US20160068289A1 - Bag equipped with a gas channel and a method and apparatus for packaging such a bag - Google Patents

Bag equipped with a gas channel and a method and apparatus for packaging such a bag Download PDF

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Publication number
US20160068289A1
US20160068289A1 US14/845,689 US201514845689A US2016068289A1 US 20160068289 A1 US20160068289 A1 US 20160068289A1 US 201514845689 A US201514845689 A US 201514845689A US 2016068289 A1 US2016068289 A1 US 2016068289A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
bag
gas
gas channel
mouth
gas inlet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US14/845,689
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Yasuyuki HONDA
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Toyo Jidoki Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Toyo Jidoki Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Toyo Jidoki Co Ltd filed Critical Toyo Jidoki Co Ltd
Assigned to TOYO JIDOKI CO., LTD. reassignment TOYO JIDOKI CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HONDA, YASUYUKI
Publication of US20160068289A1 publication Critical patent/US20160068289A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/04—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/04—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied
    • B65B31/046—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied the nozzles co-operating, or being combined, with a device for opening or closing the container or wrapper
    • B65B31/048—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied the nozzles co-operating, or being combined, with a device for opening or closing the container or wrapper specially adapted for wrappers or bags
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/08—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using ultrasonic vibrations
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/18—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated tools
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/72—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by combined operations or combined techniques, e.g. welding and stitching
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/78—Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles, e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like materials, tubular articles, hollow articles or elements to be joined therewith; Means for discharging the joined articles from the joining apparatus
    • B29C65/7841—Holding or clamping means for handling purposes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/78—Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles, e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like materials, tubular articles, hollow articles or elements to be joined therewith; Means for discharging the joined articles from the joining apparatus
    • B29C65/7858—Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles, e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like materials, tubular articles, hollow articles or elements to be joined therewith; Means for discharging the joined articles from the joining apparatus characterised by the feeding movement of the parts to be joined
    • B29C65/7879—Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles, e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like materials, tubular articles, hollow articles or elements to be joined therewith; Means for discharging the joined articles from the joining apparatus characterised by the feeding movement of the parts to be joined said parts to be joined moving in a closed path, e.g. a rectangular path
    • B29C65/7882—Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles, e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like materials, tubular articles, hollow articles or elements to be joined therewith; Means for discharging the joined articles from the joining apparatus characterised by the feeding movement of the parts to be joined said parts to be joined moving in a closed path, e.g. a rectangular path said parts to be joined moving in a circular path
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/03—After-treatments in the joint area
    • B29C66/034—Thermal after-treatments
    • B29C66/0342—Cooling, e.g. transporting through welding and cooling zone
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
    • B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
    • B29C66/1122—Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/20—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint lines, e.g. of the weld lines
    • B29C66/21—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint lines, e.g. of the weld lines said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/20—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint lines, e.g. of the weld lines
    • B29C66/23—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint lines, e.g. of the weld lines said joint lines being multiple and parallel or being in the form of tessellations
    • B29C66/232—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint lines, e.g. of the weld lines said joint lines being multiple and parallel or being in the form of tessellations said joint lines being multiple and parallel, i.e. the joint being formed by several parallel joint lines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/345—Progressively making the joint, e.g. starting from the middle
    • B29C66/3452—Making complete joints by combining partial joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/41—Joining substantially flat articles ; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles
    • B29C66/43—Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles
    • B29C66/431—Joining the articles to themselves
    • B29C66/4312—Joining the articles to themselves for making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles, e.g. transversal seams
    • B29C66/43121—Closing the ends of tubular or hollow single articles, e.g. closing the ends of bags
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/72—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/723—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/818—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects, or by the thermal or electrical insulating or conducting constructional aspects of the welding jaws or of the clamps ; comprising means for compensating for the thermal expansion of the welding jaws or of the clamps
    • B29C66/8181—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects, or by the thermal or electrical insulating or conducting constructional aspects of the welding jaws or of the clamps ; comprising means for compensating for the thermal expansion of the welding jaws or of the clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects
    • B29C66/81811—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects, or by the thermal or electrical insulating or conducting constructional aspects of the welding jaws or of the clamps ; comprising means for compensating for the thermal expansion of the welding jaws or of the clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects of the welding jaws
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/82—Pressure application arrangements, e.g. transmission or actuating mechanisms for joining tools or clamps
    • B29C66/824—Actuating mechanisms
    • B29C66/8242—Pneumatic or hydraulic drives
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/83—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools
    • B29C66/832—Reciprocating joining or pressing tools
    • B29C66/8322—Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
    • B29C66/83221—Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis cooperating reciprocating tools, each tool reciprocating along one axis
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/84—Specific machine types or machines suitable for specific applications
    • B29C66/849—Packaging machines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B1/00—Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B1/04—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
    • B65B1/06—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles by gravity flow
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
    • B65B43/30—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by grippers engaging opposed walls, e.g. suction-operated
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/44—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation from supply magazines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
    • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
    • B65B51/22—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof by friction or ultrasonic or high-frequency electrical means, i.e. by friction or ultrasonic or induction welding
    • B65B51/225—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof by friction or ultrasonic or high-frequency electrical means, i.e. by friction or ultrasonic or induction welding by ultrasonic welding
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
    • B65B7/02—Closing containers or receptacles deformed by, or taking-up shape, of, contents, e.g. bags, sacks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D29/00—Sacks or like containers made of fabrics; Flexible containers of open-work, e.g. net-like construction
    • B65D29/02—Sacks with laminated or multiple walls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
    • B65D33/16—End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
    • B65D33/16—End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices
    • B65D33/18—End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices using adhesive applied to integral parts, e.g. to flaps
    • B65D33/22—End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices using adhesive applied to integral parts, e.g. to flaps using heat-activatable adhesive
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/18—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient
    • B65D81/20—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
    • B65D81/2069—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas in a special atmosphere
    • B65D81/2084—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas in a special atmosphere in a flexible container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/712—Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages
    • B29L2031/7128—Bags, sacks, sachets

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a bag and a method and apparatus that includes a gas replacement step, in which the air inside the bag filled with filling material is replaced with an inert gas
  • FIGS. 1 to 8 of Patent Reference 1 describes that the bag mouth of a bag sealed along the bottom edge and both side edges is opened, a gas nozzle (inert gas supply pipe) and a hopper (material filling pipe) are inserted into the bag, inert gas is blown through the gas nozzle into the bag, then the bag is filled with filling material through the hopper, during which time the blowing of the inert gas is continued to replace the air inside the bag with the inert gas, and then after which the gas nozzle and the hopper are pulled out of the bag at the same time, the bag mouth is next pulled taut and closed, and after which the bag mouth is clamped between a pair of hot plates, so that the bag mouth is sealed.
