65D 30/00 20060101
B65D030/00; B65D 30/08 20060101 B65D030/08; B65D 81/02 20060101
B65D081/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 25, 2005 |
JP |
2005-310525 |
Claims
1. A bag with a gas filling compartment comprising an outer bag and
an inner bag which is provided inside of the outer bag, wherein the
inner bag has an opening along an upper edge thereof; films of the
inner bag and films of the outer bag are sealed together, on each
side of respective bags, along upper edges thereof, and further
both lateral side edges and lower edges of the films of the inner
bag and the films of the outer bag are sealed together, thus
forming gas filling compartments between the films of the inner bag
and the films of the outer bag; means for introducing gas in the
gas filling compartments are formed in the respective films of the
outer bag; and the films of the outer bag and the films of the
inner bag are sealed together in the vicinity of said means for
introducing gas, and sealed portions thereof surround peripheries
of said means for introducing gas, leaving gas flow paths
communicating to insides of said gas filling compartments.
2. The bag with a gas filling compartment according to claim I,
wherein a supplemental sealed portion is formed by sealing the
films of the outer bag and the films of the inner bag; and said
supplemental sealed portion and an upper edge sealed portion and/or
one of lateral side edge sealed portions form said sealed portions
that surround the periphery of said means for introducing gas.
3. The bag with a gas filling compartment according to claim 2,
wherein said supplemental sealed portion is formed to be continuous
to the upper edge sealed portion and/or one of the lateral side
edge sealed portions.
4. The bag with a gas filling compartment according to claim 1,
wherein said means for introducing gas are formed respectively in
the films of the outer bag so as to be located in the vicinity of
upper edge side comers on mutually opposite lateral side edges.
5. The bag with a gas filling compartment according to claim 2,
wherein said supplemental sealed portions are formed in said bag by
mutually sealing a part of the films of the outer bag and a part of
the films of the inner bag on each side of respective bags.
6. The bag with a gas filling compartment according to claim 5,
wherein said means for introducing gas are formed respectively in
the films of the outer bag so as to be located in the vicinity of
upper edge side comers on mutually opposite lateral side edges.
7. A bag with a gas filling compartment comprising an outer bag and
an inner bag which is provided inside of and is smaller in width
than the outer bag, wherein the inner bag has an opening along an
upper edge thereof; films of the inner bag and films of the outer
bag are sealed together, on each side of respective bags, along
upper edges thereof, the films of the inner bag and the films of
the outer bags are sealed together along lower edges thereof, and
further the films of the outer bag are sealed together at upper and
lower edges thereof on both lateral sides of the inner bag and
along both lateral side edges thereof, thus forming a gas filling
compartment between the films of the inner bag and outer bag; a
means for introducing gas is formed in at least one side of the
outer bag; and the films of the outer bag are sealed together in
the vicinity of said means for introducing gas, and sealed portions
thereof surround a periphery of said means for introducing gas,
leaving a gas flow path communicating to inside of said gas filling
compartment.
8. The bag with a gas filling compartment according to claim 7,
wherein a supplemental sealed portion is formed by sealing a part
of the films of the outer bag; and said supplemental sealed portion
and one of upper edge sealed portions formed by films of the outer
bag and/or one of lateral side edge sealed portions of the outer
bag form said sealed portions that surround the periphery of said
means for introducing gas.
9. The bag with a gas filling compartment according to claim 8,
wherein said supplemental sealed portion is formed so as to be
continuous to upper edge sealed portion or one of the lateral side
edge sealed portions.
10. The bag with a gas filling compartment according to claim 7,
wherein said means for introducing gas formed in the films of the
outer bag are located in the vicinity of upper edge side
comers.
11. A method for manufacturing a bag with a gas filling
compartment, said method being for manufacturing the bag according
to claim 5 or 6 and comprising the steps of: unwinding and paying
out, from two rolls on each of which tube film is wound, tube films
folded together in a two-ply stacked condition; forming, for each
of the folded-together tube films, a means for introducing gas in
films that are to be made into the films of the outer bag; sealing,
for each of the tube films, films that are to be the films of the
outer bag and films that are to be films of the inner bag,
together, thus forming an upper edge sealed portion and a
supplemental sealed portion; stacking two tube films together; then
sealing two tube films together to form two lateral side edge
sealed portions and a lower edge sealed portion, thus producing a
bag with a gas filling compartment; and then cutting the bag with a
gas filling compartment away from end of the films.
12. The method for manufacturing a bag with a gas filling
compartment according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:
continuously cutting, at a prescribed position, one edge of each of
the tube films folded together and paid out, setting a backing
member inside the tube films from a downstream side of said cutting
position; and advancing and retracting a punch disposed outside the
tube films to said backing member, thus forming said means for
introducing gas.
13. A method for manufacturing a bag with a gas filling
compartment, said method being for manufacturing the bag according
to claim 5 or 6 and comprising the steps of: unwinding and paying
out films from two rolls on each of which film is wound; folding
the unwound and paid out films double in a longitudinal direction
thereof; forming, for each of the double-folded films, means for
introducing gas in films that are to be made into the films of the
outer bag; sealing together, for each of the double-folded films,
one side thereof that is to be the films of the outer bag and one
side thereof that is to be the films of the inner bag, thus forming
an upper edge sealed portion and a supplemental sealed portion;
stacking together two double-folded films; sealing together the two
double-folded films to form lateral side edge sealed portions and
lower edge sealed portion, thus producing a bag with a gas filling
compartment; and then cutting the bag with a gas filling
compartment away from end of the films.
14. A method for manufacturing a bag with a gas filling
compartment, said method being for manufacturing the bag according
to claim 5 or 6 and comprising the steps of: unwinding and paying
out films from two rolls on each of which film is wound; forming a
means for introducing gas at two locations in one of unwound and
paid-out two films; stacking together the two films; folding the
two films double in a longitudinal direction thereof so that said
one film is on an outer side and another film is on an inner side,
thus making a four-ply stack; sealing together, on an opening side
of the four-ply stacked films, an outer surface film and an inner
surface film on each side of the respective four-ply stacked films;
then sealing together the four-ply stacked films to form two
lateral side edge sealed portions and a lower edge sealed portion,
thus producing a bag with a gas filling compartment; and then
cutting the bag with a gas filling compartment away from end of the
films.
