EP3261937A1 - Process for manufacturing a multiple pouch - Google Patents

Process for manufacturing a multiple pouch

Info

Publication number
EP3261937A1
EP3261937A1 EP16704420.5A EP16704420A EP3261937A1 EP 3261937 A1 EP3261937 A1 EP 3261937A1 EP 16704420 A EP16704420 A EP 16704420A EP 3261937 A1 EP3261937 A1 EP 3261937A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pouch
section
process according
films
edges
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP16704420.5A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3261937B1 (en
Inventor
Ming Wang
Junjie XIA
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Original Assignee
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Unilever PLC, Unilever NV filed Critical Unilever PLC
Publication of EP3261937A1 publication Critical patent/EP3261937A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3261937B1 publication Critical patent/EP3261937B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
    • B65B43/32—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by external pressure diagonally applied
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
    • B65B43/267—Opening of bags interconnected in a web

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an improved process for manufacturing multiple pouches.
  • the present invention relates to an improved process for manufacturing a multiple pouch using a horizontal form-fill-seal technique.
  • a prior method and machine for packaging medicine in divided paper partitions is described in JP60-134805A.
  • a continuous roll of packaging paper A is folded in the lengthwise direction so that the fold line provides the bottom edge of the packages.
  • a heat seal roll mechanism 3 is provided to seal parts of opposing faces of the paper together, transversely of the machine direction, to provide multiple divided packaging partitions A', each having an opening b.
  • the packaging paper A is held by a clamp 4 and a predetermined overfeed between clamp 4 and heat seal roll 3 is employed in order to swell the opening b of a single packaging partition A' in order to receive medicine from a pouring guide 1 1 .
  • the opening b of the filled partition A' is subsequently sealed using a heat sealing mechanism 6 and the filled, sealed partition A' drawn out by rollers 7.
  • the present invention is directed to a horizontal form-fill-seal process for manufacturing a multiple pouch using a pair of opposing sealable films.
  • Pouches are known in the art and are commonly employed to contain convenient volumes of fluids or solids.
  • a most basic form of pouch is a sachet which might comprise a pair of opposing sealable films sealed at the edges and with a tear-off portion along one edge to permit egress of the contained product.
  • the sachet is typically made using what is commonly known as a form-fill-seal (FFS) process whereby the sachet is formed, filled and then sealed at sequential stations in a manufacturing facility.
  • FFS form-fill-seal
  • a more sophisticated type of pouch is the doy pack which, by way of a stiffening member at the base, permits the pack to be supported on its base.
  • a doy pack is a popular and relatively cheap means for packaging a consumer product.
  • the stiffening member is formed by a folding plough which pushes the base, formed between the bottom edges up into the pouch portion and thereby creating a portion which may be unfolded to provide a flattened base.
  • the cross section of the sealable film forms a 'W shape when viewed along a machine direction.
  • the present invention provides an improved form-fill-seal process for manufacturing a multiple pouch.
  • a horizontal form-fill-seal process for manufacturing a multiple pouch comprising: -presenting a pair of opposing sealable films;
  • a multiple pouch section comprising at least one pouch part connected to multiple other pouch parts by common side edges; and -compressing the multiple pouch section along a general longitudinal axis of the section (general axis of the process) so as to provide an opening for each pouch part at a pouch top.
  • the common edge side films which connect one pouch part to another are perforated along the substantially vertical seal.
  • Such perforation is typically executed by a perforation blade which pierces the opposing sealable films along the seal and permits a pouch to be separated from its neighbouring pouch more easily.
  • the process of the invention generates a pouch section.
  • the pouch section is a template for forming a multiple pouch.
  • a multiple pouch comprises at least three pouches connected in a side-by-side formation. Accordingly, at least one pouch is connected to at least one other pouch on two common edges.
  • the simplest multiple pouch comprises three pouches in series.
  • a more complex multiple pouch will have four, five, six or more pouches in such a manner.
  • the multiple pouch will always have at least two pouches which are only connected to one other pouch.
  • n pouches there will be n-2 pouches having opposite edges in common with two other pouches.
  • the sealable films are fed into the process in a machine direction.
  • the machine direction is substantially horizontal to the ground.
