(19)
(11) EP 1 053 184 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
07.05.2003 Bulletin 2003/19

(21) Application number: 98925654.0

(22) Date of filing: 09.06.1998
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7B65D 30/14, B65D 33/01
(86) International application number:
PCT/FI9800/490
(87) International publication number:
WO 9900/1353 (14.01.1999 Gazette 1999/02)

(54)

CLOSE SACK WITH AIR EXHAUSTION

GESCHLOSSENER SACK MIT LUFTAUSTRITT

SAC FERME A DEGARNISSAGE


(84) Designated Contracting States:
BE DE ES FR GB IT NL

(30) Priority: 19.06.1997 FI 972664

(43) Date of publication of application:
22.11.2000 Bulletin 2000/47

(73) Proprietor: UPM-Kymmene Oy
00271 Helsinki (FI)

(72) Inventors:
  • SIEVERS, Valter
    FIN-37640 Valkeakoski (FI)
  • RIKASSAARI, Pentti
    FIN-37600 Valkeakoski (FI)

(74) Representative: HOFFMANN - EITLE 
Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Arabellastrasse 4
81925 München
81925 München (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
DE-A- 2 615 543
GB-A- 623 313
DK-A- 51 841
GB-A- 1 458 438
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    Field of the technology



    [0001] The invention relates to paper sacks and applies to valve sacks equipped with barrier films, their manufacture and application. Sacks according to the invention can be used particularly for storing products that must be packaged as tightly as possible.

    Background to the technology



    [0002] When manufacturing valve sacks of paper, a tube is formed of the paper webs and cut into pieces of desired length, the ends are closed to form the bottom by first folding inwards the thinner end flaps and, on top of these, the wider side flaps. In all ends except the valve end, the side flaps are attached to the end flaps. The valve end can be supplemented with a separate paper-formed valve piece. In addition, the valve can comprise a closing flap which after the filling of the sack is folded and attached over the valve mouth to the bottom of the sack.

    [0003] Moisture-proof valve sacks have been manufactured from paper coated with plastic film or by placing a loose plastic film between paper layers. A preferred plastic has been polyethylene.

    [0004] A problem with valve sacks is that when the sack is being filled air must be allowed to escape from the sack. This is a problem particularly in the case of sacks equipped with barrier films. Therefore the barrier film of these sacks has usually been perforated, which substantially impairs the barrier properties of the film.
    A multilayer sack can be made to be air permeable during the filling also as presented in the application publication FI-A-945831. Then the inner layer is of paper with good air permeability and has channels on its outer surface. During the filling of the sack the air that gets entrapped between the layers moves through the channels to the ends of the sack where it is allowed to escape. The ends of the sack blank mouth are end to end in this sack. This structure is nevertheless not adequately tight for all applications. Furthermore, in practise this sack always requires a separate bottom cover sheet.

    [0005] GB-A-623313 discloses a close sack with a multiply tubular mantle. On both ends of the mantle there is a plain bottom with end flaps folded inwards and side flaps folded on top the end flaps. The side flaps are adhesively secured together at both ends of the sack. The flaps of the multiply tubular mantle are superimposed such that they assume a staggered relation in the bag tubing machine. Further, a tongue is provided which extends inward beyond the other plies of the valve sack and forms a flexible projection. A recess is formed complimentary to the tongue which is closed by the folds of the bottom portion of the sack.

    General description of the invention



    [0006] A valve sack according to claim 1 has now been invented. Preferred embodiments of the invention are presented in the other claims.

    [0007] A sack according to the invention can utilize a barrier film completely impermeable to air and moisture, yet during the filling of the sack air exhaustion from the sack is efficient. Also the sack bottoms are very tight due to the overlap structure.

    Drawings



    [0008] The attached drawings are a part of the detailed description of the invention. In the drawings:

    Fig. 1 shows a sack blank before the forming of the bottoms,

    Fig. 2 shows a blank into which the valve piece has been added,

    Fig. 3 shows a blank with the end flaps folded,

    Fig. 4 shows a blank onto which the bottom glueings have been formed,

    Fig. 5 shows a blank where the side flaps to be underneath are folded, and

    Fig. 6 shows a finished sack.


    Detailed description



    [0009] A sack according to the figures is made of a three-layer material. Innermost is an inner layer (1) of paper, outside of which is an air-impermeable barrier layer (2) and outermost an outer layer (3) of paper. On both ends of the flattened tubular blank (Fig. 1), cuts (4) are formed from the ends thus forming the side flaps (5) and the end flaps (6). In the region of the side flaps (5) the blank is slightly longer than in the region of the end flaps (6). The figures also show the transverse side creases (7) and the diagonal end creases (8) of the bottom along which the blank is folded to form a plane bottom, as well as the fold creases (9) along which the bottom is folded against the mantle.

    [0010] The inner layer (1) and the outer layer (3) can be of sack paper suitable for the purpose (strength e.g. 95 g / m2). The barrier layer (2) can be of suitable plastic film (e.g. HDPE).