15. A method for manufacturing a bag with a gas filling
compartment, said method being for manufacturing the bag according
to claim 5 or 6 and comprising the steps of: unwinding and paying
out films from two rolls on each of which film is wound; forming a
means for introducing gas at two locations in one of unwound and
paid-out two films; stacking together the two films; then sealing
together the two films to form an upper edge sealed portion and a
supplemental sealed portion at two locations; then folding the two
films double in a longitudinal direction thereof so that said one
film is on an outer side and another film is on an inner side, thus
making a four-ply stack; then sealing together the four-ply stacked
films to form two lateral side edge sealed portions and a lower
edge sealed portion, thus producing a bag with a gas filling
compartment; and then cutting the bag with a gas filling
compartment away from end of the films.
16. The method for manufacturing a bag with a gas filling
compartment according to claim 14, said method further comprising
the steps of: providing a hot plate backing plate between inner
films of the four-ply stacked films; and pressure-holding films on
an outer side and an inner side together on each side of the
respective four-ply stacked films by a pair of hot plates and said
hot plate backing member, thus forming the upper edge sealed
portion and the supplemental sealed portion.
17. A method for sealing-in a gas in a bag with a gas filling
compartment, said method using the bag with a gas filling
compartment according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and comprising
the steps of: placing a blow-out port of a nozzle, which is
connected to a pressurized gas supply source, against said means
for introducing gas and holding a back surface side of said bag
with a backing member; blowing a gas from said nozzle into an
inside of the gas filling compartment through said means for
introducing gas; gripping and thus closing the gas flow path in the
sealed portions surrounding a periphery of said means for
introducing gas by a blocking gripper while the gas blow-in
continues, thus cutting off a flow of gas between said means for
introducing gas and an inside of the gas filling compartment; and
sealing said means for introducing gas, thus allowing said gas to
be sealed in the gas filling compartment.
18. The method for sealing-in a gas in a bag with a gas filling
compartment according to claim 17, wherein said sealing of said
means for introducing gas is effected by sealing two surfaces of
said bag at location of said means for introducing gas.
19. A method for sealing-in a gas in a bag with a gas filling
compartment, said method using the bag with a gas filling
compartment according to claim 4, 6 or 10 and comprising the steps
of: placing a blow-out port of a nozzle, which is connected to a
pressurized gas supply source, against said means for introducing
gas and holding a back surface side of said bag with a backing
member; blowing a gas from said nozzle into an inside of the gas
filling compartment through said means for introducing gas;
gripping and closing the gas flow path in the sealed portions
surrounding a periphery of said means for introducing gas by a
blocking gripper while the gas blow-in continues, thus cutting off
a flow of gas between said means for introducing gas and an inside
of the gas filling compartment; and sealing bag mouth of said bag
from both surfaces and said means for introducing gas, thus
allowing said gas to be sealed in the gas filling compartment.
20. A method for packaging a bag with a gas filling compartment
wherein bags, held at both lateral side edges thereof by grippers
and suspended, are conveyed, and, during a course of said
conveyance, various packaging processes including bag mouth
opening, filling said bag with contents to be packaged, and bag
mouth sealing are successively performed, wherein said method uses
the bag with a gas filling compartment according to claim 4, 6, or
10, as said bag, and a process for sealing gas in the gas filling
compartment of said bag is executed after a process for filling an
inner bag with contents to be packaged; and said process for
sealing gas comprises the steps of: placing a blow-out port of a
nozzle, which is connected to a pressurized gas supply source,
against said means for introducing gas and holding a back surface
side of said bag with a backing member; blowing a gas from said
nozzle into an inside of the gas filling compartment through said
means for introducing gas; gripping and closing the gas flow path
in the sealed portions surrounding a periphery of said means for
introducing gas by a blocking gripper while the gas blow-in
continues, thus cutting off a flow of gas between said means for
introducing gas and an inside of the gas filling compartment; and
sealing the bag mouth of said bag from both surfaces of said bag,
at which time said means for introducing gas is sealed together
therewith, thus sealing the gas inside the gas filling compartment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a bag with a gas filling
compartment made of an inner bag and an outer bag having a gas
filled in between the inner bag and the outer bag to protect the
contents packaged inside the inner bag from shock or the like and
also relates to a manufacturing method of such a bag and further to
a gas filling method in such a bag and a packaging method for such
a bag.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Bag with a gas filling compartment (or with an air bag)
comprising an outer bag and an inner bag that is provided inside
the outer bag, made so that a gas is filled in between the inner
bag and the outer bag, are commonly known and disclosed in, for
instance, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open (Kokai) Nos.
64-2745 and 8-1398; Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai)
Nos. 64-84869, 2-98563 and 9-132213; and Japanese Patent Nos.
2800034 and 3015323
[0005] However, conventional bag with a gas filling compartment
does not have a structure suitable for automating the process of
sealing gas into the bas filling spaces or for automating the
entire packaging process including such a gas sealing process, and
the gas sealing process disclosed in, for instance, Japanese
Utility Model Application Laid-Open (Kokai) 8-1398 is also not
suitable for being automated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention, which
is devised in view of the points noted above, to provide a bag with
a gas filling compartment (or with an air bag) that has a structure
suitable for automating the process of sealing gas into the gas
filling compartment and for automating the entire packaging process
inclusive of that sealing process.
[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
gas sealing method suitable for being automated and to provide a
packaging method that uses the gas sealing method.
[0008] The above objects are accomplished by a unique structure of
the present invention for a bag that has a gas filling compartment
and is made of an outer bag and an inner bag which is provided
inside of and is substantially equal in width to the outer bag; and
in this bag:
[0009] the inner bag has an opening along an upper edge
thereof;
[0010] films of the inner bag and films of the outer bag are sealed
together, on each side of respective bags, along upper edges
thereof, and further both lateral side edges and lower edges of the
films of the inner bag and the films of the outer bag are sealed
together, thus forming gas filling compartments between the films
of the inner bag and the films of the outer bag;
[0011] means for introducing gas in the gas filling compartments
are formed in the respective films of the outer bag; and
[0012] the films of the outer bag and the films of the inner bag
are sealed together in the vicinity of the means for introducing
gas, and sealed portions thereof surround peripheries of the means
for introducing gas, leaving gas flow paths communicating to
insides of the gas filling compartments.
[0013] In the above-described bag of the present invention, it is
preferable that the above-described means for introducing gas
(cut-ins or holes) be formed either in the vicinity of the upper
edge sides or in the vicinity of the lateral side edges of the
films of the outer bag, and it is particularly preferable that they
be formed in the vicinity of the upper edge side comers on mutually
opposite sides.
