U.S. patent number 3,750,362 [Application Number 05/239,076] was granted by the patent office on 1973-08-07 for method of packaging granular material.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Standard Packaging Corporation. Invention is credited to Donald J. Hagen, Allan Kishpaugh.
United States Patent |
3,750,362 |
Kishpaugh , et al. |
August 7, 1973 |
METHOD OF PACKAGING GRANULAR MATERIAL
Abstract
A package for a granular material includes a bottom package
member and a top package member. A gas-permeable intermediate
package member is disposed between the bottom package member and
the top package member to facilitate the evacuation of the package
by retaining the granular material in the package during such
evacuation. A method is provided for packaging the granular
material which includes fully sealing the gas-permeable
intermediate package member to the bottom package member and
thereafter evacuating the package through the face of the
gas-permeable intermediate package member.
Inventors: |
Kishpaugh; Allan (Wayne,
NJ), Hagen; Donald J. (Wayne, NJ) |
Assignee: |
Standard Packaging Corporation
(New York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
22900488 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/239,076 |
Filed: |
March 29, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/433; 53/453;
206/525 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B
31/021 (20130101); B65D 77/2024 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65B
31/02 (20060101); B65D 77/10 (20060101); B65D
77/20 (20060101); B65b 031/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;53/22R,22A,22B
;206/46F,DIG.12 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McGehee; Travis S.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for packaging a granular material from a bottom package
member, a gas-permeable intermediate package member and a top
package member comprising the steps of loading said granular
material into said bottom package member, fully sealing said
gas-permeable intermediate package member to said bottom package
member to form a package having a gas-permeable face, thereafter
evacuating said package through said gas-permeable face and while
evacuated completing said package by sealing said top package
member to said bottom package member.
2. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising the steps
of placing said top package member over said gas-permeable face and
partially sealing said top package member to said bottom package
member prior to evacuation of said package.
3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein evacuation is
accomplished through an unsealed portion of said top package
member.
4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said top package
member is also sealed to said gas-permeable intermediate package
member.
5. A method for packaging a granular material comprising the steps
of forming a bottom package member having a material-receiving
cavity, depositing said granular material in said
material-receiving cavity, overlying said granular material with a
gas-permeable intermediate package member, fully sealing said
gas-permeable intermediate package member to said bottom package
member, thereafter overlying said gas-permeable intermediate
package member with a top package member, partially sealing said
top package member to said bottom package member, evacuating said
materail-receiving cavity through said gas-permeable intermediate
package member and through the unsealed portion of said top package
member, and fully sealing said top package member to said bottom
package member.
6. The invention according to claim 5 further comprising the step
of sealing said top package member to said gas-permeable
intermediate package member.
7. A method for packaging a granular material from a bottom package
member, a gas-permeable intermediate package member and a top
package member comprising the steps of loading said granular
material into said bottom package member, fully sealing said
gas-permeable intermediate package member to said bottom package
member to form a package having a gas-permeable face, thereafter
gas flushing said package through said gas-permeable face and
completing said package by sealing said top package member to said
bottom package member.
8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said gas flushing of
said package further includes the step of withdrawing air from said
package through said gas-permeable face.
Description
This invention relates generally to vacuum packages and, more
particularly, to a vacuum package for a granular material and to
the method for packaging such granular material.
A multitude of prior art packages and methods have ben devised for
vacuum packaging products. Most frequently, the packages are formed
from a heat-sealable, flexible packaging material. Such packages
have found wide acceptance in the food packaging field because of
the extended shelf life afforded to the packaged product by the use
of such materials and by the fact that the packages are
vacuum-sealed. For example, food products have been protected from
oxidizing influences, such as atmospheric oxygen, by vacuum-sealing
of packages for preservation purposes.
However, although various packaging machines ave been devised, and
although varous methods have been suggested, the vacuum packaging
of grandular materials has been both difficult and ineffective.
