WO2008041223A2

WO2008041223A2 - Partitioned bag and process therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2008041223A2
Application number: PCT/IL2007/001140
Authority: WO
Inventors: Itzhak Yoffe
Original assignee: Mibaplast Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-10-05
Filing date: 2007-09-17
Publication date: 2008-04-10
Also published as: IL178493A0; DE202007012744U1; WO2008041223A3

Abstract

A partitioned bag produced from a single cellulose-based sheet is disclosed. A partition is a folded portion of the sheet and is affixed substantially perpendicularly to a front wall and to a rear wall portion to define two compartments. The web is longitudinally folded at a partition forming station to define a partition. The partition is separated from a plate of a longitudinal folding station at a partition raising station, to prevent adhesion to the plate at a longitudinal adhesive layer applying station.

Description

PARTITIONED BAGAND PROCESS THEREFOR

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of to disposable bags for food items. More particularly, the invention relates to a partitioned bag and a process for producing the same.

Background of the Invention

A partitioned bag is useful when two different food items, such as a sandwich and chocolate, are desired to be contained in the two compartments thereof, respectively. The placement of the food items in separate compartments prevents a food item from melting or from being soiled. Also, a food item having a discardable portion such as peanuts or chewing gum may be placed in one compartment, and after being eaten, the discardable portion can be placed in the second portion. Prior art partitioned bags are known from US 3,693,868 and EP 0 311 824; however, these bags are produced in a time consuming and therefore costly fashion.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a partitioned bag that can be produced more speedily and efficiently that known heretofore in the prior art. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a partitioned bag which is produced from a single cellulose-based sheet.

The bag comprises a front wall, two rear wall portions, a partition, two gusseted side walls, and a flap, said partition being a folded portion of said sheet and being affixed substantially perpendicularly to said front wall and to one of said rear wall portions to define two compartments.

The two compartments may be of different volumes.

A first transversal edge of the sheet delimiting a first rear wall portion is affixed to an outer face of a second rear wall portion and a second transversal edge of the sheet delimiting the partition is affixed to an inner face of the front wall. The flap is affixed to the first and second rear wall portions.

The term "longitudinal" refers to the general direction between the top and bottom edges of the bag. The term "transversal" refers to the general direction between side edges of the bag. In one aspect, the bag further comprises a clear panel overlying an opening formed in the front wall and which is affixed to the front wall, to allow the food items contained within the bag to be viewed.

The present invention is also related to a process for producing a partitioned bag, comprising the steps of: a) feeding a cellulose-based web having first and second transversal edges to a partition forming station at which said web is folded longitudinally to define a partition; b) feeding said web to a serrating station to define borders of a sheet from which a bag is to produced; c) feeding said web to a first longitudinal adhesive layer applying station at which a first adhesive layer is applied to said first transversal edge; d) feeding said web to a longitudinal folding station, whereby to form two gusseted side walls; e) separating said partition from a plate of said longitudinal folding station at a partition raising station; f) applying a second adhesive layer to said second transversal edge at a second longitudinal adhesive layer applying station g) pressing said first and second adhesive layers; h) feeding said web to a cutting station; and i) feeding said cut web to a transversal adhesive layer applying station for folding and adhering a cut edge of said cut web, whereby to form two compartments which are separated by said partition.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings:

- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary partitioned bag, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

- Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing of a process for producing a partitioned bag, according to one embodiment of the invention;

- Fig. 3 is a side view of a partition forming station; and

- Fig. 4 is vertical cross sectional view of a longitudinal folding station and partition raising station as a web is fed thereto.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

The present invention relates to a novel partitioned bag and a process for producing the same. While prior art partitioned bags are produced from more than one web, the bag of the present invention is produced from a single web, thereby reducing production time and labor and operating costs. Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary partitioned bag, which is designated by numeral 10. Bag 10 made from a single cellulose-based sheet 2 has a partition 5 which separates bag 10 into two compartments 14 and 18. Partition 5 is affixed substantially perpendicularly to front wall 8 and rear wall 9 of bag 10 at a predetermined location thereon, to define a desired volume of compartments 14 and 18. Rear wall 9 is formed by rear wall portions 23 and 24. Bag 10 also has gusseted side walls 15 and 16 and flap 35. Front wall 8 may be formed with an opening and with a clear panel overlying the opening which is affixed to the front wall, to allow the food items contained within the bag to be viewed.

