WO2004094252A1

WO2004094252A1 - Pouch container and method for making the same

Info

Publication number: WO2004094252A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/000948
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jung-Min Lee
Original assignee: Jung-Min Lee
Priority date: 2003-04-23
Filing date: 2004-04-23
Publication date: 2004-11-04

Abstract

The present invention is designed to improve a self-supporting property and retention of the original form by expanding both upper and lower parts while filling up contents, and to realize production automation by using common production equipment. Thus, while configuring a contents receiving space formed by overlapping a front film with a rear film and sealing frames thereof, the present invention provides a liquid filling pouch and a method making the same, comprising: a lower gusset portion foldably formed in a lower part between the front film and the rear film, and being expanded such that the pouch itself can be self-supported while filling up contents; an upper gusset portion formed by folding an upper end of the front film; unsealed portions extended from the upper gusset portion in certain length, being overlapped with the equivalent rear film, and including and opening; and sealing portions formed on both sides of the front film and the rear film.

Description

[Description]

POUCH CONTAINER AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME

[Field of the Invention]

The present invention generally relates to a liquid filling pouch and a

making method thereof that can maintain a self-supporting state by being

expanded while filling up contents and be folded in compact size before filling up

the contents or after discharging them, by forming upper and lower gusset portions

between a front film and a rear film.

Furthermore, the present invention can fold the upper gusset portion of the

front film by integratedly extending the upper gusset portion, thereby realizing

production automation by using existing equipment.

[Background of the Invention]

Liquid contents or gel-type contents such as cream, source,

medicinal waters, detergents or drinks are contained in various types of pouches, and are packaged for marketing.

So, a general liquid filling pouch forms a predetermined space inside by

sealing more than one side of a flexible film through heat deflection and heat

adhesion methods, and interposes a discharge stand between film surfaces of

sealing portions.

Another type of liquid filling pouch has two sheets of films that are sealed

together, but it is not widely accepted for the use of drinks due to its weak self-

supporting property.

In order to overcome the above problem, a foldable portion is formed in a

lower part of the pouch for self-supporting. However, when contents contained in

the pouch are discharged in half and the residual contents are preserved, the

pouch tends to slant toward one side.

Particularly, when the pouch contained with detergents slants toward one

side, various problems are generated. To solve theses problems, a reinforcing

portion is attached to a side portion of the pouch, preventing the pouch from falling

to the one side. As another example, a pouch with an improved self-supporting property

has been suggested in the Japan Publicized Patent No. 10-329849. However, the

above pouch cannot be manufactured with a general M-type back sealer.

[Brief Description of the Drawings]

The invention, together with further aspects and advantages thereof, may

best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction

with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view illustrating a liquid filling pouch in accordance with the

present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view in accordance with the present

invention;

Fig. 3 is a side view showing an expanded state of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is an expanded diagram illustrating a lower gusset portion in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are perspective views illustrating a making method of a

liquid filling pouch in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 7 through Fig. 9 are perspective and front views illustrating another

embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 are perspective and front views illustrating another

embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 12 through Fig. 15 are front views illustrating a structure of a discharge

hole and an unsealed portion in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 16 and Fig. 17 are front views illustrating a structure of an unsealed

portion and an upper sealing portion in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating another embodiment of

the present invention; and Fig. 19 and Fig. 20 are front and perspective views illustrating another

embodiment of installing a discharge hole in the present invention.

[Detailed Description of the Invention]

[Summary of the Invention]

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a self-

supporting property and retention of the original form by forming upper and lower

gusset portions between a front film and a rear film such that the upper and lower

portions can be expanded while filling up contents.

Also, it is another object of the present invention to fold an upper gusset

portion by integratedly extending the upper gusset portion of the front film, thereby

improving productivity and realizing production automation as using existing

equipment.

[Solutions of the Invention]

To accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a liquid filling pouch which includes a contents receiving space formed by overlapping a

front film with a rear film and sealing frames thereof, comprising: a lower gusset

portion foldable in a lower part between the front film and the rear film, and being

expanded such that the pouch can be self-supported while filling up contents; an

upper gusset portion formed by folding an upper end of the front film; unsealed

portions extended from the upper gusset portion in certain length, being

overlapped with the equivalent rear film, and including an opening; and sealing

portions formed on both sides of the front film and the rear film.

