EP2018331A1

EP2018331A1 - Container for filling material and method for the production thereof

Info

Publication number: EP2018331A1
Application number: EP07725077A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alois Combrink
Original assignee: Haver and Boecker OHG
Current assignee: Haver and Boecker OHG
Priority date: 2006-05-11
Filing date: 2007-05-10
Publication date: 2009-01-28
Also published as: DE102006022295A1; US20090235616A1; WO2007131704A1; CA2652026A1

Abstract

A container (1) for filling material and a method for processing gusseted tubular films (4), wherein the container (1) has a container body (2) made of a tubular film (4) provided with gussets (3) which comprises an inner volume for receiving a filling material. There is an end seam (5) on a first end (12) of the container body (2), and in the area of the gussets (3) on the container corners (8), corner seams (7) are provided which respectively extend through two layers (13a, 13b) of the gussets (3a, 3b) in order to separate the container corner area (8) from the inner volume. On at least one container corner (8), at least one opening (9)is provided which extends through the layers (13a, 13b) of the gusset (3a, 3b) and which is separated from the inner volume of the container body (2) such that, thanks to the corner seams (7) and the end seam (5) and the opening (9), a carry device (11) is formed which allows a finger hold on the carry device (11) for a person carrying the container.

Description

Container for filling material and method for its production

The present invention relates to a container for filling material, in particular a bag, which has a container body made of a gusseted tubular film. In particular, the container is suitable for receiving fine-grained bulk material, such as e.g. for receiving cement or other powdered building materials, chemicals or e.g. fine-grained FarbstoffPartikeln, as well as paste-like or pasty substances or the like.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a bottling plant for filling such containers made of gusseted tubular film and a method for processing gusseted tubular film. The container is provided with a carrying device to allow a person to carry the filled container convenient transport.

Bags made of tubular film without gussets have also become known from the prior art. For example, e.g. From GB 1,152,310 a bag has become known which has a partitioned area with a plurality of punched-out holes to form a carrying handle. The disadvantage here is that to obtain the same filling volume additional film material for the divided area is needed. Another disadvantage of such bags is that the carrying handle

CONFIRMATION ^Q SKOPIE is not designed for high loads, since the two-layer tubular film can absorb and transmit forces only limited. A fundamental and significant disadvantage of such bags is also the insufficient stackability, since they have a pad-shaped structure in the filled state, which does not allow effective stacking. In addition, such pillow-shaped bags also look visually not so appealing.

Visually attractive and stackable are sacks or containers provided with gussets and corner welds. The corner welds made in the gussets connect two of the four layers in each case. The filled container assumes a cuboid shape, whereby a good stackability is made possible.

For example, in the prior art gusseted bags have become known in which separate carrying loops or handles are welded to the head of the container. The attachment of such separate straps is relatively expensive, especially when containers are made in a so-called FFS machine (form-fill-seal machine) directly in front of the machine itself. The attachment of such loops requires a further elaborate step, with the support loops additionally film material is used, which further increases the overall cost. If, on the other hand, a finished bag is used, the overall costs increase.

In the structural design and execution is also pay attention to the force distribution and force, as for example, a broken Endnaht an unfavorable Can cause force distribution that can cause an unsightly or even harmful elongation of individual bag parts or eg the grip tabs, which in turn can cause sacks are not accepted by customers for optical reasons, namely, for example, if individual parts extend already due to a normal load bearing , By a corresponding structural design should therefore be prevented that extend individual parts due to typical load bearing.

There are also known gusseted bags in which a portion of the tubular film is left over the top seam, with which the bag is closed, to provide a carrying handle in the area. Such a configuration can be carried out sufficiently stable, but in turn has the disadvantage that in addition a few centimeters of film material must be spent on the carrying handle, which drives the cost of materials altogether in the air. If, with a bottling plant, e.g. 1 to 3 million bags per year are filled, resulting in a very significant additional material and cost.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a container in which a convenient carrying possibility of a container filled with powdery or dusty materials container is made possible at low cost, while on the other hand, a sufficiently stable carrying option is available.

