EP1547935B1 - Method of manufacturing packaging bags - Google Patents

Abstract

The tetrahedron-form packing bag (10) consists of a flexible film material (32) which in the region of a corner (18) of the bag forms a tubular-form spout section (20) extending from the bag and sealed on its free end. The spout section conically tapers in the pouring direction pointing away from the corner of the tetrahedron. The spout section has at least one tear groove extending at right angles to the pouring direction. . An independent claim is included for a method for the manufacture of a tetrahedron-form packing bag from a flexible film material.

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing tetrahedral-shaped packaging bag according to the preamble of the independent claims 1 and 8.

There are tetrahedron-shaped packaging bag made of plastic coated cardboard for drinks known. For the beverage removal of the packaging bag is provided at one point, for example, with an opening closed by a film, which can be pierced by means of a drinking straw. Other bags may be torn open along a perforation line to form a spout. Furthermore, tetrahedral packaging bags made of a flexible film material for coated with a sugar mass Schokoladestraagees are known. For opening, as in many pouches, there is a score notch in a sealed seam.

A method of the type mentioned is in the US-A-2,942,760 disclosed.

The invention has the object of providing a method of the type mentioned in such a way that the packaging bag can be produced in a rational manner and with as little material waste in a simple way and offer a simple reclosure system.

To the inventive solution leads a method having the features of independent claims 1 and 8.

Advantageous developments of the method are the subject of dependent claims.

With the arrangement of a protruding from the bag spout in the area of a tetrahedron a packaging bag is created with a multifunctional opening, which is suitable both as a drinking opening and for the metered removal of liquids and free-flowing products. Added to this are the advantages of the tetrahedral shape of the bag, which fits well in the hand and extremely dimensionally stable and stable. Another advantage is that a once opened bag with the spout opposite tetrahedral surface on a base, for example on a table, can be turned off without leaking contents, since in this position, the spout is located at the highest point of the bag.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the tubular spout part is tapered conically in the spouting direction pointing away from the tetrahedral corner of the bag. The conical design of the pouring part has the advantage that, for example, when opening with a pair of scissors, the cross section of the pouring opening formed by cutting away the closed end of the pouring part transversely to the pouring direction increases with increasing distance of the cut from the free end of the pouring part. In this way, a suitable for a particular purpose metering can be set individually.

To facilitate the opening of the packaging bag without scissors or knife, at least one tearing notch extending transversely to the pouring direction may be provided, with at least two tearing notches arranged at different distances from the closed free end of the pouring part being arranged in a particularly expedient embodiment of the pouring part for providing metering openings with a different cross section could be. In order to obtain a possible defined opening cross section, weakening lines can be provided in addition to the tear scores. The lines of weakness go up from the top of the tear scores and revolve around the spout.

The pouring part protruding from a tetrahedral corner of the bag can, for example, be folded back against one of the bag surfaces when the packaging bag is unopened and fixed in the folded-down position by means of a pressure-sensitive adhesive arranged on the bag surface or on the pouring part. In this way, the spout is during transport and storage of the Packaging bag relatively well protected against mechanical damage. After opening the packaging bag by the cutting of the pouring part in the region of its free end is obtained by a suitable arrangement of the pressure-sensitive adhesive in conjunction with the folding or Faltbärkeit the pouring a simple way to close the opened bag again. With this simple closure, at least in the case of free-flowing solid bulk materials, leaking of the contents when the package is tipped over can be effectively prevented.

In particular, when using the inventive packaging bag as a beverage bag, it may prove to be useful to arrange a stiffening element in the spout part, preferably a piece of plastic pipe. The tube piece assumes the function of a drinking straw in a beverage bag. In a preferred embodiment, the spout part is not fixedly connected to the pipe piece from its closed end to a tear notch, so that when the beverage bag is opened, the spout part can be removed from the bag over the pipe piece after separation. Here, the germ-free pipe section is exposed and can be performed without contact directly to the mouth.

The transverse sealing seam is preferably laid in such a way that a pouring spout tapering conically away from the bag is produced.

In order to facilitate the opening of the packaging bag without scissors or knives, at least one tear-open notch extending transversely to the pouring direction can be arranged in the transverse sealing seam in the region of the closed free end of the pouring part. To provide pouring or metering orifices having different opening cross-sections, at least two tearing notches arranged at different distances from the closed free end of the pouring part are expediently arranged. In order to obtain a defined as possible opening cross-section, in addition to the tear notches emanating from the Einreeschkerben, the pouring part circumferential weakening lines can be arranged.

In addition, a stiffening element, preferably a pipe section made of a plastic material, can be arranged in the spout part.

The preferred filling products for the packaging container according to the invention include drinks of all kinds and free-flowing solids such as e.g. Corn, semolina and the like. Granular food and washing powder.

