JP2005525272A - Tubular elements for forming vacuum packaging bags for products - Google Patents

Abstract

In a tubular element (1) for forming a product (17), in particular a vacuum packaging bag (14) of fresh product, one or more gas-impermeable walls (2) and a substantially liquid Tubular element comprising at least one partition sheet (3) which is impermeable and interposed between the walls (2). The wall (2) and the partition sheet (3) are connected along the longitudinal side (4) so as to form a tubular body having two or more chambers (5, 5 '). Each chamber (5, 5 ') is at least partially defined by a partition sheet (3). The partition sheet (3) has a central layer (12) which is continuous and has no liquid leakage, and protrusions (8) project from the central layer into the chambers (5, 5 ') adjacent to both sides. The projection (8), together with the region (13) on the surface of the central layer (12), defines a system of suction channels (9).

Description

  The subject of the present invention is a tubular element (tubular member) for forming an impermeable and heat-sealable (heat-sealable) bag for the vacuum packaging of products, in particular fresh products.

  The above-mentioned ready-made elements for the purpose of use are known, and these ready-made elements are formed by 1 or 2 walls of synthetic material, and are cut so as to cross a continuous tube that can be formed as a bag. The opening is melted and sealed, thereby sealing along the longitudinal side.

  To date, no synthetic materials have been known that are gas impermeable, heat sealable at the same time, and have contact compatibility with food, so the wall is gas impermeable on the outer layer and food contact and heat on the inner layer. It is formed of two overlapping and closely-adhering layers that have sealable properties.

  To prevent the wall from collapsing around the product during bag exhaust, at least one inner surface of the wall continuously forms an isolated non-exhaust area to define an escape channel. Protrusions or ridges are formed, and air is exhausted from the isolated region along the protrusions or ridges.

  However, since the wall has a non-uniform thickness and its strength is mainly determined by the weakest region, the solution described above must use a lot of material.

  In EP 0216327, an escape channel is created by shaping the protrusion and the two layers together or by embossing a continuous connection in two layers across the inner layer and the surface of the two layers. A bag formed by the groove formed is disclosed.

  Both forming the two layers together and connecting the smooth and embossed layers across the entire surface is difficult and therefore expensive to operate while air is inserted between the two layers. . After exhausting from the bag, the contained air diffuses into the inner layer and promotes product degradation.

  EP 0 648 688 discloses an alternative solution in which a plurality of parallel needle-like elements are associated inside the double-layered wall and an air escape channel is defined between the needle-like elements.

  However, the advantage of the costly double-layered wall because it is smooth from the start is offset by the difficulty of positioning and fixing the needle-like elements on the surface. If the needle-like element is arranged so as to cross by mistake, it becomes an obstacle to suction and the bag cannot be used.

  EP 0749912 discloses a bag in which the needle-like element is replaced by a sheet with a hole separating the bag into two chambers, one containing the product and the other constituting the suction chamber. During the vacuum, air enters the second chamber from the chamber containing the product, through the hole in the sheet, and is exhausted from there.

  In the exhaust system of EP 0749912, in addition to the high suction resistance constituted by the sheet with holes, during the exhaust, for example, a part of the packaged product such as gravy passes through the holes, There is a problem in that the exhausted air is obstructed and the package looks dirty.

  In addition to the drawbacks of each of the above prior art solutions, all of the conventional fresh products, particularly food vacuum packaging bags, have the disadvantage that they cannot accommodate several different products. In fact, during the vacuum, the different products packaged together contaminate each other, i.e., for example, substances leaking from the product, especially the meat juice, will contaminate the labels and display sheets in the package.

  And since it is flexible, the wall body is easily bent due to the vacuum effect, and as a result, the escape channel is likely to be blocked. All of the conventional exhaust systems try to prevent this problem by limiting the distance between the ridges mentioned above and reinforcing the walls and ridges, but this leads to the use of many materials, I don't get satisfactory results.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a product vacuum packaging system having properties that overcome the disadvantages described in connection with the prior art.

  This object and other objects are achieved by a tubular element for forming a bag according to claim 1 and by a bag produced by this tubular element.

  For a better understanding of the present invention, embodiments thereof will now be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  A tubular element, generally indicated by reference numeral 1, for forming a product packaging bag is provided between two continuous sheets or continuous bands constituting the wall body 2 and between the wall body 2 and the partition sheet 3. The wall body 2 and the partition sheet 3 are formed on the longitudinal side 4 by, for example, fusion so as to form a tubular body having two chambers 5 and 5 ′. Connected together. According to the invention, each of the chambers 5, 5 ′ is at least partially defined by the partition sheet 3.

