EP3842361A1 - Square-shaped bag package comprising a bag and a plurality of sanitary items contained therein or medical records or surgical items - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cuboid bag pack (2) comprising a bag (4) and a plurality of hygiene articles (6) accommodated therein, brought into a planar configuration and stacked one on top of the other, in particular diapers, incontinence diapers, incontinence pads, or medical pads or surgical articles, the bag ( 4) in the filled state and enclosing the inserted articles comprises a first side wall (18) and a second side wall (20) opposite this, the bag (4) having a reinforcement area (40) in each of the first and second side walls (18, 20) comprises, wherein the bag (4) has a manually openable access area (34) in the first side wall (18) delimited by a predetermined breaking line (32), characterized in that in the second side wall (20) at least one between an interior space (54) and the surrounding area of the bag (4) communicating vent opening (56) is formed that the vent opening (56) in de m reinforcement area (40) of the second side wall (20) is formed, and that in the case of the first side wall (18), in which the access area (34) is formed, no ventilation opening is formed in the reinforcement area (40).

Description

The invention relates to a cuboid pouch pack comprising a pouch and a plurality of hygiene articles accommodated therein, brought into a planar configuration and stacked one on top of the other, in particular diapers, incontinence diapers, incontinence pads, or medical pads or surgical articles, the bag in the filled state and the inserted article enclosing a Front wall, a rear wall opposite this, a first side wall and one of these opposing second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, which are preferably formed from a single folded and welded sheet material section, wherein the bag comprises a reinforcement region adjacent to the top wall in each of the first and second side walls, the reinforcement region being the The first and second side walls are each formed in that, by folding in the flat material section, several layers of the flat material section rest against one another, and the reinforcement area of the first and second side wall is each at least three-layered and is formed by areas of the flat material section that are folded over one another, namely one respective outer layer section, a respective middle layer section and a respective inner layer section, wherein the bag has a manually openable access area delimited by a predetermined breaking line in the first side wall f points.

Such bag packs comprising hygiene articles, such as in particular diapers, are made, for example WO 2012/176078 A1 previously known. In the transition of the upper wall to the first and the second side wall, the aforementioned three-layer structure and thus a reinforcement area of the bag is achieved by folding in and the associated pocket formation. In the case of the previously known bag pack according to WO 2012/176078 the manually openable access area or the predetermined breaking lines delimiting this access area extend into the reinforcement area. For manual gripping and manual opening of the Access areas there are openings for fingers of the user so that the user can reach into the bag from the outside, for example with two fingers, and subsequently break the predetermined breaking lines and thus open the access area of the bag along the predetermined breaking lines. In addition to the lack of tightness in the area of the predetermined breaking lines, the exposed and relatively large engagement openings provide what we consider to be a non-optimal sealing of the bag.

A similar bag pack is out WO 2006/022869 A1 known. EP 3 012 207 A1 describes a cuboid bag pack with a reinforcement area as described above. The publication teaches, instead of the previously known relief cuts, to provide a spatially limited weakened area in an inner layer section of the reinforcement area, which ensures extensive tightness when not opened, but opens automatically when exposed to stress, in order to prevent a side seam of the bag pack from being torn open.

On the part of the applicant, it was found that bag packs with hygiene articles are exposed to increasingly greater stress, in particular when the bags are being filled, in particular in high-speed machines. This can namely lead to a strong compression of the air blown or sucked into the interior of the bag when the increasingly more compressed hygiene articles are moved into the bag. Here it can happen that the bags are "blown away" by a holder. Regardless of this, the flat material sections, which are typically formed from increasingly thinner plastic films and from which the bags are formed, are subjected to increasingly higher tension when the bags are filled, but also afterwards as a result of the force exerted by the more strongly compressed hygiene articles. This can lead to unwanted opening of weakened areas or predetermined breaking lines when the bag is filled with hygiene articles. In particular, the reinforcement area in the two side walls, which typically taper to a point, is exposed to very high loads, particularly in the area of its tip.

On the other hand, especially with hygiene articles such as incontinence articles, it is important to have hygienic, i.e. largely closed and tight packaging, so that the hygiene articles contained therein can be effectively protected from contamination and environmental influences. Therefore, the already mentioned relief slots or weakened areas are usually very spatially limited and only formed in an inner layer section. It was found on this side that the measures taken so far are not suitable for providing effective pressure equalization during the filling of the bags, in particular in high-speed machines.

The present invention is based on the object of proposing a bag pack which has the above the problem aspects described is more appropriate than is the case with known bag packs.