[0014] In a desirable form for the sealed portion surrounding the
periphery of the above-described means for introducing gas (cut-ins
or holes):
[0015] a supplemental sealed portion is formed by sealing a part of
the films of the outer bag and a part of the films of the inner
bag; and
[0016] the supplemental sealed portion and an upper edge sealed
portion and/or one of lateral side edge sealed portions form the
above-described sealed portions that surround the periphery of said
means for introducing gas.
[0017] In this structure, it is preferable that the supplemental
sealed portion be formed so as to be continuous to the upper edge
sealed portion and/or one of the lateral side edge sealed
portions.
[0018] The above objects are accomplished by unique steps of the
present invention for a method for manufacturing a bag with a gas
filling compartment, and the unique steps of the present invention
includes:
[0019] unwinding and paying out, from two rolls on each of which
tube film is wound, tube films folded together in a two-ply stacked
condition;
[0020] forming, for each of the folded-together tube films, a means
for introducing gas (which is a cut-in or a hole) in films that are
to be made into the films of the outer bag;
[0021] sealing, for each of the tube films, films that are to be
the films of the outer bag and films that are to be the films of
the inner bag films, together, thus forming an upper edge sealed
portion and a supplemental sealed portion;
[0022] stacking the two tube films together; then
[0023] sealing the two tube films together to form two lateral side
edge sealed portions and the lower edge sealed portion, thus
producing a bag with a gas filling compartment; and then
[0024] cutting the bag with a gas filling compartment away from the
end of the films.
[0025] The above objects are accomplished by unique steps of the
present invention for a method for manufacturing a bag with a gas
filling compartment, and the unique steps of the present invention
includes:
[0026] unwinding and paying out films from two rolls on each of
which film is wound;
[0027] folding the unwound and paid out films double in a
longitudinal direction thereof;
[0028] forming, for each of the double-folded films, means for
introducing gas (which is a cut-in or a hole) in films that are to
be made into the films of the outer bag;
[0029] sealing together, for each of the double-folded films, one
side thereof that is to be the films of the outer bag and one side
thereof that is to be the films of the inner bag, thus forming an
upper edge sealed portion and a supplemental sealed portion;
[0030] stacking together two double-folded films;
[0031] sealing together the two double-folded films to form lateral
side edge sealed portions and lower edge sealed portion, thus
producing a bag with a gas filling compartment; and then
[0032] cutting the bag with a gas filling compartment away from the
end of the films.
[0033] The above objects are accomplished by unique steps of the
present invention for a method for manufacturing a bag with a gas
filling compartment, and the unique steps of the present invention
includes:
[0034] unwinding and paying out films from two rolls on each of
which film is wound;
[0035] forming a means for introducing gas (which is a cut-in or a
hole) at two locations in one of unwound and paid-out two
films;
[0036] stacking together the two films;
[0037] folding the two films double in the longitudinal direction
thereof so that the one film is on the outer side and another film
is on an inner side, thus making a four-ply stack;
[0038] sealing together, on the opening side of the four-ply
stacked films, the outer surface film and the inner surface film on
each side of the respective four-ply stacked films;
[0039] then sealing together the four-ply stacked films to form two
lateral side edge sealed portions and a lower edge sealed portion,
thus producing a bag with a gas filling compartment; and then
[0040] cutting the bag with a gas filling compartment away from the
end of the films.
[0041] In the above method, it is also possible to:
[0042] stack together the two films; then
[0043] seal together the two films to form an upper edge sealed
portion and a supplemental sealed portion at two locations; and
then
[0044] folding the two films double in a longitudinal direction
thereof to make a four-ply stack.
[0045] The above objects are accomplished by another unique
structure of the present invention for a bag that has a gas filling
compartment and is made of an outer bag and an inner bag which is
provided inside of and is smaller in width than the outer bag; and
in this bag:
[0046] the inner bag has an opening along an upper edge
thereof;
[0047] films of the inner bag and films of the outer bag are sealed
together, on each side of respective bags, along upper edges
thereof, the films of the inner bag and the films of the outer bags
are sealed together along lower edges thereof, and further the
films of the outer bag are sealed together at upper and lower edges
thereof on both lateral sides of the inner bag and along both
lateral side edges thereof, thus forming a gas filling compartment
between the films of the inner bag and outer bag;
[0048] a means for introducing gas is formed in at least one side
of the outer bag; and
[0049] the films of the outer bag are sealed together in the
vicinity of the means for introducing gas, and sealed portions
thereof surround a periphery of the means for introducing gas,
leaving a gas flow path communicating to inside of the gas filling
compartment.
[0050] In the above structure, it is preferable that the
above-described means for introducing gas (cut-ins or holes) be
formed in the vicinity of the upper edge sides or in the vicinity
of the lateral side edge sides, and it is more preferable that they
be formed in the vicinity of the upper edge side comers.
[0051] In a desirable form for the sealed portion enclosing the
periphery of the above-described means for introducing gas (cut-ins
or holes):
[0052] a supplemental sealed portion is formed by sealing a part of
the films of the outer bag; and
[0053] the supplemental sealed portion and one of upper edge sealed
portions formed by films of the outer bag and/or one of lateral
side edge sealed portions of the outer bag form the above-described
sealed portions that surround the periphery of said means for
introducing gas.
[0054] In this structure, it is preferable that the supplemental
sealed portions ares formed so as to be continuous to the upper
edge sealed portions or one of the lateral side edge sealed
portions.
[0055] The above objects are further accomplished by unique steps
of the present invention for method for sealing-in a gas in a bag
with a gas filling compartment, and the present invention takes
take the steps of:
[0056] placing the blow-out port of a nozzle, which is connected to
a pressurized gas supply source, against a means for introducing
gas (cut-ins or holes) and holding the back surface side of the bag
with a backing member;
[0057] blowing a gas from the nozzle into the inside of the gas
filling compartment through the means for introducing gas;
[0058] gripping and thus closing the gas flow path in the sealed
portions surrounding the periphery of the means for introducing gas
by a blocking gripper while the gas blow-in continues, thus cutting
off the flow of gas between the means for introducing gas and the
inside of the gas filling compartment; and
[0059] sealing the means for introducing gas, thus allowing the gas
to be sealed in the gas filling compartment.
[0060] In the above steps of the present invention, the sealing of
the means for introducing gas (cut-ins or holes) is effected by
sealing two surfaces of the bag at the location of the means for
introducing gas. In cases where the cut-ins or holes are formed in
the vicinity of the upper edge side corner, when the bag mouth is
sealed from both surfaces at the end of the packaging process, the
cut-ins or holes can be sealed at the same time as the sealing of
the bag mouth, and it is preferable that that be done in that
way.
