Abstract
A tubular bag includes a top side and a bottom side running parallel to the top side and further has a first seam running parallel to the top side and to the bottom side. The first seam is produced by bonding, and the tubular bag includes at least two lateral second seams connecting the top side to the bottom side. The second seams are produced by bonding, wherein a flap is formed on and/or in the first seam. Furthermore, a method is provided for producing the tubular bag and a packaging machine is provided for carrying out the method.
Claims
1. A tubular bag comprising a top side and a bottom side running parallel to the top side, the tubular bag comprising a first seam running parallel to the top side and to the bottom side, the first seam being produced by bonding, and the tubular bag comprising at least two lateral second seams connecting the top side to the bottom side, the second seams being produced by bonding, wherein a flap is formed on and/or in the first seam.
2. The tubular bag according to claim 1, wherein the first seam comprises a fin, and the flap is formed by a cut and/or a perforation in the fin.
3. The tubular bag according to claim 1, wherein the tubular bag has a print and/or is embossed, and the print and/or the embossing comprises a fold line running parallel above the flap and/or at least one fold line starting at one of the second seams and above the flap and running toward the top side.
4. The tubular bag according to claim 1, wherein the tubular bag comprises at least one third seam and/or at least one fold on the top side and/or on the bottom side.
5. The tubular bag according to claim 1, wherein the tubular bag and/or the flap are made of a film comprising polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and/or paper.
6. A method for producing a tubular bag according to claim 1, a film web being formed into a tube by a forming shoulder; the tube being longitudinally connected by bonding by a first longitudinal connecting unit to form a first seam, and the tube being bonded transversely twice by a transverse connecting unit, thus forming at least two second seams, to form a tubular bag, wherein a flap is formed on and/or in the first seam.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the longitudinal connecting results in the formation of a fin, and the fin is cut and/or perforated during the longitudinal connecting to form the flap.
8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the film is printed on and/or embossed, and the print and/or the embossing comprises a fold line running parallel above the flap and/or at least one fold line starting at one of the second seams and above the flap and running toward the top side.
9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the film and/or the tube longitudinally connected by a first longitudinal connecting unit to form the first seam is folded inward on one or both sides and/or longitudinally connected for a second time.
10. The method according to claim 6, wherein after the formation of a first one of the second seams and prior to the formation of a second one of the second seams, the tube is filled horizontally or vertically.
11. A packaging machine for carrying out the method according to claim 6, the packaging machine comprising a forming shoulder for forming a tube from a film web, a first longitudinal connecting unit for producing a first seam, and a transverse connecting unit for producing two second seams of the tube, wherein the packaging machine comprises a flap forming member for forming a flap running along and/or in the first seam.
12. The packaging machine according to claim 11, wherein the flap forming member is a cutting knife and/or a perforating knife, which is disposed in the first longitudinal connecting unit.
13. The packaging machine according to claim 11, wherein the packaging machine comprises a printing unit for producing a print and/or an embossing unit for producing an embossing.
14. The packaging machine according to claim 11, wherein the packaging machine comprises at least one folding unit and/or a second longitudinal connecting unit.
15. The packaging machine according to claim 11, wherein the packaging machine comprises at least one vertical or horizontal feeding unit.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0046] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tubular bag according to this disclosure in the unopened state;
[0047] FIG. 2 shows the process of opening the tubular bag according to this disclosure;
[0048] FIG. 3 shows the process of removing products from the tubular bag according to this disclosure;
[0049] FIG. 4 shows the process of a first folding of the tubular bag according to this disclosure;
[0050] FIG. 5 shows the process of a second folding of the tubular bag according to this disclosure;
[0051] FIG. 6 shows the process of a third folding of the tubular bag according to this disclosure;
[0052] FIG. 7 shows the process of preparing to close the tubular bag according to this disclosure;
[0053] FIG. 8 shows the process of closing the tubular bag according to this disclosure;
[0054] FIG. 9 is a first perspective view of a closed tubular bag according to this disclosure;
[0055] FIG. 10 is a second perspective view of a closed tubular bag according to this disclosure;
[0056] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an unopened tubular bag designed as a stand-up pouch;
[0057] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an unopened tubular bag designed as a pillow pouch;
[0058] FIG. 13 is a flow chart of a method according to this disclosure; and
[0059] FIG. 14 is a packaging machine according to this disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0060] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a tubular bag 1 according to this disclosure in an unopened state. The tubular bag 1 has a top side 2 and a bottom side 3 opposite the top side 2. The bottom side 3 is folded inward in a known manner, meaning the tubular bag 1 is designed as a stand-up pouch. Since the tubular bag 1 is made from a film web, it has a first seam 4, at which the film web has been joined lengthwise. On the sides, the top side 2 and the bottom side 3 are connected by two second seams 5, which are transverse seams and which close the tubular bag 1. The longitudinal connecting process consisted in placing the respective sides of the film webs that form the inside of the tubular bag according to this disclosure on top of each other. This has created a fin. A cut 6 has been made in the center of the fin, creating a flap 7. The cut 6 is approximately half the width of the tubular bag 1.
[0061] FIG. 2 shows the process of opening the tubular bag 1 according to this disclosure. The tubular bag 1 is cut open at the top side 2 with scissors. It is also conceivable for the tubular bag 1 to have a perforation (not shown) on the top side 2, the perforation enabling the tubular bag 1 to be easily torn open. The tubular bag 1 may also have a tear tab on the top side 2.
