JPS63152505A - Partition bag for filling and forming method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a method of forming small flexible compartment bags.

(Prior Art) Divided bags made of flexible film material are known. Forming, filling and sealing are traditionally practiced in the food filling industry.

First, individual flexible compartment bags are formed, the food product is filled, and the compartment bags are sealed. This means that one filling head only fills one compartment bag at a time.

It takes more time to produce small compartment bags.

Because the time to align the compartment bag to the filling head and then to remove it is critical, and the volume of product filled from each filling head is correspondingly large when filling compartment bags of small volume. This is because it decreases.

Small volume compartment bags are required in consumer uses and applications where a given amount of product is required in a disposable compartment bag.

Also, the cost of food containers using the form, fill, and seal method is higher compared to purchasing preformed containers and only filling and sealing.

However, small volume preformed containers are difficult to handle. Additionally, sterilization is an issue when using aseptic techniques.

In such applications, a form, fill, and seal method is considered advantageous. This is because a sterilization step takes place between the forming and filling steps.

A number of proposals have been made to increase the product volume of compact compartment bags using forming, filling and sealing methods. U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,787 is a recent example, and U.S. Pat.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an effective method of increasing the volume of products when filling small compartment bags, and also to provide other methods of forming, filling and sealing that are very strong. .

To achieve this objective, the present invention comprises: filling a fluid product into a large flexible compartment bag with heat-sealed walls, abutting the template against the compartment bag and contacting opposing walls of the compartment bag; dividing the compartment bag into separate communicating compartments, varying the pressure applied to the compartment bag to distribute the contents of the liquid product into the compartments to achieve a predetermined distribution state, and distributing the contents of the fluid product into the compartments to achieve a predetermined distribution state; To provide a method for forming a flexible partition bag for filling, comprising: sealing by heat sealing and forming a filling partition that can be separated from each filling partition.

According to this method, Australian Patent No. 552.0
It becomes possible to use pre-sterilized compartment bags as described in No. 32. The compartment bags can be filled and sealed, then loaded and transported, and then processed to form separate containers.

According to this method, high volumetric throughput of the filling machine can be achieved. Another feature of this method is sterile packaging.

A further feature of the invention is that the preformed reciprocal.

To provide a preformed flexible compartment bag with six communicating compartments. The compartments are formed by heat sealing the walls of the large bag in a series of interconnecting compartments. For example, in a rectangular compartment bag having an entrance at one end, a series of rectangular compartments is formed by extending a heat seal in the width direction of the compartment bag.

If the straight line from the inlet remains unsealed, a filling passage is formed. If this filling path runs along the center of the compartment bag, it is also possible to form a pair of compartments.

If it is filled and sealed in a partitioned bag,
The final sealing step for each compartment can be performed at any desired time. To do this, it is necessary that the fluid contents within each compartment be accurately distributed. There is no need for these compartments to be of the same shape or for the same degree of light to enter them.

The volume of the product in each compartment is related to the pressure in each compartment, and by changing this pressure it is possible to achieve a desired volume distribution in each compartment.

Fluid flow into each compartment is impeded by folds or distortions in the flexible compartment bag. By pulling the compartment bags in the direction of the communication passage, flow between each compartment bag is facilitated. Preferably, the compartment bags are under tension during the process of distributing the product between the compartment bags. This is accomplished by pulling or supporting the compartment bag along the line separating each compartment on the side of the communicating passage. The weight of the product then imparts tension to the flexible compartment bag material which presents free channels in the form of folds between the compartments.

This facilitates the final heat sealing step to seal the passageways and form a separated and sealed compartment bag.

EXAMPLE In FIG. 1, a single four-compartment container is shown. It consists of a compartment bag 5 with a filling gland 6, end seals 7 and lateral heat-sealed seams 8.

Passage 9 allows the product to pass through gland 6 to seam 8
It is now possible to enter all the compartment bags formed by. The compartment bag 5 and the gland 6 are described in Austrian Patent No. 5'1 No. 552,032.

FIG. 2 shows a modification of the container shown in FIG. 1. Divided bag 11
It has the filling gland 12 and the end joint 13 described above. The lateral seams 14 define a pair of compartments on either side of the central passageway 15. The pair of L7J chambers has a pre-formed seam 17 which is shaped to evenly distribute the product as described below.

These seams are also shaped to allow the contents to be dispensed from the outlet 18 into the container. Also this exit 18
is elongated within the compartment to allow pouring.

In FIG. 3, the container of FIG. 1 is shown schematically between the compartments and between the devices forming the final product distribution. The compartment bag 5 is supported by a corrugated base 21 and each lateral seam 8 is supported by a respective rib 22. The lateral seam 8 widens in the compartment bag 5 with a channel 9, which allows a free flow of the product.

Also, the walls of the divider bag facilitate a good heat seal;
It is ensured that the contact area is flat. A flat plate 24 applies pressure to the compartment bag 5 in order to evenly distribute the contents to each compartment.

If desired, each pressure plate can apply a suitable pressure to each compartment in order to unify the corrected volumetric distribution under moderate pressure.