This object is achieved by the container according to claim 1, the filling system according to claim 9 and the method according to Claim 11. Preferred developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The container according to the invention for filling according to claim 1 is designed in particular as a sack and is used in particular for receiving bulk material, such as fine powdery or dusty materials. The container comprises a container body, which consists of a gusseted tubular film. The container body has an internal volume for receiving a filling material. It is an end seam at a first end of the container body and corner seams are provided at the container corners in the area of the side folds, each extending through two layers of tubular film to allow a cuboid shape in the filled state and the area of the container corners of the inner volume essentially and in particular completely separate. At least one container corner is provided with at least one opening extending through the layers of a lateral fold and separated from the inner volume, so that a support device is formed by the corner seams and the end seam and the opening, which supports a person when carrying the particularly filled container the carrying device allows. In this case, there is no connection between the inner volume and the opening, so that despite the opening provided in the layers of the tubular film no filling material emerges from the container, even if dusty or fine-grained material is filled. The invention has considerable advantages. An essential advantage of the invention is that no additional material is needed for the production of the carrying device. According to the invention no additional carrying strap or carrying device must be attached to the container in order to allow a person a comfortable carrying the container. It is also not necessary that the container size is affected by the support device. The film tube for the creation of the container must only have the length, as required for receiving the contents. An additional length of section to form a handle or other holding or carrying device is not required. For the carrying device no additional material is needed.

A significant advantage is that the opening of the carrying device is not in communication with the interior of the container, so that no discharge of contents through the openings of the carrying device is possible. For sealing no separate material is needed because the corner seams ensure reliable separation.

It is also an advantage that the end or transverse seam, in particular across the entire width, transversely to the longitudinal extent results in a uniform distribution of the weight load at the end of the container. A weakening via attached tabs or the like, as known from the prior art, is not available.

A further advantage is that the carrying device extends in the region of the side fold, so that a total of four layers of the tubular film ensure the necessary stability for the initiation and also the transmission of the force.

Another significant advantage is that despite the convenient carrying option no additional material for the carrying device is needed, at the same time the full capacity is available and good stackability is achieved. The needed for the bag or the container The amount of tubular film can be optimally adapted to the contents to be filled, at the same time a stable carrying possibility is provided and no product can escape.

The container body and in particular the entire container is preferably made of a plastic, particularly preferably of a thermoplastic material. A thermoplastic material can be welded, so that the individual seams of the container can be produced inexpensively and flexibly by welding.

In a preferred development of the container according to the invention, a further end seam is provided at the second end of the container body. This is especially the case when the container is filled with filling material. But it is also possible that a separate valve is introduced into the container body to allow filling of the container body.

Preferably, at the first end an end seam is designed as a bottom seam and at the second end an end seam is executed as a top seam.

In all embodiments, at least one corner seam or corner seam is provided at least at two container corners, in particular at all container corners. As a rule, the corner seam extends essentially over an angle of approximately 45 ° to a longitudinal axis of the container over the essential part of the side fold.

Preferably, the corner seam extends in the region of the end seam approximately at a right angle to the final seam, in order to enlarge the area which has been cut off or welded off by the corner seam. Of the Angle may also differ significantly from the vertical and, for example, also be 60 ° or 70 ° to the final seam. Preferably, the angle is substantially perpendicular to the end seam. The enlargement range extending in this way is in particular between about 3 and 25 mm long, preferably up to 15 mm. Following this, the corner seam preferably extends at about 45 degrees to the lateral edge.

By a corner or Eckennaht in each container corners a cuboid shape of the filled container can be achieved, so that the filled containers are easily stackable and easy to transport.

According to the invention, openings are preferably provided in each container corner. Overall, four carrying devices are preferably provided on a container, on each of which at least one or also two openings are provided, so that a person carrying the container can insert at least the fingers through the respective openings in order to enable a fixation of the fingers on the carrying device So that the person can carry the container comfortably and does not have to fear a slipping of the fingers on the trough-shaped depression at the ends of the container.

Such slipping can occur in the containers of the prior art, when the person wearing their fingers in the trough-shaped depressions inserted and uses these wells for carrying. Since the fingers in the depressions find no support and slip, such a package can only be carried uncomfortable and short distances.

Preferably, openings are provided at all eight welded corner seams. According to the invention, the carrying device is formed on the containers in principle only by the opening extending through the side pleat layers.

A significant advantage of the invention is further that through the openings not only a carrying of the container is made possible, in which the longitudinal axis of the container extends substantially vertically, but it is also possible to tilted by 90 ° to comfortable carrying function.

Preferably, at least one opening in at least one container corner is designed as a punched out. The shape of the opening can be configured polygonal, rounded, round, oval or sickle-shaped or banana-shaped. A substantially round or oval shape of the openings is well adapted to the approximate cross-section of a finger, thus allowing for easy insertion of the person carrying the container.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the openings have been created by incisions in the gussets of the container body, wherein the shape and type of the incisions is selected such that no foil material is cut out of the container body and triggered. This offers particular advantages if the container is created in a so-called. FFS machine directly before filling, since then the material cutouts do not have to be disposed of in the system. Otherwise, punched parts can also be sucked off or blown away.