    [0011] The barrier layer (2) is attached at both ends to the inner layer (1) with a transverse spot-glueing (10) and to the outer layer (3) with a transverse glueing (11) which in this case is also a spot-glueing. The glueings help in the alignment of the layers and they also strengthen the sack since stress is directed more evenly to all layers.

    [0012] In the region of the side flaps (5) the ends of the layers are graded to be of different length so that at the upper end of the blank on the front side of the mantle the inner layer (1) is the longest and the outer layer (3) the shortest, and on the back side the inner layer is the shortest and the outer layer the longest. At the lower end of the blank on the front side of the mantle the inner layer (1) is the shortest and the outer layer (3) the longest, and on the back side the inner layer is the longest and the outer layer the shortest. The grading of the material enables each material to be attached to each other in the bottom structure.

    [0013] In the region of the end flaps (6) at the upper end, the inner layer (1) is slightly longer than the barrier film (2) and the outer layer (3). At the lower end, on the other hand, the inner layer (1) is slightly shorter than the barrier layer (2) and the outer layer (3).

    [0014] In the next stage (Fig. 2) a valve piece (12) of paper is attached to one of the ends of the upper end of the blank. Its lower edge is placed in the region of the side crease (7) and its upper edge reaches slightly above the side flaps (5). The valve piece (12) is glued to the end flap (6) from both sides slightly outside the cut (4) with a longitudinal glue line (13). On the inside of the lower end of the valve piece (12) there is a fold. Its upper edge is at the level of the upper edge of outer layer (3) of the end flap (6). On the valve piece (12), a line (13) is further marked along which the valve piece is folded together with the side flap (5) along the side crease (7).

    [0015] In the next stage (Fig. 3) the side flaps (5) of the front side are folded open along the fold crease (9) at the same time folding the end flaps (6) inwards along the end creases (8). In addition, the sides of the valve piece (12) are folded inwards in the region of the side creases (7) and glue lines (15) are formed on top of the folded sides from the edge of the fold inwards. In the region of the double end edge of the valve piece (12) the glue line (15) is slightly wider. After this, the side edges of the valve piece (12) are folded open again, and they adhere tightly to the end flap (6) to the inner layer of the side flaps (5).

    [0016] In the next stage (Fig. 4) glue lines are formed with which the bottoms are closed. On the side flap (5.1) to be underneath, where the inner layer (1) is the longest, end glue lines (16.1) are formed from the outer surface of the end flap (6) from the side crease (7) to the inner surface of the side flap reaching to its end. On the side flap (5.2) to be on top, where the inner layer (1) is the shortest, similar but shorter end glue lines (16.2) are formed. In addition, the end glue lines (16.2) are united along the edge of the inner layer (1) with a thinner inner side glue line (17). On the end of the outer layer (3), a thin outer side glue line (18) reaching from one end to the other is formed on the inner side. In the region of the valve piece (12) the end glue lines (16.1) and (16.2) and the inner side glue line (17) are naturally formed on top of the valve piece.

    [0017] In the next stage (Fig. 5) the side flaps (5.1) to be underneath are folded against the bottom as a result of which the inner surface of their inner layer (1), with the help of the end glue lines (16.1), adheres tightly to the end flaps (6), and on the valve end correspondingly to the valve piece (12). When finally the side flaps ( 5.2) to be above are folded against the bottom, its outer layer (3) adheres to the outer layer of the lower side flap (5.1) with the help of the outer side glue line (18) and the inner layer (1) adheres to the end flap (6), in the valve corner to the valve piece (12), and to the inner layer of the lower side flap with the help of the end glue lines (16.2) and the inner side glue line (17).
    Thus in the bottom structure each paper layer (1) and (3) is glued longitudinally to the sack against themselves (grading) with glue seams (17) and (18). The graded barrier layer (2) is not longitudinally glued to itself but it is cross glued with spot-glueing to the paper layers. Thus the loose unglued film structure enables air exhaustion from the ends of the bottom, but since overlapped forms a moisture barrier to the bottom structure. The barrier layer can be glued by a cheap process glueing; no expensive and staining special glues are required.

    [0018] The glueing of the bottom corners with seams (16.1) and (16.2) closes and tightens the structure but allows the escape of dust free air that comes between the layer (1) and (2), from the ends of the bottom.

    [0019] The bottom structure is completely tight towards the inside of the sack except for the valve which has a fill opening between the outer layer of the end flap (6) and the valve piece. When the sack has been filled, the material inside presses the end flap (6) firmly against the valve piece (12). If desired, the valve mouth can also be further closed by a separate closing strip attached over the mouth against the bottom. Due to the overlap structure of the materials, the bottom is completely covered with an intact barrier film (2).

    [0020] During the filling of the sack, air moves from the sack to the area between the inner layer (1) and the barrier layer (2) from where it flows out through their ends in the bottoms of the sack. In the bottoms the air moves between the side flaps (5.1) and (5.2) to the ends where it is allowed to escape (Fig. 5). To facilitate the travel of the air, the outer surface of the inner layer (1) can be fluted, but a smooth-surface paper will also work.

