U.S. patent application number 13/336339 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-02 for flat film bag for use in automated filling systems.
This patent application is currently assigned to NORDENIA DEUTSCHLAND HALLE GMBH. Invention is credited to Alfons KRUSE.
Application Number | 20120195534 13/336339 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43707792 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120195534 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KRUSE; Alfons |
August 2, 2012 |
FLAT FILM BAG FOR USE IN AUTOMATED FILLING SYSTEMS
Abstract
A film bag, laid flat, for use in automated filling systems has
a front wall, a rear wall, side folds laid in between the front
wall and the rear wall, and a reclosure consisting of a reclosure
strip on the inside of the bag. The reclosure strip is disposed on
the inside surface of a side fold as well as on the inside surfaces
of the front wall and the rear wall, and extends all the way into a
two-ply bag segment (A) formed by the front wall and the rear wall.
The front wall, the rear wall, and the side fold provided with the
reclosure form a four-ply bag segment whose plies are releasably
connected by the reclosure strip. In contrast, the segments of the
reclosure strip disposed on the front wall and the rear wall are
not connected in the region of the two-ply bag segment (A).
Inventors: |
KRUSE; Alfons; (Dinklage,
DE) |
Assignee: |
NORDENIA DEUTSCHLAND HALLE
GMBH
Halle
DE
|
Family ID: |
43707792 |
Appl. No.: |
13/336339 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/203 ;
383/95 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2575/586 20130101;
B65D 75/5816 20130101; B65D 33/2508 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/203 ;
383/95 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/16 20060101
B65D033/16; B65D 30/20 20060101 B65D030/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 29, 2010 |
EP |
10 197 242.0 |
Claims
1. A film bag for use in automated filling systems, comprising: a
front wall; a rear wall; side folds laid in between the front wall
and the rear wall, and a reclosure consisting of a reclosure strip,
on an inside of the bag, wherein the reclosure strip is disposed on
an inside surface of a side fold as well as on inside surfaces of
the front wall and the rear wall, and extends all the way into a
two-ply bag segment formed by the front wall and the rear wall,
wherein the front wall, the rear wall, and the side fold provided
with the reclosure form a four-ply bag segment whose plies are
releasably connected by the reclosure strip, and wherein segments
of the reclosure strip disposed on the front wall and the rear wall
are not connected in a region of the two-ply bag segment.
2. The film bag according to claim 1, wherein the reclosure strip
consists of one piece over its entire length.
3. The film bag according to claim 1, wherein the reclosure strip
has a closure profile that can lock into itself.
4. The film bag according to claim 1, wherein the film bag has
outer edges reinforced by longitudinal sealing seams that connect
each of the side folds with an adjacent one of front wall or rear
wall, and are interrupted in the region of the reclosure strip.
5. The film bag according to claim 1, wherein a length of the
segments of the reclosure strip disposed on the front wall and the
rear wall is selected so that said segments bridge at least
one-fourth of a width of the two-ply bag segment.
6. The film bag according to claim 1, wherein a length of the
segments of the reclosure strip disposed on the front wall and the
rear wall is selected so that said segments extend over a length of
at least 1 cm on the two-ply bag segment.
7. The film bag according to claim 1, wherein the reclosure strip
is disposed at a distance from an upper bag edge and wherein a bag
surface above the reclosure strip is provided with a weakening line
for tearing the bag open.
8. The film bag according to claim 7, wherein the front wall, the
rear wall, and the side folds consist of a multi-ply film that has
an inner sealable polyolefin layer and an imprintable outer layer
made of a more rigid polymer, and wherein the weakening line
consists of a cut produced by laser cutting, which penetrates into
the outer layer and leaves the sealable polyolefin layer unharmed.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 of
European Application No. 10 197 242.0 filed Dec. 29, 2010, the
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a film bag, laid flat, for use in
automated filling systems, having a front wall, a rear wall, side
folds laid in between the front wall and the rear wall, and a
reclosure consisting of a reclosure strip, on the inside of the
bag. The reclosure strip consists of one or more parts and is
disposed on the inside surface of a side fold as well as on the
inside surfaces of the front wall and of the rear wail, which
follow this, and extends all the way into a two-ply bag segment
formed by the front wall and the rear wail.
[0004] 2. The Prior Art
[0005] Film bags having the characteristics described are filled,
at the top, in automated filling systems, and subsequently sealed
by at least one head sealing seam. In this connection,
high-quality, mostly airtight packagings are formed, particularly
for pourable products, for example granular or palletized animal
food. In order to open the packaging for the first time, a top bag
segment has to be removed. In this connection, the side fold
provided with the reclosure is exposed; this can be used as a
resealable pour spout. A bag packaging having the characteristics
described is known from International Application Publication No.
