EP3858755B1 - Bag with side gusset - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a gusseted bag with a first front wall and a second front wall which lie opposite one another and which are connected to one another at the longitudinal edges by a first gusset and a second gusset, with a filling space formed between the front walls and the gussets extending in the direction of at least one corner of the bag a separation seam is delimited, which connects the first side gusset to the first front wall and delimits the filling space from a ventilation space provided with a ventilation opening, and at least one air passage is provided between the filling space and the ventilation space.

Side gusseted bags of the type described are used in practice for various applications and are characterized by good functional properties. More specifically, the present invention relates to a gusseted bag having a vent. Ventilation can be necessary or useful for various reasons.

In particular, in the case of large gusseted bags that are stacked and transported lying flat, there is a risk of them slipping or bursting if the closure is tight. If, for example, several gusseted bags are stacked one on top of the other, the weight builds up a great deal of pressure on the gusseted bags lying underneath, which leads to compression. In order to avoid instability or bursting of the gusseted bags, air must be able to escape, for which purpose the ventilation is provided.

In this context, on the one hand, enough air should be able to escape, while on the other hand, the penetration of foreign substances, dirt, insects or other pests should be prevented.

The gusseted bag is usually designed as disposable packaging, so that low manufacturing costs and efficient use of material are also sought. Precisely in order to achieve low production costs, the gusseted bag should be designed as simply as possible and easy to manufacture, with additional components such as fitted valves or the like, which are basically also known from the prior art, being dispensed with as far as possible. Additional components would possibly also result in foreign substances, which can be disadvantageous in recycling.

A typical area of application for gusseted bags is the packaging of food and animal feed, where the protection of the packaged goods from contamination, parasites or the like must be ensured. Dog food, in particular, comes into consideration as pet food, which is sold in large quantities and often also in large container sizes of, for example, 15 kg as dry food. However, the gusseted bag is basically also suitable for other applications in which ventilation is appropriate in the manner described. Other filling goods can be, for example, cat litter, pourable building materials and pourable cleaning agents such as detergents.

Various designs of generic gusseted bags are known from the prior art. That's how she describes it DE 10 2007 062 814 A1 a generic gusseted bag which is intended in particular for pelleted pet food. The gusseted bag points in the area of a base has sloping corner welds, which connect the side folds inserted between the front walls to the front walls. These separating seams extend from an associated longitudinal seam to a transverse sealing seam, which forms the lower edge of the gusseted bag. The separating seam in the form of the corner welding runs in relation to the in 1 gusseted bag shown in the flattened state approximately at an angle of 45 ° to the longitudinal seam or the transverse sealing seam. At the same time, the welded corner extends approximately over half the width of the entire side gusset, ie approximately up to a fold line of the side gusset at its center.

The shape of the welded corners with the structural variants described can also be used as an example of a possibility for the gusseted bag according to the invention explained below. A ventilation space is delimited from a filling space by the corner welding as a separating seam, the filling space and the ventilation space being connected by at least one air passage. The air passage can, for example, be arranged adjacent to the longitudinal seam, be formed by an interruption in the separating seam, or be designed as a type of labyrinth. Even when designed in the manner of a labyrinth ( 4 ) the two sections within the scope of the invention are collectively referred to as a parting seam.

The corner welds according to the DE 10 2007 062 814 A1 are not only intended for ventilation, but also enable the initially inserted side gussets to be unfolded in a controlled manner when the side gusset bag is being filled, in order to be able to form the side gusset bag approximately in the shape of a cuboid.

Already according to the DE 10 2007 062 814 A1 is recognized as a problem that the ventilation performance is still in need of improvement in certain cases. For this purpose, the ventilation space provided with a ventilation opening in the associated front wall is roughened on the inside. This ensures that the foil surfaces do not lie tightly on top of each other. However, roughening as a separate process step is expensive. Furthermore, there is a risk that the paths intended for ventilation are at least partially closed by buckling when the side-gusset bag is in the unfolded state.