[0061] The above objects are further accomplished by unique steps
of the present invention for a method for packaging a bag having a
gas filling compartment; and in the present invention, the method
uses, for instance, a commonly known rotary type packaging
apparatus and endless track type packaging apparatus in which bags,
held at both lateral side edges thereof by grippers and suspended,
are continuously or intermittently conveyed, and, during the course
of the conveyance, various packaging processes including bag mouth
opening, filling the bag with contents to be packaged, and bag
mouth sealing are successively performed; and further, in the
present invention,
[0062] the process for sealing gas in the gas filling compartment
of the bag is executed after the process for filling the inner bag
with contents to be packaged; and
[0063] the process for sealing gas includes the steps of:
[0064] placing the blow-out port of a nozzle, which is connected to
a pressurized gas supply source, against a means for introducing
gas (which is a cut-in or a hole) and holding the back surface side
of the bag with a backing member;
[0065] blowing a gas from the nozzle into the inside of the gas
filling compartment through the means for introducing gas;
[0066] gripping and closing the gas flow path in the sealed
portions surrounding the periphery of the means for introducing gas
by a blocking gripper while the gas blow-in continues, thus cutting
off the flow of gas between the means for introducing gas and the
inside of the gas filling compartment; and
[0067] sealing bag mouth of the bag from both surfaces and at the
same time the means for introducing gas is sealed therewith, thus
sealing the gas inside the gas filling compartment.
[0068] With the use, using also a bag with a gas filling
compartment made by the present invention, of the above-described
gas seal-in method of the present invention, the process of sealing
gas into a gas filling compartment (or an air bag), which has been
done almost entirely manually, and the entire packaging process,
which includes gas seal-in process, can be performed automatically
and performed efficiently.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0069] FIG. 1(a) is a schematic front elevational view of a bag
with a gas filling compartment according to the present invention,
FIG. 1(b) being a top view thereof, and FIG. 1(c) being a sectional
view thereof;
[0070] FIG. 2(a) is a schematic side elevational view of the
overall manufacturing method of the bag with a gas filling
compartment, and FIG. 2(b) being a top view of a part thereof;
[0071] FIG. 3(a) is a schematic side elevational view of another
overall manufacturing method of the bag with a gas filling
compartment, and FIG. 3(b) being a top view of a part thereof;
[0072] FIG. 4(a) is a schematic side elevational view of still
another overall manufacturing method of the bag with a gas filling
compartment, and FIG. 4(b) being a top view of a part thereof;
[0073] FIGS. 5(a) through 5(d) shows the steps of a gas seal-in
method and packaging method of the present invention for the bag
with a gas filling compartment;
[0074] FIGS. 6(e) through 6(g) show the step continuing from the
step of FIG. 5(d);
[0075] FIGS. 7(a) through 7(c) are front elevational views,
respectively, of the filling step position for the contents to be
packaged, the gas filling step position, and the bag mouth sealing
step position in the gas seal-in method and packaging method;
[0076] FIG. 8 illustrates how the gas filling is done by an air
(gas) blow-in nozzle;
[0077] FIG. 9(a) is a schematic front elevational view of another
bag having a gas filling compartment according to the present
invention, FIG. 9(b) being a top view thereof, and FIG. 9(c) being
a sectional view thereof;
[0078] FIG. 10(a) is a schematic front elevational view of still
another bag having a gas filling compartment according to the
present invention, FIG. 10(b) being a top view thereof, and FIG.
10(c) being a sectional view thereof; and
[0079] FIG. 11(a) is a schematic front elevational view of still
another bag having a gas filling compartment according to the
present invention, FIG. 11(b) being a top view thereof, and FIG.
11(c) being a sectional view thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0080] The present invention will now be described specifically
with reference to FIGS. 1(a) to 11(c).
[0081] In FIGS. 1(a) through 1(c), a bag with a gas filling
compartment 1 is shown. The bag 1 comprises an inner bag 2 and an
outer bag 3 of the substantially same width, the bag mouth
(opening) A of the inner bag 2 is open.
[0082] The films 4 and 5 of the inner bag 2 and films 6 and 7 of
the outer bag 3 are sealed together along the upper edges thereof
on each side of the respective bags (in other words, the adjacent
film 4 of the inner bag 2 and film 6 of the outer bag 3 both on one
side are sealed together to form a sealed portion 8, and the
adjacent film 5 of the inner bag 2 and film 7 of the outer bag 3
both on another side are sealed together to form a sealed portion
9), along the upper edge B of the bag 1. These sealed portions 8
and 9 are indicated by crosshatching in FIG. 1(a).
[0083] Along the two lateral side edges C and D and lower edge E of
the bag 1, moreover, the films 4 and 5 of the inner bag 2 and the
films 6 and 7 of the outer bag 3 are sealed together. These lateral
side edge sealed portions 11 and 12 to and the lower edge sealed
portion 13 are indicated similarly by crosshatching in FIG.
1(a).
[0084] By these sealed portions 8, 9, and 11 to 13, as seen from
FIG. 1(c), a gas filling compartment (air bag) 14 is formed between
the film 4 of the inner bag 2 and the film 6 of the outer bag 3 and
a gas filling compartment (air bag) 15 is formed between the film 5
of the inner bag 2 and the film 7 of the outer bag 3. In FIG. 1(c),
the gas filling compartments 14 and 15 are not distended;
accordingly, the bag is shown with no gaps between the films 4 and
6 or between the films 5 and 7.
[0085] In the vicinity of the upper edge side comer of the bag 1, a
supplemental sealed portion 16 is formed, to be connected to the
sealed portion 8, of a prescribed length in the longitudinal
direction, wherein, as in the sealed portion 8, a part of the film
4 of the inner bag 2 and a part of the film 6 of the outer bag 3
are sealed together; and further, in the vicinity of the upper edge
comer on the opposite side, a supplemental sealed portion 17 is
formed, to be connected to the sealed portion 9, in the
longitudinal direction, wherein, as in the sealed portion 9, a part
of the film 5 of the inner bag 2 and a part of the film 7 of the
outer bag 3 are sealed together. The reason why the expression
"supplemental" sealed portion 16 and 17 is used here is that, as
will be described further below, these sealed portions 16 and 17
are necessary, in a supplementary way, upon charging gas into the
gas filling compartments 14 and 15. Furthermore, in the
supplemental sealed portion 16, only a part of the film 4 of the
inner bag 2 and a part of the film 6 of the outer bag 3 are sealed,
while, in the supplemental sealed portion 17, a part of only the
film 5 of the inner bag 2 and the film 7 of the outer bag 3 are
sealed; however, the functions of the auxiliary seals can be
effected even if respective parts of all of the films 4 to 7 in the
inner bag 2 and outer bag 3 are sealed, in the two supplemental
sealed portions 16 and 17. In that case, however, the interior of
the inner bag 2 would become substantially narrower.