  • a gas nozzle inert gas supply pipe
  • a hopper material filling pipe
  • FIGS. 9 to 17 of this Patent Reference 1 it is shown that after filling a bag with the filling material, the hopper is pulled out of the bag, the bag mouth is pulled taut and closed, and after an inert gas is blown into the bag for a while, the gas nozzle is pulled out of the bag, and then the bag mouth is clamped between a pair of hot plates, so that the bag mouth is sealed.
  • the inert gas starts to be blown in before adding the filling material, the bag is filled with the filling material after the air in the bag has been replaced with the inert gas, and the inert gas is allowed to continue to be blown in to replace the air present in gaps in the filling material with the inert gas.
  • An effective gas replacement thus can be performed.
  • Patent Reference 1 the gas nozzle is inserted into the bag before the bag is filled with the filling material
  • a method in which a gas nozzle is inserted into a bag after adding the filling material and the blowing outlet is positioned in the middle of the filling material for gas replacement is also commonly performed (see Patent Reference 3).
  • Patent Reference 2 after adding the filling material, the bag mouth is pulled taut while leaving the gas nozzle inside the bag, then a pair of clamping plates are applied to the bag mouth to close it, after which the gas nozzle is pulled out of the bag, and the bag mouth is clamped and sealed with a pair of hot plates.
  • Patent Reference 3 a cylindrical protective member is provided around the gas nozzle, so that the inner face of the bag mouth comes into contact with the outer peripheral face of the protective member when the bag mouth is pulled taut, and the gas nozzle is raised and accommodated in the interior of this protective member at the end of the gas replacement, and then the gas nozzle is raised together with the protective member and separated from the bag.
  • the present invention is conceived in light of the above-described problems seen in the prior art pertaining to gas replacement, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a bag that has a gas channel and to provide a method and apparatus for packaging the bag, and in the present invention, the air (including any air present in gaps in the filling material) in a bag is efficiently replaced with an inert gas just as in the past, and adhesion of filling material to the bag mouth inner face and resulting pinch sealing are prevented, and further damages to the filling material are prevented as well.
  • the bag according to the present invention (a bag equipped with a gas channel) has sealed parts where the laminated films constituting the front and back faces of the bag are sealed at the bottom edge and the side edges, and a gas channel where the laminated films constituting the front and back faces are not fused is formed in the sealed parts, and also a part of the gas channel opens into the bag, and further a gas inlet that allows the gas channel to communicate with the outside of the bag is formed in one or both of the laminated films that constitute the front and back faces of the gas channel.
  • the gas channel is formed in a side edge sealed part or is formed continuously with a side edge and bottom edge sealed parts, and the gas inlet is formed at the upper end of the gas channel.
  • the gas channel is formed in the side edge sealed part, and the lower part of the gas channel is opened into the bag.
  • the bag is a finished bag in which the bag is filled with its filling material, the air inside the bag is replaced with an inert gas, and the bag mouth at the top edge and the gas inlet are sealed.
  • the side edges of a bag are clamped by a pair of bag conveyance grippers, and the bag hangs down while being conveyed along a specific conveyance path, and such packaging steps as opening up of the bag mouth, filling of the bag with its filling material, replacing of the air inside the bag with an inert gas, sealing of the bag mouth, and others are successively carried out in the course of this conveyance,
  • the above-described bag packaging method of the present invention can take the following embodiments, for example:
  • the blowing outlet of a nozzle connected to an inert gas supply source is placed against the gas inlet, and the inert gas is blown from the gas inlet into the gas channel.
  • An ultrasonic sealing device including a horn and an anvil is employed.
  • the horn and the anvil are disposed so that they are on either side of a bag that is equipped with a gas channel, an inert gas channel is formed in the horn and/or anvil so that one end thereof is connected to an inert gas supply source and another end thereof opens to the distal end of the horn and/or anvil, the horn and/or the anvil in which the inert gas channel is formed serves also as the nozzle, the other end of the inert gas channel is used as the blowing outlet, so that in the gas replacement step, an inert gas is blown into the inert gas channel by the horn and/or the anvil, and the horn and the anvil carry out the gas inlet sealing step.
  • An intermittent sealed part formation step in which a sealed part is formed intermittently along the bag mouth is performed near the bag mouth between the filling step and the gas replacement step.
