Piping bag for applying foodstuffs to a substrate

Abstract

The invention relates to a piping bag (1) for applying foodstuffs (18) to a substrate (2), this piping bag (1) comprising a bag of plastic foil material, which bag is provided with a filling opening (4) and a dispensing opening (6), and wherein at least one portion of an outer side of the bag (1) comprises a rubber composition. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a piping bag (128, 129), comprising of forming the piping bag by co-extrusion of at least one plastic (101, 102) and one rubber (103) composition, wherein the rubber composition forms an outer side (22) of the piping bag (1).

Claims

1. A piping bag, comprising: a bag body comprised of an outer layer and an inner layer mutually connected by co-extrusion, said inner layer comprised of a polyolefin and said outer layer comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer; a filling opening formed by the bag body; a dispensing end opposite the filling opening; wherein said outer layer is comprised of an elastomer having a density in a range of 0.87 gr/cm.sup.3 to 1.15 gr/cm.sup.3 and a Shore A hardness of 55 to 75, the elastomer chosen from the group consisting of thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) and thermoplastic olefins (TPO).

2. The piping bag of claim 1, wherein said outer layer is comprised of an elastomer chosen from the group consisting of styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS), styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene, styrene butylene styrene (SBS), and styrene isopropylene styrene (SIS).

3. The piping bag of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is an apolar thermoplastic elastomer.

4. A piping bag for applying a foodstuff to a substrate, comprising: a tubular bag of polymeric foil material with an inner layer and an outer layer, the bag comprising a filling opening and a dispensing end, wherein a portion of the outer layer of the tubular bag comprises a rubber composition located to improve grip for a user of the piping bag during application of foodstuff to a substrate; wherein the rubber composition is fixedly connected to the polymeric foil material by means of co-extrusion during the formation of the tubular bag; wherein the rubber composition comprises a thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of styrene-based elastomers, thermoplastic vulcanizate elastomers (TPVs), and thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers (TPOs); and wherein the rubber composition has a density of 0.85-1.25 g/cm.sup.3 and a Shore A hardness of 45 to 95.

5. The piping bag as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rubber composition has a density of 0.87-1.15 g/cm.sup.3.

6. The piping bag as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rubber composition has a density of 0.88-1.00 g/cm.sup.3.

7. The piping bag as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rubber composition has a Shore A hardness of 55 to 75.

8. The piping bag as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rubber composition is selected from the group consisting of styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS), styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene, styrene butylene styrene (SBS), and styrene isopropylene styrene (SIS).

9. The piping bag as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rubber composition further comprises a polyolefin.

10. A piping bag for applying a foodstuff to a substrate, comprising: a tubular bag of polymeric foil material with an inner layer and an outer layer, the bag comprising a filling opening and a dispensing end, wherein a portion of the outer layer of the tubular bag comprises a rubber composition located to improve grip for a user of the piping bag during application of foodstuff to a substrate; wherein the rubber composition is fixedly connected to the polymeric foil material by means of co-extrusion during the formation of the tubular bag; wherein the rubber composition comprises a thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of styrene-based elastomers, thermoplastic vulcanizate elastomers (TPVs), and thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers (TPOs); wherein the rubber composition has a density of 0.88-1.00 g/cm.sup.3 and a Shore A hardness of 55 to 75; and wherein the rubber composition is selected from the group consisting of styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS), styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene, styrene butylene styrene (SBS), and styrene isopropylene styrene (SIS).

Description

(1) The invention will now be further described on the basis of exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying figures, in which

(2) FIG. 1 shows a view of a device used to perform the method according to the invention,

(3) FIGS. 2A and 2B show a view of two embodiments of a piping bag according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the piping bag according to the invention.

(5) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a device for manufacturing a reel 130 with piping bags. In this embodiment three granulates 101, 102 and 103, respectively an LLDPE, LLDPE and SEBS composition, are carried into a co-extrusion unit 100. The granulates are heated. The inlet is connected to the extruder.

(6) The granulate is heated per extruder. The temperature is set to the temperature intended for the material. The granulate becomes liquid due to heating. A number of temperature zones, for instance five, can be set in the extruder. The temperatures for the different granulates can differ. The temperature zones also have different temperatures, for instance in the range of 120-240 C.

(7) During the extrusion of the rubber composition the pressure development in the extruder is set in one embodiment by changing temperature settings on the extruder or by the use of a different type of screw, for instance a backflow screw, or screen for the extruder. A plurality of screens can be used, for instance three. The setting of the screw speed also affects the frictional heat created and the process of the flow. The correct flow of the end product is obtained by a combination of these settings.

