EP2354026B1 - Bag with gusseted sides and method for producing same - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a gusseted bag having the features of the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a method for producing the gusseted bag.

The gusseted bag is particularly suitable for packaging bulk goods, such as pelleted pet food, detergent, cat litter, road salt or powdery or granular construction materials. With the help of the carrying handle assembly on the gusset side gusset bag can be easily transported even with a large weight.

A gusseted bag with a bag body of two front walls and arranged between the front walls and side edges adjoining the front walls gussets and with a handle assembly on one of the gussets is from the EP 2 039 620 A1 known. The carrying handle assembly is formed by a strip-shaped handle loop on one of the gussets, which is arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the associated gusset and this engages over with their ends. The transversely extending handle loop is guided through openings on the front walls in the gusseted bag and secured to the inner surface of the associated gusset. By means of the handle loop a comfortable handling of the gusseted bag is possible. With increasing container weight but there is a risk that the handle loop cuts into a certain extent in the hand of the wearer, which is perceived as unpleasant in very heavy bags. The introduction of force into the bag is still in need of improvement at high loads. At the opposite side of the handle loop a removal opening can be formed, so that then the gusseted bag when dumping at the Handle loop can be kept. To control the pouring process, the bag is then lifted with a second hand.

From the EP 1 777 167 B1 and the EP 1 792 722 B1 Side gusset bags are known with the features described above, in each case at a side edge a single longitudinally extending handle is arranged, which initially bears flat against the gusset. This results in the advantage that the carrying handle assembly is protected integrated into the side fold. However, it may be difficult for the user to engage behind the handle loop, wherein buckling of the handle loop at the same time leads to a corresponding deformation of the gusseted bag. Especially with very large loads handling and power distribution are still in need of improvement.

From the EP 1 712 482 B1 is known a gusseted bag having two attached to the front walls handle loops. Since the outer surface of the front walls is not heat sealable and beyond a uniform force distribution is sought, are provided at the ends of the handle loops punched, which are covered on the inside of the bag each with a heat sealable foil sheet. The ends of the handle loops are sealed directly to these foil sheets. Unlike the previously described embodiments with a handle assembly on one of the gussets is in the EP 1 712 482 B1 described side gusset bag as a conventional, open carrying bag handled, the handle loops can not be used for easy pouring the recorded packaged goods.

A gusseted bag with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from EP 2039620A known.

The invention has for its object to provide a side gusseted bag with the features described above, which allows comfortable handling even with increased carrying genre and can be made in a simple manner from a web.

The invention of the invention and solution of the problem is a gusseted bag according to claim 1. The arrangement of two parallel handle loops on the gusset uniform force distribution and an improved force is achieved in the bag body, so that on the one hand, the two handle loops less in the hand of a wearer cut and on the other hand, the risk of tearing the ends of the handle loops is reduced even with very large loads. According to the invention, the bag is held at four spaced apart points so that the side gusset bag deforms less when worn. Since the handle loops protrude from the bag body, they can be immediately recognized and penetrated by a user.

According to the invention, the two handle loops extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction. Regardless of the exact course of the handle loops, these are thus guided into the bag body at respectively two locations spaced in the longitudinal direction of the associated side edge, where they are fastened to the inner surface of the bag body, usually one of the front walls and the associated side fold. The grip loops may, for example, have a substantially longitudinally extending central portion, to which the bent, preferably approximately at right angles bent ends connect. It is also conceivable arcuate course of the handle loops between the two longitudinally spaced ends. The fact that the handle loops run in the longitudinal direction results in addition to the improved power distribution, the possibility of tilting the handle loops raise or lower the head of the bag, whereby at a pouring the contents of a dosing can be at least facilitated.

