NL1023151C2 - Device and method for manufacturing resealable packages. - Google Patents

Abstract

Form-fill-seal machine for making bag-shaped packagings for products, such as edible products, from a web of foil material, such as synthetic foil, the machine comprising a frame (2) having a stock of web of foil material (3) and a supply of the web of foil material in flat condition, and a form-fill unit positioned at a front side of the machine, wherein the form-fill unit comprises a form shoulder (13) for transforming the flat web of foil material into a foil tube, as well as a form-fill tube connecting to the form shoulder, having a vertical main plane of section, in which the machine furthermore comprises transverse sealing jaws (71) that are positioned below the lower end of the fill tube (14) for forming transverse seals in the foil tube and which are reciprocally moveable in a vertical plane perpendicular to the front side of the machine and the said vertical plane of section, the form shoulder being asymmetrically shaped for forming an overlap in the foil tube which extends to at least a short distance from or near the said vertical plane of section, wherein the machine is furthermore provided with first longitudinal sealing means (19) that are positioned at a first side, at one lateral side of the form tube, as considered from the front side of the machine, preferably at a short distance from or near the said vertical plane of section, for forming a first, severable longitudinal seal at the location of the overlap.

Description

> · · 1

Apparatus and method for manufacturing reclosable packages

The invention relates to a device for making bag-shaped packages from individual webs of sheet material, such as plastic foil, for loose products, whether or not to be packaged in groups, such as sweets, powdered or granular products, such as ground cheese or flour, or viscous products such as salads. The following is generally referred to as products, which may therefore have any shape or consistency. The invention further relates to such a method. The invention further relates to a resealable, bag-shaped package for said products.

It is known to package sweets and the like, loose bulk material in resealable bags of foil material. The bag is formed from a sheet of foil material and has a front side and a rear side that are welded together at the edges. The material from the rear extends over the top and forms an overlap at the front. The foil material has an outer layer which is of a different plastic material than the inner layer. At the location of the (hand-grippable) overlap, the inner layer thereof is attached to the outer layer of the front with a breakable weld. A strip of double-sided adhesive tape ΐ 0 2 31 5Ί H can be attached to the outer layer of the front side, which strip is provided with a removable protective liner on the outside. By removing the protective strip I after opening the bag, in which the frangible weld is broken, the strip of adhesive tape forms a closure which can be opened and closed several times.

The bag can be provided on the underside with a bottom area folded inwards, in order to be able to offer an enlargement of the filling volume of the bag by unfolding.

The filled bag can be set upright, but then lacks sufficient stability to remain standing in a certain way, and may fall over. The retailer will therefore tend to lay the back of the bag flat, and stack the bags, which detracts from the presentation of the product.

There is therefore a need for such a bag-like package that can stand upright in a stable manner.

There is a further need for a form, fill and seal machine with which such bag-shaped packages can be made in a reliable and simple manner.

There is further a need for a form, fill and seal machine that can be easily adapted to the desired package with overlap to be opened, and can be substantially standard, in particular with a vertical plane perpendicular to the front-to-back movable cross-welding jaws, as is customary with, if necessary, so-called continuously operating form, filling and closing machines I (with continuously operating machines, the cross-welding jaws I 30 not only move towards each other and away from each other, but also I up and down, in the case of non-continuously operating machines, the movement in the said vertical plane is only directly in line with one another and away from one another.

There is also a need for a method I with which such a bag-shaped package can be manufactured in a reliable and simple manner.

From one aspect the invention provides an I 1023151

* I

3 forming, filling and closing machine for making bag-shaped packages for products, such as edible products, from a web of film material, such as plastic film, comprising a frame with a stock of web 5 of film material and a supply of the web of film material in flat state, and with a forming and filling unit placed at the front of the machine, the forming and filling unit comprising a forming shoulder for forming the flat web of foil material into a film tube, and a forming connecting to the forming shoulder and filler tube, with a vertical main cross-sectional plane, the machine further comprising cross-welding jaws disposed below the lower end of the filler tube to form cross-welds in the foil tube and movable to and fro in a vertical plane perpendicular to the front of the machine and said vertical cross-sectional plane, the forming shoulder being asymmetrically shaped for forming an overlap in the foil tube which extends at least a short distance or near said vertical cross-sectional plane, wherein the machine is furthermore provided with first longitudinal welding means arranged on a first side, side of the forming tube, viewed from the front of the machine, preferably at short distance from or near said vertical cross-sectional plane, for forming a first, breakable longitudinal welding seam at the location of the overlap.

The asymmetrical position of the overlap realized with this machine makes it possible to place the longitudinal welding means for the frangible closing seam on the side of the filling tube (seen on the front side), so that a condition is fulfilled for being able to (easily) change the shape / filling unit: after all, no longitudinal welding jaws need to be removed in order to extract the shape / filling unit forwards. Furthermore, a standard machine in which the transverse welding jaws move back and forth in a vertical plane perpendicular to the front of the machine can be used, with only minor adjustments. For the owner of such a standard machine, the 1023151 H thus sooner becomes able to proceed with making packages with an openable overlap.

The machine is furthermore preferably provided with second longitudinal welding means arranged on a second side, on the side of the forming tube, viewed from the front side H of the machine, opposite to the first side, for forming at least one longitudinal welding seam in the foil tube. Two second longitudinal welding means are then preferably provided, which are arranged on either side of, preferably at the same distance from, the vertical sectional plane. The longitudinal welding means for the other side then also allow an easy change of shape / filling unit.

The forming and filling unit is preferably provided on the second side with two protruding forming strips for forming longitudinal folds in the foil tube, the second longitudinal welding means being arranged for welding the longitudinal folds.

A stable, resealable package can hereby be obtained in a simple manner, which package remains upright, both when filled with smaller grains and I with larger articles, or for example salad, also if I have only been filled to a limited extent, wherein the bottom longitudinal seams, just like The breakable sealing weld and the closing means are applied in parallel with the process direction of the foil tube and form a bottom stabilization in the finished package. It is sufficient here to apply the welds mentioned. The width of the bags made can easily be changed by the change in the frequency of the transverse welding. It is not necessary or hardly necessary to change bag shape / size-dependent parts.

