EP2612826A1 - Plastic film bag - Google Patents

Abstract

The film bag (1) has a predetermined breaking point (2) which is provided in a bag wall (7) to tear open under pressure without tearing any portion of film bag. The predetermined breaking point is located on an external wall side of the film bag. The breaking point is provided with a cover which is fixed by an adhesive. The cover is provided with a cover tongue to remove the cover manually or mechanically. The depth of the breaking point in the external wall of the film bag does not reach deeper than to barrier layer. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) a method of draining film bag; and (2) a device for draining film bag.

Description

State of the art

The invention relates to a foil bag for storing products in particular of food products such as beverage concentrates which are mixed together with (still or CO2 enriched) water as a soft drink. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for emptying a foil bag.

Multilayer foil bags are for example from the EP0473517 known, wherein under laser action a tear seam is incorporated in the foil bag to make it easier to open by a user. However, the in EP0473517 described foil pouch mechanically cumbersome to open.

In the USD642068S a container after storage of the product by means of thermal processes, an oxygen-impermeable film is welded. The container itself has no oxygen barrier. The production, filling and sealing of the container requires several process steps and is therefore complicated and expensive. The viscosity of the products is limited to liquid and flowable products, as they can be easily rinsed or pressed from the container. For this purpose, expensive equipment is needed, which then mix the product, for example, with water to the drink. This can also lead to increased germ contamination, since the product flows over the non-sterile edge of the container.

task

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a film bag, a method and a device, so that it is possible to empty a shapeless foil bag almost without residue and wherein the film bag additionally has barriers for light and / or oxygen and microbiological safe to handle.

solution

This is inventively achieved by a multilayer film bag according to claim 1, a method according to claim 11 and an apparatus according to claim 16. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The multilayer film bag according to the invention with a bag wall having at least one outer wall, a barrier layer, for example for oxygen and / or light and an inner wall, has a weakening in the film bag wall, which under pressure, for example at pressures greater than 100 kPa, 150 kPa , 200 kPa, 400 kPa or 500 kPa as a predetermined breaking point controls tears, ie in particular e.g. without thereby parts of the foil bag peel off.

This has the advantage that the foil bag can be emptied virtually without residue and safely almost independently of its shape by machine, as well as any detached parts of the foil bag interfere with subsequent process and product treatment steps and, if necessary, microbiologically contaminate.

The weakening as a predetermined breaking point, which is advantageously centered on an outer wall side of the film bag, and is produced, for example, under the action of light, can have an extent that is advantageously less than half, one third or one quarter of the extent of the outer wall side on the the predetermined breaking point is located. A centered on the outer wall of the film bag position of the predetermined breaking point can simplify the machine emptying of the film bag under pressure, as for example can better ensure that the weakening, or the predetermined breaking point is above the outlet opening of the discharge chamber, regardless of rotations of the film bag in one level. However, non-centered positions of the predetermined breaking point on the outer wall side of the film bag are also conceivable.

Advantageously, the film bag may have a rectangular shape, as well as at least one weld for closing the foil bag, after its filling, wherein the weld / welds is / are resistant to pressures that are above the above-mentioned pressure ranges leading to the opening of the predetermined breaking point.

In addition, the predetermined breaking point can have a cover, such as a protective film, against contamination and soiling, which fixes with adhesive, and a covering tongue with which the cover can be removed manually or mechanically before emptying.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the depth of the predetermined breaking point in the outer wall of the foil bag does not extend deeper than to the barrier layer. This advantageously ensures that the product stored in the film bag before opening is not affected by light or oxygen which could penetrate in the region of the predetermined breaking point.

The film bag may preferably have a dimension in height which is smaller than in the length and width.

Likewise, the foil bag can be provided with a position recognition mark. This can facilitate the verification of the correct position and orientation of the film bag in a discharge device.

When pressure is applied, the predetermined breaking point can advantageously bulge outward before tearing / opening and form a molding. The foil pouch can then be emptied almost completely and residue-free after having been torn open.

Moreover, it is advantageously possible that the bag wall with the predetermined breaking point during emptying so bulges that the predetermined breaking point closes after draining drip-tight.

