IE911854A1 - Apparatus for manufacturing flexible containers - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates t r ? ΐ BACKGROUND ART ' ”” i j : I Flexible containers such as- containers made of [ j I fabric or mesh material are usually formed from a sing .gee and the λ I one edge is left r ι • * ’ unsealed through which material can be insejfted into thb : ' ! container whereafter that edge is also healed. ' This prooeeJs t i * however is cumbersome and does not easily lend itself tb j ‘ · inexpensive manufacture of euch containera. ' I ** * It is an object of the invention io provide ah ι ϋ i apparatus for manufacturing flexible ^containers which majy overcome the abovementioned disadvantages. ' ion DISCLOSURE OF INVENT: in one form, the invention resides iA an apparatus for manufacturing a flexible contained comprising , '» ι particulate material located betweeV two 'flexible wejb Ϊ ’ * members, said apparatus comprising [ j first feed means for advancing a first flexible we!b member through eaid apparatus, ) t ' \ j metering means for metering the * particulate t . I i material onto one side of said first flexible member, . ί ; j second feed means for passing 4 second,flexible web’ * * J member over said first flexible web member subsequent to the' particulate material being metered therein, and, ; / I e ι sealing means for sealing oaf.d first and a«uvud. ί ! flexible web members together to form the flexible container: containing the particulate material. ' * 5 1 j ' 1 The first feed means suitably includes one or more; * * I drive roller assemblies for advancing the first flexible web' j ' member through the apparatus. The first, feed means may also, i > ' include one or more guide members ‘to assist in the| I ' advancement of the first flexible web men The or each drive roller assemblies may comprise a^ pair of opposed rollers between which thfe first flexible web, member can pass. Suitably, one of the pair of rollers is a’ driven roller and the other of the pair rollers is a free ί roller. The pair of opposed rollers mky be disposed suchj that one roller extends substantially abolre the second roller , * I and it is preferred that in this configuration the upper ΐ roller is a free roller and the lower‘roller 'is a driven· roller. > \ ! The spacing between the pair of : opposed., rollers may f I be varied to allow web members of various thickness to pass between the rollers. Suitably, the driven rolier is fixed i ί ' and the free roller is movable toward? and afray from thd ί ! driven roller. The free roller may be freely movable towardd i * 1 and away from the-driven roller or may be actuated by ar. , ; t actuating means. · ·, The actuating means may' be mechanically,' I hydraulically or pneumatically powers^ to mqve the fre^ ί ' ! roller away from and/or towards :the dr£ve roller.· i ’ 1 Preferably/ the actuating meana compriaea a ram.' i * * * * ι The first feed means suitably comprises at least t * I two drive roller assemblies spaced from ^ach other.

The guide members may comprise elongate tuber having a smooth external radial surface along which the firstp * » I » flexible web member may advance. The guide members cab assist in guiding the web member to, from, of between th^ Ϊ .' ! various rollers in the apparatus. The guide, members are » 1 ί suitably fixed in position and do not rotate.

The metering means suitably [comprises a metering ‘ · I a I roller. The metering roller is suitably driven about it^ » » 1 t e * longitudinal axis. The metering roller may nave an outer radial periphery provided with at least.one recess to accept? * x ι ' I ' 1 the particulate* material. Preferably, the ^periphery 14 provided with a plurality of such recesses. The' recesses may be regularly spaoed along the periphery*of the boiler and ix) i Γ ι substantially linear alignment and may'also be; spaced about? The rgcesses -may comprise ? the periphery of the roller, single recesses br groups of rococcoo Ϊ The first flexible web Member feuitably' contacts th4 metering roller after the particulate manorial hjts been addec^ thereto and may be maintained in oont-ajjt with ’ the metering £ ? 1 roller upon rotation thereof to retain the; partioulatd } j I material within the recesses until * the wdb is in ti substantially horizontal position at twhioh t^ime the web i > 1 suitably separates from the metering roller and; contains th0 particulate material on one side of the Leb.

The first feed means suitably : assists i»i 5 * i maintaining the first flexible web member in contact with the I < ι metering roller. | ? j The second feed means suitably comprises some oj: all of the drive roller assemblies of tl^e first ’feed means ait described above. The second feed aeans^ may alfl*o include one i ; or more guide members. The second feed* means Mpy comprise a drive roller assembly as described ab member ovejc the first flexible web member such ;hat thd particular^ material is located between the two web'members? ’ The sealing means preferably* comprises a heating ί j· | step to heat seal the first and second web members together. Suitably, the sealing means comprises a Seated roller I - L assembly. The heated roller assembly may comprise a pair of I ί j rollers between which the first and second web^members pass. Preferably, one of the pair of rollexs is helted and thiis I roller cao ba Internally heated. aLt Suitably, tha heated collar afesetibly jae described ϊ ! above comprises one of tho drive roller aeeemtllaB of the ί i first feed means. It is preferred that-the heated roller is a driven roller and that the other roller is a flee roller.

The hdated roller may include heated zones ot portions along its external radial surface such that when thei first and second web members pass between the ‘rollers, the • « J ! j 1 web members are sealed together along apeas corresponding td contact of the web members with the heated zones' or portions.; The heated zones or portions axe suitably formed by providing the heated roller with spaced recesses with thei surface of the roller extending between adjacent recesset forming the heated zones or portions. * ; Preferably, the heated roller Lomprisefo a plurality of recesses spiced along the roller ^and in* longitudinal alignment and also about the periphery.of the toller. This I I 1 provides a regular aray of heated zones* or portions which ii i I L use seal the two web members together ’along a plurality of positions thereby forming a plurality 0¼ flexible container^ l ! $ i or pockets in the web. | i i j · ! The apparatus may further include a storage chamber for storing the particulate material to ' be used ih j b * ; ί | association with the metering means. · I s ί Suitably, the storage chamber comprises a hopper. i The hopper may include an outlet which extends at $ i i partially along the metering roller. Preferably, the outlet I ι > * ±b in eliding oontaot with the roller· and may be located vertically above the roller such that a| the metering rolled rotates accross the outlet, particulate)material passes into t | · the recesses on the metering roller. h*he outlet may be in e ί association with a wiper blade to ensure* that th> particulate material passes into the recesses. Suitably, the outlet I I * integrally formed with the hopper and^ is positioned at g ί * * lower portion of the hopper. { · ' t j j The apparatus may further include perforating means ί 1 ' to perforate the sealed first and | second _ web memberό subsequent to passing through the pealing ^neans. Th^ perforating meads may include at least ^ne cuttfer to cut thi I * web members either In a continuous manne^r to pr<$vide separate flexible containers or in a non-continu)>us manlier to provide lines of weakness into the sealed ^teb members thereby f T j allowing the various different flexible ^contain^rs to be tory from the remaining portion of the sealed web members.

The perforating means may comprise plurality oi cutters which lit use are spaced accroes the w^b members tp cut the members as they pass by the are preferably spaced accross the web Inembers much that the 'I 1 cute are made along the sealed portions’ and not throught the t * j portions of the web members that are not sealed’together.

) The cutters may he mounted to a cojwnon elongate and ate suitably axially aejustabl^ therealongi support I Preferably, each cutter is also adjustable between a operating cutting position and a raised free position. The i cutters may comprise a wheel or disk having a peripheral I » · continuous outting odgo or peripheral spaced cutting edges oif projections . « rfo The perforating means may perforate the web members ί * * in the direction of travel of the web through £he apparatus) and/or transversly accxose the direotiox) of travel.

The apparatus may further include a t^ke-up rolled ι i upon which the sealed web members may bh wound. Preferably, I i I the take-up roller is a driven roller.

The various drive rollers are? suitably driven from a common drive means. The drive m^ans comprise n electric motor. The drive rollers ma^ he coupled to th ί I i Suitably, the drive means drives the metering roller through a drive chain ahd sprocket assembly and other hrive rollers are driven by the metering roller again through conventional f ϊ ί drive chain and/or drive belt assemblies.

The apparatus may further include a vibrating means to vibrate the web members subsequent yo being1 sealed. Th# I 1 vibrating means may comprise a vibrating plate which extendi ι aocross the respective web member an| vibrates it as it I 3 passes along the vibrating plate. -The vibrating plat# facilitates an even dispersion of the, particulate material { I within its formed flexible container, ; 1 I The first and second flexiiia web * members arq 1 1 suitably formed from tho same material.' Preferably, the wep members oomprise an non-woven fabric wh|ch is suitably watej· permeable. bicomponent filiaments having a central^ core aAd a surroun The non-woven fabric is pJeferabl^ formed fro«$ * i of a meltable material. The meltable material n^y comprise a I * i thermoplastic polymer such as polyethylene. klternativel^ the meltable material may comprise a heat melt adhesive. The f - I core suitably comprises a polyester. IC· this manner the tw^ ; ΐ i web members can be sealed by heat joining the £wo layers of fabric. A suitAble fabrio is an Sieved fabric-40 cm (5050^ WDO) available from C. ITOH & co. l ι In another form the invention resides ’in a flexible container containing particulate material, s^id contained ϊ j ' comprising first and second flexible, web members joined i ' 1 together to define at least one compartment containing the i ί particulate material, each said web member comtpising a non woven fabric formed from bicomponent ' fillamehts having A central core and a surround of meltable material. woven fabric may be as described above.