Based on a cuboid bag pack of the type mentioned at the beginning, this object is achieved according to the invention in that at least one ventilation opening communicating between an interior and the environment of the bag is formed in the second side wall, that the ventilation opening is formed in the reinforcement area of the second side wall, that the Ventilation opening is formed at least in the outer or middle layer section of the reinforcement area of the second side wall, in particular in the outer layer section and in the middle layer section, and that in the case of the first side wall in which the access area is formed, no ventilation opening in the outer or middle layer section of the Reinforcement area is formed.

It was found according to the invention that the described compression problem, in particular when filling the bag, can be effectively countered by forming at least one vent opening in the outer and / or in the middle layer section of the reinforcement area. The fact that no ventilation opening is formed in the outer or middle layer section of the reinforcement region in the case of the first side wall in which the access area is formed also ensures that the ventilation opening in question is not considered to be intended The intervention area for the intended opening of the access area is misunderstood. It was found by the applicant that if such a vent opening in the reinforcement area of the first side wall is not opened as intended, there is a risk that the bag pack will not tear at the intended weakening lines but, in particular, in the case of the increasingly thinner plastic films in the vicinity of the vent opening mentioned above , whereby a sufficiently large access opening is not formed and the inserted articles can easily be damaged during removal. It has also been shown that the formation of the vent opening in the outer and / or central layer section of the flat material section can, on the one hand, exercise an effective venting function during the filling process, but on the other hand, by forming the vent opening in the multilayer reinforcement area, a sealing effect that meets high hygienic requirements or is nonetheless possible Barrier against the penetration of dirt and environmental influences of any kind is guaranteed. This is attributed to the fact that when the bag is filled, the wall areas surrounding the ventilation openings or delimiting the ventilation openings bear against one another under pressure and thus effect a quasi-labyrinthine seal.

For the reasons already mentioned, it has proven to be advantageous that no ventilation opening is formed in the first side wall outside the reinforcement area is. It is also conceivable and advantageous that no ventilation opening at all is formed in the first side wall. For the reasons already mentioned, it also proves to be advantageous that no ventilation opening is formed in the second side wall outside the reinforcement area.

For the purposes of the present invention, a macroscopic opening formed before the bag is filled and having a dimension of at least 3 mm, in particular at least 5 mm, in particular at least 8 mm and in particular at most 20 mm, in particular at most 15 mm and further in particular at most 12 mm, can be placed under a ventilation opening be understood. A ventilation opening is also used when the flat material forming the flat material section, in particular film material, does not have flat areas for the formation of the ventilation opening, but cuts or slits are made in the flat material so that areas of the flat material adjacent to the cuts or slits During the filling process, due to the compression of the air, easily deflect or open flat material to the outside and thus release an effective flow cross-section so that the ventilation function is given. The dimensions of such cuts or slits are preferably in the range of the dimensions given above. The cuts or slits can intersect one another in the shape of a cross or X or extend in a Y shape or star shape starting from a center, this only being advantageous embodiments. The cuts or However, slots can also be curved in an arc shape and, in particular, be led back almost to their starting point, so that a type of valve flap is thereby formed.

In a preferred embodiment of the cuboid bag pack according to the invention, the reinforcement area is delimited by the sides of a triangle in the plan view of the first or second side wall.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the cuboid bag pack is characterized by at least two ventilation openings, one of which is formed in a plan view of the second side wall on one side of a side seam attached to the second side wall and the other on the other side of the side seam, in particular with mirror symmetry the side seam is formed.

For the formation of the manually openable access area, it proves to be advantageous if the access area is delimited by predetermined breaking lines which are spaced apart from one another and in particular run in the direction from top to bottom. These predetermined breaking lines can be straight or curved. The predetermined breaking lines preferably run essentially parallel to the side seam of the first side wall, but a non-parallel run is also conceivable.

It proves to be advantageous if the predetermined breaking lines have a distance (D) of at least 6 cm, in particular of at least 8 cm, in particular of at least 10 cm, in particular of at least 11 cm and of at most 18 cm, in particular of at most 16 cm, in particular of at most 15 cm, in particular of at most 14 cm, in particular of at most 13 cm from each other.

It also proves to be advantageous if the predetermined breaking lines run on one or the other side of a seam, in particular on one or the other side of a seam formed in the first side wall.

In order to be able to form a sufficiently large access opening, it proves to be advantageous if the predetermined breaking lines extend over at least 30%, in particular over at least 40%, in particular over at least 50%, in particular over at least 60% of a height of the first side wall of the bag . It also proves to be advantageous if the predetermined breaking lines extend over a maximum of 90%, in particular over a maximum of 80%, in particular a maximum of 75%, in particular over a maximum of 70% of a height of the first side wall of the bag.

