WO2007081272A1

WO2007081272A1 - A web comprising sequentially disposed package blanks and an arrangement for manufacturing thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2007081272A1
Application number: PCT/SE2007/000023
Authority: WO
Inventors: Timo Järvinen; Allan Ejeblad
Original assignee: Kee Plastics Ab
Priority date: 2006-01-13
Filing date: 2007-01-12
Publication date: 2007-07-19

Abstract

A web of sequentially disposed package blanks is shown, in which web the package blanks (1) are held together by a continuous retaining means (2) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the web. Each of the package blanks (l) is formed from a tube (3') intersecting the longitudinal direction (L) of the web. Each of the package blanks (1) has a lateral edge (12, 13) which intersects the longitudinal direction (L) of the web and is formed from a material fold of the tube (3'). Moreover a method of making such a web of sequentially disposed package blanks is shown.

Description

A WEB COMPRISING SEQUENTIALLY DISPOSED PACKAGE BLANKS AND AM ARRANGEMENT FOR MANUFACTURING THEREOF

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a web of sequentially disposed package blanks, in which web the package blanks are held together by a continuous retaining means extending in the longitudinal direction of the web.

The invention further relates to a method of making such a web of sequentially disposed package blanks.

Background Art

WO97/12816 discloses a web of sequentially disposed package blanks, and an apparatus for opening and closing the same. While the package blanks are open they can be filled with products. Examples of products that can be packaged in this type of package can be foodstuffs, pharmaceutical preparations or any pieces of goods.

The web disclosed in WO97/12816 is formed by a tube of polymer film extending in the longitudinal direction of the web being punched and welded to form package blanks of the desired shape and size.

A specific field of application for package blanks on a web involves prefilled piping bags, which can be used in connection with decoration of pastry, confectionery, or dishes with a viscous, semiliquid or thick mass, such as whipped cream, marzipan, dough, cream cheese, sugar mass or the like. Such piping bags can also be used for other purposes, such as in application of glue, cement, plaster, compound or the like.

Piping bags are, when squeezed by the user for the purpose of pressing out the mass enclosed in the piping bag, subjected to pressure, which results in highs loads on the piping bag. Such loads are particularly harmful to joints between different parts of the piping bag, which are found, for instance, where edges are welded together.

If piping bags should be produced with the technique according to WO97/12816, they would have two weld joints intersecting the web, which form the lateral edges of the package and which may tend to crack.

There is thus a need for an improved web of sequentially disposed package blanks, which web can be made stronger.

Summary of the Invention

An object is to provide a web of sequentially disposed package blanks, which wholly or partly eliminates the drawbacks of prior art. A specific object is to provide a web of sequentially disposed package blanks, which are suited for use as prefilled piping bags.

The invention is defined by the independent claims. Embodiments will be evident from the dependent claims and from the following description and the accompanying drawings .

According to a first aspect, a web of sequentially disposed package blanks is provided, in which web the package blanks are held together by a continuous retaining means extending in the longitudinal direction of the web. Each of the package blanks is formed from a tube intersecting the longitudinal direction of the web. Each of the package blanks has a lateral edge which intersects the longitudinal direction of the web and which is formed from a material fold of the tube.

By "intersect" is here meant a direction which makes an angle to the longitudinal direction of the web. This angle may, but need not necessarily, be 90 degrees. The lateral edge and the longitudinal direction of the web may, but need not necessarily, intersect each other physically. Also an imaginary extension of the lateral edge can intersect the longitudinal direction of the web, or alternatively a line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the web can intersect the lateral edge.

By forming the lateral edge from a material fold instead of a welded or glued joint, a stronger package blank is provided. Moreover the package blanks are provided largely without waste of material since the entire tube blank is used to form the package blanks. This too is particularly advantageous in the production of piping bags, which have a bevelled edge and, thus, a corner with an angle of less than 90 degrees.

Each of the package blanks can have two lateral edges which intersect the longitudinal direction of the web and are made from the respective material folds of the tube and which, seen in the longitudinal direction of the web, are spaced from each other.

As a result, a still stronger package blank is provided.

The tube can extend between a first end fastened to the retaining means and a second end positioned at a distance from the retaining means.

The first end can be sealed to be openable. Thus, the interior of the package blank can be kept sterile.

The second end can be permanently sealed, preferably welded. The second edge can have an edge which is inclined relative to the retaining means. Such a package blank is especially suited to form a piping bag.

The retaining means can comprise a duct, a thickened material portion, a flange, a material fold or some other retaining means shown in WO97/12816 or a similar structure. The retaining means can thus be selected based on the type of machine to be used for filling the package blanks .

