EP0340381B1 - Packaging container made of flexible material for bulk products - Google Patents

Abstract

In a packaging container (1), for bulk products, made of flexible material in the form of a sack or bag, a removal device having an outlet part for the product is provided for portion-wise removal of product from the filling space. The outlet part forms an outlet path for the product from the filling space to carry out a removal operation via a linear predetermined opening in the packaging material. The opening in the packaging material is predetermined by a material weakening line (15) in one (11) of the package walls. When the material weakening line is separated, a tab of material (18) can be detached at least partially from the packaging material. The outlet part is formed by an inner flexible blank (20) of flat material which is connected to the inside of the packaging wall (11) forming the opening, overlaps the material weakening line (15) substantially and whose upper end part can be pulled out of the packaging wall (11), when the material weakening line (15) has been separated, with formation of a pouring spout. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a packaging container for pourable filling material made of flexible material in the form of a sack or bag, which has a removal device with an outlet part for the filling material for a portion-wise removal of filling material from the filling space, which has a line-shaped opening in the packaging material for performing a removal process forms an outlet path for the filling material from the filling space, the opening in the packaging material being predetermined by a material weakening line in one of the packaging walls.

In a known packaging container of this type, which is designed in particular as a large-volume sack, the lower closure of which consists of a cross bottom with an outer bottom cover sheet, a gusseted tube piece is incorporated as a removal device into the cross bottom of the lower sack closure, the inner part of which is passed through an insertion slot of the bottom cover sheet and in the spread-apart state is fastened to the inside thereof, while the outer side gusseted hose piece protruding outwards from the insertion slot forms an outlet part for the filling material, the end of which is initially closed by a weld seam. For a portion-wise removal of filling material, the side gusset tube piece hanging down when the packaging container is intended to be used as a large sack is cut above the sealing seam at the end, whereupon by means of a perforation line to be broken open by the insertion slot and at right angles to the end The opening formed in the packaging material can emerge from the filling space through the outer, expanded side gusseted hose piece as an outlet part. At the end of the filling process, the gusseted tube piece is pressed together, whereupon it can be folded over and secured to the sack using suitable aids.

In addition to the fact that the known removal device is limited to its attachment to a bottom of the cross forming a lower sack or bag closure, the incorporation of a piece of gusseted hose into the bottom of the cross to form the removal device is very labor-intensive, and there is a risk that this is on the outside of the bottom of the cross lying on or hanging from this side gusseted hose is damaged or destroyed when handling the bag.

The principle of a pouring spout, which is released by removing a wall area, is known from AU-B-70420/87. The corresponding material tab must be completely detached from the packaging wall to enable a corresponding tab to be pivoted outwards. In addition, the AU-B-70420/87 is a more or less rigid construction.

The invention has for its object to provide a packaging container for pourable filling material of the type specified with a removal device for filling material quantities, which can be provided with little effort, especially with regard to their end closures, packaging containers made of flexible material, before damage or premature destruction is protected when handling the packaging container and can be closed again if necessary without the use of external funds.

Starting from a packaging container for pourable filling material made of flexible material in the form of a sack or bag of the type specified at the outset, this object is achieved according to the invention by that the outlet part is formed by an inner, flexible flat material blank connected to the inside of the opening-forming packaging wall, which overlaps the material weakening line with oversize and whose upper end part can be pulled out of the packaging wall after the material weakening line has been separated to form a pouring spout, and that a material flap is partially detachable from the packaging wall along the material weakening line, the material flap being held in one piece with the packaging wall along a fold line parallel to the plane of the upper packaging closure in the region of the upper end part of the flexible material blank.