Since the ends of the handle loops are inserted into the bag body, the appearance of the side gusseted bag is not impaired. In particular, in conventional bag films, a multi-layered design is provided in which the outer surface of the bag body is difficult or impossible to heat seal. Such a multilayer bag film preferably comprises a heat sealable layer of polyolefin on the inner surface of the bag body. For example, laminated or coextruded films having an outer surface of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and an inner surface of polyethylene (PE) are suitable. Between the inner layer and the outer layer, further film layers, for example for increasing the stability and / or the barrier effect, can be arranged without restriction. In the case of a laminated film, it is also possible in particular to use a metallic layer or a metallized plastic layer, for example metallized polyethylene terephthalate. Also composite materials with an outer layer of oriented polypropylene (O-PP) or with layers of different polyethylene types can be used in the invention, wherein in the latter case, the polymer composition is suitably selected so that at a suitable sealing temperature, only the inner surface melts. In addition to coextruded or multilayer laminated PE films, it is also possible in principle to use heat-sealable monofilms, in particular PE monofilms. Bag films which are formed entirely from polyolefins are distinguished, in particular, by good recyclability. While laminated films can have an inner print produced before lamination, coextruded films and monofilms are provided with a print on the outside, which can be covered with a protective paint to increase the abrasion resistance.

The layer thicknesses of the heat-sealable layer of polyolefin are typically between 50 and 150 microns. Depending on the material, a significantly smaller layer thickness is sufficient for the film layer which forms the outer surface of the bag body. The thickness of this film layer is usually between 10 and 100 μm, with materials such as polyethylene terephthalate and oriented polypropylene particularly preferably between 10 and 30 μm.

In order to be able to manufacture the gusseted bag according to the invention, the ends of the handle loops must be guided into the bag body. According to the invention, the side edges to which the handle loops are attached, folding edges, wherein the ends of the handle loops are guided by separations in the bag body. The separations may be in the form of cuts or punches. It is also possible after the formation of the folding edges to generate the separation to remove an outer edge of the fold edge at least in sections. In the finished gusseted bag, the separations are usually closed by sealing seams, which also fasten the grip loops to the inside of the bag. For each end of the handle loops, a separate separation may be provided, the length of which is then preferably slightly larger than the width of the handle loop. But it is also possible a single separation for each of the handle loops, in which case the area between the longitudinally spaced ends of the two handle loops is closed by longitudinal sealing seams. Conveniently, the side edges are provided with longitudinal sealing seams which extend over the entire length of the gussets. Such longitudinal sealing seams are then used regardless of the involvement of the handle loops on one of the gussets also to give the bag body a stable structure.

At the ends of the handle loops there provided sealing seams or sections of a continuous sealed seam serve to ensure a uniform force distribution and a tight closure of the closed side gusset bag and to avoid tearing of the handle loops under heavy loads. In order to meet increased mechanical requirements, it may be provided in this context that the longitudinal sealing seams at the ends of the handle loops to produce a larger area connection have a greater width.

The grip loops should be heat-sealable on their two surfaces in order to be able to be securely sealed in each case to one of the front walls and the associated gusset. The handle loops must also have a high load capacity, including a sufficient material thickness is provided. In particular, the handle loops can also be folded onto itself in the manner of a flattened tube and fixed by heat sealing. In addition to single or multilayer films of polyethylene with a typical thickness between 100 and 400 .mu.m, it is also possible to provide stiffer intermediate layers with an increased carrying capacity, for example polyamide or polyethylene terephthalate. In a three-layered embodiment with outer layers of polyethylene and an intermediate layer of polyamide or polyethylene terephthalate, the total thickness is typically between 100 and 200 microns.

In order to handle the side gusseted bag easily and also to be able to set up a stand base is preferably formed on a transverse side.

The gusseted bag is usually hermetically sealed in the filled state and can then be opened to remove the contents in a head area. If it is intended to enable the extraction of only a subset, For this purpose, a reclosure can be provided. This preferably has interlockable profile strips which can be separated and connected either by direct application of force or by a slider. The re-closure may be arranged on an upper edge of the bag and / or on the side fold opposite the handle arrangement. In the arrangement of a reclosure on the side opposite the handle assembly gusset is also possible to fold out this gusset in the open state of the reclosure in the manner of a chute. Regardless of the exact configuration of the reclosure, the carrying handle assembly according to the invention with two parallel, extending in the longitudinal direction handle loops facilitates accurate dosing of the contents during its removal.