The lower gusset portion is extended from the front film or the rear film,

and is sealed with the equivalent rear film or the front film. In addition, it is

separately formed/sealed with the front film and the rear film.

As another example, zippers can be disposed in the opening of the

unsealed portions, and a discharge stand for configuring a main exit of contents

can be further comprised.

Here, in the unsealed portion, a cut-off part extended from a section of the

unsealed portion and divided into cut-off lines to be sealed is connected thereto. So as to realize the above objects, when making a liquid filling pouch

having an envelope-shaped contents receiving space by sealing a front film and a

rear film, the present invention provides a making method of a liquid filling pouch

comprising the steps of: foldably forming a lower gusset portion in a lower part

between the front film and the rear film; forming an upper gusset portion by folding

an upper end of the front film such that the upper end can be expanded, and

forming a section of the upper gusset portion such that the section can be

extended in certain length; forming unsealed portions by overlapping an extended

portion of the upper gusset portion with the equivalent rear film; and forming

sealing portions by fusing both sides of the front film and the rear film.

The unsealed portions can form an opening by cutting an upper end.

[Beneficial Effects]

A liquid filling pouch in accordance with the present invention mentioned so

far can expand both upper/lower parts while filling up contents by forming upper

and lower gusset portions between a front film and a rear film, so that a flexible

pouch body can be self-supported and stable as being firmly self-supported by

being unfolded in three dimensions after filling up the contents and while discharging them.

Besides, according to the present invention, it can be folded in compact

size before filling up the contents and after discharging them, being easily

carried/handled as reducing wastes.

Meanwhile, according to a making method in accordance with the present

invention, mass production is possible by a series of mechanical automation

processes, since the upper gusset portion of the front film can be folded by being

integratedly extended, while improving quality and reducing a production cost.

[Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments]

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to

exemplary preferred embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows one representative embodiment of the present invention.

Like shown in the drawing, a liquid filling pouch(100) in accordance with

the present invention overlaps a front film(110) with a rear film(120) which are composed of at least more than one sheet, and forms a space in which liquid

contents are to be filled up, by sealing the films. More specifically, three sides

among frames of the front film(110) and the rear film(120) are sealed, and the rest

one side(upper section) is unsealed, then the pouch is sealed after filling up the

contents.

Such a liquid filling pouch(100) comprises an upper gusset portion(130)

and a lower gusset portion(140) in upper/lower parts, respectively, and unsealed

portions(150) of the upper part get wider in envelope shape while filling up the

contents.

Then, the upper gusset portion(130) is formed when an upper part of the

front film(110) is folded, and a surface for the unsealed portions(150) is formed by

being upward extended in certain length from the section of the folded upper

gusset portion(130). The unsealed portions(150) are made by overlapping an

extended portion of the upper gusset portion(130) with the equivalent rear

film(120). The unsealed portions(150) form an opening(or injection port) in an

upper section created at a boundary between the front film(110) and the rear

film(120), and the opening can be formed by cutting the upper section of the

unsealed portions(150). Moreover, the lower gusset portion(140) can be integratedly formed with a

lower part of the front film(110) or a lower part of the rear film(120) without being

separately formed. And, the lower gusset portion(140) can be integrated to

connect the front film(110) with the rear film(120), and fused/sealed by forming a

sealing portion(170) after being disposed as a separate part.

Both sides of the pouch body(100) where the upper/lower gusset

portions(130,140) are comprised are sealed by sealing portions(160), and a lower

section thereof is processed by the sealing portion(170) according to the formation

of the lower gusset portion(140).

The pouch body(100) in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 seals the unsealed portions(150)

after interposing contents by widening the unsealed portions(150), which is shown

in Fig. 3. In this case, the upper gusset portion(130) and the lower gusset

portion(140) of the pouch body(100) are expanded all, improving a self-supporting

property.

An [A] part marked in Fig. 3 is made by unfolding an [A] part of Fig. 1. Here,

in case unsealed portions(150) are sealed, they are processed as a sealing

portion(180). Fig. 4 is an integrated structure of a front film(HO) and a rear film(120)

while forming a lower gusset portion(140). In this case, a sealing portion in a lower

part is unnecessary.

