JP2016534946A - Package with pressure relief seal with surface profile - Google Patents

Abstract

A package (100) capable of discharging air pressure includes a front sheet and a back sheet joined by a plurality of seals (110a, 110b, 110c, 130) so as to form a storage part (190); Repeated so that the air passages (140) are separated from each other by a predetermined distance defined by a sheet in at least one of the seals to communicate the internal air pressure of the part (190) to the external atmospheric pressure A plurality of hollow air passages (140) arranged in a general manner, each air passage having an outer opening (147) and an inner opening (146), the inner opening being a side edge on one side of the air passage. Adjacent to the outer opening (147), at a position sufficiently offset from the outer opening (147), and at both ends, respectively, air passages communicating with the storage part (190) and the external environment (195), respectively, Both seals the inner surface defining one of the air duct has a surface profile that sufficiently reducing (148) the generation and / or accumulation of electrostatic charges in the inner surface. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention is preferably, but not limited to, a package that is used to store contents that continuously generate gas. The disclosed package comprises at least one seal having a plurality of air passages, i.e., air vent seals, for releasing air pressure trapped within the package through an air passage formed on the air vent seal.

  In particular, packages for storing large quantities of merchandise must have high mechanical strength to withstand the contained weight without breaking. The package is preferably constructed of air and / or water impermeable material (eg, plastic) to protect the goods from contamination or damage by external materials. Some products that are stored will spontaneously generate gas while they are being encapsulated (such as grains, flour, coffee beans, and other similar products) and are therefore stored. A built-in mechanism is formed in the package material for continuously releasing the gas before the package or the contents therein are damaged by the air pressure. The present invention differs from food packaging used in microwave oven heating where depressurization is required only during the heating process, and the depressurization mechanism used in such a package is typically abrupt in the internal air pressure of the package material. In contrast to the weaker seals that can be broken on the rise, the venting mechanism used in the packaging of gas generating goods must continuously equalize the ambient atmospheric pressure and internal pressure. Therefore, the degassing mechanism of the product packaging material is designed to always equalize both the inside and the surrounding atmospheric pressure. It is important to have a degassing mechanism that has an additional function to keep air pressure communication constant and prevent unwanted external environmental materials such as water vapor or insects from entering and / or infesting the contents However, the package in which such occurs can cause product decay or harmful effects on the product, which in the conventional method perforates holes with a diameter of 1 mm to 1.5 mm on the surface of the package material. This is a common problem facing the packaging industry because of puncturing. In order to satisfy the above criteria, various configurations have been applied in forming a seal with a degassing mechanism. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a packaging bag having a ventilation line formed as a part of a bag. According to this, it functions as a barrier that prevents leakage of contents, and at the same time for venting gas. A film layer is provided in the vent line to provide a small gap. A similar technique is described in other patent document 2, which uses a pressure sensitive adhesive and closes the vent until the internal pressure of the bag exceeds the level that the adhesive can withstand and the internal air pressure is ambient. When the pressure becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure, the vent is again sealed with a pressure sensitive adhesive.

  In order to efficiently store or transport packed products, packages are typically stacked on top of each other. Stacking arrangements are generally used to efficiently use space during storage or transportation. In this configuration, the overlying packages inevitably cause the pressure of the packages below them to rise rapidly. This can lead to the bottom package undergoing rupture and / or breakage if the internal air pressure of the bottom package is not released quickly and in a timely manner. In view of this, it is considered that the above-described packaging materials of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are insufficient to obtain desirable results. A further improved packaging material is described in U.S. Patent No. 6,057,056, which forms a plurality of randomly interrupted parallel sealing strips to provide a passage for releasing elevated pressure in the bag. We try to overcome that problem by building the maze-like structure that we provide. Other configurations of the gas venting mechanism are described in Patent Document 4 and Patent Document 5, and the formed seal allows both the inside and the outside of the bag to communicate in order to equalize the internal pressure with the ambient pressure. It has several interconnected passages. However, the above-mentioned package may not achieve a desired purpose under certain circumstances due to the properties of the plastic sheet and the degassing mechanism formed in the package. In particular, there is a tendency for the static charge inside the communication path to increase due to friction between the moving plastic sheets (by the escaped air) or gas movement in the air vent path. The presence of electrostatic charges along the passages in this way results in the surfaces of the plastic sheets defining the passages being attached to each other by electrostatic adhesion. As a result, the air vent passage is partially or completely sealed, so that the purpose of the communication passage is not satisfied. Even a partial blockage can result in a sudden rise in the internal pressure of the package, especially during the stacking process during storage or transportation, and the package is caused by a reduction in the air venting speed during pressure equalization. Can lead to rupture and / or breakage.