  • the side edges of a bag are clamped by a pair of bag conveyance grippers, and the bag hangs down while being conveyed along a specific conveyance path, and such packaging steps as opening up of the bag mouth, filling of the bag with its filling material, replacing of the air inside the bag with an inert gas, sealing of the bag mouth, and others are successively carried out in the course of this conveyance,
  • the above-described bag packaging apparatus of the present invention can take the following embodiments, for example:
  • the gas inlet is formed in both of the laminated films constituting the front and back faces of the bag, and the gas replacement device comprises a pair of nozzles that are disposed to face each other and connected to an inert gas supply source and blows the inert gas out of the blowing outlet which is provided at its distal end.
  • the gas replacement device includes a nozzle, which is connected to an inert gas supply source and blows an inert gas out of the blowing outlet which is provided at its distal end, and a receiving member, which is disposed opposite to face the nozzle and supports the back face side of the bag.
  • the bag mouth sealing device serves also as the gas inlet sealing device, and the pair of sealing members of the bag mouth sealing device clamp and seal the bag mouth and the gas inlet from both sides of the bag. In this structure, an independent gas inlet sealing device is not required.
  • An ultrasonic sealing device is used as the gas inlet sealing device and this ultrasonic sealing device serves also as a gas replacement device.
  • an inert gas channel is formed in a horn and/or anvil in which one end thereof is connected to an inert gas supply source and another end thereof opens to the distal end of the horn and/or anvil, the other end of the inert gas channel is used as the blowing outlet, an inert gas is blown into the inert gas channel by the horn and/or the anvil in which the inert gas channel is formed, and the horn and the anvil seal the gas inlet.
  • An intermittent sealed part formation device which makes a sealed part formed intermittently along the bag mouth near the bag mouth, is disposed next to the material filling device in the conveyance path.
  • the air (including any air present in the gaps in the filling material) in a bag can be efficiently replaced with an inert gas, and at the same time, adhesion of the filling material to the bag mouth inner face and resulting pinch sealing can be prevented, and further damages to the filling material can also be prevented.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag packaging apparatus according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a front view of the bag (empty bag) according to the present invention with the hatchings indicating the sealed parts;
  • FIG. 3 is a front view of an ultrasonic sealing device provided in the packaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1 ;
  • FIGS. 4A through 4C are front views of the gas replacement step performed by the bag packaging apparatus of FIG. 1 , being illustrated in time sequence;
  • FIGS. 5A through 5C are side views respectively corresponding to FIGS. 4A through 4C ;
  • FIGS. 6A through 6C are front views of the gas replacement step performed by the packaging apparatus of FIG. 1 , being illustrated in time sequence;
  • FIGS. 7A through 7C are side views respectively corresponding to FIGS. 6A through 6C ;
  • FIG. 8 is a front view of a bag (finished bag) according to the present invention with the hatchings indicating the sealed parts;
  • FIGS. 9A through 9D are front views of bags (empty bags) each having a gas channel in different modes from that of the bag shown in FIG. 2 with the hatchings indicating the sealed parts;
  • FIGS. 10A through 10C are front views of a bag and packaging method according to another manner of the present invention, being illustrated in time sequence.
  • a bag equipped with a gas channel and a packaging method and apparatus therefor according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10C .
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a gas channel-equipped bag 1 (hereinafter referred to simply as a bag 1 ).
  • the bag 1 is comprised of laminated films constituting the front and back faces of the bag, and these films have sealed parts 2 , 3 and 4 on both side edges and the bottom edge, respectively.
  • the side edge sealed part 2 is formed wider than the other side edge sealed part 3 .
  • Part of the side edge sealed part 2 is an unsealed part where the films constituting the front and back faces are not fused together, and this unsealed part makes a gas channel 5 .
  • the gas channel 5 is located at the place where the films constituting the front and back faces of the bag 1 are not pressed and sealed in the heat-sealing, and it extends downward in a narrow shape from near the mouth 6 (the upper end of the sealed part 2 ) of the bag 1 .
  • a gas inlet 5 a that allows the gas channel 5 to communicate with the outside of the bag is formed in part (the upper end in this example) of the gas channel 5 .
  • the gas inlet 5 a is approximately circular, and its diameter is larger than the width of the other portions of the gas channel 5 .
  • the gas inlet 5 a is formed with a cross-shaped cutout 8 at the center of the films constituting the front and back faces. Also, part (the lower end in this example) of the gas channel 5 opens into the interior of the bag 1 . This portion opening into the interior of the bag 1 is called a communicating portion 5 b of the gas channel 5 .
  • inert gas When an inert gas is blown from the gas inlet 5 a into the gas channel 5 , the inert gas flows down through the gas channel 5 and is blown from the communicating portion 5 b into the interior of the bag 1 .
  • the “inert gas” referred to in the present invention encompasses argon gas, helium gas, and other such noble gas elements as well as nitrogen gas and other such elements having low chemical reactivity.
  • FIG. 1 shows a packaging apparatus 9 according to the present invention.
  • the packaging apparatus 9 is a rotary packaging apparatus, and it is similar to the rotary packaging apparatus shown in, for example, FIG. 2 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2014-139090.
  • the packaging apparatus 9 comprises a bag conveyance device 14 in which a plurality of pairs (ten pairs) of left and right bag conveyance grippers 12 and 13 are installed at an equidistant spacing around a table 11 that rotates intermittently and counter-clockwise by a specific angle each time.
  • the bag conveyance grippers 12 and 13 grasp both side edges (the sealed parts 2 and 3 ) of the bag 1 supplied thereto so that the bag hangs down and intermittently convey the bags 1 around a circular conveyance path formed by the table.
  • the spacing between the gripers 12 and 13 are increased or decreased during the course of the conveyance at a specific timing.