In this embodiment, the material weakening line which specifies the opening in the appropriate size in the packaging material, for example in the form of a score line or, preferably, a perforation line, regardless of the type and the attachment of the end closures to the packaging container at any suitable location in one of the packaging walls, preferably in an adjoining the upper packaging closure end area, and the formation of the removal device can be carried out with very little effort, since the outlet part of the removal device is formed by a simple, sheet-shaped cut of a flexible flat material, such as paper or plastic film, which is attached to the seam with simple seams Is fixed inside the packaging wall. The outlet part is initially held inside the packaging container, ie in the filling space, in a state lying flat against the packaging wall and is thus effectively protected against damage or premature destruction when handling the packaging container. Only when there is an intention to remove a portion of the filling material from the packaging container for the first time, after the material weakening line has been cut open, is the flat material blank with its upper end region pulled out of the packaging interior and, thanks to the excess with which it overlaps the material weakening line, forms a distribution -Tülle, which allows a metered pouring of the contents by appropriate, more or less strong tilting of the packaging container such as a jug, a canister or the like. It is also readily possible to press the end part of the flat material blank, which forms the pouring spout, back into the interior of the packaging through the opening cleared by the material flap after the packaging container has been set down, in order to form a closure, which is preferably only partially released from the packaging wall Material flap can be covered on the outside by pushing the material flap back into its starting position, in which it is usually hooked to the adjacent opening edge of the packaging wall on the perforation line, which is preferably used as a line of weakness, by broken hooks on the material webs is held.

There are no limits to the design of the packaging container by the provision of the removal device according to the invention. The packaging container can thus consist of any suitable flexible or foldable material, such as is used in the manufacture of sacks or bags. These are in particular paper, plastic films, laminates or fabrics, in particular plastic ribbon fabrics, in a single or multi-layer design, with a multi-layer design of the packaging material the line of weakness for removing the material flap from the opening-forming packaging wall extends through all the material layers. In particular, the upper and lower end closures of the packaging container can also be of any suitable design, e.g. have as a cross or block base, as a folded or wrap base or the like. The end closures can also be formed by a sewing end or an end weld, whereby different floor designs are also possible on the two end closures, e.g. The lower packaging closure can be formed by a cross or block bottom and the upper packaging closure by an end seal. Furthermore, the lower packaging closure, in particular in its design as a molded base, can be provided with a filling valve and the upper packaging closure can comprise a carrying handle which, in the event of an upper end welding of the packaging container, can consist of a finger hole punching in an area of the packaging container which is separated from the filling space. Finally, a viewing window to the filling space can be incorporated into one of the packaging walls, preferably in the end region adjacent to the lower packaging closure, through which the user can check the filling status of the packaging container.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Verpackungs behältnisses in Form eines Seitenfaltenbeutels mit geschlossener Entnahmevorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine Hälfte des Verpackungsbehältnisses gemäß Fig. 1 mit geöffneter Entnahmevorrichtung,

Fig. 3

einen Teilbereich des Verpackungsbehältnisses nach den Fig. 1 und 2 unter Freilegung der Innenseite der die Entnahmevorrichtung enthaltenden Verpackungswand in gegenüber den Fig. 1 und 2 vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Darstellung des oberen Endbereichs des Verpackungsbehältnisses bei geöffneter Entnahmevorrichtung, wiederum in gegenüber den Fig. 1 und 2 vergrößertem Maßstab und

Fig. 5

eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform der Entnahmevorrichtung in einer Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 3.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the claims and the following description in conjunction with the drawing, in which an exemplary embodiment of the object of the invention is illustrated schematically. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a packaging container in the form of a gusseted bag with a closed removal device,

Fig. 2

one half of the packaging container according to FIG. 1 with the removal device open,

Fig. 3

1 and 2 with exposure of the inside of the packaging wall containing the removal device on an enlarged scale compared to FIGS. 1 and 2,

Fig. 4

a perspective view of the upper end region of the packaging container with the removal device open, again on an enlarged scale compared to FIGS. 1 and 2 and

Fig. 5

3 shows a modified embodiment of the removal device in a representation corresponding to FIG. 3.

The packaging container 1 shown in the drawing has the shape of a gusseted bag and consists for example of a plastic-coated paper, so that the material connections can be made by welds. The lower packaging closure 2 forming a stand base is formed by a block or block base, into which a filling valve (not shown) can be incorporated in a manner known per se. The upper packaging closure 3 comprises a flat end region 6 of the packaging container 1 which is separated from the filling space 4 of the packaging container 1 with the aid of a transverse weld seam 5 and which in turn is provided with an end weld seam 7 at the end. In the packaging area 6, a finger hole punch 8 is attached as a handle.

