WO1997010947A1 - Machine et procede de fabrication de poche en film plastique et de raccordement d'un embout - Google Patents

Machine et procede de fabrication de poche en film plastique et de raccordement d'un embout Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1997010947A1
WO1997010947A1 PCT/FI1996/000475 FI9600475W WO9710947A1 WO 1997010947 A1 WO1997010947 A1 WO 1997010947A1 FI 9600475 W FI9600475 W FI 9600475W WO 9710947 A1 WO9710947 A1 WO 9710947A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
spout
machine
pouch
sheets
cap
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FI1996/000475
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Tuomo Halonen
Original Assignee
Elecster Co.
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 Elecster Co. filed Critical Elecster Co.
Priority to AU73211/96A priority Critical patent/AU7321196A/en
Priority to EP96929339A priority patent/EP0851809A1/fr
Publication of WO1997010947A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997010947A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B70/00—Making flexible containers, e.g. envelopes or bags
    • 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
    • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B3/02—Machines characterised by the incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B2160/00—Shape of flexible containers
    • B31B2160/10—Shape of flexible containers rectangular and flat, i.e. without structural provision for thickness of contents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B70/00—Making flexible containers, e.g. envelopes or bags
    • B31B70/74—Auxiliary operations
    • B31B70/81—Forming or attaching accessories, e.g. opening devices, closures or tear strings
    • B31B70/84—Forming or attaching means for filling or dispensing contents, e.g. valves or spouts
    • B31B70/844—Applying rigid valves, spouts, or filling tubes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a machine and a method for the manufacture of a plastic film pouch and attaching a spout thereto and wherein the machine can also fill the pouch with a content prior to the sealing and discharge of the pouch from the machine.
  • Pouches with dispensing spouts are usually utilized for institutional use and wherein large quantities of liquids, such as milk, may be dispensed within a bag having a capacity of retaining 5, 10 and even 20 liters of product therein.
  • the present machine was designed to form milk pouched, it could be used to dispense materials other than milk within these pouches and not necessarily liquid products.
  • institutional bag making consists essentially of providing two rows of thin plastic film which may be single or double ply, having a thickness of 2 mil per ply to provide both top and bottom side walls of the bag. Both rows of film are unwound simultaneously and are guided towards a three sided sealing mechanism. Prior to reaching the sealer, a hole is punched out of one of the films in an area where the bottom portion of the dispensing spout base will be pushed up therethrough and a polyethylene film is heat sealed to the top of the cap flange. The two films then continue into the three sided sealer. A horizontal sealer is provided to seal the bag completely and separate it from the next bag. A perforation is then made through the overlaid plastic sheets whereby to connect the bags to one another.
  • the top of the cap is then placed automatically or manually onto the dispensing spout.
  • a product such as liquid milk
  • an operator either fills individual bags through the spout and then places a cap on the spout. If the bag is - 2 -
  • the caps are removed from the base and the bag is filled.
  • the bag then goes through a recapping operation and the filled bag is then placed into a container. If the bags are on rolls, the operator would start the process by putting the first bag into a tracking area which would lead the bag into a decapper, then through a filling station and then through a recapper.
  • the filled bag can then be dropped automatically into a case or a transport conveyor. Accordingly, it can be seen that by forming these bags with the prior art methods, it is necessary to remove the cap from the dispensing spout base to fill the bag and this can be done automatically or semi-automatically but the cap has to then be placed back onto the spout. This is a slow process and because the cap is removed and replaced onto the spout it may not always provide a proper seal once a liquid mass is provided in the bag as the bag becomes more difficult to handle.
  • Another feature of the present invention is to provide a machine and a method for automatically making the plastic film pouch from a folded film sheet and attaching a spout thereto without puncturing the film in the area of the spout and wherein the formed bag is filled with a liquid and completely sealed prior to being automatically conveyed to a container.
  • the present invention provides a machine for manufacturing a plastic film pouch with a dispensing spout attached thereto.
  • the spout has a dispensing orifice.
  • the machine comprises guide means for guiding two overlaid film sheets through the machine to a positioner means to position a dispensing spout adjacent one of the two overlaid film sheets at a predetermined position with respect to a sealer device.
  • Means is provided to displace a portion of the other of the sheets while the sheets are stationary to permit the sealer device to seal the one of the sheets about the dispensing orifice of the spout.
  • Sealing means is provided to form seals along at least some unconnected edges of the overlaid sheets to form a pouch having the spout connected thereto.
  • the machine also has the capability of filling the form pouch and sealing the entire pouch prior to automatically discharging same from the machine.
  • the machine also applies a cap to the dispensing spout connected to one of the film sheets.
  • a method of forming a plastic film pouch and automatically securing a dispensing spout thereto The spout has a dispensing orifice.
  • the method comprises guiding two overlaid film sheets along a predetermined path.
  • a dispensing spout is positioned adjacent one of the two overlaid film sheets at a predetermined position with respect to a sealer device with the spout oriented in a specific manner.
  • a portion of the other of the sheets is retracted while the sheets are stationary to permit the sealer device to seal the one of the sheets about the dispensing orifice of the spout.