[0086] Furthermore, at places even closer to the comers than the
sealed portions 8 and 9, circular arc-shaped cut-ins 18 and 19 for
gas blow-in (the cut-ins thus forming a means for introducing a gas
into the gas filling compartments) are formed, respectively, in the
surfaces of the films 6 and 7 in the outer bag 3. The cut-in 18 has
its vicinity surrounded, above by the sealed portion 8, to the
inside in the width direction by the supplemental sealed portion
16, and to the outside in the width direction by the sealed portion
11 (at which sealed portion 11, the film 4 of the inner bag 2 and
the film 6 of the outer bag 3 are of course sealed together); while
the cut-in 19 has its vicinity surrounded, above by the sealed
portion 9, to the inside in the width direction by the supplemental
sealed portion 17, and to the outside in the width direction by the
sealed portion 12 (at which sealed portion 12, the film 5 of the
inner bag 2 and the film 7 of the outer bag 3 are of course sealed
together); thus leaving an unsealed part only below, respectively,
that is, leaving and forming gas flow paths 21 and 22 that
communicate with the inside of the gas filling compartments 14 and
15. Accordingly, gas blown into the bag 1 from the cut-ins 18 and
19 enters into the gas filling compartments 14 and 15 through the
gas flow paths 21 and 22.
[0087] An example of the manufacturing method of the bag 1 will be
shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b).
[0088] On two source rolls 23 and 24 are wound tubular films 25 and
26, respectively, folded in a two-ply stacked condition (in a
condition wherein they are mashed flat). The tubular films 25 and
26, in the folded condition, are paid out continuously by feed
rollers 27 and, from guide rollers 28 on, are conveyed
intermittently, one bag-length at a time, and are successively
subjected to such operations as the following:
[0089] (1) Cut-ins 18 and 19 are formed in the surfaces that become
the films 6 and 7 of the outer bag 3. On the tubular film 25 side,
between the guide rollers 28 and 29, a backing member 32 (see FIG.
2(b)) equipped with a cutter 31 is, from the downstream side of the
cutter 31, inserted and positioned between the upper and lower
films, so that a punch 33 installed above advances and retracts
relative to that backing member 32, thus forming the cut-in 18. On
the tubular film 26 side, the same operation is performed with
inverted (up-down) symmetry, and the cut-in 19 is formed.
[0090] (2) The surfaces that are to become the films of the inner
bag 2 and the surfaces that are to become the films of the outer
bag 3 are sealed, and the sealed portions 8 and 9 and formed. On
the tubular film 25 side, a sealing mechanism (indicated only by a
pair of hot plates 35) is set between the guide rollers 29 and 34,
where the films are held between the hot plates 35, and the sealed
portion 8 is formed. On the tubular film 26 side also, the same
operation is performed, and the sealed portion 9 is formed.
[0091] (3) The surfaces that are to become the films of the inner
bag 2 and the surfaces that are to become the films of the outer
bag 3 are sealed, and the supplemental sealed portions 16 and 17
are formed. On the tubular film 25 side, a sealing mechanism
(indicated only by a pair of hot plates 37) is set between the
guide rollers 34 and 36, where the films are held between the hot
plates 37, and the sealed portion 16 is formed. On the tubular film
26 side also, the same operation is performed, and the sealed
portion 17 is formed.
[0092] (4) The tubular films 25 and 26 are stacked together.
[0093] (5) The tubular films 25 and 26 are sealed and the sealed
portions 11 and 12 are formed. A sealing mechanism (indicated only
by a pair of hot plates 39) is set between the guide rollers 36 and
38, where the films are held by the hot plates 39.
[0094] (6) The tubular films 25 and 26 are sealed and the sealed
portion 13 is formed. A sealing mechanism (indicated only by a pair
of hot plates 42) is set between the guide rollers 38 and feed
rollers 41, where the films are held by the hot plates 42.
[0095] (7) The formed bag with a gas filling compartment 1 is cut
away from the ends of the tubular films 25 and 26. A cutter device
43 is set beyond the feed rollers 41.
[0096] In the embodiment described above, the supplemental sealed
portions 16 and 17 are formed after the sealed portions 8 and 9 are
formed, but this order may be reversed; and the sealed portions 8
and 9 and supplemental sealed portions 16 and 17 can also be formed
in a one-time operation. Also, the sealed portion 13 is formed
after the sealed portions 11 and 12 are formed, but this order may
be reversed, and the sealed portions 11 to 13 can also be formed in
a one-time operation. The important thing is that the sealed
portions 8 and 9 and the supplemental sealed portions 16 and 17 are
formed before the tubular films 25 and 26 are stacked together, and
the sealed portions 11 to 13 are formed after such stacking
together.
[0097] Another example of the manufacturing method of the bag 1 is
shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b). In FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), the same
symbols are used to designate parts that are substantially the same
as in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b).
[0098] On two source rolls 44 and 45 are wound single-ply films 46
and 47, respectively. The films 46 and 47 are paid out continuously
by feed rollers 27 and, from guide rollers 28 on, are conveyed
intermittently, one bag-length at a time, during which time they
are successively subjected to such operations as the following:
[0099] (1) First of all, the films are folded double in the
longitudinal direction. On the film 46 side, a triangular plate 49
is set, as film double-folding means, between the source roll 44
and the guide rollers 48. The film 47 also is folded double in the
same way.
[0100] (2) Cut-ins 18 and 19 are formed in the surfaces that are to
become the films 6 and 7 of the outer bag 3. On the film 46 side,
between the guide rollers 28 and 29, a backing member 32 is
inserted and positioned between the upper and lower films, so that
a punch 33 disposed above advances and retracts relative to that
backing member 32, thus forming the cut-in 18. On the film 47 side,
the same operation is performed with inverted symmetry, and the
cut-in 19 is formed.
[0101] (3) The operations from there on are the same as in the
method shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b).
[0102] Yet another example of the manufacturing method of the bag 1
is shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b). In FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the same
symbols are used to designate parts that are substantially the same
as in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b).