The tube can be substantially free of joints inter- secting the longitudinal direction of the web. Such a package blank can be given good strength. In one embodiment, the tube can extend between two spaced-apart retaining means and, between said retaining means, have a separation mark. This means that two joined webs of package blanks can be formed. In this embodiment, the tube can have a closure between said retaining means, preferably parallel to the separation mark. As a result, the two webs of package blanks can easily be separated from each other.

Respective, substantially parallel, retaining means can be fastened to both sides of the package blank. They are preferably fastened to respective sides of the opening of the package blank. By pulling the retaining means apart, the package blank can thus be opened to be filled. According to a second aspect, a method of making a web of sequentially disposed package blanks is provided, in which the package blanks are held together by a continuous retaining means extending in the longitudinal direction of the web. The method comprises providing a tube of a length corresponding to at least one package length, and fastening a first end of the tube to the retaining means so that the longitudinal direction of the retaining means intersects the longitudinal direction of the tube. Package blanks are thus provided, which have a lateral edge which intersects the longitudinal direction of the web and is formed from a material fold of the tube .

The retaining means can be fastened to the package blank by glue, melt adhesive, a weld joint or some other adhesion process known to a person skilled in the art.

The tube can be provided with a length corresponding to two package lengths, first and second continuous retaining means being fastened to the first and respectively second ends of the tube, and the tube being cut or provided with a separation mark between said first and second ends to form two package blanks arranged on respective webs. The cutting or separation mark and the closure can be provided substantially simultaneously.

The cutting or separation mark can be provided along a line which is inclined relative to the retaining means.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a ready-to-use web of sequen^¬ tially disposed package blanks.

Fig. 2 illustrates two joined webs of sequentially disposed package blanks.

Fig. 3 illustrates schematically a tube of polymer film wound onto a real.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view in profile of a cut part of the tube in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 illustrates schematically different stages in the manufacture of a web of sequentially disposed package blanks .

Fig. 6 illustrates the web in Fig. 3 seen in profile.

Description of Embodiments

First the description will be directed toward the web of a plurality of sequentially disposed package blanks as shown in Fig. 1. After that, the alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 2 will be described and, finally, it will be described with reference to Figs 3-6 how said webs of sequentially disposed package blanks can be made .

The web of sequentially disposed package blanks shown in Fig. 1 comprises a continuous retaining means 2 which extends in the longitudinal direction L of the web and which may consist of an elongate tube of polymer film, a thickened material portion, a flange, a material fold or the like. Examples of such retaining means are shown in WO97/12816.

Adjacent to the retaining means 2, a plurality of package blanks 1 are arranged in succession in the longitudinal direction of the web. The package blanks 1 can be arranged adjacent to each other, or at an optional distance from each other, as will be found convenient for the intended application. The package blanks 1 shown in Fig. 1 may have any desired shape, but are formed from a tube 3' of polymer film (Figs 1, 2) intersecting the longitudinal direction L of the web, for example at right angles.

At its first end 10, the package blank 1 is fastened to the retaining means 2 by, for example, glue, melt adhesive or a weld joint, for example made by ultrasonic welding. Fastening can take place by the retaining means 2 being fastened to an outside of a wall of the tube 3' at the first end 10 of the package blank 1. Fastenings of this type are known to those skilled in the art. By the retaining means 2 being fastened to an outside of a wall of the package blank 1, the package blank can, when fastened to the retaining means 2, be opened at the first end 10 to be filled. With reference to Fig. 6, a retaining means 2al, 2a2; 2bl, 2b2 can be provided for each side of the package blank.

The package blank 1 has a second end 11, which can be arranged at a distance from the first end 10 in a direction which intersects the longitudinal direction L of the web. The second end 11 can be sealed, for example along a line which is parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the web or, as shown in Fig. 1, along a line which is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction L of the web. The second end can be given any desired shape, for instance a bent or angled edge, or the like. The sealing of the second end is performed by a weld joint, which is a prior art technique for joining of polymer films. Such welding is used, for example, when sealing bread bags. Moreover the package blank 1 has two lateral edges 12, 13, which preferably can be arranged opposite each other in the longitudinal direction L of the web. At least one, or both, of the lateral edges 12, 13 can be formed from a material fold or material folds, which arise as the tube 3' from which the package blank 1 is formed is collapsed to form a flat blank with two layers which are interconnected along the portions that are to form the lateral edges 12, 13. The lateral edges 12, 13 can be parallel to each other.

