TWI597215B - Pouch type package and associated method for adapatation of such a package - Google Patents

Description

Bag type packaging and related method for modifying the same

The present invention relates to a pouch type package for fluid inclusions, and more particularly to such a package having an opening start portion in a top corner portion and modifying the package to enable insertion of a straw One related method.

Currently, many different types of packaging for fluid inclusions are available. One type of package is bag-type and includes two side walls that are flexible and joined along a connecting portion to form a compartment whose volume depends on the relative positions of the walls. The pouch type package can be an upright pouch type package and thus can also include a bottom wall. This type of package can be flat sealed prior to filling. This allows the compartments of the package to which the article is attached to be sterilized, and the packages are dispensed to a filling plant (such as a dairy plant) for filling while maintaining sterility. The package may be of one size suitable for immediate consumption, such as having a volume in the range of 100 ml to 400 ml. The package can be equipped with a straw for drinking the contents. The straw can be inserted into the package via a frangible piercing point provided in the side wall of the package, as disclosed in, for example, US 2003128899. US 5 941 642 discloses an upright pouch type package with a built-in straw. The straw can be obtained by removing the top portion of the package. Alternatively, the package can be provided with an opening start in the top corner portion of one of the packages. By removing a tab along the opening of the opening, an opening is formed through which the straw can be inserted. A bag-type package with two opening openings in a top corner portion is disclosed in US Pat. No. 8,740,458. The two opening starting portions are spaced apart, and each opening starting portion includes two overlapping tear lines. A notch is formed in the sealed top portion of one of the packages. When the package is to be opened, a user tears from the notch, which will travel to the first opening start and then along the first opening start. If the tearing misses the first opening start, it will still be possible to intersect the second opening start and travel along the second opening start. Another pouch type package equipped with a plurality of opening openings is also known from WO 03/095327. In view of the above, there is a need for an improved pouch type package that can be used with a straw.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pouch type package for use with a straw. In order to achieve this and also to achieve other objects which will be apparent from the following description, a bag-type package having the features defined in claim 1 and for modifying the features defined in claim 10 are provided in accordance with the present invention. One method of a bag type packaging. The package and the preferred embodiment of the method are apparent from the scope of the appended claims. More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, a pouch-type package for fluid inclusions is provided, the pouch-type package comprising two opposing flexible side walls that are formed with a top corner portion provided with an opening start A tab is separated along the opening of the opening to open the package. The opening start portion includes: a first tear line disposed in one of the two opposite flexible sidewalls, the first tear line forming one of the first sidewalls a single tear line; and a second tear line disposed in one of the two opposite flexible sidewalls, the second tear line forming a single one disposed in the second sidewall Tear the wire. The first tear line and the second tear line extend from a common starting point in an at least partially non-overlapping manner such that a wall section of one of the inner surfaces of the first side wall is exposed after the separation of the pull tab. This provides an improved pouch type package for use with a straw. The package has a top corner that includes a pull tab that can be separated to form an opening in the package. The pull tab can be separated by tearing along the beginning of the opening. Of course, another option is that the tabs can be separated by cutting. However, if the tab is separated by tearing, the tear line of the opening of the opening will guide the tearing. Since the tear line extends in an at least partially non-overlapping manner, a section of the inner surface of the first side wall will be exposed after the separation tab. When a straw is inserted, the exposed section provides improved access to one of the interior of the package. One of the straw ends of the straw can be placed on the exposed wall section and laterally pressed over the exposed wall section while the straw is pushed into the package by separating the tab The opening of the formed package will open upwardly thereby facilitating insertion of the straw. The first tear line constitutes a single tear line disposed in the first side wall. This