US Pat. No. 5,902,046 US Pat. No. 7,090,398 US Pat. No. 6,170,985 European Patent Application No. 1055608 US Pat. No. 4,834,554

  The present invention broadly aims to provide a package suitable for use to store merchandise that naturally generates gas, but is not limited thereto. The disclosed invention includes a venting mechanism that allows the internal pressure of the package to be equal to the ambient atmospheric pressure.

  Another object of the present invention is to use a unique sealing arrangement that can vent gas generated from the contents stored in the package while avoiding the ingress of water, water vapor and / or insects. Disclose the structured package.

  It is a further object of the present invention to provide a venting package that incorporates an air vent passage having a surface profile specially applied to sufficiently reduce electrostatic charge build-up that can lead to failure of the venting mechanism. .

  Another object of the present invention is to prevent common insects, such as all forms of weevil of the genus Weevil, from entering the goods contained in the package through an offset opening or multiple air passages. It is. The labyrinth structure of the air passage in the present invention functions so as not to reach the contents of the package by confusing the insects.

  At least one of the above objects is achieved, in whole or in part, by the present invention, and one embodiment of the present invention is a package capable of evacuating air pressure, which comprises a housing A front sheet and a back sheet joined by a plurality of seals so as to form a sheet; and a sheet defined in at least one of the seals to communicate the internal air pressure of the housing to the external atmospheric pressure A plurality of hollow air passages repeatedly arranged such that the air passages are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, each air passage having an outer opening and an inner opening, An air passage adjacent to a side edge on one side of the air passage and located at a position sufficiently offset from the outer opening and communicating at both ends with the storage portion and the external environment, respectively, and having at least one air Define the road Sealing of the inner surface has a surface profile to sufficiently reduce the occurrence and / or accumulation of static charge, thereby reducing the electrostatic deposition. Therefore, the inner opening and the outer opening are smaller than the width of the air passage.

  In other embodiments, the profile provides irregularities on the inner surface of the seal that defines the air passage. More preferably, the profile is a repetitive protrusion of microscale geometry.

  In yet another embodiment, the disclosed package further comprises a sealing strip disposed on the package that joins the front and back sheets, which is farther away from the storage with respect to a seal having an air passage. In position, a hollow passage is defined between the sealing strip and the seal with the air passage, which is adjacent to the seal with the air passage. Can be made equal to the surrounding atmospheric pressure through the hollow passage.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the disclosed package that does not include a sealing strip. FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the disclosed package with a vent seal along with a sealing strip. FIG. 3 shows another configuration of the vent seal having sealing blocks arranged in a circular configuration. FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a seal having an air passage of one embodiment. FIG. 5 illustrates a variety of different surface profiles that can be used in the disclosed package to reduce the generation and / or accumulation of static charges in the air path.

  The most preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate equivalent or functionally similar elements. Although specific configurations and arrangements are discussed, it should be understood that this is for illustrative purposes only. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other configurations and arrangements can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

  The expression “outer opening” or “inner opening” is not the position of the opening of the package material itself, unless specified otherwise, and is the difference between the external atmospheric pressure and the internal air pressure of the package material housing in the disclosed package. It is important to note that each refers to an opening in the air passage that communicates between them.