More generic gusseted bags are from DE 1 868 662 U (Fig.5), EP 2 043 750 B1 , EP 1 820 745 A1 , EP 2 845 820 B1 and GB1,162,013 known. In the case of the various forms of rejects, it is also evident that the separating seam can optionally be segmented, ie it can be formed from a number of individual connection points.

From the EP 1 881 929 B1 a gusseted bag is known which has a reclosure. Heat-sealed seams running at an angle are provided on a floor between the side gussets and the front walls, which favor standing up. Ventilation is in principle possible with such a type of bag, but not provided here.

Although the gusseted bags of the generic type with a ventilation function have a simple construction, their ventilation properties are still in need of improvement. In practice, insufficient or strongly fluctuating ventilation performance is sometimes observed. This can also be attributed in part to the fact that the layers of the front walls and side gussets lie flat on one another and/or are kinked, which impairs air transport.

Against this background, the invention is based on the object of reliably enabling good venting performance with a simple construction.

The object of the invention and the solution to the problem is a gusseted bag according to patent claim 1.

Based on a generic gusseted bag, the invention provides that on the longitudinal edge of the dividing seam connecting the first front wall with the first gusset—starting from the filling space—an additional seam leading into the filling space is located in front. In the case of a filled and in particular pressurized gusseted bag, the additional seam serves to initiate buckling or to buckle.

While according to the prior art the separating seam runs essentially along a usually straight line and pinching cannot be ruled out there, the additional seam in front leads to additional buckling of the first front wall and the side gusset underneath when internal pressure acts. Due to the different position of the separating seam on the one hand and the additional seam on the other hand, the material sections are to a certain extent braced against one another by the acting tensile forces, so that inside the gusseted bag, starting from the filling space in the direction of the separating seam, there are always distortions which prevent the passage of air for ventilation and thus in particular allow the delivery of air under pressure.

The configuration described at the transition from the filling space to the ventilation space is initially described within the scope of the invention in relation to the first front wall and the first side fold. Of course, additional and alternatively, corresponding ventilation spaces can be provided on both sides of each front wall and/or on both front walls. The ventilation spaces can be arranged in a bottom area and/or a top area of the gusseted bag.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the gusseted bag is made of film, whereby a web of material can be folded into a tubular shape without restriction to form the two front walls and the gussets or individual material sections for the front walls and the gussets can be connected to one another. Corresponding methods for bag production are known to the person skilled in the art.

In addition to film, a plastic fabric composite is particularly suitable for forming the gusseted bag, such as that from the one already mentioned at the outset EP 2 845 820 B1 is known.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the gusseted bag is provided with longitudinal seams on its longitudinal edges, which there connect the gussets to the front walls and/or are provided for stabilization. The width of corresponding longitudinal edges is typically in a range from 4 mm to 16 mm, in particular 6 mm to 12 mm and for example 8 mm.

If, according to a preferred embodiment, the front walls and the side gussets can be heat-sealed on the inside of the bag facing the filling space, the dividing seams, the optionally provided longitudinal seams described above and also other connecting seams can easily be formed by heat-sealing, which is common for side-gusseted bags made of plastic film and is preferred. For this purpose, films can be extruded and/or laminated in multiple layers.

Conventional bag films have, for example, a heat-sealable layer made of polyolefin, in particular polyethylene, in which case an outer layer of the film is then frequently made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or oriented, in particular biaxially oriented, polypropylene (BOPP).

In addition, largely unmixed bag films are known, which facilitate recycling. In the case of a gusseted bag, for example, formed entirely on the basis of polyethylene or entirely on the basis of polypropylene, it is then expedient in the case of a multi-layer design of the film to select and arrange the layers in such a way that at a suitable sealing temperature only one inner layer is melted and the Side gusseted bag is not affected on its outside.