The cuboid bag pack designed according to the invention can be provided with or without an additional carrying aid. As carrying aids, for example, attached loop-forming strip sections are suitable, which then extend essentially upwards and downwards again and are attached to the bag in any manner. In a preferred embodiment, a handle comprises a strip portion which the bag in a Surrounds the circumferential direction and is attached to an upper edge portion of the front wall, rear wall and the first and second side walls, the strip portion at the same time forming a grip web that extends over the upper wall or protrudes from the upper wall and forms a loop.

Further features, details and advantages of the bag pack according to the invention emerge from the attached patent claims and from the drawing and the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische, jedoch gleichwohl schematische Darstellung einer ersten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Beutelpackung umfassend einen Beutel mit darin angedeuteten gestapelten Artikeln;

Figur 2

eine Draufsicht auf einen Flachmaterialabschnitt und eine angedeutete Flachmaterialbahn, von der dieser Flachmaterialabschnitt abtrennbar ist;

Figuren 3a,

b eine Draufsicht (Figur 3a) auf den M-förmig gefalteten Flachmaterialabschnitt nach Figur 2 im Zuge der Herstellung des Beutels nach Figur 1 und eine Seitenansicht (Figur 3b) in Richtung des Pfeils 3b in Figur 3a;

Figuren 4a, b

eine Seitenansicht des auf Quaderform gebrachten Flachmaterialabschnitts nach Figur 3 in Richtung der Pfeile 4a, 4b in Figur 1 (unbefüllt mit noch offenem Boden); und

Figuren 5a, 5b

eine Figur 3 entsprechende Darstellung des M-förmig gefalteten Flachmaterialabschnitts mit einem zusätzlichen Handgriffelement im ungefügten bzw. gefügten Zustand.

In the drawing shows:

Figure 1

a perspective, but nevertheless schematic representation of a first embodiment of a bag pack according to the invention comprising a bag with articles stacked therein;

Figure 2

a plan view of a flat material section and an indicated flat material web from which this flat material section can be separated;

Figures 3a,

b a top view ( Figure 3a ) on the M-shaped folded flat material section Figure 2 in the course of the manufacture of the bag Figure 1 and a side view ( Figure 3b ) in the direction of arrow 3b in Figure 3a ;

Figures 4a, b

a side view of the flat material section brought to a cuboid shape Figure 3 in the direction of arrows 4a, 4b in Figure 1 (unfilled with still open bottom); and

Figures 5a, 5b

a Figure 3 Corresponding representation of the M-shaped folded flat material section with an additional handle element in the unjoined or joined state.

Figure 1 shows a cuboid bag pack 2 according to the invention comprising a bag 4 and a plurality of articles accommodated therein, brought into a planar configuration and stacked one on top of the other, in particular hygiene articles 6, such as in particular diapers. In the case shown by way of example and with preference, the bag 4 is formed from a single flat material section 8, in particular and preferably from a thermoplastic film material, by folding and joining. Such a flat material section 8 is shown in the plan view in Figure 2 is shown, wherein an endless flat material web 12 extending in one direction 10 and which can be fed to a machine is indicated, from which the flat material section 8 can be separated, but this is to be understood purely as an example. The bag 4 produced from the flat material section 8 comprises in filled state enclosing the introduced hygiene articles 6 a front wall 14, a rear wall 16 opposite this, a first side wall 18 and a second side wall 20 opposite this, as well as an upper wall 22 and a lower wall 24. The areas of the flat material section corresponding to the aforementioned walls 8 are in Figure 2 provided with the same reference numerals. The dashed and dot-dash lines in Figure 2 represent folding lines in the course of the production of the bag 4 or the bag pack 2 according to the invention Figure 2 the flat material section 8 is in the Figures 3a , b brought the folded configuration shown. In this case, the flat material section 8 is folded around three fold lines, so that an M-shaped folded configuration is produced, which is shown in FIG Figure 3b is shown. Two in Figure 2 Fold lines 26 and 28 shown here form the tips of the M-shape, and one in between Figure 2 Fold line 30 shown in dash-dotted lines forms the central vertex of the M-shape located therebetween.

One recognizes in Figure 1 a manually openable access area 34 delimited by a predetermined breaking line 32 in the first side wall 18. This predetermined breaking line 32 is shown in FIG Figure 3a also shown. It can be folded into an M-shape Figure 3a be introduced into the folded flat material section 8. However, it would also be conceivable that this predetermined breaking line 32 is already introduced into the flat material section 8, which is still flat. This variant is indicated by a dotted line 32 in Figure 2 indicated by way of example.

