CA1110588A - Method of manufacturing a flexible collapsible container with a stiffening member - Google Patents
Method of manufacturing a flexible collapsible container with a stiffening memberInfo
- Publication number
- CA1110588A CA1110588A CA322,279A CA322279A CA1110588A CA 1110588 A CA1110588 A CA 1110588A CA 322279 A CA322279 A CA 322279A CA 1110588 A CA1110588 A CA 1110588A
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- stiffener bar
- sections
- sheet sections
- bar
- stiffener
- Prior art date
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Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Method and apparatus for forming novel flexible, collapsible containers from a pair of facing sheet sec-tions, and a stiffener bar positioned between the sheet sections, is disclosed. The pair of facing sheet sections are passed along a process path through a sealing die, with a continuous length of the stiffener bar being posi-tioned between the sheet sections and passed along with process path with the sheet sections. The sealing die forms seal lines between the facing sheet sections to de-fine a group of collapsible containers, each carrying the stiffener bar in transverse relation thereto. Then, at least one of the sheet sections and the stiffener bar is cut through at positions adjacent the edges of the collap-sible containers, to permit the separation of the formed collapsible containers, carrying separated stiffener bar sections, from each other.
Method and apparatus for forming novel flexible, collapsible containers from a pair of facing sheet sec-tions, and a stiffener bar positioned between the sheet sections, is disclosed. The pair of facing sheet sections are passed along a process path through a sealing die, with a continuous length of the stiffener bar being posi-tioned between the sheet sections and passed along with process path with the sheet sections. The sealing die forms seal lines between the facing sheet sections to de-fine a group of collapsible containers, each carrying the stiffener bar in transverse relation thereto. Then, at least one of the sheet sections and the stiffener bar is cut through at positions adjacent the edges of the collap-sible containers, to permit the separation of the formed collapsible containers, carrying separated stiffener bar sections, from each other.
Description
5~3 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Flexible, collapsible containers made of polyvinyl chlorlde plastic, polypropylene-based materials, etc. are presently in commercial use, particularly for the dispensing of parenteral solutions, blood, and the like. In many designs of such containers, it is desira-ble to place a stiffening member in the end of the con-tainer, to provide support to promote flat collapse as it is hung on an IV pole or the like for administration of blood, parenteral solution, or any other liquid as de-sired. The stiffener member facilitates tha flat collapse of the container by holding the tail end of the container in a linear configuration~ and promotes the accurate reading of volume graduations.
At the present time manual and mechanical methods have been proposed for inserting the stiffener member into the tail end of such containers. Manual methods are rela-tively high in their labor costs, and ~he mechanical methods involve expensive machinery,and are subject to mechanical breakdown because of their high complexity of the machinery and the criticality required in the placement of stiffener members into bags.
- Furthermore, accomodation must be made for the fact that some collapsible bag ma~erials, such as polyvinyl chloride, tend to shrink during the heat sterilization process. Accordingly, the stiffener member must be prop erly proportioned so tha-t it fits the width of the steri-lized container, an~ not jus-t the container in its as-made configuration.
rrhis invention provides a simplified method fo:r Eabricating collapsible contalners with an installed s-t:iffcner membe.r. The me-thod is hiyh].y automated, and pro-vides essentially flawless commercial produc-tion capabi:lity for large numbers of such flexible collapsible containers at a significantly reduced manufacturing cost over the cost oE
the previously suggested methods for installing a stiffener member in a flexible, collapsible container.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
:, Broadl:y spea~ing the present invention contemplates the method of forming flexible, collapsible containers from a pair of facing sheet sections and a stiffener bar positioned between the sheet sections, which comprises: passing the pair of facing sheet sections along a process path through a seal-ing die, with a continuous length of the stiffener bar being positioned between the sheet sections and passed along the process path with the sheet sections; forming seal lines with : :
the sealing die between the facing sheet sections to define a group of the collapsible containers, each carrying the stiff-ener bar in transverse relation thereto; cutting through at least one of the sheet sec-tions and incompletely cutting the stiffener bar at positions adjacent the edges of the collapsible containers; cutting the one sheet section and stiffener bar a-t a position within each edge o~ each collapsible containerj and removing the cut-away edge portions of the s-tiffener bar, to facilitate the sepa:ration of the forme~, collapsible contain-ers, carrying separated stiffener bar sections, from each other whereby each remaining stiffener bar section is of less width than each collapsible con:tainer in its as-made configuration.
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5~38 The above me-thod may be effected by way of apparatus for manufacturing flexibler collapsible con-tain ers which contai.n a stiffener bar to provide selective : .:
dimensional stability at one end thereof, which comprises:
means Eor advancing a pair of facing sheet sections along a process pa-th through a sealing die; means for advancing a continuous sti:Efener bar in registry with and positioned between the sheet sections through the die r -the sealing die being adapted to form seal lines between the sheet sec-tions to define separate groups of the flexible, collapsible containers; and means for severing the stiffener bar at positions adjacent the edges of the collapsible containers r to permit the separation of the formed r collapsible contain-ers, carrying separated stiffener bar sections, from each ~ -other. .
Thus with this invention, flexible collapsible con- :
tainers are made from a pair of facing sheet sections and a stiffener bar positioned between the sheet sections b~ pass-ing a pair of the facing sheet sections along a process path through a sealing die with a continuous length of the stiff-ener bar being positioned between the shee-t sections and pass-ed along the process path with the sheet sections, Seal lines are formed between the facing sheet sections with the sealing die to define a group of the collapsible containers, each ~:
carrying the stiffener bar in transverse relation thereto. ~t least one of the sheet sections and the stiffener bar is cut pg/,,~ ~ 3A -.
5~
through by pneumatically-operated knife members or slmilar means, positioned adjacent the edges of the collapsible containers, to permit the separation of the formed col-lapsihle containers, carryiny separated stiffener bar sections, from each other.
Thereafter, ater cutting of the stiffener bar sections, the groups of containers formed by the sealing dies may be easily separated by any desired manual or auto-mated technique into separate, collapsible containers, each L0 carrying a stiffener bar section.
Preferably, the one sheet section and stiffener bar is cut by the knife member at a position within each side edge of each collapsible con~ainer. The cutaway por-tions of the stiffener bar are then removed, so that each remaining stiffener bar section is of less width than each collapsible container in its as-made configuration. rThe width of the stiffener bar is made less than the width of the collapsible container, particularly when the container wall material is of the heat shrinkable variety, and the container is intended for subjection to a heating process, for example steam ste ilization. In this instance, it is desirable to proportion the length of ~he stiffener bar ~o that when the container is subjected to the predeter-mined heating process such as sterilization, it shrinks to a width which essentially corresponds to the length of the stiffener bar, which preferably runs transversely ~v~
across the tail end of the container.
It is also furthex preferable for a furthex cut to be made from the outside through at least one of the sheet sections to incompletely cut the stiffener bar at positions between adjacent edge cuts of the stiffener bar, at the junctions between adjacent, collapsible containers~
This providas flexibility to fold the adjacent containers.
At the same time, as the containers are separated, it fa-cilitates the removal of the portions of the stiffener bars which are between the edge cuts, since that portion of the stiffener bar remains an integral plece despite the partial cut.
The sealing die is pre~erably used to form seal lines in the groups of facing sheet sections on each side of, and adjacent to and parallel to, the stiffener bar sections in the container. This serves to retain and isolat~ the stif~ener bar sections from the remainder of the con~ainer.
Also, the sealing die is proportioned to form double seal lines between ad3acent containersl as well as a thinned line of tearing weakness positioned between the double seal lines. Accordingly, upon separation of the containers, t~aring takes place between the double seal lines along the line of tearing weakness to provide in-tact containers after separation.
.
S~
It is also preferred to provide means for severing and removing portions of the stiffener bar between the sepa-rate groups of flexible collapsible containers, each group of containers being made by a single impressment of the sealing die~
Accordingly, in this invention, continuous rolls of shee~ members are advanced toward the sealing die, along with a continuous roll of stiffening member, which may pre~
ferably comprise a generally oval rod of polypropylene plastic. The desired segments of the stiffener rod are then removed after the sealing step with the die member, to provide a reliable means for mass producing containers made of sealed plas~ic sheets which carry properly propor-tioned and positioned stiffening members, to facilitate the flat collapse of the draining containers.
Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a per-spective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a typical apparatus for performing the method of this inven-- tion.
Figure 2 i5 a plan view of the sealing die and ~ other portions of the apparatus of Figure 1, with upper .~
parts of the structure removed for clarity.
Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged perspective vlew of a portion of the facing sheet sections and stiffener bar as sealed by the die member, showing positions of the 8~3 cutting of the stiffener bar in at least one sheet section.
Figure 4 is a further enlarged perspective view showing the pneumatically operated knife members positioned in the die member which are used to make the cuts as illus-S trated in Figure 3.
Figure 5 shows a completed group of the containers of this invention in the process of having the cut portions of the stiffener bar manually removed after perormance of the process o this invention, to provide thP flexible, col-lapsible containers having properly proportioned stifening bars as described above.
Referring to the drawings, the apparatus and method are shown for making the containers of this invention. A
double layer of facing sheet sections 10, 12 is advanced by a conventional oscillating advanc2 clamp 13, passing through tension contro~ing dancer rolls 14 and web align-ment rolls 15 through guide rollexs 18, along a process path, ~hrough a sealing die assembly 20, for heat sealing of any desired type of the facing sheet sections into groups of the containers as shown. Preferably, when polyvinyl chloride sheet sections are used, radio frequency sealing is a preferred way for accomplishing the sealing step.
The apparatus used may be largely conventional, for example, a Sealomatic hea~ sealing machine sold by the Solidyne Corporation of Long Island, New York, modified as shown herein.
Shee~ sections 10, 12 may be provided off of rolls of material and advanced into the process path through rollers 14 and 15 by a conventional feed mechanism. It is generally preferred to store both sheet sections 10, 12 prior to processing upon the same storage reel.
The sheet sections 10, 12 are divided by splitter bar 22 as they are advanced, which may be made o polytetra-fluoroethylene plastic or the like. Simultaneously, with the advancement of sheet sections 10, 12, stiffener rod 24 is advanced through roller guide member 26 and safety alarm 28 to be posi~ioned be~ween sheet sections 10 and 12. Alarm membér 28 is present for the purpose of shutting off the apparatus by conventional means when the stiffener bar 24 is exhausted, so that the process does not continue in the absence of stif~ener bar 24.
It is preferable to provide a conventional an-choring die means 25 so that on the first operation of the sealing die, the stiffener member 24 becomes adhered by mashing together with the sheet members 10, 12. Thereafter, shee~ members 10, 12 are advanced in direc~ion 30, to expose a fresh section of sheet members lQ, 12 to the sealing die 20. This advancement causes the corresponding advancement of stiffener rod 24. Thereafter, the rollers halt their mo~ion, and platen 32 of die 20 is dropped against the sheet sections to provide radio fre~uency sealing, or any other sealing technique as desired, of the sheet sections 10, 12 along container-defining seal lines 24, 36, etc., as shown particularly in Figure 2.
Top seal 39 of the container is also provi.ded, being made thin enough to permit tearing away of outer strip 41.
Other auxiliary seal lines are provided as de-sired, the specific shape shown herein being that of the VIAFLEX~ parenteral solution container, sold by Travenol Laboratories, Inc. of Deerfield, Illinois. Specifically, a tail seal section 38 is provided including a generally oblong line of tearing weakness 40 to permit the punchlng through of the tail section 38 for hanging of the container upon an IV pole or the like. Other tear lines such as lines 42 are also impressed in sheets 10, 12 by die 20, as well as annular lines of weakness 44 to provide punch-out poxtions at the upper end of the container in the manner of the commercially available VIAFLEX~ container. The var-ious tear lines and sealing lines are formed in the sheet sections 10 and 12 in any conventional manner of the sealing of plastic materials with a sealing die, using elevated seal line forming ridges and the like for pressing against raisable and lowerable platen 32.
The various seal-forming ridges of die 20 are de-fined by die inserts 42, which may be attached to the base 45 of sealing die 20.
Heat or radio frequency ene.rgy is transmitted as desired, such as by lines 47, to the raised portions under seal lines 34, 36, 44, etc. of the sealing die 20 or platen 32 by a connected generator.
As is seen in Figure 2, groups of separate containers 46 are defined in sheet sections 10, 12 by sealing die 20.
The lateral seal lines 34 are typically, as ~ sho~n in Figure 3, made of a pair of heat seal lines 48, -` one for each adjacent container, separated by a thinned.
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line of tearing weakness 50 to permit separation of the containers 46 after processing. Line of weakness 50 merges with a line of weakness in tearable top seal line 39.
Rear seal line 51 is positioned parallel to and adjacent to stiffener bar 24. Another seal line 52 is posi-tioned in parallel relation to stiffener bar 24 on the other side from seal line 36, to retain and isolate the sti~ener bar sections which are formed from stiffener bar 24.
Open mouths S3 are defined in the individual containers 46 for later sealing.
Alternatively, the sealing die utllized herein may ~e used in conjunction with a plastic sealing machine made by Kabar Manufacturing Corporation of Farmingdale, New York, with the platen 32 and its supporting structure (not shown~
and other ancillary parts of the apparatus being of conven-tional design.
Stiffener bar 24 is guided and held in s~ifener bar channel 54 in the sealing die defined between the ele-vated portions which form the seal lines 51, 52.
Positioned within channel 54 are several groups ; of knives, mounted within die bed 45 and actuated by air cylinders to punch upwardly to penetrate the lower facing sheet section 12 and to cut stiffener bar 24. Also, if desired, the knives can cut upper facing sheet section 10.
Each group of knives is shown to comprise a pair of Xnives 56, 58 which are adapted to be raised by the air cy~
linder for cutting at a position wi~hin each edge of seal 34 of 5~8 each collapsible container 46, to pass through sheet sec-tion 12 and completely sever stiffener bar 24 into a se-ries of stiffener bar sections 60, plus a group of stifener bar portions 62 which will be later removed from the separated containers.
Also, a central knife member 64 is provided to operate in conjunction with knife members 56, 58 to cut stifener bar 24 at positions which are on lines of tearing weakness 50~ However, this cut is incomplete because of the presence of recess 66 in the cutting edge of knife member 64, so that portion 62 of the stiffener bar 24 re-mains intact although practically cut through. This in turn facilitates the removal of the entire portion 62 of the stiffener bar upon tearing of lines 5Q to separate the separate co~tainers. A piece of portion 62 protrudes af-ter such separation, and can be easily manually removed.
Air cylinder actuated knives 56, 58 and 64 are actuated in any conventional manner of processing machine technology to operate in a manner which correlates with the remainder of the macnine operations, cuttlng through stiffener bar 24 to provide the shor~er,stiffener bar sections 60 for each individual contalner, typically while sheei sections 10, 12 are stationary and during or just after the heat sealing s~ep for forming the various seal lines between the two sheet sections.
s~
After these processes are complete, sheet sec- .
tions lO, 12 are advanced once a~ain to cause the newly-fo~ned containers 46 to be advanced out of the sealing die, and a new portion of the sheet sections la, 12 to be pre-sented to the sealing die for further processing. At the same time stiffener bar 24 is ad~anced along with the sheet sections at the point 25 where the anchor die 25 acted, to the rear of the cut stiffener bar.
Pneumatically-operated punch-out member 68 is pro-:- 10 vided to punch out ~he portion of stifener bar at the area 70 between separate groups of containers, each group of containers being formed by a separ~te sealing operation of the sealing die 200 This also facilitates the folding of t~.e groups of containers.
Knives 56, 58 are typically positioned about 5/16 of an inch away from line of tearing weakness 50, so that each stiffener bar section 60 being cut out on both ends, is about 5/8 inch shorter than the width of the con-tainer in its as-made configuration When polyvinylchloride containers are being manufactured, autoclaving of the con-tainers after filling wi~h solution can cause them to ~ shrink down to substantially a width which corresponds to : the length of each stiffener bar section 60. Also, the shortening of the stiffener bar prevents it ~rom projecting ':~
.
outwardly beyond the width of the container, which can damage an overpouch for the container if that is used, or other packaging.
The channel 54 between seal lines 51, 15~ may be proportioned to flare outwardly at the edges of each con-tainer as shown, from a typical width of about 1/4 inch at the central portion of the channel 54 to a width of about 5/16 lnch on each side of the container, to facili-tate the removal of portions 62 of stiffener bar 24 during the separation of the containers. This container separa-tion after manufacture in accordance with this invention is illustrated in process in Figure 5.
The above has been offered for illustrative pur-po~es only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is as defined in the claims below.
.
Flexible, collapsible containers made of polyvinyl chlorlde plastic, polypropylene-based materials, etc. are presently in commercial use, particularly for the dispensing of parenteral solutions, blood, and the like. In many designs of such containers, it is desira-ble to place a stiffening member in the end of the con-tainer, to provide support to promote flat collapse as it is hung on an IV pole or the like for administration of blood, parenteral solution, or any other liquid as de-sired. The stiffener member facilitates tha flat collapse of the container by holding the tail end of the container in a linear configuration~ and promotes the accurate reading of volume graduations.
At the present time manual and mechanical methods have been proposed for inserting the stiffener member into the tail end of such containers. Manual methods are rela-tively high in their labor costs, and ~he mechanical methods involve expensive machinery,and are subject to mechanical breakdown because of their high complexity of the machinery and the criticality required in the placement of stiffener members into bags.
- Furthermore, accomodation must be made for the fact that some collapsible bag ma~erials, such as polyvinyl chloride, tend to shrink during the heat sterilization process. Accordingly, the stiffener member must be prop erly proportioned so tha-t it fits the width of the steri-lized container, an~ not jus-t the container in its as-made configuration.
rrhis invention provides a simplified method fo:r Eabricating collapsible contalners with an installed s-t:iffcner membe.r. The me-thod is hiyh].y automated, and pro-vides essentially flawless commercial produc-tion capabi:lity for large numbers of such flexible collapsible containers at a significantly reduced manufacturing cost over the cost oE
the previously suggested methods for installing a stiffener member in a flexible, collapsible container.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
:, Broadl:y spea~ing the present invention contemplates the method of forming flexible, collapsible containers from a pair of facing sheet sections and a stiffener bar positioned between the sheet sections, which comprises: passing the pair of facing sheet sections along a process path through a seal-ing die, with a continuous length of the stiffener bar being positioned between the sheet sections and passed along the process path with the sheet sections; forming seal lines with : :
the sealing die between the facing sheet sections to define a group of the collapsible containers, each carrying the stiff-ener bar in transverse relation thereto; cutting through at least one of the sheet sec-tions and incompletely cutting the stiffener bar at positions adjacent the edges of the collapsible containers; cutting the one sheet section and stiffener bar a-t a position within each edge o~ each collapsible containerj and removing the cut-away edge portions of the s-tiffener bar, to facilitate the sepa:ration of the forme~, collapsible contain-ers, carrying separated stiffener bar sections, from each other whereby each remaining stiffener bar section is of less width than each collapsible con:tainer in its as-made configuration.
r~
Pg~ ~ 3 ~
5~38 The above me-thod may be effected by way of apparatus for manufacturing flexibler collapsible con-tain ers which contai.n a stiffener bar to provide selective : .:
dimensional stability at one end thereof, which comprises:
means Eor advancing a pair of facing sheet sections along a process pa-th through a sealing die; means for advancing a continuous sti:Efener bar in registry with and positioned between the sheet sections through the die r -the sealing die being adapted to form seal lines between the sheet sec-tions to define separate groups of the flexible, collapsible containers; and means for severing the stiffener bar at positions adjacent the edges of the collapsible containers r to permit the separation of the formed r collapsible contain-ers, carrying separated stiffener bar sections, from each ~ -other. .
Thus with this invention, flexible collapsible con- :
tainers are made from a pair of facing sheet sections and a stiffener bar positioned between the sheet sections b~ pass-ing a pair of the facing sheet sections along a process path through a sealing die with a continuous length of the stiff-ener bar being positioned between the shee-t sections and pass-ed along the process path with the sheet sections, Seal lines are formed between the facing sheet sections with the sealing die to define a group of the collapsible containers, each ~:
carrying the stiffener bar in transverse relation thereto. ~t least one of the sheet sections and the stiffener bar is cut pg/,,~ ~ 3A -.
5~
through by pneumatically-operated knife members or slmilar means, positioned adjacent the edges of the collapsible containers, to permit the separation of the formed col-lapsihle containers, carryiny separated stiffener bar sections, from each other.
Thereafter, ater cutting of the stiffener bar sections, the groups of containers formed by the sealing dies may be easily separated by any desired manual or auto-mated technique into separate, collapsible containers, each L0 carrying a stiffener bar section.
Preferably, the one sheet section and stiffener bar is cut by the knife member at a position within each side edge of each collapsible con~ainer. The cutaway por-tions of the stiffener bar are then removed, so that each remaining stiffener bar section is of less width than each collapsible container in its as-made configuration. rThe width of the stiffener bar is made less than the width of the collapsible container, particularly when the container wall material is of the heat shrinkable variety, and the container is intended for subjection to a heating process, for example steam ste ilization. In this instance, it is desirable to proportion the length of ~he stiffener bar ~o that when the container is subjected to the predeter-mined heating process such as sterilization, it shrinks to a width which essentially corresponds to the length of the stiffener bar, which preferably runs transversely ~v~
across the tail end of the container.
It is also furthex preferable for a furthex cut to be made from the outside through at least one of the sheet sections to incompletely cut the stiffener bar at positions between adjacent edge cuts of the stiffener bar, at the junctions between adjacent, collapsible containers~
This providas flexibility to fold the adjacent containers.
At the same time, as the containers are separated, it fa-cilitates the removal of the portions of the stiffener bars which are between the edge cuts, since that portion of the stiffener bar remains an integral plece despite the partial cut.
The sealing die is pre~erably used to form seal lines in the groups of facing sheet sections on each side of, and adjacent to and parallel to, the stiffener bar sections in the container. This serves to retain and isolat~ the stif~ener bar sections from the remainder of the con~ainer.
Also, the sealing die is proportioned to form double seal lines between ad3acent containersl as well as a thinned line of tearing weakness positioned between the double seal lines. Accordingly, upon separation of the containers, t~aring takes place between the double seal lines along the line of tearing weakness to provide in-tact containers after separation.
.
S~
It is also preferred to provide means for severing and removing portions of the stiffener bar between the sepa-rate groups of flexible collapsible containers, each group of containers being made by a single impressment of the sealing die~
Accordingly, in this invention, continuous rolls of shee~ members are advanced toward the sealing die, along with a continuous roll of stiffening member, which may pre~
ferably comprise a generally oval rod of polypropylene plastic. The desired segments of the stiffener rod are then removed after the sealing step with the die member, to provide a reliable means for mass producing containers made of sealed plas~ic sheets which carry properly propor-tioned and positioned stiffening members, to facilitate the flat collapse of the draining containers.
Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a per-spective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a typical apparatus for performing the method of this inven-- tion.
Figure 2 i5 a plan view of the sealing die and ~ other portions of the apparatus of Figure 1, with upper .~
parts of the structure removed for clarity.
Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged perspective vlew of a portion of the facing sheet sections and stiffener bar as sealed by the die member, showing positions of the 8~3 cutting of the stiffener bar in at least one sheet section.
Figure 4 is a further enlarged perspective view showing the pneumatically operated knife members positioned in the die member which are used to make the cuts as illus-S trated in Figure 3.
Figure 5 shows a completed group of the containers of this invention in the process of having the cut portions of the stiffener bar manually removed after perormance of the process o this invention, to provide thP flexible, col-lapsible containers having properly proportioned stifening bars as described above.
Referring to the drawings, the apparatus and method are shown for making the containers of this invention. A
double layer of facing sheet sections 10, 12 is advanced by a conventional oscillating advanc2 clamp 13, passing through tension contro~ing dancer rolls 14 and web align-ment rolls 15 through guide rollexs 18, along a process path, ~hrough a sealing die assembly 20, for heat sealing of any desired type of the facing sheet sections into groups of the containers as shown. Preferably, when polyvinyl chloride sheet sections are used, radio frequency sealing is a preferred way for accomplishing the sealing step.
The apparatus used may be largely conventional, for example, a Sealomatic hea~ sealing machine sold by the Solidyne Corporation of Long Island, New York, modified as shown herein.
Shee~ sections 10, 12 may be provided off of rolls of material and advanced into the process path through rollers 14 and 15 by a conventional feed mechanism. It is generally preferred to store both sheet sections 10, 12 prior to processing upon the same storage reel.
The sheet sections 10, 12 are divided by splitter bar 22 as they are advanced, which may be made o polytetra-fluoroethylene plastic or the like. Simultaneously, with the advancement of sheet sections 10, 12, stiffener rod 24 is advanced through roller guide member 26 and safety alarm 28 to be posi~ioned be~ween sheet sections 10 and 12. Alarm membér 28 is present for the purpose of shutting off the apparatus by conventional means when the stiffener bar 24 is exhausted, so that the process does not continue in the absence of stif~ener bar 24.
It is preferable to provide a conventional an-choring die means 25 so that on the first operation of the sealing die, the stiffener member 24 becomes adhered by mashing together with the sheet members 10, 12. Thereafter, shee~ members 10, 12 are advanced in direc~ion 30, to expose a fresh section of sheet members lQ, 12 to the sealing die 20. This advancement causes the corresponding advancement of stiffener rod 24. Thereafter, the rollers halt their mo~ion, and platen 32 of die 20 is dropped against the sheet sections to provide radio fre~uency sealing, or any other sealing technique as desired, of the sheet sections 10, 12 along container-defining seal lines 24, 36, etc., as shown particularly in Figure 2.
Top seal 39 of the container is also provi.ded, being made thin enough to permit tearing away of outer strip 41.
Other auxiliary seal lines are provided as de-sired, the specific shape shown herein being that of the VIAFLEX~ parenteral solution container, sold by Travenol Laboratories, Inc. of Deerfield, Illinois. Specifically, a tail seal section 38 is provided including a generally oblong line of tearing weakness 40 to permit the punchlng through of the tail section 38 for hanging of the container upon an IV pole or the like. Other tear lines such as lines 42 are also impressed in sheets 10, 12 by die 20, as well as annular lines of weakness 44 to provide punch-out poxtions at the upper end of the container in the manner of the commercially available VIAFLEX~ container. The var-ious tear lines and sealing lines are formed in the sheet sections 10 and 12 in any conventional manner of the sealing of plastic materials with a sealing die, using elevated seal line forming ridges and the like for pressing against raisable and lowerable platen 32.
The various seal-forming ridges of die 20 are de-fined by die inserts 42, which may be attached to the base 45 of sealing die 20.
Heat or radio frequency ene.rgy is transmitted as desired, such as by lines 47, to the raised portions under seal lines 34, 36, 44, etc. of the sealing die 20 or platen 32 by a connected generator.
As is seen in Figure 2, groups of separate containers 46 are defined in sheet sections 10, 12 by sealing die 20.
The lateral seal lines 34 are typically, as ~ sho~n in Figure 3, made of a pair of heat seal lines 48, -` one for each adjacent container, separated by a thinned.
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line of tearing weakness 50 to permit separation of the containers 46 after processing. Line of weakness 50 merges with a line of weakness in tearable top seal line 39.
Rear seal line 51 is positioned parallel to and adjacent to stiffener bar 24. Another seal line 52 is posi-tioned in parallel relation to stiffener bar 24 on the other side from seal line 36, to retain and isolate the sti~ener bar sections which are formed from stiffener bar 24.
Open mouths S3 are defined in the individual containers 46 for later sealing.
Alternatively, the sealing die utllized herein may ~e used in conjunction with a plastic sealing machine made by Kabar Manufacturing Corporation of Farmingdale, New York, with the platen 32 and its supporting structure (not shown~
and other ancillary parts of the apparatus being of conven-tional design.
Stiffener bar 24 is guided and held in s~ifener bar channel 54 in the sealing die defined between the ele-vated portions which form the seal lines 51, 52.
Positioned within channel 54 are several groups ; of knives, mounted within die bed 45 and actuated by air cylinders to punch upwardly to penetrate the lower facing sheet section 12 and to cut stiffener bar 24. Also, if desired, the knives can cut upper facing sheet section 10.
Each group of knives is shown to comprise a pair of Xnives 56, 58 which are adapted to be raised by the air cy~
linder for cutting at a position wi~hin each edge of seal 34 of 5~8 each collapsible container 46, to pass through sheet sec-tion 12 and completely sever stiffener bar 24 into a se-ries of stiffener bar sections 60, plus a group of stifener bar portions 62 which will be later removed from the separated containers.
Also, a central knife member 64 is provided to operate in conjunction with knife members 56, 58 to cut stifener bar 24 at positions which are on lines of tearing weakness 50~ However, this cut is incomplete because of the presence of recess 66 in the cutting edge of knife member 64, so that portion 62 of the stiffener bar 24 re-mains intact although practically cut through. This in turn facilitates the removal of the entire portion 62 of the stiffener bar upon tearing of lines 5Q to separate the separate co~tainers. A piece of portion 62 protrudes af-ter such separation, and can be easily manually removed.
Air cylinder actuated knives 56, 58 and 64 are actuated in any conventional manner of processing machine technology to operate in a manner which correlates with the remainder of the macnine operations, cuttlng through stiffener bar 24 to provide the shor~er,stiffener bar sections 60 for each individual contalner, typically while sheei sections 10, 12 are stationary and during or just after the heat sealing s~ep for forming the various seal lines between the two sheet sections.
s~
After these processes are complete, sheet sec- .
tions lO, 12 are advanced once a~ain to cause the newly-fo~ned containers 46 to be advanced out of the sealing die, and a new portion of the sheet sections la, 12 to be pre-sented to the sealing die for further processing. At the same time stiffener bar 24 is ad~anced along with the sheet sections at the point 25 where the anchor die 25 acted, to the rear of the cut stiffener bar.
Pneumatically-operated punch-out member 68 is pro-:- 10 vided to punch out ~he portion of stifener bar at the area 70 between separate groups of containers, each group of containers being formed by a separ~te sealing operation of the sealing die 200 This also facilitates the folding of t~.e groups of containers.
Knives 56, 58 are typically positioned about 5/16 of an inch away from line of tearing weakness 50, so that each stiffener bar section 60 being cut out on both ends, is about 5/8 inch shorter than the width of the con-tainer in its as-made configuration When polyvinylchloride containers are being manufactured, autoclaving of the con-tainers after filling wi~h solution can cause them to ~ shrink down to substantially a width which corresponds to : the length of each stiffener bar section 60. Also, the shortening of the stiffener bar prevents it ~rom projecting ':~
.
outwardly beyond the width of the container, which can damage an overpouch for the container if that is used, or other packaging.
The channel 54 between seal lines 51, 15~ may be proportioned to flare outwardly at the edges of each con-tainer as shown, from a typical width of about 1/4 inch at the central portion of the channel 54 to a width of about 5/16 lnch on each side of the container, to facili-tate the removal of portions 62 of stiffener bar 24 during the separation of the containers. This container separa-tion after manufacture in accordance with this invention is illustrated in process in Figure 5.
The above has been offered for illustrative pur-po~es only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is as defined in the claims below.
.
Claims (14)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. The method of forming flexible, collapsible containers from a pair of facing sheet sections and a stiffener bar positioned between said sheet sections, which comprises:
passing said pair of facing sheet sections along a process path through a sealing die, with a continuous length of said stiffener bar being positioned between said sheet sections and passed along said process path with said sheet sections; forming seal lines with said sealing die between said facing sheet sections to define a group of said collapsible containers, each carrying said stiffener bar in transverse relation thereto;
cutting through at least one of said sheet sections and incompletely cutting said stiffener bar at positions adjacent the edges of said collapsible containers; cutting said one sheet section and stiffener bar at a position within each edge of each collapsible container; and re-moving the cut-away edge portions of said stiffener bar, to facilitate the separation of the formed, collapsible containers, carrying separated stiffener bar sections, from each other whereby each remaining stiffener bar section is of less width than each collapsible container in its as-made configuration.
passing said pair of facing sheet sections along a process path through a sealing die, with a continuous length of said stiffener bar being positioned between said sheet sections and passed along said process path with said sheet sections; forming seal lines with said sealing die between said facing sheet sections to define a group of said collapsible containers, each carrying said stiffener bar in transverse relation thereto;
cutting through at least one of said sheet sections and incompletely cutting said stiffener bar at positions adjacent the edges of said collapsible containers; cutting said one sheet section and stiffener bar at a position within each edge of each collapsible container; and re-moving the cut-away edge portions of said stiffener bar, to facilitate the separation of the formed, collapsible containers, carrying separated stiffener bar sections, from each other whereby each remaining stiffener bar section is of less width than each collapsible container in its as-made configuration.
2. The method of Claim 1 in which said facing sheet sections are made of polyvinylchloride plastic.
3. The method of Claim 2 in which the forward end of said stiffener bar is initially bonded to said facing sheet sections, to be advanced along said process path by being pulled by said sheet sections.
4. The method of Claim 3 in which seal lines are formed in said facing sheet sections on each side of, adjacent to, and parallel to said stiffener bar sections in the container, to retain and isolate said stiffener bar sections.
5. The method of Claim 4 in which the seal lines formed between groups of adjacent containers are double seal lines with a line of tearing weakness posi-tioned between them.
6. The method of Claim 1 in which said facing sheet sections are made of a plastic material that shrinks upon exposure to heat, said stiffener bar sections being proportioned to be essentially equal to the width of said container after a predetermined heat treatment.
7. Apparatus for manufacturing flexible, col-lapsible containers which contain a stiffener bar to pro-vide selective dimensional stability at one end thereof, which comprises:
means for advancing a pair of facing sheet sec-tions along a process path through a sealing die; means for advancing a continuous stiffener bar in registry with and positioned between said sheet sections through said die, said sealing die being adapted to form seal lines between said sheet sections to define separate groups of said flexible, collapsible containers; and means for severing said stiffener bar at positions adjacent the edges of said collapsible containers, to permit the separation of the formed, collapsible containers, carrying separated stiffener bar sections, from each other.
means for advancing a pair of facing sheet sec-tions along a process path through a sealing die; means for advancing a continuous stiffener bar in registry with and positioned between said sheet sections through said die, said sealing die being adapted to form seal lines between said sheet sections to define separate groups of said flexible, collapsible containers; and means for severing said stiffener bar at positions adjacent the edges of said collapsible containers, to permit the separation of the formed, collapsible containers, carrying separated stiffener bar sections, from each other.
8. The apparatus of Claim 7 including means for incompletely cutting said stiffener bar at positions be-tween adjacent edge cuts of the stiffener bar, at the junctions between adjacent, collapsible containers, whereby a flexible joint is defined in said stiffener bar but the portion of said stiffener bar between adjacent edge cuts can still be removed as a single piece, said last-named means comprising a blade defining a central cutaway por-tion at the cutting edge to prevent complete severing of said stiffener bar by the blade.
9. The apparatus of Claim 8 which includes means for initially sealing the forward end of said stiffener bar to said facing sheet sections, to permit said stiff-ener bar to be advanced along said process path by said means for advancing the pair of spacing sheet sections.
10. The apparatus of Claim 9 in which said sealing die is adapted to form seal lines between said facing sheet sections on each side of, adjacent to, and parallel to said stiffener bar sections in the container, to retain and isolate said stiffener bar sections.
11. An apparatus of Claim 10 in which said sealing die is further adapted to form seal lines between adjacent containers in said separate groups which com-prise a double seal line with a line of tearing weakness positioned between them.
12. The apparatus of Claim 11 in which said facing sheet sections are made of a plastic material which shrinks upon heating, and the length of said stiff-ener bar sections is proportioned to be essentially equal to the width of said container after a predetermined heat treatment.
13. The apparatus of Claim 12 in which said facing sheet sections are made of polyvinyl chloride plastic.
14. The apparatus of Claim 13 including means for severing and removing portions of said stiffener bar between said separate groups of said flexible, collapsible containers.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA322,279A CA1110588A (en) | 1979-02-26 | 1979-02-26 | Method of manufacturing a flexible collapsible container with a stiffening member |
| CA000372396A CA1117905A (en) | 1979-02-26 | 1981-03-05 | Flexible, collapsible container having a stiffener member therein |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA322,279A CA1110588A (en) | 1979-02-26 | 1979-02-26 | Method of manufacturing a flexible collapsible container with a stiffening member |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1110588A true CA1110588A (en) | 1981-10-13 |
Family
ID=4113629
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA322,279A Expired CA1110588A (en) | 1979-02-26 | 1979-02-26 | Method of manufacturing a flexible collapsible container with a stiffening member |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1110588A (en) |
-
1979
- 1979-02-26 CA CA322,279A patent/CA1110588A/en not_active Expired
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| MKEX | Expiry |