  • the said overlaid film sheets are sealed together along at least some unconnected edges to form a pouch having the spout connected thereto.
  • the method also comprises the step of securing a closing cap in sealing engagement with an outer end of the spout, filling the bag with a liquid content and completely sealing same.
  • the method also further provides the step of puncturing a hole in the one film sheet to which the spout base is secured to in the area of the dispensing orifice of the spout.
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified side view showing the construction of the pouch manufacturing machine of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is an opposed side view of the machine illustrating other features thereof;
  • FIG. 3 is an end view of the machine showing the filling station and the control panel;
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of a spout base being guided to a base picker;
  • FIG. 5 is a simplified schematic view showing a folded film sheet with one of the sheets being withdrawn for welding the spout base to one of the film sheets;
  • FIG. 6 is a simplified side view showing the ultrasonic welder for fusing the plastic film sheet to a base flange of the spout base;
  • FIG. 7 is a fragmented section view showing a cap being positioned onto the spout base by a cylinder head with the spout base resting against a back plate;
  • FIG. 8 is a simplified fragmented view illustrating the bag forming and filling station of the machine.
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a plastic film pouch having a capped spout secured thereto and filled with a product, all of which is fabricated in accordance with the present invention.
  • Fig. 1 there is shown generally at 10 the machine of the present invention for manufacturing the plastic film pouch 11 as illustrated in Fig. 9 and having a dispensing spout 12 secured to a side wall 13 of the pouch.
  • the dispensing spout 12 has a cap 14 secured thereto.
  • the machine 10 is provided with a dispensing spout base vibratable dispensing container 18 in which is fed a plurality of spout bases 16 as illustrated in Fig. 4.
  • a plurality of spout caps 17, as illustrated in Fig. 7, are also contained within a cap container 15.
  • the spout bases 16 are discharged from the container 18 in a predetermined oriented manner along guide rails 19 to a base picker device 20.
  • the caps 17 in the container 15 are likewise guided by guide rails 18' to a cylinder head 21 to apply the cap onto the spout base 16, as will be described later.
  • a supply roll 22 of a folded plastic film sheet 23 is retained at a lower end of the machine 10 on a support frame 24 and the sheet is guided through a plurality of dancer rolls and guide rolls 25 to maintain a predetermined tension in the folded sheet and to guide same on a vertical travel path 26 in the machine.
  • Figs. 4 to 7 there will be described the manner in which the spout base 16 is secured to one of the overlaid film sheets 23' and 23" of the folded film sheet 23.
  • the folded film sheet 23 travels through the vertical travel path 26, which is equipped with a guide plate 27 provided with a longitudinal slot 28 therein.
  • the slot has an enlarged bottom end 29 which is aligned with an ultrasonic ring-shaped welding head 30.
  • the base picker 20 In opposed axial alignment with the welding head 30 is the base picker 20 having a suppport end cavity (not shown) and in which one of the spout bases 16 is retained.
  • a transfer cartridge 20' transfers the spout bases from the rails to the picker 20.
  • the travelling folded sheet 23 is stopped at a predetermined location and a retracting mechanism 31 having a cylinder operated retracting plate 32 with a U- shaped slot through which an outer free edge 33 of the plastic film sheet 23' extends whereby to withdraw the sheet to move it away from the enlarged bottom end 29 in the guide plate 27.
  • the base picker then moves the spout base 16 with its outer circumferential flange 34 positioned against the other plastic film sheet 23".
  • the ultrasonic welding head 30 then moves in the direction of the enlarged opening 29 and welds the film sheet 23" about the outer circumferential flange 34 of the spout base.
  • Both the base picker and the ultrasonic welding head then retract and the spout base 16 is now connected to the film sheet 23".
  • the retracting mechanism 31 also moves to its initial position in alignment with the straight edge 33 of the film sheet 23' and the sheet is then advanced a predetermined length to the next cycle.
  • the machine may also be provided with a puncture cylinder 35 having a puncture rod 36 at the end thereof displaceable from a retracted position to a working position to puncture the plastic sheet 23' inside the nozzle orifice 41 at another location where the plastic film sheet 23' is not in obstruction with the film sheet 23" whereby to form a hole to provide access to the inside of the pouch to be formed.
  • the puncture cylinder 35 could also be located at the same station as the ultrasonic welder and move in and out of position in that area.
  • the cap 17 may also be connected to another spout base 16 already attached to the film sheet and this is done at the cap application station 37.
  • the film sheets are both positioned in front of a backing plate 38 and a cylinder head 39 picks up one of the caps 17 from the guide rails 18' at a loading station and transfers it in engagement about the outer end portion 40 of the spout base 16 for sealing engagement therewith.
  • the spout With the spout now attached to one of the film sheets of the folded plastic film sheet 23 they now travel onto a pouch forming and filling station where a pouch is formed, a product, such as liquid milk is dispensed therein, the pouch is completely sealed and discharged onto a discharge conveyor 43. The pouches 11 are then discharged into handling containers (not shown) which are also transferred on a conveyor.
  • the pouch forming and filling station operates in the following manner.
  • dispensing means in the form of two conduits 43 and 44 are positioned side-by-side and extend axially between the overlaid film sheets 23' and 23". These conduits have a right angle joint 43' and 44' over which the unconnected edges 33 of the film sheet extend.
  • the free ends of the conduits 43 and 44 have a dispensing nozzle 43" and 44", respectively.
  • Metering devices 45 are associated with each of the pipes 43 and 44 to dispense predetermined quantities of liquid, herein milk, through the nozzles.
