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
  • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
  • B65D75/52—Details
  • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
  • B65D75/5816—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture for tearing a corner or other small portion next to the edge, e.g. a U-shaped portion
  • B65D75/5822—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture for tearing a corner or other small portion next to the edge, e.g. a U-shaped portion and defining, after tearing, a small dispensing spout, a small orifice or the like
• • 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
  • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
  • B65D75/52—Details
  • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
  • B65D75/5861—Spouts
  • B65D75/5866—Integral spouts
• • 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
  • B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
  • B65D77/22—Details
  • B65D77/30—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during filling or closing of containers
• • 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
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/06—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing powdered or granular material

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a pouch for filling with and storing contents made from various powders such as powdered detergent, flour, table salt, sugar, and powdered spices or the like as well as contents made from various solids such as rice, wheat, red beans, and glass beads or the like, or in other words contents known as granules, and in further detail, relates to a pouch with pour spout for storing granules where the granular contents can smoothly be poured out from the pour spout which is always open.
• the appropriate opening width can be eventually determined by experience.
• liquid refilling pouches for refilling liquid detergent, bathing agents, and shampoo for hair or the like into containers with pumps create a significantly lower volume of garbage when discarded than when discarding a container with pump, and therefore are used as a countermeasure for reducing the volume of waste disposed, and furthermore, the amount of synthetic resin used is less than for a container with pump, so these refilling pouches are also effective as a counter-measure for the environment, and are therefore currently in widespread use.
• standing pouches which are self-standing are usually used, and a pour spout protrudes from the perimeter region at the top of the pouch in order to prevent spilling during transfer of contents. (For instance, refer to patent reference 1.)
• the liquid content can be relatively smoothly poured out even though the pour spout does not have an opening part which is forced open wide, or in other words even if the front and back pair of synthetic resin Films are mutually in light contact with only a minute gap, because of the high fluidity of the liquid.
• a liquid refilling pouch which is able to provide extremely smooth pouring of liquid contents by inserting a small diameter cylinder into the pour spout so that the content can be poured out from the flow path in the cylinder, in order to increase the pouring speed and to shorten the time required for refilling and transferring the contents.
• a small diameter cylinder into the pour spout so that the content can be poured out from the flow path in the cylinder, in order to increase the pouring speed and to shorten the time required for refilling and transferring the contents.
• a liquid refilling pouch which has a opening retaining member wherein a sheet-like opening retaining member made from a bendable sheet is inserted into the pour spout when liquid contents are to be poured in order to form a pour hole into an easy pouring three-dimensional structure in the pour spout with one touch.
• a sheet-like opening retaining member made from a bendable sheet is inserted into the pour spout when liquid contents are to be poured in order to form a pour hole into an easy pouring three-dimensional structure in the pour spout with one touch.
• the permissible thickness of an unused empty pouch or in other words the permissible outer diameter dimension of the cylinder is approximately 15 mm or less, and preferably 10 mm or less.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a pouch for storing granules which can smoothly pour out granular contents even when filled with various types of granules such as various powders like powder detergent, flour, table salt, sugar, and powdered spices or the like or various solids such as rice, wheat, red beans, and glass beads or the like.
• the present invention provides a pouch for storing granules where the perimeter of a front and back pair of synthetic resin films are sealed, preferably heat sealed, wherein: a pouring spout with an easily opened port is formed to protrude out from the top perimeter region of the pouch, and an opening support member is placed at the pour spout, and the front and back pair of synthetic resin films are prevented from mutually contacting by the opening support member in the region where the opening support member is established and surrounding regions thereof, so that the intake port of the pour spout is always maintained in an open condition.
• the present invention provides a pouch for storing granules, wherein the opening support member has a shape selected from a group consisting of (I) hollow cylindrical shapes including hollow round cylinders (a), double chambered cylinders (b) with a partition at the center of the cylinder (a), hollow elliptical cylinders (c), two or more chambered elliptical cylinders (d) with partition in the center of the elliptical cylinder (c), hollow square cylinders (e), hollow rectangular cylinders (f), two or more chambered rectangular cylinders (g) which have partitions and the center of the rectangular cylinder (f) or the like; (II) polygonal pillars with cross-sectional shapes like various letters such as H shape, I shape, U shape or V shape or the like; or (III) combinations of (I) and (II); and the always open pour spout opening, formed by the front and back pair of synthetic resin films which are on both sides of the opening support member, is divided into
• the opening support member is located in a position which does not contact with the cut away region of the easily opened port, and the always open pour spout opening is divided into a plurality of flow paths, and the cut away region (in other words the pour spout opening) of the easily opened port is preferably one of those flow paths.