In all embodiments, at least one end seam extends continuously over substantially the entire width of the bundle body. But it is possible a little lower Width of the continuous end seam, eg if the end seam is missing at the outermost edge.

In the particularly preferred embodiment, in which a carrying device is provided at each container corner, contents can be poured out of the container in a simple and very reliable manner and can be precisely metered. For this purpose, a carrying device at the top and a carrying device at the bottom can be used. By targeted lifting of the lower support means the flow of the exiting contents can be precisely controlled. The bottling plant according to the invention for filling containers according to claim 9 is used in particular for filling sacks and comprises at least one container-producing device, on which the containers to be filled are produced from a gusseted tubular film. The containers to be filled are provided with a final seam and with corner seams. The corner seams each extend at the container corners in the region of the gussets through two layers of the gusseted foil to ensure that after filling about cuboid containers are present and to separate the area of the respective container corner of the inner volume of the container.

For filling a filling device is provided, at which the containers are filled with a filling material. A container sealing device is used after filling to close the filled container.

According to the invention at least one device is further provided, which in the region of at least one container corner of the container at least one extending through two layers of the side folds of the container and of the Internal volume created a separate opening, so that on the container through the corner seams and the end seam and the opening a carrying device is formed, which allows a person to carry the filled container a grip of the fingers on the support device. The filling system according to the invention offers, inter alia, the advantage that directly in the bottling plant, which is preferably designed as an FFS machine, the containers are produced from a gusseted tubular film, directly before the bags are filled. For this purpose, the gusseted tubular film is preferably unrolled from a roll and assembled directly to the plant by each cut film sections of suitable length and by introducing a Endnaht and corner seams the conditions are created to obtain after filling cuboid container. After the filling process, a top seam is preferably created to close the container.

The attachment of the openings in the region of the container corners can be done before filling or after filling the container. Particularly preferably, the attachment of the openings takes place before the filling, when the side folds of the side-fold film are still flat on each other. Then, by cutting or punching through all the layers of the gusseted foil two openings of a carrying device can be created, namely one in one and the other in other gusset at a corner of the container. Thus, a hole in the upper and lower gusset can be created by a punching or cutting process.

The filling plant according to the invention enables a cost-effective filling of containers. The contents can almost be arbitrary. The filling of pasty, liquid or solid contents is possible. For solid products, bulk goods, granules and powdery substances are preferred. To create the openings in the container corners, the filling system preferably comprises at least one, in particular at least two cutting or punching tools. Preferably, a cutting or a punching tool for creating the openings on one side of the gusseted tubular film is provided in each case.

The method according to the invention as claimed in claim 11 is used for processing gusseted tubular film. At least the following steps are performed in this or another meaningful order:

At least one tube section is separated from the side gusseted tubular film, wherein the separated tube section is suitable for producing a container.

The severed tube section is provided at a first end with an end seam, which extends in particular over the entire width of the container.

In the areas of the side folds, corner seams are introduced at the first corner at the container corners, so that the filled container receives a cuboid structure after the filling. The container corners are divided by the corner seams of the intended for the contents interior volume.

In at least one container corner, at least one opening is defined by the layers of the side folds of the side folds. folded tubular film introduced, so that a support means is formed by the corner seams and the end seam and the opening, which allows a person to carry a finger on the carrying device when carrying the filled container.

The inventive method allows the production of containers from gusseted tubular film and the direct subsequent filling of contents in the directly previously created container, the manufactured and filled containers each have at least one support means that allow a person a comfortable carrying the filled container.

For this purpose, the inventive method is preferably carried out at a filling plant, where the container is filled with the filling material.

After the filling process, the container is preferably closed and in particular welded. Preferably, also the top seam or the further end seam and / or the corner seams are welded. The openings can be created by cuts or can be made by punching of material.

Further advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiment which will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the figures show:

Fig. 1: A perspective view of a filled container; 2 shows a plan view of an unfilled flat lying container;

3 shows an upright carrying position; and

Fig. 4: a horizontal carrying position of the container according to the invention.

1 to 4 an embodiment of a container 1 according to the invention is shown, which consists of a provided with gussets 3 tubular film 4.

The container 1 shown in perspective in Fig. 1 is designed as a sack and has a container body 2, which consists of gusseted tubular film. In Fig. 1, the fold on the inner edge 13 of the gusset 3b is visible. The gusset 3b includes a lower gusset layer 13a and an upper gusset layer 13b.