  As can be seen from FIG. 2, each wall 2 comprises a gas impermeable material, preferably an outer layer 6 of polyester or polyamide, and a heat-sealable material having contactability with food, preferably an inner layer of polyethylene or polypropylene. 7. The outer and inner layers 6 and 7 have a uniform thickness and are in close contact with each other to form the wall body 2. The inner surface 10 facing the chambers 5, 5 'of the wall 2 and the outer surface 11 facing outwardly with respect to the tubular body are advantageously flat and substantially smooth.

  The partition sheet 3 is also made of a heat-sealable material that also has suitability for contact with food, and has a central layer 12 that is continuous and substantially free of liquid leakage (that does not allow liquid to pass through). The protrusions 8 protrude from both the chambers 5 and 5 '. The protrusion 8 can be attached to the packaged product 17 and, together with the area 13 on the surface of the central layer 12, defines a system of suction channels 9.

  The protrusion 8 is preferably arranged such that the region 13 on one surface of the central layer 12 at least partially overlaps the region 13 on the other surface.

  FIG. 3 shows a very advantageous configuration in which the positions of the front projections 8 of the partition sheet 3 correspond exactly to those of the rear projections 8.

  The protrusion 8 can take a variety of shapes and is continuous in the longitudinal direction with respect to the tubular element, preferably in communication, so as to define one or more systems of channels 9 that need not necessarily be in communication. Moreover, you may make it arrange | position regularly or irregularly on the two surfaces of the partition sheet 3. FIG. FIG. 4 shows an example of the shape and arrangement of the protrusions 8 that are particularly advantageous for quickly and directly sucking air during bag exhaust. In FIGS. 4 a to 4 c, the protrusion 8 is formed by a ridge that extends continuously or intermittently substantially parallel to the longitudinal side 4. 4d and 4c show the shape of the protrusions in a wort shape (knob shape).

  FIGS. 5 and 6 show tubular shapes substantially distinguished by the number of chambers 5, 5 ′ formed in the tubular body and the number of sheets or strips and partition sheets 3 used to form the wall 2. Another form of the element 1 is shown.

  FIG. 5 shows the tubular element 1 in which the wall body 2 is advantageously produced by a single sheet, the sheet being superimposed on the partition sheet 3, the wall body 2 and the partition sheet 3 being folded together, After being arranged in a row of 4 (plural), it is seat sealed along these sides to form a tubular body.

  The tubular element 1 shown in FIG. 6 is produced in the same manner by using four sheets or strips for forming the wall 2 and the corresponding number of sheets for forming the partition sheet 3. . The prefabricated element 1 composed of several sheets or strips for both the wall body 2 and the partition sheet 3 has two or more partitioned parts, allows packaging of the product 17, and stores, sells, It has an outer shape and appearance adapted to the requirements of use and allows vacuum packaging.

  To form a bag 14 for product vacuum packaging, the tubular element 1 is sealed, preferably by heat sealing, so that it is cut to the desired length and crosses at the first end 15.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the bag 14 produced by the tubular element 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  A suction nozzle 16 is formed by the second end 15 'of the bag 14 to reach all of the chambers 5, 5' at the same time after the product 17 and / or information sheet is received in the chambers 5, 5 '. Inserted into the opening. During the suction of air, the pressure in the chambers 5 and 5 ′ is lower than the pressure outside the bag 14, and the wall 2 is deformed toward the inside of the chambers 5 and 5 ′. In the prior art system, for example, as can be seen from FIG. 8a, this deformation becomes partial, and in extreme cases, all the suction channels are blocked, resulting in incomplete evacuation of the bag. As can be seen from FIG. 8 b, in the bag 14 according to the present invention, both sides of the partition sheet 3 are under vacuum, and due to the shape and arrangement of the protrusions 8, one side of the sheet 3 is decompressed and the channel 9 on the other side opens more. As a result, the region 13 is deformed and vice versa. After evacuation of the bag 14, it is sealed along the second end 15 ', preferably by heat sealing.

  FIG. 9 shows the state of the evacuated and heat-sealed bag 14 according to the present invention, in which only the first chamber 5 has been used to contain the product 17. Due to simple and direct evacuation of the second chamber 5 ′, the second chamber 5 ′ tends to be lower than the pressure of the first chamber 5, and diffusion within the first chamber 5 due to diffusion through the partition sheet 3. The secondary exhaust effect of the air remaining in the air.

  The tubular element 1 and the bag 14 according to the invention have many advantages.