Fig. 5 shows a method of making a pouch body(100).

Like shown in the drawing, the pouch body(100) vertically forms

upper/lower gusset portions(130,140) between a front film(110) and a rear

film(120).

Also, the upper gusset portion(130) is formed when an upper part of the

front film(110) is folded, and an upper section of the folded upper gusset

portion(130) is upward extended further in certain length, forming a side for

unsealed portions(150). The side for the unsealed portions(150) is configured by

overlapping the rear film(120) being equivalent to an extended part of the upper

gusset portion(130).

Furthermore, the lower gusset portion(140) can be integratedly configured

with a lower part of the front film(110) or a lower part of the rear film(120) without

being formed separately. Like shown in Fig. 6, the pouch(100) mentioned so far is folded while

passing through a series of consecutive processes, and forms sealing

portions(160,170) according to its type. Finally, the pouch body(100) like Fig. 1 is

completed by cutting a central line of the sealing portions(160).

Certainly, in some cases, the front film(110) is integratedly connected to the

rear film(120) based on the upper gusset portion(130), or the front film(110) and

the lower gusset portion(140) can be integrated together. Or, the rear film(120) and

the lower gusset portion(140) can be integrated together.

Fig. 7 shows a structure of zippers(80) being formed in an opening of

unsealed portions(150). The zippers(80) preserve remaining contents with great

storage efficiency.

Fig. 8 shows an easy-to-open property by disposing a cut-off line(151) on

one side of an unsealed portion(150). A handle portion(190) cut in perforation or

certain type is formed on one side of the unsealed portion(150) to easily grasp a

pouch body(100).

Fig. 9 is a transformed structure of the above handle portion(190), forming the handle portion(190) on a side sealing portion(160).

Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 show that a discharge stand(200) for discharging

contents of a pouch body(100) to an opening of unsealed portions(150) of the

pouch body(100).

Desirably, like shown in Fig. 11 , it is better to process both sides of the

unsealed portions(150) as a sealing portion(180) to easily insert the discharge

stand(200).

In this state, a body of the discharge stand(200) is inserted after widening

the opening of the unsealed portions(150) with a series of predetermined

mechanical devices, and a sealing portion(181') is formed by melting/compressing

the inserted discharge stand by heat, which is shown in Fig. 10.

In such a state of Fig. 10, after contents are put into through a curved

portion of the body of the discharge stand(200), it is coupled by covering with a

cover.

As another embodiment of the present invention, like shown in Fig. 12, an optional one-sided edge part of unsealed portions(150) of a pouch body(100) is

cut, and a discharge stand(200) can be attached to the cut part.

Like shown in Fig. 13, the above discharge stand(200) can be formed in

one-button type open structure, and also, can be in various types without

limitations.

As another embodiment, like shown in Fig. 14, a pouch(100) in accordance

with the present invention forms a cut-off part(152) divided in a cut-off line(151) on

an optional one-sided edge part of an unsealed portion(150), and can attach a

discharge stand(200) in order to sanitarily protect it by the cut-off part(152).

Moreover, Fig. 15 shows a structure of a discharge stand(200) being

attached to a roughly central inner part of an unsealed portion(150). A cut-off

part(152) divided in a cut-off line(151) is extended in an upper part of the

discharge stand(200), and a section of the cut-off part(152) is processed as a

sealing portion(180).

Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 show that a cut-off part(152) is removed as destroying

a cut-off line(151) when the cut-off part(152) is pulled over based on the cut-off line(151), exposing the discharge stand(200) in a used state.

A pouch(100) in Fig. 16 comprises a front film(110), a rear film(120), an

upper gusset portion(130), and a lower gusset portion(140), has both-sided

sealing portions(160), and forms an upper side of a lower-sided sealing

portion(170) in round shape. In this case, the pouch(100) in accordance with the

present invention expands in round shape when contents are injected, thereby

further improving acceptance of the contents.

In addition, it is possible to design both sides of the unsealed portion(150)

in various shapes of a sealing portion(180). In the drawing, an inner space is in

bottle shape.