More particularly, when the product or material to be packaged is
granular, as the package is evacuated to provide the vacuum-seal,
the granular material is drawn into the sealing area along the top
edge of the package. Thus, when the package is sealed to maintain
the vacuum, the granular material is the sealing area causes leaks
to result in the seal. Lacking an effective seal, the prior art
packages have been unable to rovide the requisiste vacuum which, in
turn, results in the early oxidation of the granular material in
the package. Consequently, shelf life is greatly reduced.
Additionally, loss of granular material and clogging of the vacuum
apparatus results if the grandular material is not retained in the
package during evacuation.
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to
provide a vacuum-sealed package for granular materials and a method
therefor which overcomes the difficulties experienced with prior
art packages and methods.
A further and more particular object of the present invention is to
provide a vacuum-sealed package for granular materials which
adequately vacuum-seals the granular material within the
package.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a vacuum-sealed
package for granular materials which is inexpensive, yet lands
itself to efficient manufacture. and objects, are accomplished in
an illustrative embodiment thereof in which a vacuum-sealed package
for a granular material includes a bottom package member having
upstanding side walls termnating in an upper peripheral edge. An
intermediate package member, substantially permeable to the flow of
gases therethrough, but substantially impermeable to the flow of
granular material therethrough, is also provided to overlie the
peripheral edge of the bottom package member. The bottom package
member and the gas-permeable intermediate package member define a
continuous, uniform and full seal along the upper peripheral edge
of the bottom package member A top package member is constructed
and arraned to be sealed to the bottom package member and the
gas-permeable intermediate package member to maintain the vacuum in
the package.
In accordance with an illustrative mebodiment demonstrating objects
and features of method aspects of the present invention, a method
for packaging a granular materail from a bottom package member, a
top package member and a gas-permeable intermediate package member
includes the steps of loading the granular material into the bottom
package member and fully sealing the gas-permeable intermediate
package member to the bottom package member at the peripheral edges
thereof. The top package member is then placed on top of the bottom
package member and the gas-permeable intermediate package member
and is partially sealed to the bottom package member and the
gas-permeable intermediate package member at the peripheral edges
thereof. Thereafter, the space between the bottom package member
and the top package member is evacuated, through the face of the
gas-permeable intermediate package member and the unsealed portion
of the top package member. The unsealed portion of top package
member is then sealed to bottom package member and the
gas-permeable intermediate package member to maintain the vacuum
within the package.
The above brief description as well as further objects, features
and advantages of the present invention will be more fully
appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a
preferred, but nontheess illustrative embodiment, when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic, elevation view of the apparatus utilized in
performing the method of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a typical die used to form the package
of the present invention and showing the packaging sequence
according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing a
die, an evacuation element and a sealing head element useful in the
method of the present invention, the representation of elements
depicting inoperative positions thereof;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part of the die, evacuation element
and sealing head element of FIG. 3, showing the evacuation element
in an operative position; and,
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vacuum-sealed package of the
present invention with the gas-permeable intermediate package
member and the top package member broken away to show more
particularly the details of the construction of the package.
Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 5 thereof, a
vacuum-sealed package for granular materials is generally
designated 10. Vacuum-sealed package 10 includes a bottom package
member 12 which is adapted to receive, as will be explained
hereinafter, granular material 14. By way of example, granular
material 14 may be a food product, such as instant coffee or the
like. Bottom package member 12 includes upstanding side walls 12a
which terminate at an outwardly extending peripheral edge 12b.
Bottom package member 12 thus defines a material-receiving cavity
for receiving granular material. Bottom package member 12 is
advantageously of a heat-sealable flexible packaging material, such
as plastic.
In order to maintain the granular material 14 within package 10
while the package is evacuated, a gas-permeable intermediate
package member 16 is provided. By way of xample, gas-permeable
intermediate package member 16 may be of "Delnet" or a similar type
of material. Gas-permeable intermediate package member 16 defines a
face 16a having a porosity which allows gas to be withdrawn from
the granular material within bottom package member 12. However, the
porosity of gas-permeable ntermediate package member 16 is such as
to prevent the granular material 14 from escaping from the bottom
package member as package 10 is evacuated. This will be explained
in more detail hereinafter.
Gas-permeable intermediate package member 16 is heat or otherwise
sealed to the peripheral edge 12b of the bottom package member 12
after the granular material 14 has been loaded or unloaded into the
bottom package member. A continuous, uniform and full seal is thus
provided between gas-permeable intermediate package member 16 and
bottom package 12 along peripheral edge 12b. A top package ember 18
of a heat-sealable plastic or other material is provided and is
placed on top of bottom package member 12 and gas-permeable
intermediate package member 16 in a position overlying the
peripheral edges of the gas-permeable intermediate package member
and the bottom package member. The top package member 18 is
partially sealed to the bottom package member and the gas-permeable
intermediate package member as will be explained in more detail
hereinafter.
One the gas-permeable intermediate package member 16 has been ully
sealed to bottom package member 12 and the top package member 18
has been partially sealed to the gas-permeable intermediate package
member and the bottom package member, the space between the bottom
and top package members, containing the granular material 14, is
evacuated through face 16a of the gas-permeable intermediate
package member and through the unsealed portion of the top package
member. Since gas-permeable intermediate package member 16 allows
the flow of gases through face 16a but is of a porosity to prevent
the flow of granular material therethrough, the granular material
is retained in bottom package member 12 during evacuation and the
granular material is not drawn into the sealing area at peripheral
edge 12b. Further, since the granular material is kept within
package 10, there is no loss of the granular material and/or
clogging of the vacuum apparatus.
After evacuation has been completed, the unsealed portion of top
package member 18 is sealed to gas-permeable intermediate package
member 16 and bottom package member 12 along peripheral edge 12b.
The evacuated state of package 10 is thus maintained by the
hermetic seal between these package members, the hermetic seal
being provided since ther is no granular material along the sealing
area (peripheral edge 12b) of package 10.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a package loading and forming
apparatus useful with the present invention is generally designated
20. Reference is made to application Ser. No. 157,228, filed June
28, 1971, for "Package Machine and Method," which application,
assigned to the assignee of the present invention, shows in more
detail aspects of package loading and forming apparatus 20.
Package loading and forming apparatus 20 includes a chain conveyor
22 which carries a plurality of conveyor molds or dies 24. Chain
conveyor 22 and dies 24 are caused to be moved in a direction, as
indicated by the arrows 26, by appropriate motive means (not
shown). As the chain conveyor 22 and the dies 24 move in direction
26, the chain conveyor and the dies enter and leave various stages,
designated A-H for convenience, wherein various steps in loading
and forming vacuum-sealed package 10 is accomplished, as will be
explained hereinafter.
At one side of package loading and forming apparatus 20, there is
provided a roll 28 which supplies a heat-sealable plastic packaging
material 12' utilized to form bottom package member 12. Roll 28 may
be mounted on an appropriate play-out roller 30 which is controlled
by means (not shown) for supplying heat-sealable plastic packaging
material 12' from roll 28 at a predetermined rate. Idler rollers
32a and 32b may also be provided for controlling the tension of
heat sealable plastic packaging material 12'.
Similarly, rolls 34 and 36 are disposed at the other side of
apparatus 20 for supplying, respectively, a gas-permeable packaging
material 16' and a heat-sealable plastic packaging material 18'.
Rolls 34 and 36 are mounted, respectively, on play-outs rollers 38
and 30 which are used with appropriate means (not shown) for
controlling the rate or supply of gas-permeable packaging material
16' and heat-sealable plastic packaging material 18'. A tensioning
mechanism, generally designated 42, is provided for controlling the
tension of gas-permeable packaging material 16' and heat-sealable
plastic packaging material 18' as these materials are supplied from
rolls 34, 36 in the direction of arrows 44 and 46, respectively.
Such tensioning mechanisms are well known in the art and take the
form of idler rollers 43, springs 45, etc.
