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
  • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
  • B65B61/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging
  • B65B61/025—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging for applying, e.g. printing, code or date marks on material prior to packaging
• • 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
  • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
  • B65B5/02—Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
• • 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
  • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C48/03—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
  • B29C48/07—Flat, e.g. panels
  • B29C48/08—Flat, e.g. panels flexible, e.g. films
• • 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
  • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C48/03—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
  • B29C48/09—Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
  • B29C48/11—Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels comprising two or more partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. honeycomb-shaped
• • 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
  • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C48/03—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
  • B29C48/12—Articles with an irregular circumference when viewed in cross-section, e.g. window profiles
• • 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
  • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C48/03—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
  • B29C48/13—Articles with a cross-section varying in the longitudinal direction, e.g. corrugated pipes
• • 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
  • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C48/15—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. extrusion moulding around inserts
• • 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
  • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C48/25—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
  • B29C48/355—Conveyors for extruded articles
• • 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
  • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C48/25—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
  • B29C48/88—Thermal treatment of the stream of extruded material, e.g. cooling
  • B29C48/911—Cooling
  • B29C48/9135—Cooling of flat articles, e.g. using specially adapted supporting means
  • B29C48/914—Cooling of flat articles, e.g. using specially adapted supporting means cooling drums
• • 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
  • B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
  • B65B11/50—Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins
• • 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
  • B65B43/04—Forming flat bags from webs
  • B65B43/06—Forming flat bags from webs from more than one web
• • 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
  • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
  • B65B61/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging
• • 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
  • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
  • B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
  • B65B9/04—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material
  • B65B9/042—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material for fluent material
• • 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
  • B65D33/004—Information or decoration elements, e.g. level indicators, detachable tabs or coupons
• • 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
  • B65D81/2007—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 under vacuum
  • B65D81/2038—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 under vacuum with means for establishing or improving vacuum
• • 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
  • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C48/25—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
  • B29C48/88—Thermal treatment of the stream of extruded material, e.g. cooling
  • B29C48/90—Thermal treatment of the stream of extruded material, e.g. cooling with calibration or sizing, i.e. combined with fixing or setting of the final dimensions of the extruded article
  • B29C48/906—Thermal treatment of the stream of extruded material, e.g. cooling with calibration or sizing, i.e. combined with fixing or setting of the final dimensions of the extruded article using roller calibration
• • 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
  • B31B2160/106—Shape of flexible containers rectangular and flat, i.e. without structural provision for thickness of contents obtained from sheets cut from larger sheets or webs before finishing the bag forming operations
• • 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
  • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
  • B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
  • B65B9/04—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material
  • B65B2009/047—Rotary pocket formers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to bags for use in vacuum packaging and methods and devices for manufacturing bags for use in vacuum packaging.
• Methods and devices for preserving perishable foods such as fish and meats, processed foods, prepared meals, and left-overs, and non-perishable items are widely known, and widely varied.
• Foods are perishable because organisms such as bacteria, fungus and mold grow over time after a food container is opened and the food is left exposed to the atmosphere.
• Most methods and devices preserve food by protecting food from organism-filled air.
• a common method and device includes placing food into a gas-impermeable plastic bag, evacuating the air from the bag using suction from a vacuum pump or other suction source, and tightly sealing the bag.
• a bag for use in vacuum packaging can consist of a first panel and second panel, each panel consisting of a single layer of heat-sealable, plastic-based film (for example, polyethylene).
• the panels are sealed together along a substantial portion of the periphery of the panels by heat-sealing techniques so as to form an envelope.
• Perishable products such as spoilable food, or other products are packed into the envelope via the unsealed portion through which air is subsequently evacuated .
• the unsealed portion is heated and pressed such that the panels adhere to each other, sealing the bag.
• 2,778,173, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method for improving the evacuation of air from the bag by forming channels in at least one of the panels with the aid of embossing techniques. Air escapes from the bag along the channels during evacuation .
• the embossing forms a pattern of protuberances on at least one of the panels.
• the protuberances can be discrete pyramids, hemispheres, etc., and are formed by pressing a panel using healed female and male dies.
• the first panel is overlaid on the second panel such that the protuberances from one panel face the opposite panel.
• the contacting peripheral edges of the panels are sealed to each other to form an envelope having an inlet at an unsealed portion of the periphery.
• the perishable or other products are packed into the envelope through the inlet, and the inlet is sealed. Thereafter, an opening is pierced in a part of the panel material that communicates with the channels, air is removed from the interior of the envelope through the channels and opening, and the opening is sealed.
• This type of bag requires two additional sealing steps after the perishable or other product is packed into the envelope.
• embossing creates impressions on the plastic such that indentations are formed on the opposite side of the panel.
• a vacuum bag having a first panel and a second panel consisting of laminated films.
• Each panel comprises a heat- sealable inner layer, a gas-impermeable outer layer, and optionally, one or more intermediate layers.
• Such a bag is described in U.S. Pat. No. Re.34,929, incorporated herein by reference.
• At least one film from at least one panel is embossed using an embossing mold to form protuberances and channels defined by the space between protuberances, so that air is readily evacuated from the vacuum bag.