avoids interfering with any additional tear lines during tearing by ensuring that the first side wall is only provided with a single tear line. The second tear line constitutes a single tear line disposed in the second side wall. By observing that the second side wall is only equipped with a single tear line, it is avoided to interfere with any additional tear lines during tearing of the lines. The first tear line and the second tear line have a common starting point. This means that the first tear line and the second tear line extend in an overlapping manner along a starting portion of the opening of the opening, which can promote the separation of the pull tab. According to an embodiment of the invention, the first tear line and the second tear line may have a common end point. This means that the first tear line and the second tear line can extend in an overlapping manner along one of the opening sections of the opening, which can facilitate the separation of the pull tab. According to another embodiment of the invention, the first tear line may have a straight extension. Thereby ensuring that the exposed inner surface of the first side wall does not comprise any protruding portion (such as a lobed portion or a tip) that is bendable when the straw end is laterally pressed against the exposed surface. According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the first tear line and the second tear line may each be formed as one of the associated side walls. The weak portion can be formed by, for example, die cutting, roll stamping, laser scribing, perforation, or dicing. According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the package may further include forming a seal portion of the restricted flow passage in the top corner portion of the package, wherein a straw can be formed immediately after the separation of the pull tab One of the packages is open to insert and further pass through the restricted flow channel. The restricted flow channel can be modified for the straw so that the straw can be tightly inserted into the package. According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the package may further include a straw supported by one of the first side wall and the second side wall. The first side wall and the second side wall of the package may be made of a multi-layer packaging material. The pouch type package may further include a bottom wall. The pouch type package can be an upright pouch type. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of retrofitting a pouch type package to enable insertion of a straw, the method comprising: providing one of two opposing flexible side walls having a top corner portion forming one of the packages A pouch type package is provided with an opening start portion in the top corner portion, and a pull tab is separated along the opening start portion to open the package. The opening start portion includes: a first tear line disposed in one of the two opposite flexible sidewalls, the first tear line forming one of the first sidewalls a single tear line; and a second tear line disposed in one of the two opposite flexible sidewalls, the second tear line forming a single one disposed in the second sidewall Tear the wire. Configuring the first tear line and the second tear line to extend from a common starting point in an at least partially non-overlapping manner such that one of the inner surfaces of one of the first side walls is exposed after separating the pull tab a section whereby a straw can be inserted into the package by placing a straw end of the straw on the exposed wall section of the inner surface of the first side wall and pushing the straw to The package is simultaneously pressed laterally over the exposed wall section. According to an embodiment of the method, the opening is arranged in the top corner portion by forming the first tear line and the second tear line in a sheet of packaging material subsequently converted into one of the pouch type packages The step of the beginning. Thereby, a plurality of pouch-type packages each equipped with an opening start of one of the types described above can be efficiently produced. The details and advantages of the second aspect of the invention are very similar to the details and advantages of the first aspect of the invention, with reference to the above. In general, all terms used in the scope of the claims of the invention are to be interpreted in their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless otherwise explicitly defined herein. Unless otherwise expressly stated, all references to "a", "an", "the", "the" Reference to at least one of the items, components, means, steps, and the like. The steps of any method disclosed herein are not necessarily performed in the exact order disclosed, unless specifically stated.

