PACKAGING PROCESS FOR STAND UP CONTAINERS

Abstract: Process to package stand up containers characterized by the fact that a sleeve (2), obtained by a folding (a soffietto) (4) of a flexible tape (1), is split, through a sequence of combined sealings (5, 6) in a set of sections (9) ready for the filling, the latter being performed, through an upper passage (11), by means of a feeling device (7) inserted inside the sleeve before the longitudinal sealing is made (8).

Description: PACKAGING PROCESS FOR STAND UP CONTAINERS TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention is related to the technical field of packaging processes for stand up containers made out of continuous tapes of flexible material. STATE OF THE ART From the previous patent literature the following documents may be regarded as relevant: FR1349272, FR1452880, EP0041924, EP0334242, EP0541821, EP0661208, W095/ 04650, VV095/ 09771, W097/ 15497. The just mentioned publications feature several different packaging processes with flexible tape laid out both horizontally and vertically. The horizontal ones fold the flexible tape, thus shaping the bottom, and make transversal sealings obtaining alongside tied containers, and then they fill them through the upward open mouth. Said horizontal plants are complicated and cumbersome, and present hassles both for the running of the containers and for their filling as well. They also require sophisticated alternate translation kinematisms in order to sustain and run a plurality of aligned containers. Said kinematisms must also operate the mouth opening devices for the filling of the containers. One may notice that all these kinematisms must be adjust for the production change from a format to the other. The horizontal machines present the problem of having a really short time available for the phase of intermittent dosing, thus limiting the system speed or demanding -this way raising costs and complexity- the employment of a bigger number of dosing devices. In case of dosing liquid substance, foam productions represents a further problem. Also the filling process of these plants is not aseptic because it is performed in touch with the surrounding atmosphere. Vertical plants come in two different categories. In the first category the bags follow one another superposed, with the sides standing vertical. In the second category, instead, the bags follow one another with the sides laid horizontal. In the first category, to obtain a stand up bag complicated devices are needed, in order to make the support bottom flat. In the second category, in which WO 97/ 15497 and GI32298850 are included, the tape is wrapped around a forming vertical pipe through which the bags filling is performed. The bags as described in these two patents, especially in case of packaging of liquid substance, present considerable geometric flaws and an overall aesthetic quality worse than the one achieved in the packages obtained in the previously described horizontal plants. These flaws are due to the deformation that are produced during the filling process. The solution as proposed in the present invention allows to obtain geometrically regular and aesthetically good packages by means of a simple, economic and not so cumbersome packaging process. The packages produced through this process can be equipped with opening, dosing, closing and basically any other handling systems, easily insertable in the packaging process. DESCRIPTION The invention is now disclosed with reference to the figures of the attached drawings, as a not limiting example. Figure 1 represents schematically the unwinding of a continuous tape and its folding in correspondence of the area that will constitute the bottom of the container. Figure 2 represents the section of the folded tape. Figure 3 represents part of the continuous open sleeve obtained out of the folded tape, being said sleeve transformed through a set of combined sealings into a sequence of sections that will constitute the containers. Figure 4 shows a filling device (7), inserted in the still open sleeve before the longitudinal (8) and transversal sealings (5') are made. On the upper side of the section (9) it can be observed the presence of a passage (11) to allow the introduction of the product in the already preformed and defined stand up container. Figure 5 shows a section with the lower side already closed and with the product on the inside of it. It can be noticed that the sealing (5') is correspondent to the sealing (5) and the passage (11) results of smaller dimensions. Figure 6 shows a container sealed and removed from the sleeve. Figure 7 shows the sealing phase (12) of the passage (11). It is worth to point out the simplicity of this operation, that occurs between uniform thicknesses of flexible materials. Figure 8 represents a variation that entails several sealings (16), performed in correspondence of the folding of the continuous sleeve, to preform the bottom of the containers. Figure 9 represents schematically the unwinding of a continuous ribbon and its folding in correspondence of the zones that will constitute the bottom of the two opposite containers. Figure 10 is the sectioij of the folded ribbon as showed in figure 9. Figure 11 shows a plurality of foldings (a soffietto) performed on a single tape of flexible material. It can be noticed that the packaging process as here described can bo applied to each single sleeve (2). Figure 12 shows the simplicity of application of subsidiary devices ( 15) to the package. It can be observed, in fact, that the application occurs in correspondence of the edges (3) of the open sleeve (2), before the longitudinal sealing (8) is made, this allowing the permanent presence of positioning device (14) inside the sleeve. Figure 13 shows a tape roll of flexible material already set for the packaging of stand up containers, with the characteristics as highlighted in figure 3. In the figures of the drawings each single detail is marked with the following numbering. 1 is the tape of flexible material. 2 is the continuous sleeve obtained folding the tape of flexible material. 3 indicates the edges of the ribbon before the longitudinal sealing is made. 4 is the folding resulting from the folding that will constitute the bottom of the stand up containers. 5 indicates a sequence of sealings performed on the sleeve in the folding area. 5' indicates corresponding sealings performed in the zone opposite to the folding. 6 indicates some combined sealings that preform the bottom of the stand up containers. 7 represents the filling device inserted in an open sleeve, before the longitudinal sealing is made. 8 indicates the longitudinal sealing of the sleeve. 9 indicates the sections that all together compose the sleeve. 10 indicates the product to be packaged. 11 indicates the passage made on the upper side of the section. 12 indicates the sealing of the passage (11) on the upper side of the section. 12' indicates the sealing on the lower side of the container. 12" indicates the sealing of the upper side of the container. 13 indicates a packaged container. 14 indicates a device put inside the container for the positioning of subsidiary devices. 15 indicates a subsid iary delivery device. 16 indicates different sealing that preform the bottom of the stand up containers. The clearness of the figures highlights the simplicity of realization of the process as described in the present invention. Of course the invention still allows several variations of practical realization as far as the dimensioning and the structural and morphologic proportioning of the containers and the devices employed are concerned. All the processes, devices and containers that are based on the original characteristics as basically described, showed and horeinaflor claimed, will therefore be included as part of the protection sphere of the present invention.

