EP0266438B1 - Zipper-lock bag chain with tearable strip interconnection means - Google Patents

Zipper-lock bag chain with tearable strip interconnection means Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0266438B1
EP0266438B1 EP86115173A EP86115173A EP0266438B1 EP 0266438 B1 EP0266438 B1 EP 0266438B1 EP 86115173 A EP86115173 A EP 86115173A EP 86115173 A EP86115173 A EP 86115173A EP 0266438 B1 EP0266438 B1 EP 0266438B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bags
chain
bag
strip
zipper
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP86115173A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0266438A1 (en
Inventor
Per Bentsen
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.)
Minigrip Europe GmbH
Original Assignee
Minigrip Europe GmbH
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 Minigrip Europe GmbH filed Critical Minigrip Europe GmbH
Priority to ES86115173T priority Critical patent/ES2015248B3/en
Priority to DE8686115173T priority patent/DE3671618D1/en
Priority to EP86115173A priority patent/EP0266438B1/en
Publication of EP0266438A1 publication Critical patent/EP0266438A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0266438B1 publication Critical patent/EP0266438B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
    • B65D33/002—Rolls, strips or like assemblies of bags
    • 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
    • B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
    • B65D33/02—Local reinforcements or stiffening inserts, e.g. wires, strings, strips or frames

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a chain of laterally interconnected bags comprising in combination: a plurality of bags formed of a plastic film, each having releasably interlocking rib and groove elements on confronting inner faces at the top thereof, each closed by a side seam at each side edge and positioned in side-by-side relationship to form a chain; and a strip of material integral with the material of the bags and detachably connected to the top of each bag alone a line of weakened resistance, especially formed by a plurality of perforations extending parallel to said chain for manual separation from said chain for separating individual bags therefrom.
  • Such chain is known from GB-A 2 109 771.
  • the bags which are involved are thin plastic film bags which have sides and a bottom edge and at the upper end have a reclosable zipper lock structure.
  • the zipper lock structure constitutes a set of interlocking rib and groove profiles.
  • the lock structure is closable and the bag is closed by applying and opposed closure pressure progressively along the length of the profile elements.
  • the lock structure and the bag is opened when the profiles are separated by either drawing them apart, such as by pulling flaps which extend above the profiles laterally or by longitudinal movement of one profile relative to another in such a manner that the profiles snap apart.
  • Reclosable bags of the type described are disclosed, for example, in US-A 28 969 RE, US-A 3 338 284 and US-A 29 208 RE.
  • Bags of the above type are typically made by the plastic being continuously extruded from a circular die to form an endless profile tube.
  • the bags can be made from a folded flat film with interlocking profiles adjacent either end with said profiles either attached integrally or separately attached.
  • the profiles can be formed integrally with the material of the bag or may be on strips which are then secured to the bag material.
  • the mating interlocking profiles are formed on the inner surface of the tube. The profiles are joined when the plastic has cooled sufficiently to eliminate distortion of the plastic. Subsequently, individual bags are formed by cross-seals at spaced intervals to form a seam at each of the side edges of each of the bags with the bags being simultaneously cut from the tube at said seam.
  • the bags are manufactured and are stored to be sold and shipped to the user who opens, fills and recloses the individual bags.
  • These bags may be stacked in boxes, but in one preferred form, the bags are interconnected to each other in strip or chain form with individual bags torn off of the supply strip.