  • the leading edge of the sealable films is a leading edge of the leading pouch and so when the sealable films are cut to form the multiple pouch section it is preferably only cut once along the sealable films and at a distal following edge of the multiple pouch section.
  • leading edge is new and has not been subjected to a seal it will be sealed before entering the process or alternatively at the start of the process.
  • Bonding is effected by standard processes, for example, by thermal or sonic pressure or by adhesive. Bonding is preferably effected by what is known commonly as vertical sealers which bond the sealable films together along an axis substantially orthogonal to the general machine direction.
  • the sealable films may be bonded at the distal edges of proposed pouch section and at intermediate positions, each along an axis substantially orthogonal to the machine direction.
  • the intermediate positions correspond to common side edges for pouch parts in the multiple pouch section.
  • the sealable films are then cut to form the multiple pouch section.
  • the bottom edge of the pouch section is required to be sealed at some point in the process but it is not critical when such bonding occurs. It may be done before the vertical seal or it may be after the pouch section is formed.
  • the multiple pouch section is compressed along a general longitudinal axis of the section (machine direction of process), preferably by displacing the side edges of the pouch parts to bring them closer together. This is to open the pouch parts in the multiple pouch section so that product can be supplied to them. Typically this is effective to provide an opening in each pouch part of the multiple pouch section, at the top of the respective pouch parts.
  • the multiple pouch section is held by way of grippers which clamp the section along the common edges of the pouch parts and also the distal edges of the section.
  • the grippers are then moved towards a mid-point between the two outermost grippers.
  • the inferior grippers (inferior to the outermost 'exterior' grippers) also move towards the mid- point a distance such that the ratio between the grippers is substantially maintained.
  • the pouch parts of the multiple pouch section are opened such that product may be disposed within a pouch part.
  • product may be solid or fluid, such as powder or liquid.
  • the process may involve disposing product within several pouch parts simultaneously.
  • the pouch parts are then closed by an appropriate sealing method as described above to form filled pouches.
  • the grippers are moved away from the mid-point to permit closure of the pouches. More preferably, the innermost grippers are raised such that the top edge of the associated pouch (es) is/are stretched facilitating closure. Examples
  • Figure 1 is a plan view of opposing sealable films
  • Figure 2 is a plan view of the same sealable films clamped to one another;
  • Figure 3 is a plan view of the films compressed to provide open pouch parts;
  • Figure 4 is a plan view of the multiple pouch section filled with product
  • Figure 5 is a plan view of the pouch section being decompressed for sealing.
  • FIG. 6 is a side view of a multiple pouch section in which the pouch parts have a closure cap.
  • figure 1 shows a pair of opposing sealable films (1 ) as seen from above. Shown is also the leading edge (2) of the films as they enter the process in a machine direction (MD).
  • Figure 2 shows the sealable films (1 ) being clamped between four pairs of opposing clamps (3 and 3a; 4 and 4a; 5 and 5a and 6 and 6a).
  • the clamp 6-6a also serves as a cutter (A-A) such that the sealable films from the cut to the leading edge form a multiple pouch section (8) capable of forming three pouches with one central pouch part connected to two other pouch parts on either side.
  • clamp pairs (6, 6a), (3, 3a), (4, 4a), (5, 5a) are displaceable along the machine direction (the general axis of the process) so that each pair can move towards and away from a mid-point (B-B).
  • Figure 3 shows the multiple pouch section (8) being compressed towards a mid-point (B- B). Exterior clamps (5) and (6), which clamp the outermost edges the multiple pouch section (8), are moved an equal distance towards B. Similarly, interior clamps (3) and (4) which clamp the common side edges of the pouch parts in the multiple pouch section (8) are also moved towards B but by a distance proportional to their proximity to B as compared with (5) and (6). During this compression stage the pouch parts of the multiple pouch section (8) are opened to allow product (7) to be disposed therein.
  • Figure 4 shows three pouches (C, D and E) filled with product (7).
  • Figure 5 shows clamps (3), (4), (5) and (6) being pulled apart to bring the top edges of the pouch parts together facilitating sealing.
  • Clamps (3) and (4) are also raised to draw the top edges of pouch D away from the bottom edge of the pouch. This facilitates closure of the pouch.
  • FIG 6 shows a multiple pouch section (18) in which each pouch part (18c, 18d, 18e) is provided with a closure cap (19) fitted by standard means.
  • the closure caps may be fitted as part of the process for sealing the filled pouches, for example.
  • Pouch part (18d) is connected to pouch part (18c) at common side edge (20) and is connected to pouch part (18e) at common side edge (21 ).