Foil bags in the liquids which are stored more viscous than> 100 mPa s, can thus be emptied largely residue free.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is conceivable that a small amount of gas, for example an air bubble, is located in the flat container on the above and opposite side wall of the predetermined breaking point and this flushes the outlet opening of the predetermined breaking point product during emptying of the film bag.

According to the invention, an emptying of the film bag by means of an emptying device can be carried out as follows.

The film bag is inserted into an emptying chamber, which may preferably be adapted in its geometric dimension with respect to emptying chamber width and emptying chamber length of the film bag width and film bag height, and by means of a pressing device pressure is exerted on the film bag, in which the pressing device, for example, lowers onto the film bag, so that a bulge occurs, which opens when overstretching of the film bag wall on the side of the predetermined breaking point, the predetermined breaking point, for example in the middle, and the film bag is emptied largely residue.

In addition, by means of a compressible pad on the pressing device, upon pressurization, a uniform pressure distribution on the surface of the film bag can be generated.

Advantageously, the cushion of the pressing device during the lowering of the pressing device, since no resistance builds up in the region of the outlet opening of the discharge chamber, expand into the bulge of the foil bag wall and almost completely squeeze the product stored in the foil bag.

It is also possible that by means of an air bubble in the foil bag, which is in the emptying position at the highest point of the bag height, the product residues can be flushed out of the foil bag when the foil bag is emptied.

Furthermore, there is the possibility that the foil bag is emptied into / over a product chamber and the product chamber is emptied after emptying of the foil bag, for example by (still or mixed with CO2) blending water.

Fig. 1a

eine räumliche Ansicht einer beispielhaften Ausführung eines Folienbeutels.

Fig. 1 b

eine Draufsicht auf Folienbeutel aus Fig. 1a.

Fig. 1c

Querschnitt durch Folienbeutelwand.

Fig. 1d

Draufsicht der Sollbruchstellen in verschiedenen Formen.

Fig. 2

eine räumliche Ansicht einer Abdeckung.

Fig. 3a

eine Seitenansicht als Schnitt einer Entleervorrichtung mit eingelegtem Folienbeutel.

Fig. 3b

Querschnitt der Momentaufnahme eines Schrittes im Folienbeutelentleervorganges.

Fig. 3c

Querschnitt der Momentaufnahme des Spülschritts.

Fig. 4

eine räumliche Ansicht eines entleerten Folienbeutels.

Fig. 5

Seitenansicht als Schnitt in Explosionsdarstellung einer Entleerungsvorrichtung.

The attached figures show by way of example:

Fig. 1a

a spatial view of an exemplary embodiment of a foil bag.

Fig. 1 b

a plan view of foil bag Fig. 1a ,

Fig. 1c

Cross section through foil bag wall.

Fig. 1d

Top view of the predetermined breaking points in various forms.

Fig. 2

a spatial view of a cover.

Fig. 3a

a side view as a section of an emptying device with inserted foil bag.

Fig. 3b

Cross section of the snapshot of a step in the foil bag emptying process.

Fig. 3c

Cross-section of the snapshot of the rinse step.

Fig. 4

a spatial view of an empty foil bag.

Fig. 5

Side view as a section in exploded view of an emptying device.

Detailed description of the figures

1a shows a spatial view of an exemplary multilayer film bag 1 with a generated by exposure to light predetermined breaking point 2. The height 3a of the film bag 1 is smaller than the length 3b and the width 3c.

FIG. 1b shows an example of a view of the film bag side of the film bag 1a on which the breaking point is located. By way of example, the predetermined breaking point is attached to the underside 6 of the film bag.

In this example, the length 3b and the width 3c of the container are the same in their edge length, however, the geometric shape of the film bag 1 may be made in another form, e.g. as a rectangle, polygon or even circular. The positioning of the predetermined breaking point weakening 2 on the underside 6 of the container 1 can advantageously be in the diagonal position 4 and / or advantageously in the center 5 of the foil bag 1. Other positions of the predetermined breaking point weakening, which are neither centered nor on a diagonal are also conceivable. In order to ensure that the container 1 has been placed correctly in the emptying chamber 24 by the operator / machine, regardless of rotations with respect to the insertion plane, the film bag 1 can be provided with a position recognition mark 2a as a marking. This position recognition mark can be executed, for example, as a notch in the bag wall, as a hole, as a painting, imprint, sticker, etc.