Idler rollers 48, 50, disposed near the top of the flow path for
dies 24, are provided to change the direction of movement of
gas-permeable packaging material 16' and heat-sealable plastic
packaging material 18' as these materials exit tensioning mechanism
42. Thus, gas-permeable intermediate packaging material 16' is
caused to travel in a horizontal direction by idler roller 48 while
heat-sealable plastic packaging material 18' is caused to travel in
a horizontal direction by idler roller 50.
By way of stages A, B, C and granular material is loaded into the
formed bottom package member by a loading element 54 at stage D.
Gas-permeable intermediate package material 16' is introduced to
die 24 at stage E where a sealing head element 58 seals this
material to the peripheral edge of the bottom package member to
form gas-permeable intermediate package member 16. Heat-sealable
plastic packaging material 18' to bottom package member 12 and
gas-permeable intermediate package member 16 along peripheral edge
12b to form top package member 18. At stage G, evacuation element
and sealing head element 62 evacuates the space between bottom
package member 12 and top package member 18 through the face 16a of
intermediate package member 16 and the unsealed portion of top
package member 18. Evacuation element and sealing head element 62
then seals the unsealed portion of top package member 18 to
maintain the vacuum within vacuum-sealed package 10. At stage H,
vacuum-sealed package 10 is cut from other like packages and
removed from die 24.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the construction details of
conveyor mold or die 24 and evacuation element and sealing head
element 62 are shown. Die 24 includes a main body member 64
defining die cavities 66. Two such die cavities 66 are provided,
although it is to be understood that a different number of die
cavities may be provided if so desired. Disposed within each die
cavity 66 is a spacer element 68 having a shape which conforms to
the die cavity. Spacer element 68 allows the die cavity to form
packages of various sizes, the size depending on the shape of the
spacer element inserted into the die cavity.
Die 24 includes top clamps 70, disposed at the top of the die, for
clamping the bottom package member 12 to the top of the die (see
FIG. 2). Each top clamp 70 defines an aperture 70a through the top
of the top clamp and an aperture 70b, in the side of the top clamp
adjacent bottom package member 12 (FIG. 4). Apertures 70a, 70b are
provided to evacuate the space between the bottom package member 12
and the top package member 18 through face 16a of gas-permeable
intermediate package member 16 as will be explained hereinafter.
Top clamps 70 are associated with top clamp release mechanisms 72
which operate to release the top clamps after the package has been
evacuated and vacuum-sealed. Die 24 may also include a rubber
cushion or gasket 74 which insures that the vacuum will be
maintained as an evacuation element and sealing head element 62
engages die 24 to vacuate and seal the package. Another rubber
cushion or gasket 75 insures that an adequate seal is made between
top package member 18 and bottom package member 12 and
gas-permeable intermediate package member 16.
The evacuation element and sealing head element, generally
designated 62, includes an evacuation member, generally designated
76, and a sealing head member, generally designated 78. The
evacuation member is adapted to evacuate the space between bottom
package member 12 and top package member 18 through face 16a of
gas-permeable intermediate package member 16 and through the
unsealed portion of the top package member. After the evacuation
has been completed, sealing head member 78 is adapted to seal the
unsealed portion of top package member 18, thereby providing a
hermetic seal for vacuum-sealed package 10.
Evacuation member 76, which is shown in an inoperative position in
FIG. 3, defines an evacuation channel 80 which is connected to a
sourec of suction or vacuum (not shown) by a hose 82. Evacuation
member 76 includes a downwardly extending shoulder 84 which is
adapted to engage the rubber cushion or gasket 74 of die 24 as
evacuation element and sealing head element 62 is moved downwardly
to the evacuation position indicated in FIG. 4. In the evacuation
position shown in FIG. 4, evacuation member 76 moves to an
operative position, in contact with die 24, while sealing head
member 78 remains in an inoperative position, out of contact with
the die. An annular rubber cusion or gasket 86, which is disposed
at one end of the evacuation channel 80, is adapted to engage top
clamp 70, about aperture 70a, when the evacuation member is in the
operattive position of FIG. 4. This insures that the suction from
vacuum channel 80 will draw the air or gas from the granular
material. A suction or vacuum path is thus provided between bottom
package member 12 and top package member 18 (in the direction of
arrows 88) from granular material 14, through the face 16a of
gas-permeable intermediate package member 16 and the unsealed
portion of the top package member 18, through aperture 70b and
aperture 70a of top clamp 70. Thus, quick and efficient evacuation
of the loaded package is provided.