The container 1 or the bag has at the container corners 8 corner welds 7 and at the two ends end seams in the form of a top seam 5 and a bottom seam 10 on. The end seams extend uninterruptedly over the entire width transversely to the longitudinal axis 15 of the container. This achieves a uniform distribution of the weight load.

Openings 9 are provided in the region of the container corners 8 so that the container corners 8 separated by the corner welds 7 together with one of the end seams (top seam 5 or bottom seam 10) and the openings 9 form a carrier device 11 in total. The Eckenabschweißungen 7 are already part of the bag, as they effectively support the shape of the bag. Therefore, no additional material is needed for a stable and durable carrying device, which offers significant advantages.

A person wishing to carry a container 1 can insert the hand into the trough-shaped depression on the carrying device 11 and his fingers, e.g. the index and the middle finger, through the openings 9 of the support device 11 push through and allow her so a finger on the support device. This allows a firm grip. The risk of slipping does not exist.

When the wearer grips a carrying device 11 with both hands, as shown in Figs. 3 or 4, the person can transport the container 1 in a comfortable manner. In this case, a person can grasp both the two carrying devices 11 provided at one end and the carrying devices 11 arranged on one longitudinal side (cf., Fig. 4) so as to carry the container with the longitudinal axis 15 oriented horizontally. This is made possible by the fact that eight carrying devices 11 are provided on all four container corners.

For dispensing filling material, a carrying device 11, e.g. at the upper end 6 and a carrying device 11 e.g. be taken at the bottom 12 so as to allow a precisely metered pouring the contents.

The container 1, which is provided with corner welds 7 as a corner seam, has at all container corners 8 a total of eight separate corner welds 7, namely, the four Eckenabschweißungen 7a to 7d shown in Fig. 2 on the top of the container 1 and corresponding four Eckenabschweißungen on the underside of the container. 1

There is no connection between the inner volume of the container 1 and the openings 9, so that despite the convenient carrying handles no bulk material or contents can escape from the container. Neither finely powdered nor dusting, pasty or even liquid materials can escape from the container through the openings 9, since they are completely separated from the internal volume.

In the area of the gussets, two layers are connected to each other by the Eckenabschweißungen and not all four originally superimposed layers. This is effected by a separating plate or the like, which is introduced in the corner fold in the side fold, so that only two layers are welded together. This allows the bag to be worn at four points if there is an opening in each welded corner area. This allows ergonomically favorable carrying of the container 1.

The shape of the Eckenabschweißungen 7 may be performed according to the illustration of FIG. 2. In the region of the end seams 5, 10, the weld seam is executed in each case over a longitudinal region 17 approximately parallel to the longitudinal edge and approximately perpendicular to the final seam in order to increase the welded-off region. This facilitates the carrying function and increases the load capacity.

The inventive design allows a uniform introduction of forces and thus a particularly high load capacity. Practically without additional Material expenditure is provided a comfortable carrying function.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, an opening 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d may be provided at each container corner 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d. It is also possible that more than one opening 9 is provided at each individual or multiple container corners 8. For example, a container corner 8 may have two or three openings 9 or all container corners may be equipped accordingly.

The openings 9 preferably extend through all the layers 13a, 13b of the side folds 3a and the side fold 3b, respectively. This means that the opening extends through four film layers, namely the two film layers of the upper gusset and the film layers of the lower or rear gusset, so that a carrying device 11 comprises at least two openings 9, which extend through four layers of the tubular film. As a result, the carrying device 11 is made possible with a high load capacity, which substantially reliably prevents unattractive or harmful lengths of the tubular film in the region of the carrying device. This is a significant advantage over wearing devices, which comprise only two layers of film, since the load capacity is considerably reduced in such carriers.

In contrast to containers with conventional carrying straps or carrying handles, the invention enables a compact container structure, without additional material for the carrying device is needed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container 1 according to the invention before the filling in a Filling plant (not shown) made of a gusseted tubular film 4 by a corresponding longitudinal section of the gusseted tubular film 4 is cut off and provided with a bottom seam 10 and with Eckenabschweißungen 8. The open at the upper end 6 bag can then be filled by means of a filling tube or a filler neck of the filling with the contents before the inlet is welded, for example.

In particular, before the filling process, the openings 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d can be introduced into the container corners 8 in the region of the container corners, in order to enable a penetration of at least the fingertips of a user. The openings can also be introduced after the filling process.

The shape of the individual openings can be different and adapted to the particular application. It is also possible that 8 different openings 9 are provided in the different container corners. Preferably, however, a different opening type 9 is provided in deviation from the representation according to FIG. 2 at all container corners 8.