  • the bag 1 that is grasped by the grippers 12 and 13 is successively subjected to various packaging steps at various positions (the stop positions I to X) at which the grippers 12 and 13 stop, including the step of opening up of the bag mouth, filling the bag with the filling material, and sealing the mouth of the bag.
  • a gas replacement step and a gas inlet sealing step are further performed.
  • Each of the grippers 12 and 13 is composed of a pair of grip pieces. As shown in FIG. 4A , the gripper 12 grasps the sealed part 2 of the bag so as to cross over the gas channel 5 horizontally. A shallow groove 16 that runs in the up and down direction is formed on the inside (the gripping side) of one or both of the grip pieces of the gripper 12 ; and when the gripper 12 grasps the sealed part 2 , this groove(s) 16 is superposed over the gas channel 5 , so that the gas channel 5 is not flattened (not blocked off) by the gripper 12 .
  • a conveyor magazine type bag supplier 17 is disposed at the stop position I of the conveyance path. Furthermore, a printing device (only its head 18 is shown) is disposed at the stop position II, a print inspection device (only its head 19 is shown) is disposed at the stop position III, an opening device that includes a pair of suction cups (only one suction cup 21 is shown) is disposed at the stop position IV, a material filling device (only its hopper 22 is shown) is disposed at the stop position V, a first gas replacement device (only a pair of nozzles 24 thereof is shown) is disposed at the stop position VI, a second gas replacement device (only a pair of nozzles 25 thereof is shown) is disposed at the stop position VII, a third gas replacement device (only a horn 26 and an anvil 27 thereof are shown) is disposed at the stop position VIII, a bag mouth sealing device (only a pair of hot plates 28 thereof is shown) is disposed at the stop position IX, and a cooling device (only a pair of hot plates 28
  • the gas supply means shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2014-139090 can be used as the first and second gas replacement devices disposed at the stop positions VI and VII of the packaging apparatus 9 .
  • the gas supply means shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2014-139090 (only the nozzle 28 and the receiving member 29 , which are disposed to face each other, are shown therein) can also be used as needed.
  • the pair of nozzles 24 of the first gas replacement devices are connected to an inert gas supply source (not shown). These nozzles 24 are disposed to face each other with the conveyance path of the bag 1 in between.
  • the nozzles 24 are moved forward (so as to get closer to the conveyance path) or backward (so as to get away from the conveyance path) with respect to the bag 1 stopped at that stop position VI, and their distal end blowing outlets 24 a (see FIG. 5A ) are provided so as to be placed against the gas inlet 5 a of the bag when they are in the forward position.
  • a specific narrow spacing L (somewhat wider than the thickness of the bag 1 ) is provided between the blowing outlets 24 a at the forward position of the nozzle 24 (see FIG.
  • the pair of nozzles 25 of the second gas replacement device have exactly the same structure and make the same movement as the pair of nozzles 24 of the first gas replacement device do.
  • FIG. 3 shows an ultrasonic sealing device 31 , which is a main component of the third gas replacement device disposed at the stop position VIII.
  • This ultrasonic sealing device 31 comprises the horn 26 and anvil 27 , an ultrasonic vibration generator 32 that vibrates the horn 26 , and an air cylinder 33 that moves the horn 26 and the anvil 27 back and forth.
  • Attachment members 36 and 37 are fixed to the distal ends of piston rods 34 and 35 of the air cylinder 33 , respectively.
  • the ultrasonic vibration generator 32 is fixed to the attachment member 36
  • the anvil 27 is fixed to the attachment member 37 .
  • the ultrasonic sealing device 31 thus structured further includes a cooling means (not shown), and the ultrasonic vibration generator 32 , the horn 26 , and the anvil 27 are cooled by this cooling means.
  • a hole (inert gas channel) 39 is formed in the interior of the horn 26 , and one end of this inert gas channel 39 opens to a side face of the horn 26 and is connected to an inert gas supply source 43 via a connector 41 , a pipe 42 , and a switch valve or the like (not shown), while the other end of the inner gas channel 39 opens to the distal (forward) end of the horn 26 and thus makes an inert gas blowing outlet 44 .
  • the anvil 27 also has a hole (inert gas channel) 45 formed in its interior.
  • this inert gas channel 45 opens to the rear end of the anvil 27 and is connected to the inert gas supply source 43 via a connector 46 and a pipe 47 , and the other end of the gas channel 45 opens to the distal (forward) end of the anvil 27 and makes an inert gas blowing outlet 48 .
  • the horn 26 and the anvil 27 of the ultrasonic sealing device 31 are disposed to face each other with the conveyance path of the bag 1 in between. They are moved forward (to get closer to the conveyance path) or backward (to get away from the conveyance path) by the air cylinder 33 with respect to the bag 1 stopped at that stop position VIII, symmetrically to each other.
  • the air cylinder 33 is a three-position type, so that the horn 26 and the anvil 27 are stopped at their retracted position, which is the farthest away from the conveyance path (see FIG. 7A ), at their forward position where their distal ends clamp (or hold) the bag 1 (see FIG. 7C ), and at a blowing position which is between the retracted position and the forward position (see FIG.
  • the forward and backward direction of the horn 26 and anvil 27 is perpendicular to the bag 1 . It is provided so that when the horn 26 and the anvil 27 have been moved to the retracted position, interference with the bag 1 being conveyed along the conveyance path can be avoided and that when the horn 26 and the anvil 27 have been moved to the blowing position, a specific narrow spacing M (somewhat wider than the thickness of the bag 1 ) is left between the blowing outlets 44 and 48 , and this spacing is maintained for a specific length of time.