• the opening support member of the present invention preferably is attached to the synthetic resin film which forms the pouch by at least one or more spot seals.
• the front and back pair of synthetic resin films preferably have a sagging region (swelled region) in the region where the opening support member is located and surrounding regions thereof, formed by plastic working using heating and vacuum. Furthermore, with the present invention, a fastener may be provided if necessary for resealing the easily opened port.
• the present invention anyone can easily form the pour spout without individual differences by cutting or tearing along the cutting opening of the easily opened port. Because the opening support member is positioned in the pour spout region, the pair of synthetic resin films will be kept from mutually contacting by the opening support member in the region where the opening support member is located and the surrounding regions thereof, and the opening of the pour spout will always be maintained in an open condition, so the opening will not need to be supported while pressing by hand. Therefore, when content is poured from a pouch for storing granules which has a relatively large volume, both hands will be necessary to hold the container, but both hands can be freely used in this case so the content can be poured smoothly.
• the always opened opening formed by the front and back pair of synthetic resin films which are on both sides of the opening support member is divided into a plurality of flow paths by the opening support member so the flow path of the divided openings will successively move down from the top in conjunction with changes in the remaining quantity of content.
• the pile of granules which are piled at a steeper angle than the resting angle which is a physical property determined by the type of granular content, can be prevented from suddenly collapsing and concentrating at the opening, and thus plugging the opening.
• the opening support member is located in a position which does not contact with the cut away region of the easily opened port, and therefore the flow paths which divide the opening region are unrestricted at the ends, and if the pouch is inclined such that the top is at an angle slightly lower than horizontal, the contents can be smoothly poured until completely gone even when there is little content remaining.
• the synthetic resin films which form the pouch are bonded by spot seals in at least one or more spots, and therefore shifting of the opening support member attaching position can be prevented, and the effect of the opening support member can be maintained.
• a sagging region (swelling region) is formed by plastic working using vacuum and heat on the front and back pair of synthetic resin films in the area where the opening support member is established and surrounding areas thereof, and therefore the accumulation of granular contents in the gap between the front and back pair of synthetic resin films and the opening support member can be prevented.
• a fastener for resealing the easily opened port is established, and therefore the easily opened port can be resealed in case small quantities of contents are poured out many times or the content easily absorbs moisture.
• Fig. 1 through Fig. 4 are diagrams which show the first embodiment of the pouch for storing granules of the present invention, where Fig. 1 is a top view showing the components of the pouch for storing granules, Fig. 2 is a cross-section view showing an embodiment of the opening support member of the present invention, Fig. 3 shows an example of the divided flow path at the intake port of the opening region of the present invention (partial enlarged cross-section diagram along line A-A in Fig. 1), and Fig. 4 is a top view showing the condition where the pouch for storing granules of the present invention is inclined horizontally. Fig. 5 and Fig.
• FIGS. 6 are diagrams showing the condition where a conventional liquid refilling pouch with an inserted cylinder is used for storing granules, where Fig. 5 is a top view drawing showing the condition where the pouch is inclined horizontally, and Fig. 6 is a top view diagram showing the condition where the pouch is vertical.
• this pouch for storing granules I is comprising a bottom part 2, a perimeter edge part 3, a pour spout 4, an opening support member 7, and a top heat seal region 1 1. Furthermore, the pour spout 4, which has a shape which protrudes from the region at the top of .the pouch for storing granules I, is comprising a pour spout intake port 5, a pour spout discharge port 6, an easily opened port 8, and a side region 9, and an opening support member 7 is located inside of the pour spout.
• a sagging region (swelling region 12) is formed in the front and back pair of synthetic resin films in the area where the opening support member 7 is located and surrounding areas thereof by plastic working using vacuum and heat.
• the easily opened port 8 has a notch for opening (not shown in the drawings) in order to be able to make an opening by simply tearing by hand along a cut away line.
• the notch for opening may be established on only one side.
• the perimeter edge part 3 is the region where the perimeter edge of the pouch for storing granules 1 is heat sealed, and is shown by the oblique lines.
• the upper part of the heat seal region 1 1 is heat sealed shut after filling with the contents.
• the pouch for storing granules 1 of the present invention is made from a compound film where a base material made from commonly used synthetic resin film such as biaxially elongated polyprene film, biaxially elongated polyamide film, biaxially elongated polyester film, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer film, or the like, is laminated with a sealant layer made from an olefin type thermal adhesive resin such as low density polyethylene, straight chain low density polyethylene, ethylene-acetate copolymer, or polypropylene or the like.