• the bag consists of a first and second panel, each panel consisting of a gas-impermeable outer layer and a heat-sealable inner layer.
• a plurality of heat-sealable strand elements are heat bonded at regular intervals to the inner layer of either the first panel or the second panel.
• the spaces between strand elements act as channels for the evacuation of air.
• the strand elements are extruded from an extrusion head and heat bonded to the heat-sealable layer by use of pressure rolls. Separate equipment is required for producing strand elements, and a procedure of heat bonding a plurality of strand elements at regular intervals to the heat-sealable inner layer is complicated. Also, various shapes of pattern are hard to form using this process.
• FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a method for manufacturing a vacuum bag in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 1B is a side view of the method shown in FIG. 1A illustrating the embossing method used in an embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 1 C is a close-up view of a portion of FIG. 1 B;
• FIG.2A-C are plan views of exemplary indicia on a panel in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, manufactured by the process shown in FIGs. 1A and
• FIG.3A is a cross-section of a portion of a first panel as illustrated in FIG.2B, overlapping a second panel of an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the indicia are indented into the inner layer;
• FIG.3B is a cross-section of a portion of a first panel as illustrated in FIG.2B, overlapping a second panel of an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the indicia are protuberances;
• FIG.4A is a perspective view of a method for manufacturing a vacuum bag having colored indicia in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a method for manufacturing a vacuum bag having colored indicia in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a vacuum bag in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• FIGs. 1A-1C illustrate one embodiment of a method for manufacturing a vacuum bag in accordance with the present invention.
• the vacuum bag comprises a first panel and a second panel, wherein each panel comprises a gas-impermeable base layer 108 and a heat-sealable inner layer 106 with at least one panel having indicia.
• a laminating roll 102 and a cooling roll 104 are arranged so that the heat-sealable inner layer 106 can be laminated to the gas-impermeable base layer 108 as the melt-extruded resin is cooled.
• the gap between the laminating roll 102 and the cooling roll 104 can be controlled according to specifications (for example, thickness) of a panel for use in vacuum packaging.
• the temperature of the cooling roll 104 is maintained in a range such that the melt-extruded resin is sufficiently cooled to form the desired pattern.
• a temperature range of about -15°C to about -10°C can be sufficient to properly form the desired pattern.
• the temperature range of the cooling roll 104 can vary according to the composition of the resin, the composition of the gas-impermeable base layer 108, environmental conditions, etc. and can require calibration.
• the cooling roll 104 can be sized to have a larger diameter than the laminating roll 102, thereby bringing the melt- extruded resin into contact with more cooled surface area.
• the diameter of the cooling roll 104 can be about one-and-a-half to about three times as large (or more) as that i of the laminating roll 102.
• the heat-sealable inner layer 106 typically comprises a thermoplastic resin.
• the resin can be comprised of polyethylene (PE) suitable for preserving foods and harmless to a human body.
• PE polyethylene
• a vacuum bag can be manufactured by overlapping two panels such that the heat-sealable inner layers 106 of the two panels are brought into contact and heat is applied to a portion of the periphery of the panels to form an envelope.
• the thermoplastic resin can be chosen so that the two panels strongly bond to each other when sufficient heat is applied.
• the gas-impermeable base layer can be comprised of polyester, polyamide, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), nylon, or other material having similar properties and capable of being used in this manufacturing process, and also capable of being heated.
• the gas-impermeable base layer 108 can consist of one layer, or two or more layers, and can be transparent so that indicia is visible through the gas-impermeable base layer 108. When employing a multilayer-structured base layer, it should be understood that a total thickness thereof is also adjusted within the allowable range for the total gas-impermeable base layer 108.
• An extruder 110 is positioned in such a way that the melt-extruded resin is layered on the gas-impermeable base layer 108 by feeding the melt-extruded resin to the nip between the cooling roll 104 and the gas-impermeable layer 108.
• the resin is fed through a nozzle 112 of the extruder 110.
• the temperature of the melt-extruded resin is dependent on the type of resin used, and can typically range from about 200°C to about 250°C.
• the amount of resin to be extruded into the laminating unit 100 is dependent on the desired thickness of the heat-sealable inner layer 106.
• a pattern fabricated on the circumferential surface of the cooling roll 104 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention can include protuberances and/or cavities or other pattern forforming indicia.
• the resin extruded from the nozzle 112 is pressed between the cooling roll 104 and the gas-impermeable base layer 108 and squeezed out where protuberances of the cooling roll 104 press into the resin, and/or the resin flows into the cavities of the cooling roll 104.
• the resin quickly cools and solidifies in the desired pattern while adhering to the gas-impermeable base layer 108, thereby forming the heat sealable inner layer 106 of the panel 220 as shown in FIG. 2A-2E.
• the heat-sealable inner layer 106 can be formed while the resin is sufficiently heated to allow the resin to flow, thereby molding the resin, unlike other methods adopting a post-embossing treatment where the heat-sealable inner layer is drawn by a die or embossed between male and female components.
• FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-section of two panels in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention wherein protuberances of the cooling roll 104 impress indicia into the melt-extruded resin .