The no ) The particulate material nu|y comprise a wate; *· % absorbing compound or composition. Suitjably, t^e partioulat» material comprises a water absorbing polymer. A preferred water absorbing polymer is a crcss-linkid sodiu^ polyacrylate super absorbing :polymer. j oil i ? ; % · BRIEF DBgCRirTXOW OP TUB DftAWINCg The invention will be better uAderstood by i V · reference to the following description of ohe preferred embodiment as illustrated by the acconqpanying' drawings iii which ! / r Fig. 1 is a eide view of an apparatus foi manufacturing flexible containers according to' a preferred ί ’ ί embodiment. * » I i < ! Fig. 2 is a side view of the^opposite side of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view of thej apparatus of Figured 1 and 2. | j | Figures 4A and 4B are views cfe the metering rolled according to a preferred embodiment. · ! Fig. 5 is a view of the heated roller according to f : a preferred embodiment. '5 ! ί f Fig. 6 is a view of the flex: ble containers formed Ί I by the appratue according to an embodiment of the invention.; BEST METHOD FOR CARRYING OPT Xe INVENTION a Referring to Figures 1 to 3, ’there id disclosed an ml embodiment of the apparatus for minufactuii containers. f ? The apparatus comprises a maih support frame 11 fdr i i supporting the various components yf the * apparatus, ia metering means in the form of a meterirfc roller? 12, a sealing » i means in the form of a heated roller assembly’13, and firit I i * I i ! i I « « I ! * ! knufactu'ring flexible t > ! and second feed means in the form of various rollers as shall ί ε . ; - ι be described in more detail below. | > j ί A first flexible web member 16. suitably in the forni of a roll of web material can be supported on 'a roller 13A which is supported for rotation by Suitable5 bearings 14 J * ! located on each, end of roller 13A. Bearings '14 (only one I * ί shown in Fig. 1) are supported by an ancyLe bracket 15 one le^[ of which is secured to main support ί frame fl. in thii manner, roller 13A Is supported at a IpositioJ spaced froi ϊ i i main frame 11 which allows easy access to tlfe roller fob mounting a roll of web material. Furthermore,’ with the web material mounted to roller 13A, the material will not contact the main support frame and this arrangement allowfa large rolls of web material to be supported by the roller. 1 The first flexible web member-16 (sho^n in phantom*) j ϊ j is advanced through the apparatus by a leries oi drive roller I * ί assemblies which shall be described in greater detail below? A second flexible web member*17 (eho#n in phantomi) l l i can be stored on a roll which is supported py roller 18. Roller 18 is supported for rotation by suitable bearings 19 J * · supporting ends of roller 18. Roller* 18 is ^n this manner i ι ί mounted between opposed frame members 30, 21 or main support frame 11. Roller 18 includes tapered plugs 22^ 23 which ai|e • * ί supported on roller 18 and locate on [each a^Lel face of !a roll ,of flexible material mounted to ^roller ’18 to prevent i ί axial displacement of the roll. Roller 13A can also be J ϊ i J ί provided with similar plugs (not shoton) tt should be appreciated that the position of the z|ollere i3A and 18 i^ i ί ί for convenience only and various othfcr positions can be ί : envisaged.

Metering roller 12 includes 4 generally J ? ι cylindrical body supported at each ertd by bearings withi^ I / ! bearing houses 24 (only one shown) which are mounted to fram# I I · members 27, 28 of main support frame 11^ ‘ ί i The metering roller is more ‘clearly ‘ disclosed i(i Figures 4A, 4B and will be more oleJrly described below The metering roller includes a plurality of recesses on itn surface to accomodate particulate material.