The packaging container 1 is shown in the drawing in the filled state, in which the side folds 11, 12 inserted between the opposite broad side walls 9, 10 of the packaging container 1 are spread apart flatly and each form a narrow side wall of the packaging container 1. 1 and 2 show, a viewing window 13 is incorporated into the packaging wall 9, which allows the user an insight into the filling space 4, which is otherwise closed on all sides.

For a portion-wise removal of filling material from the filling space 4, a removal device 14 is formed in the packaging wall 11 in the end region adjacent to the upper packaging closure 3, which in its closed state illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 is from the outside by a material weakening line 15 in the form of a Perforation line is recognizable. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, the material weakening line 15 has an arcuate basic orientation which extends with its apex 16 from the upper packaging closure 3, the end part of the weakening line 15 comprising the apex 16 forming a tab-shaped handling part 17. The line of weakness 15 may otherwise be any suitable, e.g. also have a tongue-shaped course, as it proves to be useful for separating a material flap 18 delimited from the weakening line 15 from the packaging wall 11.

In the example shown, the material tab 18 can only be partially removed from the packaging wall 11 with the aid of the material weakening line 15. Along a fold line 19 shown in dash-dotted lines in FIG. 3, which connects the two upper end points of the weakening line 15 and runs essentially parallel to the plane of the upper packaging closure 3, the material flap 18 remains integrally connected to the packaging wall 11. The fold line 19 can thus also be referred to as the base line of the material flap 18, around which it can be pivoted between a closed position, as can be seen, for example, from FIGS. 1 and 3, and an open position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Instead of this, it is also possible to separate the material flap 18 from the packaging wall 11 in order to open the removal device. In this case, the material weakening line 15 would have a self-contained contour, for example by continuing over the distance of the base line 19.

The removal device 14 is completed by a flexible flat material blank 20, for example made of paper or plastic film, which, as can also be seen in particular from FIG. 3, is fastened on the inside of the packaging wall 11 with the aid of two lateral connecting seams 21. Depending on the material properties of the blank 20, the connecting seams 21 are welded or sealed seams or adhesive seams. The connecting seams 21 converge in the direction pointing away from the upper packaging closure 3, and their union or end point 22 lies in the vertical extension of the vertex 16 of the material weakening line 15. It may be advisable to connect a vertical weakening line extension to the vertex 16 of the material weakening line 15, which ends above the end point 22 of the connecting seams 21. Under certain circumstances, this can favor the formation of a pouring spout 20 'by pulling the blank 18 out of the opening formed in the packaging wall 11 by removing the material flap 18.

In order to make it possible to pull the blank 20 out of the packaging wall 11 through the opening that has been created, the upper end part 23 of the blank 20 is kept free of a connection to the inside of the packaging wall 11. As can again be seen in particular from FIG. 3, the end part 23, when the blank 20 is held on the inside of the packaging wall 11, projects upward beyond the adjacent fold line 19 of the material flap 18 towards the upper packaging closure 3. Furthermore, the blank 20 is provided in its central region with a vertical material fold 24 tapering in the direction pointing away from the upper packaging closure 3, which determines the excess with which the blank 20 overlaps the weakening line 15 parallel to the fold line 19 in the non-use position. The connecting seams 21 are arranged in the region between the outer side edges of the blank 20 and the adjacent sections of the material weakening line 15 essentially following their lead, and the blank 20 itself has a V-shaped basic shape corresponding to the alignment of the weakening line 15 and the connecting seams 21. However, this basic shape is irrelevant for the function of the blank 20 as a pouring spout. What is essential for this is, in addition to an at least approximately horizontal or parallel course of the upper edge 25 of the end part 23 to the fold line 19, the definition of the blank 20 in a region following the contour of the weakening line 15 and adjoining it.

