U.S. patent application number 12/480818 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-10 for sealed container and method of manufacturing.
This patent application is currently assigned to AVERY DENNISON CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Akash ABRAHAM, Richard L. SANDT.
Application Number | 20090301034 12/480818 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41399038 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090301034 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ABRAHAM; Akash ; et
al. |
December 10, 2009 |
SEALED CONTAINER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING
Abstract
The present invention relates to sealed containers or pouches.
More specifically, the present invention relates to containers,
such as flexible packages or bags wherein the containers or pouch
can be compressed or evacuated to remove excess air, fluid or other
gaseous content and then sealed in such compressed or evacuated
arrangement.
Inventors: |
ABRAHAM; Akash; (Cleveland
Heights, OH) ; SANDT; Richard L.; (Brunswick,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Avery Dennison Corporation;Amanda Wittine
8080 Norton Parkway, 22-D
Mentor
OH
44060
US
|
Assignee: |
AVERY DENNISON CORPORATION
Pasadena
CA
|
Family ID: |
41399038 |
Appl. No.: |
12/480818 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61060141 |
Jun 10, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/434 ; 383/103;
383/211; 53/469; 53/471 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 51/06 20130101;
B65B 1/24 20130101; B65B 9/20 20130101; B65B 61/02 20130101; B65D
81/2023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/434 ; 53/469;
53/471; 383/211; 383/103 |
International
Class: |
B65B 31/04 20060101
B65B031/04; B65B 7/02 20060101 B65B007/02; B65B 7/28 20060101
B65B007/28; B65D 33/18 20060101 B65D033/18; B65D 33/01 20060101
B65D033/01 |
Claims
1. A method for making a sealed container comprising the following
steps: providing a pouch structure, the pouch structure including a
housing having first and second ends and first and second
longitudinally extending sides, each of the first and second ends
are sealed to create a closure having an interior and an exterior;
the housing further including at least one perforation creating a
perforated area and the perforated area is covered by an adhesively
secured patch permanently adhered atop the perforated area;
introducing a material into the pouch; sealing an open end of the
pouch; placing the adhesive patch atop the perforated area of the
pouch; removing gas from the pouch via the at least one perforation
by compressing the pouch; and sealing the pouch.
2. A method recited in claim 1, wherein the patch is
non-porous.
3. A method recited in claim 2, wherein the patch is constructed
from a porous material provided with an impermeable coating such as
adhesive.
4. A method recited in claim 1, wherein the adhesive has a low
moisture transmission rate.
5. A method recited in claim 1, wherein the adhesive has a low
oxygen transmission rate.
6. A method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of removing the
gaseous contents is done by mechanical compression of the sealed
pouch.
7. A method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of removing the
gaseous contents is done by applying a vacuum.
8. A method recited in claim 1, including a further step of placing
a porosity mechanism adjacent the perforated area such that it
prevents escape of the non gaseous contents of the container during
the step of removing the gas.
9. A method recited in claim 5, wherein the adhesive layer has a
moisture vapor transmission rate of <1.1 g m.sup.2*24 h).
10. An evacuatable container, comprising: a housing having first
and second ends and first and second longitudinally extending
sides, each of the first and second ends are sealed creating a
closure having an interior and an exterior; the housing further
including at least one perforation creating a perforated area; the
perforated area is covered by an adhesive patch permanently adhered
on top of the perforated area; and wherein the adhesive patch
prevents gaseous exchange between the interior and exterior of the
container.
11. An article recited in claim 11, wherein at least one
perforation is a micro perforation that has a diameter of about 0.2
mm to about 0.4 mm.
12. An article recited in claim 11, wherein the adhesive has a low
moisture transmission rate.
13. An article recited in claim 11, wherein the adhesive has a low
oxygen transmission rate.
14. An article recited in claim 11, including a porosity mechanism
placed adjacent to the perforated area on the interior portion of
the container.
15. An article as recited in claim 11, wherein the adhesive has a
chemical resistance to contents provided in the container.
16. An article as recited in claim 11, wherein the surface of the
container has a series of irregularities and the adhesive forms a
tight seal to the surface.
17. An article as recited in claim 11, wherein the article is
comprised of materials resistant to environmental degradation.
18. An article as recited in claim 11, wherein the adhesive patch
is provided with a perimeter pattern of adhesive.