  • FIG. 1 A packaging method that uses the packaging apparatus 9 shown in FIG. 1 will now be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 .
  • a bag 1 is supplied from the conveyor magazine-type bag supplier 17 to the pair of grippers 12 and 13 that have been stopped there, and the grippers 12 and 13 grasp the specific locations of the sealed parts 2 and 3 from the front and back faces of the bag 1 .
  • the gripper 12 grasps a location that is somewhat below the gas inlet 5 a of the bag (see FIG. 4A ).
  • the gas channel 5 is not flattened (or not blocked off) because the groove 16 (see FIG. 4A ), which is formed on the inside of the grip pieces of one or both of grippers and runs in the up and down direction, cover(s) the gas channel 5 from above.
  • the bag 1 stopped at this position is printed on its surface by the printing device (see the head 18 ).
  • the mouth 6 of the bag 1 stopped at this position is opened up by the opening device.
  • a pair of suction cups 21 of this opening device (only one suction cup 21 is shown in FIG. 1 ) are provided so as to move forward and backward with respect to the bag 1 . When they are moved forward, they suction-hold the films on both sides of the bag 1 and then moved backward while still holding the films, thus opening up the mouth 6 of the bag. At the same time, the grippers 12 and 13 narrow the gap between them (see FIG. 4A ).
  • an opening head (not shown; see the opening head 26 shown in FIG. 2 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2014-139090) of the opening device descends, its lower end goes through the mouth 6 into the bag 1 , and air is blown into the bag 1 to inflate the bag.
  • the bag 1 stopped at this position is filled with filling material 23 by the material filling device.
  • the hopper 22 of this filling device is raised above the bag 1 then descended and is inserted through the mouth 6 into the bag 1 , so that the bag 1 is filled with the filling material 23 .
  • the gas replacement step which follows the filling step, is performed three times in a first gas replacement step, a second gas replacement step, and a third gas replacement step.
  • the first gas replacement device having the pair of nozzles 24 is disposed at the stop position VI (first gas replacement step position). As shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A , when the filled bag 1 (hereinafter referred to as the filled bag 1 A) is stopped at the stop position VI, the nozzles 24 are in their refracted position.
  • the nozzles 24 are then moved forward and reach the forward position, the blowing outlets 24 a of the nozzles approach the gas inlet 5 a from both sides of the filled bag 1 A, and inert gas is blown out as shown in FIGS. 4B and 5B .
  • pressurized inert gas is blown from the gas inlet 5 a into the gas channel 5 , and this inert gas flows down through the gas channel 5 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4B , and is blown from the communicating portion 5 b into the interior of the filled bag 1 A, and then it rises up through the gaps in the filling material 23 in the filled bag 1 A.
  • the air in the filled bag 1 A (including the air present in the gaps in the filling material 23 ) is efficiently replaced with the inert gas.
  • the gas channel 5 is shown in a manner that it has been inflated by the pressure of the inert gas.
  • the second gas replacement device having the pair of nozzles 25 is disposed at the stop position VII (second gas replacement step position). At this stop position VII, the filled bag 1 A stopped there is again subjected to the same gas replacement step as that performed at the stop position VI.
  • the timing of the starting and stopping of the blowing of the inert gas out of the nozzles 24 and 25 is set as desired.
  • the ultrasonic sealing device 31 shown in FIG. 3 is disposed near the conveyance path of the bag 1 A at the stop position VIII (third gas replacement step and gas inlet sealing step position), and the filled bag 1 A stopped at this stop position is subjected to the third gas replacement step and also to the sealing step for the gas inlet 5 a.
  • the grippers 12 and 13 are spread apart from each other while the filled bag 1 A gripped by the grippers 12 and 13 is being conveyed from the stop position VII to the stop position VIII. Consequently, the places on the filled bag 1 A grasped by the grippers 12 and 13 is pulled taut to the left and right, which applies tension to and closes the upper part of the filled bag 1 A including the mouth 6 .
  • the ultrasonic sealing device 31 is then operated to move the horn 26 and the anvil 27 forward until they reach positions just short of their forward positions (the above-described blowing position), the blowing outlets 44 and 48 of the horn and the anvil, respectively are moved close to the gas inlet 5 a from both sides of the filled bag 1 A, and inert gas is blown out therefrom as shown in FIGS. 6B and 7B .
  • pressurized inert gas is blown from the gas inlet 5 a into the gas channel 5 , and this inert gas flows down through the gas channel 5 as indicated by the arrow in FIG.
  • the gas channel 5 is illustrated so that it that has been inflated by the pressure of the inert gas.
  • the air cylinder 33 is operated to move the horn 26 and the anvil 27 forward, and ultrasonic vibrations are generated by the ultrasonic vibration generator 32 , and its vibration energy is supplied to the horn 26 . Consequently, as shown in FIGS.
  • the distal ends of the horn 26 and anvil 27 clamp the gas inlet 5 a from both sides of the filled bag 1 A, the films constituting the front and back faces of the gas inlet 5 a (and particularly around the cutout 8 ) are ultrasonically sealed thereby, and the gas channel 5 (the gas inlet 5 a ) is thus closed.
  • a ring-shaped ultrasonically sealed part 51 (the ring-shaped sealed part is shown by hatched lines) is formed to coincide with the shape of the part clamped by the horn 26 and anvil 27 (the shape of the distal end face 49 of the horn 26 ).
  • Most or all of the cutout 8 itself is not sealed by this ultrasonic sealing; however, since the films constituting the front and back faces of the gas inlet 5 a around the cutout 8 are sealed, the gas channel 5 is closed assuredly.