The bag body is usually formed by folding and heat sealing the bag film.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a gusseted bag, in particular the gusseted bag described above, wherein a bag film is fed, wherein in portions of the bag film each at least two separations parallel to each other in a first direction are formed, wherein two handle loops per section of the bag film fed and inserted with their ends in the separations such that the handle loops extend at least with a central portion parallel to each other along the first direction, wherein from the bag film by folding and heat sealing a film tube extending along the first direction front walls and arranged therebetween side folds wherein the ends of the handle loops are heat-sealed to the surface of the bag film forming the inner surface of the film tube, and after forming the film tube At the side edges between the front walls and provided with the handle loops gussets longitudinal sealing seams are generated, which also fix the ends of the handle loops. For the further embodiment of the method and the order of the individual steps, different possibilities arise.

According to a first embodiment, the separations are introduced in the form of incisions or punches before forming the film tube in the flat-lying bag film. Subsequently, the handle loops are then arranged on the still flat lying bag film, wherein the ends of the handle loops are introduced into the cuts or punched and at least pre-fixed. The bag film is usually moved cyclically along the first direction, in which case the handle loop with its ends by a suitable gripper or the like laterally inserted into the cuts or punched out. In order to be able to thread the ends, provision may be made for them to be placed slightly obliquely on the bag film and / or to slightly lift the bag film which is lying flat with a gripper or a suction device on one side of the cuts or punches.

After the arrangement of the handle loops on the flat-lying bag film, a film tube is formed such that at the separations in the form of incisions or punched side edges are generated, on each of which one of the handle loops is arranged. In order to handle the laterally projecting handle loops controlled in the tube folding, suitable guides for the handle loops are provided.

After the formation of the film tube longitudinal sealing seams are generated at the side edges, which the side gusset bag increased stability to lend. In addition, the ends of the grip loop should be secured to the bag body with sufficient strength and airtight. To accomplish this, heat sealing may be provided with different tools each covering different areas of a side edge.

From the provided with the handle loops film tube finally individual bag blanks are separated, which are usually unlocked at one of its two transverse sides for a filling.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, it is provided to first form the film tube from the bag film and subsequently supply the handle loops and secure. The handle loops are then used in separations, which were preferably produced only after the formation of the film tube. For example, an outer edge can be at least partially removed in the film tube already formed to produce a separation on two of the side edges. According to a preferred embodiment, for this purpose partial sealing seams are formed with at least one interruption, which extend in the first direction over part of the length of the side edge, so that after separation of the outer edge over the entire length of the side edge at the at least one interruption formed a separation in which one end or both ends of one of the grip loops is / are inserted subsequently. If an outer edge is severed at the side edges with the handle loops, the corresponding longitudinal sealing seams can be made thicker there, so that they have a sufficient thickness even after the removal of the outer edge. In particular, it is advantageous if in the finished gusseted bag both gussets have the same width. The gusset, from which the outer edges are separated at the side edges, is then initially formed with a correspondingly increased width. Also in the arrangement of the handle loops after the formation of the film tube, a multiple heat sealing can be performed to ensure a functionally reliable attachment of the handle loops. In particular, different heat sealing tools can be used for this purpose.

Fig. 1

einen erfindungsgemäßen Seitenfaltenbeutel in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

Fig. 2a bis 2e

ein Verfahren zur Herstellung des Seitenfaltenbeutels,

Fig. 3a bis 3f

eine alternative Ausgestaltung des Verfahrens.

The invention will be explained in the following with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1

a gusseted bag according to the invention in a perspective view,

Fig. 2a to 2e

a method for producing the gusseted bag,

Fig. 3a to 3f

an alternative embodiment of the method.

According to the Fig. 1 The gusseted bag has a bag body consisting of two front walls 1 and side gussets 3a, 3b arranged between the front walls 1 and adjoining the front walls 1 via side edges 2, 2 '. At one of the side folds 3a, 3b, a carrying handle arrangement with two gripping loops 4 extending parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of the associated side fold 3a and projecting from the bag body is provided at approximately half the bag height.