(8) Via the extruder the materials in liquid form come together in a mould as one substance by means of spirally running channels. The substance will leave the mould in cured form due to air cooling, for instance with a power of 160 W, and the plastic foil is formed.

(9) In order to obtain equal thickness of the tubular foil over the whole periphery adjustments are made to the air ring through which the cooling air is dosed. Locations on the foil which are too thick and too thin can hereby be specifically dealt with and improved.

(10) Following extrusion the foil is guided over roller 111 and carried to the foil magazine 112. Here the foil is pulled over a number of rollers, wherein the strip tension of the foil can be controlled.

(11) The schematic drawing shows a top view of the foil from 114. A first perforation device 118 arranges a perforation 119 in a width direction of foil 114.

(12) A second sealing device 120 placed at an angle to the direction of transport 116 arranges a seal 122 obliquely of the direction of transport.

(13) Using perforation device 123 an oblique perforation is arranged over seal 122, along which perforation the formed bags can be torn from each other.

(14) The formed bags 128,129 have a substantially triangular form and are mutually connected along the formed tear-off edges.

(15) Other additional modules for further processing can be included in the process sequence as shown. A module for arranging an anti-slip layer can particularly be used. As addition to the rubber composition for the outer side of the piping bag, an anti-slip layer in the form of a dotted pattern can be arranged on the outer side.

(16) In another embodiment a two-layer foil is produced, wherein the outer layer has a rubber composition.

(17) In yet another embodiment a foil with one, two, three, four or more layers is produced during the extrusion without the rubber composition being arranged on the outer side of the piping bag during the co-extrusion. The rubber composition is then applied in the form of a coating, in particular as an anti-slip layer, to the outer side of the formed conical bag by means of an additional module in the further processing, for instance after the above described cutting and punching.

(18) In the shown embodiment the processed foil for piping bags is then transported further over a second tensioning unit 125 and wound around a reel 130 so that a supply of triangular piping bags 128,129 is obtained. These can be easily transported to for instance a bakery. Here the baker can fit an associated nozzle to the tip of the triangular form, whereby the piping bags according to FIGS. 2A and 2B are obtained.

(19) FIG. 2A shows a first embodiment of piping bag 1. Piping bag 1 is used to apply a foodstuff, for instance whipped cream, to a substrate 2. The piping bag comprises a plastic foil material. The piping bag has the form of a trapezium (truncated triangle). Outer end 4 is the inlet opening of the bag into which the foodstuff can be carried. Via the spout 6 close to the other end 5 the foodstuff can be applied to substrate 2. The user can herein deform the piping bag by pressing the bag from outer end 4 which is closed during use, for instance sealed or knotted. Through the pressing the volume of piping bag 1 is reduced, whereby the content will leave the bag via piping part 6.

(20) Piping bag 10 has a similar form but is provided with a different nozzle 19, with opening 16, which is arranged on outer end 15 of the piping bag, for instance by fusing the spout to the bag. Piping bag 10 can be filled via opening 14 and the filling can be applied to substrate 12 via opening 16.

(21) FIG. 3 shows a part of a cross-section of piping bag 1 along the line III-III in FIG. 2A. The figure is not to scale. The thickness of the layers is shown enlarged for the purpose of clarification. Shown is the three-layer structure of this embodiment of the piping bag according to the invention. An inner layer 20 of the piping bag, for instance a polyolefin such as an LDPE or linear LDPE, is in contact with filling 18 of the piping bag. The material of the inner layer is smooth and is approved for contact with foodstuffs. The inner layer has thickness of between 20 and 50 micron.

(22) The middle layer 21 is formed during co-extrusion between inner layer 20 and outer layer 22. The middle layer has a supporting function and a strength function. Suitable materials are polyolefins, in particular LDPEs. The middle layer has thickness between 20 and 50 micron.

(23) Outer layer 22 comes particularly into contact with ambient material, in particular with fatty substances, condensation or moisture, in particular moisture from the user him/herself, for instance generated via the hand of the user. The user does however want to be able to grasp the piping bag with sufficient grip for correct operation thereof during applying of the content 18 to a substrate 2. The outer layer 22, particularly formed by co-extrusion but optionally applied as fully encasing coating, or in another embodiment applied locally for instance in the form of an anti-slip layer, in particular in the form of pattern, is made up of a rubber-containing composition or rubber compound incorporating at least 15-75% rubber, in particular a thermoplastic elastomer. Such a substance provides considerably greater advantages for use in a piping bag than the prior art material. The outer layer has a thickness of about 15 micron.

(24) Although the invention has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments as shown in the drawings, it will be apparent to the skilled person that the invention is not limited to that which is shown, but that many different variants are possible within the concept of the invention as stated in the claims.