  • This form of chain of bags is advantageously utilized in automatic filling and handling machines, and one arrangement for utilizing such a chain of bags is disclosed in US-A 4 490 959, where automatic machinery has been devised for feeding, opening, and re- closing the reclosable bags.
  • Such mechanism utilizes a series of interconnected bags drawing them along a travel path through work stations of the machine.
  • the individual bags are removed from the supply chain by being 'forcibly torn from the chain. Whether torn from the chain or otherwise disconnected, a relatively high speed production operation can occur by pulling the chain of bags from a supply source, either a roll or a box and having individual bags disconnected from the chain as they are handled by the machine.
  • a significant feature of providing such a chain of bags is that the formation of the chain or interconnection of the bag be done simply without interfering with the manufacturing operation and without adversely affecting the strength and appearance of the bag. Also, whether the bags are forcibly torn from each other, or the interconnecting means is broken or separated by other arrangements as will be described herein, the bags must be separated without damage to them, and also separated rapidly and easily without slowing the high speed operation of the filling and closing machine.
  • an object of the invention to provide an improved bag chain structure wherein the ease of separation of the bags can be controlled by an improved structure for the attachment of bags to each other to form a continuous chain wherein the structure serves to accurately align the adjacent bags to each other maintaining the interlocking rib and groove elements and the top and bottom edges in alignment.
  • An advantage of this form of the invention is to manufacture bags sequentially and provide a removable strip along both edges so that the strip can be separated to sequentially release the bags such as by tearing the strip from the edge.
  • FIG. 1 The only Figure illustrates a chain of bags with the bags preferably formed of a thin polyethylene material and attached to each other in a side-by-side relationship. Bags are shown at 10 and 11 having heat sealed side seams 14 and 15, and a cross section of the bag 9 is shown to illustrate sidewalls 12 and 13. The bottom is closed along a heat sealed seam 16.
  • rib and groove elements 17 and 18 Adjacent the top of the bag on confronting faces are pressure interlocking rib and groove elements 17 and 18.
  • the rib and groove elements are separable in using the bag by pulling apart flanges 23 and 24 at the top of the bag.
  • a strip 19 which is a continuation of the bag walls 12 and 13 below the bottom seam 16, extends along the bottom of the bags and is perforated below said seam by perforations 20.
  • the side seams 14 and 15 extend slightly beyond sealed seam 16 into into the perforations 20 so that when the strip 19 is torn along said perforations, the bags in the chain become separated.
  • a similar strip 21 which is a continuation of flange flap, 24 and extends along the top of the bags and is perforated by perforations 22.
  • the individual connected bags after their rib and groove elements have been pulled apart are filled and then the rib and groove elements are pressed together.
  • the filled bags are then separated from the chain by tearing the strips 19 and 21 from the chain which release the individual bags from the chain. Until the strips are torn off, the bags are interconnected in a chain. It is also possible that the user may wish to fill the individual bags after they have been separated from the chain. In that case the bags will be released by tearing the strips off the chain and each bag will be released to be taken individually and filled when the strips are progressively torn from the chain.
  • the strips 19 and 21 are preferably of material integral with the bag material.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Bag Frames (AREA)
  • Making Paper Articles (AREA)

Description

  • The present invention relates to a chain of laterally interconnected bags comprising in combination: a plurality of bags formed of a plastic film, each having releasably interlocking rib and groove elements on confronting inner faces at the top thereof, each closed by a side seam at each side edge and positioned in side-by-side relationship to form a chain; and a strip of material integral with the material of the bags and detachably connected to the top of each bag alone a line of weakened resistance, especially formed by a plurality of perforations extending parallel to said chain for manual separation from said chain for separating individual bags therefrom.
  • Such chain is known from GB-A 2 109 771.
  • Generally, the bags which are involved are thin plastic film bags which have sides and a bottom edge and at the upper end have a reclosable zipper lock structure. The zipper lock structure constitutes a set of interlocking rib and groove profiles. The lock structure is closable and the bag is closed by applying and opposed closure pressure progressively along the length of the profile elements. The lock structure and the bag is opened when the profiles are separated by either drawing them apart, such as by pulling flaps which extend above the profiles laterally or by longitudinal movement of one profile relative to another in such a manner that the profiles snap apart. Reclosable bags of the type described are disclosed, for example, in US-A 28 969 RE, US-A 3 338 284 and US-A 29 208 RE.
  • Bags of the above type are typically made by the plastic being continuously extruded from a circular die to form an endless profile tube. However, the bags can be made from a folded flat film with interlocking profiles adjacent either end with said profiles either attached integrally or separately attached. In other words, the profiles can be formed integrally with the material of the bag or may be on strips which are then secured to the bag material. In the tubular form, the mating interlocking profiles are formed on the inner surface of the tube. The profiles are joined when the plastic has cooled sufficiently to eliminate distortion of the plastic. Subsequently, individual bags are formed by cross-seals at spaced intervals to form a seam at each of the side edges of each of the bags with the bags being simultaneously cut from the tube at said seam.
  • In one commercially advantageous form, the bags are manufactured and are stored to be sold and shipped to the user who opens, fills and recloses the individual bags. These bags may be stacked in boxes, but in one preferred form, the bags are interconnected to each other in strip or chain form with individual bags torn off of the supply strip. This form of chain of bags is advantageously utilized in automatic filling and handling machines, and one arrangement for utilizing such a chain of bags is disclosed in US-A 4 490 959, where automatic machinery has been devised for feeding, opening, and re- closing the reclosable bags. Such mechanism utilizes a series of interconnected bags drawing them along a travel path through work stations of the machine. At one section of the machine, the individual bags are removed from the supply chain by being 'forcibly torn from the chain. Whether torn from the chain or otherwise disconnected, a relatively high speed production operation can occur by pulling the chain of bags from a supply source, either a roll or a box and having individual bags disconnected from the chain as they are handled by the machine.
  • A significant feature of providing such a chain of bags is that the formation of the chain or interconnection of the bag be done simply without interfering with the manufacturing operation and without adversely affecting the strength and appearance of the bag. Also, whether the bags are forcibly torn from each other, or the interconnecting means is broken or separated by other arrangements as will be described herein, the bags must be separated without damage to them, and also separated rapidly and easily without slowing the high speed operation of the filling and closing machine.
  • Proceeding on the basis of the prior art it is an object of the invention to provide an improved bag chain structure wherein the ease of separation of the bags can be controlled by an improved structure for the attachment of bags to each other to form a continuous chain wherein the structure serves to accurately align the adjacent bags to each other maintaining the interlocking rib and groove elements and the top and bottom edges in alignment.
  • This object is accomplished with a chain of the type indicated above which chain in compliance with the present invention is characterized in that a further strip of material of the bags and detachably connected to the bottom of each bag and attached along a line of weakened resistance, is especially formed by a plurality of perforations for manual separation from said chain for separating individual bags therefrom.
  • An advantage of this form of the invention is to manufacture bags sequentially and provide a removable strip along both edges so that the strip can be separated to sequentially release the bags such as by tearing the strip from the edge.
  • The invention will become more apparent from the teaching of the principles of the invention in connection with the disclosure of the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, in which the only figure is a perspective view showing a section through one of a chain of bags constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
  • The only Figure illustrates a chain of bags with the bags preferably formed of a thin polyethylene material and attached to each other in a side-by-side relationship. Bags are shown at 10 and 11 having heat sealed side seams 14 and 15, and a cross section of the bag 9 is shown to illustrate sidewalls 12 and 13. The bottom is closed along a heat sealed seam 16.
  • Adjacent the top of the bag on confronting faces are pressure interlocking rib and groove elements 17 and 18. The rib and groove elements are separable in using the bag by pulling apart flanges 23 and 24 at the top of the bag. For purposes of interconnecting the bags in a continuous chain, a strip 19 which is a continuation of the bag walls 12 and 13 below the bottom seam 16, extends along the bottom of the bags and is perforated below said seam by perforations 20. The side seams 14 and 15 extend slightly beyond sealed seam 16 into into the perforations 20 so that when the strip 19 is torn along said perforations, the bags in the chain become separated.
  • At the top is a similar strip 21 which is a continuation of flange flap, 24 and extends along the top of the bags and is perforated by perforations 22.
  • Thus, when utilizing the bags, the individual connected bags after their rib and groove elements have been pulled apart are filled and then the rib and groove elements are pressed together. The filled bags are then separated from the chain by tearing the strips 19 and 21 from the chain which release the individual bags from the chain. Until the strips are torn off, the bags are interconnected in a chain. It is also possible that the user may wish to fill the individual bags after they have been separated from the chain. In that case the bags will be released by tearing the strips off the chain and each bag will be released to be taken individually and filled when the strips are progressively torn from the chain. The strips 19 and 21 are preferably of material integral with the bag material.

