GB2514992A

GB2514992A - Connected spouts of containers and related methods

Info

Publication number: GB2514992A
Application number: GB201304522A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adam Llywellyn Green
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-13
Filing date: 2013-03-13
Publication date: 2014-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-13
Also published as: GB2514992B; GB201304522D0

Abstract

A rigid moulded spout 2 for a flexible container 1 comprises oppositely protruding tabs (3, figure 4) adapted to be adhered to respective tabs of neighbouring spouts to form ribbons of spouts (figure 14). Preferably, the tabs are flat and substantially planar and are rectangular. Each tab may comprise a region of increased flexibility that is preferably a thinned region, most preferably a groove (7, figure 12). A mouth may be provided above the transverse axis of the tabs and an annular projection provided below for attachment of a pouch thereto. The spouts preferably comprise radial projections 10 orthogonal to the direction of the tabs, the radial projections being adapted to support the spout on either side on a rail. Ribs (5) are preferably provided on an adhering side of each tab, the ribs being interengageable with ribs of a tab of a neighbouring spout. Also disclosed is a method of connecting moulded spouts of flexible containers to form a ribbon.

Description

CONNECTED SPOUTS OF CONTAINERS AND RELATED METHODS

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a method of physically connecting packaging, in particular spouts of flexible pouches, and providing a means to assist and improve storage, transport and handling of the pouches through a supply chain to the place where they are to be filled with product.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Preformed spouted flexible pouches are commonly used as containers for the packaging of beverages and other liquid products. Current practice is to manufacture them as individual containers and supply them in boxes or cartons to the place where they are to be filled, usually a packaging facility or factory. The majority of pre-formed pouches are supplied to customers' loose in boxes. k certain situations they are supplied pre-loaded in batches on lengths of specially adapted carrier rails, with individual pouch spouts being adapted with features to fit inside the rails. In both cases, they are supplied as single and unattached pouches and loading of them into the tilling machine is labour intensive and relatively slow. hi those instances where pouches are supplied on carrier rails, the rails also need to be recovered in order to be returned to the supplier for reuse.

The spouted pouches may be provided in closed form to ensure that the interior thereof is free from contamination. Typically a removable cap is provided, and the cap opened immediately pnor to filling, and re-closed immediately thereafter. Filling may take place in a filling or vending machine or the like.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a rigid moulded spout for flexible containers, the spout having oppositely protruding tabs adapted to be adhered to respective tabs of neighbouring spouts of the same type to form long ribbons of spouts.

This invention provides for a form of packaging that improves the efficiency of the transport and loading of spouted flexible pouches over current industry practices. The invention provides for a large number of spouted flexible pouches to be joined into long chains during manufacture, making it possible to transport them in bulk and handle them more easily during loading into a filling machine. As each pouch on the chain enters the filling machine, the adjacently connected pouch is automatically pulled into a point where it can enter the filling machine, thus reducing the amount of time and labour required to manually transport and load the pouches to and through the filling machine. Pouches are filled sequentially, and after filling the leading pouch is separated from its neighbour so as to constitute an independent filled container.

ADVANTAGES

Supplying preformed spouted pouches in a form of connected ribbon or chain improves the packing process and makes transportation to the place where they are to be filled more efficient. It also simplifies the process of loading into the filling machine and reduces the amount of labour time required to do this.

Preferably, the spouts of an individual pouch are connected to another by protruding tabs oppositely opposed longitudinally from the body of the spout. The tabs of each pouch are bonded to tabs on adjacent pouches, thus being formed into a chain.

Preferably, the tabs are adapted to have surfaces that enable them to fit together with the adjacent spout.

Preferably, the spout and protruding tab to be made from a material that can be heat welded or bonded to each other. Preferably in one form of the invention, the protruding tabs incorporate a structural feature enabling the spouts to flex laterally relative to each other. The spouts are preferably plastic mouldings. The tabs may be of uniform thickness for example 0.2mm.

Preferably the tabs protruding from the body of the spout are positioned perpendicularly and centrally to slotted features on the spout that are used to guide the spout through the filling machine. Preferably in one form of the invention, a lower oval shaped feature of the base of the spout that attaches the spout to the flexible film

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of the pouch body is aligned at an offset angle to the direction of the protruding tabs enabling the flexible film part of each pouch to overlap with the flexible film part of adjacent pouches in the chain without cause to create interference with one another.