  • the ultrasonic sealing device 31 serves as both a gas replacement device and a gas inlet sealing device. Accordingly, fewer steps are required, and the apparatus takes up less installation space.
  • the position of the gas inlet 5 a is fixed, and thus there will tend to be fewer misalignments between the positions of the horn 26 and anvil 27 and the position of the gas inlet 5 a upon arrival at the blowing position and upon further forward movement to clamp the gas inlet 5 a.
  • the pair of cooling plates 29 clamp and cool the sealed part 52 .
  • the grippers 12 and 13 are opened up, then the cooling plates 29 are opened up as well, and thus the filled bag 1 A (hereinafter referred to as the finished bag 1 B) drops and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by a chute 53 .
  • FIGS. 9A through 9D Another embodiment of the gas channel 5 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 9A through 9D . Portions that are substantially the same as those in the bag 1 shown in FIG. 2 will be numbered with the same reference numbers.
  • the bag 54 shown in FIG. 9A has gas channels 5 formed in both the sealed parts 2 and 3 .
  • the gas channels 5 of the bag 54 both have respectively gas inlets 5 a at the upper ends and have communicating portions 5 b at the lower ends.
  • the communicating portions 5 b that open to the interior of the bag 54 are formed on both lateral sides of the bag, inert gas can be more thoroughly blown into the bag 54 (including the gaps in the filling material), and more efficient gas replacement is achieved.
  • the bag 55 shown in FIG. 9B has gas channel 5 formed in the sealed part 2 .
  • the gas channel 5 has the gas inlet 5 a formed in the upper end of the gas channel 5 and has communicating portions 5 b formed at a plurality of places in the lower location.
  • the communicating portions 5 b that open into the interior of the bag 55 are formed at a plurality of places in the up and down direction, inert gas can be blown more uniformly into the filling material that fills the bag 55 , and as a result more efficient gas replacement is achieved.
  • the bag 56 shown in FIG. 9C has gas channel 5 that is formed continuously from the sealed part 2 on the side edge to the sealed part 4 on the bottom edge.
  • This gas channel 5 has the gas inlet 5 a formed at the upper end of the gas channel 5 and has communicating portions 5 b formed at a plurality of places in the sealed part 4 .
  • inert gas can be blown more uniformly into the bag 55 (including the gaps in the filling material), and as a result more efficient gas replacement is achieved.
  • the bag 57 shown in FIG. 9D has gas channel 5 formed from one end of the sealed part 4 on the bottom edge to the center in the width direction of the bag.
  • This gas channel 5 has the gas inlet 5 a formed at one end of the gas channel 5 and has the communicating portion 5 b formed at the other end (so as to be located at the center in the width direction of the bag). Since the gas channel 5 is not formed in the sealed parts 2 and 3 on the side edges, there is no need to increase the width of the sealed parts 2 and 3 , and the gas channel 5 can be made shorter, which reduces energy loss in the inert gas flowing through the gas channel 5 .
  • a sealed part that continues intermittently can be formed near and along the bag mouth as needed after the bag is filled with the filling material.
  • a two-level (upper and lower) intermittent sealed part 58 is formed in the filled bag 1 A.
  • the intermittent sealed part 58 continues intermittently in the width direction of the bag, including a plurality of unsealed parts 58 a .
  • the unsealed parts 58 a are formed in a relatively narrow width.
  • the intermittent sealed part itself is known (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 11-29153, for example).
  • the intermittent sealed part 58 can be formed, similar to the sealed part 52 , by an intermittent sealed part formation device that includes a pair of hot plates.
  • the timing that the intermittent sealed part 58 is formed is preferably after the end of the material filling step and before the start of the gas replacement step. If the gas replacement step is conducted a plurality of times, the intermittent sealed part 58 is preferably formed before the first gas replacement step, although it can also be formed between the plurality of gas replacement steps.
  • FIG. 10A corresponds to FIG. 6B , time sequence-wise.
  • a two-level intermittent sealed part 58 is formed near the mouth 6 of the filled bag 1 A in which the intermittent sealed part 58 has been formed.
  • the intermittent sealed part 58 is what is known as a “maze seal”, with the upper- and lower-level unsealed parts 58 a formed in a staggered manner (offset from one another).
  • the horn 26 and anvil 27 cause inert gas to be blown out from their blowing outlets 44 and 48 (see FIG. 3 ), and the pressurized inert gas is blown from the gas inlet 5 a into the gas channel 5 , and then this inert gas flows down through the gas channel 5 as indicated by the arrow and is blown from the communicating portion 5 b into the interior of the filled bag 1 A.
  • the inert gas that has been blown into the interior of the filled bag 1 A rises up through the gaps in the filling material 23 in the filled bag 1 A, and as this occurs, the air in the filled bag 1 A (including any air present in the gaps in the filling material) flows through the narrow passages in the intermittent sealed part 58 and goes out of the bag through the mouth 6 .
  • the filling material 23 is something that is extremely lightweight, with a great number of thin shavings mixed in, such as katsuobushi (dried bonito flake) or furikake (seasoned powdery flavoring for sprinkling on rice), these lightweight small pieces will tend to float up and be scattered outside the bag when the inert gas is blown into the filled bag 1 A.
  • filled bag 1 A that has the intermittent sealed part 58 formed in it, even if the filling material 23 should float up, it will be blocked by the intermittent sealed part 58 ; accordingly, the advantage is that the filling material 23 will tend not to be scattered out of the bag. Therefore, compared to the filled bag 1 A shown in FIG. 6A that has no intermittent sealed part 58 formed, the gas replacement can be finished in a shorter time by blowing in the inert gas under a higher pressure.