Claims (1)

  1. A chain of laterally interconnected bags (9, 10, 11) comprising in combination:
    a plurality of bags (9, 10, 11) formed of a plastic film, each having releasably interlocking rib and groove elements on confronting inner faces at the top thereof, each closed by a side seam (14, 15) at each side edge and positioned in side-by-side relationship to form a chain; and
    a strip (21) of material integral with the material of the bags (9, 10, 11) and detachably connected to the top of each bag (9, 10, 11) along a line of weakened resistance, especially formed by a plurality of perforations (22), extending parallel to said chain for manual separation from said chain for separating individual bags (9, 10, 11), therefrom
    said chain being characterized by a further strip (19) of material integral with the material of the bags and detachably connected to the bottom of each bag and attached along a line of weakened resistance, especially formed by a plurality of perforations (20), for manual separation from said chain for separating individual bags (9, 10, 11) therefrom.
EP86115173A 1986-11-01 1986-11-01 Zipper-lock bag chain with tearable strip interconnection means Expired - Lifetime EP0266438B1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES86115173T ES2015248B3 (en) 1986-11-01 1986-11-01 CHAIN OF ZIPPER CLOSURE BAGS WITH MEANS OF INTERCONNECTION WITH STARTING STRIP.
DE8686115173T DE3671618D1 (en) 1986-11-01 1986-11-01 ZIPPER BAG CHAIN WITH TORN CONNECTOR.
EP86115173A EP0266438B1 (en) 1986-11-01 1986-11-01 Zipper-lock bag chain with tearable strip interconnection means

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP86115173A EP0266438B1 (en) 1986-11-01 1986-11-01 Zipper-lock bag chain with tearable strip interconnection means

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0266438A1 EP0266438A1 (en) 1988-05-11
EP0266438B1 true EP0266438B1 (en) 1990-05-30

Family

ID=8195557

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86115173A Expired - Lifetime EP0266438B1 (en) 1986-11-01 1986-11-01 Zipper-lock bag chain with tearable strip interconnection means

Country Status (3)

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EP (1) EP0266438B1 (en)
DE (1) DE3671618D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2015248B3 (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NZ272804A (en) * 1995-12-18 1997-02-24 Minigrip Flexible Packaging Lt Method of bag filling by opening and closing string of bags having stable feet
DE202007009540U1 (en) * 2007-07-06 2007-09-13 Lemo Maschinenbau Gmbh Machine bag on a roll
EP3503840A1 (en) 2016-08-26 2019-07-03 Vita Zahnfabrik H. Rauter GmbH & Co. KG Tooth unit and method for producing a denture base
JP6539762B2 (en) * 2018-04-19 2019-07-03 株式会社生産日本社 Product of outer bag with product taken-up or folded product, method of manufacturing them and method of supplying bag
JP7261618B2 (en) * 2019-03-06 2023-04-20 株式会社生産日本社 Product-filled outer bag, product-filled outer bag wound or zigzag product, manufacturing method thereof, bag supply method, cylindrical outer bag with fittings and use of cylindrical outer bag
AU2021323890A1 (en) * 2020-08-14 2023-02-23 Schur Technology A/S A web of bags with guide and bags of different materials

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL166656C (en) * 1968-05-08 1981-09-15 Basic Packaging Systems Inc DEVICE FOR FILLING CONNECTED POCKET ELEMENTS.
US4278198A (en) * 1977-11-17 1981-07-14 Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc. Flexible collapsible container with a stiffening member
GB2109771B (en) * 1981-11-19 1986-04-03 Nigel Ervine Claxton Bags and the manufacture of bags
US4523918A (en) * 1982-11-12 1985-06-18 Minigrip, Inc. Method of forming a bag chain
NZ205693A (en) * 1982-09-30 1986-12-05 Bendon Ind Ltd Chain of laterally interconnected plastic bags
US4569083A (en) * 1984-02-08 1986-02-04 Basic Packaging Systems, Inc. Chain of open mouth bags

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2015248B3 (en) 1990-08-16
EP0266438A1 (en) 1988-05-11
DE3671618D1 (en) 1990-07-05

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