19. An article as recited in claim 11, wherein a pattern of
adhesive is used, and the adhesive for the adhesive patch is
selected from a group that includes hot-melt adhesives, water-based
adhesives, solvent based or organic soluble adhesives.
20. A substantially quadrate container, comprising; a pouch formed
from a flexible sheet material having an oxygen transmission rate
of less than about 10 cc/100 in (645 cm.sup.2)/24 hr/atm at
100.degree. F., the pouch having first and second longitudinally
extending sides and first and second transversely extending end
edges, the first and second longitudinally extending sides and
transversely extending edges defining first and second outside
surfaces; an exit port extending through the first outside surface
to a first inside surface, the exit port having an edge; a porosity
mechanism is placed immediately adjacent the exit port on the first
inside surface and substantially covers and extends beyond the edge
of the exit port; and an adhesive patch placed over and covering
the exit port on the first outside surface of the pouch, the
adhesive patch having a pattern of adhesive extending around a
perimeter of the adhesive patch and outside of the edge of the exit
port, the adhesive patch further including a plurality of
microperforations having dimensions ranging from about 0.2 mm to
0.4 mm.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 61/060,141 filed Jun. 10, 2008, which
is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to sealed containers. More
specifically, the present invention relates to containers, such as
plastic bags wherein the containers can be compressed or evacuated
to remove excess air, fluid or gaseous content and then sealed in
such compressed or evacuated arrangement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Bag like containers have been used to store a large number
of materials. One drawback of these devices is that during the
filing and sealing process, they tend to trap air, fluid or other
gaseous materials within the confines of the container. This excess
gaseous material can make it difficult to stack the containers and
may also contributed to a reduction in the amount of product that
can be stored, shelved or transported within a given area. The
presence of the gas can also contribute, in some instances, to
reduced shelf life of the product due to spoilage.
[0004] Paper bags, due to the porous nature of the construction
(formed from cellulosic stock), can allow trapped gases to escape
after closure of the container, but this venting of the bag is a
slow process. Likewise, due to the porous nature of the
construction of the paper bags, gases and moisture can flow back
into the container. Hence, spoilage of the contents can occur due
to moisture or in the case of oxygen, oxidation of the contents.
Perforations added to the paper container can help in the expulsion
of the unwanted gaseous elements from the container, but may then
contribute to accelerating the process of gases reentering the
container.
[0005] Plastic bags on the other hand, depending on the materials
of construction, provide either a partial or complete barrier to
gaseous products entering the container, but also create a barrier
to removing gases from the closed container. Perforations have been
heretofore added to the containers to facilitate the removal of
excess gaseous contents, but again suffer in that these
perforations allow later gaseous uptake by the container. These
perforations can also allow contents of smaller size that have a
diameter or shape that is smaller than the diameter of the
perforation to escape from the container. The result is spillage
and loss of the overall content of the container.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,272 to Archibald proposes a solution to
evacuating a plastic container by creating a valve like flap that
extends over the perforations. When the gas within the container is
expelled, the gaseous flow causes the adhesive affixed to the flap
to release from its surface and thereby allows the flap to separate
from or depart contact within the area of the hole and allows the
gas to escape. Once the gaseous flow is reduced, the flap can be
reaffixed to the surface within the vicinity of the hole and seal
the opening so as to retard or prevent the later entrance to the
container by gaseous elements. This design suffers for at least two
reasons. First, creation of this flap and placement of the adhesive
adds cost to the overall of the construction. Secondly, the
adhesive of this device can not have high peel strength or the flap
will not open properly during the evacuation of the container.
That, is the flap must be sufficiently releasable from the surface
of the container (the adhesive doe not permanently bond to the
container) to allow the gas to escape. This ability to easily open
may also be a detriment to the container. Such containers are
usually stacked upon each other, transported and then placed in
various configurations for sale, such as with store shelves. The
handling of the container and its contact with other surfaces can
cause the weakly held adhesive flap to open and hence expose the
contents to the environment, and allow gas, dust or other debris to
enter the container. Whenever attempts have been made to increase
the peel strength of the adhesive to a valve suited to eliminate
inadvertent flap opening, the resultant device did not release
properly during container evacuation.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The embodiments of the present invention described below are
not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the
precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description.
Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others
skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and
practices of the present invention.
