U.S. patent application number 10/591631 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-14 for process for producing packaging items for light goods.
This patent application is currently assigned to CFS Weert B.V.. Invention is credited to Peter Wilhelmus Henricus Rietjens.
Application Number | 20080034711 10/591631 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34751693 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080034711 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rietjens; Peter Wilhelmus
Henricus |
February 14, 2008 |
Process for Producing Packaging Items for Light Goods
Abstract
The present invention relates to a process for packaging goods
and a vertical packaging machine in a film, whereas cross seals are
applied to a film tube (1) with sealing means (9).
Inventors: |
Rietjens; Peter Wilhelmus
Henricus; (Eii, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP
777 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202-5306
US
|
Assignee: |
CFS Weert B.V.
|
Family ID: |
34751693 |
Appl. No.: |
10/591631 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
March 7, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP05/02384 |
371 Date: |
July 13, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/451 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 1/20 20130101; B65B
25/04 20130101; B65B 51/303 20130101; B65B 9/213 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
053/451 |
International
Class: |
B65B 9/20 20060101
B65B009/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 5, 2004 |
EP |
04 005 354.8 |
Mar 19, 2004 |
EP |
04 006 666.4 |
Claims
1.-15. (canceled)
16. A process for packaging goods on a vertical packaging machine
into a film, comprising: forming a film tube; applying a cross-seal
to a lower portion of the film tube to form a bottom of a packaging
item; fixing the film tube in a vertical position; and moving the
portion of the film tube located above the cross-seal downward
toward the cross-seal such that the bottom of the packaging item is
expanded.
17. The process of claim 16, further comprising: adding an item to
be packaged to the film tube while the film tube is fixed in the
vertical position.
18. The process of claim 17, wherein adding the item to be packaged
expands the bottom of the packaging item.
19. The process of claim 16, further comprising: providing a fill
pipe for providing the item to be packaged; and dropping the item
to be packaged from the fill pipe such that the item to be packaged
is compressed toward the bottom of the packaging item.
20. The process of claim 16, wherein fixing the film tube in a
vertical position includes using a cross-sealing device.
21. The process of claim 16, wherein fixing the film tube in a
vertical position includes using a fixing device.
22. The process of claim 16, wherein the film tube comprises a flat
film web with a longitudinal seal.
23. The process of claim 16, wherein two packaging items are
produced simultaneously.
24. The process of claim 16, wherein the item to be packaged has a
low and/or changing packaging density.
25. The process of claim 16, wherein the item to be packaged is a
salad.
26. A process for packaging goods in a film on a vertical packaging
machine, the process comprising: a) cross-sealing a lower end of a
film tube to form a bottom of a packaging item; b) filling the film
tube with a portion of an item to be packaged; c) fixing the lower
end of the film tube and the portion of an item to be packaged in a
vertical position; d) releasing the lower end of the film tube and
the portion of an item to be packaged such that the bottom of the
packaging item is expanded; e) dropping the film tube in the
vertical direction; f) dropping the portion of an item to be
packaged in the vertical direction; g) fixing the film tube in a
vertical position; h) cross-sealing an upper end of the film tube
to form a top of the packaging item; and i) separating the
packaging item from the remainder of the film tube.
27. The process of claim 26, wherein steps a, b, c are performed
first, followed by step e, and followed by steps d, e, f, g, h, and
i.
28. The process of claim 26, wherein the film tube is dropped in
the vertical direction prior to releasing the lower end of the film
tube and the portion of the item to be packaged such that wrinkles
are formed in the film tube.
29. The process of claim 26, further comprising lowering the film
tube and the portion of the item to be packaged by a small extent
prior to fixing the lower end of the film tube and the portion of
an item to be packaged in a vertical position.
30. The process of claim 26, wherein fixing the lower end of the
film tube and the portion of an item to be packaged in a vertical
position includes using a cross-sealing device.
31. The process of claim 26, wherein fixing the lower end of the
film tube and the portion of an item to be packaged in a vertical
position includes using a fixing device.
32. The process of claim 26, wherein the film tube comprises a flat
film web with a longitudinal seal.
33. The process of claim 26, wherein two packaging items are
produced simultaneously.
34. The process of claim 26, wherein the item to be packaged has a
low and/or changing packaging density.