The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which <RTIgt; However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Those who are familiar with this technology. A pouch type package 1 of an upright pouch type according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1, with reference to Fig. 1. Package 1 can be used as a prefabricated package that has been modified to fill and seal in a filling machine. Alternatively, the package can be produced in whole or in part in a filling machine. Package 1 is particularly intended for products in the form of liquid foods (such as cow's milk, water, fruit juices, juices or wines), but of course it may also be for products in some other form or for other purposes. Package 1 can be any desired volume. The volume can be selected such that the contents are suitable for immediate consumption and can additionally be in the range of 100 ml to 400 ml. The package 1 comprises three flexible walls, two of which form a first side wall 2 and a second side wall 3; and the third one constitutes a bottom wall. The first side wall and the bottom side wall are not visible in the figure. The walls are joined along a connecting portion 4 to define a product compartment 5. The walls are made of a flexible, flexible material, which means that the volume of the product compartment 5 depends on the relative distance between the walls. Therefore, the volume of the product compartment 5 is directly dependent on the filling rate of the package. In other words, the package 1 is of a collapsible type, also known as a pouch type package. The wall of the package 1 is preferably joined to the connecting portion 4 by welding. In addition, other joining methods such as gluing are possible. The package 1 shown has a top corner portion 6 provided with an opening start portion 7, and a pull tab 8 is separated along the opening start portion 7 to open the package. When the pull tab 8 is separated from the package 1, an opening 9 is formed to allow the product compartment 5 to communicate with the environment. The opening start portion 7 and the opening 9 will be discussed in detail below. The opening start portion 7 can be formed before, during or after the manufacture of the package 1. For example, a sheet of packaging material can be provided with a series of opening initiations 7 at predetermined locations, which can be converted to the type of packaging shown in Figure 1 at a later stage. Generally, it is desirable that the selected packaging material be comprised of a multilayer film and may include a core layer of a mineral based filler and a polyolefin binder. It will be appreciated that other materials and layers are also possible, such as a gas barrier layer or a light barrier layer. The packaging material can also be a transparent packaging material, that is, each of the layers constituting the material is transparent. At the rear end of the package 1, a handle compartment 10 filled with a gas and forming a grip 11 is shown. The handle compartment 10 is defined by two side walls 2, 3 and a peripheral connecting portion 4. However, it should be understood that the present invention is also directed to a package that is equipped with a different type of handle or that is not equipped with a handle at all. As mentioned above, the handle compartment 10 is filled with a gas to form a handle 11 of the package 1. The gas referred to is preferably air, but of course other gases may be used. The grip compartment 10 has this geometry and fill rate to form an easy grip grip 11 in an inflated state. This grip 11 can also promote a considerable stiffness of the package 1 by its geometry and gas filling. The package 1 can be opened by separating the pull tab 8 thereby forming an opening 9 of the package. It is of course possible to separate the tabs by cutting, but preferably by pulling apart the tabs 8. The separation of the tabs 8 can be achieved by completely releasing the tabs from the package. Alternatively, the pull tab 8 can still be attached to the package after separation, thereby facilitating complete recovery of the packaging material after use. As mentioned above, the package 1 has a top corner portion 6 provided with an opening start portion 7. The reference to the opening start portion 7 in this context means to include one of the two tear lines disposed in each of the two side walls 2, 3, when the pull tab is manually separated by tearing the package. At 8 o'clock, the tear lines guide the tearing. Therefore, the opening start portion 7 includes one of the first tear line 12 and the second tear line 13 respectively disposed on the first side wall 2 and the second side wall 3. The first tear line 12 is indicated by a broken line and constitutes a single tear line disposed in the first side wall 2, and the second tear line 13 constitutes a single tear line disposed in the second side wall 3. Thus, according to the illustrated embodiment, the top corner portion 6 of the package 1 is only provided with an opening start portion 7. Each of the first tear line 12 and the second tear line 13 can be used as a respective side wall 2, 3 formed by, for example, die cutting, roll stamping, laser scribing, perforation, or dicing. Provided by one of the weak parts. A tear line can be provided to maintain the integrity of the package. As mentioned above, the tear opening 12, 13 of the opening start 7 and more particularly the opening start 7 can be formed before, during or after the manufacture