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
  • Bag Frames (AREA)
  • Making Paper Articles (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)

Abstract

Horizontal form-fill-seal process for manufacturing a multiple pouch comprising: -presenting a pair of opposing sealable films (1); -bonding the films to one another with a substantially vertical seal; -cutting the opposing films to form a multiple pouch section (8) comprising at least one pouch part (D) connected to multiple other pouch parts (C, E) by common side edges; and -compressing the multiple pouch section (8) along a general longitudinal axis of the section so as to provide an opening for each pouch part.

Description

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING A MULTIPLE POUCH
The present invention relates to an improved process for manufacturing multiple pouches. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an improved process for manufacturing a multiple pouch using a horizontal form-fill-seal technique.
Background
A prior method and machine for packaging medicine in divided paper partitions is described in JP60-134805A. A continuous roll of packaging paper A is folded in the lengthwise direction so that the fold line provides the bottom edge of the packages. A heat seal roll mechanism 3 is provided to seal parts of opposing faces of the paper together, transversely of the machine direction, to provide multiple divided packaging partitions A', each having an opening b. The packaging paper A is held by a clamp 4 and a predetermined overfeed between clamp 4 and heat seal roll 3 is employed in order to swell the opening b of a single packaging partition A' in order to receive medicine from a pouring guide 1 1 . The opening b of the filled partition A' is subsequently sealed using a heat sealing mechanism 6 and the filled, sealed partition A' drawn out by rollers 7.
The present invention is directed to a horizontal form-fill-seal process for manufacturing a multiple pouch using a pair of opposing sealable films.
Pouches are known in the art and are commonly employed to contain convenient volumes of fluids or solids. A most basic form of pouch is a sachet which might comprise a pair of opposing sealable films sealed at the edges and with a tear-off portion along one edge to permit egress of the contained product. The sachet is typically made using what is commonly known as a form-fill-seal (FFS) process whereby the sachet is formed, filled and then sealed at sequential stations in a manufacturing facility. A more sophisticated type of pouch is the doy pack which, by way of a stiffening member at the base, permits the pack to be supported on its base. A doy pack is a popular and relatively cheap means for packaging a consumer product. Preferably, where the sealable film is folded at a bottom edge the stiffening member is formed by a folding plough which pushes the base, formed between the bottom edges up into the pouch portion and thereby creating a portion which may be unfolded to provide a flattened base. In such a configuration the cross section of the sealable film forms a 'W shape when viewed along a machine direction.
The present invention provides an improved form-fill-seal process for manufacturing a multiple pouch.
Summary of the invention.
According to the present invention, there is provided a horizontal form-fill-seal process for manufacturing a multiple pouch comprising: -presenting a pair of opposing sealable films;
-bonding the films to one another with substantially vertical seals;
-cutting the opposing films to form a multiple pouch section comprising at least one pouch part connected to multiple other pouch parts by common side edges; and -compressing the multiple pouch section along a general longitudinal axis of the section (general axis of the process) so as to provide an opening for each pouch part at a pouch top.
Detailed description of preferred embodiments
According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the common edge side films which connect one pouch part to another are perforated along the substantially vertical seal. Such perforation is typically executed by a perforation blade which pierces the opposing sealable films along the seal and permits a pouch to be separated from its neighbouring pouch more easily.
The process of the invention generates a pouch section. The pouch section is a template for forming a multiple pouch. A multiple pouch comprises at least three pouches connected in a side-by-side formation. Accordingly, at least one pouch is connected to at least one other pouch on two common edges.
The simplest multiple pouch comprises three pouches in series. A more complex multiple pouch will have four, five, six or more pouches in such a manner. The multiple pouch will always have at least two pouches which are only connected to one other pouch. Further, in a multiple pouch which comprises n pouches, there will be n-2 pouches having opposite edges in common with two other pouches.
In a preferred aspect, the sealable films are fed into the process in a machine direction. Preferably, the machine direction is substantially horizontal to the ground. The leading edge of the sealable films is a leading edge of the leading pouch and so when the sealable films are cut to form the multiple pouch section it is preferably only cut once along the sealable films and at a distal following edge of the multiple pouch section.