The second longitudinal welding means may comprise an anvil / molded part which extends between the two longitudinal folds for positioning thereof for welding.

The position of the first and / or second longitudinal welding means is preferably adjustable in a direction towards / from the filling tube, so that the cross-section of the filling tube used at a given moment can be adjusted.

I 1023151 I · 5

The anvil / molded part then also preferably forms an exchangeable part.

The forming and filling unit is preferably removable or detachably placed in the machine.

In a further development, which can also be applied to other mold / fill tubes, the mold / fill tube is provided on the first side at the lower end with a first protrusion located in or near the vertical sectional plane and extending downwards, and is free in the horizontal direction from the rest of the lower end of the filling tube. The protrusion forms a guide for the housing area on the first side, so that it is narrowed to end up crease-free between the transverse welding jaws. Because the filling tube wall is interrupted there, the foil tube can smoothly undergo the cross-sectional shape change. The first protrusion is preferably pin-shaped or lip-shaped, and therefore narrow.

The first protrusion preferably extends smoothly outside the profile of the filling tube, so that the narrowing of the tube is promoted there.

It is further preferred that the mold / filling tube is furthermore provided with at least one second protrusion at the lower end, which at least is situated on the second side and defines a recess with the first protrusion. The recess offers a certain space for the shape change, while the foil tube is guided and held where necessary.

In a simple embodiment thereof, the second protrusion forms a sharp guide edge, as a result of which a self-directing influence can be exerted on the bottom welding seam, in particular if the guide edge is substantially directed towards the bottom. The sharp edge only takes up a small amount of space in the transverse direction, as a result of which the area within the bottom welding seam can become tight.

Preferably, two second protrusions are provided, which extend on either side of the vertical sectional plane and preferably keep between them a 1023151 H area in which a fold former can reach.

H With this it is achieved that the aforementioned bottom region, determined by the two bottom welding seams, can be folded in smoothly before the cross welding jaws are operative thereon. The two second protrusions can advantageously be connected to each other by a plate forming a cavity for the inwardly folded bottom area, for example a V-shaped plate.

The foil tube is thus, after being welded, pulled tightly in a direction parallel to the main sides and tapered slightly in that direction to ensure that the foil tube on that short side is not folded double when the transverse welding jaws are closed, but will a sufficient filling opening always remains present on the other short side.

The shape / fill tube can have different cross-section shapes I, for example round. In one embodiment, the filling tube has a substantially rectangular cross-section, with the main sides substantially parallel to the vertical cross-sectional plane. It is noted that a rectangle is also understood to mean a flat cross-section, wherein the long sides are kink-shaped or bent flat.

It is thereby preferred that the first side I of the forming and filling tube is curved with a flat surface between curved transitions to the main sides.

For forming a type of package, such as I discussed in the preamble, which is also resealable, it is preferred that the machine is furthermore provided with means I for applying an overlap to the web of film material in the area of the intended overlap. strip of double-sided adhesive tape.

The first longitudinal welding means are preferably arranged for applying the breakable longitudinal welding seam to the side of the strip of double-sided adhesive facing away from the outer longitudinal edge of the overlap.

From a further aspect, the invention provides a forming, filling and closing machine for making bag-shaped film material, such as plastic film, from bagging I-1023151 7

> I

packages for products, such as edible products, comprising a frame with a stock of sheet of film material and a supply of the sheet of film material in a flat state, and with a forming and filling unit placed at the front of the machine, the mold and a filling unit comprises a forming shoulder for forming the flat web of film material into a foil tube, as well as a forming and filling tube connecting to the forming shoulder, with a vertical main surface of section, the machine 10 further comprising transverse welding jaws arranged below the lower end of the filler tube for forming transverse welds in the foil tube and movable to and fro in a vertical plane perpendicular to the front of the machine and said vertical cross-sectional plane, the forming shoulder being asymmetrically shaped to form an overlap in the foil tube which extends from a front side of the forming tube to a first side thereof, the machine further providing and is of first longitudinal welding means disposed at said first side, aside from the forming tube, viewed from the front of the machine, to form a first, breakable longitudinal welding seam at the location of the overlap.

The overlap on the first side preferably ends at least a short distance or near said vertical sectional plane.

The first longitudinal welding means are preferably arranged at a short distance from or near said vertical sectional plane.

If the forming and filling unit is releasably arranged on the frame, it can easily be replaced by another (possibly original to the machine) unit, for example a unit for forming ordinary, non-reclosable, cushion-shaped bag-shaped packages with only one longitudinal seam for permanent closure of the (then very short) overlap. The machine can be a standard machine adapted for the latter packages, the transverse welding jaws being movable in a vertical plane perpendicular to the front of the machine.

1023151 H This standard machine can then simply be temporarily equipped for making the resealable packages, without having to rotate parts, in particular the cross-welding jaws. The unit can also be replaced by a unit for comparable resealable packages with a larger cross-section.

From a further aspect, the invention H provides a forming, filling and closing machine for making bag-shaped packages for products, such as edible products, from a web of film material, such as plastic film, comprising a frame with a stock of web I film material and a supply of the web of film material in the flat state, and with a forming and filling unit, the forming and filling unit comprising an asymmetrical forming shoulder for converting the flat web of film material into a film tube, forming a overlap, as well as a forming and filling tube connecting to the shaping shoulder, which has a substantially rectangular cross-section and is arranged in the machine with a first main side facing away from the machine and a second main face facing it, the shaping shoulder being designed for forming the overlap at least on the first or second main side, with the forming and filling unit on a first short side of I forming and filling tube is provided with two protruding smoking forms for forming longitudinal folds in the foil tube, wherein the forming and filling unit is furthermore provided with first longitudinal welding means for forming a first, breakable longitudinal welding seam in the area of the I overlap and of second longitudinal welding means for forming second longitudinal welding seams at the location of the longitudinal folds, wherein the forming, filling and closing machine is furthermore provided with means for applying film material in the area I of the intended overlap on the web of a strip of double-sided adhesive tape, wherein the forming, filling and closing machine is furthermore provided with transverse welding means arranged below the filling and forming unit for forming transverse welding seams in the foil tube and with means for locating the transverse welding seams cutting it.