• Fig. 1 die kontinuierliche Herstellung von Verpackungsbeuteln als Schlauchbeutel mit Längssiegelnaht;
• Fig. 2 eine vergrössertes Detail von Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 die Draufsicht auf einen mit dem Verfahren gemäss Fig. 1 hergestellten Verpackungsbeutel;
• Fig. 4 die Seitenansicht des Verpackungsbeutels von Fig. 3 in Blickrichtung X;
• Fig. 5 ein vergrössertes Detail von Fig. 4;
• Fig. 6 einen Längsschnitt durch einen Ausgussteil mit eingesetztem Versteifungselement.
• Fig. 7 den Querschnitt durch den Ausgussteil von Fig. 6 entlang deren Linie I-I.
• Fig. 8 eine Seitenansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Verpackungsbeutels;
• Fig. 9 - 11 einen Ausgussteil mit eingesetztem Rohrstück während des Öffnungsvorganges.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawing; this shows schematically in

• 1 shows the continuous production of packaging bags as tubular bags with longitudinal sealing seam;
• Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of Fig. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a plan view of a packaging bag produced by the process according to FIG. 1; FIG.
• FIG. 4 shows the side view of the packaging bag of FIG. 3 in the viewing direction X; FIG.
• Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of Fig. 4;
• Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through a spout part with inserted stiffening element.
• Fig. 7 shows the cross section through the spout part of Fig. 6 along the line II.
• Fig. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of a packaging bag;
• Fig. 9 - 11 a spout with inserted pipe section during the opening process.

According to FIG. 1, a band-shaped film 32 provided for the production of tetrahedral packaging bags 10 is unrolled from a supply roll 34 and formed continuously in a device not shown in detail in a known manner to form a longitudinal sealing seam 12 to form a tube 13. After attaching a first transverse sealing seam 14, the filling material can be filled in the direction of arrow A. Although in the drawing of the film tube 13 extends in the horizontal direction, it is readily understood that when filling liquid or free-flowing products, the hose is guided vertically. After each filling with filling material, in addition to the continuously formed longitudinal sealing seam 12, a second transverse sealing seam 16 closing the packaging container is attached, with successive transverse sealing seams 14, 16 being rotated relative to one another at an angle of 90 ° to form a tetrahedron.

In the production of packaging bags 10 shown in FIG. 1, as shown in detail in FIG. 2, one of the transverse sealing seams is laid in each case such that a pouring part 20 is formed in the region of one of the formed tetrahedral corners 18. The lying in the plane of the longitudinal sealing seam 12 second transverse seam 16 initially runs according to the desired tetrahedral shape. In the region of the container corner 18, a first partial region 16a extends in the pouring direction y of the pouring part 20, which is formed tubular in this way. A second portion 16b of the second transverse seam 16 extends substantially parallel to the original seam direction and serves the closure of the here tapered pouring part 20 at its free end 22nd

In the present production example, the pouring parts 20, 20 'of two successive packaging bags 10, 10' are each directed against each other, and between the corresponding transverse sealing seams 16, 16 'results in a film section 17, which after separating the two packaging bags 10, 10' along a dividing line s is discarded. Of course, other reciprocal arrangements of the pouring parts of two successive packaging bags are possible in the production of tubular bags.

In a cutting device, not shown, the packaging bag 10 formed between successive transverse sealing seams 14, 16 are separated. A single packaging bag 10 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the illustrated in Fig. 5, against its closed free end 22 conically tapered pouring part 20 are in the partial region 16a of the transverse seam at different distances a, b, c from the closed end 22 transversely to the pouring direction y extending tearing notches 24a, b, c arranged , At the top of each tear notch 24a, b, c, there follows a line of weakness 25a, b, c passing around the sprue part 20, for example in the form of a cut which does not penetrate the entire thickness of the film material, or in the form of being arranged along a line, the film material in FIG the thickness of imperforate perforations. Depending on the desired opening cross section, the spout part 20 of the packaging bag 10 is severed from the corresponding tear notch 24a, b, c along the associated weakening line 25a, b, c.

In order to avoid mechanical damage to the pouring part 20 during transport and during storage and to prevent inadvertent leakage of contents when the bag is open, the pouring part can be folded or folded about an axis e transversely to the pouring direction y. To fix the folded over the pouring part 20 on the bag (indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 4) is a pressure-sensitive adhesive 28 is provided, which is arranged in the present example in the form of a pressure-sensitive adhesive strip on the spout 20.

In the embodiment of a pouring part 20 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a stiffening element in the form of a conically tapered tube piece 30 made of a plastic material is inserted therein. The opening of the bag via the tear notch 24a immediately before the outlet tip 31 of the pipe section 30. If a larger opening cross-section is desired, then the pipe section can be cut back accordingly, for example with a pair of scissors.

In the case of the packaging bag 10 shown in FIG. 8, instead of the narrow transverse sealing seam 16, a wide sealing region 36 is arranged. This wide sealing region 36 corresponds to a part of the film section 17 produced in the production of the bags according to FIG. 1, which, instead of being separated off, is further used. In the example shown, the sealing region 36 comprises an unsealed region as a cavity 38 for a drinking straw 40. The cavity can of course have any shape and serve to accommodate any objects. Further, in the sealing area 36, two holes 42, 44 provided, for example, for suspending the packaging bags 10 in a shelf, are punched out.