In the in Figure 3a The illustrated M-shaped folded state of the flat material section 8 are attached to both longitudinal edges of the side seams 36 in the form of a welded connection. These side seams 36 extend in the 4-layer strip-shaped area 42 through all four layers lying one above the other, ie these four layers are connected to one another in a line by the relevant side seam. The attachment of the side seams 36 can also be used for isolation, ie for separating the flat material section 8 from the in FIG Figure 2 indicated endless flat material web 12 can be used.

In Figure 1 an approximately triangular reinforcement region 40 adjoining the upper wall 22 is further indicated in each of the first and second side walls 18, 20. This reinforcement region 40 is realized by a multilayer of the flat material forming the side wall 18, 20, as it results when the in Figure 3a Flat material section 8 folded into an M-shape is brought essentially to the later cuboid shape by molding devices and in particular by blowing in air. The in Figure 3a The upper four-layer strip-shaped area 42 is unfolded and fold lines 44, 46 are formed in the interior of the bag 4, which are also shown in FIG Figure 2 are indicated. They delimit the triangular reinforcement area 40, within which the relevant side wall 18 and 20 is formed by three layers of the material of the flat material section 8 lying against one another, namely from an outer layer section 48, from a middle layer section 50 and from an inner layer section 52.

Like in particular from Figures 1 and 3a at least one and, in the case shown by way of example, two ventilation openings 56 communicating between an interior space 54 and the surroundings of the bag 4 are formed in the second side wall 20. These vent openings 56 are formed within the reinforcement region 40. They are preferably introduced into the flat material section 8 when it is folded into an M shape. The vent opening 56 can then be formed by a single punching or cutting process through all four adjacent layer sections of the M-shape. These are in the folding situation of the Figure 3a the outer ply section 48 and the middle ply section 50.

In the case shown by way of example, the ventilation openings 56 are formed by two intersecting cuts or slits 58 which pass through the outer layer section 48 and the middle layer section 50. In this exemplary and preferred way, no two-dimensional material is punched out of these layer sections 48, 50, but only the cuts or slots 58 are made. When the interior 54 of the bag 4 is unfolded or inflated to a cuboid shape, the areas of the layer sections 48, 50 which delimit the cuts or slits 58 can be deflected outwards as a result of the pressure prevailing inside the bag, so that a lighter Flow cross-section results, through which air can escape into the vicinity of the bag 4. This proves to be particularly advantageous when the bag 4 in the cuboid state, but still with the bottom open at the bottom, in the direction of an arrow 60 ( Figures 4a, b ) is filled with hygiene articles 6 stacked on top of one another.

Ventilation openings 56 are preferably only formed in the outer and / or middle layer section 48, 50 of the reinforcement region 40 of the second side wall 20, that is to say in the region of the multilayered wall materials of the bag 4. In this way, in the filled state of the bag 4, i.e. with the claimed bag pack 2, despite the presence of macroscopic ventilation openings, a tightness that is satisfactory for practical applications can be achieved, although the ventilation openings can provide sufficient ventilation during the filling of the bag 4 so that it does not tear open the Flat material or to break its seams.

After the bag 4 has been filled with articles, in particular hygiene articles 6, the lower wall 24 is closed, preferably by a welded connection, and the bag pack 2 is thus completed.

Figures 5a , b illustrate the equipment of the cuboid bag pack with a handle 62. According to Figure 5a the handle comprises, for example, two superimposed strip sections 64 of a flat material, which, as shown by way of example, already are pre-contoured and, for example, have a handle opening 66. The strip sections 64 are brought into an overlap on the flat material section 8, which is folded into an M-shape, and as in FIG Figure 5b indicated by an adhesive or preferably a welded connection 68 on the flat material section 8 folded into an M-shape on opposite sides. During this process, a release agent is preferably introduced into the apex of the M-shape in order to prevent all the layers from being welded to one another. If the side seam 36 is only applied after this, the two strip sections 64 fed one above the other can also be connected to one another in an advantageous manner. A joining line, in particular a weld seam 72, can also be attached to the edge of the upstanding grip web 70 of the strip section 64.