• a base material made from commonly used synthetic resin film such as biaxially elongated polyprene film, biaxially elongated polyamide film, biaxially elongated polyester film, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer film, or the like
• a sealant layer made from an olefin type thermal adhesive resin such as low density polyethylene, straight chain low density polyethylene, ethylene-acetate copolymer, or polypropylene
• the material of the opening support member 7 is not restricted in particular, and may be selected from metal, ceramic, plastic, paper, cloth, and wood or the like, but the use of plastic is preferable for being lightweight and because large quantities can be inexpensive reproduced using an extrusion molding process.
• the shape of the opening support member 7 is selected from any one of the following three groups as shown in Fig. 2 (a) through (1).
• FIG. 1 Various hollow cylindrical shapes including hollow round cylinders (a), double chambered cylinders (b) with a partition at the center of the cylinder (a), hollow elliptical cylinders (c), two or more chambered elliptical cylinders (d) with partition in the center of the elliptical cylinder (c), hollow square cylinders (e), hollow rectangular cylinders (f), two or more chambered rectangular cylinders (g) which have partitions and the center of the rectangular cylinder (f) or the like.
• the shape of the opening support member 7 shown in Fig. 2 (a) through (1) are only examples, and the shape is not restricted to these.
• the first objective and function of the opening support member 7 of the present invention is to be positioned in the pour spout 4 in order for the opening support member 7 to prevent the front and back pair of synthetic resin films from mutually contacting in the region where the opening support member 7 is located and surrounding regions thereof, and to maintain the intake port 5 of the pour spout in an always opened condition.
• the second objective and function of the opening support member 7 is to divide the always opened intake port 4 of the pour spout formed by the opening support member 7 and the front and back pair of synthetic resin films on both sides of the opening support member 7, in order to form a plurality of flow paths.
• the flow path of the divided openings will successively move downward from the top corresponding to changes in the remaining quantity of content. Therefore, the pile of granules which are piled at a steeper angle than the resting angle which is a physical property determined by the type of granular contents, can be prevented from suddenly collapsing and accumulating at the opening, and thus plugging the opening.
• the opening support member 7 of the present invention is located in the pour spout, but the shape and condition of the opening support member 7, which divides the intake port 4 of the pour spout into a plurality of flow paths, is not designated, and various shapes and locations of opening support members 7 may be used as shown in Fig. 3.
• the shape of the opening support member and the number of divided flow paths should be determined based on the dimensions of the pouch and the dimensions of the opening of the pour spout.
• the size of the opening of the pour spout will be relatively small, so the shape of the opening support member will preferably be a simple shape such as those shown in Fig. 2 (a), (c), (e), and (h). Furthermore, the shape of the flow paths of the intake ports 4 of the pour spout which are divided by the opening support member 7 are preferably as shown in Fig. 3 ( a), ( b), (c), and (e).
• Table 1 shows examples of measurements of fluid characteristics such as the resting angle for granules (submitted by Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.).
• Granules have unique flow properties which are different than liquids. For instance, when a plate onto which granules have been placed is gradually inclined, the granules will not move while the angle of inclination is low, but when the angle exceeds the resting angle, the surface layer of the granules will begin to flow. As the inclination angle further increases, all of the granules will begin to flow.
• the collapse angle shown in Table 1 is the angle of the remaining pile after collapse when a fixed 'impulse is applied to granules at the resting angle, and if the granules easily flow naturally, the collapse angle will be small.
• the differential angle shown in Table 1 is the difference between the resting angle and the collapse angle, and if the differential angle is large, the granules will have a tendency to naturally collapse and undergo flash flow when an external impulse is applied (flashing phenomenon). Granules with particularly poor flow properties have a steep resting angle, but the resting angle of most standard granules is less than approximately 40°.
• Fig. 4, Fig. 5, and Fig. 6 show the differences in the ease of pouring granules when the pouch for storing granules of the present invention and a conventional liquid refilling pouch with an inserted cylinder are used for storing granules, as well as the function of the opening support member.
• the content of the pouch is presumed to be "starch” (potato starch) which has a resting angle of 40°.
• the opening support member of the present invention was a square cylinder as shown in Fig. 2 (e).
• Fig. 5 is a top view diagram showing the case where a conventional liquid refilling pouch with a cylinder inserted is used for storing granules and is horizontally inclined. As the pouch is gradually inclined from a vertical condition to horizontal, the contents which have a resting angle of 40° or less should remain and form a pile of granules.
• the flow path for the granules will be wider as compared to when a simple cylinder is inserted (all of the opening of the pour spout which is always opened will act as the flow path) so the pour spout will not become blocked even though flash flow (flashing phenomenon) occurs and the granules suddenly flow towards the pour spout.