Where the leading edge is new and has not been subjected to a seal it will be sealed before entering the process or alternatively at the start of the process.
Once the sealable films are in position they are bonded to one another to form the precursor to the pouch section. Bonding is effected by standard processes, for example, by thermal or sonic pressure or by adhesive. Bonding is preferably effected by what is known commonly as vertical sealers which bond the sealable films together along an axis substantially orthogonal to the general machine direction.
The sealable films may be bonded at the distal edges of proposed pouch section and at intermediate positions, each along an axis substantially orthogonal to the machine direction. The intermediate positions correspond to common side edges for pouch parts in the multiple pouch section. The sealable films are then cut to form the multiple pouch section.
Where the opposing sealable films are not contiguous with one another at their bottom edges the bottom edge of the pouch section is required to be sealed at some point in the process but it is not critical when such bonding occurs. It may be done before the vertical seal or it may be after the pouch section is formed. The multiple pouch section is compressed along a general longitudinal axis of the section (machine direction of process), preferably by displacing the side edges of the pouch parts to bring them closer together. This is to open the pouch parts in the multiple pouch section so that product can be supplied to them. Typically this is effective to provide an opening in each pouch part of the multiple pouch section, at the top of the respective pouch parts. Preferably the multiple pouch section is held by way of grippers which clamp the section along the common edges of the pouch parts and also the distal edges of the section. The grippers are then moved towards a mid-point between the two outermost grippers. The inferior grippers (inferior to the outermost 'exterior' grippers) also move towards the mid- point a distance such that the ratio between the grippers is substantially maintained.
During such compression stage the pouch parts of the multiple pouch section are opened such that product may be disposed within a pouch part. Such product may be solid or fluid, such as powder or liquid. The process may involve disposing product within several pouch parts simultaneously. Preferably, the pouch parts are then closed by an appropriate sealing method as described above to form filled pouches.
Preferably, the grippers are moved away from the mid-point to permit closure of the pouches. More preferably, the innermost grippers are raised such that the top edge of the associated pouch (es) is/are stretched facilitating closure. Examples
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following non- limiting drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of opposing sealable films;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same sealable films clamped to one another; Figure 3 is a plan view of the films compressed to provide open pouch parts;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the multiple pouch section filled with product;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the pouch section being decompressed for sealing; and
Figure 6 is a side view of a multiple pouch section in which the pouch parts have a closure cap. In detail, figure 1 shows a pair of opposing sealable films (1 ) as seen from above. Shown is also the leading edge (2) of the films as they enter the process in a machine direction (MD). Figure 2 shows the sealable films (1 ) being clamped between four pairs of opposing clamps (3 and 3a; 4 and 4a; 5 and 5a and 6 and 6a). The clamp 6-6a also serves as a cutter (A-A) such that the sealable films from the cut to the leading edge form a multiple pouch section (8) capable of forming three pouches with one central pouch part connected to two other pouch parts on either side.
The clamp pairs (6, 6a), (3, 3a), (4, 4a), (5, 5a) are displaceable along the machine direction (the general axis of the process) so that each pair can move towards and away from a mid-point (B-B).
Figure 3 shows the multiple pouch section (8) being compressed towards a mid-point (B- B). Exterior clamps (5) and (6), which clamp the outermost edges the multiple pouch section (8), are moved an equal distance towards B. Similarly, interior clamps (3) and (4) which clamp the common side edges of the pouch parts in the multiple pouch section (8) are also moved towards B but by a distance proportional to their proximity to B as compared with (5) and (6). During this compression stage the pouch parts of the multiple pouch section (8) are opened to allow product (7) to be disposed therein.
Figure 4 shows three pouches (C, D and E) filled with product (7).
Figure 5 shows clamps (3), (4), (5) and (6) being pulled apart to bring the top edges of the pouch parts together facilitating sealing. Clamps (3) and (4) are also raised to draw the top edges of pouch D away from the bottom edge of the pouch. This facilitates closure of the pouch.
Figure 6 shows a multiple pouch section (18) in which each pouch part (18c, 18d, 18e) is provided with a closure cap (19) fitted by standard means. The closure caps may be fitted as part of the process for sealing the filled pouches, for example. Pouch part (18d) is connected to pouch part (18c) at common side edge (20) and is connected to pouch part (18e) at common side edge (21 ).