After sheet 2 is folded to define partition 5 and rear wall portion 23, first edge 21 of sheet 2 is affixed to the inner face of front wall 8 by adhesive layer 26. Terminal edge 29 of sheet 2 is affixed to the outer face of rear wall portion 23 by adhesive layer 27, forming rear wall portion 24 after gusseted side walls 15 and 16 are formed. Flap 35 is affixed to rear wall portions 23 and 24.

Fig. 2 illustrates a process, which is generally designated by numeral 40, according to one embodiment of the invention, for producing a partitioned bag. In process 40, web 41 is fed by feeding station 42 to partition forming station 44. The web is then perforated at serrating station 46 to allow a sheet to be cut at the last station 60. Hot glue is applied to the terminal edge at longitudinal adhesive applying station 48 with a cyclical interruption so that the glue will not be applied to a predetermined region of the web. The gusseted side walls are formed at longitudinal folding station 50. The partition is separated from the remaining portion of the web at partition raising station 53 and cold glue is applied to the first edge at longitudinal adhesive applying station 57. The adhesive layers are affixed to the web at pressing station 58. Glue is applied at transversal adhesive applying station 59. The sheet is cut at station 60 and the flap is formed.

Fig. 3 illustrates feeding station 42 and partition forming station 44. Partition forming station 44 includes a plurality of metal rollers 62, e.g. 8 rollers. Rollers 62 are arranged into two groups. The width of web 41 is greater than the total length of the first group of rollers, around which web 41 is partially wound. The second group of rollers is sufficiently spaced from the first group to allow the excess width of web 41 which extends from the first group to be folded by the second group. Rollers 62 are axially displaceable, so that a partition of predetermined dimensions can be formed. The formation of the partition is also assisted by plate 64 positioned parallel to the web run direction and oblique with respect to the floor, idle roller 65 pressing against plate 64 at a point which is substantially tangent to the web run direction, and guide roller 67. Fig. 4 illustrates longitudinal folding station 50 and partition raising station 53. Longitudinal folding station 50 has two parallel horizontal plates 72 and 73, connecting element 75 therebetween, and two static guide elements (not shown) on each side of the two plates 72 and 73. Each guide element presses on a corresponding side of the web to form longitudinal folds, which define the gusseted side walls 15 and 16. Partition raising station 53 consists of abutment element 79, which is fixedly attached to the top of upper plate 72. Abutment element 79 advantageously separates partition 5 from upper plate 72, so that when adhesive layer 26 is applied at longitudinal adhesive applying station 57, adhesive layer 26 will not adhere to upper plate 72.

While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried out with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A partitioned bag, which is produced from a single cellulose-based sheet.

2. The bag according to claim 1, comprising a front wall, two rear wall portions, a partition, two gusseted side walls, and a flap, said partition being a folded portion of said sheet and being affixed substantially perpendicularly to said front wall and to one of said rear wall portions to define two compartments.

3. The bag according to claim 2, wherein the two compartments are of different volumes.

4. The bag according to claim 2, wherein a first transversal edge of the sheet delimiting a first rear wall portion is affixed to an outer face of a second rear wall portion and a second transversal edge of the sheet delimiting the partition is affixed to an inner face of the front wall.

5. The bag according to claim 4, wherein the flap is affixed to the first and second rear wall portions.

6. The bag according to claim 2, further comprising a clear panel overlying an opening formed in the front wall and which is affixed to the front wall.

7. A process for producing a partitioned bag, comprising the steps of: a) feeding a cellulose-based web having first and second transversal edges to a partition forming station at which said web is folded longitudinally to define a partition; b) feeding said web to a serrating station to define borders of a sheet from which a bag is to produced; c) feeding said web to a first longitudinal adhesive layer applying station at which a first adhesive layer is applied to said first transversal edge; d) feeding said web to a longitudinal folding station, whereby to form two gusseted side walls; e) separating said partition from a plate of said longitudinal folding station at a partition raising station; f) applying a second adhesive layer to said second transversal edge at a second longitudinal adhesive layer applying station g) pressing said first and second adhesive layers; h) feeding said web to a cutting station; and i) feeding said cut web to a transversal adhesive layer applying station for folding and adhering a cut edge of said cut web, whereby to form two compartments which are separated by said partition.

8. A partitioned bag, substantially as described and illustrated.

9. A process for producing a partitioned bag, substantially as described and illustrated.