I 1023151 I »'.' ·. · Ι. · ΊΓ ·· ΜΜΐ · μ» ί — aa ^ T: · r ^ - 'er ^' miaiKmrm.-i 1 - ..- w ^ r'.vtiMn -g ^ -niHfwi r · ** '· - ·· .._ f - waiiiiwiF r'rw'T — wCTgMuwagy> · - “·· ---,: - ¾¾ •» 9

With such a machine the aforementioned packages can be made in a simple manner, while a condition is provided for being able to choose the desired location of overlap, welding seams and (re) closing means, depending on the type of bag to be made.

For example, the means for applying the frangible weld seam can be arranged for applying the frangible longitudinal weld seam double-sided adhesive to the side of the strip remote from the outer longitudinal edge of the overlap.

The second longitudinal welding means are preferably arranged on the second short side of the forming and filling tube.

Preferably, the first short side of the forming and filling tube is curved with a flat surface between curved transitions to the major sides.

The forming and filling unit is preferably arranged releasably on the frame, and / or the first longitudinal welding means and / or the second longitudinal welding means are releasably arranged on the frame, for simple adaptation to the wishes regarding the shape of the package.

From a further aspect the invention provides a method for making bag-shaped packages for products, such as edible products, from a web of sheet material, such as plastic film, from a web of sheet material, such as edible products, wherein the web of material from a web flat state is supplied to an asymmetrical forming shoulder and connecting form / filling tube arranged at a front of the machine so as to be converted there into a tube wherein the longitudinal edges form an overlap, the overlap eccentric with respect to a center plane of the filling tube, is perpendicular to the front, is formed and extends to one side of the filling tube, the overlap being fixed on the tube at a distance from the outer longitudinal edge of the overlap on said side by arranging in the longitudinal direction of the tube of a breakable, sealing weld, after which the tube is filled, welded shut by means of perpendicular to the tube 1023151 10 and the cross welds extending mid-plane.

The film web is preferably supplied eccentrically with respect to the center face of the filling tube, which is perpendicular to the front side, to the forming shoulder, thereby facilitating the realization of the overlap shifted to the side of the filling tube.

Preferably, an adhesive strip is provided at the location of the overlap, in the longitudinal direction of the tube, to form a sealable means 10 that can be used several times for the overlap on the package. preferably on the underside of the film web, in an edge region thereof.

The adhesive strip is preferably adhered in the overlap to the inner foil portion of the overlap.

Preferably, the tube is further folded into a region 15 remote from the overlap, preferably on a second side of the filling tube opposite the first side, to form two longitudinally extending folding regions defining a bottom region between them the web material is welded together at the location of the folding areas to form two bottom longitudinal welding seams.

If the bottom region is also folded in by means of folding formers arranged directly above and directly below transverse welding jaws, a folded bottom can be obtained without the transverse welding thereby causing creases.

Preferably only said welds are applied.

From a further aspect, the invention provides a method for making bag-shaped packages for products, such as edible products, from a web of sheet material, such as plastic film, wherein the web of material from a flat state is converted into a tube, the longitudinal edges of which forming an overlap, wherein the tube is fixed at the location of the overlap, at a distance from the outer longitudinal edge of the overlap, on the tube by arranging a breakable, sealing weld in the longitudinal direction of the tube, wherein furthermore 1023151

"rfiT-V ·, ri; ..-ny ^ ·· - ^ ί ^ = ^^ ΜΙΙ · ΜΙΙ · ΙΙΙ .a -, - .: ig« irW ° r '^ · -i _ ^ - MU.' - * ·; »- * ..JU MiiMBi ·., - Iiq— | 1.-« WtT rr - y. «· -JTIgiilTW - \ - 7ΐ · -i- MS

At the location of the overlap, a strip is provided in the longitudinal direction of the tube for forming a multiple-use closing means for the overlap on the package, wherein the tube is further folded into a region remote from the overlap for forming two longitudinally extending folding regions defining a bottom region between them, wherein the web material is welded together at the location of the folding regions to form two bottom longitudinal welding seams, whereafter the tube is filled, is sealed by means perpendicular to cross-welding the tube and is successively divided into bags.

Further advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are the subject of subclaims, as appended.

From a further aspect, the invention provides a package for a mass of articles, such as sweets, or viscous material, such as salad, wherein the package is bag-shaped and is made from a web of film material 20 that is bent from a flat state into a tubular shape with a is overlapped and then filled into (tube) parts in filled condition to separate the package made, wherein the package is sealed to the cutting edges of the relevant tube part to form side edges, the package having two main sides and a bottom region, which extending perpendicular to the side edges and forming two bottom edges defining between them an inwardly folded bottom strip and each forming a welded bottom seam with a connecting main side of the package, the overlap extending over a first main side and being welded at a distance from its end edge that main side by means of a dense but breakable weld, and with the packaging on site of the overlap is provided with means for being able to repeatedly open and close the package. Preferably, the bottom longitudinal weld seams and the cross weld seams overlap each other in corner areas that form the boundary of the interior of the package.

Such a resealable package is easy to use and can be placed stably upright before and after use, in particular in a presentation for sale I in a shop. The use of space is therefore limited to the bottom profile.

The means for repeatedly opening and closing the package are preferably formed by a strip of double-sided adhesive, preferably provided with a removable protective strip, the strip of adhesive preferably being permanently adhered to the first main side.