Fig. 2 shows two joined webs of sequentially disposed package blanks. The two webs comprise respective retaining means 2a, 2b, to which respective first ends 10a, 10b are fastened. With reference to Fig. 6 a retaining means 2al, 2a2; 2bl, 2b2 can be provided for each side of the package blank. The webs are joined to each other at the respective second ends 11a, lib of the package blanks Ia, Ib and have, analogously to the web shown in Fig. 1, lateral edges 12a, 13a; 12b, 13b.

Between the second ends 11a, lib, a separation mark 5 can be arranged for the purpose of facilitating separation of the package blanks Ia, Ib from each other. The separation mark can be provided in a prior art manner, for example in the form of a perforation or a weakened material portion.

With reference to Figs 3-6, a method of making a web of sequentially disposed package blanks will now be described.

A substantially continuous tube blank 3 of polymer film is provided, for example directly from a film blowing device, from a reel 4 or some other intermediate storage device. The polymer film can be provided in a collapsed state and thus forms a substantially flat blank, which in Figs 3 and 4 is shown in profile. The tube blank 3 and thus also the tube 3' have a longitudinal direction S and can be completely without joints extending in, or parallel to, the longitudinal direction S.

An alternative way of providing the tube blank 3 is to provide a tube with approximately twice the desired diameter and, in prior art manner, weld and cut the tube blank in its longitudinal direction, preferably in its central portion, so that two tube blanks are formed, which each have a longitudinal weld joint. The tube blank 3 can be cut to form a tube 3' which has a length corresponding to the length of one or two package blanks to be formed. In the following description a tube 3' is formed with a length corresponding to the length of two package blanks to be formed. Moreover two continuous retaining means 2, 2a, 2b are provided, which can be designed as discussed above with reference to Fig. 1.

First and second end portions 3a, 3b of the tube 3' are fastened to the respective retaining means 2a, 2b, as shown in the upper part of Fig. 5.

If the retaining means 2a, 2b have the shape of a tube extending in its longitudinal direction L, the webs can after this step have a profile according to Fig. 6. It is evident from Fig. 6 that retaining means 2al, 2a2; 2bl, 2b2 are fastened adjacent to the opening 10a, 10b on the outside of the respective walls of the package blank. By arranging retaining means on both walls, the package blank can be guided so that the walls are separated from each other and the package blank can be opened to be filled and then be sealed, as illustrated in WO97/12816.

To form the respective second ends 11a, lib of the package blanks Ia, Ib, respective closures are provided transversely to the longitudinal direction S of the tube 3' . Furthermore a separation mark 5 can be provided between the closures to form the embodiment shown in Fig.

2 or to later form the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Alternatively, the package blanks Ia, Ib are separated directly by cutting between the closures to form the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. The cutting of the tube 3' can take place by means of a "crushing knife", that is a knife that cuts the tube

3 while at the same time, by the heat occurring in cutting, it forms a closure of the respective ends 3a, 3b, of the tube 3' , whereby dirt and bacteria are prevented from entering the tube 3' and, thus, the package blanks 1, Ia, Ib. Crushing knives are known to those skilled in the art and comprise a disc with a circumferential sharp edge, which under pressure rolls over the tube blank, with a hard metal material as abutment on the other side of the tube blank, whereby the thus generated heat provides a weak, that is an easy-to- open, seal of the opening formed by cutting.

The tube 3' can after cutting be arranged on a conveyor (not shown) and be moved on this at right angles to the longitudinal direction S of the tube, and during this movement be fastened to retaining means 2, 2a, 2b and at second ends 11, 11a, lib formed be sealed and provided with a separation mark 5 or be cut.

The web of sequentially disposed package blanks can be used in a machine as disclosed in WO97/12816, in which the first end 10, 10a, 10b is opened and the package blank 1, Ia, Ib is filled with the intended contents.

After being filled, the package blank 1 can be sealed and optionally be separated from the retaining means 2. Sealing can take place, for example, by prior art welding or arranging of a clip. In one embodiment, a web according to Fig. 1 is fed to the machine shown in WO97/12816.

In another embodiment, a web according to Fig. 2 can be fed either to two machines as shown in WO97/12816 or to one such machine that has been modified to be able to fill two webs of package blanks. The respective pairs of package blanks Ia, Ib (Fig. 2) can be separated from each other before they are fed to the machine, while passing through the machine, or after having passed through the machine, as deemed convenient. The package blanks can be provided with such surface layers and made of such materials as disclosed in WO2005/115162.

