ES2380805T3 - Bag for fruit and vegetable products - Google Patents

Abstract

Bag for fruit and vegetable products, of the type comprising a mesh bag body of thermoplastic material in which the closing mouths of the ends are intimately associated in an enveloping manner with an appendix of the bag's thermoplastic label, with rib formation in the faces of the closing mouth, of the same molten material of the pocket and covering the entire width of the mouth, preventing longitudinal and transverse rupture of the welded mouth.

Description

Bag for fruit and vegetable products

The present invention is intended to disclose a bag for fruit and vegetable products that has sensitive characteristics of novelty and inventive activity on the bags intended for said application currently known.

The commercialization of fruit and vegetable products such as fruits and vegetables of various types, has become widespread in recent years using individual bags with a certain weight that are likely to be easily filled and closed by industrialized methods, then allowing easy marketing to the user final, that acquires complete bags of product and to which it is easy to manipulate and transport them.

Said bags are usually manufactured in woven mesh or extruded type (DE 87 15 985 U1; CH 380 637 A; ES 1 027 802 U). In the first case, these are bags made in a woven fabric forming a mesh of wide openings with plastic filar elements that have sufficient strength to retain the expected weight of the fruit and vegetable product to which the bag is intended and that allow easy observation of the product by the buyer, such bags being associated in a usual way to labels that are indicative of the brand of the product or of certain characteristics of the same.

Another type of known bags are those in which the mesh has been achieved by extrusion and expansion of a continuous laminar element of plastic material in which during its manufacture multiple openings are made that after a process of stretching or extending the laminar element is they transform into openings separated by bridges, having an appearance and functions similar to the woven gender mesh.

One of the problems that arise in the bags for fruit and vegetable products of the type mentioned that are currently known, is the closure of the ends together with the fastening of the label on them. Indeed, to achieve greater economy it is necessary that in a single operation the welding of the end of the bag is carried out, the fixation by the welding of the label itself, and the cut that must correspond to one end of the bag. Welding is usually carried out in a substantially flat way by hugging the end of the mouth of the bag together with one end of the tag, which ideally results in a flat welded area that affects both the bag and the overlapping tag. the edges of it.

The problems that presently arise with these bags relate especially to the regularity and resistance of the weld and to the satisfactory fastening of the label. In fact, the regularity of the welded area is difficult to achieve due to the high speed of operation of the current automatic machines and the irregularity of the immediate area at the mouth of the bag whose structure is not very regular. Therefore, the welding is also irregular, so that in some places of the welded area there is a good quality of the welding while in others the material is not well welded, so that the resistance characteristics are often unsatisfactory. In this regard, one of the defects that is usually observed in said welded seals is that of their breakage in a longitudinal or transverse direction. That is, given the irregularities of the welded area, the weight of the products contained in the bag produces a concentration of stresses in the weak points, which breaks the welds longitudinally or transversely. In the same way, the fixing of the label is unsatisfactory, being able to detach in some cases, especially if it is used for the momentary fastening of the bag by the buyer who collects it from the place of stacking them in the sales establishment .

The present invention is intended to solve the aforementioned drawbacks, by disclosing a bag for fruit and vegetable products in which the welded joint of the ends of the bag allows to achieve a very high resistance making it impossible to break the weld by the weight of the bag and getting a resistant and reliable hold of the end of the label.

To achieve its objectives, the bag object of the present invention, which is a mesh bag preferably of the woven type, is characterized in that one of the closing mouths of the ends of the bag is intimately associated in an enveloping manner with an appendix of the Hanging tag of the bag, the bag embouchure assembly and tag appendix being welded on the faces of the closing mouth, of the same molten material of the bag and covering the entire width of the mouth , preventing longitudinal and transverse rupture of the welded mouth. The realization of transverse ribs in the mass of the molten mesh takes place during welding, and they extend transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bag, having a continuous structure transversely and covering by its length, only or by overlapping sections, the width total of the flattened mouth of the bag.

The number of transverse ribs will vary according to the material used, dimensions of the bag, etc., usually between one and four, and more preferably between two or three. Said rib can also be arranged unevenly on one or the other of the two sides of the flat welded area of the mouth of the bag. As for the precise shape of the rib, it can be any that meets the essential characteristic of the present invention, that is, that the rib, formed by melting the material of the bag at the time of closing welding and the label, extend, that is, cover the entire width of the flat area of the weld

preferably on both sides. As for the concrete shape of the vein, it will be understood that it admits any type of variants, such as straight, curved, wavy, zigzag, grid-shaped, overlapping sections, etc.

The present invention provides in one embodiment that the closed mouths of the bag adopt a general flat structure and, eventually, that one of the mouths is folded on itself, forming two wings comprising the appendix inside the label.

It is also provided in the present invention in a complementary way to the previous embodiment, that the welded appendix of the hanging tag adopts folded arrangement with two faces that coincide respectively with the inner faces of the folded wings of the bag mouth.

Likewise, the present invention provides in another embodiment, that the mouths of the bag completely surround the appendix of the tag and in another additional embodiment, that the mouths of the bag are completely surrounded by the appendix of the tag.

As for the welded and cut edge of the openings, it can show a short end zone without welding, thus leaving the end in a "frayed" arrangement that can soften the contact of the welded edge with the fruit pieces, avoiding damage, or alternatively, you can present a simple complete weld to the cut edge.

In another version, the present invention provides for continuous welding of the bags at the mouths thereof, with simple prior accumulation of the tubular material of the bags at the point of welding, without providing other external elements to the area of welding and welding by means of substantially transverse ribs in the flattened area corresponding to the openings. Next, the middle section of the weld is cut, giving rise to two welded ends, one lower and one upper, of two successive bags. Since the number and precise arrangement of the ribs can be variable within certain limits and that, in addition, there is no increase in costs due to the fact that the weld has a larger number of ribs, it is possible to perform the welding action in the machine, so that the welding of the terminals of the bags is sufficiently resistant, without the need of any external element.

This variant of the invention can be applied especially in mesh bags, it being preferred that these are relatively dense, that is, with a sufficient supply of material in the compression and welding zones between each two bags. To favor welding, it has been observed that better results are obtained if the number of welding ribs is inversely proportional to the density of the mesh bag.

This variant has notable economic interest, since it greatly simplifies the manufacture of bags for fruit and vegetable products from a tubular mesh element of continuous type.

For better understanding, some drawings of preferred embodiments of the present invention are attached by way of explanatory but not limiting example.

Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of a bag made in accordance with the present invention.

Figures 2 and 3 show paths in front elevation, on a larger scale, of two variants of execution of the transverse ribs of the bag welding zone.

Figure 4 shows a schematic cross section of the mouth of the bag according to the invention.

Figure 5 shows a cross section of a mouth of the bag according to the present invention, in flattened version.

Figure 6 shows a cross section of a mouthpiece of a bag according to the present invention in which the label material is depicted by wrapping the bag externally.

Figure 7 shows a version in which the bag completely wraps the label arranged inside.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show cross sections of three exemplary embodiments of the closed mouth of the present invention with label attachment.

Figure 8 schematically shows a cross section of an additional embodiment of the closed mouths of the present invention in which the appendix of the label is semi-enveloping with respect to the intermediate zone between two bags.

Figure 9 shows a continuous set of bags, according to a variant of the invention.

Figure 10 shows a detail of a weld of the variant of Figure 9. 3

Figure 11 shows a longitudinal section of a weld.

Figure 12 shows a variant of the weld.

As can be seen in the figures, the bag object of the present invention is a mesh bag with a body of -1-and upper closing mouths -3- and lower -2- with welding in the lower mouth -2- of a label -4- by means of an appendix -5-.

In accordance with the present invention, the extreme openings -2- and -3- can be made in one of its versions with a general flat structure of the mesh material, preferably forming a wide fold with two layers superimposed on each other as can be seen in figure 4 in which they have been indicated with the numerals -6- and -7-. Between the flat areas -6- and -7- of the mouth of the bag, the hanging tag of the bag is introduced, in particular the arm or appendix -8- that usually has the same, preferably folded longitudinally, as observed in Figure 4, in which the two laminar elements -9- and -10- that result from the folding of the appendix -8- of the label, and which coincide on one another, have been represented on a much larger scale.

Figure 5 shows schematically and on a larger scale a cross-section of the closed mouth of a bag in flat arrangement in which the sides of the label -9- and -10- wrapped by the faces -6- and -7 can be seen - of the bag, all corresponding to figure 4 of which are attached.

Figure 6 shows a version of the invention in which the bag -18-, which has been shown schematically together without special arrangement, being enclosed inside the tag -17- that acts in an enveloping manner.

In figure 7 a third version of the closed mouth is shown in which the label -19-, in flattened or not disposed, is completely wrapped by the mesh bag -20- that has been represented as in the figures previous very schematically.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the mesh bag -21-adopts a substantially flattened general structure, of the folded type or simply by meeting without specific ordering of the bag, the appendix -22- of the label receiving semi-enveloping form which extends to all of one of the main sides of the flattened bag -21- and also to the ends or lateral areas thereof forming the short appendages -23- and -24-.

The bag is completed by several rib elements arranged in the flat areas of the closing mouths, made in the same melt at the time of the closing weld of the mesh bag. Said rib in transverse arrangement covers the entire width of the mouth of the bag and has a widely varied shape, for example, the straight nerves -11-, -12- and -13- represented in Figure 2, or the smoothly curved ribs -14-, -15- and -16- of Figure 3, or any other rib arrangement that meets the essential characteristic of extending to the entire width of the mouth of the bag, covering it transversely, for example, wavy or zigzag arrangements or combining several overlapping or cross-shaped transverse discontinuous veins, etc.

Preferably the ribs will be arranged on both sides of the flattened mouth, as shown in Figure 4, in which the nerves indicated by way of example with the numerals -11-, -12- and -13 can be seen - in Figure 2 and other similar ribs -11'-, -12'- and -13'- arranged on the other side. As is evident, it is not essential that the ribs of one face are at the same height as those of the other or that they coincide in number.

The variant of Figures 9 to 12 provides for the manufacture of mesh bags for fruit and vegetable products continuously starting from a tubular mesh element, as shown in Figure 9 with bags -101- and -102-, which of known way they are filled with the appropriate amounts of fruit and vegetable products and then they are welded and cut between every two bags. Thus, for example, in the intermediate zone -103-, between the bags -101- and -102-, the accumulation and crushing of the material of said bags and the welding of the material thereof is carried out, then cutting, with what will be individualized mesh bags filled with the desired products.

In accordance with the present invention, the area -103-, as shown in greater detail in Figures 10 and 11, receives a transverse weld in the form of multiple ribs, such as -104-, -105-, -106- and -107-, in sufficient number to allow a satisfactory fixation of the mouths of bags opposite each other corresponding to the bags -101- and -102- without other elements in the weld. Predictably, the number of weld ribs will depend on the density of the mesh, since with a higher density of fibers thereof, greater welding strength can be achieved with a smaller number of ribs. However, the number of weld ribs, which by way of example has been represented in a number of four, will not significantly alter the manufacturing cost.

As can be seen in figure 11, the different threads, such as -108-, -108'-, -108 "- of the bag -101-, and those that have been represented with the numerals -109-, -109 '-, -109 "- in the bag -102-, will be grouped in the intermediate zone -103- where the nerves are made by welding, for example, -104-, -105-, -106- and -107 -. After welding, the section will be cut, for example, by the dashed line -X-X'- represented in Figure 11.

In the embodiment of Figure 12, the arrangement of nerves distributed in two groups has been shown, for example, the 4

nerves -110- and -111- for the upper bag and nerves -112- and -113- for the lower bag, being distributed, in equal or different number for the upper bag -114- than for the lower bag -115- , and leaving an intermediate surface of greater width -116- in which the cut -X-X'- will be made.

5 Through the embodiments shown, significant advantages are achieved with respect to the bags of fruit and vegetable products currently known for the greater resistance that is achieved in the mouths of the bag, avoiding its accidental breakage and achieving a much greater resistance in the fixing of the labels.

Preferably, the bag object of the present invention will be made of polyethylene, although 10 other weldable materials are not excluded.

While the invention has been described in accordance with preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that any person skilled in the art, in view of the description, claims and drawings, may introduce numerous variants that will be included in the present invention if found. within the scope of the following

15 claims

Claims (11)

1. Bag for fruit and vegetable products, of the type comprising a mesh bag body (1) of thermoplastic material, with two extreme closing mouths, intended to contain fruit and vegetable products, 5 characterized in that one of the closing mouths (2, 3) of the ends of the bag is intimately associated in an enveloping manner with an appendix (5) of a thermoplastic hanging tag (4) of the bag, the assembly of the bag being welded embouchure and appendix of the label (4) with formation of ribs on the faces of the closing mouth, of the same molten material of the mesh and the label (4) that cover the entire width of the embouchure, preventing longitudinal and transverse breakage from the welded mouth. 2. Bag for fruit and vegetable products, according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the closed mouths of the bag is folded on itself forming two wings comprising inside the tag appendix (4), which is attached to the mouth of the bag in its own welding. 3. Bag for fruit and vegetable products according to claim 2, characterized in that the welded appendix of the hanging tag (4) adopts folded arrangement with two faces that respectively coincide with the inner faces of the folded wings of the flattened mouth of the bag. 4. Bag for fruit and vegetable products according to claim 1, characterized in that the mouths of the bag 20 completely surround the appendix of the label (4). 5. Bag for fruit and vegetable products according to claim 1, characterized in that the mouths of the bag are completely surrounded by the appendix of the label (4). A bag for fruit and vegetable products according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the mouths of the bag is semi-envelopingly embraced by the appendix of the label (4), which is adapted to a face of the intermediate zone of the bag with general flattened structure and on the side edges of it. 7. Bag for fruit and vegetable products according to claim 1, characterized in that the ribs are constituted by straight transverse nerves (11, 12, 13). 8. Bag for fruit and vegetable products according to claim 1, characterized in that the ribs consist of curved transverse ribs (14, 15, 16). 9. Bag for fruit and vegetable products according to claim 1, characterized in that the ribs are formed in a corrugated shape. 10. Bag for fruit and vegetable products according to claim 1, characterized in that the ribs are constituted in the form of zigzag lines. 40 11. Bag for fruit and vegetable products according to claim 1, characterized in that the ribs are formed in a grid. 12. Bag for fruit and vegetable products according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge of the openings 45 shows a short end zone without welding. 13. Bag for fruit and vegetable products according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge of the mouths is welded to its cut end. 14. Bag for fruit and vegetable products according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of welding ribs is inversely proportional to the mass density of the tubular element from which the bags are manufactured. 15. Bag for fruit and vegetable products according to claim 14, characterized by the arrangement of the ribs welding cross-sections in two groups separated by a free intermediate zone, intended to receive the cut-off of the successive bags.