  The bag 14 can contain several different products 17 without the risk of mass transfer between each other's products. Since the outer wall is flat and has a uniform thickness, it has the greatest strength against the material used. By forming the escape channel, the containment function and the protection from the external environment are functionally separated, and as a result, both the material and shape of the wall body 2 and the partition sheet 3 can be optimized. During the evacuation of the bag 14, the collapse of the wall of the suction channel 9 can be avoided by gas stabilization in the region 13 of the channel 9. When any of the chambers 5, 5 ′ in the vicinity of the partition sheet 3 is not used to accommodate the product 17, the empty chamber (s) forms a second exhaust chamber during vacuum packaging. .

  The person skilled in the art may apply the structural element 1 according to the invention in a further refinement, modification and application in order to meet the specific requirements considered, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. It goes without saying that they fall within the protection scope of the defined invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a tubular element for forming a bag according to the present invention. It is an enlarged view of the detail II of FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention. 4a to 4e are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment in which a part of the tubular element can be taken. It is sectional drawing of other embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of another embodiment of this invention. Fig. 2 shows a possible method for evacuating and sealing the bag produced by the tubular element of Fig. 1; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing structural phenomena between the bag of the present invention and the prior art bag under a vacuum effect. It is the schematic which shows the flow of the air enclosed with the bag by this invention.

Claims (15)

  In a tubular element (1) for forming a product (17), in particular a vacuum packaging bag (14) of fresh product, one or more gas-impermeable walls (2) and a substantially liquid At least one partition sheet (3) that is impermeable and interposed between the wall bodies (2), wherein the wall body (2) and the partition sheet (3) include two or more chambers (5, 5 ′) connected along the longitudinal side (4) so as to form a tubular body, each chamber (5, 5 ′) being at least partly defined by said partition sheet (3) element.   Each wall (2) has an outer layer (6) made of a gas-impermeable material facing outward with respect to the tubular body, and an inner layer (7) made of a heat-sealable material facing the inside of the tubular body. The tubular element according to claim 1, wherein the partition sheet (3) is made of a heat-sealable material.   The tubular element according to claim 2, wherein both the material of the inner layer (7) and the material of the partition sheet (3) have contact suitability with food.   The tubular element according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the outer and inner layers (6, 7) of the wall (2) have a uniform thickness and are in close contact with each other over their surface.   Tubular element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall (2) has flat and substantially smooth inner and outer surfaces (10, 11).   The partition sheet (3) has a central layer (12) which is continuous and does not leak, and protrusions (8) protrude from the central layer into chambers (5, 5 ') adjacent to both sides. Tubular element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the projection (8) defines a system of suction channels (9) together with a region (13) on the surface of the central layer (12).   The protrusion (8) is disposed such that each region (13) on one surface of the central layer (12) at least partially overlaps at least one region (13) on the other surface of the central layer. The tubular element according to claim 6.   The outer layer (6) of the wall (2) is made of polyester or polyamide, the inner layer (7) of the wall (2) is made of polyethylene or polypropylene, and the partition sheet (3) is made of the inner layer (7). The tubular element according to claim 1, wherein the tubular element is made of the same material.   The tubular element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the position of the front projection (8) of the partition sheet (3) corresponds exactly to the position of the back projection (8).   The protrusion (8) is disposed on two surfaces of the partition sheet (3) so as to define one or more systems of channels (9) that are longitudinally continuous with respect to the tubular element, A tubular element according to any one of the preceding claims.   A tubular element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protrusion (8) is formed by a ridge extending continuously or intermittently substantially parallel to the longitudinal side (4).   Tubular element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protrusion (8) is wort-shaped.   Vacuum packaging bag (14) of product (17) produced by the tubular element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims and sealed transversely along the first end 15.   14. Bag (14) according to claim 13, sealed across by heat sealing. It has two wall bodies (2) and a partition sheet (3) interposed between the wall bodies (2), and the wall body (2) and the partition sheet (3) have two chambers (5, 5). ') Connected along the longitudinal side (4) so as to form a tubular body with each of said chambers (5, 5') being at least partially defined by said partition sheet (3) ,
The wall (2) has a gas impermeable outer layer (6) and a heat-sealable inner layer (7), the outer and inner layers (6, 7) being connected to each other over their surfaces. And
The partition sheet (3) has a central layer (12) that is continuous, leak-free and non-gas-impermeable, on both sides of the adjacent chamber (5, 5 ') from the central layer. A protrusion (8) protruding, said protrusion (8) together with a region (13) on the surface of said central layer (12) defining a system of suction channels (9);
The chamber (5, 5 ′) that does not contain the product can form a second discharge chamber for discharging air remaining in the other of the chamber (5 ′, 5) by diffusion through the partition sheet (3). A bag (14) for vacuum packaging of the product (17).