Figure 1c shows a view as a section through a multilayer film bag wall 7. The inner wall layer 8 of the film bag wall may advantageously be made of a thermoplastic material such as PE, PP, PET, PA or rubber or rubber and be weldable. Preferred is a stretchability at low compressive force,> 1 Newton, but <100 Newton, preferably 20 Newton.

A middle barrier layer 9 serves to protect the product 33 for the purpose of shielding light radiation and / or gas diffusion, for example oxygen diffusion, and may for example consist of aluminum.

Like the inner wall layer 8, the outer wall layer 10 of the foil bag wall 7 can also be advantageously made of a thermoplastic such as e.g. PE, PP, PET, PA or even of rubber or rubber and thereby have a stretchability at low compressive force,> 1 Newton, but <100 Newton, preferably 20 Newton.

In an exemplary embodiment, the film bag may have an inner wall layer 8 of 40 μm PE, a barrier layer 9 of 7 μm aluminum, and an outer wall layer 10 of 12 μm PET. All of these thickness specifications may vary up or down by 10% or 20%, or even more, i. e.g. the PE layer thickness can be 40 μm ± 10 or 20% but also larger.

The weakening generated by exposure to light as predetermined breaking point 2 can be carried out in its depth 11 advantageously up to the surface of the barrier layer 9, since thereby the pressure to open the film bag wall 7 is the lowest, the barrier layer is not or not significantly impaired in their function. The predetermined breaking point 2 can also be produced by other methods, for example by scoring.

In the production of the predetermined breaking points 2, the integrity of the at least the lowest barrier layer 9 can be ensured by means of ND: YAG or CO2 laser light source.

Fig. 1d FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the predetermined breaking point 2 made by exposure to light in various exemplary molds 13a. When selecting the different 13a shapes, it is advantageous that the greatest weakening emanating from the center 14 of the predetermined breaking point 2 thus produces a uniform bulge 30, and thus a uniform shape 31 when opening the foil bag 1, starting from the predetermined breaking point 2 can be achieved and thus the product beam angle 41 can be influenced. However, predetermined breaking points, whose greatest weakening does not originate from the center 14 of the predetermined breaking point 2, as well as other shapes can be used. However, the star shape 13 represents a preferred predetermined breaking point shape.

Fig. 2 shows a spatial view of an exemplary cover 15 with a predetermined breaking point 2 of a foil bag 1 can be covered. In this case, the size of the cover 15 of the predetermined breaking point 2 can be based, for example, on the cross-sectional area of the evacuation chamber 24, so that the product-contacted points in the evacuation chamber remain hygienic and clean during transport and handling by the operator / machine. In this case, the germination of the product 33 during emptying of the film bag 1 by microorganisms be prevented. The cover 15 on the film bag 1 may be fixed by means of adhesive, for example, and may additionally have a cover tongue 16 for ease of handling by the operator / machine for removing the cover from the bag wall, which is not fixed to the film bag wall by adhesive, but liftable so that by engaging the cover tongue and pulling, the cover 15 can be peeled off.

FIG. 3a shows a side view as a section of an exemplary emptying device 17 with an inserted into the emptying chamber 24 film bag 1 and resting / adjacent pressing device 18. The exemplary positioning of the film bag 1 causes an air bubble 34 may be located at the predetermined breaking point film bag wall. The emptying chamber 24 can have at least one outlet opening 36 to which a product chamber 32 can connect. The pressing device 18 may additionally include a compressible pad 21. Likewise, the emptying chamber 24 may have a rinsing connection, through which, for example, the product chamber or parts of the emptying chamber and parts of the film bag can be rinsed by (still or mixed with CO2) mixing water.

FIG. 3b shows a side view as a section of an exemplary emptying device 17 in the snapshot of an emptying operation step of the inserted foil bag. 1

Due to the pressure effect of the pressing device 18, the container wall 7 can expand into the outlet opening 36 of the emptying chamber and thereby create a bulge 30, which leads to exceeding the elongation at break of the predetermined breaking point 2 and the film bag 1 opens, so that the product 33 can flow out of the film bag , Advantageously, the pressing action of the pressing device can be increased slowly, for example from 0-200 kPa, or from 0-500 kPa or more in 5-30 seconds or within 1-100 seconds, e.g. a better spray behavior, for example by restricting the product beam angle 41 to less than 180 °, to be able to reach the emerging from the film bag product.

The emptying device can be designed so that the pressing device can be positioned in a controlled manner. In this case, the position of the pressing device is adjusted by suitable means, wherein this positioning can be carried out regardless of whether a foil bag is present or not. The pressing device is moved, for example, at a preset and infinitely adjustable speed, regardless of whether a foil bag is present or not. For example, the default speed can be at or above 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, 10, 20 or 40 mm per minute. The default speed may also be below one of these values.

In this case, for example, pressure changes of 0.0-200 kPa or 0.0-500 kPa can be achieved in 5 to 30 s or within 1 to 100 s. Thereby, a controlled pressure build-up in the foil bag can be achieved and thus a sudden or uncontrolled lowering of the pressing device, and a concomitant unwanted sudden opening of the container can be avoided. For this purpose, the pressing device is, for example, moved hydraulically or by an electric motor, wherein a hydraulic cylinder or motor provided by a defined inflow rate of hydraulic pressure / propellant means or a defined rate of movement of a motor (for example an electric motor such as a stepping or asynchronous motor) the speed of movement of the pressing device is defined. The control or pressurization of the pressing device can for example also be effected by means of a threaded spindle, which is driven by an electric motor or hydraulically as stated above.

A minimum speed, for example 0.05, 0.10, 1.00 or 20 mm per minute is required to achieve a controlled emptying of the film bag, a speed below a maximum speed of for example 100, 200 or 500 mm per minute ensures a slow and controlled opening of the film bag ,

The pressing device can have a compressible cushion 32 which can expand into the resulting bulge 23 when the pressing device sinks / depresses, since no resistance builds up in the region of the outlet opening 36 of the emptying chamber 32, and thus product residues in the foil bag, in particular in the formation 31 of the predetermined breaking point of the already largely emptied foil bag press out.

Fig. 3c shows a side view as a section of an exemplary emptying device 17 in the snapshot of a flushing with blending / mixing agent. By the Spülwasserzulauf 39, for example, by CO2 added water, the bulge of the film bag 30 and the formation of the predetermined breaking point of the film bag, parts of the discharge chamber, and the product chamber 32 rinsed, leaving almost no product remains. The product and the washout agent can thus be found, for example, as a mixed beverage in the mixing container 43.

Fig. 4 shows a three-dimensional view of a nearly completely emptied film bag 1, for example, around the center 14 of the predetermined breaking point has a uniform shape 31, which was generated by a Mitstrecken during the formation of the bulge 30 of the film bag wall by the pressing process / the pressurization.

Fig. 5 shows a side view as a section of an exemplary device 17 for emptying the film bag 1. The emptying device 17 preferably consists of an emptying chamber 24, which may be adapted in its geometric dimension to the size of the container 1 in the length 3b and width 3c, so that a product-filled container 1 can be placed almost free of space in the discharge chamber 24. In this case, the circumferential distance 26 of the pressing device to the inner wall 25 may be between 0.01 mm and 20 mm, but preferably at 1 ± 0.5 mm. As a result, it is possible to prevent the container from being pressed and / or jammed in the distance 26 between the emptying chamber and the pressing device 18 during pressing. The emptying chamber 24 may be embodied rectangular or square in shape, for example, where the emptying chamber 24 may form a trough, the side wall design, or inner wall 25 may be higher than the flat product-filled container.

The emptying device may have a pressing device 18, for example with a pressure plate or stamp 18a, which may be somewhat smaller in its geometric dimensions to the surrounding inner wall 25 of the emptying chamber 24, but preferably can be inserted accurately into the emptying chamber.

