RU2575759C2 - Improved package consisting of packet and valve assembled for containing and distribution of fluid substance - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: packaging industry.

SUBSTANCE: package comprises a mounting body forming a distribution channel, and a folding packet for containing the fluid product. The packet is formed by two opposing portions of the flexible roll material and a portion of a flexible gusset. The housing is located at the distribution end of the packet between two portions of the flexible roll material. The portions of the roll material are connected to each other to form a pair of extending longitudinally end seals located laterally and are connected to each other and with the mounting body to form an end seal extending laterally along the packet on its distribution end. The portions of the roll material are connected to the portion of the flexible gusset. The first section of the gusset portion is connected directly to one of the portions of the material on two laterally arranged corner seals. The second section of the gusset portion is connected with the other of the material portions using the other pair of laterally arranged corner seals. Each of the corner seals comprises a first seal portion extending from one of the end seals parallel to the longitudinal axis. The second seal portion extends inwardly from the first portion of the edge seal, and the third seal portion extends from the second seal portion parallel to the longitudinal axis at a distance from the first seal portion in the direction inwardly or outwardly toward the first portion of the edge seal.

EFFECT: resistance of the package to impact loads.

8 cl, 5 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to to packages for containing a fluid product, the package including a collapsible bag and an installation case or device for distributing a fluid product, and more particularly to a package that has improved strength for use in a container under pressure.

State of the art

Folding bags are usually used to pack a variety of products, including food products, drinks, personal care products, home cleaning products, or other products similar or different to those listed, which may be in the form of a liquid, lotion, gel, paste, etc. . Typically, such a bag is made of a flexible thermally adhesive polymer sheet or of a flexible sheet of paper cardboard or metal foil having a thermally adhesive polymer lining. The bag usually has two opposing sections of flexible roll material glued around the periphery or connected to each other to form an inner region that is capable of containing a fluid product, and also with the possibility of forming an opening for communication between the inner region of the bag and the outside of the bag . The bag may include a bottom scarf that connects two opposing flexible web materials to increase bag volume. The hole in the bag is configured to receive a dispensing mounting assembly, which may include a dispensing valve and a removable cover, a distributing actuator, or other features similar or different from those listed, and which typically further includes a mounting housing molded from a polymeric material , and which can be attached by heat bonding to sections of the roll material of the collapsible bag. Such constructions are commonly referred to as valve-packet (“BOV”) packages. Some examples of valve-bag packages are given in US Patent No. RE 39520 E, issued March 20, 2007; in US patent No. 6439429, issued August 27, 2002; and in US patent No. 6272307, issued August 14, 2001, the contents of which are fully incorporated here by reference.

It is known to use such valve-pack packages in distribution systems where a container is used in which fuel or compressed gas is under pressure. In such pressurized systems, a valve-bag-type packaging bag is inserted into a pressurized container, the portion of the mounting unit being engaged with the container insertion hole in order to close the container with the bag hanging from the mounting unit inside the container. Examples of such distribution systems are given in US patent No. RE 35540, issued June 24, 1997, and in US patent No. 5169037, issued December 8, 1992, the contents of which are fully incorporated here by reference. It is known that the weight of the fluid product contained in the collapsible bag causes stresses in the sections of the roll material of the bag on its lower scarf, in particular, in the so-called weld seam of the triple point of the scarf, i.e. at points in the bag where the lower scarf connects to two opposing flexible roll materials. Such stresses can occur, in particular, when a pressurized distribution system is subjected to shock loads, such as those that occur when dropped from a height onto a hard surface. It is known that these stresses cause damage in valve-pack packages, and there is an ongoing need to make these structures more durable in order to reduce such damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a package for containing and distributing a fluid product. The package includes an installation case forming a distribution channel, and a folding bag having a longitudinal axis for containing a fluid product to be distributed. The package is formed by two opposite sections of flexible roll material and a section of flexible scarf.

The installation case is located on the distribution end of the package and is located between two sections of flexible roll material. Sections of the rolled material are connected to each other with the formation of a pair of laterally extending longitudinally extending edge seams, and are also additionally connected to each other and with the installation case with the formation of an end seam extending laterally along the packet at its distribution end.

According to the present invention, portions of the flexible web material are connected to a portion of the flexible scarf opposite the dispensing end of the bag. The first section of the scarf section is connected directly to one of the sections of flexible roll material on two lateral seals, while the second section of the scarf section is connected directly to the other of the sections of flexible roll material using another pair of lateral corner seals.

According to the present invention, the package of the present package is configured to demonstrate increased hardness and strength due to the configuration of the corner seals connecting the section of the scarf of the package with each of the sections of the flexible roll material. In particular, each of the corner seals includes a first portion of the lip seal extending from a corresponding one of the lip seals of the bag in parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bag. The second portion of the seam of each corner seal extends inward from the first portion of the end seam, while the third portion of the seal extends from the second portion of the seal either: (1) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bag, while the portion of the third seal is carried inside the corresponding first portion of the seal; or (2) outward toward the corresponding first seal portion.

Preferably, every second seal portion of each corner seal includes a linear segment that extends at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the packet, preferably at an acute angle of about 25 to 50 ° to the longitudinal axis of the packet.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, each of the second seal portions of each of the corner seals has a transition segment that preferably extends substantially perpendicularly from the corresponding first seal portion. The corresponding linear segment of each second seal portion extends at an acute angle from the corresponding one of the transition segments to the corresponding third seal portion of this corner seal. Preferably, each of the second seal portions of each of the corner seals is located at a distance of about 2 to 4 mm from the corresponding one of the longitudinally extending mechanical seals.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an analysis of the entire description, including the appended claims and drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In FIG. 1 depicts a pressurized distribution unit including a valve-bag package containing a product to be dispensed, in which the package is installed in a pressurized container, which is shown schematically;

in FIG. 2 - packaging of the valve-bag type (before it is filled with the product), isometric view;

in FIG. 3 - design of the valve-bag type, side view;

in FIG. 4 - the same, an enlarged fragment;

in FIG. 5 is a valve-pack type packaging, bottom view, with a scarf laid out in a flat orientation.

Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

Although the present invention allows embodiments of the present invention in many different forms, only a few specific views are disclosed in this description and the accompanying drawings as examples of the invention.

However, the invention is not limited to the presented embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the invention is set forth in the attached claims.

For ease of description, the elements of the present invention and the container used with the elements of the present invention are described in the normal (upper) operating position. Terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, etc., are used in relation to this provision. However, it should be understood that the elements embodying the present invention can be manufactured, stored, transported, used and sold in an orientation different from the described position.

The figures illustrating the elements of the present invention and the container show some conventional mechanical elements that are known and may be understood by those skilled in the art. A detailed description of such elements is not necessary for understanding the invention, and accordingly, they are presented here only to the extent necessary to facilitate understanding of the new features of the present invention.

The present invention is directed to a valve-bag-type packaging design that is configured to exhibit improved strength and tear resistance. This type of packaging includes an internal collapsible bag connected to an associated mounting unit. The mounting assembly includes a valve assembly for distributing a fluid product, a mounting housing or a valve housing for mounting the valve in the distribution channel, and an immersion tube extending from the channel of the mounting housing to the lower portion of the interior of the mating package. The mounting unit includes a mounting cap for mounting the package on the filling hole of the mating container with the function of working under pressure. In a typical configuration, the distribution channel of the mounting assembly, the valve assembly, and the immersion tube extend along the longitudinal axis of the package.

In a typical configuration, the collapsible bag includes two opposing sections of flexible web material connected by a pair of laterally extending longitudinally extending butt welds or seals. The lateral upper or end weld or seal is located on the upper distribution end of the bag with an end weld made by welding sections of the flexible web material with each other and with the mounting case. As will be described later, according to the present invention, the package includes a lower scarf. Welds for the bag can be performed using various methods, including induction heating, thermal conductivity, ultrasonic welding, friction welding, and the like.

In FIG. 1 shows a pressurized distribution block 50 including a valve-bag package 52 that was filled with product to be dispensed, the package having strong angular seals embodying the present invention. The package 52 includes a collapsible bag 12 and an installation unit 14. In this regard, the package 12 and the installation unit 14, including a control valve 16 (shown in FIG. 1 with a spray tip 55), an installation case 18 having a lower end or a tail part 40, the immersion tube 20 (not visible in FIG. 1) and the mounting cap 22, can be of any acceptable configuration, many of which are known since this is dictated by the particular application intended for the distribution block 50.

Block 50 includes a container 56 with a pressure function, having an inner chamber 58 for bag 12 and a fuel shown schematically at 60. The container 56 and fuel 60 may be of any appropriate type and design (many of which are known), as dictated by the requirements in each case. The bag 12 and the tail portion 40 of the mounting unit 14 of the package 52 are assembled in the container in a standard manner by rolling the empty bag 12 into a conventional cylindrical form and then inserting the bag 12 and the tail portion 40 through the insertion hole 62 of the container 56 with pressure function, the mounting cap 22 hermetically attached to the rim 64 of the container 56 surrounding the hole 62, using any suitable means of attachment, many of which are known. After the bag 12 is assembled in the container 56, the pressure can be increased in the container using fuel 60, and the mounting unit 14 is hermetically connected to the container 56. The fluid product can then be loaded into the bag 12 through the valve assembly 16. The fluid product can be food product, drink, personal care product, home cleaning product, protective product or other product similar or different from the above in the form of a liquid, gas, suspension, paste, powder, lotion, gel, paste, particles, etc.

The collapsible bag 12, which may have a traditional configuration, not to mention the improved sealed construction of the present invention, is usually and preferably made of a flexible thermally adhesive polymer sheet or a multilayer laminate, including a flexible sheet of paper board or metal foil having a thermally adhesive polymer lining so as to have two opposite sections of flexible web material that are thermally glued or otherwise connected to one another along their perimeter The serial edges to form an inner area for receiving the flowable product. The multilayer laminate may be an extrusion laminated film or a binder laminated film. Laminate layers may include a gas-tight layer, a heat-resistant layer, and the like, together with corresponding bonding layers that bond the various layers together.

According to the present invention, strong corner seals or welds 54 of the package embodying the present invention will now be described. Sections 24 of rolled material and section 42 of the scarf may be made of one piece of sheet material or two or more separate sheets of material.

According to an illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the collapsible bag 12 has a longitudinal axis 23 and is configured to contain a fluid product that is to be distributed. To this end, the package is formed by two opposite sections 24 of flexible roll material and section 42 of the flexible lower scarf.

The mounting housing 18 is located at the distribution end of the collapsible bag 12, preferably located between the flexible roll material sections 24, and is connected to them by an end seal 32 extending laterally along the package 12 at its distribution end 33. The flexible roll material sections 24 are connected to each other to form pairs of laterally extending longitudinally extending lip seals 26.

The flexible roll material portions 24 are connected to the flexible scarf section 42 opposite to the dispensing end 33 of the bag 12, and the scarf section 42 is usually folded along the fold line 43 of the scarf. The first section, usually one half, of the scarf section 42 is connected directly to one of the sections 24 of flexible web material on a pair of side-mounted corner seals 54 made in accordance with the present invention. The second section of the kerchief portion 42 is connected directly to the other portion 24 of the flexible web material using another pair of lateral corner seals 54.

Each of the corner seals 54, typically in the form of heat sealing or a weld, has been specially configured to increase the strength of the stack of bags 12. In particular, each of the corner seals 54 includes a first portion 60 of the edge seal extending from the corresponding one of the edge seals 26 of the package parallel to the longitudinal axis of the package. Each corner seal 54 further includes a second seal portion comprising a transition segment 63 and an angular linear segment 64, with the second seal portion extending inward from the first edge seal portion 60.

According to the present invention, each corner seal 54 further includes a third seal portion 65 extending from a linear segment 64 of the second seal portion, wherein the third seal portion 66 extends either: (1) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bag and carried inward from the corresponding first portion 60 edge seal; or (2) outward toward the corresponding first seal portion 60. As illustrated, it is currently preferred that every third seal portion 66 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis and is carried inward from the corresponding first edge seal portion 60. Preferably, each corner seal 54 is suitably rounded in radius, where the transition segment 63 connects to the corner linear segment 64 and where the line segment 64 connects to the third vertical seal portion 66.

In particular, this configuration of each corner seal 54 was discovered to give the folding bag 12 increased strength, whereby less expensive materials can be used to make the bag if desired. In current practice, using materials such as those in previous designs, the bag 12 having the corner seals 54 according to the present invention was able to withstand up to five repetitions of the standardized horizontal impact test, during which the pressurized container with the bag filled in it falls horizontally from a height of 1.6 m, while a container with traditional angular seals shows tearing and leakage of the bag after five repetitions of such a test to hit.

In accordance with a preferred shape, the angled linear segment 64 of each of the second seal portions of the corner seals 54 extends at an acute angle “alpha” (α in FIG. 3) with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stack. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this acute angle is about 25 to 50 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the packet.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the transition segment 63 of each second seal portion of each corner seal 54 preferably extends horizontally or substantially perpendicularly from the corresponding first edge seal portion 60. The corresponding angular linear segment 64 of each second seal portion continues, in turn, at an acute angle α from the corresponding one of the transition segments 63 to the corresponding third vertical seal portion 66.

The portion of each second seal portion (63, 64) closest to the lower end of the corresponding one of the longitudinally extending lip seals 26 is spaced Y from the lower end of the lip seal 26 (Fig. 3), which is preferably from about 3 to about 5 mm . This is a longitudinal directional arrangement from the so-called triple point of the kerchief seam on the kerchief fold line 43, on which the kerchief 42 is connected to each section 24 of flexible roll material. Additionally, it is preferable that each corner seal 54 is configured in such a way that the portion of the linear segment 64 closest to its respective first edge seal portion 60 is allocated from the corresponding first edge seal portion 60 to dimension X (FIG. 3), preferably approximately 2 to 5 mm.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the transition segment 63 is perpendicular to the first edge seal portion 60, the transition segment 63 has a length corresponding to the distance X. The length of the transition segment 63 in combination with the linear segment 64 and in combination with the allocation of the linear segment 64 from the first section 60 of the edge seal serves to reduce stress in sections 24 of the flexible web material at the triple point of the scarf seal. The configuration of the segments 63 and 64 with respect to the first portion 60 of the edge seal creates a mutual arrangement which, according to the inventors (1), reduces stress at the triple point of the scarf seam and (2) distributes stress along the vertical portion 66 of the seal and along segments 63 and 64 .

The present invention has been specifically configured to increase the strength of the collapsible bag 12 and, in particular, to increase the strength of the bag at the triple point of the scarf seam, in which the flexible scarf section 42 is connected to each of the flexible roll material sections 24 of the bag. During the development of the method for the present invention, it was determined that traditional 4-layer laminates, thinner laminates and laminates with fewer layers, as well as laminates without the use of foil, can now meet the criteria of a standard impact test, while previous designs could not withstand this test, in which the standard triple-point seam usually fails. By using the present invention, the cost and weight of the pressurized valve-bag package can be optionally reduced due to the thinner package design, while providing improved impact test performance and also providing valve-bag package options without using foil and low cost . In addition, larger packaging is possible.

Due to the improved weld geometry in the seam area of the triple package-valve packaging point, the package exhibits improved impact tests, including vertical and multiple horizontal impact tests, as well as impact tests at an angle of 45 °.

Existing valve bag applications typically use laminated aluminum foil formed into a bag to hold a product that cannot be exposed to fuel. This aluminum foil bag can be made of multiple layers of different material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) / aluminum / nylon / propylene or PET / aluminum / nylon / polyethylene, etc. These conventional 4-layer laminate designs are industry standard.

Due to the improved geometry of the weld seam of the headscarf in accordance with the present invention, thinner laminate structures can be obtained to reduce the cost of valve-bag packaging. Designs, if desired, may not have foil. Such structures may be, for example, 1-layer, 2-layer or 3-layer structures. Single-layer structures can take the form of a single layer of PET, nylon, polyethylene (PE), monomers and other packaging materials. The 2-layer structures can be in the form of a PET layer with an additional layer of PE, or a layer of nylon with an additional layer of PE, or a layer of PET with an additional layer of polypropylene (PP), or a layer of nylon and an additional layer of PP. If a PE layer is used, then such a PE layer can be either a high density polyethylene (HDPE) layer, or a low density polyethylene (LDPE) layer, or a mixture of HDPE and LDPE. A 3-layer construction may include layers such as PET / Nylon / HDPE. The binder between the layers may be chemically resistant non-aqueous adhesives, which may or may not require thermal curing or bonding using hot melt extrusion methods. An HDPE layer may also consist or be extruded from multiple layers or mixtures to improve oxygen or water vapor penetration, flexibility, processability, etc., one such example includes nylon / ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) / low density polyethylene (LDPE) High Density Polyethylene (HDPE).

A previous test showed that the conventional thinner materials used in the folding bag designs could not stand the standard impact test. Due to the improved geometry According to the present invention, thinner laminate pouch designs can be brought to the market and currently meet and exceed the results of the main forced impact tests established by the industry.

Thus, the advantages offered by the present invention include a new design of a durable scarf that will improve the existing 4-layer packaging, which before that usually could not pass the horizontal impact test. In particular, the structures implemented in accordance with the present invention are configured to undergo multiple successive horizontal impact tests without failure. The new robust design of the headscarf can also allow the use of single-layer structures, which in the past usually did not pass the test for vertical and horizontal impact. It is believed that it will now be possible to pass vertical impact tests and multiple horizontal impact tests carried out sequentially without failure of the structure, thus providing the required reduction in valve-bag packaging costs.

It is believed that the new design of the durable scarf may also allow the use of two-layer structures, although in the past such structures could usually not be made with the possibility of passing tests for vertical and horizontal impacts. The ability of 2-layer structures to withstand such a test will, if desired, reduce the cost of valve-pack packaging.

Similarly, the new design of the durable headscarf will also allow the use of three-layer laminate structures, which usually could not pass the test for vertical and horizontal impacts. It is believed that now a 3-layer laminate construction can withstand tests for vertical and horizontal impacts without failure, allowing a desirable reduction in the cost of packing a valve-bag.

One of the desirable advantages that results from the practical application of the present invention, due to the use of fewer layers of laminates, concerns compatibility problems with aggressive products contained in a valve-bag package. By reducing the number of stack layers and fewer binder layers and / or thinning the laminate structure, the present invention now allows the use of more products in pressurized valve-pack packaging with fewer compatibility problems. Compatibility problems are usually detected by delamination between layers due to chemical attack, which leads to leakage or failure of the valve-bag package.

Any aerosol valve may be used in the present invention, such as a valve having a mounting cap that includes a plastic laminated bottom for attaching a collapsible bag to the cap. Currently, a special body design or adapter is required to secure the bag to the valve.

Heat bonding or ultrasonic welding can be used to create new headscarf geometry, but a binder or other bonding techniques can also be used.

In particular, the present structures provide from 1 to 2.5% increase in the volume of the collapsible bag, thus reducing the additional stress on the bag in comparison with the current design of the triple point area of the scarf. Changing the usual angle of the scarf from 45 to preferably 30 ° of the linear segment 64 relatively increases the volume of the package.

The invention may find application in other cases where valve-bag-type packaging is used.

Claims (8)

1. Packaging (52) for the content and distribution of a fluid product, including:
installation case (18) forming a distribution channel; and
a folding bag (12) with a longitudinal axis (23) for containing the fluid product to be distributed, wherein the bag (12) is formed by two opposite sections (24) of flexible roll material and a section (42) of a flexible scarf; moreover
the installation case (18) is located on the distribution end (33) of the package (12) and is located between two sections (24) of flexible roll material, while the sections (24) of roll material are connected to each other with the formation of a pair of laterally extending mechanical seals (26), and additionally connected to each other and to the aforementioned mounting housing (18) with the formation of the end seal (32), passing sideways on the package (12) at its distribution end (33),
sections (24) of flexible roll material are connected to a section (42) of said flexible scarf opposite to said distribution end (33) of bag (12),
the first section of the said section of the scarf (42) is connected directly to one of the said sections (24) of flexible roll material on two lateral corner seals (54), while the second section of the said section of the scarf (42) is connected directly to the other of the mentioned sections (24) ) a flexible web material using another pair of laterally positioned corner seals (54), wherein
each of said angle seals (54) includes a first portion (60) of the edge seal extending from a respective one of said end seals (26) in parallel with said longitudinal axis (23), wherein the second portion (63, 64) the seal extends inward from said first portion (60) of the edge seal, and the third portion (66) of the seal extends from said second portion (63, 64) of the seal either: (1) parallel to said longitudinal axis (23) and spaced apart from the relevant the first portion (60) of the seal in the inner direction; or (2) outward towards the corresponding first portion (60) of the edge seal. 2. A package (52) for containing and distributing a fluid product according to claim 1, wherein said second sealing portion (63.64) of each of said corner seals (54) includes a linear segment (64) that extends at an acute angle with respect to said longitudinal axis (23). 3. A package (52) for containing and distributing a fluid product according to claim 2, wherein said second sealing portion (63, 64) of each of said corner seals (54) includes a linear segment (64) that extends at an acute angle constituting from about 25 to 50 ° with respect to said longitudinal axis (23). 4. A package (52) for containing and distributing a fluid product according to claim 2, wherein each of said second seal portions (63, 64) of each of said corner seals (54) has a transition segment (63) that extends substantially perpendicular to the corresponding first section (60) of the edge seal, while the corresponding linear segment (64) of each of the second sections (63, 64) extends at said acute angle from the corresponding one of the said transition segments (63) to the corresponding third section (66) tightened i. 5. A package (52) for containing and distributing a fluid product according to claim 2, wherein a portion of each of said second sections (63, 64), which is closest to the end of the corresponding one of the longitudinally extending lip seals (26), is located from said the end of the mentioned regional seal (26) at a distance Y, which is from about 3 to about 5 mm 6. A package (52) for containing and distributing a fluid product according to claim 2, wherein each of said third sections (66) extends parallel to said longitudinal axis (23) and is located at a distance inward from the corresponding first section (60) edge seal. 7. A package (52) for containing and distributing a fluid product according to claim 2, in which a portion of said linear segment (64), which is closest to the corresponding first portion (60) of the edge seal, is located at a distance X from the corresponding first portion (60) ) an edge seal, wherein the distance X is from about 2 to about 5 mm. 8. A package (52) for containing and distributing a fluid product according to claim 7, wherein each of said third sections (66) extends parallel to said longitudinal axis (23) and is located at a distance inward from the corresponding first section (60) edge seal.

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