Package making – Methods – Enclosing contents within progressively formed web means
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-29
2001-01-30
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
Enclosing contents within progressively formed web means
C053S477000, C053S511000, C053S546000, C053S551000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178724
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to packaging and in particular to a container forming apparatus and method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Form, fill and seal packaging machines to form fluid filled containers from a tube of flexible packaging material are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,253 to Schulte discloses an apparatus for the proportion of the contents during the manufacture of packing containers. The apparatus includes a filling tube extending into a tube of laminated packaging material to deliver milk into the tube of packaging material. A sealing mechanism below the filling tube forms transverse seals across the tube of packaging material to divide the tube of packaging material into individual cushion-shaped packing containers. Cuts are then formed along the seals to separate the individual packing containers. A gas feed pipe is connected to the filling tube to introduce gas into the tube of packaging material to express air before the individual packing containers are formed so that introduced gas is trapped in each packing container as it is formed. The amount of gas introduced into the tube of packaging material is the same as the volume of the air space provided in the individual packing containers. Unfortunately, gas and/or air in the packing container tends to decrease product life.
An alternative apparatus to form fluid filled containers is disclosed in International Application No. PCT/CA96/00783 published on Jun. 5, 1997 under publication No. WO 97/19852 for an invention entitled “Container With Dispensing Spout and Method for Making Same” and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Each fluid filled container formed by the apparatus includes a body defining an internal reservoir and a narrow, integral dispensing spout extending from the body. The apparatus includes a filling tube extending into a tube of packaging material to delivery fluid into the tuber of packaging material. A heat sealing mechanism having upstream and downstream heat sealing bars forms spaced, curvilinear heat seals across the tube of packaging material defining opposed sides of a container. A fluid displacement mechanism in the form of a cylindrical bar is associated with each heat sealing bar.
In operation, a heat seal is initially formed at the bottom of the tube of packaging material allowing fluid to be delivered into the tube of packaging material via the filling tube. The fluid level in the tube of packaging material is set above the heat sealing bars to that when the curvilinear seals are formed across the tube of packaging material, the resulting containers are filled with fluid and void of air or other gasses. Once fluid has been delivered to the tube of packaging material, the fluid displacement mechanism associated with the downstream heat sealing bar is brought into contact with the tube of packaging material to displace fluid upwardly. The downstream heat sealing bar is then brought into contact with the tube of packaging material to form a heat seal thereacross through the fluid in the tube of packaging material. The heat seal is then cut to separate the container from the tube of packaging material.
Thereafter, the fluid displacement mechanism associated with the upstream heat sealing bar is brought into contact with the tube of packaging material to displace fluid upwardly. The upstream heat sealing bar is then brought into contact with the tube of packaging material to form a heat seal thereacross and the heat seal is cut to separate the container from the tube of packaging material. Once this has been done, the tube of packaging material is indexed and the process is performed again to form successive, alternatively oriented, interlocked, fluid filled containers. The fluid displacement mechanisms displace sufficient fluid prior to forming the heat seals so that the containers can be made self-supporting and so that the volume of fluid in each container is generally less than or equal to the volume of the reservoir. In this manner, the spouts can be devoid of fluid allowing the spouts to be folded over and releasably attached to the bodies.
Although this container forming apparatus overcomes problems associated with conventional container forming apparatuses by forming fluid filled containers devoid of air or other gasses, which extends product life, improvements to container forming apparatuses are continually being sought.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel container forming apparatus and method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of forming fluid filled containers from a tube of flexible packaging material comprising the steps of:
delivering fluid to said tube;
forming seals across said tube at spaced locations between which fluid is located, said seals being formed in a downstream to upstream succession and being non-orthogonal with respect to a longitudinal axis of said tube; and
supporting said tube in a direction generally orthogonal to said longitudinal axis adjacent said seals as each seal is being formed.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a container forming apparatus to form fluid filled containers from a tube of flexible packaging material comprising:
a fluid delivery conduit to delivery fluid into said tube;
a heat sealing mechanism receiving said tube and forming spaced seals across said tube between which fluid is located, said seals being formed in a downstream to upstream succession and being non-orthogonal with respect to a longitudinal axis of said tube; and
hydraulic equalization supports associated with said heat sealing mechanism to support said tube in directions generally orthogonal to said longitudinal axis adjacent said seals as each seal is being formed.
The present invention provides advantages in that since the tube is supported in a direction generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tube as the curvilinear seals are being formed, the hydraulic forces applied to the tube are equalized allowing high integrity seals to be formed and inhibiting the shape of the containers from being distorted.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2339896 (1944-01-01), Waters
patent: 2866488 (1958-12-01), Thompson
patent: 2999627 (1961-09-01), Reinhardt
patent: 3009498 (1961-11-01), Fohr
patent: 3325961 (1967-06-01), Lindh
patent: 3378988 (1968-04-01), McClosky
patent: 3381441 (1968-05-01), Condo
patent: 3387701 (1968-06-01), Schneider
patent: 3482373 (1969-12-01), Morris
patent: 3488915 (1970-01-01), Delestatius
patent: 3849965 (1974-11-01), Dominici
patent: 4041851 (1977-08-01), Jentsch
patent: 4361235 (1982-11-01), Gautier
patent: 4384440 (1983-05-01), Ohlsson
patent: 4464156 (1984-08-01), Holmstrom
patent: 4566249 (1986-01-01), Schwerdtel
patent: 4649696 (1987-03-01), Brie
patent: 4747253 (1988-05-01), Schulte
patent: 4848063 (1989-07-01), Niske
patent: 5031386 (1991-07-01), Schneider
patent: 5170609 (1992-12-01), Bullock
patent: 5220771 (1993-06-01), Burns
patent: 5378065 (1995-01-01), Tobolka
patent: 5408807 (1995-04-01), Lane
patent: 5454208 (1995-10-01), Kawano
patent: 5715656 (1998-02-01), Pearce
patent: 5755076 (1998-05-01), Otsuka
patent: 5761884 (1998-06-01), Tobolka
patent: 915519 (1963-01-01), None
patent: 2271753 (1993-10-01), None
Arkmount Systems Inc.
Baker & Daniels
Calve James
Vo Peter
LandOfFree
Container forming apparatus and method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Container forming apparatus and method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Container forming apparatus and method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2513925