• the heat-sealable inner layer 106 can range from 0.5-6.0 mils in thickness at the indicia, and 1.0-12.0 mils in thickness between indicia, while the gas- impermeable base layer 108 can range from about 0.5-8.0 mils in thickness.
• FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-section of two panels in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the cavities of the cooling roll 104 form indicia on the inner layer 106.
• the heat-sealable inner layer 106 for this alternative embodiment can range from 0.5-6.0 mils in thickness between indicia and 1.0-80.0 mils in thickness at the indicia.
• FIG. 2A-2C are plan views of panels 220 formed by the cooling roll 104 for use in a vacuum bag, in which the heat-sealable inner layer 106 is molded in such a way that indicia 224 are formed on the heat-sealable inner layer 106.
• the indicia 224 can denote the intended contents of the bag, for example the indicia can resemble fish or poultry, etc. This can be useful for identifying the contents of a bag or for identifying pre-seasoned bags for marinating foods.
• the indicia 224 can be a trademark denoting the manufacturer or some other entity, for example.
• the indicia 224 can be text, such as cooking or storing instructions or recipes.
• the indicia 224 can correspond to seasonal symbols such as snowmen or jack-o-lanterns.
• the indicia 224 can correspond to a name or mark of an owner of the contents.
• the indicia 224 can also be used to improve a characteristic of the bag. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, a pattern of protruding indicia 224 resembling fishes can be used to suspend contents such that liquid collects in the bag beneath the contents and between the indicia 224.
• the indicia 224 can also act as channels for the evacuation of air and/or other gases from the bag.
• the indicia 224 can comprise a thermoplastic resin, wherein the thermoplastic resin is dyed or colored as desired so that the indicia is visually more apparent to a user.
• the colored indicia 224 can be applied to the surface, for example, in a separate manufacturing step.
• indicia 224 imprinted as described above can be subsequently filled with dyed resin melt-extruded from a second extruder 450. Excess resin can be removed by a knife edge 452, and the panel can be cooled so that the dyed resin adheres to the heat-sealable inner layer 106, forming colored indicia.
• cavities and/or protuberances of the cooling roll 104 can include ink or dye so that indicia formed are colored by the ink or dye, while the melt- extruded resin surrounding the indicia is not colored by the ink or dye.
• the cavities and/or protuberances of the cooling roll 104 can be re-coated with ink or dye by a soft, saturated material mated to the cooling roll 104 as it rotates, thereby acting as an "inkpad” for the cooling roll 104.
• the ink or dye can be "sweated" into the cavities and/or protuberances through pores in the surface of the cavities and/or protuberances.
• FIG. 4B illustrates yet another embodiment in which a first layer of melt- extruded resin can be laminated to the gas-impermeable layer 108 as described above, however without any pattern. Subsequently, the laminated film can be fed to a gap between a second cooling roll 444 and a second laminating roll 442, where a second extruder 450 feeds melt-extruded, dyed resin to the second cooling roll 444 having cavities corresponding to indicia 224.
• a knife edge 452 removes excess resin as the second cooling roll 444 rotates, and the still-cooling dyed resin adheres to the laminated film to form raised, colored indicia 224.
• the laminated film can be fed to an ink-jet printer, or other printing device. Accordingly, colored fish, for example, can be formed against a clear background or a background of another color.
• FIG.5 illustrates a bag for use in vacuum packaging in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• the vacuum bag 560 comprises a first panel 520 overlapping a second panel 522. At least one indicia 224 is formed on at least one panel 520,522 in accordance with an embodiment described above.
• a panel 522,520 optionally includes channels 562 for evacuating air and other gases from the bag.
• the channels 562 can be formed, for example, along a portion of the panel as described in the cross-referenced application "LIQUID-TRAPPING BAG FOR VACUUM PACKAGING," incorporated herein by reference.
• the heat-sealable inner layer 106 and the gas-impermeable base layer 108 of the first and second panels 520,522 are typically made of the same material respectively , but can alternatively be made of different materials that exhibit heat-sealability and gas- impermeability respectively. Additionally, at least one panel 520,522 can be transparent so that indicia is visible.
• the circumferential surfaces of the cooling rolls 104 described above can optionally include protuberances for forming perforations (not shown), such thai a bag can be separated from a roll of bags by a customer.
• the heat-sealable inner layer 106 is used as an inner layer and the gas-impermeable base layer 108 is used as an outer layer.
• the lower, left, and right edges of the first and the second panel 520,522 are bonded to each other by heating, so as to form an envelope for receiving a perishable or other product to be vacuum packaged.
• air and/or other gases can be evacuated from the bag 560, for example by a vacuum sealing machine as described in the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,941 ,310, which is incorporated herein by reference.
• the inlet can be sealed by applying heat, thereby activating the heat-sealable inner layers 106 and bonding them together where contacted by the heat.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Bag Frames (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (8)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=32966713

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (1)

• 2004
  • 2004-03-05 AU AU2004217859A patent/AU2004217859A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-03-05 WO PCT/US2004/006954 patent/WO2004078592A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2004-03-05 KR KR1020057016429A patent/KR20050107601A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
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