Claims

1. A web of sequentially disposed package blanks, in which web the package blanks (1, Ia, Ib) are held together by a continuous retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2a2, 2bl, 2b2) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the web, each of the package blanks (1, Ia, Ib) ) being formed from a tube (3') intersecting the longitudinal direction (L) of the web, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that each of the package blanks (1, Ia, Ib) has a lateral edge (12, 12a, 12b; 13, 13a, 13b) which intersects the longitudinal direction (L) of the web and is formed from a material fold of the tube (3') .

2. A web of sequentially disposed package blanks as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the package blanks (1, Ia, Ib) has two lateral edges (12, 12a, 12b; 13, 13a, 13b) which intersect the longitudinal direction (L) of the web and are formed from the respective material folds of the tube (3' ) and which, seen in the longitudinal direction (L) of the web, are spaced from each other.

3. A web of sequentially disposed package blanks as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the tube (3' ) and the retaining means are made from respective pieces of material which are joined together to form the web.

4. A web of sequentially disposed package blanks as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, wherein the tube (3') extends between a first end (10, 10a, 10b) fastened to the retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2a2, 2bl, 2b2) and a second end (11, 11a, lib) spaced from the retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2a2, 2bl, 2b2).

5. A web of sequentially disposed package blanks (1, Ia, Ib) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first end (10, 10a, 10b) is sealed to be openable.

6. A web of sequentially disposed package blanks as claims in claim 4 or 5, wherein said second end (11, 11a, lib) is permanently sealed, preferably welded.

7. A web of sequentially disposed package blanks as claimed in any one of claims 4-6, wherein said second end

(11, 11a, lib) has an edge which is inclined relative to the retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2bl, 2b2) .

8. A web of sequentially disposed package blanks as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2a2, 2bl, 2b2) comprises a duct, a thickened material portion, a flange or a material fold.

9. A web of sequentially disposed package blanks as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tube (3') is substantially free of joints intersecting the longitudinal direction (L) of the web.

10. A web of sequentially disposed package blanks as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said tube (3' ) extends between two spaced-apart retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2a2, 2bl, 2b2), and wherein the tube (3' ) , between said retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2a2, 2bl, 2b2), has a separation mark (5).

11. A web of sequentially disposed package blanks as claimed in claim 10, wherein the package blanks (Ia, Ib) between said retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2a2, 2bl, 2b2) has a closure, preferably parallel to the separation mark (5) .

12. A web of sequentially disposed package blanks as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein respective substantially parallel retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2a2, 2bl, 2b2) are fastened to both sides of the package blank (1, Ia, Ib) .

13. A method of making a web of sequentially disposed package blanks (Ia, Ib) , in which the package blanks are held together by a continuous retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2a2, 2bl, 2b2) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the web, said method comprising providing a tube (3') of a length corresponding to at least one package length, and fastening a first end (10, 10a, 10b) of the tube (3') to the retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2a2, 2bl, 2b2) so that the longitudinal direction (L) of the retaining means intersects the longitudinal direction (S) of the tube (3' ) .

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the tube (3') is arranged to extend between a first end (10, 10a, 10b) fastened to the retaining means and a second end (11, 11a, lib) spaced from the retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2a2, 2bl, 2b2) .

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first end (10, 10a, 10b) is provided with an openable closure .

16. A method as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein said second end (11, 11a, lib) is provided with a permanent closure.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said second end (11, 11a, lib) is welded.

18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 14-17, wherein said second end (11, 11a, lib) is provided with an edge which in inclined relative to the retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2a2, 2bl, 2b2).

19. A method as claimed in any one of claims 14-18, wherein the retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2a2, 2bl, 2b2) is fastened to said first end (10, 10a, 10b) by glue, melt adhesive or a weld joint.

20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 13-19, wherein said tube (3' ) is provided with a length corresponding to two package lengths, first and second continuous retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2a2, 2bl, 2b2) being fastened to the first and respectively second ends (3a, 3b) of the tube (3'), and the tube (3') being cut or provided with a separation mark (5) between said first and second ends (3a, 3b) to form two package blanks (Ia, Ib) arranged on respec- tive webs.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19 in combination with claim 16 or 17, wherein said cutting or separation mark (5) and said closure are provided substantially simultaneously.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein said cutting or separation mark (5) is provided along a line which is inclined relative to the retaining means (2, 2a, 2b, 2al, 2a2, 2bl, 2b2) .

23. A method of making a piping bag, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the method comprises steps as claimed in any one of claims 13-22.