Abstract
A tubular bag includes a top side and a bottom side running parallel to the top side, the tubular bag further having a first seam running along the top side, along the bottom side, or parallel to the top side and to the bottom side. The first seam is produced by bonding. 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. A flap is formed on the outside parallel to 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 along the top side along the bottom side, or 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 the outside parallel to the first seam.
2. The tubular bag according to claim 1, wherein the flap is formed by a strip, which is incorporated in the second seams and/or glued on.
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 is 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 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 transverse connecting unit, thus forming at least two second seams, to form a tubular bag, wherein a flap is formed on the outside parallel to the first seam.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the flap is formed by gluing on a strip and/or connecting a strip by bonding, by the transverse connecting unit.
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 on the outside parallel to the first seam.
12. The packaging machine according to claim 11, wherein the flap forming member is a feeding device for feeding a strip.
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 at least one second longitudinal connecting unit.
15. The packaging machine according to claim 11, wherein the packaging machine comprises at least one vertical or horizontal filling unit.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0050] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a tubular bag according to this disclosure in the unopened state;
[0051] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the tubular bag according to this disclosure in the opened state;
[0052] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the tubular bag according to this disclosure with two foldings;
[0053] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the closed tubular bag according to this disclosure;
[0054] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of second embodiment of a tubular bag according to this disclosure in the unopened state;
[0055] FIG. 6 is a front view of the second embodiment of a tubular bag according to this disclosure in the unopened state;
[0056] FIG. 7 is a front view of a third embodiment of a tubular bag according to this disclosure in the unopened state;
[0057] FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method according to this disclosure; and
[0058] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a packaging machine according to this disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0059] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment 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. A perforation is visible on the top side 2. The bottom side 3 is folded inward in a known manner in the shape of a W with one fold 8, 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 1 according to this disclosure on top of each other. This has created a fin. In order to form a flap 7, a strip has been incorporated in the second seams 5, the strip being fixed at both ends. The entire flap 7 extends across the full width of the tubular bag 1 and runs parallel to the first seam 4.
[0060] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the tubular bag 1 according to this disclosure in the opened state. The opened state has been brought about by tearing the tubular bag 1 open along the perforation on the top side 2. The perforation serves to facilitate the tearing process.
[0061] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the tubular bag 1 according to this disclosure with two foldings. At corners of the top side 2, the foldings are each 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.
[0062] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the closed tubular bag 1 according to this disclosure. The trapezoid formed by the two foldings at the top side 2 is folded inward with the short side in the direction of the flap 7. This folding can also be explained by a print and/or simplified by an embossing. The short side of the trapezoid at the top side 2 of the tubular bag 1 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. Since 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.
[0063] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a tubular bag 1 according to this disclosure in the unopened state, and FIG. 6 is a front view of the second embodiment of the tubular bag 1 according to this disclosure in the unopened state. The second embodiment can be produced in particular on both a horizontally working and a vertically working forming and filling machine. The second embodiment also comprises a top side 2 and an opposite bottom side 3. A first seam 4 forming the tubular bag 1 is disposed on the top side 2. On the bottom side 3, the tubular bag 1 is folded inward with a fold 8, thus forming a stand-up pouch. The folding has been additionally reinforced by two third seams 9. Laterally, the top side 2 and the bottom side 3 are connected by two second seams 5, which are transverse seams and which complete the tubular bag 1. To form a flap 7, a strip is incorporated in the second seams 5 parallel to the first seam 4, the strip being fixed at both ends. The flap 7 extends across the entire width of the tubular bag 1.
[0064] FIG. 7 is a front view of a third embodiment of a tubular bag 1 according to this disclosure in the unopened state. The third embodiment can be produced in particular on both a horizontally working and a vertically working forming and filling machine. The third embodiment also comprises a top side 2 and an opposite bottom side 3. A first seam 4 forming the tubular bag 1 is disposed on the top side 2. On the bottom side 3, the tubular bag 1 has been additionally reinforced by a third seam 9. Laterally, the top side 2 and the bottom side 3 are connected by two second seams 5, which are transverse seams and which complete the tubular bag 1. To form a flap 7, a strip is incorporated in the second seams 5 parallel to the first seam 4, the strip being fixed at both ends. The entire flap 7 extends across the full width of the tubular bag 1.
[0065] FIG. 8 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. 9). 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 connected longitudinally by a 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. 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. An endless strip is incorporated into the transverse seam, the endless strip being fed to the transverse connecting step by a flap forming member, which is realized as a feeding device. During and/or after the production of the first transverse seam, the tubular bag is filled by a filling unit. 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, the endless strip being incorporated in the process. 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-bag chain is separated into tubular bags, and the endless strip is separated into strips.
[0066] FIG. 9 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. The overlapping edges are 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. The transverse connecting unit 15 also incorporates an endless strip fed by a flap forming member 13, which is realized as a feeding device. 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 filling unit 17.