35. The process of claim 26, wherein the item to be packaged is a
salad.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a process for packaging
goods with a vertical packaging machine in a film, whereas cross
seals are applied to a film tube with sealing means.
[0002] Nowadays, goods with a very low and/or changing packaging
density like for example salads are packaged with a vertical
packaging machine into packaging items made of a plastic film. The
packaging items are produced by applying a cross seal to a film
tube, inserting the light goods into the cross sealed film tube via
a fill pipe and applying another cross seal in order to close the
packaging item; I.e. a bag. However, this process has the
disadvantage, that due to the low packaging density of the goods,
these packages are either very large or very small amount of goods
can be packaged into a given bag.
[0003] It was therefore the objective of the present invention to
improve the packaging process for goods with a low and/or changing
packaging density.
[0004] The problem is solved by a process for packaging goods on a
vertical packaging machine into a film, whereas a film tube is
formed and a cross seal is applied to the lower end of a film tube
to form the bottom of a packaging item, whereas the film tube above
the sealing means is lowered while the film tube is at least
partially fixed by sealing means and/or fixing means, to an extent
that at least the bottom of the packaging item expands.
[0005] Preferably, one portion is filled into tube, while the tube
is fixed. Preferably, this fill in of the portion expands the
bottom of the packaging item.
[0006] Preferably or according to another subject matter of the
present invention, at least parts of one portion to be packaged are
collected in the film tube and/or in a fill pipe and then dropped
downwards and that the impact of the falling portion is used to
compress the portion.
[0007] An other subject matter of the present invention is a
process for packaging goods on a vertical packaging machine into a
film, comprising the following steps: [0008] a. cross-sealing of
the lower end of a film tube to form the bottom of a packaging
item, [0009] b. filling one portion of the goods into the film
tube, [0010] c. fixing the lower end of the film tube and/or the
portion in its vertical position [0011] d. releasing the fixed
portion and the film tube, [0012] e. vertically transporting and/or
dropping the film tube, [0013] f. dropping the portion, [0014] g.
stopping the transportation of the film tube, [0015] h. cross
sealing the upper end of the film tube to form the top of the
packaging item and [0016] i. separating the packaging item from the
film tube, whereas the sequence of the steps is not fixed, at least
one step is executed twice and/or the steps can be carried out
simultaneously.
[0017] Further preferred embodiments are claimed in the dependant
claims 6-16.
[0018] With the inventive process, it is possible to improve the
packaging of goods, like salad, with a low and/or over the year
changing packaging density. Due the expanded bottom of the
packaging item and/or due to the impact of the falling portion, the
goods are compressed and/or more goods can be filled into a given
bag. The process is easily executed and can be carried out on
nearly all vertical flow wrappers. Even existing flow wrappers can
be modified easily in order to execute the inventive process.
[0019] The inventive process will now be described in greater
details hereinafter in connection with the FIGS. 1-3 which
illustrate different embodiments of the present invention, without
limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the inventive process.
[0021] FIG. 2 shows an other embodiment of the inventive
process.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the inventive
process.
[0023] In FIG. 1, one embodiment of the inventive process is
depicted. On the left hand side a vertical packaging machine is
schematically depicted. The packaging machine comprises a fill pipe
10 which is surrounded by a film tube 1. The film tube 1 can be
made out of a flat film web by applying a longitudinal seal with
longitudinal sealing means which are not depicted, but which are
known by a person skilled in the art. The film tube 1 is
transported along the film pipe 10 by transporting means 17. At the
lower end 5 of the film tube 1, there are sealing means 9. With
these sealing means cross seals 13, 14 are applied to the film
tube. The movement of the sealing means 9 is depicted by arrows 15.
As soon as the sealing means move together, the film tube is at
least partially fixed. In the next drawing of FIG. 1, the closed
sealing means 9 is shown in order to apply the cross seal 13 to the
film tube 1. The bottom 2 of the packaging item is now V-shaped.
The sealing means 9 fix the lower end 5 of the film tube and the
portion 4 in its vertical position 6. In the next picture, the
sealing means remain close and one portion 4 to be packaged is
filled into the film tube 1 via the fill pipe 10, but has not let
bin dropped to the bottom of the packaging item. Before,
simultaneously or after the dropping of the portion on the bottom 2
of the packaging item, the upper part of the film tube 1 is
transported vertically by transportation means 17, as depicted by
arrow 16, in order to an expand that least, the bottom 2 of the
packaging item, as can be seen in the forth drawing from the left.