Claims

1. Horizontal form-fill-seal process for manufacturing a multiple pouch, the process comprising: -presenting a pair of opposing sealable films;
-bonding the films to one another with a substantially vertical seal;
-cutting the opposing films to form a multiple pouch section comprising at least one pouch part connected to multiple other pouch parts by common side edges; and -compressing the multiple pouch section along a general longitudinal axis of the section so as to provide an opening for each pouch part.
2. Process according to claim 1 wherein the common edge sides are perforated along the substantially vertical seal.
3. Process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the outermost edges of the multiple pouch section are compressed towards each other and are moved towards a point midway between the two edges by a substantially equal amount.
4. Process according to claim 3 wherein the outermost edges and the common side edges of the pouch parts in the multiple pouch section are compressed towards each other and are moved towards the point midway between the two edges by a substantially equal amount.
5. Process according to any preceding claim additionally comprising disposing product within a pouch part.
6. Process according to claim 5 which comprises disposing product within multiple pouch parts at the same time.
7. Process according to claim 5 or 6 additionally comprising sealing a pouch part to form a sealed pouch.
8. Process according to any preceding claim wherein a top edge of the multiple pouch section is raised during compression and decompression.
EP16704420.5A 2015-02-27 2016-02-09 Process for manufacturing a multiple pouch Active EP3261937B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN2015073332 2015-02-27
PCT/EP2016/052671 WO2016134966A1 (en) 2015-02-27 2016-02-09 Process for manufacturing a multiple pouch

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3261937A1 true EP3261937A1 (en) 2018-01-03
EP3261937B1 EP3261937B1 (en) 2018-06-20

Family

ID=55357975

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16704420.5A Active EP3261937B1 (en) 2015-02-27 2016-02-09 Process for manufacturing a multiple pouch

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3261937B1 (en)
CN (1) CN108040478B (en)
BR (1) BR112017017373B1 (en)
ES (1) ES2687747T3 (en)
WO (1) WO2016134966A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA201705149B (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110681222A (en) * 2019-08-15 2020-01-14 无锡市玉净净化科技有限公司 Energy-saving medium-efficiency composite filter material air filter bag

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2117929B1 (en) * 1995-04-17 1999-03-16 Bossar S A FLEXIBLE CONTAINER CONVEYOR, APPLICABLE ON HORIZONTAL MACHINES.
EP1855948A4 (en) * 2005-03-09 2011-11-09 Wfcp Llc Flexible pouch filling, sealing and fitment insertion system
ITBO20070203A1 (en) * 2007-03-21 2008-09-22 Aroma Systems Srl MACHINE FOR FILLING BAGS OR BAGS ALSO IN A CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE
DE102009005311A1 (en) * 2009-01-29 2010-08-05 Khs Ag Method and device for processing double-chambered bags with different geometries
CN203318761U (en) * 2013-05-28 2013-12-04 江南大学 One-piece bag forming and filling vacuum packaging machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA201705149B (en) 2019-05-29
BR112017017373A2 (en) 2018-04-10
ES2687747T3 (en) 2018-10-29
WO2016134966A1 (en) 2016-09-01
CN108040478B (en) 2020-01-03
BR112017017373B1 (en) 2021-12-21
EP3261937B1 (en) 2018-06-20
CN108040478A (en) 2018-05-15

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