The invention will be elucidated with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings. Shown is: Figure 1 a schematic front view of an I form, fill and seal machine according to the invention; Figures 1A-E and perspective views from different sides on a forming and filling unit for the machine of Figure 1, respectively, a schematic radial view thereon, Figures 2A-E show some schematic sections at the location of sectional planes IIA -D in figure IE and IIE in figure 1D, figure 2F a schematic horizontal section through an embodiment of the machine according to the invention I with a round filling tube; and Figures 3A-C show a front view, a section on a package according to the invention, but without filling, and a view of a filled package according to the invention.

The forming, filling and closing machine 1 in figure 1 comprises a frame 2 on which the various components of the machine are mounted and on which also further control and control means are not shown.

On the right-hand side, the frame 2 is provided with a supply roll 3 of a web of F film material, which is conveyed upwards via I a number of free-running circulating rollers 7 to a horizontal path. The film can be, for example, a known multi-layer film with specifications OPP / OPA / PFP with respective thicknesses 20/15/50 mu m, available from Amcor, in Ghent, Belgium. A stock roll 4 double-sided adhesive tape 57 is arranged in the machine. The double-sided adhesive tape 57 is provided with a protective sheet 57c on the radial inside viewed on the roll. The adhesive tape 57 is fed upwards to come against the underside of the web F at the location of the roll 5. Immediately downstream of the roll 5, two rollers 5a, 5b are provided, which guide the adhesive strip 57 and the web F, during continued transport in the direction C.

At the front (on the left on the drawing) of the machine 1, a form and fill unit 10 is mounted on the frame 2, in a removable / replaceable manner. On both sides of the forming unit 10, in particular the tube 14 thereof, two foil drive units 80 are attached, each comprising a frame 81 and a vacuum tape 82. The frame 81 forms a whole with a holder 83 which can be mounted on two bars 84 fixed in the frame 2 (figure IA). The distance between holders 83 is adjustable with means not further shown.

Located vertically below it is a closing station 70, with on balance horizontal, in the direction G, synchronously perpendicular to the front 25 movable cross-weld jaws 71a, 71b.

Openable doors 8 are furthermore provided on the front side of the machine 1 in order to be able to access the form / fill unit 10. Furthermore, a control panel 9 is shown on the side shown of the machine 1.

On top of the forming and filling unit 10, another filling tube 6 is shown, for receiving from the direction F of small items to be packaged, such as sweets.

The forming and filling unit 10 is further shown in Figures 1A-E and 2A-D. The forming and filling unit 10 has a frame 11, which can be hung in and can be attached to the frame 2 of the machine 1. The frame 11 comprises a bracket 12 formed as one with beams 16, on which a support plate 15 is mounted. is. An asymmetrical shaping shoulder 13 is attached to the support plate 15 1023151 nog, to be further discussed. Through the shaping shoulder 13 a filling tube 14, which at the upper end, at a distance above the shaping shoulder 13, is attached to the upper end of the bracket 12. Bracket 12, shaping shoulder 13 and filling tube 14 form one whole, which in different embodiments can be kept in stock and can be placed in the frame 2 when a specific bag shape has to be made. For mounting in the frame 2, the beams 16 are inversely U-shaped, so that it can be placed on positioning pins 19a, which are fixedly connected to the frame 2 with ends 19. The pins I 19a have a length corresponding to the length of the beams 16. The ends 19 form a stop for the beams H 16, for correct placement.

Attached to the plate 12 is a form shoulder 13 which, as can also be clearly seen in Figures 1A-E, is asymmetrical.

As can be seen in Figure 2Ά, the tube 14 extends vertically through the body of the forming shoulder 13, into a correspondingly formed vertical passage 93 thereof. The collar surface 90 of the forming shoulder 13, on the one hand, slopes obliquely downwardly into a narrowing lip 92 which runs to the left-hand short side of the passage 93. On the other hand, the (vertical) straight end edge 94 of forming shoulder 13, which edge has an upper surface 90 that is horizontal. This edge 94 is also angled around the lip 92, and thereby defines a lateral opening 95 through which the edge area of the film web F, which is to overlap, can move. The lip 92 extends close to the vertical main surface S.

The filling tube 14 is included with play in the passage 93, which is sufficient for movement over the circumferential surface of the tube 14 of the film web F, then converted into a tube F '. At the location of lip 92 the passage 93 is slightly more spacious, on the opposite short side much more spacious.

As can be seen in Figure 2C, the cross-section is 1023151

• I

15 of the tube is flat-rectangular, with a vertical main or symmetry plane S. The one short side forms with 44 a flat surface, which via curved corners 46 merges with flat main sides 41 and 42. The other short side has a flat surface. 43, which is provided in the region immediately below the shoulder 13 with longitudinal strips 45 protruding from the sides 41, 42. These strips 45 are only short when viewed in the tubular direction.

Immediately below the forming shoulder 13 two longitudinal welding stations 19 and 20 are provided, which, as can be seen in Figures 1A-E, each comprise a beam 17, with which they are fixed in holders 18, which holders 18 are fixed to the holders 83 which, as already stated, are adjustably attached to the frame 2. The mutual distance of the longitudinal welding stations can thus be adjusted with the mutual distance of the belts 82.

The one longitudinal welding station 19 comprises an upright 21 mounted on a beam 17, on which a holder 22 is mounted. Furthermore, pneumatic means (not shown) are provided in holder 22, with which the welding head holder 23 mounted thereon can be moved horizontally towards the tube 14 and away therefrom. The welding head holder 23 holds a longitudinal welding head 23a, provided with longitudinal welding surface 23b (Figure 2B). The longitudinal welding surface 23b is arranged to co-act with flat surface 44, which then serves as a counter surface or anvil, directly adjacent to the surface S. At the rear of the holder 22 a vertical plate 24 is mounted on which a protective cap can be fitted.

The other longitudinal welding station 20 is of double design and acts in a direction perpendicular to that of the first longitudinal welding station 19. A post 26 is mounted on the cross-beam 17, on which a horizontal mounting plate 31 is mounted. On the other side of the mounting plate 31 a molded part 32 is mounted, which extends as far as the short surface 43 of the tube 14, leaving clearance for the film web F ', and is provided with seal-rubber weld images on the corners 34, which are turned sideways, perpendicular to the normal of the flat surface 44 located on the other short side T 0 2 31 5 1 Η H. The molded part 32 is detachable from the plate 31 by means of screw handles 28b - can be captured by using a molded part with a different shape or design for use with a different molded tube.