[0103] On two source rolls 44 and 45 are wound single-ply films 46
and 47, respectively. The films 46 and 47 are paid out continuously
by feed rollers 27 and, from guide rollers 28 on, are conveyed
intermittently, one bag-length at a time, during which time they
are successively subjected to such operations as the following:
[0104] (1) Cut-ins 18 and 19 and formed at two locations in the
film 47 (films that become the films 6 and 7 in the outer bag 3).
Pairs of punches 33 and backing members 32 are set between the
guide rollers 28 and 51, the punches 33 advance and retract
relative to the backing members 32, and cut-ins 18 and 19 are
formed at two locations, diagonally across from each other, in the
vicinities of the left and right edges of the film 47. These
formation locations are positions corresponding to the upper edge
side corner vicinities on mutually opposite sides of the films 6
and 7 of the outer bag 3 of the bag with a gas filling compartment
1, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) through 1(c).
[0105] (2) The films 46 and 47 are stacked together, folded double
in the longitudinal direction to make a four-ply stack, such that
the film 47 is on the outside and the film 46 is on the inside. A
triangular plate 54 is set, as film double-folding means, between a
guide roller 52 and guide rollers 53.
[0106] (3) On the opening (bag mouth) side of the four-ply stacked
films, the outside films and the inside films are sealed together,
on respective either side thereof (more specifically, the outside
film and the inside film on one side of the four-ply stack are
sealed together, and the outside film and the inside film on
another side of the four-ply stack are also sealed together),
forming the upper edge sealed portions 8 and 9 and the supplemental
sealed portions 16 and 17. A sealing mechanism (only its pair of
hot plates 55 and 56 and a hot plate backing plate 57 inserted and
positioned, corresponding to the hot plates 55 and 56, between the
inside films are shown) is set between the guide rollers 53 and
guide rollers 41. The hot plates 55 and 56 advance and retract
relative to the hot plate backing plate 57, the respectively
adjacent inside films and outside films are held by the hot plates
55 and 56 and the hot plate backing plate 57 (with the two plies on
the right side facing the downstream ends of the four-ply stacked
films being held by the hot plate 55 and the hot plate backing
plate 57, and the two plies on the left side facing the downstream
ends of the four-ply stacked films being held by the hot plate 56
and the hot plate backing plate 57), and thereby the upper edge
sealed portions 8 and 9 and the supplemental sealed portions 16 and
17 are formed simultaneously.
[0107] (4) The four-ply stacked films are sealed and the sealed
portions 11 to 13 at the two lateral side edges and at the lower
edge respectively are formed. A sealing mechanism (only its pair of
hot plates 58 thereof is shown) is set between the guide rollers 53
and guide rollers 41 and on the downstream side of the hot plate 55
and other parts, the hot plates 58 advance and retract relative to
the four-ply stacked films, and the four-ply stacked films are held
together.
[0108] (5) The sealed portions 11 to 13 at the two lateral side
edges and lower edge are cooled. A seal cooling mechanism
(indicated only by a pair of cooling plates 59) is set between the
guide rollers 53 and the guide rollers 41, on the downstream side
of the hot plates 58, the cooling plates 59 advance and retract
relative to the four-ply stacked films, and hold and cool the
locations sealed by the hot plates 58.
[0109] (6) The operations from there on are the same as in the
method shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b).
[0110] In the embodiments described above, the sealed portions 8
and 9 and the supplemental sealed portions 16 and 17 are formed in
a one-time operation, but the supplemental sealed portions 16 and
17 can be formed after the sealed portions 8 and 9 are formed, or,
alternatively, the sealed portions 8 and 9 can also be formed after
the supplemental sealed portions 16 and 17 are formed. Moreover,
the sealed portions 11 to 13 are formed in a one-time operation,
but the sealed portion 13 can be formed after the sealed portions
11 and 12 are formed, or, alternatively, the sealed portions 11 and
12 can also be formed after the sealed portion 13 is formed.
[0111] In the embodiments described above, moreover, the sealed
portions 8 and 9 and the supplemental sealed portions 16 and 17 are
formed after folding the two stacked-together films 46 and 47 to
make a four-ply stack, but the upper edge sealed portions and
supplemental sealed portions may also be formed one at a time on
the left and right sides of the two films 46 and 47, to make a
total of two, after stacking the two films 46 and 47 together but
before folding them double in the longitudinal direction to make a
four-ply stack.
[0112] Next, a method for manufacturing a product bag with a gas
filling compartment with, for instance, a rotary type packaging
apparatus using the bag with a gas filling compartment 1 show in
FIGS. 1(a) through 1(c) is described with reference to FIG. 5 to
7.
[0113] In a rotary type packaging apparatus, in general, a plural
number of pairs of grippers is set at equal intervals about the
periphery of a table that turns intermittently, bags are supplied
to the grippers, the edges at the two sides of the bags are gripped
by the grippers, held suspended, and then moved along
intermittently; and various packaging processes such as opening the
bag mouths, filling the bags with the contents to be packaged, and
sealing the bag mouths are successively performed at each stop
position. When the bag with a gas filling compartment 1 is used,
auxiliary grippers (blocking grippers) for gripping prescribed
places on the bag 1 from both sides of the bag are set in
correspondence with the grippers in that type of rotary type
packaging apparatus. The rotary type packaging apparatus used in
the present invention differs on that point from the common rotary
type packaging apparatus.
[0114] Auxiliary grippers 61 and 62 are, as shown in FIG. 7(a), set
horizontal in the length dimension at positions directly above
grippers 63 and 64, respectively, each of which is capable of
opening and closing so as to be able to hold the bag 1 from both
sides of the bag. FIG. 7(a) is a front elevational view at the
position of the filling process for filling contents to be packaged
65 inside the inner bag 2 of the bag 1 (after filling). At this
point in time, neither of the auxiliary grippers 61 and 62 are
closed, but, as may be understood from this figure, when the
auxiliary gripper 61 is closed, the bag is held so as to bridge
across the bag surfaces below the cut-in 18, from the sealed
portion 11 to the supplemental sealed portion 16, closing the gas
flow path 21, and when the auxiliary gripper 62 is closed, the bag
is held so as to bridge across the bag surfaces below the cut-in
19, from the sealed portion 12 to the supplemental sealed portion
17, closing the gas flow path 22.
[0115] In this packaging method, the known operations are performed
up to the filling of the contents to be packaged. From the contents
to be packaged filling process on, the gas sealing-in process
(comprising a gas filling process and a cut-in sealing process) of
the present invention is conducted as follows:
[0116] (1) After the filling of the contents to be packaged 65 (see
FIG. 7(a)), the table of the rotary type packaging apparatus is
turned; and, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the grippers 63 and 64 gripping
the two edges of the bag 1 stop at the next stop position (gas
filling process position). At this stop position, a blow-in nozzle
66 connected to a pressurized air (gas) supply source through a
switchover valve (not shown in the drawings) is set so as to be
positioned just in front of the cut-in 18 formed in the bag 1, and,
so as to sandwich the bag 1, a backing member 67 facing the blow-in
nozzle 66 is set on the opposite side. Also, although not shown in
FIG. 5(a), as shown in FIG. 7(b), another set of a blow-in nozzle
68 and backing member 69 is set at this stop position, facing in
the same way, in correspondence with the cut-in 19. The blow-in
nozzles 66 and 68 are energized in the forward direction by a
compression spring 71.
[0117] (2) As seen from FIG. 5(b), the blow-in nozzle 66 and the
backing member 67 advance together, a blow-in port at the tip of
the blow-in nozzle 66 contacts the bag surface at the periphery of
the cut-in 18, the back side thereof is held by the backing member
67, and, simultaneously, pressurized air (gas) is blown out from
the tip of the blow-in nozzle 66. When air (gas) blow-out starts,
due to that air (gas) pressure, the blow-in nozzle 66 moves back
slightly against the energizing force of the compression spring 71,
as a consequence whereof, as shown in FIG. 8, a gap develops
between the films 4 and 6 configuring the gas filling compartment
14, air (gas) is blown through the cut-in 18 into the gas filling
compartment 14, and the gas filling compartment 14 distends.
Simultaneously, on the gas filling compartment 15 side also, due to
the blow-in nozzle 68 and the backing member 69, air (gas) blow-in
is conducted through the cut-in 19. Furthermore, the blow-in gas
may be a gas other than air.
[0118] (3) As shown in FIG. 5(c), the auxiliary grippers 61 and 62
close, holding the bag surfaces from both sides of the bag, so that
the gas flow paths 21 and 22 are cut off, and the gas inside the
gas filling compartments 14 and 15 is prevented from escaping to
the outside through the cut-ins 18 and 19. Then the air (gas)
blow-out from the blow-in nozzles 66 and 68 (air blow-in into the
gas filling compartment 14) is stopped.
[0119] (4) As shown in FIG. 5(d), the blow-in nozzles 66 and 68 and
the backing members 67 and 69 move back away from the bag surfaces.
Thereupon, the gas filling process ends.
[0120] (5) Following this, the table of the rotary type packaging
apparatus turns, and the grippers 63 and 64 gripping the two edges
of the bag 1 stop at the next stop position (bag mouth sealing
process position). At this stop position, the bag mouth sealing
operation is performed, functioning also as a cut-in sealing
process. At this stop position, as shown in FIG. 6(e), a sealing
mechanism (indicated only by the hot plates 72) for the bag mouth
is set. The hot plates 72 have a width in the height direction
capable of covering the cut-ins 18 and 19. When they are closed, as
shown in FIG. 6(f), they seal all of the films 4 to 7 at the bag
mouth, tightly sealing the contents to be packaged inside the bag
1, and, simultaneously, they also seal and close together the films
4 to 7 at the locations of the cut-ins 18 and 19, sealing the gas
inside the gas filling compartments 14 and 15. The sealed portion
73 at the bag mouth, sealed by the hot plates 72, is shown in FIG.
7(c). In this manner, the locations of the cut-ins 18 and 19 are
also sealed together.
[0121] (6) As shown in FIG. 6(g), the hot plates 72 and the
auxiliary grippers 61 and 62 open, and, thereby, a product of bag
with a gas filling compartment is finished.
[0122] (7) Following that, the table of the rotary type packaging
apparatus is turned, and the grippers 63 and 64 gripping the two
edges of the bag 1 move to the next stop position (cooling and
discharge position), where, by a commonly known method, the bag
mouth is held and cooled by cooling plates, the grippers 63 and 64
open during the cooling, and then the cooling plates open, and the
product of bag with gas filling compartment is released and
discharged.
[0123] The cut-ins 18 and 19 formed in the films 6 and 7 of the
outer bag 3 are cut lines having no planar size, which themselves
have no planar size. Ordinarily they are in a substantially closed
condition, but open due to air (gas) pressure when air (gas) is
blown in; and when the bag surfaces are held by the auxiliary
grippers 61 and 62 and the gas flow paths 21 and 22 are cut off,
and the blow-in nozzles 66 and 68 have moved back, they return to
the closed condition. Also, when the bag mouth is heat-sealed, the
film 6 of the outer bag 3 wherein the cut-in 18 is formed is sealed
with the film 4 of the inner bag 2, and the film 7 of the outer bag
3 where the cut-in 19 is formed is sealed with the film 5 of the
inner bag 2 (the films 4 and 5 of the inner bag 2 also being sealed
together). However, at that time, the films 6 and 7 of the outer
bag 3 are sealed with the films 4 and 5 of the inner bag;
accordingly, the condition becomes one wherewith, by outward
appearance, the cut-ins 18 and 19 are substantially
non-existent.
[0124] A hole can be formed instead of the cut-ins 18 and 19;
however, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
(Kokai) No. H11-227803, when a hole is made (which forms a means
for introducing gas), the melted sealant material (film) adheres to
the sealing hot plates, and overruns from the hole to the
periphery; accordingly, a cut-in capable of preventing such a
problem is preferable.
[0125] FIGS. 9(a) through 9(c) show a bag with a gas filling
compartment 75 of another embodiment of the present invention. In
FIGS. 9(a) through 9(c), the same symbols are used to designate
parts that are substantially the same as in FIGS. 1(a) through
1(c).
[0126] The bag 75 differs from the bag 1 shown in FIGS. 1(a)
through 1(c) only in that the films 4 and 5 of the inner bag 2 are
sealed together at a plurality of locations. These sealed portions
function to position the contents packaged at substantially
determined positions inside the inner bag 2. More specifically,
sealed portions 76 and 77 are formed with left and right symmetry
in the longitudinal direction slightly more to the inside, in the
width direction, than the sealed portions 11 and 12 at the two
lateral side edges, and a sealed portion 78 is formed in the
lateral direction slightly more to the inside, in the height
direction, than the lower edge sealed portion 13 With these sealed
portions 76 to 78, the contents storing position in the inner bag 2
is deliminated to substantially the central area thereof, so that
the contents packaged will be positioned in substantially the
central area of the inner bag 2.