Pressure can be exerted on the container 1 inserted into the emptying chamber via the pressing device. In this case, the container can bulge into the product outlet opening of the emptying chamber until the predetermined breaking point opens and empties the container. The drive of the pressing device is as above with respect to Fig. 3b executed, for example hydraulically or electronically.

The pressing device may have on its underside, via a compressible pad 21, for example an air cushion pad or an elastomer, can be acted upon by the pressure on the foil bag. In this case, the compressible cushion can map the container contour and thus a uniform pressure distribution on the container and on any welds and folds of the container can be achieved.

The emptying chamber 24 may have an opening 36 for the product outlet, which is centered, for example, in the bottom 27 of the emptying chamber. But there are also several openings conceivable.

When pressure is applied to the loaded product-filled container with a pressing device with compressible pads 21, the pad may be better emptied into the evacuation chamber product outlet opening 36 and thus the container.

To the opening 36, a product chamber 32 may connect, the volume 35, for example, the entire product 33, which may be located in the foil bag 1 record. The product chamber may additionally have a Produktkammerauslassöffnung 38, for example in the vertical course of the product chamber, or for example downward in the direction of gravity, wherein the outlet opening 38 may have a smaller cross-section than the product chamber, for example, the outlet opening may have a cross-section, the 1% to 90% smaller than the cross section of the product chamber is to cause a product backlog 42 can. Preferred is e.g. a width of the product chamber of e.g. 30 mm in diameter and an outlet opening of e.g. 6 mm. The embodiment of the product chamber outlet opening 38 may, for example, be conical in the direction of gravity.

The opening 35 of the product chamber can also, for example, directly below the discharge chamber 24, an inlet 40 to a purge port 39 have. The feed can preferably be tangential, for example. After emptying the container, blending water, for example mixed with CO.sub.2, can be supplied into the product chamber and / or the region immediately below the emptying chamber product outlet opening 36 via the flushing connection 39 and inlet 40, thus flushing the product chamber.

In addition, below the outlet opening 38 may be a mixing container 43 for receiving the product 33 and / or mixing / rinsing water.

This is followed by 6 leaves with 10 figures.

The reference numbers used here are assigned as follows:

1

Foil bag / multilayer foil pouch

2

Breaking point

2a

Position detection of the foil bag

3a

Height of the foil bag

3b

Length of the foil bag

3c

Width of the foil bag

4

Diagonal positioning

5

Center of the foil bag

6

Bottom of the foil bag

7

Wall of the foil bag / bag wall

8th

Inner wall layer of the bag wall

9

Barrier layer of the bag wall

10

Outer wall layer of the bag wall

11

Depth of the predetermined breaking point

12

Width of the predetermined breaking point

13

Star shaped breaking point

13a

Different predetermined breaking point shapes

14

Center of the breaking point

15

Covering the predetermined breaking point

16

cover tongue

17

Emptying device for a foil bag

18

Pressing device for emptying the foil bag

18a

Stamp / pressure plate of the pressing device

19

Dimension of the pressing device

20

Outer edge of the pressing device

21

Cushion of pressing device

22

Compression of the pillow

23

Bulge of the compressed pillow

24

emptying chamber

25

Inner wall of the emptying chamber

26

Distance between the evacuation chamber wall and the pressing device

27

Bottom of the emptying chamber

28

Sealing of the container on the bottom of the emptying chamber

29

Empty foil bag

30

Bulge of the empty or largely empty foil bag and / or bulge of the foil bag before opening the predetermined breaking point

31

Forming the predetermined breaking point of the empty or largely empty foil bag

32

Product chamber of emptying device

33

Product in foil bag

34

Air bubble in the foil bag

35

Volume of the product chamber

36

Outlet opening evacuation chamber

38

Outlet opening of the product chamber

39

Flushing connection of the product chamber

40

Tangential inlet from the flushing connection

41

Product beam angle when emptying the foil bag

42

Product backlog in product chamber

43

mixing tank

Claims (19)