The individual openings 9, like the opening 9a, can have a substantially round cross section or, according to the openings 9b, a square and rounded cross section. Also possible is an oval shape, as shown in Fig. 2, the opening 9d.

In particular, an opening 9c is preferred in which, for example, a semicircular or sickle or banana-shaped incision is made in the film. Also at one In such a shape of the opening, the user can push his fingertips through the openings 9c.

In contrast to the other openings 9a, 9b and 9d, no material is cut out of the gusseted tubular film at the opening 9c, but only one cut is made. The advantage is that there are no cut-out pieces of material that may possibly move uncontrollably through the filling system. However, such problems can be reliably prevented by a suitable suction mechanism or by a suitable blowing away the cut pieces of material.

In the direct preparation and filling of the container 1 in a so-called. FFS system, the invention enables a cost-effective and simple production possibility of the required container 1 directly in the filling system. The additional effort is low, since only the corresponding openings must be introduced into the container.

List of reference numbers:

1 container

2 container bodies

3, 3a, 3b gusset

4 tubular film

5 final seam

6 end

7, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d Ecknaht

8, 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d container corner

9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d opening

10 final seam

11 carrying device

12 end

13 inner edge

13a, 13b side pleat layers

15 longitudinal axis

17 longitudinal area

Claims

Claims :

1. container (1) for filling, in particular sack, comprising: a container body (2) of a gusseted (3) tubular film (4), an internal volume for receiving a filling material, an end seam (5, 10) at a first end (12) of the bundle body (2), and in the area of the side folds (3) at the container corners (8) by two layers extending corner seams (7) to allow a cuboid shape in the filled state and the area of the respective container corner ( 8) from the internal volume, characterized in that at least one container corner (8) is provided at least one opening (9) extending through the layers (13a, 13b) of the side fold (3a, 3b) and separated from the internal volume, so that a carrying device (11) is formed by the corner seams (7) and the end seam (5, 10) and the opening (9), which enables a person to carry a finger grip on the carrying device (11) when carrying them.

2. Container according to claim 1, wherein the container body (2) consists essentially of a thermoplastic material.

3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a top seam (5) at the second end (6) of the container body (2) is provided.

4. Container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the corner seam in the region of the end seam extends at a right angle to the end seam to enlarge the welded-off area.

5. Container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein openings (9) are provided in each container corner (8).

6. Container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening (9) in at least one container corner (8) as at least one incision or a punched executed and / or at least one opening (9) polygonal, rounded, round, oval or sickle or banana-shaped.

7. Container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one end seam (5, 10) extends continuously over the entire width of the container body.

8. Container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a carrying device (11) has at least two openings (9).

9. Filling plant for filling of containers (1), in particular for filling of sacks, with a container production device on which from a gusseted tubular film (4) to be filled container (1) are created with an end seam (5, 10) and in the area of the gussets (3) at the container corners (8) by two layers extending corner seams (7) are provided to receive after filling about cuboid container (1) and to the area of the respective container corner (8) of the inner volume to separate, and with a filling device, at which the containers (1) are filled with a filling material, and with a container closure device, on which the filled containers (1) are closed, characterized by a device which in the region of at least one container corner (8) of the container (1) at least one opening (9) extending through the layers (13a, 13b) of the lateral fold (3) of the container (4) and separated from the inner volume, so that the container (1) is formed by the corner seams (7) and the end seam (5, 10) and the opening (9) a carrying device (11) is formed, which allows a person to carry a finger on the carrying device (11) when carrying the filled container (1).

10. Filling plant according to claim 9, wherein the device comprises a cutting or punching tool. ,

A method of processing gusseted film (4) provided with gussets (3), wherein at least the following steps are performed:

- There will be a hose section from the

Side gusseted tubular film (4) separated, which is suitable for the production of a container (1);

- The tube section is provided at a first end (12) with an end seam (10);

- In the areas of the gussets (3) at least at the first end (12) corner seams (7) at the container corners

(8) introduced so that the filled container (1) receives a cuboid structure, wherein the corner seams (7) the Separating container corners (8) from the internal volume intended for the contents;

- In at least one container corner (8) at least one opening (9) through the layers (13a, 13b) of the side folds (3) of the gusseted tubular film (4) introduced so that through the corner seams (7) and the end seam (5, 10 ) and the opening (9) a carrying device (11) is formed, which allows a person to carry a finger on the carrying device (11) while carrying the filled container (1).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method is carried out at a filling plant and the container (1) is filled with a filling material.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the container (1) is closed after filling and in particular welded.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the end seam (5, 10) and / or the corner seams (7) are welded.

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at the openings (9) cuts are made.

16. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at the openings (9) material is cut out.