A hopper 29 is positioned geijarally Jbovo meteringroller 12 and Comprises an inlet 30 id an upp^r portion of the hopper and' an outlet 31 at hopper. lower p 4 a (ower portion of th# »Jing extending along the length of metering roller ^2 and in sliding contact with the metering roller. T&ie outlet 31 may be associated with a wiper blade to ensur^ that tile particulate i I < material is only received within the redesses on the metering roller (not shown). Outlet 31 is located ^substantially | ϊ I vertically above metering roller 12 j which ’is the most convenient place' to allow the particulate material to contact , ί j tho motoring roller. ϊ ί j I ’ 1 Thus, 'upon rotation of metering roller 12 in this I · 1 I ί Outlet 31 comprises an elongate opening extendin' t ( 10 i2 ί : direction indicated by the arrow of Fig.* 1, the recesses wil| j i ι pass aooross outlet 31 and particular^ material will floy into the recesses from hopper 29. £ r * / ι Guide members 32, 33 are provided to guide the ί * 1 first flexible web member 15 towards ’metering roller 12^ Guide members 31, 32 comprise eyllind^ical ti^beS having y smooth outer surface over which the firtft flexible web membeF i can slide. The guide members extend between |)ppoaed fram members 34, 35 Of the main support frame 11 and are rigidly mounted thereto. Guide member 31 locates immediately behind * ( outlet 31 such that the first flexible web member 16 i guided over metering roller 12 immediate material is passed Into the recesses as greater detail below. : j Immediately below metering roller 12 jis provided d positioning roller 34A which aides in * maintaining flexibly web member 16 In contact with the periphery, of 'Metering roller 12 In the area between guide memljer 33 a(|d positioning roller 34A. Positioning roller 34A iq movabld towards and away from metering roller 12 by an hydraulic' or pneumatic I ' ; ram 34B thereby allowing web member of* varying thickness to j ; ί { i I pass between positioning roller 34a and-metering roller .12. ' tfely afte*r particulaty ijWill be* described ija A first drive roller asset >|nbly is located ι adjacent metering roller 12 such that ttie flexible web membejr i I i passe? from metering roller 12 to the first - drive roller assembly 13. Assembly 13 comprises a p^ir of opposed roller^ ; » 1 J I J 4 ! • ι ι t 10 IS / I 36, 37 which are supported for rotatioA about their ends by suitable bearings within, bearing housings. Roller 36 i£ $ j 1 located vertically above roller 37. Roller 37, is supported by its pair of bearing housings which ake secured to opposed frame members 38, 39. upper roller 36 ^s movable towards anji i ; away from rolier 37 and can be actuated between thes^ f * 1 positions by a pair of hydraulic or jftieumati^ rame 40, 4) located at opposed ends of roller 36. j ; Roller 37 is a heated roller and is' electrically I heated internally, λ thermostat 42 regelates tqe temperature of roller 37.

Upper roller 36 is not heated hot beoause of its oontaot or close roller 37. but normally become js ί proximijty to heated ί j r t I Heated roller 37 includes a; plurality of spaced recesses as more clearly shown with reference to Fig- 5; ί ϊ i This configuration results in a pattern of heated zones or portions corresponding to the surface o| the roller extending ‘ * 1 between the recesses. ‘ .< First flexible web member 16 passes from metering i roller 12 to first drive roller assembly f3 and passes between lower heated roller 37 and uppe r roller 36. As well:, a second flexible web member 17 can *pass fr^m roller 18, Io around upper roller 36 and between i !.

Her 36 and heated roller 37. In this manner, the second flexible'web member 17 is caused to pass over flexible web member 16 ahd the two web f i ι ΙΟ Η ί ί ν , ! members are sealed together as they pass between rollers 37 I i 1 and 36, tha sealing areas corresponding Jto contact of the web members with the heated zones or portions of Seated relief 37, [ ! j It Can be seen that in thia fmbodimett, the first 1 ΐ ! drive roller assembly 13 functions as fhe sealing means and Ϊ ' ' also as the second feed means in passing the second flexiblf web member over the first flexible web member, j i I ! λ sec?ond drive roller assembly 43 is locate^. : j ι downstream from the first 'drive roller assembly 35 such that i ί 1 the sealed web members 16, 17 pass from thd first drivf L 5 I roller assembly 35 towards the second drive roller assembly ί ' ' 43. J · > I ’ I Assembly 43 again comprises J lower toller 44 anh t s ! an upper roller 45. The ends of lower Roller 44 are mounted J -* ( to bearing housings 45, 46 (only one shown in'Fig. 1) which are aaaured to opposed frame members 38| 39. is fixed while upper roller 49 is movable tovjards and away f ' j from roller 44. The ends of upper roller 43 flire mounted in * 2 j bearing housings 47, 48 which are com^eoted tq hydraulic or i * I pneumatic rams .49, 50 to move upper foliar 45 towards and W ? i J \ 1 away from lower roller 44. Lower roller 44 ^s also formed * i I with recesses ih a manner similar to hefted roller 37.