WO 2004/092025 A2.
[0006] In the production of the film bags, laid flat, it is
practical if the reclosure is closed, and segments of the reclosure
strip that lie opposite one another are brought into engagement
with one another. In this way, the film plies of the film bag lie
flat on top of one another, which is advantageous for handling,
transport, and stacking of the film bags, laid flat. In particular,
a four-ply bag segment consisting of the front wall, the rear wall,
and the side wall provided with the reclosure can be prevented from
being spread open by the resilience of the reclosure strip. In an
automated filling system, the film bag, laid flat, is then opened
using suction devices that are applied to the front wall and the
rear wall of the film bag. The process should be carried out with
short cycle times. In this connection, opening of the bags does not
always succeed without friction, so that incorrect filling and
machine down times can occur.
[0007] The reclosure strip has engagement elements. The opening
force of the reclosure can be influenced by a change in the
geometry of the engagement elements as well as by the material
selection. In this connection, however, it should be noted that the
reclosure is not allowed to open on its own during later use, for
example if the filled packaging is held upside down. A reduction of
the opening force by a geometrical change in the reclosure is
therefore possible only within limits. It should also be taken into
consideration that the temperature has a great influence on the
opening force of a reclosure. At low temperatures, the force that
must be applied to open the reclosure increases. In the winter, the
film bags, laid flat, are therefore stored in heated halls, in
order to ensure that the reclosure elements will open properly when
the film bags are opened in a filling system for the purpose of
filling them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is therefore an object of the invention to further
develop a film bag, laid flat, having a front wall, a rear wall,
side folds laid in between the front wall and the rear wall, and a
reclosure consisting of a reclosure strip, on the inside of the
bag, in such a manner that it can always be properly opened and
filled in automated segment systems.
[0009] The object of the invention and the solution for this task
is a film bag, laid flat, having a front wall, rear wall, and side
fold provided with the reclosure, so as to form a four-ply bag
segment whose plies are releasably connected by means of the
reclosure strip. In contrast, the segments of the reclosure strip
disposed on the front wall and the rear wall are not connected in
the region of the two-ply bag segment. By means of partial
pre-opening of the reclosure, in other words by opening of the
reclosure in the region of the two-ply bag segment, which must be
taken into consideration in the production of the film bag, the
initial force that is required to open the reclosure can be
reduced. When the front wall and the rear wall are grasped with
suction tools in an automated filling system and pulled apart from
one another, opening of the reclosure starts in the region of the
two-ply bag segment, in other words where the reclosure strips that
lie opposite one another are not engaged into one another. From
there, the opening process continues over the length of the
reclosure, all the way into the region of the four-ply bag segment
and the side fold. In this way, the film bag, laid flat, can be
properly opened and filled in the filling system, without
modifications of the filling system having to be made. Tempering of
the film bag, laid flat, is also not necessary. In the winter,
storage of the film bags, laid flat, can take place in unheated
halls. The measure according to the invention does not have any
effect on the opening force of the reclosure during its later
use.
[0010] The engagement of the reclosure strips can be designed in
such a manner that the filled packaging does not open on its own in
the region of the reclosure if one holds the packaging upside down,
for example.
[0011] The reclosure strip preferably consists of one piece over
its entire length, and it is practical if it has a closure profile
that can engage into itself. At the outer edges of the film bag,
the reclosure strip is greatly curved. Because of elastic recovery
forces, the closure strip tends to spread open at the outer edges
of the film bag. Because the segments of the reclosure strip
disposed on the side fold are engaged with the reclosure strip
disposed on each of the front wall or rear wall, the film bag
maintains its flat position even in the region of the four-ply bag
segment. The engagement of the reclosure segments in this region
counteracts spreading-open of the bag. The flat position of the
four-ply bag segment contributes to making the film bag, which lies
flat, stackable and easy to handle by means of automated feed
devices. Partial opening of the reclosure, restricted to the
two-ply bag segment, according to the invention, does not have a
detrimental effect, neither on its flat position nor on handling of
the flat bag, and brings about the improvement described above,
when opening the bag in a filling system.
[0012] The film bag can have outer edges reinforced by means of
longitudinal sealing seams. The longitudinal sealing seams connect
the side folds with the adjacent front wall or rear wall. In the
region of the reclosure strip, the longitudinal sealing seams are
interrupted; they end below the reclosure strip and are continued
in the head region above the reclosure strip. The length of the
segments of the reclosure strip disposed on the front wall and the
rear wall is greater than the width of the side fold that is laid
in, and can be freely selected for the remainder. It can be
established in such a manner that an optimal pouring opening for
the product is obtained when the filled bag packaging is opened for
the first time, by removing a bag segment above the reclosure, for
the purpose of removing product. The length of the reclosure strip
can be dimensioned so that the segments of the reclosure strip
attached on the front wall and the rear wall bridge at least
one-fourth of the width of the two-ply bag segment. It is practical
if the segments on the two-ply bag segment extent over a length of
at least 1 cm.