  One embodiment of the present invention is a package (100) capable of discharging air pressure, as shown in FIG. 1, which includes a plurality of seals (110a) so as to form a storage part (190). 110b, 110c, 130); and a sheet in at least one of the seals to communicate the internal air pressure of the storage part (190) to the external atmospheric pressure; A plurality of hollow air passages (140) configured to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, each air passage having an outer opening (147) and an inner side It has an opening (146), and the inner opening is arranged at a position sufficiently offset from the outer opening (147) adjacent to the side edge on one side of the air passage. And An air passage in communication with the external environment (195), and the inner surface of the seal defining at least one air passage sufficiently reduces the generation and / or accumulation of electrostatic charges on the inner surface (148) ). Preferably, the front and back sheets of the disclosed package (100) are made of a flexible plastic material. The flexible plastic material can be a polymer or copolymer of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, or derivatives thereof. The package (100) may also include a front sheet and a back sheet made of different polymers in some embodiments.

  In the above case, the seals (110a, 110b, 110c, and 130) that are arranged around the edge of the package and join both the front sheet and the back sheet are jointly stored in the package (100) disclosed. The size of the part (190) is defined. Preferably, a seal having an air passage in the present invention is referred to as a vent seal (130), and in the disclosed invention, there can be more than one vent seal (130). At least one of the edges, preferably the top edge, is accessible for the entry of goods, and then all edges are sealed to ultimately form a complete package (100). The remaining seals (110a, 110b, 110c) are preferably impervious to air or airtight, except that the air passage (140) available in the vent seal (130) is pierced. It is comprised so that. This function ensures that the gas or air in the storage is exhausted only through the designated air passage (140). As shown in FIG. 1, on the vent seal (130), a sealing block (133) is seen between two spaced air passages (140). The seal (110a, 110b, 110c) and the sealing block (133) on the disclosed package can be formed by heat sealing or the like. The disclosed package seals (110a, 110b, 110c) preferably define a storage portion (190) having an optimal capacity for storing larger quantities of goods, as shown in FIG. Formed from edge to edge. In other embodiments, the disclosed package (100) is particularly useful for providing easy access to stored content at various occasions while still sufficiently protecting the stored content. As the upper seal (110a), a recloseable zipper can be provided.

