Patent GB-719152-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the production of airtight packages
Inventor: TAUNTON GERALD
IPC: B65B31/04
Filed: 1952-04-07
Abstract: 719,152. Packaging; paper and like bags. WILTS UNITED DAIRIES, Ltd. Feb. 17, 1953, [April 7, 1952.] No. 8811/52. Classes 94 (1) and 94 (2). A method of producing a flexible, airtight, sealed package comprises forming a pouch of flexible oxygen-proof material having at least part of one end open and provided with internal projections arranged to define air passages adjacent said open end, inserting the commodity to be packaged, withdrawing air through said open end and sealing the pouch between said end and the commodity. The projections may be formed on one or both opposed walls of the pouch or on the blank or blanks from which the pouch is made by compression of the material thereof between male or female dies or between one die and a resilient surface, or by a laminating or printing process. Alternatively, a strip of material provided with projections may be inserted into the open end of the pouch and if desired, secured by adhesive. An inert gas, e.g. carbon dioxide may be introduced into the pouch before or after evacuation or between evacuation steps. The material of the pouch is preferably heat-sealable, e.g. waxed sheet material, coated cellulose acetate film, coated regenerated cellulose film, "Pliofilm" (Registered Trade Mark) and laminates thereof. Fig. 5 shows a pouch formed by sealing together the edges 7 of two opposed blanks or a folded blank and provided with rows of hemispherical projections 1. Figs. 6-8 show similar pouches provided with rows 4 of pyramidal projections arranged diagonally or parallel to the open end. In Figs. 9-13 the projections are in the form of ridges 8 of triangular or semi-circular section. Apparatus for producing the packages comprises in one form, Fig. 14, a jaw 9 having a recess 10 communicating through a valvecontrolled pipe 11 with a source of suction, and a co-operating jaw comprising a slab 12 of resilient material formed with a recess 13 and secured to a plate 14, stop screws 15 being provided in the plate to limit the closing movement of the jaws. The pouch is placed between the jaws so that its open end is located within the recesses and the screws 15 adjusted so that the pressure exerted by the jaws is sufficient to prevent ingress of air but insufficient to cause flattening of the projections. After the pouch has been evacuated to the desired extent, sealing is effected by conventional means, e.g. by the application of heat and pressure. The sealing means may be incorporated in one or both jaws. In a modification Fig. 15, the upper jaw is formed by a recessed plate 16 having one edge cut away for the reception of a strip of resilient material 18. A suction pipe 11 may be connected to the recess 17 in the plate. In Fig. 16, the lower jaw 20 is formed of resilient material and both jaws are cut away to accommodate the suction pipe 21. Figs. 17 and 18 show a further modification in which both jaws 22 are of resilient material and formed with inclined recesses 23, a pipe 24 being connected to the central recess in each jaw. One pipe may be connected to a source of suction and the other to a supply of inert gas such as carbon dioxide. Heat sealing means may be provided in one of the jaws along the front edge thereof. In Fig. 19, the upper jaw is replaced by a sheet 25 of flexible material which is drawn onto the jaw 9 by suction applied through the pipe 11. The sheet may be secured to one edge of the jaw to form a flap 29 as shown in Fig. 20, the recess 27 in the lower jaw being of circular shape and the pouch 6 being sealed along parts 31 of its front edge prior to insertion between the flap and jaw. In Fig. 22 the pouch 6 is positioned between flaps of flexible material, e.g. the sides of a tube 32, which are secured by plates 33 and screws 34 to a channel member 35 connected by a pipe 36 to a source of suction. Specification 689,714 is referred to.