As is also known per se from the prior art, the dividing seam leaves an air passage between the filling space and the ventilation space. An interruption that is arranged in the middle or approximately in the middle with respect to the separating seam is particularly preferred.

The dividing seam preferably extends from the associated longitudinal edge to a transverse seam which connects the first side gusset to the first front wall. Depending on the design of the bag, such a transverse seam can extend over the entire width of the gusseted bag. This is provided in particular when the transverse seam also forms the upper edge of the gusseted bag. Alternatively, it can be provided that the transverse seam is limited to the area of the associated gusset.

The dividing seam connects the associated longitudinal edge, which is preferably provided with a longitudinal seam, to the transverse seam with at least one interruption, the dividing seam usually running at an angle of between 30° and 60°. The separating seam can also consist of pieces that are slightly offset from one another and can have curves and/or angulations. For example, it is possible for the dividing seam to have a change in direction towards the ventilation opening at a central or approximately central interruption in order to direct air to the ventilation opening in a targeted manner for the purpose of ventilation in the event of excess pressure.

If—as previously described—the separating seam extends from the associated longitudinal edge to a transverse seam, the venting space is approximately triangular in shape.

Depending on the design of the gusseted bag, the ventilation opening can be formed in the transverse seam if this otherwise closes the gusseted bag at an upper edge or a lower edge or the air to be discharged is guided to the outside via further subsequent flow paths.

However, an embodiment in which the ventilation opening is formed in the first front wall or the side fold is particularly preferred. Of course, a ventilation opening can also be provided on the first front wall and the first side fold. If the ventilation opening is arranged on the gusset, there is overall somewhat better protection against dirt, because the gusset is folded in between the front walls and is also fixed there by the dividing seam.

The vent opening can be designed as a simple incision. Such an incision can be formed particularly easily in the manufacturing process. If there is no overpressure, the two edges of the incision are usually at the same height and at least seal the bag against dirt, foreign matter, insects and other vermin. A type of valve function can thus be realized in a simple manner by means of an incision.

The incision is preferably straight and has a length of typically 2 to 15 mm, in particular 4 to 10 mm. As explained in more detail below, the incision can run obliquely relative to the longitudinal edge, in particular at an angle of between 30° and 60°.

According to a development of the invention, the ventilation opening designed as an incision can be arranged at a comparatively small distance of 0.8 mm to 10 mm, preferably 1 mm to 8 mm, particularly preferably 2 mm to 5 mm, from a support seam. The support seam then preferably runs parallel or approximately parallel to the incision, which is usually straight and designed as a ventilation opening. Starting from the filling space and the air passage in the separating seam, the support seam is arranged behind the incision as a ventilation opening, viewed in the direction of flow. In the event of an overpressure, the first side gusset and the first front wall are pushed away from one another. The connection at the support seam then causes the materials to be able to stand out from one another in an arc at the incision, as a result of which a good ventilation performance can then be achieved.

In addition to an incision that is preferably combined with a support seam, other configurations of the at least one ventilation opening can also be considered. For example - then preferably without additional Supporting seam - several small ventilation openings can also be provided in the ventilation space in the manner of a perforation, which also provide a certain protective effect. Such small holes can be created, for example, by a laser or by needles.

The additional seam is intended to cause the filled gusseted bag to snap or buckle in front of the separating seam if excess pressure occurs in the filling space, for example as a result of compression from the outside. The additional seam must be brought into the interior in order to achieve the desired deformation. On the other hand, it goes without saying that the available volume of the filling space should not be excessively impaired. Based on the width of the front walls, the additional seam extends along the transverse direction over preferably less than 20% and in particular less than 10% of the width of the front walls.

The front walls could have a width of between 150 mm and 500 mm, in particular between 250 mm and 425 mm, for example approximately 375 mm. Since the filled gusseted bag has approximately the shape of a cuboid, the stripe width of the gussets between the two front walls is referred to as the depth within the scope of the invention. The depth of the side folds is preferably between 80 mm and 200 mm, particularly preferably between 115 mm and 160 mm, for example around 135 mm. If connecting seams are provided on the longitudinal edges, the dimensions with regard to the inner filling space are reduced according to the width of these connecting seams.