[0008] This invention provides a method for creating a more
economical and effective way of preparing a container that can be
effectively evacuated, yet one that can be effectively sealed
against gaseous/fluid transmission with less risk of failure of the
sealing mechanism.
[0009] In one exemplary embodiment, a method is described for
preparing a container with perforations that includes the steps of
initially introducing a material into the container, then sealing
the container. The excess gaseous contents are removed from the
container through evacuation or compression. Finally, a nonporous
patch is affixed over the perforations using a permanent type
adhesive resin.
[0010] In another exemplary embodiment, an article is described
which is a container with at least one perforation creating a
perforated area and an adhesive patch permanently adhered atop the
perforated area.
[0011] In a still further exemplary embodiment, substantially
quadrate container, is presented and includes a pouch that is
formed from a flexible sheet material having an oxygen transmission
rate of less than about 10 cc/100 in (645 cm.sup.2)/24 hr/atm at
100.degree. F. The pouch has first and second longitudinally
extending sides and first and second transversely extending end
edges. The first and second longitudinally extending sides and
transversely extending edges define first and second outside
surfaces.
[0012] Continuing with the presently described embodiment, an exit
port is provided and extends through the first outside surface to a
first inside surface, the exit port has an edge. A porosity
mechanism is placed immediately adjacent the exit port on the first
inside surface and substantially covers and extends beyond the edge
of the exit port. An adhesive patch is placed over so as to cover
the exit port on the first outside surface of the pouch. The
adhesive patch having a pattern of adhesive that extends around a
perimeter of the adhesive patch and outside of the edge of the exit
port, the adhesive patch further including a plurality of
microperforations having dimensions ranging from about 0.2 mm to
0.4 mm.
[0013] The embodiments of the present invention described herein
are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the
precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description.
Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others
skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and
practices of the present invention.
[0014] These and other objects of the invention will become clear
from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and
from the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] These, as well as other objects and advantages of this
invention, will be more completely understood and appreciated by
referring to the following more detailed description of the
presently preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of
the present invention showing a container filled with material
prior to removal of excess gaseous material;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container being
compressed to remove excess gaseous material;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container with the non
porous patch affixed so as to cover a sole exit port;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container with the non
porous patch affixed so as to cover multiple exit ports;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cross section of the
container illustrating one embodiment which includes a porous
filter media; and
[0021] FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an exemplary method for
practicing the presently described invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The present invention is now illustrated in greater detail
by way of the following detailed description which represents the
best presently known mode of carrying out the invention. However,
it should be understood that this description is not to be used to
limit the present invention, but rather, is provided for the
purpose of illustrating the general features of the invention.
[0023] The present invention relates to sealed containers. More
specifically, the present invention relates to containers, such as
plastic or synthetic, flexible bags wherein the containers can be
compressed or evacuated to remove excess air or fluid content and
may be sealed.
[0024] FIG. 1 shows pouch or container 10 lying on its side in an
orientation suitable for stacking on a retail shelf for example.
FIG. 1 shows that container 10 includes a main body 11 for holding
material 12, the main body 11 forming an interior region or a pouch
13 and terminating at a principal or top opening 14 sealed with a
closure means such a sealing mechanism 15. Body 11 has a flexible
outside surface 16 and, opposite outside surface 16, inside of
pouch 13 an inside surface 17. Extending through pouch 11, from
outside surface 16 to inside surface 17, is at least one exit port
18. These exit ports 18 are typically perforations or
microperforations in the surface of the body 11.
[0025] In the case of a pouch 10, one of the exemplary methods that
may be used for forming the pouch, adding the contents, and sealing
the open end of the pouch is by using a "Form, Fill, Seal Machine
(FFS)". These machines can be purchased from various suppliers
including Magnum Industries of Kansas City, Kansas and Sandi Acre
Packaging Machinery of Nottingham, UK.
[0026] Additionally, if the material 12 is of smaller size than
exit port 18, that is, the particulate size, shape or diameter is
smaller than the diameter of the exit port, a porosity mechanism 19
may be affixed to the inside surface 17 adjacently covering the
exit port 18, so as to retain the material 12 within the container
10.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows the container 10 being compressed so as to
remove excess gas. It should be noted that alternately a vacuum
device (not shown) may be placed atop exit port 18 so as to
withdraw the gaseous content from the container.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows the container with the non porous patch 20
affixed so as to cover the exit port 18 and preclude further
gaseous exchange through exit port 18.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows the container with the non porous patch 20
affixed so as to cover multiple exit ports 21 and preclude further
gaseous exchange through the exit ports 21.