[0127] In FIGS. 9(a) through 9(c), the holding positions of the
auxiliary grippers 61 and 62 are indicated by imaginary lines. The
seals for the cut-ins 18 and 19 may be made together with the bag
mouth seal as in the bag 1.
[0128] FIGS. 10(a) through 10(c) show a bag with a gas filling
compartment 79 of still another embodiment of the present
invention. In FIGS. 10(a) through 10(c) as well, the same symbols
are used to designate parts that are substantially the same as in
FIGS. 1 (a) through 1 (c).
[0129] In the bag 79, a supplemental sealed portion 80, where the
film 6 of the outer bag 3 and the film 4 of the inner bag 2 are
sealed, is formed continuously with the sealed portion 8 along the
upper edge and the sealed portion 12 at the lateral side edge. On
the back surface also, a supplemental sealed portion (reference
symbol omitted) where the film 7 of the outer bag 3 and the film 5
of the inner bag 2 are sealed is formed continuously with the
sealed portion 9 along the upper edge and the sealed portion 11 at
the lateral side edge. The bag 79 differs from the bag 1 only in
the form of this supplemental sealed portion 80 (and of the other
supplemental sealed portion) and is the same otherwise as the bag
1. The supplemental sealed portion 80 (and the other supplemental
sealed portion) of the bag 79 have the same functions as the
supplemental sealed portions 16 and 17 of the bag 1.
[0130] In FIGS. 10(a) through 10(c), moreover, the holding
positions of the auxiliary grippers 61 and 62 are indicated by
imaginary lines. The seals for the cut-ins 18 and 19 may be made
together with the bag mouth seal as in the bag 1.
[0131] FIGS. 11(a) through 11(c) show a bag with a gas filling
compartment 81 of still another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0132] The bag 81 comprises a tubular inner bag 82 and an outer bag
83 having a greater width than the inner bag 82, with the inner bag
82 being inside the outer bag 83. The bag mouth A of the inner bag
82 is open; and, along the upper edge B of the bag 81, the films 84
and 85 of the inner bag 82 and the films 86 and 87 of the outer bag
83 are sealed together on each side of the respective bags (in
other words, the adjacent film 84 of the inner bag 82 and film 86
of the outer bag 83 both on one side are sealed together to form a
sealed portion 88, and the adjacent film 85 of the inner bag 82 and
film 87 of the outer bag 83 both on another side are also sealed
together to form a sealed portion 89). The sealed portions 88 and
89 are indicated by crosshatching in FIG. 11 (a). Along the lower
edge E of the bag 81, the films 84 and 85 of the inner bag 82 and
the films 86 and 87 of the outer bag 83 are sealed together to form
a sealed portion 91. This sealed portion 91 is indicated,
similarly, by double crosshatching in FIG. 11(a). Furthermore, at
portions on the two sides of the inner bag 82 along the upper edge
B and lower edge E of the bag 81 and at portions along the two
lateral side edges C and D, the films 86 and 87 of the outer bag 83
are sealed together. The sealed portions 92 to 97 are indicated,
similarly, by crosshatching in FIG. 11(a).
[0133] By these sealed portions 88, 89, and 91 to 97, a gas filling
compartment 98 is formed between the inner bag 82 and the outer bag
83. In FIG. 11(b), it appears that two gas filling compartments are
provided separately left and right. However, because the inner bag
82 and the outer bag 83 are not sealed except along the upper edge
and lower edge, the left and right gas filling compartments are
continuous to form a single gas filling compartment.
[0134] In the vicinities of the upper edge side comers of the bag
81, supplemental sealed portions 101 and 102, where the films 86
and 87 of the outer bag 83 are sealed together, in like manner as
the sealed portions 96 and 97, are formed, in mutual symmetry, in
angled or hooked shapes, continuously with the sealed portions 96
and 97. The supplemental sealed portions 101 and 102 respectively
comprise lateral portions 101a and 102a, which are continuous to
the sealed portions 96 and 97, and longitudinal parts 101b and
102b, which are continuous to the ends thereof.
[0135] Also, at a position surrounded by the supplemental sealed
portion 101 and the sealed portion 96 and a position surrounded by
the supplemental sealed portion 102 and the sealed portion 97,
circular arc-shaped cut-ins 103 and 104 for gas blow-in are formed,
respectively, in the surfaces of the films 86 and 87 of the outer
bag 83. In other words, the cut-in 103 has the vicinity thereof
surrounded at the top and on the inside in the width direction by
the supplemental sealed portion 101 and on the outside in the width
direction by the sealed portion 96, while the other cut-in 104 has
the vicinity thereof surrounded at the top and on the inside in the
width direction by the supplemental sealed portion 102 and on the
outside in the width direction by the sealed portion 97, leaving
unsealed parts only downward, respectively, and thus forming gas
flow paths 105 and 106 that communicate with the gas filling
compartment 98. Accordingly, the gas blown inside the bag 81 from
the cut-ins 103 and 104 passes through the gas flow paths 105 and
106 and enters inside the gas filling compartment 98.
[0136] To this bag 81, as in the bag 1, the gas seal-in and
packaging methods described thus far can be applied. In FIG. 11(a),
the holding positions of the auxiliary grippers 61 and 62 are shown
by imaginary lines. The seals for the cut-ins 103 and 104 may be
made together with the bag mouth seal as in the bag 1.
[0137] In the embodiments described above, all of the cut-ins are
formed in the vicinity of the upper edge of the bag, and the seals
thereof are made together with the bag mouth seal. However, the
positions where the cut-ins are formed are not limited to the
vicinity of the upper edge of the bag, and the cut-ins can also be
formed at other locations. Alternatively, the cut-ins and the
sealing about the peripheries thereof can also be made
independently of the bag mouth sealing. However, when the cut-ins
are formed in the vicinity of the upper edge of the bag, the
advantage is that the bag mouth sealing process can be effected so
that cut-in sealing is done at the same time. Also, all of the
cut-ins in the above embodiments are formed in the vicinity of the
lateral side edges of the bag, because that facilitates holding the
gas flow paths by the auxiliary grippers from the sides of the bag.
In other words, it is preferable that the cut-ins be formed in the
vicinity of the upper edge side comers of the bag.
[0138] In the embodiments described above, only one supplemental
sealed portion is formed for each cut-in or hole, but two or more
supplemental sealed portions can be formed for each cut-in or hole
and thereby the cut-ins or holes surrounded.
* * * * *