The additional seam can, starting from the associated longitudinal edge or starting from a longitudinal seam provided on the longitudinal edge, that is, starting in front of the inner edge adjacent to the filling space Longitudinal seam by 5 mm to 30 mm, in particular by 8 mm to 18 mm, for example 12 mm along the transverse direction into the filling space.

The shape of the additional seam can be varied. An oblique course, for example a triangular shape with an optionally also rounded tip pointing in the direction of the filling space, has also proven to be particularly expedient with regard to stability in the event of excess pressure.

According to the function described, the additional seam causes additional buckling when viewed from the filling space, so that the additional seam can also be referred to as a buckling seam. The person skilled in the art can easily define a suitable distance from the separating seam. For example, a distance between the start of the separating seam and the point at which the additional seam extends furthest into the filling space in the transverse direction can be determined along the associated longitudinal edge. This distance determined along the longitudinal seam, ie the longitudinal direction of the gusseted bag, is typically between 3 mm and 30 mm, in particular between 5 mm and 25 mm, for example between 8 mm and 20 mm.

As already explained at the outset, the ventilation space can be arranged in the top area or in the area of a bottom of the gusseted bag, it being possible for a ventilation space to be formed at every transition between the side gusset and the front wall.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one ventilation space is arranged in the top area of the gusseted bag. It can also be provided that the gussets are shortened in the head area compared to the front walls, for example to arrange a reclosure in the manner of a zipper or slider above the gussets. Zippers or sliders are reclosures that have interlocking profile strips. In addition to tongue and groove connections, Velcro-type closures with individual, for example, mushroom-shaped elements can also be provided. While a zipper is pressed together by hand by a user, a slider includes a sliding element for separating and merging the profile strips.

If at least one ventilation space is formed in the head area, the gusseted bag can also have a stand-up base which is formed from a separate material section. The separate section of material is then connected around its perimeter to the front panels and the side gussets.

The invention is explained below with reference to a drawing that merely shows an exemplary embodiment.

• Fig. 1 einen befüllten Seitenfaltenbeutel in einer Perspektive,
• Fig 2 eine schematische Ansicht des Seitenfaltenbeutels gemäß der Fig. 1 in einem flachgelegten Zustand,
• Fig. 3 die Detailansicht eines Eckbereichs des Seitenfaltenbeutels, bei einem in dem Seitenfaltenbeutel wirkenden Überdruck,
• Fig. 4 einen Detailausschnitt der Anordnung gemäß der Fig. 3.

Show it:

• 1 a filled gusseted bag in a perspective,
• figure 2 a schematic view of the gusseted bag according to FIG 1 in a lay flat state,
• 3 the detailed view of a corner area of the gusseted bag, with an overpressure acting in the gusseted bag,
• 4 a detail of the arrangement according to the 3 .

The 1 shows a gusseted bag with a first front wall 1a and a second front wall 1b, which are opposite one another and are connected to one another at longitudinal edges 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d by a first gusset 3a and a second gusset 3b.

Between the front walls 1a, 1b and the side gussets 3a, 3b, a filling space 4 is formed on the inside of the gusseted bag, in which dry food 5 for dogs is accommodated. Because of the pelleted dry food 5 , air also remains in the filling space 4 . In order to prevent the stack from slipping or even bursting of individual side-gusset bags when the side-gusset bag is compressed, in particular when stacking, the side-gusset bag has a venting function.

For this purpose, the filling space 4, which is filled with dry food 5 in the exemplary embodiment, is separated from a ventilation space 8 provided with a ventilation opening 7 by a separating seam 6 formed by means of heat sealing, with an air passage 9 between the filling space 4 and the ventilation space 8 being interrupted by the separating seam 6 is formed. Such a ventilation space 8 is also provided in the same way between the first front wall 1a and the second side gusset 3b in the exemplary embodiment shown. In principle, it is also possible to form corresponding ventilation spaces 8 on the opposite, second front wall 1b.