2 and 4 illustrate the opened state of the removal device 14, in which the material flap 18 is separated from the packaging wall 11 by breaking open the material weakening line 15 and around the state of the packaging container 1, which is supported on a horizontal base with the standing base 2 Fold line 19 is folded up. The pouring spout 20 'is formed by dissolving the material fold 24 by pulling out the upper end part 23 of the blank 20 and bulging the material, the spout-like material tapering down to the end point 22 of the V-shaped converging connecting seams 21. The upper end part 23 can be provided with an edge fold to reinforce and stiffen it, which can also contribute to stabilizing the spout edge when pouring out quantities of filling material by appropriately tilting the packaging container 1.

At the end of a removal process, the pouring spout 20 'is pushed back more or less informally into the filling space 4, the blank 20 essentially again occupying the position shown in particular in FIG. 3, in which the upper edge region of the end part 23 above the fold line 19 lies. The return to this position is favored by the lateral connecting seams 21 of the flat material blank 20 that are raised a short distance over the folding line 19. The material flap 18 can also be pivoted back about its folding or base line 19 into the starting position shown in FIG. 3, in which it is held by frictional engagement on the adjacent contour-like opening edge of the packaging wall 11.

5 differs from the embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 essentially in that the upper end portion 23 'of the flat material blank 20 on the edge fixed on the inside of the opening-forming packaging wall 11 by an upper connecting seam 25 parallel to the base line 19 of the material flap 18, but can be detached from the packaging wall 11 by separating a material weakening or perforation line 27.

The upper connecting seam 26, which connects the end points of the lateral connecting seams 21, which are led up over the folding or base line 19 of the material flap 18, gives the connecting seams 21, 21, 26 which fix the flat material blank 20 on the inside of the packaging wall 11 a triangular contour. The material fold 24 also present in this embodiment is welded flat or closed in its upper edge region by the connecting seam 26, provided that it is a weld seam, or a suitable adhesive for an upper, edge-side closure of the material fold can be between the fold parts 24 are applied.

The line of weakness 27 of the upper end portion 23 'of the flat material blank 20 has the basic shape of an inverted U-profile. The base line 28 of the U-profile runs parallel to the upper connecting seam 26 of the end part 23 ', and the lateral legs 29 of the U-profile extend over a short upper section of the lateral connecting seams 21 along the latter in the direction of the lower end point 22 of the connecting seams 21 .

Due to the material weakening line 15 or the material flaps 18 to be formed by this connecting seams 21 and 27 all around, the tightness of the packaging container is guaranteed before the first opening of the removal device regardless of the material weakening line 15, since in this way the connection between the filling chamber 4 and the Inside of the packaging wall 11 facing side of the flat material blank 20 is interrupted. Also, in the case of the material fold 24 which is closed in a seam-like manner in its upper edge region by the connecting seam 26 or the like and which is inserted towards the inside of the packaging wall 11, no filling material can pass from above along the material fold 24 down into the region in front of the material flap 18 to be formed by means of the material weakening line 15, which then, when the weakening line 15 is broken open, could escape from the packaging container in an uncontrolled manner, before breaking open the material weakening line 27 extending over the upper end region 23 'and pulling out the thereby Connection to the inside of the packaging wall 11 released end portion 23 ', the pouring spout 20' is formed in the manner described with reference to the first embodiment.

5 corresponds to the first exemplary embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, as is also indicated by the use of the same reference numerals for identical or matching parts.