At the associated side edges 2, the handle loops 4 with their ends 5 in the bag body, which is formed by folding and heat sealing of a multilayer bag film, led into it. For this purpose, the bag body on 6 separations, which are closed by heat sealing again. On all side edges 2, 2 'longitudinal sealing seams 7, 7' are provided, which reinforce the gusseted bag. At the side edges 2 provided with the grip loops 4, the longitudinal sealing seams 7 arranged there additionally serve to close the separations 6 and to fasten the ends 5 of the grip loops 4 to the inner surface of the bag body, the ends 5 being fastened both to one of the front walls 1 and to the front side associated side fold 3a are attached. In order to produce these longitudinal sealing seams 7, different heat-sealing tools are used, which cover different areas of the associated side edge 2. Thus, it may be expedient first to perform only a sealing in the area of the grip loops 4, before additionally a continuous sealing takes place to form the complete longitudinal sealing seam 7.

Of the Fig. 1 It should also be noted that the appearance of the gusseted bag is not affected by the arrangement of the handle loops 4 and the production of heat sealing sutures. Thus, the bag film, which forms the front walls 1 and the side folds 3a, 3b, has an outer layer which is difficult or impossible to heat seal and which may consist, for example, of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or oriented polypropylene (O-PP). Accordingly, upon application of a heat seal tool, only the inner surface of the bag body, which preferably consists of a polyolefin such as polyethylene, is melted. The grip loops 4, on the other hand, must be heat-sealable on their two outer surfaces and typically have a thickness of between 100 μm and 400 μm.

The gusseted bag has on its lower transverse side to a standing floor 8 formed by folding. At the opposite upper edge of a reclosure 9 is provided which has interlockable profile strip. In the described embodiment, a reclosure 9 is shown by way of example, which is actuated by a slider 10.

The laterally projecting from the bag body handle loops 4 can be easily accessed, the handle loops 4 can be held on a substantially straight, along the associated side fold 3a extending central portion 11. The ends 5 of the handle loops 4 are bent at a right angle to the central portion 11.

The Fig. 2a to 2e show a first embodiment of a method for producing the gusseted bag. According to the Fig. 2a First, a bag film is fed as a flat material web 12, wherein in sections of the material web 12 in the flat state two times two parallel to each other in the feed direction separations 6 are formed in the form of punched out. These separations are produced in a region in which laterally in the bag the side edges 2 run between the front walls 1 and one of the side folds 3a. With respect to this side edge 2, the cutouts are slightly offset in the direction of the side fold 3a, so that the front walls 1 in the finished bag without any impairment.

According to the Fig. 2b are used in the separations ends 5 of handle loops 4, wherein the ends connect at a right angle to a central portion 11 of the handle loops 4.

So that the grip loops 4 remain in the intended position, the ends 5 are prefixed by heat sealing to the underside of the material web 12, wherein a film tube 13 is subsequently formed by folding and heat sealing the material web 12. The grip loops 4 must be guided in such a way that they do not jam and thus hinder the transport of the material web 12 ( Fig. 2c ).

Subsequently, at the side edges 2 provided with the grip loops 4, a seal is made in the region of the ends 5 of the grip loops 4 (FIG. Fig. 2d ).

Subsequently, by a seal of the entire side edge 2, the complete longitudinal sealing seam 7 is formed ( Fig. 2e ). Finally, 13 individual bag blanks are separated from the film tube, each comprising a handle assembly with two parallel loop handles 4. The optionally provided arrangement of a reclosure 9 is not shown in the figures.

The Fig. 3a to 3f show a variant of the method in which initially a film tube 13 is formed from the supplied material web 12. Then, at the side edges 2 at which grip loops 4 are to be arranged, partial seal seams 7a are formed, which have an interruption 14 (FIG. Fig. 3b ). Subsequently, an outermost edge 15 of the corresponding side edges 2 is cut off ( Fig. 3c ), whereby the previously formed partial sealing seams 7a merely become somewhat narrower. In the interruption 14 but separations 6 are generated, which according to the Fig. 3d can be spread apart with gripper fingers, a suction tool or the like, in order then to be able to introduce the grip loops 4.

Fig. 3e shows that according to the embodiment, both ends 5 of each grip loop 4 are inserted into an associated separation 6, wherein the separation 6 is correspondingly slightly longer than the extension of the grip loops 4 in the longitudinal direction.