[0062] FIG. 3 shows the process of removing products from the tubular bag 1. For this purpose, the tubular bag 1 is tilted to the side so that products (not shown) can fall out of the opened top side 2 of the tubular bag 1. It is also conceivable to remove the products from the tubular bag 1 by inserting a hand into it.
[0063] FIG. 4 shows the process of an initial folding the tubular bag 1. For this purpose, a first corner on the top side 2 is folded from the second seam 5 toward the middle of the top side 2 in the direction of the first seam 4. This process can be explained by a print (not shown) in the form of a corresponding fold line on the tubular bag 1 and/or simplified by an embossing (not shown). The folding serves to enable the tubular bag 1 to be closed. The folding is made at an angle of approximately 45. Depending on the distance of the flap 7, steeper or more acute angles are conceivable.
[0064] FIG. 5 shows the process of a second folding of the tubular bag 1. Starting from the second seam 5, the second corner of the top side 2 is folded over in the direction of the first seam 4. The second folding is also made approximately to the middle of the top side 2. In the case at hand, the folding is made at an angle of approximately 45. The first folding and the second folding form a trapezoid on the top side 2.
[0065] FIG. 6 shows the process of a third folding of the tubular bag 1. The trapezoid formed by the first folding and the second folding on the top side 2 is folded over with the tip in the direction of the flap 7. This folding can also be explained by a print and/or simplified by an embossing.
[0066] FIG. 7 shows the process of preparing to close the tubular bag 1. The short side of the trapezoid formed by the folding on the top side 2 of the tubular bag 1 is guided toward the flap 7.
[0067] FIG. 8 shows the process of closing the tubular bag 1. To close the tubular bag 1, the short side of the trapezoid is pulled under the flap 7. Friction and a form fit hold the top side 2 in its folded and turned-over position in the flap 7 and prevent the tubular bag 1 from opening. Partial opening of the first and second folds in the flap 7 further supports the closure of the tubular bag 1. The tubular bag 1 can be opened at any time by pulling the trapezoid out of the flap 7. It can simply be reclosed as described above. In addition to the trapezoidal shape, it is also conceivable for the top side 2 to be folded into a triangular shape, with the first two folds meeting in the middle of the top side or partially overlapping. Depending on where the flap 7 is positioned, one of the two folds may also be omitted. If the flap 7 extends across the entire width of tubular bag 1, it is also conceivable to close the bag without the first two folds by sliding the top side 2 under the flap 7 without folding it first.
[0068] FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 each show a perspective view of the closed tubular bag 1. The top side 2 has been shaped by folding in such a manner that a tip could be pulled through the flap 7. The flap 7 is formed by a cut 6 in the fin. Since this is a stand-up pouch, the closed tubular bag 1 can stand on the bottom side 3 when it is closed.
[0069] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an unopened tubular bag 1 in the form of stand-up pouch. The tubular bag 1 comprises a top side 2 and an opposite bottom side 3. A first seam 4, which comprises a fin, runs centrally between the top side 2 and the bottom side 3. The fin has a flap 7 formed by a cut 6. Laterally, the tubular bag 1 has two second seams 5, which run from the bottom side 3 to the top side 2 and which complete the tubular bag 1. A folding with two outward-facing folds 8 and one inward-facing fold 8 is formed on the bottom side 3, the folding being held in shape by the second seams 5. In addition, respective third seams 9 are disposed on the outward-facing folds 8 and on the top side 2.
[0070] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of an unopened tubular bag 1 in the form of a pillow pouch. The tubular bag 1 comprises a top side 2 and an opposite bottom side 3. A first seam 4, which comprises a fin, runs between the top side 2 and the bottom side 3. The fin has a flap 7 formed by a cut 6. The tubular bag 1 is completed by two second seams 5, each disposed laterally on the tubular bag 1 between the top side 2 and the bottom side 3. The tubular bag 1 has a folding with folds 8 both on the bottom side 2 and on the top side 1, which are partially unfolded to form the pillow pouch.
[0071] FIG. 13 shows a flow chart of a method according to this disclosure. The method can be carried out on a packaging machine 10 according to this disclosure (see FIG. 14). In a first step 100, a film web is formed into a tube via a forming shoulder. In a subsequent second step 200, the tube is first cut at one edge by a cutting knife to form a flap and then bonded longitudinally by a first longitudinal connecting unit, resulting in a first seam. Then, in a third step 300, a first transverse seam, which is a second seam of the tubular bag, is produced by a transverse connecting unit by bonding. The production step of the first transverse seam can also be the production step of a second transverse seam of a tubular bag produced immediately prior. During and/or after the production of the first transverse seam, the tubular bag is filled. Finally, in a fourth step 400, a second transverse seam, which is also a second seam of the tubular bag, is produced by the transverse connecting unit by bonding. The production step of the second transverse seam can also be the production step of a first transverse seam of a tubular bag produced immediately afterwards. After and/or during the production of the transverse seam, the tubular bags are separated.
[0072] FIG. 14 shows a packaging machine 10 in which a film web 11 is pulled over a symmetrical forming shoulder 12 and formed into a tube with overlapping edges of the film web. The overlapping edges are cut by a flap forming member 13 in the form of a cutting blade and then connected by a first longitudinal connecting unit 14, which results in a first seam, in such a manner that the film web 11 forms a tube. A transverse connecting unit 15 connects the tube transversely, resulting in e a second seam, which is both part of a tubular bag that has thus been completed and part of a tubular bag that is currently being produced. In the process, a folding made on the bottom side by a folding unit 16 is also fixed by the transverse connecting unit 15. During and/or after the production of the second seam, the tubular bag currently being produced is filled by a vertical feeding unit 17.