Claims: CLAIMS 1) Process to package stand up containers CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT a sleeve (2), obtained by a folding (a soffietto) (4) of a flexible tape (1), is split, through a sequence of combined sealings (5,6) in a set of sections (9) ready for the filling, the latter i being performed, through an upper passage (11), by means of a feeding device (7) inserted inside the sleeve before the longitudinal sealing is made (8). 2) Process to package stand up containers, as in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the sealing (12) of the passage zone (11) to obtain the sealing of the containers (13) is made between uniform thicknesses of flexible materials and concerns a fairly small area. 3) Process to package stand up containers, as in claim 1 and 2, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the sealing (12) of the passage (11) is made (sottobattente), that is in presence of liquid, and the all packaging process is performed in aseptic conditions. 4) Process to package stand up containers, as in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT positioning equipment for the application on the containers of several subsidiary devices (15) for the opening, delivery, reclosing or handling in general, can be inserted inside the sleeve (2), before its longitudinal sealing is made. 5) Stand up package of flexible material CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it results out of the previously claimed process. 6) Flexible tape arranged for the packaging of stand up containers, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it presents (sagomature a soffietto) in the bottom (4), several combination of sealings (5) and stiffening sealings (6). 7) Stand up package of flexible material CFIARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT ft results out of the previously claimed flexible tape. 8) Process to package stand up containers, as in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the sleeve (2) is obtained by folding and sealing several tapes of flexible materials. 9) Process to package stand up containers, as in previous claims, CHARACTERFZED BY THE FACT THAT starting from two folding ( a soffietto) (4) of a tape of flexible material two opposite sleeves (Fig.10) can be obtained that will allow to obtain simultaneously a double amount of containers. 10) Process to package stand up containers, as in previous claims, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT starting from a plurality of folding (a soffietto) (4) of a single tape of flexible material, a plurality of sleeves (Fig.10) can be obtained that will allow to obtain simultaneously a plurality of containers.

Inventors: RAPPARINI GINO, RAPPARINI, GINO
Applicants: RAPPARINI GINO, RAPPARINI, GINO
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B65B9
IPC codes: B65B9