  It is important to note that the surface profile (148) can be applied in some embodiments to the entire front and back sheets, particularly to the inner surfaces facing each other. The surface profile (148) may be specially available only on the surface defining the air path. In a more preferred embodiment, the surface profile can only be printed on the packaging material (back sheet and / or front sheet) along the seal to facilitate the process of packaging the product and forming the seal. . Specifically, the surface profile (148) of the present invention provides an irregularity or creates roughness on the inner surface of the seal that defines the air passage (140). The friction or air path between the moving air and the surface defining the air path, particularly due to the irregularities or roughness created on the front and back sheets, along the surface defining the air path (140) The generation of an electrostatic charge due to friction between the opposing surfaces that define is sufficiently reduced. It is known that movement between two contacting surfaces, particularly between air and an insulating material such as plastic, produces a triboelectric effect that leads to the generation of local electrostatic charges. The presence of such roughness or irregularities substantially eliminates rupture of the packaging material that may occur in connection with partial or complete blockage of the air passage due to electrostatic charges. The inventor discovered. If the generation of static charge is reduced, the static charge stored in the air passage (140) is reduced. In addition to introducing irregularities on the rubbing plastic surface, the surface profile (148) used in the present invention also helps reduce the generation of electrostatic charges due to its unique design. Preferably, the surface profile (148) is a repetitive protrusion of microscale or macroscale geometry, as shown in FIG. The protrusions can have a shape such as, but not limited to, a square, a circle, and a triangle. These protrusions or embossments made on the surface defining the air passage (140) serve as a number of hollow trays or boxes that trap the air layer within the available hollow or recessed area. Despite being dried before being packaged in packaging material, goods such as coffee beans or rice gradually release water vapor into the storage (190), which gradually becomes air channels ( 140). The disclosed invention employs a surface profile (148) having a hollow void to capture and temporarily hold water vapor between the surfaces defining the air passage (140). It is known that the generation of static charge is eliminated when there is moisture. Therefore, the surface profile (148) applied on the plastic sheet of the present invention, in addition to forming irregularities on the sheet, skillfully captures the water vapor generated from the product, thereby static electricity in the air passage (140). Improve electrical resistance.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the ventilation seal (130) is not essential, but preferably forms the bottom of the package (100), and gas or air in the storage part (190) is accumulated therein. Providing a passage for release into the external environment (195) without causing an increase in internal air pressure. In contrast to placing the vent seal (130) at the top of the package (100), the air content (140) located at the bottom of the package (100) provides air to the stored contents. Avoid getting inside particles. On the other hand, in other embodiments, the air passage (140) is disposed on a side edge of the package (100). More preferably, the disclosed package (100) has a sealing strip (160) disposed adjacent to the seal (130) having an air passage (140) on the package where the front and back sheets are joined. It further comprises a seal (130) having an air passage (140) that is further away from the receptacle (190) and is hollow between the sealing strip (160) and the seal (130). A passage (165) is defined and the hollow passage (165) is in communication with the external atmospheric pressure by at least one gap (166) disposed on the sealing strip (160). Providing the sealing strip (160) provides an additional barrier to prevent external materials such as insects from entering the housing (190). The number of unsealed portions or gaps (166) on the sealing strip (160) is much less than the number of outer openings (147) available in the vent seal (130). Specifically, the number of unsealed portions or gaps (166) is one or two, although not limited thereto. This greatly reduces the direct exposure of the stored contents to the external environment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the vent seal (130) of the present invention is composed of a plurality of sealing blocks (133), and defines an air passage (140) between two adjacent blocks. Preferably, the air passage (140) is formed between two short sides of two adjacent blocks. In the case of the above description, the air passages (140) in the present embodiment are located at positions offset from each other along the air passage (140) and are arranged at the opposite ends of the air passage (140). ) And the inner opening (146). Further, in the disclosed invention, the outer opening (147) and the inner opening (146) are respectively side edges from individual individual sealing blocks (133) sandwiching the air passage (140). The air opening (140) is positioned adjacent to the opposite side edges, so that the inner opening (146) and the outer opening (147) face each other at a substantially diagonal angle. With such a configuration, as a result, a substantially zigzag structure is applied to the air passage. The zigzag structure prevents the insects such as weevil from moving inside the maze-like structure of the air passage (140) in the present invention so that the insects do not reach the stored goods. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner opening (146) and the outer opening (147) are smaller than the width of the air passage (140). Due to the rapid expansion from the opening, in most embodiments, the air passage (140) employs a generally Z-shaped structure, but is not required. In particular, the rapid expansion (143) is provided to prevent water from entering the storage portion (190) due to the capillary effect. Also, in conventional packaging materials featuring vent seals, interconnecting passages are generally recognized, whereas the air passages (140) formed on the disclosed packages do not include interconnecting passages. Are independent of each other. In conventional packages, the presence of interconnecting passages allows air to enter the packaging material from one location to another as air moves out of the packaging material through available outlets in the interconnecting passage. There is a tendency to flow. The lengths of the outer and inner openings in the air passage are not essential, but are substantially similar, and in some embodiments of the invention, the outer opening (147) and the inner opening (146) are the outer passage and the inner opening. It can be recognized as a passage.