After the predetermined distribution has taken place, the heat-sealing rod 25 is lowered and heat-seals the walls of the compartment bags together to extend the seam 8, which extends from seam 7 at one end to the other end, forming four pieces. A partition is formed.

There is no limit to the number of compartments that can be formed. After heat sealing, the compartments are cut and separated along the center of each seam 8 or 14.

Alternatively, the partition seam 8 or 14 may be used to reduce the horizontal length of the intermediate portion when a large number of partition bags 5 are filled.
It may be partially or completely formed. Alternatively, holes may also be made in the partition seam.

At the point where seams 8 and 14 are opened, as soon as the container enters the volume homogenizer of FIG.
be done.

Heat sealing is usually also carried out in order to dispose of the gland 6.

When the end seals 7 of FIG. 1 and the end seals 13 of FIG. 2 are gusseted, the gusset ends form a bottom on which the compartment bags can stand upright when each compartment bag is sealed and separated. do.

The shape of the bag forming machine only needs to be half the length of the bag so that the corrugated base increases the tension in the bag to facilitate flow along the channel 9.

By doing so, the effective length of the compartment bag can be reduced.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-7 illustrates the formation of the compartment bag shown in FIG.

``The stuffing bag 11 is wrapped around the central rail or saddle 30 and the stuffing gland 12 is held by a clamp 31. The end of the stuffing bag 11 is then held at the seam 13 by a clamp 32, as shown in FIG.

Lateral pressure is then applied by pressure plates 33 and 34, as shown in FIG. 5, to equalize the height of the fluid across all compartments between seams 14. When the fluid becomes uniform, the lateral pressure from pressure plates 33 and 34 is released.

Tension is then applied between clamps 31 and 32 as shown in FIG. 6 to remove the crease formed across passageway 15. Heat seal studs 35 and 36 are then added to the sides of the stuffing bag to seal the top of each compartment along a line bounding passageway 15 and across the end of seam 14.

The compartments may be separated by cutting each along the center of the seam 14. The newly formed upper seal then borders the passageway 15.

After the cutting operation, only the passage 15 and the filling gland 12 remain, as shown in FIG. These are clamps 31
and removed from 32 and discarded.

There are no restrictions on the shape or size of the compartment bag or the shape or size of the compartment. The stuffing gland may be located at a convenient location in the center or periphery of the compartment bag.

Instead of a rectangular compartment bag, a circular compartment bag may be used, which has a gland in the center and has a radial seam to form a compartment.

The present invention thus provides a unique method for forming small flexible filled containers, while maintaining high production rates with filling machinery, without the need for expensive forming, filling and sealing machinery, and in a more sterile manner. Photonic technology can be used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are diagrams showing two embodiments according to the invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for dispensing and heat sealing the product within each compartment. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are diagrams illustrating other methods of filling and forming the compartment bag configuration shown in FIG. 2. 5... Partition bag, 6... Gland, 7... End seal, 8... Seam, 9... Passage, 12... Gland, 13... End seal, 14...・Seam, 15...
Passage, 18... Outlet, 22... Rib, 24... Child plate, 25... Heat seal rod.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A large flexible partitioned bag having a heat-sealed wall is filled with a liquid product, and the partitioned bag is made by bringing a template into contact with the partitioned bag and bringing opposing walls of the partitioned bag into contact with each other. It is divided into separate communication compartments, and the pressure applied to the compartment bags is varied to distribute the contents of the fluid product into the compartments to achieve a predetermined distribution state, and the opposing walls of the compartment bags are heat-sealed. A method for forming a filling compartment bag, comprising: sealing and forming a filling compartment that can be separated from each other in each filling compartment. 2. The large compartment bag is made of heat-sealable plastic and includes preformed interconnecting compartments formed by heat-sealing opposing walls of the compartment bag and leaving an unsealed portion; The method for forming a filling partition bag according to claim 1, wherein the unsealed portion allows the product to flow between the partitions. 3. An outer seal end, a product inlet sealed by a removable breakable seal, and a configuration of a plurality of separable communicating compartments formed by heat welding and sealing opposing walls to each other. A preformed filling compartment bag for use in the method according to claim 2. 4. The outer sealing end is gusseted, and the gusseted end presents a support bottom for a separable filling compartment formed by heat sealing the communicating passageway and separating the weld. A filling compartment bag according to claim 3. 5. A patent claim characterized in that a slit or opening is formed in the heat-welded portion between each partition, whereby when external pressure is applied to the filled partition bag, the partitions are partially separated. A compartment bag for filling as described in item 3. 6. A large flexible compartment bag with heat-sealable walls, an interconnecting compartment formed by heat-welding opposing walls to each other, a removable product inlet, and a removable product inlet via the product inlet. a device for filling a fluid product into a compartment bag; a device for applying pressure to the filled compartment bag to distribute a predetermined fluid product between the compartments; A device for forming a filling partition bag that can seal a communication passage and thereby separating each filling partition bag, and a device for forming a filling partition bag comprising: