GB2377216A

GB2377216A - Incorporating absorbent pad in food package

Info

Publication number: GB2377216A
Application number: GB0116332A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sid Jarvis; Lawrie Martin
Original assignee: YOUNGS SEAFOOD Ltd
Current assignee: YOUNGS SEAFOOD Ltd
Priority date: 2001-07-04
Filing date: 2001-07-04
Publication date: 2003-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-04
Also published as: GB0116332D0; GB2377216B

Abstract

A bag having specific provision to facilitate accommodation of the volume of its contents, eg as in Figure 1, contains an absorbent pad 11 which is fixed to the inner surface of a panel of the bag to absorb liquid released by food therein. The pad may be self-adhesive and may comprise absorbent material, eg paper, sandwiched between two impermeable plastics films so that absorption occurs only around its edges. A series of the pads may be peeled successively from a backing web 24, Figure 3, by passing the web around the beak of a label-type applicator 21, the peeled pads being applied to a web 22 of bag-making material which advances to form-fill-seal apparatus 20 to make a series of the bags.

Description

DESCRIPTION A FOOD PACKAGING PRODUCT AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SAME The present invention relates to a food packaging product and more specifically, to a food packaging product of the type generally referred to as a block bottom bag. The present invention also provides an apparatus for forming block bottom bags from a reel of blanks.

Conventional block bottom bags are produced from a blank comprising a front panel, a rear panel (which may in fact be formed by two end panels of the blank), two side panels and seams running down each side edge of the blank. Vertically extending fold lines separate the panels from one another. To assemble the bag the seams extending along each side edge of the blank are first brought together and heat sealed to form a tubular intermediate product which is open at the top end and at the bottom end. Next the bottom end of the bag is closed. In order to facilitate this a Y-shaped fold is formed in the lower end of each side panel. This allows the lower end of each side panel to be folded inwardly and tucked flat between the front and rear panels. The bottom end of the bag is then heat sealed closed. With the bottom end of the bag closed the food product to be packaged can now be introduced through the open top end of the bag. Once the bag has been filled with the required amount of food product, the top end of the bag is closed and heat sealed. Again this is facilitated by fold lines in the top end of each side panel, this time taking the form of an inverted Y.

One of the major advantages of block bottom bags is that they readily lend

themselves to high speed production and in this respect each bag is usually formed, filled with food product and sealed closed in a single, continuous process. In order to facilitate this continuous process the blanks for production of the block bottom bags are supplied on a roll as a continuous web. The leading edge of this continuous web always forms the bottom edge of the next bag to be formed and this is directed into a combined forming and filling apparatus consisting of a pair of tubes located one within the other to define an annular gap therebetween. The inner tube is connected at one end to a hopper containing the product to be packaged and is open at the opposite end to allow measured portions of product to pass from the hopper through the tube. The outer tube is shorter than the inner tube and is located on the inner tube towards the hopper end thereof. A shaping shoulder or guide is provided around the edge of the outer tube adjacent the hopper and this serves to guide the leading edge of the web into the annular gap. As the blank passes through the annular gap between the inner and outer tubes, the side edges thereof are brought together to overlap and a cylinder is formed. Heat sealing apparatus located within the annular gap then seals the side edges together.

As the cylinder travels past the bottom edge of the inner tube it encounters a pair of gusset or side panel tuckers, located one on each side of the inner tube.

These fold and tuck inwardly the two side panels between the front and rear panels, closing the bottom of the bag. The bottom of the bag is then sealed closed by heat sealing apparatus.

With the bottom of the bag closed, a measured portion of food product is now introduced into the bag through the open end of the inner tube. In this regard, the top end of the bag is held open around or immediately beneath the open end of the inner tube. Once the bag has been filled the top edge thereof is closed and sealed following the same procedure as outlined above for the bottom edge. It will be understood that as the top edge of the lowermost bag is closed and sealed, the bottom edge of the bag immediately adjacent to it is also conveniently closed and sealed. In addition, the finished bag is separated from the partially finished bag adjacent to it.

Block bottom bags are extensively for packaging food products, particularly loose, free flowing products such as sugar, rice, pasta, dried fruits. These products readily lend themselves to being introduced into the bag during the production thereof. However, these bags have not previously been considered suitable for use with chilled food products, and more specifically chilled food products which are packaged whilst frozen and then allowed to thaw for display in a chilling cabinet.