Preferably the dropping portion enhances the expansion of the
bottom. Afterwards, the sealing means 9 are open, so that the film
tube and the portion 4 are released. It can be clearly seen, that
the expanded bottom 2 remains in it altered shape. Finally, the
film tube 1 is moved downwardly by the transportation means 17. The
total transportation-length of the film tube is equivalent to the
height of the packaging item. After the downward movement 16 of the
film tube 1 has been stopped, the cross seal 14 are applied, as
depicted in the very right drawing of FIG. 1. This cross seal 14 is
applied to the film tube by moving the sealing means 9 together and
the process continues from the start.
[0024] In FIG. 2, an other embodiment of the inventive process is
shown. Additionally to the features of the packaging machine as
already explained in FIG. 1, the packaging machine according to
FIG. 3 comprises fixing means 12 which can be for example rods.
These fixing means can be moved together and apart as depicted by
arrows 18, in order to maintain parts of the film tube 1 and at
least parts of the portion 4 in their vertical position. In a first
step, sealing means 9 are moved together in order to apply a cross
seal to the film tube 1. Subsequently, the portion 4 is added to
the sealed film tube 1 via the fill pipe 10. The sealing means 9
remain closed in order to fix the film tube 1 as well as the
portion 4 in their vertical positions. However, a person skilled in
the art understands that this is not essential for the embodiment
of the inventive process according to FIG. 2. As can be seen from
the forth drawing from the left subsequently fixing means 12 are
moved together in order to clamp the film tube 1 and the portion 4
in their vertical positions. Regarding FIGS. 2 and 3, the person
skilled in the art understands, that the fixing means need not
touch each other, but just clamp the portion 4 between them by a
certain extent. After the fixing means 12 have been applied, the
film tube above the fixing means is lowered to a certain extent by
the transportation means 17, as depicted by arrow 16, so that
wrinkles 11 are formed in the film tube 1 and the bottom 2 of the
packaging item expands. The length of the transportation 16 of the
film tube 1 is equivalent to the needed height for the bag 3
including cross seal 14. Subsequently, first the sealing means 9
and then the fixing means 12 are moved apart, so that the preformed
film tube 1 which covers the portion 4 and the portion 4 rushes
downwards. This downward movement causes a compression of the
packaging goods and/or enhanced the expansion of the bottom of the
packaging item. Finally, cross seal 14 is applied and the finalized
packaging item is cut from the film tube. The person skilled in the
art understands, that in this example the fixing means are not
essentially needed.
[0025] The last embodiment of the inventive process is shown in
FIG. 3. This embodiment is essentially identical with the
embodiment according to FIG. 3 with the difference that after the
application of cross seal 13 and the addition of portion 4 into the
sealed film tube 1, the cross seal 15 are moved apart and the film
tube is lowered slightly as depicted by arrow 16. After that, the
fixing means 18 are moved together (3.sup.rd drawing from the
right) and the part of the film tube 1 above the fixing means 12 is
lowered further, so that wrinkles 11 are formed into this part of
the film tube 1 and it expands. As explained already in FIG. 2, the
length of the two downward movements 16 in FIG. 4 (3.sup.rd and
4.sup.th drawing) is equivalent to the final height of the
packaging item 3. Finally, the fixing means 18 are moved apart, so
that the portion 4 plus the sealed tube move downwards. The portion
4 hits the bottom 2 of the sealed film tube 1 and forms the bag
and/or is compressed. The last step is the application of cross
seal 14 in order to complete the bag and cut the completed bag from
the film tube 1.
[0026] The person skilled in the art understands, that the all
inventive processes can be executed intermittently or
continuously.
REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0027] 1 Film tube [0028] 2 bottom of the packaging item [0029] 3
Packaging item [0030] 4 portion [0031] 5 lower end of the film tube
[0032] 6 vertical position of the film tube and/or portion [0033] 8
upper end of the film tube to form the top of the packaging item
[0034] 9 sealing means [0035] 10 filled pipe [0036] 11 wrinkles
[0037] 12 fixing means [0038] 13, 14 cross seal [0039] 15 arrow
depicting the movement of the sealing means [0040] 16 arrow
depicting the movement of the film tube [0041] 17 transportation
means [0042] 18 arrow depicting the movement of the fixing
means
* * * * *