Package making – With cover-adjunct application or formation – Adjunct comprising provision to allow access to contents,...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-02
2001-09-25
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Package making
With cover-adjunct application or formation
Adjunct comprising provision to allow access to contents,...
C053S133800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293073
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to sealed pouches, and apparatus and processes for producing the same. In particular, the present invention relates to sealed pouches having contoured edges and a pour spout, and apparatus and processes for producing the same from one or more films, laminates, or web materials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pouches made from films or laminates, including polymers such as polyethylene or polypropylene, have found use in a variety of applications. For example, such pouches are used to hold low viscosity fluids (e.g., juice and soda), high viscosity fluids (e.g., condiments and sauces), fluid/solid mixtures (e.g., soups), gels, powders, and pulverulent materials. The benefit of such pouches resides, at least in part, in the fact that such pouches are easy to store prior to filling and produce very little waste when discarded. The pouches can be formed into a variety of sizes and shapes. One type of pouch is designed to lie on a supporting surface and is generally known as a pillow-type pouch. Alternatively, pouches have been described which include a base that permits the pouch to maintain an upright configuration.
Pouches can be assembled from flexible films, laminates, or web materials using form-fill-seal machines. Such machines receive the film, laminate, or web material and manipulate the material to form the desired shape. For example, one or more films, laminates, and/or web materials can be folded and oriented to produce the desired shape. Once formed, the edges of the pouch are sealed and the pouch filled. Typically, the film, laminate, or web material has at least one heat seal layer or adhesive surface which enables the edges to be sealed by the application of heat. During the sealing process, a portion of at least one edge of the pouch is left unsealed until after the pouch is filled. The pouch is filled through the unsealed portion and the unsealed portion is then sealed. Alternatively, the pouch can be filled and the unsealed portion simultaneously closed in order to provide a sealed pouch with minimal headspace.
Although a variety of pouches have been previously described, none of the known pouches provides ergonomically contoured edges yet can be manufactured on form-fill-seal machines without generating appreciable, and preferably without generating any, scrap material between subsequent pouches.
In light of the foregoing, it would be beneficial to provide a pouch that is ergonomically designed to be easily handled and that is able to be produced, filled, and sealed on a form-fill-seal machine without generating appreciable, and preferably without generating any, scrap material between subsequent pouches.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The shortcomings of the known pouches are overcome, at least to a large extent, by pouches in accordance with the present invention. In particular, the pouches of the present invention are ergonomically designed to be contoured and, thereby, easy to hold. Additionally, the pouches in accordance with the present invention can be produced, filled, and sealed on a form-fill-seal machine without generating scrap material between subsequent pouches.
In one of its aspects, the present invention relates to a flexible pouch comprising a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. Each of the first and second lateral edges comprise concave and convex surfaces or contours. The concave and convex surfaces are arranged such that the concave surface of the first lateral edge is substantially opposite the convex surface of the second lateral edge and the convex surface of the first lateral edge is substantially opposite the concave surface of the second lateral edge. Alternatively, the first lateral edge comprises a concave surface and the second lateral edge comprises a convex surface, wherein the concave surface of the first lateral edge is substantially opposite the convex surface of the second lateral edge. In yet another embodiment, each of the first and second lateral edges may comprise a non-rectilinear portion arranged such that a distance between the first and second lateral edges is substantially the same for all elevations of the pouch. In one particular embodiment, at least one of the first and second lateral edges is substantially S-shaped. Each of the first and second lateral edges may optionally comprise at least one rectilinear portion positioned near the top or bottom of the pouch. The pouch may further optionally comprise a base for supporting the pouch in an upright position.
The pouch is optionally configured with a pour spout. In one embodiment, the pour spout provides a drinking straw which enables fluid to be conveniently dispensed from the pouch. In another embodiment, the pour spout is formed from a first sealed edge portion and a second sealed edge portion. A slit is formed within the first sealed edge portion to facilitate tearing of the first sealed edge. The second sealed edge portion contains a ribbed section and a non-ribbed section, wherein the non-ribbed section is substantially opposite the slit. In yet another embodiment, the pour spout is formed at a comer of the pouch between the first and second sealed edge portions of the pouch. A sealed section extends between the first and second sealed edge portions to define an opening. A slit is formed in the first sealed edge portion at a position intermediate the sealed section and the corner so that the distance between the first edge portion at the location of the slit to the second edge portion is not substantially less than the size of the opening.
In another of its aspects, the present invention relates to an apparatus for forming a pouch. The apparatus comprises a pouch forming component for assembling the pouch. In one particular embodiment, the pouch forming component forms a pouch from a single web of pouch-forming material. Bottom, top, and end sealing components are provided for sealing bottom, top, and lateral edges of the pouch, respectively. If desired, the top sealing component may comprise a pour spout forming section for forming a pour spout near the top edge of the pouch. The end sealing component is configured to provide a pouch with a lateral edge having a concave portion and a convex portion. In one particular embodiment, the end sealing component comprises a substantially S-shaped sealing surface. The end sealing component also optionally comprises a rib forming portion for forming lateral edges having ribbed sections. The apparatus also includes a filling component for filling the pouch with a fill material and a cutting component for cutting the lateral edge between subsequent pouches. The cutting component comprises a cutting knife having a concave cutting surface and a convex cutting surface.
In yet another of its aspects, the present invention relates to a process for forming a pouch wherein the pouch is assembled from at least one web of pouch-forming material. The assembled pouch is then sealed along a bottom edge, a top edge, and a first lateral edge or margin. The first lateral edge is sealed to provide a substantially S-shaped lateral edge. The pouch is then filled with a fill material and sealed along a second substantially S-shaped lateral edge to provide a sealed pouch. The sealed pouch can then be cut along the second substantially S-shaped lateral edge.
Additional features and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.
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Cryovac Inc.
Quatt Mark B.
Tawfik Sam
Vo Peter
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