  • the nozzle 43" is utilized to dispense a fixed quantity of liquid while the nozzle 44" regulates the exact amount of milk dispensed within the pouch. However, before dispensing the liquid the pouch has to be formed.
  • the pouch is formed by a horizontal sealing device
  • the horizontal sealing device is an impulse device equipped with two hot sealing strips 48 and 49 with sealing strip 48 sealing the bottom of the top pouch 11' being formed and sealing strip 49 sealing the top of the filled pouch 11".
  • the sealing pressure is generated by compressed air cylinder 51, as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the sealing and cutting of the pouches as well as the sealing time can be adjusted separately.
  • Both sealing devices 46 and 47 are cooled with water, the flow of which is adjusted with a valve (not shown) situated on the rear part of the machine where the control panel 52 is located.
  • Liquid product is supplied through the conduits 43 and 44 and their metering device that portions out a certain preprogrammed amount of the product to be dispensed into the pouch.
  • the horizontal sealing device 46 forms the seal of the bottom seal of the top pouch 11' and the top seal of the fill pouch 11" and the bottom pouch is cut off, simultaneously, the vertical sealing device 47 effectuates the vertical seam also by means of a sealing strip 53.
  • the top pouch 11' thus being formed, the metering device starts portioning liquid into the pouch.
  • a film traction motor unwinds the film from the film supply roll 22 for a preprogrammed time.
  • a lever mechanism 54 opens the sealing jaws 57 and 56 of the horizontal sealing device 46 for the passage of the filled pouch.
  • the filled pouch 11" is released it falls onto a discharge conveyor 43, as shown in Fig. 2.
  • the control panel 52 is provided with a metering device 58 which is a magnetic-inductive flow meter to select the amount of product, herein milk, to be dispensed.
  • the selection is programmed through a thumb wheel 59.
  • the pressure in the dispensing conduits is as constant as possible and varies no more than 5 percent. It is also important not to have any air in the conduits.
  • the control panel 52 also has an operating panel 60 through which various settings of the machine can be controlled.
  • a pouch counter 61 automatically counts the number of pouches being formed and filled by the machine.
  • the program selector switch 62 selects the program suited for different products as well as selecting a wash program wherein the pipes are flushed with water.
  • a plurality of switches 63 are also provided to control the voltage, the temperatures, and the start and stop of the machine.
  • Signal lamps 64 also provide a visual indication of various machine functions such as end of film, emergency stopping, etc.
  • the machine incorporates numerous other features not described herewith and such as the feed slide 64 in order to feed spouts having discharge hoses and end caps (not shown) connected thereto into the machine for securement to the film sheets and guide rolls to assure that the film sheets are retained in proper alignment and under proper tension.
  • the machine is also equipped with housing panels 65 and various doors 66 to provide for a clean environment within the machine and further to provide access for maintenance and repair and permits ease of repositioning the film sheets. Pressurized air can also be injected within the machine housing to maintain a clean environment.
  • a supply roll 22 of folded film sheet and wherein both sheets are guided through the machine along a predetermined path with the two film sheets 23' and 23" overlaid.
  • a dispensing spout base 16 is positioned adjacent one of the two overlaid sheets at a predetermined position with respect to a sealer device, herein the ultrasonic sealer 30, to seal one of the film sheets against a contour flange of the spout base. A portion of the other film sheet is retracted to permit the sealing operation.
  • a cap may then be applied to the orifice end or outer end portion 40 of the spout, and the film sheet to which the spout base is secured may be punctured whereby liquid can be later dispensed therethrough.
  • the overlaid film sheets are sealed together along some of their connected edges with a product dispensing conduit means disposed between the film sheets whereby to form a pouch.
  • a metered amount of product is dispensed within the bag which is then advanced and sealed and released on a discharge conveyor. This operation is done quickly and automatically and there is no need to fill the pouch through the dispensing orifice of the spout which includes the removal of a spout cap as well as the replacement thereof .
  • the machine is entirely automatic and all that is necessary is for an operator to set the various controls and switches on the control panel and to monitor the panel from time to time.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Making Paper Articles (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention a trait à une machine et à un procédé de fabrication d'une poche à partir d'un film en plastique et d'y raccorder un embout. Deux minces films superposés sont amenés au voisinage immédiat d'un dispositif de positionnement pour base d'embout destiné à positionner un embout distributeur adjacent à l'un des films minces superposés à un emplacement prédéfini par rapport à un dispositif de scellement. L'un de ces films est déplacé dans la zone du dispositif de scellement par l'intermédiaire duquel la base d'embout peut être scellée sur un seul film. Il est possible d'assujettir un capuchon à l'embout, de même qu'il est possible, si on le souhaite, de perforer le film auquel est fixée la base de l'embout. Les films superposés n'étant pas reliés par l'un de leurs bords, il est possible de les diriger sur un ou plusieurs embouts à liquide afin de remplir la poche, une fois scellés le fond et une paroi latérale. Une fois pleine, la poche est déplacée pour être scellée sur son extrémité sommitale libre, elle est ensuite détachée des films superposés avant son transbordement sur un convoyeur d'évacuation réceptionnant les poches pleines munies de leur embout.
PCT/FI1996/000475 1995-09-22 1996-09-05 Machine et procede de fabrication de poche en film plastique et de raccordement d'un embout WO1997010947A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU73211/96A AU7321196A (en) 1995-09-22 1996-09-05 Machine and method for making a plastic film pouch and attaching a spout thereto
EP96929339A EP0851809A1 (fr) 1995-09-22 1996-09-05 Machine et procede de fabrication de poche en film plastique et de raccordement d'un embout