After the package has been evacuated, the unsealed portion of top
package member 18 is sealed to bottom package member 12 and
gas-intermediate package member 16. In order to accomplish this,
sealing head member 78 is provided. Sealing head member 78 includes
a heating element 90 (see FIG. 3) which is inserted between sealing
elements 92, 94. Projections 94a, which extend downwardly from
sealing element 94, are constructed and arranged to seal the
unsealed portion of top package member after the package has been
evacuated. To provide an efficient seal, projections 94a make
contact with top package member 18 which is disposed on top of
cushion or gasket 75 (see FIG. 4).
Thus, in a typical operational sequence, evacuation element and
sealing head element 62 moves downwardly, as a unit, from an
inoperative position (FIG. 3) to a first operative position (FIG.
4) wherein evacuation member 76 engages die 24. It is in this first
operative position that the package is evacuated. After evacuation
is completed, sealing head member 78 moves downwardly, in the
direction of arrow 96, to seal the unsealed portion of top package
member 18, thereby maintaining the vacuum-sealed package 10. The
movement of evacuation element and head sealing element 62 may be
accomplished by spring elements, generally designaed 98, which may
be connected to an appropriate control mechanism (not shown).
In order to provide a more complete understanding of the operation
and method for loading and sealing vacuum-sealed package 10, a
typical operational sequence will now be described with reference
particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2. For convenience, FIG. 2 illustrates
the sequential movement of a typical die 24 from state D to stage
G, the movement being in the direction of arrows 100. It is to be
understood, however, that all operations of package loading and
forming apparatus 20 take place simultaneously, so that while one
package may be at loading stage E, for example, another package may
be at another stage, for example, evacuation and final sealing
stage G, etc.
Heat-sealable plastic packaging material 12, supplied from roll 28,
is placed on die 24 with top clamps 70, at the top of die 24,
holding the heat-sealable plastic packaging meateril 12' in place.
At stage A, a conventional heating element 52 heats the
heat-sealable plastic packaging material 12' causing the material
to become malleable in shape. The die proceeds to stage B where
suction from an appropriate source (not shown) causes the material
12' to be drawn into die cavity 66. The material 12' will conform
to die cavity 66 (or will conform to spacer element 68 which is
inserted into the die cavity 66 if a smaller bottom package member
12 is desired). However, part of the material 12' remains at the
top of the die 24 and this part will form peripheral edge 12b of
vacuum-sealed package 10. At the next stage, stage C, the material
12' is allowed to cool within the die 24 to provide bottom package
member 12.
At stage D, a predetermined amount of granular material 14 is
deposited or loaded into the formed bottom package member 12 by
loader 54. Die 24, with bottom package member 12 filled with
granular material 14, is shown in the "D" illustration of FIG.
2.
Die 24 containues to move to tage E where gas-permeable packaging
material 16', supplied from roll 34, is placed on top of granular
material 14 and the peripheral edge 12b of the bottom package
member 12. Material 16' is advantageously chosen to be of a width
such that the material will not rest on top clamps 70 as the
material is placed on die 24 (see illustration "E" of FIG. 2).
Conventional sealing head element 58 then fully seals the
gas-permeable packaging material 16' to the peripheral edge 12b of
bottom packaging member 12 thereby forming the gas-permeable
intermediate package member 16. The gas-permeable intermediate
package member 16 and the bottom package member 12 define a
continuous, uniform and full seal 16b along the peripheral edge 12b
of the bottom package member. The gas permeable intermediate
packaging material 16 further defines a face 16a which is porous to
the flow of gases but imporous to the flow of granular material
therethrough. Die 24 is shown as exiting stage E in illustration
"E" of FIG. 2.
Die 24 then moves to stage F where heat-sealable plastic packaging
material 18', supplied from roll 36, is provided and is placed on
the gas-permeable intermediate packaging member 16. The width of
material 18' is such that when this material is placed on the top
of die 24, it also rests on the top of a portion of top clamp 70.
However, the width of this material is such that the material will
not cover aperture 70a at the top of the clamps (see illustration
"F" of FIG. 2). Sealing head element 60, at stage F, then seals
part of the heat-sealng plastic packaging material 18' to both
gas-permeable intermediate packaging material member 16 and bottom
package member 1, along a portion of peripheral edge 12b, thereby
forming top package member 18. This is shown as sealed portion 18b
in the illustration "F" of FIG. 2. However, an unsaled portion,
designated 18a, is provided between the top package member 18 and
the gas-permeable intermediate and the bottom package members. It
is through this unsealed portion 18a (and face 16a of gas-permeable
intermediate package member 16) that evacuation of the package
occurs.
Evacuation occurs at stage G, shortly after evacuation member 76
moves downwardly to engage the top of die 24 (see FIG. 4). Thus,
the space between bottom package member 12 and top package member
18 is evacuated through the face 16a of the gas-permeabl
intermediate package member and through the unsealed portion 18a of
the top package member. This removes gas, etc., from the granular
material. However, as has been explained hereinbefore, the
gas-permeable intermediate package member retains the granular
material 14 within the confines of bottom package member 12 so that
none of this material is drawn up to the sealing area (peripheral
edge 12b) of the package.
After evacuation has occurred, sealing head member 78 moes
downwardly, in the direction of arrow 96 in FIG. 4, and sealing
projections 94a seal the heretofore unsealed portion 18a of top
package member 18 to the bottom package member 12 and the
gas-permeable intermediate package member 16 along peripheral edge
12b. This provides a hermetic seal for a vacuum-saled package 10.
More particularly, package 10 may be hermetically seald to maintain
the vacuum within the package since the gas-permeable intermediate
package member 16 prevents the granular material 14 from being
drawn up into sealing ara 12b during evacuation. Since there is no
material in the saling area, an effctive vacuum seal is provided
when the package is sealed. This is shown in illustration "G" in
FIG. 2.
After the package has been fully loaded and sealed, in stages D-G,
the package proceeds to stage H (FIG. 1) where knife elements (not
shown) cut and trim the packages formed in dies 24 to provide the
vacuum-sealed pckage 10 illustrated in FIG. 5.
Obviously, other modifications of the present invention are
possibile in light of the above teaching. For example, at stage G
where the packages are evacuated, the package may be gas flushed,
if so desired. For example, vacuum channel 80 (see FIG.4) may also
define a gas flow channel for providing a gas flush for package 10.
If a gas flush is utilized, package 10 is evacuated as indicated in
FIG. 4, that is, air is drawn out of the package in the direction
of arrows 88. Once this has been accomplished, and prior to
completing the sal of top package member 18, a flushing gas, such
as an inert gas, is forced to package 10. Vacuum channel 80 then
becomes a gas flow channel with the flushing gas flowing in the
opposite dirction of arrows 88 from channel 80 through aperture
70a, aperture 70b, intermediate package member 16, into package 10.
The top package member 18 is then fully sealed to maintain the
inert gas within the package. Similarly, a trace gas, uch as freon
or the like, may be introduced into the package to detect leaks if
so desired. It is to be understood, therefore that the term
"vacuum-sealed package" includes gas flushed packages and the term
"evacuating" or similar term includes gas flushing. Further,
although heat sealable materials have been shown it is apparent
that pressure sensitive, ultrasonic etec., sealing may be utilized.
It is to be understood, therefore, that the embodiments described
are merely an example of the principles of the invention.
Additional embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit or scope of the present
invention.
* * * * *