Like in the Fig. 3f indicated, the separations 6 are then closed by longitudinal sealing seams, whereby the ends 5 of the handle loops 4 are attached. To achieve a tight seal, a multiple Heat sealing done. In particular, the areas directly at the ends 5 of the handle loop 4 on the one hand and the area extending therebetween on the other hand can be sealed separately from one another with different tools.

Claims (16)

1. A side gusset bag with a bag body made up of two front walls (1) and side folds (3a, 3b) disposed between the front walls (1) and adjoining the front walls (1) via side edges (2, 2') and with a carrying handle arrangement on one of the side folds (3a, 3b), wherein the carrying handle arrangement comprises grip loops standing out from the bag body, wherein the ends (5) of the grip loops (4) are inserted into the bag body through separations (6), characterised in that two grip loops (4) extending in parallel to each other in longitudinal direction of the associated side fold (3a) are provided, which are inserted, respectively, with their ends (5) into the bag body on one of the side edges (2) and sealed fast to the inside surface as well as to the associated side edge (2) of the bag body and in that the side edges (2) on which the grip loops (4) are fastened are folding edges, and wherein the separations (6) are closed by longitudinal sealing seams (7, 7') extending along the side edges (2).
2. Side gusset bag according to claim 1, characterised in that the bag body is formed by folding and hot-sealing of a multi-layered bag film.
3. Side gusset bag according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the side edges (2, 2') are provided with longitudinal sealing seams (7, 7') which extend over the entire length of the side folds (3a, 3b).
4. Side gusset bag according to claim 3, characterised in that the longitudinal sealing seams (7), at the ends (5) of grip loops (4), comprise an offset leading away from the associated side edge (2) and/or a larger width.
5. Side gusset bag according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the grip loops (4) are formed from film strips comprising a longitudinally extending central section (11) to which the folded-over ends (5) are adjoined.
6. Side gusset bag according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a stand-up bottom (8) is formed on one transverse side.
7. Side gusset bag according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised by a reclosure (9).
8. A method for manufacturing a side gusset bag according to one of claims 1 to 7,
   wherein a bag film is supplied,
   wherein at least two separations (6) respectively extending in parallel to each other in a first direction are formed in sections of the bag film,
   wherein per section of bag film two grip loops (4) are supplied and inserted with their ends (5) into the separations (6) such that the grip loops (4) extend in parallel to each other along a first direction, at least in a central section,
   wherein a film tube (13) is formed from the bag film by folding and hot-sealing with front walls (1) extending along the first direction and in-between side folds (3a, 3b),
   wherein the ends (5) of the grip loops (4) are fastened by hot-sealing to the surface of the bag film which forms the inside surface of the film tube (13),
   wherein following forming of the film tube (13) longitudinal sealing seams (7) are produced on the side edges (2) between the front walls (1) and the side folds (3a) provided with the grip loops (4), which longitudinal sealing seams also fix the ends (5) of the grip loops (4).
9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the separations (6) are formed in the form of incisions or punch-outs in the flat-lying bag film prior to forming the film tube (13).
10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the grip loops (4), prior to forming the film tube (13), are arranged on the flat-lying bag film and are at least pre-fixed.
11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the film tube (13) is formed such that the side edges (2) are formed on the separations (6), on each of which one of the grip loops (4) has been arranged.
12. Method according to claim 8, wherein the grip loops (4) are supplied and inserted into the separations (6) after the film tube (13) has been formed.
13. Method according to claim 12, wherein after forming the film tube (13) and prior to arranging the grip loops (4), an outer rim (15) is removed at least partially for creating a separation (6) on two of the side edges (2).
14. Method according to claim 13, wherein prior to creating the separation (6) partial sealing seams (7a) with at least one interruption (14) are formed on the side edges (2) which extend in a first direction over part of the length of the side edge (2) such that, following removal of the outer rim (15), an open separation (6) is formed over the entire length of the side edge (2) on the at least one interruption (14), wherein subsequently one end (5) or both ends (5) of one of the grip loops (4) are inserted into the separation (6).
15. Method according to one of claims 8 to 14, wherein the side edges (2) on which the grip loops (4) have been arranged are hot-sealed several times over.
16. Method according to claim 15, wherein multiple hot-sealing is performed using various hot-sealing tool

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