A multi-layer film bag (1) for the storage of food products, in particular of beverage concentrates, with a bag wall (7) the at least one outer wall (10), a barrier layer (9), for example, oxygen and / or light and an inner wall (8), characterized characterized in that the multilayer film bag has a predetermined breaking point (2) in the film bag wall which ruptures under pressure, for example at pressures greater than 100 kPa, 150 kPa, 200 kPa, 400 kPa or 500 kPa without tearing off portions of the film bag. Foil bag (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined breaking point (2) on an outer wall side (10) of the film bag (1), and the predetermined breaking point is advantageously centered on the outer wall side (10) is positioned. Foil bag (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the extension of the predetermined breaking point (2) is less than half, one third or one quarter of the extent of the outer wall side (10) on which the predetermined breaking point (2) is located. Foil bag (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foil bag has a rectangular shape and / or at least on one side has a weld, wherein the weld / welds withstand pressures that are above the pressure range leading to the opening of the predetermined breaking point. Foil bag (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the predetermined breaking point has a cover (15) against contamination, wherein the cover is fixed, for example by means of adhesive and, for example, a cover tongue (16), with the cover removed manually or by machine can be. Foil bag (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the predetermined breaking point (2) is produced by the action of light. Foil bag (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the depth of the predetermined breaking point (2) in the outer wall (10) of the foil bag does not extend deeper than to the barrier layer (9). Foil bag (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foil bag in the dimension of the height is smaller than in the length and width. Foil bag (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foil bag has a position recognition mark. Foil bag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the predetermined breaking point (2) bulges when pressure is applied before the tearing / opening to the outside and forms a bulge. A method for substantially residue-free emptying of a film bag (1) from one of the preceding claims, which includes that the film bag in an emptying chamber (24), which is preferably adapted in their geometric dimension with respect to emptying chamber width and emptying chamber length with film bag width and film bag height, and exerts pressure on the film bag by means of a pressing device, so that a bulge (30) is formed, the expansion of the film bag wall (7) on the side of the predetermined breaking point, the predetermined breaking point (2) opens, for example, in the middle, and the film bag is emptied largely residue wherein the pressing device (18) for applying the pressure to the film bag is preferably moved at a predefined speed. A method according to claim 11, wherein a uniform pressure is applied to the surface of the film bag (1) by means of a pad (21) mounted on the underside of the pressing device (18) which compresses when pressurized. The method of claim 12, wherein the pad (21) compresses upon pressurizing the deflated foil bag on the bottom (27) of the evacuation chamber (24), pressing the pad (21) into the discharge port (36) of the evacuation chamber, and the remaining amount of the film bag contents through the bulge of the film bag wall (30) from the predetermined breaking point from the foil bag and the foil bag almost completely emptied. Method according to one of claims 11-13, wherein an air bubble (34) in the film bag (1) is in the emptying position at the highest point or region of the bag height and emptying the remainder of the film bag contents from the film bag during emptying. Method according to one of claims 11-14, wherein the film bag (1) is emptied into / over a product chamber (32) and the product chamber is emptied after emptying the film bag (1), for example by mixing water, which still or CO2 can be. Device for emptying a product-filled foil bag (1), for example according to claim 1, comprising an emptying chamber (24) with at least one outlet opening (36), and at least one pressing device (18), characterized in that the pressing device (18) with a predefined one Speed can be moved and is preconfigured so that a pressurization can be achieved, which can lead to the opening of the predetermined breaking point of the film bag (1) and for emptying the filled foil bag. Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the pressing device (1) is configured so that it can be moved at a predefined and / or infinitely variable speed, for example at speeds of or above 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, 10, 20 or 40 mm per minute, and / or configured so that pressure changes of 0.0, to 200 or 500 kPa can be achieved in 5 to 30 seconds or within 1 to 100 seconds, and / or configured to apply pressure to the Foil bag (1) greater than 50 kPa, 100 kPa, 200 kPa, 400 kPa or 500 kPa can be achieved. Device according to one of claims 16 to 17, characterized in that the underside of the pressing device has a punch with a compressible pad (21), for example an elastomer or air cushion. Device according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the circumferential distance (26) of the pressing device to the inner wall (25) of the emptying chamber (24) between 0.01 mm and 20 mm, preferably 1 mm.

Images