On the outside of the strips 30 longitudinal welding heads 37a are arranged, which are provided with longitudinal welding surfaces 37, for cooperation with the aforementioned welding anvils 34.

The longitudinal welding heads 37a are mounted on holders 37, which, in a manner similar to that of the holders 22, are mounted on holders 27, in which pneumatic means (not shown) are provided for moving the welding head holders 27 and thereby of the welding head holders. welding heads 37. As can be seen in figure 2B, the holders 27 are releasably mounted on the aforementioned mounting plate 31, with the aid of screw handles 28a. As can be seen in figure 1B, the screw knobs 28a (twice) and 28b I are always provided in pairs. A vertical plate 29 is attached to the rear of the holder 37, on which said protective cap can be mounted. The position of the holders 27 can be adjusted in a direction parallel to the plate 31, see the arrows.

Mounted on the holder 32 is also a pair of vertical guide plates 30, which are located at the short sides in front of the welding heads 37 and are provided with parallel, vertical and flat parts 34 and with run-in strips 33 which converge with respect to each other. The I plates 30 are situated at a small distance from the anvils 34 I and are provided with a passage (not shown) for the welding heads 37.

As can be seen in Figs. 1A-D, the lower end of the tube 14 is particularly shaped, in particular the lower end of the strip 44, which in the shape I of a tapered lip 74 is hollow and then again sphere is bent outwards, extending outside the profile of the tube 14 as it is above. On the opposite short side, the tube 14 is provided at its lower end with a V-shaped conductor 77 with the bottom facing inwards (Figure 17 * 2E), which has edges 78a, b which are placed somewhat inside the corners of the tube 14 to be. The conductor 77 is covered at the top by a plate 79. Between the conductor 77 and the lip 74 an open space 76 is realized, which in this example is bounded upwards by horizontal lower edge 75 of the main sides 41 and 42 of the tube 14.

Arranged above the lower end of the guide 77 is a fold former 102a, which is provided with an edge 103a, which fold shape 102a is plate-shaped and a rod 101a is arranged at the end of the same, which bar is adjustably accommodated in holder 100a fixed to frame 2 . Below that is a comparable fold former 102b, arranged at the end of a pin 101b, adjustable in accommodating in holder 100b, and provided with a nose 103b with spout edge. The fold former 102b is placed at a vertical distance X below the fold former 102a to allow movement of the support welding jaws 71a-b in the direction G between them. The holders 100a and 100b are movable to and fro in a direction parallel to the pins 101a and 101b, in register 20 with the movement of the cross weld jaws.

For making the resealable packages as shown in figures 3A and 3B use can be made of a film material in the form of a laminate, with for instance an inner layer of polyethylene coming on the inside of the bag and an outer layer of polyethylene on the outside of the bag coming outer layer of polypropylene.

The film web is unwound from the supply roll 3 in the direction A, and runs via bypass rollers 7 upwards (F) and then horizontally (C), over the roll 5 where the double-sided adhesive strip 57 coming from the stock roll 4 rotating in the direction B becomes added. With the adhesive strip 57 attached to the underside, the protective sheet 57c still underneath, the foil web F runs to the forming shoulder 13, and is there transformed into a tubular shape corresponding to tube 14.

As shown diagrammatically in Figure 2A, the center line of the film web F that is transported in the direction C to the forming shoulder 13 is 1023151

I moves a distance Y relative to the vertical plane T

through the center of the tube 14 (perpendicular to plane S).

As a result, the edge area which is provided with the adhesive strip 57 when passing over the forming shoulder 13 is brought over a considerable end on the left-hand side of the surface T as seen in the drawing, up to the left-hand side of the tube 14, close to the plane S.

As indicated in Figure 2B, the overlap I extends further to the main side 41 of the tube 14, which side faces the front side 8 of the machine 1.

There, on the (then) outer side, on the outer layer polypropylene, of the edge region of the film web F is the double-sided adhesive strip 57, the protective sheet 57c thereof also being located on the outside, so that there is not yet adhered to the inner surface. of the formed overlap.

On the other short side, the strips 45 provide for two folds in the film web F ', for which the material originates from film material present in the widened area located there in the passage 93. As a result of the strips 30 and the holder 32 with anvil faces 34 keeps the two folds in their flat shape.

The tubular shape F 'of the I foil shown in Figure 2B is fixed by operating the longitudinal welding stations 19 and 20, so that the longitudinal welding head 23 forms a longitudinal weld between the inner surface of the overlap and the I outer surface of I is the foil area below, which forms the edge area of I the foil web F on which the adhesive strip 57 is applied. The layer of polypropylene is thus welded onto the layer of polyethylene, which weld is breakable when the package to be made is opened. Note (Figure 2B) that the location I of the weld is now located next to the plane S.

On the other short side, welding takes place from inner layer to inner layer of the film F, that is to say from polyethylene to polyethylene, by cooperation of the anvil surfaces 34 and the longitudinal welding heads 37. This results in a permanent, robust longitudinal seam 58a, b ( see figures I 1023151 ..... 1 X '1' '- m * -IL'., JV ^^^^ IF-'WMii &, 'T »IW1i! **, ^ M ^ lfcll · ·' ' · * '' ';> - "·:, · ν'; ·· -, -. ^ .- 1-, ¾¾ 4, 19 3A, B).

At the lower end of the tube 14, the area near the longitudinal seam formed on the flat surface 44 is forced outwardly by the lip 74, the material of the foil required for this being obtained by the recesses 76. The edges 78a, b keep the bottom edges 58a, b in place and align them so that they are parallel to the closing face of the transverse weld jaws.

The folding former 102a here extends into the V-space within the guide 77, in order to form an inwardly folded bottom area, in the bag still to be made, without wrinkles occurring. The V space is large enough to form the folded-in bottom area. When the cross-welding jaws 71a, b have been opened and the foil tube has been moved downwards by the vacuum bands 82 and then the cross-welding jaws are brought back together, the fold former 102b prevents material present in the downstream, now closing and sealing separating bag, just before closing the transverse welding jaws presses the folded-in bottom area of the subsequent bag.

When leaving the lower end of the tube 14, the foil tube F 'is thus pulled slightly flatter, so that it can be started without wrinkles by the transverse welding jaws 71a, 71b moved towards each other in the direction G.

The transverse welding jaws 71a, 71b, in which also a cutting means is included, move between the two folding formers 102a, b and form an upper transverse welding of a previous package and a lower transverse welding for the following packaging. During cross-welding, the product is introduced through the filling tube into the upper bag, still in open connection with the foil tube. After the welding is completed, the cutting means in the cross-welding jaws 71a, 71b is activated to separate a package. This package is previously filled with products that, in the direction of cross-sealing of the preceding package, have fallen in the direction F in the chute 6 and then 1023151 Η Η through the interior of the tube 14.

H The plate 79 thereby prevents material from falling into the folded bottom areas to be made / made by H, which would otherwise complicate welding.

Finally, a bag according to figures 3A-C is then

H, in which is shown a bag 50, with a rear side 52 and a front side 51, the front side at the top edge being fastened by means of the longitudinal weld 56 to the overlap 53 which forms a continuation from the rear 52, over the top 54 of the package 50. Approximately halfway between the overlap 53 is the double adhesive strip 57, which is adhered with adhesive side 57b to the outer layer of the front side 51 and with the other adhesive side 57a is still covered by protective strip 57c. Hand grip part 61 is formed below the adhesive strip 57, with lower edge 62.

In the bottom region of the bag 50, the portion 59 is shown which rests against the side 43 of the tube 14, now folded double at the location of fold line 63, to form an inwardly turned bottom region.

In the lower edge, this area merges with the side seams 58a, 58b formed with the longitudinal welding heads 37 into the sides 51 and 52.

Figure 3A shows the cross welds 64 formed with cross-welding jaws 71a, b, which coincide with the weld 56, the adhesive strip 57 and the bottom seams 58a, 58b, at areas 65, 66 and 67. At areas I 68 the double-folded bottom region 59 is welded to the ends I.

In the filled state, the bag 50 can be placed upright, i.e. with the bottom edges 60a, 60b of the bottom seams 58a, 58b on a bottom surface, the overlap 53 then being situated at the top, see figure 3C.

Before use, the user grasps the edge region 61 of the overlap 53 to pull it upwards and thereby break the seam 56. After removing a product from the bag 50, the user can remove the protective strip 57c, and then stick the overlap 53 onto the adhesive layer 57a on the front side 51 of the bag 50. The adhesive strip 57 chosen for the adhesive strip 57 adhesive is suitable for adhering to both the inner layer and the outer layer.

It is noted that also embodiments are possible in which front side 51 is folded over, so that the inside of that material is turned outwards and then an inside-inside weld is made with the longitudinal welding head 23, which can also be breakable, with suitable choice of material .

Figure 2F shows an alternative filler tube shape 114, which in this case is round. Optionally, the filling tube 114 may be provided on the right-hand side with protrusions such as the aforementioned short protrusions 45, for initiating the formation of bottom seal areas. For reasons of clarity, this has been omitted further. Furthermore, only the welding head for forming the breakable weld seam is shown, in position comparable to that of the previous figures, that is to say with the welding surface 23b just next to the plane of symmetry S. Furthermore, the transverse welding jaws 71a are shown schematically, b, which are movable towards and away from each other in the direction G. The cross weld jaws 71a, b are from a standard machine, possibly continuously operating, incorporated therein in a standard manner. They lie symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry S of the filling tube 114. The fixing of the longitudinal welding head 23, just like in the embodiment of the preceding figures, is situated to the side thereof.

It can be seen that the film web F is again supplied eccentrically, with eccentricity Y between the center line U of the film web F and the tube symmetry surface T. The eccentric supply of the film web is possible on standard machines, because the width of the feed rollers 7 and the like leaves room for this, or the trestle thereof can be moved transversely.

As can be seen in figure 2F, in this case the edge area provided with the adhesive strip 57 can extend far to the left around the foil tube 14, approximately 90 ° beyond the plane of symmetry T. With the welding head 23 it is possible to locate 1023151. from the start of the overlap, a seam is formed which is located just next to the plane of symmetry S, so that no particular difficulties will be encountered when opening the package later.

5 With the asymmetrical form shoulder according to the

invention and / or the eccentric supply of the film web F

the frangible closing seam can always be arranged on the left-hand side, near the plane of symmetry S, which is also at the closing face of the transverse welding jaws 71a, b, on the side of the overlap. The possible bottom weld seams can be made on the opposite side. The cross-welding jaws 71a, b can thus be retained on a standard machine, and can be limited to moving the desired longitudinal welding heads and the unit of mold shoulder / filling tube.