  To further cope with water ingress, in one embodiment, the width of the inner opening (146) is preferably greater than the width of the outer opening (147). More preferably, the inner opening (146) has a width of 3-8 mm and the outer opening (147) has a width, provided that the width of the inner opening (146) is not shorter than the outer opening (147). 2-5 mm. The disclosed packaging material has an inner opening (146) that tapers towards the outer opening (147), thereby allowing more pressure to be locally applied in the portion of the air passage (140) that gradually decreases in width. Generate automatically. Greater local pressure in the air passage (140) tends to provide better resistance to water ingress. When storing a gas generating product, additional gas generated from the contents begins to move out of the package (100) through the air passage (140), thereby allowing external A thermodynamic equilibrium is obtained with respect to atmospheric pressure or ambient pressure. The continuous flow of gas traveling through the air passage (140) prevents water from entering through the air passage. In addition, surface profiles that are protrusions or embossments that trap the air layer also help prevent water ingress through the air passage (140).

  Alternatively, the disclosed package can include a vent seal (130) with other configurations applied to achieve a similar venting objective. In these embodiments, the seal (130) having the air passage (140) forms a circular configuration (180) that surrounds the central through hole (181), and the through hole (181) is external atmospheric pressure. Communicated with. The through hole surrounded by the center functions as a point connecting the air passage (140) to the atmospheric pressure. Such a form of vent seal (130) does not form the side edges of the disclosed package, but forms a single air vent seal located around the corner of the package (100), Alternatively, it may be a part of the side edge for communicating the internal pressure with the external atmospheric pressure. The outer opening (147) is disposed around the center of the circular seal (130) of such an embodiment, while the inner opening (146) is disposed around the circular seal (130). In this embodiment, the through hole (181) allows the outer opening (147) to communicate with the external atmospheric pressure. As shown in FIG. 3, the sealing block (133) defining the air passage (140) can jointly construct a circular configuration surrounding the central through hole (181), and the through hole (181) Is in communication with the external atmospheric pressure.

  One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well suited to achieving its objectives and obtaining the results and advantages described and the original results and advantages. The above embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

A package (100) capable of discharging air pressure,
A front sheet and a back sheet joined by a plurality of seals (110a, 110b, 110c, 130) so as to form a storage part (190); and
In order to communicate the internal air pressure of the storage part (190) to the external atmospheric pressure, the air passages (140) are separated from each other by a predetermined distance defined by the sheet in at least one of the seals. A plurality of hollow air passages (140) arranged repeatedly such that each air passage has an outer opening (147) and an inner opening (146), said inner opening being said air passage Adjacent to one side edge of the outer opening (147) and substantially offset from the outer opening (147), and communicates with the storage portion (190) and the external environment (195) at both ends, respectively. An air passage;
The package wherein an inner surface of the seal that defines at least one air passage has a surface profile (148) that substantially reduces the generation and / or accumulation of electrostatic charges on the inner surface.   The package (100) of claim 1, wherein the inner opening (146) has a width that is not less than the outer opening (147).   The package (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner opening (146) and the outer opening (147) are smaller than the width of the air passage (140).   The package (100) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the surface profile (148) provides irregularities on an inner surface of the seal (130) defining the air passage (140).   The package (100) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the surface profile (148) is formed to capture an air layer between the front sheet and the back sheet.   The package (100) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the surface profile is a repetitive protrusion of microscale geometry.   The package (100) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the seal (130) having the air passage (140) forms a bottom of the package (100).   The seal (130) having the air passage (140) forms a circular configuration (180) surrounding a central through hole (181), and the through hole (181) communicates with an external atmospheric pressure. The package (100) of claim 1, wherein:   The package (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the front sheet and the back sheet are made of a flexible plastic material.   A sealing strip (160) disposed adjacent to the seal (130) having the air passage (140) on the package in which the front sheet and the back sheet are joined, the sealing strip comprising: , With respect to the seal (130) having the air passage (140), a hollow passage between the sealing strip (160) and the seal (130) that is further away from the housing (190). (165) is defined, and the hollow passage (165) is in communication with an external atmospheric pressure by at least one gap (166) disposed on the sealing strip (160). The package (100) of claim 1 or 2.

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