  • FIG. 10B corresponds to FIG. 6C , time sequence-wise.
  • Ultrasonic vibration energy is supplied from the ultrasonic vibration generator 32 (see FIG. 3 ) to the horn 26 , the horn 26 and the anvil 27 are moved forward to clamp the gas inlet 5 a from both sides of the filled bag 1 A, the films constituting the front and back faces of the gas inlet 5 a (and particularly around the cutout 8 ) of the bag are ultrasonically sealed, and the gas channel 5 is closed.
  • FIG. 10C shows a situation that the hot plates 28 clamp and heat-seal the mouth 6 of the bag in the bag mouth sealing step.
  • the hot plates 28 are placed over part of the intermittent sealed part 58 to seal it, and the remainder of the intermittent sealed part 58 (one level) is located under the sealed part 52 .
  • FIGS. 1 to 10C Various embodiments of the bag equipped with a gas channel and the packaging method and apparatus according to the present invention are described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10C , and in the present invention the embodiments below are also possible:
  • the bags 1 gripped by grippers are intermittently conveyed along a circular conveyance path, and specific packaging steps are carried out on each one of the bags 1 at the various stop positions.
  • the nozzles 24 and 25 and the ultrasonic sealing device 31 can be moved synchronously with the conveyance of bags and returned to their initial positions after reaching the movement end positions, so that the specific packaging steps are carried out while each one of the bags 1 is being conveyed.
  • the conveyance of the bag 1 can be done continuously, and the conveyance path can be, for instance, linear or in the shape of a racetrack rather than circular.
  • the gas replacement step is performed three times intermittently.
  • the number of times of gas replacement can be set as desired, and it can be just once.
  • the spacing between the grippers 12 and 13 is increased before the third gas replacement step, and the mouth of the bag 1 is pulled taut.
  • this operation can be performed whenever appropriate after the filling step, either after completion of the gas replacement step or during the time between the start and completion of the gas replacement step. If the gas replacement step is carried out a plurality of times, this can be performed whenever appropriate, either after completion of the last gas replacement step or during the time between the start of the first gas replacement step and completion of the last gas replacement step. From the standpoint of increasing the gas replacement efficiency, however, it is preferably performed after the filling step and before the start of the gas replacement step (if the gas replacement step involves a plurality of times, it should be started no later than before the start of the last gas replacement step).
  • the sealing function of the ultrasonic sealing device 31 is utilized, and the sealing step of the gas inlet 5 a after the third gas replacement step is performed using this same ultrasonic sealing device 31 .
  • a sealing device such as one having a pair of hot plates
  • the gas inlet 5 a of the bag can be simultaneously sealed by a sealing device that seals the bag mouth (the bag mouth sealing device serving also as the gas inlet sealing device).
  • the bag 1 has the cutout 8 formed in the films constituting the front and back faces of the gas inlet 5 a of the bag; however, the cutout 8 of the gas inlet 5 a can be formed in just one of the films constituting either the front or back face.
  • no inert gas is blown out of the nozzle disposed on the side where no cutout 8 is formed, or a receiving member that has no blowing outlet is installed instead of this nozzle.
  • no inert gas is blown out of the member that is disposed on the side where no cutout 8 is formed, and an inert gas channel does not need to be formed in that member.
  • a hole see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2014-139090

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
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  • Packages (AREA)
US14/845,689 2014-09-05 2015-09-04 Bag equipped with a gas channel and a method and apparatus for packaging such a bag Abandoned US20160068289A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2014-181718 2014-09-05
JP2014181718A JP2016055878A (ja) 2014-09-05 2014-09-05 気体流路付き袋並びに袋の包装方法及び装置

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US20160068289A1 true US20160068289A1 (en) 2016-03-10

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US14/845,689 Abandoned US20160068289A1 (en) 2014-09-05 2015-09-04 Bag equipped with a gas channel and a method and apparatus for packaging such a bag

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US (1) US20160068289A1 (ko)
EP (1) EP2993138A3 (ko)
JP (1) JP2016055878A (ko)
KR (1) KR20160029676A (ko)
CN (1) CN105398601A (ko)

Cited By (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150328855A1 (en) * 2014-05-13 2015-11-19 Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. Method and device for sealing gas in a gas compartment-equipped bag
US11111048B2 (en) * 2017-10-06 2021-09-07 Groninger & Co. Gmbh Unpacking system for an object, in particular a pharmaceutical or cosmetic object, packed in an item of packaging, in particular a pouch

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ES2808775T3 (es) 2016-04-29 2021-03-01 Pouch Partners Gmbh Máquina rotatoria y procedimiento para el sellado de bolsas de láminas
CN105905321B (zh) * 2016-06-21 2018-07-06 台州骊威环保科技有限公司 限位开关包装机的转盘装置
JP6570690B1 (ja) * 2018-04-13 2019-09-04 株式会社Ｗ 鮮度保持用袋体及びその製造方法
CN110894438A (zh) * 2018-09-12 2020-03-20 苏州市元使生物科技有限公司 一种碧螺春茶花纯露提炼工艺