Claims (22)

1. Packaging container (1) for bulk products, made of flexible material and in the form of a sack or bag which, for removing bulk products in portions from the filled space, has a removal device with an outflow part for the bulk products which, for carrying out a removal procedure, forms an outflow path for bulk products from the filled space via a linearly predetermined opening in the packaging material, the opening in the packaging material being predetermined by a weakened material line (15) in one (11) of the packaging walls (9, 10, 11, 12), characterized in that the outflow part is formed by an inner flexible flat material blank (20) connected to the inside of the packaging wall (11) forming the opening, which blank (20) engages over the weakened material line (15) with oversize and whose upper end part (23) can be pulled out from the packaging wall (11) to form a pouring spout (20') after the weakened material line (15) has been torn open, and in that a flap (18) of material along the weakened material line (15) can be detached partially from the packaging wall (11), the flap (18) of material being held integrally connected to the packaging wall (11) along a fold line (19) parallel to the plane of the upper packaging closure (3) in the area of the upper end part (23) of the flexible material blank (20).
2. Packaging container according to Claim 1, characterized in that the upper end part (23) of the flat material blank (20) is kept free of connection from the inside of the packaging wall (11).
3. Packaging container according to Claim 2, characterized in that the upper end part (23) of the flat material blank (20) is provided with an edge cuff.
4. Packaging container according to Claim 1, characterized in that the upper end part (23') of the flat material blank (20) is attached at the edge on the inside of the packaging wall (11) forming the opening, but can be detached from the packaging wall (11) by means of the tearing open of a weakened material line (27) which is arranged within its attached edge area.
5. Packaging container according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the weakened material line (15) is formed by a perforated line.
6. Packaging container according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the weakened material line (15) is arranged in an end area of the packaging wall (11) adjoining the upper packaging closure (3).
7. Packaging container according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the weakened material line (15) has a curved basic orientation extending with its apex (16) away from the upper packaging closure (3).
8. Packaging container according to Claim 7, characterized in that a vertical weakened line continuation adjoins the apex (16) of the weakened material line (15) in the direction pointing away from the upper packaging closure (3).
9. Packaging container according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the weakened material line (15) is designed tongue-shaped in the direction pointing away from the upper packaging closure (3).
10. Packaging container according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the flexible flat material blank (20) has a V-shaped basic configuration in which the tip of the V is directed away from the upper packaging closure (3).
11. Packaging container according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the flexible flat material blank (20) is connected firmly to the packaging material essentially by V-shaped lateral connection seams (21) converging in the direction pointing away from the upper packaging closure (3).
12. Packaging container according to Claim 11, characterized in that the lateral connection seams (21) are arranged in the area between the outer side edges of the flat material blank (20) and the adjacent portions of the weakened material line (15) so as essentially to follow the course thereof.
13. Packaging container according to one of Claims 4 to 12, characterized in that the lateral connection seams (21) of the flat material blank (20) are completed by means of an upper connection seam (26), parallel to the base line (19) of the flap (18) of material, to form a triangular contour.
14. Packaging container according to Claim 13, characterized in that the weakened material line (27) of the upper end part (23') of the flat material blank (20) has the basic shape of an inverted U profile whose base line (28) runs parallel to the upper connection seam (26) of the end part (23'), and whose lateral branches (29) extend along a short upper portion of the lateral connection seams (21) in the direction of their end point (22).
15. Packaging container according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the flat material blank (20) is provided in its middle area with a vertical material fold (24) determining the oversize transversely to the pouring direction in its area engaging over the weakened line (15).
16. Packaging container according to Claim 15, characterized in that the vertical material fold (24) is tapered in the direction pointing away from the upper packaging closure (3).
17. Packaging container according to Claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the material fold (24) is closed in the form of a seam in its upper edge area.
18. Packaging container according to one of Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the upper end part (23) of the flat material blank (20), in its state when held on the inside of the packaging wall (11), protrudes upwards above the adjacent fold line (19) of the flap (18) of material.
19. Packaging container according to one of Claims 1 to 18, in a design as a satchel sack or satchel bag, characterized in that the removal device (14) is arranged in one (11) of the two packaging walls (11, 12) formed by a gusset.
20. Packaging container according to one of Claims 1 to 19, characterized in that a viewing window (13) to the filled space (4) is incorporated in one (9) of the packaging walls (9, 10, 11, 12).
21. Packaging container according to one of Claims 1 to 20, characterized in that it is provided in the area of the upper packaging closure (3) with a carrier grip (8).
22. Packaging container according to one of Claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the bottom packaging closure (2) is provided with a fill-up valve.

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