In a spout part 20 shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 with a tube piece 30 arranged therein as stiffening element, the tube piece 30 is not fixedly connected to the spout part 20 from the free end 22 of the spout part 20 to a tear notch 24 b. In order to open the pouring part 20, it is separated from the remaining packaging bag at the tear notch 24b and removed beyond the tube piece 30 as a separating part 46 (FIG. 11). Here, according to FIG. 10, an end 48 of the pipe section 30 is exposed. This free end 48 of the pipe section 30 takes over in a beverage bag the function of a germ-free drinking straw, which after the tearing of the separation part 46 directly can be led to the mouth. Beverage bags with a spout formed in this way are suitable, for example, for use in areas with poor hygienic conditions and correspondingly high risk of infection.

Claims (8)

1. Method for manufacturing tetrahedral packaging bags (10) from a flexible film material, in which method a tube (13) is continuously formed from a ribbon of film (32) by means of a longitudinal sealing seam (12) and from the tube (13) by means of alternating first transverse sealing seams (14) placed transverse to the longitudinal sealing seam (12) and second transverse sealing seams (16) placed transverse to the longitudinal sealing seam (12) and substantially perpendicular to and at a distance from the first transverse sealing seams (14) the tetrahedral packaging bags (10) are formed, wherein the second transverse sealing seams (16) are positioned in the region of a tetrahedral corner (18) of the bag (10) in such a way that a substantially tube-shaped spout part projecting from the bag (10) and sealed at its free end (22) is produced,
   characterised in that
   the second transverse sealing seams (16) are positioned in such a way that the spout parts (20, 20') projecting away from two neighbouring tetrahedral packaging bags (10, 10') are bounded by first subregions (16a, 16a') running in the pouring direction (y) of the spout parts (20, 20') from transverse sealing seams (16, 16') arranged spaced apart from one another and adjoining one another and their free ends (22) are opposite one another and separated by a common second subregion (16b) of the transverse sealing seams (16, 16') adjoining one another which runs transverse to the pouring direction (y) of the spout parts (20, 20') and the first subregions (16a, 16a') bound a severable section of film (17).
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the transverse sealing seams (16, 16') adjoining one another and the first subregions (16a, 16a') are arranged with mirror symmetry with respect to the common second subregion (16b). '
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the first subregions (16a, 16a') of the transverse sealing seams (16, 16') adjoining one another are positioned in such a way that a conically tapering spout part (20, 20') pointing away from the bag (20, 20') [sic] in the pouring direction (y) is produced.
4. Method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that in the first subregion (16a, 16a') of the transverse sealing seams (16, 16') adjoining one another at least one tearing notch (24a) running transverse to the pouring direction (y) is arranged in the region of the sealed free end (22) of the spout part (20, 20').
5. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that in the first subregion (16a, 16a') of the transverse sealing seams (16, 16') adjoining one another at least two tearing notches (24a, b, c) are arranged at different spacings (a, b, c) from the sealed free end (22) of the spout part (20, 20') to form pouring openings (25 a, b, c) having opening cross-sections of different size.
6. Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that in the spout part (20, 20') predetermined failure lines (a, b, c) emanating from the tearing notches (24 a, b, c) and running round the spout part (20, 20') are arranged.
7. Method according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that in the spout part (20, 20') a stiffening element (30), preferably a piece of tube made of a plastic material, is arranged.
8. Method for manufacturing tetrahedral packaging bags (10) from a flexible film material, in which method a tube (13) is continuously formed from a ribbon of film (32) by means of a longitudinal sealing seam (12) and from the tube (13) by means of alternating first transverse sealing seams (14) placed transverse to the longitudinal sealing seam (12) and second transverse sealing seams (16) placed transverse to the longitudinal sealing seam (12) and substantially perpendicular to and at a distance from the first transverse sealing seams (14) the tetrahedral packaging bags (10) are formed, wherein the second transverse sealing seams (16) are positioned in the region of a tetrahedral corner (18) of the bag (10) in such a way that a substantially tube-shaped spout part projecting from the bag (10) and sealed at its free end (22) is produced,
   characterised in that
   the second transverse sealing seams (36) are positioned in such a way that the two spout parts (20, 20') associated with tetrahedral packaging bags (10, 10') adjoining one another are bounded by transverse sealing seams (36, 36') adjoining one another and their free ends (22) are opposite one another and separated by a common subregion of the transverse sealing seams (36, 36') which runs transverse to the pouring direction (y) of the spout parts (20, 20'), wherein the transverse sealing seams (36, 36') adjoining one another and the subregions running transverse to the pouring direction (y) of the spout parts (20, 20') bound one another directly.

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