of the package 1. As can be seen from the figure, the tear lines 12, 13 extend in a portion that does not overlap. It will be apparent from the embodiment shown and from the partial enlargement shown in Figure 1, the first tear line 12 and the second tear line 13 have a common starting point 14 and along the first section of the opening start portion 7 S1 extends in an overlapping manner. The tear lines 12, 13 then extend in a non-overlapping manner along a second section S2 corresponding to the width W of the opening 9, which is formed by removing the tabs 8. Finally, the tear lines 12, 13 extend along a third section S3 in an overlapping manner and terminate with a common end point 15. In the illustrated embodiment, the starting point 14 and the end point 15 are located at the free edge of the connecting portion 4 on each side of the opening 9 of the package 1. It should be understood that the starting point 14 and/or the end point 15 may be located at a distance from the free edge of the connecting portion on each side of the opening 9. In this case, when the pull tab 8 is detached from the package 1, the initial and/or final tearing will not be guided by the opening start. Since the first tear line 12 and the second tear line 13 in the illustrated embodiment have a common starting point 14 and extend along the first section of the opening start portion 7 in an overlapping manner, the pull tab edge can be promoted. The initial separation of the opening start portion 7 is performed. Correspondingly, since the first tear line 12 and the second tear line 13 in the illustrated embodiment have a common end point 15 and the third section along the opening start portion 7 extends in an overlapping manner, it can be promoted The tabs are finally separated along the opening 7 of the opening. As mentioned above, the pull tab 8 can be configured such that it remains attached to the package after separation. This can be achieved by the tear lines 12, 13 of the opening of the opening having a common starting point and a separate end point (not shown). In this case, when the tearing travels from the opening to the connecting portion at the other side of the opening, the last tearing will be regarded as increasing the resistance, thereby indicating to the user to pause or stop further tearing, The tab is still attached to the package by a small portion of the connecting portion. The same effect can be achieved, for example, by arranging a common end point for one of the two tear lines at a distance from the free edge of the package, as shown in Figures 6-6b. As illustrated in the example. The expression "the tear line extends in an overlapping manner" should be interpreted to mean that the tear lines extend in the respective side walls in such a manner that one is above the other; and correspondingly, the "tearing line is expressed in a non-overlapping manner" "Extension" should be interpreted to mean that the tear lines do not extend in the respective side walls in a manner that one is above the other, as viewed in the side view as shown in FIG. As can be apparent from the figure, the first tear line 12 has a straight extension and the second tear line 13 has a curved extension. More specifically, the second tear line 13 is emitted from the first tear line 12 along a first portion of the second section S2 and then bent back and along a second portion of the second section S2 A tear line 12 converges. In the illustrated embodiment, the package 1 is further provided with a seal 16 in the top corner portion 6 to form a restricted flow passage 17 which is disposed immediately after removal of the tab 8 The opening 9 is between the product compartment 5 of the package 1. As mentioned above, the package is opened by removing or separating the pull tab 8 along the opening start portion 7 thereby forming an opening 9. In Figure 2, which is now also referred to, the package 1 is shown in an open state. The pull tab 8 has been separated from the package 1 along the opening start portion 7 and thus an opening 9 has been formed such that the product compartment 5 is in communication with the environment. The pull tab 8 can be separated by tearing, and then the tear lines 12, 13 of the opening start portion 7 will guide the tear. Since the first tear line 12 and the second tear line 13 extend along the second section S2 of the opening start portion 7 in a non-overlapping manner, one of the inner wall surfaces 18 of the first side wall 2 will be The tab 8 is removed and exposed. The exposed wall section 18 of the inner surface of the first side wall 2 can be used to facilitate insertion of a straw into the product compartment 5 of the package 1, as will now be explained with reference to Figures 3a to 3b. In Figure 3a, a straw end 19 of a straw 20 is placed over the exposed wall section 18 of the inner surface. By laterally pressing the straw 20 on the exposed wall section 18 and its straw end 19, the opening 9 of the package 1 is opened and the straw 20 can be pushed into the package 1 as shown in Figure 3b. The exposed wall section 18 of the inner surface of the first side wall 2 will thus allow the straw 20 to be more easily inserted into the package 1. As mentioned above, the first tear line 12 has a straight extension. Thus, the exposed wall section 18 does not include any protrusions that can flex or bend when the straw end 19 is laterally pressed thereto, which will facilitate insertion of the straw 20. Rather, the opening 9 will open in response to pressing against the exposed wall section 18. As seen in Figure 3b, the straw 20 is inserted into the product compartment 5 of the package 1 via a restricted flow channel 17 defined by the seal 16. By suitable design of the flow channel 17, the straw 20 can be extended through the restricted flow channel 17 in a sealed manner, thereby avoiding or at least substantially reducing the contents of the package 1 when the straw 20 is inserted into the package 1. The substance passes through the restricted flow channel 17 and leaks through the opening 9 of the package 1. Therefore, accidental squeezing of one of the packages will cause the contents to be pushed up only through the straw and not pressed through the opening. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. For example, bag-type packaging is not necessarily a stand-up pouch type package. Thus, the pouch type package can be a pillow pack having only one of the two opposing side walls. Moreover, the illustrated embodiment of the inventive package includes a restricted flow passage formed by the seal, but it should be understood that the present invention is also applicable to packages that do not have such a restricted flow passage. Additionally, the package can be provided with a straw that can be supported, for example, by one of the two side walls of the package. When the user wishes to drink the contents of the package, the straw can be removed from the package and the pull tab can be inserted into the package once separated. In addition, the opening start can be designed in other ways. Figures 4a through 4b and 5a through 5b show several such designs. In Figures 4a to 4b, the first tear line 12 and the second tear line 13 are curved in opposite directions along a section of the opening start portion 7. In Figures 5a to 5b, the first tear line 12 has a straight extension. The second tear line 13 extends relative to the first tear line 12 in a manner overlapping with an additional segment, the second tear line 13 forming a semicircular projection 21 along the additional section, the semicircular projection 21 being pulled The separation of the sheets 8 immediately exposes one of the wall sections 18 of the inner surface of the first side wall 2. Accordingly, several modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

<TABLE border="1" borderColor="#000000" width="_0002"><TBODY><tr><td> 1 </td><td> Bag Packaging/Packaging</td></tr>< Tr><td> 2 </td><td> opposite flexible sidewall/first flexible sidewall/first sidewall/sidewall</td></tr><tr><td> 3 </td>< Td> opposite flexible side wall/second flexible side wall/second side wall/side wall</td></tr><tr><td> 4 </td><td> connecting part/peripheral connecting part </td ></tr><tr><td> 5 </td><td> Product compartment</td></tr><tr><td> 6 </td><td> Top corner section</ Td></tr><tr><td> 7 </td><td> opening start</td></tr><tr><td> 8 </td><td> pull-up</ Td></tr><tr><td> 9 </td><td> opening</td></tr><tr><td> 10 </td><td> grip compartment</td ></tr><tr><td> 11 </td><td> Grip/Easy Grip</td></tr><tr><td> 12 </td><td> First Tear/Tear Line</td></tr><tr><td> 13 </td><td> Second Tear/Tear Line</td></tr><tr>< Td> 14 </td><td> Common starting point/starting point</td></tr><tr><td> 15 </td><td> Common end/end point</td></tr><tr ><td> 16 </td><td> Seals</td></tr><tr><td> 17 </td><td> Restricted Flow Channels/Flow Channels</td></tr ><tr><td > 18 </td><td> Wall Section/Exposed Wall Section</td></tr><tr><td> 19 </td><td> Pipette End </td></tr> <tr><td> 20 </td><td> straws</td></tr><tr><td> 21 </td><td> semicircular protrusions</td></tr><tr ><td> S1 </td><td> First section</td></tr><tr><td> S2 </td><td> Second section</td></tr> <tr><td> S3 </td><td> Third section</td></tr><tr><td> W </td><td> Width</td></tr>< /TBODY></TABLE>

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the <RTIgt; Like elements, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of one of the pouch-type packages in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a side elevational view of one of the pouch-type packages shown in Figure 1 after being opened by separating a tab along an opening beginning. Figures 3a through 3b illustrate schematic side views of the insertion of a straw into the package shown in Figure 2. Figures 4a through 4b illustrate schematic disassembled side views of a top corner portion of an opening initiation portion of an alternative embodiment of an inventive package. Figures 5a through 5b illustrate schematic disassembled side views of a top corner portion of an opening initiation portion of another alternative embodiment of the inventive package. Figures 6a through 6b illustrate schematic disassembled side views of a top corner portion of an opening initiation portion of a further alternative embodiment of the inventive package.

<TABLE border="1" borderColor="#000000" width="_0003"><TBODY><tr><td> 1 </td><td> Bag Packaging/Packaging</td></tr>< Tr><td> 3 </td><td> opposite flexible sidewall/second flexible sidewall/second sidewall/sidewall</td></tr><tr><td> 4 </td>< Td> Connection section/peripheral connection section</td></tr><tr><td> 5 </td><td> Product compartment</td></tr><tr><td> 6 </ Td><td> top corner section</td></tr><tr><td> 7 </td><td> opening start </td></tr><tr><td> 8 </td><td> Pull tab</td></tr><tr><td> 10 </td><td> Grip compartment</td></tr><tr><td> 11 </td><td> Grip/Easy Grip</td></tr><tr><td> 12 </td><td> First Tear/Tear Wire</td>< /tr><tr><td> 13 </td><td> Second tear line/tearing line</td></tr><tr><td> 14 </td><td> Common starting point /Starting point</td></tr><tr><td> 15 </td><td> Common End/End Point</td></tr><tr><td> 16 </td><td> Sealing section</td></tr><tr><td> 17 </td><td> restricted flow channel/flow channel</td></tr><tr><td> S1 </td> <td> First section</td></tr><tr><td> S2 </td><td> Second section</td></tr><tr><td> S3 </ Td><td> third section</td></tr ><tr><td> W </td><td> Width </td></tr></TBODY></TABLE>

Claims (11)

A pouch type package for fluid inclusions comprising two opposing flexible side walls (2, 3) forming a top corner portion (6) provided with an opening start (7) along The opening start portion (7) will separate a pull tab (8) to open the package, wherein the opening start portion (7) includes a first tear line (12) disposed on the two opposite sides In one of the first flexible sidewalls (2) of the first side wall (2), the first tear line (12) constitutes a single tear line disposed in the first side wall (2), and a first a second tearing wire (13) disposed in one of the two opposite flexible sidewalls (2, 3), the second tearing wire (13) being configured to be disposed a single tear line of the second side wall (3), the first and second tear lines (12, 13) extending from a common starting point (14) in an at least partially non-overlapping manner such that the first side wall (2) One of the inner surface wall sections (18) is exposed after separating the pull tab (8). The pouch type package of claim 1, wherein the first tear line (12) and the second tear line (13) have a common end point (15). The pouch type package of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first tear line (12) has a straight extension. The pouch type package of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second tear lines (12, 13) are each formed as one of the associated side walls (2, 3). The pouch type package of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second side walls (2, 3) of the package are made of a multi-layer packaging material. The pouch type package of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a seal portion (16) forming a restricted flow passage (17) in the top corner portion (6) of the package, wherein a straw can pass through An opening (9) of the package formed immediately after the separation of the pull tab (8) is inserted through the restricted flow passage (17). A pouch type package of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a straw (20) supported by one of the first and second side walls (2, 3). A pouch type package of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a bottom wall. A pouch type package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pouch type package is an upright pouch type. A method of modifying a pouch type package (1) to enable insertion of a straw (20), the method comprising providing a pouch type package (1) having two opposing flexible side walls (2, 3), the two The opposite flexible side walls (2, 3) form a top corner portion (6) of the package (1), and an opening start portion (7) is disposed in the top corner portion (6) along the opening The starting portion (7) will separate a pull tab (8) to open the package (1), and the opening start portion (7) includes: a first tear line (12) disposed on the opposite sides In one of the first flexible sidewalls (2) of the flexible sidewalls (2, 3), the first tear line (12) constitutes a single tear line disposed in the first sidewall (2); a second tear line (13) disposed in one of the two opposite flexible sidewalls (2, 3), the second tear line (13) being configured to be disposed a single tear line of the second side wall (3), wherein the first and second tear lines (12, 13) are disposed such that they extend from a common starting point (14) in an at least partially non-overlapping manner Having exposed one of the inner wall surfaces of one of the first side walls (2) after separating the pull tab (8) (1) 8), whereby a straw (20) can be inserted into the package (1) after separating the pull tab (8) by placing the straw end (19) of the straw (20) in the first The exposed wall section (18) of the inner surface of a side wall (2) and on the exposed wall section (18) while the straw (20) is pushed into the package (1) Horizontal compression. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second tear lines (12, 13) are formed in a sheet of packaging material that is subsequently converted into one of the pouch type packages (1) to perform the top corner This step of arranging the opening start portion (7) in the portion (6).