A counting wheel 51 is located adjacent second drive, roll assembly 43 and is suitably mounted to frame members 20 and 21. > war roller 44 A perforating means 52 in the* form of a plurality1 of cutters 55 - 57 is located adjacent the ^second drive roller assembly. 43 to out or perfo4ate the' sealed web if) members. The cutters are mounted to &n axle 53 (as most f ) i clearly shown in Fig. 3) which is mounted adjacent its ends to a platform 5’4. Cutters 55 - 57 aije axialty adjustable} along axle 53 add can be secured against axial displacement^ | i i by a locking screw or similar means (no| shown)ί Cutters 5$ j · 1 - 37 can be moved between an upper free |>oeition< (ae shown iii J i i phantom in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) and a lower cutting position.' I 1 ! It should be appreciated that the number of cutters can vary and only three ΙΛυ« been shown in the endjodinenV.

As the sealed web material passes alojig cutters 5!i - 57 they can be continuously out intb separate strips oar » % ι intermittently Cut to form lines of weakness,^ depending oiji the type of cutters used. * I s located a Adjacent the perforating mains 52 3 I i vibrator 58 comprising an eccentric >generator 59 and A • ( i vibrating plate 60 over which the ’ sealed » web passes i. Vibrator 58 facilitates an even |listribuVion of the particulate material in each formed pocket or jsachet withip ί the wob. | A take-up roller 61 is located at; the end of : ’ ί platform 52 to' take-up the web as i : passed through this apparatus. A free floating roller 6i is lodhted adjacent roller 61 to provide tension and correct feeding of the we!b ( 10 j to take-up roller 61. A pair of hydraulic or pheumatic ranti ? i 63, 64 are located on each end of platform 54 and Include an arcuate shoe 65 (only one shown) to limjt the free travel o^ ·. i ; ; roller 62. ?> ι * > I ♦ k * * The various rollers are drlveft by a drive means iA the form of an Electric motor 66 located in a lower part oi main frame 11 and supported thereby. 1 Bleettic motor 6^ { Λ j includes a gearbox 67 having a drive * sprocket 68. Drive : * I ί sprocket 68 la . connected to a sprocket 69 op one end of . j ί ! metering roller 12 through drive chain 70. A tensioner 71 is Iii located between .sprocket 68 and 69 to tension dfive chain 70 .

* I The other end of metering roller 12 (4ee Fig. 2) is provided with sprocket 72 Sprockets F3, 74 / I ' are also located on complimentary end faces of ’heated roller t 1 and roller 44 and these rollers are drlveh by meterinig not shown) i i roller 12 through a drive chain 74Λ* extending about the sprockets. Drive chain 74A also extends about a return ί I sprocket 75 and a tensioning sprocket 7p.

* Take-up roller 61 is driven, by a derive chain 76 extending about a sprocket on takeiup roller 61 and !a sprocket on adjacent roller 77 which» itself I is driven by roller 44 through drive belt 78 extending aboitt pulleys 79, J adjacent roller il located on second roller 44 an< respectively.

In this manner, electric me tor 66 ^can drive, the | 1 various rollers although it should b< appreciated that the ? ! \ I w > I ! series of pulleys, sprockets, drive chains anq drive belts are only in the configuration provided In the embodiment fop purposes of convenience and other variations qan easily be invisaged. j | I λ control box 81 controls tha supply* of power tq electric motor 66 and the various hydraulic -or pneumatic rams. | i Figures 4A and 4B disclose the metering roller 12 in more detail. Metering roller 12 comprises a* eyllindrical body 82 and extensions 83 which extend Into beaming housings to support metering roller 12 for rotation.

The outer surface of eyllindrical surface 82 Is provided with a. plurality of recesses 84 eyllindrical body and in linear alignmen also spaced about eyllindrical body 82. which «{re epaoedlong the with efcoh other and Each recess comprises an essentially circular mouth, a if 1 and a tapered rear portion 86 taperin| to a pj»int.

Fig. 4B illustrates an alterative arrangement of reoessee 84, in this alternative a^ngemenf^, groups of recesses 87 are spaced along oyllindrjcal bo^y 82 and in linear alignment'with eaoh other and al|o aboutoy 11indrical I i I body 82. Bach group of recesses 87 comprises, a number of recesses 88 in a'substantially oval pattern, .

As the reeeases accomodats the I particulate! material, it can be seen that the arrangement ad illustrated, I i in Fig. 4A will result in a web member? being provided with, discrete individual mounds of particulate material while the * 1 t ? arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 4B will result in groups ί ' ' of particulate material being provided on one side of the web member. j ’ ' Fig. 5‘ discloses an embodiment of healed roller 37 ‘ I j in greater detail. Heated roller 37 ijicludes end portions 90, 91 which extend into hearing housings (nbt shown) to rotatably support roller 37. Roller 37'included a plurality1 \ L * ' of spaced recesses 92 formed on its outer surface by attaching a framework 93 to the oute|r surface of heate4 j » ι roller 37, In this manner, there are fgrmed belted sones 94 l J » ! corresponding to the configuration of framework 93 which is in a heat exchange relationship with heated roller 37 Upon passage of the |irst and second flexibl^ web members between heated roller 3^ and upper roller 36,’ the web members ard heat sealed together corresponding to’ the arrangement ol framework 93. 'Thue, it can he seen jthat this particular roller will heat seal the two web members together to form ί· · ί i : 5 ; eight separate flexible containers accrohs the Web members. j ? ! Fig. 6 discloses a sample ;of the* web members subsequent to passing through heated roller 37 ahd roller 36^ I I I I along 94 corresponding to the heated ‘zones o'f roller 37, i ; ι Particulate material 95 was added by metering roller 12 with ) c i the arrangement of metering roller 12 hnd headed roller 3) I * ! being such that the webs are heat sealed together aroung the t i i i ! s * I it can be seen that the web members have‘ been settled togethe I I particulate material 95 to priovide : individual flexible containers or packets.

The operation of the apparatus shall now be described with reference to Figures il to 3. A first 5 flexible web member 16 is passed from roller l^A over guide and around ^uide 31 and is fed abodt metering roller 1¼ and between metering roller 12 and positioning roller 34A'. Upon rotation of metering roller 12, »the recesses in the surface of the' roller pass accross popper outlet 31 and 10 partioulate material flows into ^he recesses. The particulate material le then prevented from’ exiting thia recesses upon further rotation of metering ^roller 12 bjy virtue of the the first flexible web member 16'being pressed against the surface of metering roller 12. ^Subsequent do Γ : ί IS passing along positioning roller 34A, the first'web member 16 : ., ! i j now adopts a substantially horizontal position and the i i particulate material can pass from the recesses’ onto an uppdr >i ι surface of the peb member. At thia timfe, the web member will i : have located ori an. upper surface thereon mete ted quantities 20 of the particulate material at spaced intervals1 corresponding f * ι to the spacing and configuration of the releases on the metering rolled. A second flexible w^b membe| 17 is passed from roller 19 about upper roller 3^ and passes between roller 36 and heated roller 37 concurrently with firit flexible web member 16. the second flexible'web member is caused to be positioned over the firA flexible web member areas and the web members are sealed together ·' along t ; corresponding to the heated zones of the heated roller 37. r · ‘ The periphery of heated roller 37 is configured such that the heated zones extends) around’ the metered X s· quantities of particulate material suph that upon passage between rollers 36 and 37, the two w$b members are sealed. ί 4 i together around the metered quantities of particulate material to form the flexible containers or pockets. The I ’ i sealed material is passed between rollers 44’ and 45 which I 5 i function to facilitate movement Of the* web material through the apparatus. The cutters 55 - 57 either out or introduce lines of weakness through the sealed? wsb members and the cutters are spaced along axle 53 such |hat the- cuts are made along the sealed joints of the two wVbe. Thereafter, the material Is vibrated to evenly disperse the polymer in the form pocket or sachet and the web is tlien wourid over take-άρ roller 61.

The heated roller can operate at a temperature hf about 180*C.

In an alternative, a transverse splitter can be positioned on platform 54 to cut the sealed \$eb material Ito i 5 i form the web into sheets or pads instead of' the web being s ·* ί wound around tike-up roller 81. ‘ s i Thus, it can be seen that the apparatus is suitable for produulug fit» λ IL l* containers and tho finished prnddnt ! ’ ! manufactured by the apparatus acoording to’ the preferred » I I embodiment has metered quantities of material Such as super I i : absorbent polymer each located in a discrete pocket or sachet t · ; which pockets are of a size as to phrmit the amount of polymer therein to absorb a predetermined quantity of water.

Xt can also be seen that! the apparatus can, manufacture flexible containers of any Aeeired iiize or shapd J ’ ι and the flexible containers can extend a^icross 0te full width I ί · of the web members or several flexible containers may be ί > ·’ formed in the web members. These various shapes and sizes may be formed by varying the configuration Of the heated 1 ? zones or portions on the heated roller ; ί ? I The flexible containers thereby formed can be is either individually cut from the remainder of the roll by the «. {. » perforating meads or a separate cutter or splitter to form individual flexible containers. Alter!®tively) a number of separate flexible containers may be outlfrom th4 remainder of the rollThe article produced byi the ι ι invention is zO particularly suitable for absorbing liq&id such·as water that can be taken up by the water absorbing^ polymer. Thus, when the pad is placed into water, the watjr can migrate through The absorption the fabric and be absorbed by the polymer, will continue dntil the pressure exeried on φιβ polymer by the walls of the pocket is effeotlvely^equal to the internal pressure in the polymer grains at which* time no' further water ’ ί : t i can be absorbed.

Therefore, the water absorbing ability' of the pads c can be varied by the amount of super absorbent polymer added' to each pad and the interior volume of the pad. j If the pad is removed from the wate): and excess, j J water removed by shaking, the pad will be effectively dry to; the touch as the absorbent powder removes wetness from the fabric surface. 'The pad can then be frozen to provide a heat; i * ί exchange medium.- j ; Further advantages of the particular joad are that ’ 0 condensation doed not form on the pad aa any waier condensed by heat exchange' is absorbed by the polymer. * Furthermore,; upon absorbing heat, the frozen pad thaws out |but water is not lost from the pad as it is regained ^y the super; absorbent polyae£. ι j It should be appreciated that the abo^e embodiment ϊ -ί ; is by way of exemplification of the indention jonly and the. various other changes and modifications? can be’made to thy invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined in th0 appended claims. ί ]

Claims (31)

1. CLAIMS ‘ ; j ’ j

1. An apparatus for manufacturing' a flexible container i i I comprising particulate material located ? between two flexible web members, said apparatus comprising 'first feed means for t J ί advancing a first flexible web member through said apparatus, metering means fpr metering the partiou^ate material onto ολβ side of said first flexible web member,'second leed means fpr passing a second flexible web member ovlr eaid ^irst flexible web member subsequent to the . particLlate material beiAg I ' ί metered thereon, sealing means for sehling shid first and second flexible web members together * to fofm a flexible container containing the particulate material, exposed ironing rollers between which the sealed web members can pa6B, •5 vXl*x.ciLXug aoauo Lu vXLrxoLu Lite actc XvCl web Ml·»!»·»:· to facilitate even distribution of the particulate material in ί 1 ί the formed container, and perforating dleans to perforate the ' l ; ι J ι sealed portions of the web members. » j i k < I

2. The apparatus as claimed in fclaim 1, wherein said metering means comprises a metering rollir.

3. The apparatus as claimed in |claim i, wherein the metering roller ’includes an outer radial periphery provided with at least one recess to accom<|date the particulate material

4. periphery is provided with a plurality o^ said Aceeses. :. I !

5. The apparatus as claimed in yclaim 4; wherein said ί * recesses are spaced along the periphery of the' roller and in substantially linear alignment with eabh othef and are also ί i The apparatus as claimed in fclaim 3j wherein sa,id 2« j paced about the periphery of the roller. I

6. The apparatus as claimed in fcleira wherein the first flexible web member contacts said Leterin^ roller afteir the particulate material has been added , thereto and accomodated within the reoesses and is Inaintained in contact with the metering roller upon rotation thereof 'to retain the particulate material .within the recesJes until said first flexible web member is in a substantially horizontal position at which time the web member separates from' the meteriAg roller and contains the particulate material oh one side of * * Λ I ; ι , , the web member. |

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1? wherein said ' > i < sealing means utilises heating to heat? seal said first and 1 ! ; second web members together. i i ? ι

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7/ wherein said sealing means Comprises a heated roller assembly located downstream from ' said metering means Jnd having a pair bf opposed rollers between which the first end second web members 2 ' ϊ * can pass, one of said rollers being a heated roller.