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2,158,900 1995-09-22
CA002158900A CA2158900C (fr) 1995-09-22 1995-09-22 Machine et methode pour fabriquer un sac en pellicule plastique et y fixer un bec verseur

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997010947A1 true WO1997010947A1 (fr) 1997-03-27

Family

ID=4156636

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/FI1996/000475 WO1997010947A1 (fr) 1995-09-22 1996-09-05 Machine et procede de fabrication de poche en film plastique et de raccordement d'un embout

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0851809A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU7321196A (fr)
CA (1) CA2158900C (fr)
WO (1) WO1997010947A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011005997A1 (de) * 2011-03-23 2012-09-27 Robert Bosch Gmbh Verfahren zum Anbringen einer Öffnungs- und Schliessvorrichtung auf einen Schlauchbeutel mittels Ultraschallschweissung

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2074934A (en) * 1980-05-05 1981-11-11 Gaubert Rene Jean Marie Pouch making machine
WO1993010967A1 (fr) * 1991-12-03 1993-06-10 Capitol Spouts, Inc. Procede et appareil servant a fixer un bec verseur sur un recipient
WO1994005561A1 (fr) * 1991-04-09 1994-03-17 The Coca-Cola Company Sac pliable a passage d'evacuation et son procede de production

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2074934A (en) * 1980-05-05 1981-11-11 Gaubert Rene Jean Marie Pouch making machine
WO1994005561A1 (fr) * 1991-04-09 1994-03-17 The Coca-Cola Company Sac pliable a passage d'evacuation et son procede de production
WO1993010967A1 (fr) * 1991-12-03 1993-06-10 Capitol Spouts, Inc. Procede et appareil servant a fixer un bec verseur sur un recipient

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011005997A1 (de) * 2011-03-23 2012-09-27 Robert Bosch Gmbh Verfahren zum Anbringen einer Öffnungs- und Schliessvorrichtung auf einen Schlauchbeutel mittels Ultraschallschweissung

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2158900A1 (fr) 1997-03-23
AU7321196A (en) 1997-04-09
CA2158900C (fr) 2006-11-21
EP0851809A1 (fr) 1998-07-08

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