[0030] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the container 10 which further
illustrates the construction and depicts the embodiment wherein the
porosity mechanism 19 is employed.
[0031] The pouch 13 comprises a non-porous flexible material such
as polypropylene and/or polyethylene plastic film. The flexible
material is laminated or can be a single layer, multilayer film.
The film material can be a polymer, co-polymer or melt blends of
various plastics. It can include construction of foil like
materials, either as part of a laminate or as a single layer
construction. Material selection should be appropriate for the
duration and environmental exposure anticipated during the product
life cycle. For instance, if the container is outside in a tropical
environment, the container would need to be UV and moisture stable
in order to withstand the exposure to sunlight and humidity
respectively. Likewise, the container should be inert to the
chemical contents contained therein. Fertilizers, oxidizers and
corrosive materials are good examples. Other examples of
environmental considerations might include resistance to insects
and mites.
[0032] Sealing mechanism 15, in a closed position, prevents the
material 12 from exiting pouch 13 as illustrated in FIG. 1. When a
sealing mechanism 15 is closed, principal opening 14 is also
closed. A sealing mechanism 15 can comprise a resealable sealing
mechanism such as the zipper mechanism found on Zip-Loc.RTM. brand
storage bags available from the Glad Products Company
(www.glad.com) or a permanent seal such as a heat sealing of the
principal opening 14.
[0033] In one embodiment, a porosity mechanism 19 is utilized. This
mechanism functions to allow excess gaseous contents, but not other
material 12 in pouch 13, to be expelled when the container is
squeezed, i.e., forced out of pouch 13 or placed under vacuum to
withdraw the gaseous material. The excess gas passes through
porosity mechanism 19 out through exit port 18 to form an aspirated
container.
[0034] Porosity mechanism 19 can have a different porosity
depending on the size of the particle 12 being stored in pouch 13.
The larger the particles 12, the greater the porosity can be of
porosity mechanism 19. Some examples of possible porosity
mechanisms 19 would be perforated strips and non-woven or spun
bonded fabrics. Preferably, a porosity mechanism 19 has a
construction or design so that it does not become clogged with
particulate material which could impede the expiration of the
entrapped air 12 when excess gas is squeezed out of pouch 13. That
is, particulate material may be picked up by the gas/fluid flow and
carried to the exit port.
[0035] The non-porous patch 20 can be made out of the same material
as the container or may be constructed of other materials that
provide the needed flexibility and barrier properties required. The
non-porous patch may be constructed of polymer flexible film or
foil films. Alternately the non-porous patch 20 can be constructed
of a porous material such as paper, which may either be coated with
a sealing material, such as silicone or wax or the adhesive may be
sufficient impermeable to prevent gas/fluid flow through the
paper.
[0036] The adhesive layer of the non-porous patch 20 is selected so
as to provide sufficient tack at expected use temperatures
(temperatures ranging from about 55.degree. F. to about 100.degree.
F. or those found in warehouses, retail outlets and some transport
configuration). These adhesives will rapidly build bond strength in
a short period of time to achieve a permanent bond which precludes
removal of the non-porous patch 20. The adhesive coverage on the
surface of the patch 20 may be complete or it may partially cover
the surface of the patch 20. It is preferable however that the
adhesive area around the perimeter of the patch 20 be continuous so
that no pathway exists for gas to pass between the patch 20 and the
surface of the container or pouch 10. The adhesive can be a
pressure sensitive adhesive, heat activated adhesive, or heat
applied adhesive. Alternatively, a pattern of adhesive may be used,
such as overlapping strips or segments which still create an
effective seal against air or gaseous egress or ingress.
[0037] FIG. 6 shows in block diagram form the steps involved in
exemplary embodiment. First, a pouch with an imperforate structure
100 is created. Material is 7 then introduced into the pouch 200
and the material entry point is sealed 300. The excess gas within
the pouch is then removed 300 via a method as previously described.
The pouch is then sealed by affixing a patch, as previously
described, atop the imperforate structure.