• the function of the opening support member is to divide the always open opening part, formed by the front and back pair of synthetic resin films on both sides of the opening support member, into a plurality of flow paths, so that the flow path of the divided opening part will successively move down from the top. Therefore, the contents can gradually pour out before the pile of granules which are piled higher than the resting angle suddenly collapses, and therefore plugging of the opening part can be prevented before it happens.
• Fig. 6 is a top view diagram showing the vertically inclined condition when a conventional liquid refilling pouch with a cylinder inserted is used for storing granules.
• the content with a resting angle of 40° or less will remain in the corners of a conventional pouch. The content remaining in the corners of the pouch cannot be completely poured out unless the pouch is vigorously shaken and rolled.
• the content can be completely poured out at the stage where the top part of the pouch is inclined slightly down from horizontal, prior to being made vertical.
• a pour spout can easily be formed by anyone without individual differences by tearing along the cut opening of the easily opened port.
• the front and back pair of synthetic resin films can be prevented from mutually contacting by the opening support member in the area where the opening support member is established and the surrounding area thereof, and therefore the intake port of the pour spout can always be maintained in an open condition, and the opening part will not need to be supported while pressed by hand. Therefore, when content is poured from a pouch for storing granules with relatively large volume, both hands will be needed for holding the pouch, but in this case both hands can be freely used so the content can be smoothly poured out.
• the always opened opening part which is formed by the front and back pair of synthetic resin films on both sides of the opening support member, is divided into a plurality of flow paths, so the flow path of the divided opening part will successively move downward from the top depending on the changes in the amount of content remaining. Therefore, the pile of granules, which are piled at an angle steeper than the resting angle which is a physical property determined by the type of granular content, can be prevented from collapsing and suddenly concentrating at the opening part, causing the opening part to plug.
• the opening support member is located in a position which does not contact with the cut away region of the easily opened port, so the flow paths which divide the opening part are free at the top edge, and the content can be smoothly and completely poured out to the end if the top of the pouch is inclined to an angle slightly lower than horizontal, even if only a small amount of content remains.
• the synthetic resin films which form the pouch are bonded by spot sealing in at least one or more spots, so the position where the opening support member is attached can be prevented from shifting and the effect of the opening support member can be maintained.
• a sagging region (swelling region) is formed in the front and back pair of synthetic resin films in the region where the opening support member is established or surrounding area thereof, by plastic working using vacuum and heat, and therefore the granular content can be prevented from piling up in the gap between the opening support member and the front and back pair of synthetic resin films.
• a fastener for resealing is provided at the easily opened port, and therefore, if small quantities of content are repeatedly poured out or the content easily absorbs moisture, the easily opened port can be resealed if necessary.
• Fig. 2 (b) the inside of the cylinder was divided by placing a partition plate at an angle where the cylinder was horizontal, but the cylinder may also be partitioned by placing the partition plate at an angle.
• the present invention can be used as a pouch for storing granules, and provides a pouch for storing granules which can be filled with and store various granules, and can smoothly pour out the granular content.
• Providing a pouch for storing granules will be helpful for creating a more pleasant everyday lifestyle for the aged who are less nimble in the fingertips, by allowing simple refilling into another container or the like of everyday materials and products made from granules such as powdered detergent, flour, table salt, sugar, powdered spices, rice, wheat, and red beans or the like which are used in everyday life. 1 ⁇
• Fig. 1 is a front view diagram showing the composition of the first embodiment of the pouch for storing granules of the present invention
• Fig. 2 is a cross section diagram showing embodiments of the opening support member of the present invention.
• Fig. 3 is a cross section diagram showing examples of dividing flow path in the intake port of the opening part of the present invention (partial expanded cross-section diagram along line A-A of Fig. 1);
• Fig. 4 is a top view diagram showing the horizontally inclined condition when using the pouch for storing granules of the present invention
• Fig. 5 is a top view diagram showing the horizontally inclined condition when using a conventional liquid refilling pouch with a cylinder inserted, for storing granules
• Fig. 6 is a top view diagram showing the vertically inclined condition when using a conventional liquid refilling pouch with a cylinder inserted, for storing granules.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Bag Frames (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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• 2007
  • 2007-01-25 WO PCT/US2007/002231 patent/WO2007089622A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2007-01-25 EP EP07717070A patent/EP1979248A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-01-25 JP JP2008552453A patent/JP2009524564A/ja active Pending
  • 2007-01-26 US US11/698,626 patent/US20070175920A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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