[0013] The reclosure strip is disposed at a distance from an upper
bag edge in the head region of the film bag. The bag surface above
the reclosure strip can be provided with a weakening line for
tearing the bag packaging open. According to a preferred embodiment
of the invention, the front wall, the rear wall, and the side fold
consist of a multi-ply film that has a sealable polyolefin layer on
the inside of the bag and an imprintable outer layer made of a more
rigid polymer. The more rigid polymer, in contrast to the
polyolefin sealing layer, which preferably consists of a
polyethylene, can be cut by a laser. According to a preferred
embodiment of the invention, the weakening line therefore consists
of a cut produced by laser cutting, which penetrates into the outer
layer and leave the sealable polyolefin layer unharmed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Other objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be
understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an
illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the
invention.
[0015] In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote
similar elements throughout the several views:
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a film bag, laid flat, for use in automated
filling systems, and
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a top view onto the filling opening of the film
bag, which is slightly opened for purposes of the illustration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] Referring now in detail to the drawings, the film bag shown
in the figures has a front wall 1, a rear wall 2, side folds 3, 3'
laid in between front wall 1 and rear wall 2, as well as a
reclosure 5 consisting of a reclosure strip 4, on the inside of the
bag. Reclosure strip 4 is disposed on the inside surface of a side
fold 3 as well as, following this, on the inside surfaces of the
front wall 1 and the rear wall 2, and extends all the way to a
two-ply bag segment A formed by the front wall 1 and the rear wall
2. The film bag is pre-finished and passed to an automated filling
system as a film bag, laid flat, in which system it is opened,
filled with product, and subsequently sealed by placement of at
least one head sealing seam. Opening of the flat film bag takes
place using suction tools that are applied to the front wall and
the rear wall, and pull the front wall and the rear wall apart by
means of positioning movements. In this connection, reclosure 5
provided on the inside surface of the film bag is also opened
completely.
[0019] The representation in FIG. 2 shows the film bag, laid flat,
in its delivered state, whereby front wall 1 and rear wall 2 are
opened slightly merely for purposes of illustration. It can be seen
from the figure that front wall 1, rear wall 2, and side fold 3
provided with reclosure 5 form a four-ply bag segment B, the plies
of which are releasably connected by reclosure strip 4. The
segments of reclosure strip 4 disposed on front wall 1 and rear
wall 2, on the other hand, are not connected in the region of
two-ply bag segment A. The film bag is pre-finished as a film bag,
laid flat. In this connection, reclosure 5 is closed in the region
of four-ply bag segment B, and not engaged in two-ply bag segment
A. By partial pre-opening of reclosure 5, in other words by opening
reclosure 5 in two-ply bag segment A, the force required for
opening can be clearly reduced. When the film bag is opened in an
automated filling system, the opening process of reclosure 5 starts
in the region of two-ply bag segment A, in other words where the
segments of the reclosure strip that lie opposite one another are
not engaged into one another. The opening process then continues
over the entire length of reclosure strip 4, all the way to the
region of side fold 3. Reclosure 5 can thereby be properly opened
for the purpose of filling the film bag. No modifications of the
filling system are necessary.
[0020] Reclosure strip 4 consists of one piece over its entire
length, and it is practical if it has a closure profile that can be
locked into itself.
[0021] From FIG. 1, it is evident that the film bag has outer edges
7 reinforced by longitudinal sealing seams 6. Longitudinal sealing
seams 6 connect side folds 3, 3' with adjacent front wall 1 or rear
wall 2, in each instance. Longitudinal sealing seams 6 are
interrupted in the region of reclosure strip 4.
[0022] The length of the segments of reclosure strip 4 disposed on
front wall 1 and rear wall 2 is selected so that these segments
bridge at least one-fourth of the width of the two-ply bag segment
A.
[0023] According to the representation in FIG. 1, reclosure strip 4
is disposed at a distance from an upper bag edge 8 in the head
region of the bag. The bag surface above reclosure strip 4 is
provided with a weakening line 9 for tearing the bag packaging
open. Front wall 1, rear wall 2, and side folds 3, 3' preferably
consist of a multi-ply film that has a sealable polyolefin layer on
the inside of the bag and an imprintable outer layer made of a more
rigid polymer. Weakening line 9 can particularly consist of a cut
produced by laser cutting, which penetrates into the outer layer
and leaves the sealable polyolefin layer unharmed.
[0024] Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present
invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many
changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *