EP0037727A1 - Verfahren zum Vakuumversiegeln von Verpackungen und vakuumversiegelte Verpackung - Google Patents

Verfahren zum Vakuumversiegeln von Verpackungen und vakuumversiegelte Verpackung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0037727A1
EP0037727A1 EP81301466A EP81301466A EP0037727A1 EP 0037727 A1 EP0037727 A1 EP 0037727A1 EP 81301466 A EP81301466 A EP 81301466A EP 81301466 A EP81301466 A EP 81301466A EP 0037727 A1 EP0037727 A1 EP 0037727A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sleeve
container
evacuation
sealed
vacuum
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP81301466A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Frederick William Wilson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Original Assignee
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Unilever PLC, Unilever NV filed Critical Unilever PLC
Publication of EP0037727A1 publication Critical patent/EP0037727A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/18—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient
    • B65D81/20—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
    • B65D81/2007—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas under vacuum
    • B65D81/2038—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas under vacuum with means for establishing or improving vacuum
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/04—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied
    • B65B31/06—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied the nozzle being arranged for insertion into, and withdrawal from, the mouth of a filled container and operating in conjunction with means for sealing the container mouth

Definitions

  • This invention relates to vacuum-packaging and to vacuum-packaged goods.
  • the problems sought to be solved by different packaging methods are highly various and depend on the type and quantity of goods to be packaged.
  • One problem, particularly in connection with compressible materials, is to reduce their bulk in a convenient way for transport without spoiling them.
  • Another problem, particularly in connection with granular or particulate materials, is to provide sufficient strength in the packaged product.
  • a vacuum-pack comprising an airtight container such as a bag and a sealed evacuation sleeve extending outwardly from the container.
  • an airtight bag e.g. containing a product to be vacuum-sealed, and having an open-ended sealable double sleeve extending outwardly therefrom, can easily be evacuated and sealed according to the invention, by inserting the inner sleeve into a suction tube, ., evacuating, and sealing the sleeve after withdrawal of all or part of the contained air.
  • the invention provides a vacuum-sealed packaged product contained in a sealed container which has a double evacuation sleeve of which the interior communicates with the interior of the container, the sleeve extending outwardly from the container.and comprising an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, and sealed at a location spaced away from the place of connection of the sleeve and the container.
  • a process for vacuum-sealing a product packaged in a container to be evacuated and sealed which comprises (a) engaging an evacuation sleeve extending from the container with an evacuation nozzle connected to an evacuation pump, (b) evacuating the container via the sleeve and nozzle, and (c) sealing the sleeve, wherein the evacuation sleeve of which the interior communicates with the interior of the container is a double sleeve extending outwardly from the container, and comprising an inner sleeve engaging within the evacuation nozzle and an outer sleeve disposed around and outside the evacuation nozzle to hold open the inner sleeve during step (b), and wherein at least the inner sleeve collapses under atmospheric pressure only upon withdrawal of the nozzle, and the evacuation sleeve is then sealed at a distance from its place of connection with the container.
  • This arrangement keeps the base of the sleeve, where it joins the container, open during the evacuation, to allow a good flow rate of air.
  • the arrangement allows particularly easy evacuation using an evacuation pipe or nozzle inserted inside the outer sleeve and with the inner sleeve extending into the pipe. After removal of air either sleeve, or preferably both, can be sealed, e.g. heat-sealed.
  • a convenient feature of this arrangement is the facility to remove the seal, e.g. at the end of the sleeve or sleeves, to release the vacuum, e.g. by cutting off the sealed end or ends, and to re-evacuate and re-seal if desired. Depending on the sleeve length, this can be done several times.
  • This vacuum-pack arrangement gives an easy and convenient way of packing products to allow economy of shipping bulk and outer packaging material, both because of the compression of compressible materials and because of the rigidification and solidification of flowable or granular or particulate materials packed in such a way.
  • packaging outers have to be of considerable load-bearing strength, and strong enough also to resist the outwardly-directed pressure due to the weight of flowable contents or to the elastic stress of compressed contents.
  • a vacuum-packaged compressed or granular or particulate product contained in an airtight bag, e.g. having a sealed evacuation sleeve extending therefrom, contained in a packaging outer which protects the bag against puncture and vacuum loss but either would not be strong enough by itself, but for the effect of the vacuum, to bear the weight of a similar packed product placed on top, without distortion, or else would not be strong enough, but for the effect of the vacuum, to contain the contents without distortion.
  • the airtight bags can be made of a thermoplastic material constituting an adequate air barrier, and where needed, an adequate humidity barrier, e.g. polyethylene, or a laminate of polyethylene with high-density polyethylene, nylon, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyester, aluminium foil, and other suitable materials, e.g. "Cryovac” (TM).
  • a thermoplastic material constituting an adequate air barrier, and where needed, an adequate humidity barrier, e.g. polyethylene, or a laminate of polyethylene with high-density polyethylene, nylon, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyester, aluminium foil, and other suitable materials, e.g. "Cryovac" (TM).
  • the bag can be itself opaque, e.g. metallised or metal foil laminated plastics material.
  • the choice of material is very wide and its suitability determined from its air and moisture permeability characteristics and the proposed storage conditions and duration.
  • One suitable material.for many purposes is for excample 0.2-1 mm thick, e.g. 250 micron gauge, low-density polyethylene film.
  • the bags can be formed and sealed by any suitable method, e.g. heat-welding for any suitable temperature and time to produce a strong airtight weld seam.
  • heat-welding for any suitable temperature and time to produce a strong airtight weld seam.
  • 250 micron LDPE a few seconds at about 120°-130° is suitable, and ultrasonic welding can be used instead for more rapid effect.
  • the evacuation sleeves e.g. concentric pairs of sleeves extending outwardly from the bags, can be of similar material to that of the baags, and often, if desired, of somewhat lighter gauge, e.g. 125 micron LDPE.
  • the sleeves can be formed with the bags or welded thereto, if desired, more than one sleeve can be used per bag, especially for the larger bag sizes. Two methods of forming the pendent sleeves can in particular be used.
  • a bag to contain about 45 kg powdered leaf tea was made from 250 micron LDPE with a double-sleeve evacuation valve formed by method (2) of two 125 micron LDPE tubes (2 inches lay-flat width).
  • the width of the weld seam between the tubes and bag wall was about 3 / 8 ".
  • the cuff diameter was about 1 1 / 4 ".
  • the bag was filled through its open top, with a plastics foam insert placed in the base of the double cuff to prevent spillage and suction of the contents during evacuation. During the filling and evacuation operation the bag was placed in a rectangular former so that the contents assumed a rectangular block shape. The top was sealed in a usual manner after filling.
  • Evacuation was carried out by inserting a 1 1 / 4 " diameter end of a metal evacuation pip connected to a vane-type vacuum pump into the outer of the two evacuation sleeves, so that the inner sleeve extended into the pipe.
  • the pump was capable of reducing the pressure to about 1.14 atm (abs) and did so within 40 1 secs.
  • the foam insert prevented suction of the bag contents but allowed outflow of air.
  • the pump was stopped and the pipe was then 5 removed: then the collapsed inner evacuation sleeve was quickly weld-seamed near its end.
  • the relatively flimsy outer can have a flap to allow access to the underlying evacuation sleeve. The end of this can be cut off to allow entry of air and/or further evacuation prior to resealing.
  • a small quantity of detectable gas, inert with regard to the bag contents e.g. a halocarbon, (e.g. a Freon (TM))
  • TM Freon
  • Such material can be detected by a commercially available halogen ionizing detector, and enables location of leaks even in a largely evacuated bag. If a leak is found it can thus be repaired and the bag if necessary re-evacuated and resealed.
  • the invention described herein is susceptible of any modifications. Included, for example, are its application to packing compressible fibrous material such as textiles; foam, foam rubber and foam plastics; and granular or particulate materials including tea, grain and bean products such as rice; and powdery or granular chemical products such as for example cement. Pressures less than 0.5 atm, e.g. 0.3 or 0.2 atm down to as little as 0.1 atom may be found suitable.
  • the pipe nozzles for the evacuation can be substituted by other convenient evacuation heads, and any suitable arrangement for keeping the evacuation sleeves open during evacuation can be applied. Where small particles or powder are packed, any suitable filter to prevent loss of contents while allowing airflow out of the evacuation tube can be used.
  • a wall portion 1 of a thermoplastic polymer container lying within an apertured protective outer 2 has a thermoplastic welded double evacuation sleeve welded in any suitable way extending outwardly from it through the aperture.
  • the sleeve comprises an inner sleeve 3 which can conveniently be longer than an outer sleeve 4, though it may be convenient in other arrangements for the lengths to be the same or the reverse.
  • a rigid evacuation nozzle 5 is inserted in between sleeves 3 and 4.
  • At least sleeve 3 tends to collapse on withdrawal of nozzle 5, and sealing is applied in any convenient way, preferably at or near the distal end 6 of the arrangement.
  • Heat-sealing is convenient, and can be used to close off the end of sleeve 3 or of sleeves 3 and 4.
  • An.alternative arrangement has sleeve 3 with an initially closed distal end and a hole at or near the closed end. Sealing can then be achieved by blocking the hole or sealing proximally of it.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
EP81301466A 1980-04-03 1981-04-03 Verfahren zum Vakuumversiegeln von Verpackungen und vakuumversiegelte Verpackung Withdrawn EP0037727A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8011386 1980-04-03
GB8011386 1980-04-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0037727A1 true EP0037727A1 (de) 1981-10-14

Family

ID=10512613

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP81301466A Withdrawn EP0037727A1 (de) 1980-04-03 1981-04-03 Verfahren zum Vakuumversiegeln von Verpackungen und vakuumversiegelte Verpackung

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0037727A1 (de)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB961879A (en) * 1962-01-24 1964-06-24 Colodense Ltd Improvements in or relating to packages for vacuum packed merchandise
GB1115108A (en) * 1966-04-29 1968-05-29 Inland Container Corp Thermoplastic multiply liner bag
GB1474838A (en) * 1975-01-06 1977-05-25 Container Corp Apparatus for evacuating a fluid from an open-end flexible thermo-sealable bag

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB961879A (en) * 1962-01-24 1964-06-24 Colodense Ltd Improvements in or relating to packages for vacuum packed merchandise
GB1115108A (en) * 1966-04-29 1968-05-29 Inland Container Corp Thermoplastic multiply liner bag
GB1474838A (en) * 1975-01-06 1977-05-25 Container Corp Apparatus for evacuating a fluid from an open-end flexible thermo-sealable bag

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PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19820402

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: UNILEVER NV

Owner name: UNILEVER PLC

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19831028

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: WILSON, FREDERICK WILLIAM