9. The apparatus as claimed in jjlaim 8< wherein said heated roller inolddes heated zones or portions along its external radial surface such that when' the filet and second .. *' 'S i web members pass between said rollers) the web members are 1 > : sealed together along areas corresponding to bontact of the • j · web members with' the heated zones or portions. ' 1

10. The apparatus as claimed in .[claim $, Wherein khe Ldflt heated zones or portions axe formed by providing the heated roller with spaced recesses with the ^surface of the roller f· ί ί ϊ : ϊ ' : ϊ * b * * ? · extending betweeij adjacent recesses forming the' heated zones I or portions, | ; ί

11. The apparatus as claimed in <£l a l m 1θ> wherein the : ί heated roller comprises a plurality of ? said recesses spaced along the roller'and in linear alignment with each other and ί * ; about the periphery of the roller to provide a ’ regular arrdy ; » ? of heated sones ot portions. ·

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,* wherein said first feed means comprises the opposed ironing rollers.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, therein one Of said pair of said rollers is a driven roller.

14. The apparatus as claimed in llaim 13?, wherein the ί * · : spacing between Said pair of opposed roilers ma^ be varied to allow web members of various thickness^ to pa/β between tAe rollers. = I I j

15. The apparatus as claimed in clhim 14, therein one of eaid pair of opposed rollers is fixed |md the’other of said pair of opposed rollers is movable towefrde and ’away from the fixed roller. ! I

16. The apparatus as claimed in tflaia 14} wherein said t > 1 fixed roller hafe a surface profile which contacts the wbb I ’ ! members on the sealed portions. ; ;

17. The apparatus as claimed in-claim f, including a hopper for storing the particulate material and passing the particulate material to the metering meahs. 16. The apparatus as claimed in |laim IT, wherein said metering means comprises a metering roller add said hopper I 5 i includes an outlet which extends at least partially along the metering roller And in eliding contact with thfe roller such that aa the metering roller rotates- across- the outlet:, particulate material passes from the jhopper and into the t : recesses of the metering roller, ί

18. 19. The apparatus as claimed in |claim Γ, wherein the perforating means includes at least one cuttep to cut til· sealed first and second web members either in' a continuous a manner to provide separate flexible eorftainers'or in a noncontinuous manner to provide lines of we ikness ihto the sealed j i web members thereby allowing the various different flexible I ’ containers to be tom from the remaining; portion - ' of the sealed web members. i

19. 20. The apparatus as olaimed in o/,aim 19/ comprising i n o\s , *r< plurality of cutters which, in use, are spaced aoross the sealed web members to cut the members^ as the} 1 pase by the cutters. ' | | i

20. 21. The apparatus as claimed in llaim zd, wherein the 1 ! i cutters are mounted to a common elongate support and ate axially adjustable therealong and are ^adjustable between an operating cutting position and a raised |ree position.

21. 22. The apparatus as claimed in | claim ί wherein the vibrating means comprises a vibrating pl|te.

22. 23. The apparatus as claimed in-claim f, wherein the j » ' drive rollers ard driven from a common drive meajis. ? '

23. 24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the drive means drives the metering roller ind other drive rolleirs are driven by the metering roller. 21 i ? ·

24. 25. The apparatus as claimed in <|laim l, wherein said ι I ' first and second flexible web members ’comprise a non-woven ί ί fabric formed by bicomponent fillaments (having ί central core and a surround of a meltable material. I ’ ,· I I

25. 26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said k i fillaments comprise a polyester core and k thermcfelastic Γ polyethylene eurifcund.

26. 27. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1/ wherein said particulate material comprises a water absorbing(compound.

27. 28, The apparatus as claimed in claim 27,' wherein said water absorbing ' confound or composition comprises a water ? £ · absorbing polymei?. 1 · ι

28. 29. A flexible container formed jrora the' apparatus as described in any 'one of the preceding claims.

29. 30. λ flexible container containing particulate * I ' material, said container comprising fir|t and Second flexible web members joined together to define at^least dke oompartmeht containing the particulate material, ^ach saf.d web member frok bicomponent formed J a non . woven fabric fillaments having a central oore and J surrouAd of meltable \ X .> ! material. comprising The cohtainer as claimed in claim 30 wherein said . r ι fabric is water permeable. ? : 32. The cohtainer as claimed in klaim 3Ϊ wherein sajid

30. 31. core comprises polyethylene. polyester and said’ surroAnd comprises I s . 33. The container as claimed in an^ one or claims 30 to

31. 32 wherein said particulate material comprises a water absorbing material. 34. The coritainer as claimed in tflaim 33’ wherein said ί ’ water absorbing material comprises a water absorbing polymer.'