For better visibility is in the embodiment according to 1 the vent hole 7 is formed in the first front wall 1a. Alternatively, the ventilation opening 7 can also be formed in the first gusset 3a at a corresponding position, so that even improved protection against dirt is then achieved. Of course, both in the first front wall 1a and in the first side gusset 3a each have a ventilation opening 7 can be provided.

In principle, a plurality of ventilation openings 7 for one ventilation space 8 can also be provided in the first front wall 1a or the first side gusset 3a. As described below, however, the formation of exactly one ventilation opening 7 in the first front wall 1a and/or the first side fold 3a is advantageous for the ventilation space 7 shown.

Longitudinal seams 10 in the form of heat-sealed seams are provided on all longitudinal edges 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d. In the exemplary embodiment, the longitudinal seams have a width of approximately 8 mm, for example.

The separating seam 6 extends from the longitudinal seam 10 to a transverse seam 11, which in the exemplary embodiment is limited only to the area of the associated first side gusset 3a. This is provided in the exemplary embodiment because the two side gussets 3a, 3b are shortened in relation to the two front walls 1a, 1b in a head area of the side gusset bag and a reclosure 12 is also arranged above the side gussets 3a, 3b (see also 2 ). Before it is opened for the first time, the gusseted bag is then closed by a closure seam 13 running in the transverse direction. If, on the other hand, no reclosure 12 is provided in a simpler configuration of the gusseted bag, the transverse seam 11 can also be drawn through as the upper edge of the gusseted bag along the transverse direction.

According to the invention, an additional additional seam 14 is provided on the longitudinal edge 2a connecting the first front wall 1a with the first side gusset 3a, which, starting from the filling space 4 , is located in front of the parting seam 6 and is led into the filling space 4 . Since a longitudinal seam 10 is provided on the corresponding longitudinal edge 2a in the exemplary embodiment, the additional seam is formed by the sealed area which protrudes from the longitudinal seam 10 into the filling space 4 .

The dividing seam 6 serves on the one hand to delimit the ventilation space 8 from the filling space 4. On the other hand, the dividing seam 6 also supports the formation of a cuboid shape of the filled gusseted bag. According to the designs known from the prior art, buckling occurs exactly along the separating seam 6, which is why in the designs known from the prior art the layers of the first front wall 1a and the first side gusset 3b lying on top of each other block the air passage 8 to a certain extent Dimensions can squeeze off.

As described in detail below, the additional seam 14 in front causes a first buckling in the event of excess pressure and thus a certain distortion due to the forces acting between the first front wall 1a and the first side gusset 3a, which in the 3 is recognizable. Due to the forces acting at different points on the one hand on the additional seam 14 and on the other hand on the separating seam 6 during the overpressure, it is achieved that the first front wall 1a is always lifted off the first side gusset 3a and a passage remains for the discharge of air, so that in the event of an overpressure in the filling space 4 air can get reliably and in particular reproducibly through the air passage 9 into the ventilation space 8 and finally through the ventilation opening 7 to the outside.

In the embodiment, starting from the inner edge of the longitudinal seam 10, a distance a between the beginning of the dividing seam 6 and the Point can be determined at which the additional seam 14 extends furthest along the transverse direction into the filling space. This distance a can, for example, be between 3 mm and 30 mm, for example 10 mm, measured along the longitudinal direction.

Already in the 1 it can be seen that the ventilation opening 7 is arranged adjacent at a small distance to a supporting seam 15 which connects the first front wall 1a and the first side gusset 3a and thus holds them together directly adjacent to the ventilation opening 7 .

According to the 4 can be achieved in that the ventilation opening 7, which is initially only formed as an incision, can open outwards in the form of an arc in the event of excess pressure.