JP7386126B2 (ja) * 2020-05-28 2023-11-24 Ｐａｃｒａｆｔ株式会社 気体封入方法及び気体封入装置
CN112960282B (zh) * 2021-01-26 2022-11-18 黄山源点新材料科技有限公司 一种内置充气装置的铝箔包装袋

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US2863267A (en) * 1956-08-14 1958-12-09 Moore George Arlington Air extractor and sealing device
US2875070A (en) * 1955-10-24 1959-02-24 Louis B Rockland Method and apparatus for packaging powders and the like
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JP2005343492A (ja) * 2004-06-01 2005-12-15 Toppan Printing Co Ltd 自立袋
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US7748904B2 (en) * 2005-05-12 2010-07-06 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Multicompartment evacuable storage bag
US20120210675A1 (en) * 2011-02-18 2012-08-23 SN Maschinenbau GmbH Method and apparatus for the two stage filling of flexible pouches
US20120240531A1 (en) * 2011-03-24 2012-09-27 Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. Intermittent Transport-Type Rotary Bag Filling and Packaging Apparatus
US8328421B2 (en) * 2008-01-30 2012-12-11 S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Push-down compressible pouch with one-way valves on sides
US8858078B2 (en) * 2011-01-05 2014-10-14 Rene Eric Vonwiller Vacuum baggie

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JP4639677B2 (ja) * 2004-07-22 2011-02-23 凸版印刷株式会社 自立性を有する軟包装袋と軟包装袋へのエア封入方法
JP4683899B2 (ja) * 2004-10-27 2011-05-18 東洋自動機株式会社 エアバッグ付き袋のエアバッグ充填方法及びエアバッグ付き袋の包装方法
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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB719152A (en) * 1952-04-07 1954-11-24 Wilts United Dairies Ltd Improvements in the production of airtight packages
US2875070A (en) * 1955-10-24 1959-02-24 Louis B Rockland Method and apparatus for packaging powders and the like
US2863267A (en) * 1956-08-14 1958-12-09 Moore George Arlington Air extractor and sealing device
US3149772A (en) * 1960-12-07 1964-09-22 Technipak Proprietary Ltd Self sealing sachets or containers
US3299603A (en) * 1962-03-12 1967-01-24 Continental Can Co Method of filling pouches
US3207420A (en) * 1964-05-19 1965-09-21 Octaviano D Navarrete-Kindelan Container
US3316950A (en) * 1964-10-05 1967-05-02 Fleischer Svend Sigur Christie Receptacles of plastic
US3357632A (en) * 1966-09-26 1967-12-12 Gen Electric Self-sealing container
US3637132A (en) * 1970-01-09 1972-01-25 Oscar S Gray Pressure release package or container
US3708952A (en) * 1971-08-16 1973-01-09 Rexham Corp Packaging machine with splitter bar fill
US3937395A (en) * 1973-07-30 1976-02-10 British Visqueen Limited Vented bags
US3937396A (en) * 1974-01-18 1976-02-10 Schneider William S Valve for vented package
US4033093A (en) * 1976-01-19 1977-07-05 Fmc Corporation Bottom filling pouch packaging method and apparatus
US4449243A (en) * 1981-09-10 1984-05-15 Cafes Collet Vacuum package bag
US4524460A (en) * 1983-02-14 1985-06-18 Windmoller & Holscher Valved sack
JPH0199925A (ja) * 1987-10-14 1989-04-18 Asahi Chem Ind Co Ltd 真空吸引密封袋及びこれを用いた包装方法
GB2237553A (en) * 1989-10-25 1991-05-08 Robert John Hunt Plastic bags with gas venting means
US20010005974A1 (en) * 1999-12-27 2001-07-05 Ishida Co., Ltd. Bagging and packaging machine capable of filling a proper quantity of inert gas into bags
JP2005343492A (ja) * 2004-06-01 2005-12-15 Toppan Printing Co Ltd 自立袋
US20060045392A1 (en) * 2004-08-16 2006-03-02 Roger Bannister Transversely sealed container
US7748904B2 (en) * 2005-05-12 2010-07-06 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Multicompartment evacuable storage bag
US20070074492A1 (en) * 2005-10-03 2007-04-05 Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. Bag-filling packaging machine
US20070089377A1 (en) * 2005-10-25 2007-04-26 Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. Gas seal-in method for a bag with a gas filling compartment and packaging method for a bag with a gas filling compartment
US20070092164A1 (en) * 2005-10-25 2007-04-26 Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. Bag with a gas filling compartment, method for manufacturing the same, method for sealing gas in the same and method for packaging the same
US20080226207A1 (en) * 2007-03-14 2008-09-18 Cryovac, Inc. Packaging device and method of using the same
WO2009090674A2 (en) * 2008-01-17 2009-07-23 Ashok Chaturvedi Auto venting packages
US8328421B2 (en) * 2008-01-30 2012-12-11 S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Push-down compressible pouch with one-way valves on sides
US20100018160A1 (en) * 2008-07-22 2010-01-28 Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. Vertical-type bag packaging method and apparatus
US8858078B2 (en) * 2011-01-05 2014-10-14 Rene Eric Vonwiller Vacuum baggie
US20120210675A1 (en) * 2011-02-18 2012-08-23 SN Maschinenbau GmbH Method and apparatus for the two stage filling of flexible pouches
US20120240531A1 (en) * 2011-03-24 2012-09-27 Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. Intermittent Transport-Type Rotary Bag Filling and Packaging Apparatus

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150328855A1 (en) * 2014-05-13 2015-11-19 Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. Method and device for sealing gas in a gas compartment-equipped bag
US11111048B2 (en) * 2017-10-06 2021-09-07 Groninger & Co. Gmbh Unpacking system for an object, in particular a pharmaceutical or cosmetic object, packed in an item of packaging, in particular a pouch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2993138A3 (en) 2016-06-22
KR20160029676A (ko) 2016-03-15
EP2993138A2 (en) 2016-03-09
CN105398601A (zh) 2016-03-16
JP2016055878A (ja) 2016-04-21

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