Fig. 17 shows a main exit structure of contents formed by a sealing method

of an unsealed portion(150) without using another discharge stand. A kettle-

shaped main exit(210) is formed on an edge of the unsealed portion(150) by

improving a shape of a sealing portion(180). At this time, the main exit(210) is

sealed/opened by a cut-off part(152) divided in a cut-off line(151).

In Fig. 18, a pouch(100) in accordance with the present invention shows that sections of an upper gusset portion(130) and unsealed portions(150) are

formed in the same height. The unsealed portions(150) are not extended from the

section of the upper gusset portion(130), and are configured in itself.

Besides, it is available for the present invention to use various materials

such as complicated films or paper kinds for the front film(110) and the rear

film(120).

Fig. 19 and Fig. 20 show another embodiment of the present invention.

Like shown, a pouch(100) can interpose a discharge stand(200) on either a

front side or a rear side of an upper gusset portion(130), and forms side

sections(135) of the upper gusset portion by cutting both parts of the upper gusset

portion(130) in certain length, where the discharge stand(200) is located, to

prevent any obstacles while inserting/sealing the discharge stand(200). Also, the

side sections(135) of the upper gusset portion form an upper gusset portion side

sealing portion(186) for sealing.

Like shown in Fig. 19, for example, the pouch(100) interposes contents by

widening the unsealed portion(150), and forms the unsealed portion(150) as a sealing portion(180), thereby maintaining a self-supporting property while the

upper gusset portion(130) is unfolded like shown in Fig. 20.

As shown in Fig. 19, there are no obstacles for the side sections(135) of

the upper gusset portion to attach the discharge stand(200). Thus, it is easy to

adhere the discharge stand(200) to an edge portion of the pouch(100).

Collapsed-type streamlined portions are formed in an optional height side

part of the pouch(100), and a handle(190) having a guide portion(191) which a

user can put a finger in is formed in one of the streamlined portions.

When the user grasps the handle(190) after inserting the finger into the

guide portion(191), the pouch(100) is stably lifted up.

Since a part where the handle(190) is formed is in streamlined type, an

overall shape looks very beautiful. And, there is no need to form another space for

forming the handle(190).

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A liquid filling pouch formed to have an envelope-shaped contents

receiving space by sealing a front film with a rear film, comprising:

a lower gusset portion foldable in a lower part between the front film and

the rear film, and being expanded such that the pouch itself can be self-supported

while filling up contents;

an upper gusset portion formed by folding an upper end of the front film;

unsealed portions extended from the upper gusset portion in certain length,

being overlapped with the equivalent rear film, and including an opening; and

sealing portions formed on both sides of the front film and the rear film.

2. The liquid filling pouch of claim 1 , wherein the lower gusset portion is

extended from the front film or the rear film, and is sealed with the equivalent rear

film or the front film.

3. The liquid filling pouch of claim 1 , wherein the lower gusset portion is

separately formed from the front film and the rear film, and is sealed.

4. The liquid filling pouch of claim 1, wherein zippers installed in the opening of the unsealed portions are comprised.

5. The liquid filling pouch of claim 1 , wherein a discharge stand for

configuring a main exit of the contents by being inserted/sealed into the opening of

the unsealed portions is comprised.

6. The liquid filling pouch of claim 5, wherein the discharge stand is

installed on an edge of the unsealed portions.

7. The liquid filling pouch of claim 1, 4, 5 or 6, wherein a cut-off part further

extended from the unsealed portions, being divided in a cut-off line, and being

sealed is comprised.

8. A method of making a liquid filling pouch having an envelope-shaped

contents receiving space by sealing a front film with a rear film, comprising the

steps of:

forming a lower gusset portion in a lower part between the front film and

the rear film such that the lower gusset portion can be folded;

forming an upper gusset portion by folding/expanding an upper end of the

front film, and forming a section of the upper gusset portion such that the section can be extended in certain length;

forming unsealed portions by overlapping an extended part of the upper

gusset portion with the equivalent rear film; and

forming sealing portions by fusing both sides of the front film and the rear

film.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein an opening is formed by cutting an

upper end of unsealed portions.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein zippers are installed in the unsealed

portions.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a discharge stand is inserted into the

unsealed portions, and is sealed therein.

12. The method of claim 8, 10 or 11 , wherein the unsealed portions are

further extended, and a cut-off part divided in a cut-off line is formed.