[0038] The amount of pressure-sensitive adhesive employed in these
constructions may range from about 1 to about 100 grams/m.sup.2,
and more often, the amount is in the range from about 15 to about
45 grams/m.sup.2, and still more preferably 15 to about 30
grams/m.sup.2. A variety of pressure-sensitive adhesives can be
utilized including hot-melt adhesives, water-based adhesives such
as water soluble or water dispersible adhesives, and solvent-based
or organic soluble adhesives. Such adhesive compositions are
described in, for example, "Adhesion and Bonding", Encyclopedia of
Polymer Science and Engineering, Vol. 1, pages 476-546,
Interscience Publishers, 2nd Ed. 1985 and are available from Avery
Dennison Corporation, Pasadena, Calif. Such compositions generally
contain an adhesive polymer such as natural, reclaimed or
styrene-butadiene rubber, styrene butadiene or styrene isoprene
block copolymers, polyisobutylene, poly(vinyl ether) or
poly(acrylic) ester as a major constituent. Other materials may be
included in the pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions such as
resin tackifiers including, for example, rosin esters, oil-soluble
phenolics, or polyterpenes; antioxidants; plasticizers such as
mineral oil or liquid polyisobutylenes; and fillers such as zinc
oxide or hydrated alumina.
[0039] In applications where moisture sensitivity of the product is
an issue, a low moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) adhesive
can be employed. Preferably, the adhesive layer has a moisture
vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of less than 10 g/(m.sup.2*24 h),
preferably of less than 1.1 g/(m.sup.2*24 h), measured according to
DIN 53122 at a temperature of 23.degree. C. and a relative humidity
of 85%. These tests can be performed using a Honeymoon Model W 825
Water Vapor Transmission Rate Tester (Honeywell, Inc., Minneapolis,
Minn.).
[0040] In applications where oxygen sensitivity of the product is
an issue, a low oxygen transmission rate (OTR) adhesive can be
employed. Preferably, the adhesive layer has an oxygen permeability
rate of less than about 10 cc/10 in (645 cm.sup.2)/24 hr/atm at
100.degree. F. (38.degree. C.), more preferably, less than about
1.0 cc/100 in (645 cm.sup.2)124 hr/atm at 100.degree. F.
(38.degree. C.). The aforesaid oxygen transmission rates can be
determined by various methods known in the art. For example, these
rates can conveniently be measured with a Dohrmann Polymeric
Permeation Analyzer, PPA-I (Dohrmann Envirotech Corporation,
Mountain View, Calif.). The Dow Cell can also be employed for this
purpose, in accordance with ASTM procedure D-1434.
[0041] In some applications it may be desired to have very small
vent holes (exit ports). The desire for these small vent holes may
be due to cosmetic or structural considerations or may be used as a
retention device when small particle size contents are present. In
these applications microperforations may be required.
Microperforations include slits or round holes having a maximum
dimension of about 0.2-0.4 millimeters. In a preferred embodiment
of the invention, perforations comprise slits or round holes having
a maximum dimension of about 0.3 millimeters so that they are
essentially invisible to the naked eye. These microperforations can
be made via mechanical puncturing methods but can also be made
using lasers. Examples of microperforations include U.S. Pat. No.
5,171,593 to Doyle, U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,561 to Dais and U.S. Pat.
No. 6,146,731 to Tanoto.
[0042] The pouch structures of this invention can be prepared from
sheets of material which are folded upon themselves in any number
of configurations. Seams are typically glued or welded together.
Likewise the pouches can be constructed from cylindrical tubes of
material. These tubes, for example, can be prepared using a
circular extrusion die with air introduced internal to the tube in
order to prevent collapse of the tube prior to cooling of the film.
These "blown films" are well known in the industry. By collapsing
the tube to a flat structure, cutting to suitable length and by
sealing the open end, a pouch can be constructed. Examples of blown
films include EP 1111B 1 to Pannenbecker and U.S. Pat. No.
4,354,997 to Mizutani.
[0043] It will thus be seen according to the present invention a
highly advantageous container has been provided. While the
invention has been described in connection with what is presently
considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it
will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the
invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, and
that many modifications and equivalent arrangements may be made
thereof within the scope of the invention, which scope is to be
accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as
to encompass all equivalent structures and products.
[0044] The disclosures of all patents mentioned herein are hereby
incorporated by reference and may or may not be prior art.
[0045] The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the
Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair
scope of their invention as it pertains to any apparatus, system,
method or article not materially departing from but outside the
literal scope of the invention as set out in the following
claims.
* * * * *