If, on the other hand, there is no overpressure, the edges of the ventilation opening 7 formed as an incision lie exactly next to one another, so that there is good protection against dirt, moisture and access by insects or other vermin.

The individual connections and components of the gusseted bag are also in the 2 recognizable in a flattened gusseted bag. In addition, the 2 It can be seen that a stand-up base 16 is formed from a separate material section which is connected around its periphery to the front walls 1a, 1b and the side gussets 3a, 3b.

While according to the 1 the separating seam 6 is guided in the direction of the ventilation opening 7 at the centrally arranged air passage 9, shows FIG 2 an embodiment simplified in this regard with a straight dividing seam 6 which is interrupted to form the air passage 9 .

Claims (18)

1. Side gusset bag having a first front wall (1a) and a second front wall (1b), which lie opposite one another and which are connected to one another at longitudinal edges (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) by a first side gusset (3a) and a second side gusset (3b), wherein a filling space (4) formed between the front walls (1a, 1b) and the side gussets (3a, 3b) is delimited in the direction of at least one corner of the bag by a dividing seam (6) which connects the first side gusset (3a) to the first front wall (1a) and delimits the filling space (4) from a ventilation space (8) provided with a ventilation opening (7), wherein at least one air passage (9) is provided between the filling space (4) and the ventilation space (8), characterized in that on the longitudinal edge (2a) of the dividing seam (6) connecting the first front wall (1a) to the first side gusset (3a) an additional seam (14) which is led into the filling space (4) is provided in front for initiation of a kink in a filled side gusset bag in order to form distortions enabling a passage of air from the filling space (4) in the direction of the dividing seam (6).
2. Side gusset bag according to Claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal edges (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) are provided with longitudinal seams (10).
3. Side gusset bag according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the front walls (1a, 1b) and the side gussets (3a, 3b) can be heat-sealed on the inside of the bag facing the filling space (4), wherein the dividing seam (6) is formed by heat sealing.
4. Side gusset bag according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the dividing seam (6) extends with at least one interruption from the associated longitudinal edge (2a) to a transverse seam (11) which connects the first side gusset (3a) to the first front wall (1a).
5. Side gusset bag according to Claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the ventilation opening (7) is formed in the first front wall (1a) or the first side gusset (3a).
6. Side gusset bag according to Claim 5, characterized in that the ventilation opening (7) is configured as an incision.
7. Side gusset bag according to Claim 6, characterized in that the ventilation opening (7) is arranged at a distance of 0.8 mm to 10 mm from a support seam (15).
8. Side gusset bag according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the dividing seam (6) has a central interruption as an air passage (9).
9. Side gusset bag according to Claim 8, characterized in that the dividing seam (6) changes direction at the interruption in the direction of the ventilation opening (7).
10. Side gusset bag according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the additional seam (14), starting from the associated longitudinal edge (2a), is guided into the filling space (4) by 5 mm to 30 mm.
11. Side gusset bag according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the additional seam (14) has a triangular shape with a point pointing in the direction of the filling space (4).
12. Side gusset bag according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the front walls (1a, 1b) have a width of between 150 mm and 500 mm.
13. Side gusset bag according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the side gussets (3a, 3b) have a depth of 80 mm to 200 mm.
14. Side gusset bag according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the ventilation space (8) is arranged in a top area.
15. Side gusset bag according to Claim 14, characterized in that the side gussets (3a, 3b) are shortened in the top area opposite the front walls (1a, 1b).
16. Side gusset bag according to one of Claims 1 to 15, characterized by a reclosure (12).
17. Side gusset bag according to one of Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that an additional ventilation space (8) is arranged between the first front wall (1a) and the second side gusset (3b).
18. Side gusset bag according to one of Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that a stand-up base is formed from a separate material section (16) which is connected around its circumference to the front walls (1a, 1b) and the side gussets (3a, 3b).

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