There is a tendency with chilled foods which have been allowed to thaw from frozen for liqueur and juices to collect in the bottom of the container. This is not attractive to consumers. In order to mitigate this problem the food product is usually packaged in trays with a"peach"pad on the bottom. The peach pad is made from a food grade absorbent material which is able to soak up the liqueur and juices released by the food product as it thaws. The open top of the tray is usually covered with a lid, plastic film or cling film wrap.

The principle disadvantage of using an absorbent pad placed on the bottom of the tray is that because the product sits on top of the pad moisture is continually absorbed from it causing the product to dry out.

Furthermore, although effective as a packaging medium, trays are not suited to high speed production processes. In addition, because the materials used to close the tray do not readily lend themselves to being printed upon, product information, brand names and the like must be printed up separately on adhesive labels applied to the bottom of the tray or to the covering, or on cardboard sleeves into which the tray must be inserted. This is in marked contrast to block bottom bags which can be printed up during production of the continuous web of blanks from which they are ultimately produced.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a block bottom bag suitable for use with"wet"food products.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a block bottom bag containing an absorbent pad for absorbing liqueur and juices released from a frozen food product contained therein as it thaws, which mitigates or substantially obviates the problem of dry out of the food product referred to hereinabove..

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for forming a block bottom bag with an absorbent pad inside it.

According to the present invention there is provided a block bottom bag comprising an absorbent pad, wherein the absorbent pad is fixed to the inner surface of a panel of the bag.

Preferably, the absorbent pad is fixed to the inner surface of the bag by adhesive. In this regard the absorbent pad is conveniently pre-coated with adhesive prior to application and is, therefore, self adhesive.

Preferably, the absorbent pad is comprised of a layer of absorbent material, typically paper, sandwiched between two layers of polythene film. For aesthetic purposes, the plastic film is white. The plastic film covering the absorbent material on both sides ensures that moisture can only be absorbed into the absorbent material through the exposed edges thereof. This ensures that contact between the absorbent material and the food product contained within the packaging is kept to a minimum, thereby preventing the food product from drying out. The plastic film also provides a substrate for the adhesive which cannot be applied directly to the absorbent material Preferably, the absorbent pad is fixed to the inner surface of the bag in a position which ensures that it does not interfere with closure of the bag at the top and bottom edges thereof, whilst ensuring that the bottom edge of the absorbent pad will be in contact with liqueur and juices collecting in the bottom of the bag.

Conveniently, it is fixed to the front panel of the bag as this usually lies centrally on the blank from which the block bottom bag is produced, thereby facilitating presentation of the absorbent pad to the blank and ensuring that the absorbent pad does not interfere with the seam connecting the two side edges of the bag together.

Preferably, the absorbent pads are supplied for affixing to the blanks from which the block bottom bags are manufactured on a backing paper. Conveniently,

the backing paper is in the form of a roll and is comprised of siliconised paper which facilitates peeling away of each self-adhesive absorbent pad.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for producing block bottom bags in accordance with the first aspect thereof from a first continuous web of bag blanks and a second continuous web of backing material supporting at spaced intervals along its length self adhesive absorbent pads, the system comprising a block bottom bag forming apparatus, means for directing the first web into the forming apparatus and a label applicator located in the path of the first web and adapted in use to apply an absorbent pad from the second web to each blank in the first web.

Preferably, the label applicator is mounted above the first web and comprises a dispensing plate or beak, defining an upper surface over which the second web travels in a forward direction, a lower surface over which the second web travels in a rearward direction and a leading edge connecting the upper and lower surfaces around which the second web is directed. As the second web travels over the leading edge of the beak and under it a self adhesive absorbent pad is caused to peel away from it. An application roller located in front of the leading edge of the beak by a distance which is not greater than the length of the pad, operates to press the pad onto the first web.

Preferably, the application roller is mounted on an arm which is pivotable about an axis extending transversely to the direction of travel of the first web between a first position in which it is disengaged from the first web and a second

position in which it presses down on the first web. Preferably, a pressure pad is mounted beneath the first web in the region of the application roller.

The bag forming apparatus itself is essentially conventional except that the guide shoulder over which the first web passes before passing down into the annular gap defined by inner and outer shaping tubes is shaped so as to minimise delamination of the absorbent pads from the first web. This is achieved by

maximising the angle of entry into the annular gap. In this regard such guides are sometimes referred to as"low stress"guides. In addition a flexible tongue is suspended from the inner tube at a point above the point of entry of the first web into the annular gap defined between the inner tube and outer tube, which tongue extends into the annular gap. As the first web passes over the guide shoulder and down into the annular gap, the flexible tongue engages against it and more specifically against the absorbent pads carried therein to maintain the absorbent pads in adhesive contact with the first web.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 shows a block bottom bag in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention; Fig 2 shows a blank for the production of the block bottom bag shown in Fig 1, Fig 3 illustrates schematically a system for the production of block bottom bags in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention;

Fig 4 shows a side view of an applicator device for applying self adhesive absorbent pads to a web of blanks; Fig 5 is a side view of the upper portion of a block bottom bag forming apparatus, omitting the gusset tuckers which are responsible for folding and tucking in the sides of the bag at the upper and lower ends thereof and the heat sealing apparatus which forms a cross seal across the tubular intermediate product which travels off the bottom of the inner tube; and Fig 6 is a schematic view of the upper portion of the forming apparatus shown in Fig 5; illustrating the absorbent pad in-feed guide provided in the mouth of the annular gap defined between the inner and outer tubes thereof.

Referring to Fig 1 there is shown a block bottom bag in accordance with the present invention. The bag is manufactured from a conventional block bottom bag blank as shown in Fig 2 comprising a front panel 1, two side panels 2 and 3, and a pair of back panels 4 and 5, separated by fold lines 6. The bag is formed by bringing together seams 7 and 8 running down the outer edge of each back panel 4 and 5 to form a cylindrical intermediate product and then folding the side panels 2 and 3 inwardly between the front panel I and the back panels 4 and 5 at the top and bottom of the tube. Folding is facilitated by fold lines 9 ands 10 in each of the side panels 2 and 3. Finally, the tubular intermediate product is closed at each end by heat sealing together the top and bottom edges thereof. Prior to closing the top edges the bag is of course filled with product.

As shown in Fig 1, the block bottom bag in accordance with the present

invention comprises an absorbent pad 11 on the inner surface of the front panel 1.

The absorbent pad 11 is secured in place by adhesive and to this end is conveniently pre-coated with adhesive prior to application to the bag.

The absorbent pad 11 is comprised of a layer of absorbent material, typically paper, sandwiched between two layers of polythene film. For aesthetic purposes the plastic film is white. The plastic film covering the absorbent material on both sides ensures that moisture can only be absorbed into the absorbent material through the exposed edges thereof. This ensures that contact between the absorbent material and the food product contained within the packaging is kept to a minimum, thereby preventing the food product from drying out. The plastic film also provides a substrate for the adhesive which cannot be applied directly to the absorbent material The absorbent pad 11 is fixed to the inner surface of the bag in a position which ensures that it does not interfere with closure of the bag at the top and bottom edges thereof, whilst ensuring that the bottom edge of the absorbent pad 11 is in contact with liqueur and juices collecting in the bottom of the bag. As shown, it is fixed to the front panel I of the bag as this lies centrally in the blank from which the bag is produced, thereby facilitating presentation of the absorbent pad 11 to the blank and ensuring that it does not interfere with the seam 7 and 8 connecting the two side edges of the bag together.

For convenience of manufacture, the blanks from which the bags are produced and the absorbent pads are produced in the form of a continuous web. In

this respect, the blanks are conventional. As for the absorbent pads 11, these are supplied on a roll of siliconised paper which facilitates peeling away of each selfadhesive absorbent pad.

Referring now to Fig 3 of the drawings there is shown a system for producing block bottom bags incorporating the absorbent pad. The apparatus comprises a block bottom bag forming apparatus 20, and an applicator device 21.

In use a continuous web 22 of bag blanks is fed from reel 23 into the forming apparatus 20 past the applicator device 21. The continuous web 24 supporting the self adhesive absorbent blanks passes from a second reel 25 through the applicator device 21 and away from the forming apparatus 20.

As shown in Fig 4, the applicator device 21 is positioned above the web 22 of bag blanks. It comprises a dispensing plate or beak 26 over and around which the web 24 of siliconised backing paper travels on its way from the reel 25. In the fashion of a conventional label applicator the sharp bend introduced into the web 24 of siliconised backing paper as it travels around the leading edge of the beak 26 causes an absorbent pad to peel away therefrom, but it continues to travel in a forward direction relative to the leading edge of the beak 26. As such, the free floating front end of the absorbent pad lies above the web 22 of bag blanks passing between the reel 23 and the forming apparatus 20.

An application roller 27 is located in front of the leading edge of the beak 26 by a distance which is not greater than the length of an absorbent pad and this is mounted on an arm 28 which is pivotable about axis 29 extending transversely

to the direction of travel of the web 22 between a first position in which it is disengaged from the web 22 and a second position in which it actually presses the absorbent pad down onto the web 22. a pressure pad 30 is mounted beneath the web 22 in the region of the application roller 27.

The bag forming apparatus 20 shown in greater detail in Figs 5 and 6 is essentially conventional except that the guide shoulder 31 over which the web 22 passes before passing down into the annular gap defined between inner and outer shaping tubes 32 and 33 is shaped so as to minimise delamination of the absorbent pads from the web 22. In addition a flexible tongue 34 is suspended from the inner tube 32 at a point above the point of entry of the web 22 into the annular gap, which tongue 34 extends into the annular gap. As the web 22 passes over the guide shoulder and down into the annular gap, the flexible tongue 34 engages against web 22 and more specifically against the absorbent pads carried therein to maintain the absorbent pads in adhesive contact with the first web.

Claims

1. A block bottom bag comprising an absorbent pad, wherein the absorbent pad is fixed to the inner surface of a panel of the bag.

2. A block bottom bag according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent pad is fixed to the inner surface of the bag by adhesive.

3. A block bottom bag according to claim 2, wherein the absorbent pad is pre-coated with adhesive prior to application and is, therefore, self-adhesive.

4. A block bottom bag according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the absorbent pad is comprised of a layer of absorbent material, typically paper, sandwiched between two layers of plastic film.

5. A block bottom bag according to claim 4, wherein the plastic film covering the absorbent material on both sides ensures that moisture can only be absorbed into the absorbent material through the exposed edges thereof.

6. A block bottom bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the absorbent pad is fixed to the inner surface of the bag in a position which ensures that it does not interfere with closure of the bag at the top and bottom edges thereof, whilst ensuring that the bottom edge of the absorbent pad will be in contact with liqueur and juices collecting in the bottom of the bag.

7. A block bottom bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the absorbent pad is fixed centrally on the blank from which the block bottom bag is produced thereby facilitating presentation of the absorbent pad to the blank and

ensuring that the absorbent pad does not interfere with the seam connecting the two side edges of the bag together.

8. A system for producing block bottom bags, each comprising an absorbent pad from a first continuous web of bag blanks and a second continuous web of backing material supporting at spaced intervals along its length self adhesive absorbent pads, the system comprising a block bottom bag forming apparatus, means for directing the first web into the forming apparatus and a label applicator located in the path of the first web and adapted in use to apply an absorbent pad from the second web to each blank in the first web.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the label applicator is mounted above the first web and comprises a dispensing plate or beak, defining an upper surface over which the second web travels in a forward direction, a lower surface over which the second web travels in a rearward direction and a leading edge connecting the upper and lower surfaces around which the second web is directed.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein an application roller located in front of the leading edge of the beak by a distance which is not greater than the length of the pad, operates to press the pad onto the first web.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the application roller is mounted on an arm which is pivotable about an axis extending transversely to the direction of travel of the first web between a first position in which it is disengaged from the first web and a second position in which it presses down on the first web.

12. A system according to claim 10 or 11, wherein a pressure pad is mounted beneath the first web in the region of the application roller.

13. A system according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the bag forming apparatus comprises a guide shoulder over which the first web passes before passing down into an annular gap defined by inner and outer shaping tubes which guide shoulder is shaped so as to minimise delamination of the absorbent pads from the first web. This is achieved by maximising the angle of entry into the annular gap. In this regard such guides are sometimes referred to as"low stress" guides.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein a flexible tongue is suspended from the inner tube at a point above the point of entry of the first web into the annular gap defined between the inner tube and outer tube, which tongue extends into the annular gap.

15. A block bottom bag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. I and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A system for producing block bottom bags, each comprising an absorbent pad substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3,4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.