Claims (16)

Rectangular pouch pack (2) comprising a pouch (4) and a plurality of hygiene articles (6) accommodated therein, brought into a planar configuration and stacked one on top of the other, in particular diapers, incontinence diapers, incontinence pads, or medical pads or surgical articles, the bag (4) being filled and the state enclosing the inserted articles comprises a front wall (14), an opposing rear wall (16), a first side wall (18) and an opposing second side wall (20), an upper wall (22) and a lower wall (24) which are preferably formed from a single folded and welded sheet material section (8), wherein the bag (4) comprises a reinforcement region (40) in each of the first and second side walls (18, 20) adjoining the top wall (22) , wherein the reinforcement area (40) of the first and the second side wall (18, 20) is each formed in that there by folding d the flat material section (8) has several layers of the flat material section (8) in contact with one another, and the reinforcement area (40) of the first and second side walls (18, 20) each being at least three-layered and formed by areas of the flat material section (8) that are folded over one another, namely of a respective outer layer section (48), a respective middle layer section (50) and a respective inner layer Layer section (52), wherein the bag (4) has a manually openable access area (34) delimited by a predetermined breaking line (32) in the first side wall (18), characterized in that in the second side wall (20) at least one between an interior (54) and the area around the bag (4) communicating vent opening (56) is formed that the vent opening (56) is formed in the reinforcement area (40) of the second side wall (20) that the vent opening (56) at least in the outer or middle layer section (48, 50) of the reinforcement area (40) of the second side wall (20), in particular in the outer layer section (48) and in the middle layer section (50), and that in the case of the first side wall (18) at which the access area (34) is formed, no vent opening is formed in the outer or middle layer section (48, 50) of the reinforcement area (40). Cuboid bag pack (2) according to Claim 1, characterized in that no ventilation opening is formed on the second side wall (20) outside the reinforcement region (40). Cuboid bag pack (2) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that no ventilation opening (40) is formed on the first side wall (18) outside the reinforcement area. Cuboid bag pack (2) according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that cuts or slits (58) are made in the flat material to form the ventilation opening (56). Cuboid bag pack (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that the cuts or slits (58) have a dimension of at least 3 mm, in particular at least 5 mm, in particular at least 8 mm and in particular at most 20 mm, in particular at most 15 mm and further in particular at most 12 mm. Rectangular pouch pack (2) according to claim 3, 4 or 5, characterized by a vent opening (56) which is formed by cuts or slots (58) which intersect, in particular cross-shaped or X-shaped or Y-shaped or star-shaped from extending from a center. Rectangular pouch pack (2) according to claim 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the cuts or slots (58) are curved in an arc and in particular are almost returned to their starting point, so that a type of valve flap is thereby formed. Rectangular pouch pack (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcement area (40) is delimited by sides of a triangle when viewed from above on the first or second side wall (18, 20). Rectangular pouch pack (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by at least two ventilation openings (56), one of which in a plan view of the second side wall (20) on one side of a side seam (36) attached to the second side wall (20) and the other (56) the other side of the side seam (36) is formed, in particular is formed mirror-symmetrically to the side seam (36). Rectangular pouch pack (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the access area (34) is delimited by predetermined breaking lines (32) which are spaced apart from one another, in particular in the direction from top to bottom. Block-shaped bag pack (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that the predetermined breaking lines (32) have a distance (D) of at least 6 cm, in particular of at least 8 cm, in particular of at least 10 cm, in particular of at least 11 cm and of at most 18 cm , in particular of a maximum of 16 cm, in particular of a maximum of 15 cm, in particular of a maximum of 14 cm, in particular of a maximum of 13 cm from each other. Rectangular bag pack (2) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the predetermined breaking lines (32) run on one or the other side of a seam, in particular a side seam (36) formed in the first side wall (18). Cuboid bag pack (2) according to claim 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that the predetermined breaking lines (32) extend over at least 30%, in particular over at least 40%, in particular at least 50%, in particular over at least 60% of a height of the first side wall of the Stretch bag. Rectangular bag pack (2) according to claim 10, 11, 12, 13, characterized in that the predetermined breaking lines extend over a maximum of 90%, in particular over a maximum of 80%, in particular a maximum of 75%, in particular over a maximum of 70% of a height of the first side wall of the bag extend. Cuboid bag pack (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by a handle (62) attached to the bag (4). Block-shaped bag pack (2) according to claim 15, characterized in that the handle (62) comprises a strip section (64) which surrounds the bag (4) in a circumferential direction and is attached to an upper edge section of the front wall (14), rear wall (16) and is attached to the first and second side walls (18, 20), and wherein the strip section (64) at the same time forms a grip web (70) which encompasses the upper wall (22) or protrudes from the upper wall (22) and forms a loop.

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