I 1023151

Claims (52)

Forming, filling and sealing machine for making bag-shaped packages for products, such as edible products, from a web of film material, such as plastic film, comprising a frame with a stock of web 5 film material and a supply of the web of film material in flat and with a forming and filling unit placed at the front of the machine, the forming and filling unit comprising a forming shoulder for forming the flat web of film material into a film tube, and a forming and connecting device which connects to the forming shoulder filling tube, with a vertical main plane of cross-section, the machine further comprising cross-welding jaws arranged below the lower end of the filling tube for forming cross-welding in the foil tube and being movable to and fro in a vertical plane perpendicular to the front of the machine and said vertical sectional plane, wherein the forming shoulder is asymmetrically shaped to form an overlap in the foil tube which extends at least a short distance or near said vertical cross-sectional plane, wherein the machine is furthermore provided with first longitudinal welding means arranged on a first side, side of the forming tube, viewed from the front of the machine, preferably at short distance from or near said vertical cross-sectional plane, for forming a first, breakable longitudinal welding seam at the location of the overlap. 2. Forming, filling and closing machine as claimed in claim 1, further provided with second longitudinal welding means arranged on a second side, aside from the forming tube, viewed from the front of the machine, opposite to the first side, for forming at least one longitudinal welding seam in the foil tube. 3. Forming, filling and closing machine according to claim 1023151, wherein two second longitudinal welding means are provided, which are arranged on either side of, preferably at the same distance from, the vertical sectional plane. 4. Forming, filling and closing machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the forming and filling unit is provided on the second side with two protruding forming strips for forming longitudinal folds in the foil tube, the second longitudinal welding means being arranged for welding the fold over. io Forming, filling and closing machine according to claim 4, wherein second longitudinal welding means comprise an anvil / molded part, which extends between the two longitudinal folds for positioning thereof for welding. 6. Forming, filling and closing machine as claimed in any of the claims 1-5, wherein the position of the first and / or second longitudinal welding means is adjustable in a direction towards / from the filling tube. 7. Forming, filling and closing machine according to claims 5 and 6, wherein the anvil / form part forms an exchangeable part. Forming, filling and closing machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the forming and filling unit is releasably placed in the machine. 9. Forming, filling and closing machine as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the forming / filling tube on the first side is provided at the lower end with a first protrusion which is located in or near the vertical sectional plane and extends downwards, and is free in the horizontal direction from the rest of the lower end of the filling tube. The forming, filling and closing machine of claim 9, wherein the first protrusion is pin or lip shaped. 11. Forming, filling and closing machine according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the first protrusion extends with the end 35 outside the profile of the filling tube. 12. Forming, filling and closing machine as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the forming / filling tube is furthermore provided with at least a second protrusion at the lower end, which 1023151 Me-^^, 8-BH »·· * _» · 'I II ΙΙ ^^^ ΙίΜ H, ^ ρ ***. . · .. ~ - · ~ ,, ^ / lW'Ét ’^ ', a ^ E .. Mill <t is at least on the second side and defines a recess with the first protrusion. 13. Forming, filling and closing machine according to claim 12, wherein the second protrusion forms a sharp guide edge, in particular substantially directed towards the bottom. 14. Forming, filling and closing machine according to claim 12 or 13, wherein two second protrusions are present, which extend on either side of the vertical cross-sectional plane and preferably keep between them an area in which a fold former can reach, wherein the two second protrusions are preferably connected to each other by a plate forming a cavity for the inwardly folded bottom area, for example a V-shaped plate. Forming, filling and closing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filling tube has a substantially rectangular cross-section, with the main sides substantially parallel to the vertical cross-sectional plane. The forming, filling and closing machine according to claim 15, wherein the first side of the forming and filling tube is curved with a flat surface between curved transitions to the major sides. 17. Forming, filling and closing machine as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, furthermore provided with means for applying a strip of double-sided adhesive tape to the web of film material in the area of the intended overlap. 18. Forming, filling and closing machine according to claim 17, wherein the first longitudinal welding means are arranged for applying the frangible longitudinal welding seam to the side of the strip of double-sided adhesive facing away from the outer longitudinal edge of the overlap. 19. Forming, filling and closing machine for making bag-shaped packages for products, such as edible products, from a web of film material, such as plastic film, comprising a frame with a stock of film film web and a supply of the film film web in flat and with a forming and filling unit placed on a front side of the machine, wherein the forming and filling unit comprises a forming shoulder for converting the flat web of film material into a film tube, and also a molding material on the forming shoulder connecting mold and fill tube, with a vertical main cross-sectional plane, the machine I further comprising cross-welding jaws arranged below the lower end of the fill tube for forming cross-welds in the foil tube and movable back and forth in an I vertical plane perpendicular to the front of the machine and said vertical cross-sectional plane, the forming shoulder being asymmetrically shaped for forming of an overlap in the foil tube which extends from a front side of the forming tube to a first side thereof, wherein the machine is furthermore provided with first longitudinal welding means arranged at said first side, viewed from the side of the forming tube, viewed from the front of the I machine, for forming a first, breakable longitudinal welding seam at the location of the overlap. 20. Forming, filling and closing machine as claimed in claim 19, wherein the overlap on the first side ends at at least a short distance or near said vertical cross-sectional plane. 21. Forming, filling and closing machine according to claim 20, wherein the first longitudinal welding means are arranged at a short distance from I or near said vertical sectional plane. 22. Forming, filling and closing machine for making bag-shaped packages for products, such as edible products, from a web of film material, such as plastic film, comprising a frame with a stock of web I film material and a supply of the web of film material in a flat state, and with a forming and filling unit, the H forming and filling unit comprising an asymmetrical forming shoulder for converting the flat web of film material into a film tube, forming an overlap, and forming and filling tube connecting to the forming shoulder, which tube has a substantially rectangular cross-section and is arranged in the machine with a first main side turned away from the machine and a second main side facing it, the forming shoulder being designed for at least forming the overlap on the first or second main side, wherein the forming and filling unit is provided on a first short side of the forming and filling tube with two protruding forming strips for forming longitudinal folds in the foil tube, wherein the forming and filling unit is furthermore provided with first longitudinal welding means for forming a first, breakable longitudinal welding seam in the region of the overlap and with second longitudinal welding means for forming second longitudinal welding seams at the location of the longitudinal folds, wherein the forming, filling and sealing machine is furthermore provided with means for applying a strip of double-sided adhesive tape to the web of film material in the area of the intended overlap, the forming, filling and sealing machine sealing machine is furthermore provided with cross-welding means arranged below the filling and forming unit for forming cross-welding seams in the foil tube and with means for cutting the same at the location of the cross-welding seams. 23. Forming, filling and closing machine according to claim 22, wherein the means for applying the breakable welding seam are arranged for applying double-sided adhesive to the side of the strip remote from the outer longitudinal edge of the overlap. weld seam. The forming, filling and closing machine according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the second longitudinal welding means are arranged on the second short side of the forming and filling tube. 25. Forming, filling and closing machine according to claim 22, 23 or 24, wherein the first short side of the forming and filling tube is curved with a flat surface between curved transitions to the main sides. 26. Forming, filling and closing machine as claimed in any of the claims 22-25, wherein the forming and filling unit is releasably mounted on the frame. 27. Forming, filling and closing machine as claimed in any of the claims 22-26, wherein the first longitudinal welding means and / or the second longitudinal welding means are detachably arranged on 1023151 het in the frame. 28. Method for making bag-shaped packages for products, such as edible products, in a form, fill and seal machine from a web of sheet material, such as plastic film, wherein the web of material is supplied from a flat state to an asymmetrical forming shoulder I and subsequent forming / filling tube disposed at a front of the machine to be transformed there into a tube wherein the longitudinal edges form an overlap, wherein the overlap eccentrically with respect to a center plane of the filling tube which is perpendicular to the front side is formed and extends to one side of the filling tube, the overlap being fixed at a distance from the outer longitudinal edge I of the overlap on said side by arranging a breakable, sealing weld in the longitudinal direction of the tube, after which the tube is filled, welded shut by means extending perpendicular to the tube and the central plane known cross welding. 29. Method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the foil web is eccentric with respect to the central surface of the filling tube, which is perpendicular to the front side, is supplied to the forming shoulder. 30. Method as claimed in claim 28 or 29, wherein at the location of the overlap, in the longitudinal direction of the tube 25 an adhesive strip is arranged for forming a multiple-use closing means for the overlap on the H package. The method of claim 30, wherein the adhesive strip is applied to the underside of the H 30 film web, in an edge region thereof. The method of claim 31, wherein the H adhesive strip in the overlap is adhered to the inner foil portion of the overlap. A method according to any one of claims 28-32, wherein the tube is further folded in a region remote from the overlap, preferably on a second side of the filling tube opposite the first side, to form two longitudinally extending extending folding regions defining a bottom region between them, wherein the web material is welded together at the location of the folding regions to form two bottom longitudinal welding seams. The method of claim 33, wherein the bottom region is folded in by means of folders arranged directly above and immediately below the transverse weld jaws. A method according to claim 33 or 34, wherein only said weld seams are applied, 36. Method for making bag-shaped packages for products, such as edible products, from a web of sheet material, such as plastic foil, wherein the web of material is transformed from a flat state into a tube, the longitudinal edges forming an overlap, at the location of the overlap, at a distance from the outer longitudinal edge of the overlap, is fixed on the tube by applying a breakable, sealing weld in the longitudinal direction of the tube, furthermore at the location of the overlap, in the longitudinal direction of the tube strip is provided to form a closure means that can be used several times for the overlap on the package, wherein the tube is further folded into an area remote from the overlap to form two longitudinally extending folding areas which define a bottom area between them wherein the web material is welded together at the location of the folding areas to form two bottom longitudinal sections weld seams, after which the tube is filled, welded shut by means of transverse welding extending perpendicular to the tube and successively divided into bags. The method of claim 36, wherein only said welds are applied. 38. Method as claimed in claim 36 or 37, wherein for applying the closing means a strip is supplied in the longitudinal direction of the tube, which strip is provided with adhesive on both sides. A method according to claim 36, 37 or 38, wherein the closing means is arranged at a distance 1023151 I from the outer longitudinal edge of the overlap that is smaller than the distance from the breakable, sealing weld I to that edge. A method according to any one of claims 36-39, wherein the transverse weld seams are arranged over the breakable, sealing weld and the closing means. A method according to any one of claims 28-40, wherein the tube is formed on a vertical forming and filling tube of a forming, filling and closing machine, wherein the forming tube gives the tube a substantially rectangular cross section I whose one first main side faces away from the machine and the other second main side faces I, the cross-welding seams being made with the aid of cross-welding jaws that are moved in a vertical plane transversely to the plane of the two main sides. The method of claim 41, wherein the I overlap is applied to the first main side. 43. Packaging for a mass of articles, such as sweets, or viscous material, such as salad, wherein the package is bag-shaped and is made from a web of film material that is bent from a flat state into a tubular shape with an overlap and then in a filled state is cut into (tube) parts to separate the package made, the package being welded to the cutting edges of the relevant tube part to form side edges, the package having two main sides and a bottom area perpendicular to the side edges and forms two bottom edges which define between them an inwardly folded bottom strip and each with a connecting main side of the package form a welded bottom seam, the overlap extending over a main side and being welded at a distance from its end edge to that H main side by means of a dense but breakable weld, and wherein the package is provided with mi at the location of the overlap can open parts for repeated grinding and close the package. A package according to claim 43, wherein the bottom longitudinal weld seams and the cross weld seams overlap in * * corner regions which form the boundary of the interior of the package. 45. A package according to claim 43 or 44, wherein the means for repeatedly opening and closing the package are located between the breakable longitudinal welding seam and the outer longitudinal edge of the overlap. A package according to claim 43, 44 or 45, wherein the means for repeatedly opening and closing the package are formed by a strip of double-sided adhesive, preferably provided with a detachable protective liner. 47. A package according to any one of claims 43-46, wherein the foil material is a laminate with first and second layers of different plastic material situated on the two outer sides and first and second layers respectively, wherein the first material is attached to the breakable longitudinal weld seam. second material is attached. 48. Packaging provided with one or more of the characterizing measures described in the attached description and / or shown in the attached drawings. A forming, filling and closing machine according to any one of claims 1-27, designed as a continuously operating machine. A forming, filling and closing machine according to any one of claims 1-27, designed as a stepwise or discontinuous machine. 51. Forming, filling and sealing machine provided with one or more of the characterizing measures described in the attached description and / or shown in the attached drawings. 52. A method comprising one or more of the characterizing steps described in the accompanying description and / or shown in the accompanying drawings. -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-AF-MB 1 023151