Drawings An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: * figure 1 shows a side view of a single spout with side tabs * figure 2 shows a side view of a single spout with side tabs attached into the upper edge of a flexible pouch * figure 3 shows an oblique view of a single spout with side tabs attached into the upper edge of a flexible pouch * figure 4 shows a side view of a spout with side tabs * figure 5 shows and end on view of a spout with side tabs * figure 6 shows a side view of a spout with side tabs * figure 7 shows and end on view of a spout with side tabs * figure 8 shows a spout with side tabs from underneath * figure 9 shows a spout with side tabs from above * figure 10 shows a single spout with tabs adjacent to a chain of connected spouts with tabs from underneath * figure II shows a chain of connected spouts with side tabs * figure 12 shows detail of two adjacent side tabs * figure 13 shows detail of two connected side tabs * figure 14 shows a chain of connected uncapped spouts with side tabs attached into the upper edges of flexible pouches * figure 15 shows a chain of connected capped spouts with side tabs attached into the upper edges of flexible pouches * figure 16 shows a chain of connected spouts with side tabs from above * figure 17 shows a layered chain of connected spouts with side tabs * figure 18 shows the position of cut to remove a spouted pouch from a connected chain * figure 19 shows a separated pair of spouted pouches with the connected tabs removed * figure 20 shows the position of cut to remove a spouted pouch from a connected chain * figure 21 shows a separated spouted pouch with the connecting side tabs removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a form of package comprising: a flexible container (1) for fluid or viscous material and a relatively rigid spouted closure (2), the closure comprising a neck opening which may be adapted to receive a cap (6) for the neck, said closure further including oppositely directed coupfing protrusions or tabs (3) thereon, whereby several such packages may be linked together 4) by welding or bonding of the protrusions to form a ribbon, the surfaces of the coupling protrusions being adapted to have ribbed features (5) enabling them to interlock when overlapped with adjacent protrusions of similar closures and further be made from a material that is compliant to heat welding or other means of bonding to each other in order to form a ribbon or chain of pouches, the resulting ribbon or chain being able to provide resistance to movement force along its length.

In one aspect of the invention, the coupling protrusions have a feature (7) which includes a section being thinner in material thickness and may be a recessed channel or groove that runs from the top edge to the lower edge on both surfaces of the coupling, which performs in a way to allow the protrusion to move orthogonally to the upright closure, allowing a chain of packaging to fold back onto itself and to form into layers (8).

In one aspect of the invention, the orientation of the pointed oval feature (11) of the closure that attaches to the flexible pail of the packaging is offset at an angle to the tab for the purposes of permitting the flexible part of each container to overlap with the same part of an adjacent container in the chain (i2).

In one aspect of the invention, the closures can be separable from the ribbon on application of a cutting action to the coupling protrusions applied by a blade or guillotine across the coupling protrusions and in one aspect of the invention, the cutting action (9) applied along the length of the features (7) that are thinner in material thickness.

In one aspect of the invention, the coupling protrusion is positioned centrally to a rail guide feature (10) on the closure, said guide being designed to support the packaging along a rail through a filling machine and being centrally positioned, thereby ensuring forces between adjacent closures act centrally along the rail and the rail guide and thereby reducing any twist or misalignment of the chain that could lead to an increase in friction between the rail and the rail guide possibly resulting in the chain becoming jammed.

In one aspect of the invention, the packaging is supplied with caps pre-fitted to the closures (6), and under these conditions the cap would be removed prior to filling through the open spout of the closure before being re-fitted.

A plurality of the packages may be provided as linked together to form a ribbon and the ribbon formed as a reel. A plurality of the packages may also be provided to form a layered alternating ribbon enabling it to be packed tightly into a box or carton (8).

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Claims

CLAIMSI. A rigid moulded spout for flexible containers, the spout having oppositely protruding tabs adapted to be adhered to respective tabs of neighbouring spouts of the same type to form long ribbons of spouts.
2. A spout according to claim 1. wherein said tabs are flat and substantially planar.
3. A spout according to claim i or claim 2, wherein said tabs are substantially rectangular.
4. A spout according to any preceding claim, wherein said tabs are identical.
5. A spout according to any preceding claim, wherein each said tab has increased flexibility inboard of an adhering portion thereof.
6. A spout according to claim 5. and including a thinned region to impart said flexibility.I
7. A spout according to claim 6, wherein said thinned region comprises a groove.
8. A spout according to any of claims 5-7, wherein said increased flexibility is in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the opening defined by said spout.
9. A spout according to any preceding claim, and including a mouth above the transverse axis of said tabs, and an annular projection below said transverse axis for attachment of a pouch thereto.
lO. A spout according to claim 9, wherein said projection comprises an oval, the long axis thereof being non-aligned with the direction of said tabs.
11. A spout according to claim 10, wherein said oval comprises somewhat pointed apices on the long axis.
12. A spout according to any preceding claim, and including radial projections orthogonal to the direction of said tabs, and adapted to support said spout on either side upon a rail.
13. A spout according to any preceding claim, wherein each tab has an adhering side and a non-adhering side, the adhering side being ilTegular.
14. A spout according to claim 13, wherein the non-adhering side is irregular.
15. A spout according to claim 14, wherein an irregular side comprises ribs interengageable with ribs of a tab to be adhered thereto in use.
16. A spout according to any preceding claim having tabs adapted to be adhered by one of ultrasonic welding, thermal welding, solvent welding and adhesive.
17. A method of connecting mouded spouts of flexible containers, the method including the steps of: providing oppositely directed tabs on each spout, said tabs extending a direction orthogonal to the axis of the mouth of the spout; and adhering each tab to the tab of a neighbouring spout, so as to form a ribbon.