    [0021] Air exhaustion is very efficient when the air flows on both sides of the sack to both ends of the sack.

    [0022] No bottom cover sheet is required to form the exhaust air channel or to increase sack strength.

    [0023] The sacks can be manufactured with tube and bottom machines of conventional sack production lines, with additions to enable the necessary cuts, overlappings and glueings. No extra material is needed.

    [0024] The sack is particularly suitable for use with materials that need to be protected from the moisture of outside air as well as possible (cocoa, for example) or with materials the leaking of which from the sack must be prevented as well as possible (chemicals harmful to the environment, for example).


    Claims

    1. A close sack with a multilayer tubular mantle, on both ends of which mantle there is a plane bottom with end flaps (6) folded inwards and side flaps (5.1, 5.2) folded on top of the end flaps, wherein the inner surface of the side flap (5.2) on top is glued against the outer surface of the side flap (5.1) underneath, characterized in that the mantle comprises an air-permeable but dust-filtering inner layer (1) of paper, outside of which a separate air-impermeable barrier layer (2) and outside of that one or several outer layers (3) of paper, in that at one of the ends of one bottom a valve piece (12) is attached to the end flap (6), in that in the side flap (5.1) underneath in the bottom, the inner layer (1) is longer than the barrier layer and the outer layer (3) is shorter than the barrier layer (2); in the side flap (5.2) on top, the inner layer (1) is shorter than the barrier layer (2) and the outer layer (3) is longer than the barrier layer (2);
    the inner surface of the inner layer (1) of the side flap (5.2) on top is glued against the outer surface of the inner layer (1) of the side flap (5.1) underneath with an inner side glue line (17); and
    the inner surface of the outer layer (3) of the side flap (5.2) on top is glued against the outer surface of the side flap (5.1) underneath with an outer side glue line (18), thus enabling air to escape from the area between the inner layer (1) and the barrier layer (2) in the bottom to the area between the side flaps (5.1, 5.2) and out from there through the ends of the bottom; and
    in that the inner layer (1) of the side flaps (5.1, 5.2) is glued to the end flaps (6) respectively to the valve piece (12) with glue seams (16.1, 16.2), so that the gluing of the bottom ends with seams (16.1, 16.2) closes and tightens the bottom.
     
    2. A sack according to claim 1, characterized in that air is allowed to escape through both ends of the bottom.
     
    3. A sack according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that air is allowed to escape through both ends of the sack.
     
    4. A sack according to claim 3, characterized in that air is allowed to move in the area between the inner layer (1) and the barrier layer (2) on both sides of the sack to both ends of the sack.
     
    5. A sack according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the barrier layer (2) is glued to the inner layer (1) or the outer layer (3) at the ends of the mantle with a transverse spot glueing (10/11).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Geschlossener Sack mit einem mehrschichtigen röhrenförmigen Mantel, wobei an beiden Endes des Mantels ein ebener Boden mit nach innen gefalteten Endklappen (6) und auf die Oberseite der Endklappen gefalteten Seitenklappen (5.1, 5.3) vorgesehen ist, wobei die innere Oberfläche der Seitenklappe (5.2) auf der Oberseite gegen die äußere Fläche der Seitenklappe (5.1) darunter geklebt ist,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    der Mantel eine luftdurchlässige aber staubfilternde innere Schicht (1) aus Papier umfasst, an deren Außenseite eine getrennte luftundurchlässige Barriereschicht (2) vorhanden ist und auf der Außenseite davon eine oder mehrere äußere Schichten (3) aus Papier vorgesehen sind;
    an einem der Enden eines Bodens ein Ventilstück (12) an der Endklappe (6) angebracht ist;
    bei der Seitenklappe (5.1) unten im Boden die innere Schicht (1) länger ist als die Barriereschicht und die äußere Schicht (3) kürzer ist als die Barriereschicht (2); bei der Seitenklappe (5.2) oben die innere Schicht (1) kürzer ist als die Barriereschicht (2) und die äußere Schicht (3) länger ist als die Barriereschicht (2);
    die innere Fläche der inneren Schicht (1) der Seitenklappe (5.2) auf der Oberseite gegen die äußere Fläche der inneren Schicht (1) der Seitenklappe (5.1) darunter mit einer innerseitigen Klebstofflinie geklebt ist; und
    die innere Fläche der äußeren Schicht (3) der Seitenklappe (5.2) auf der Oberseite gegen die äußere Fläche der Seitenklappe (5.1) darunter mit einer außenseitigen Klebstofflinie (18) geklebt ist, was somit ermöglicht, dass Luft aus dem Gebiet zwischen der inneren Schicht (1) und der Barriereschicht (2) im Boden zu dem Gebiet zwischen den Seitenklappen (5.1, 5.2) und daraus durch die Enden des Bodens gelangen kann; und
    die innere Schicht (1) der Seitenklappen (5.1, 5.2) mit den Endklappen (6) jeweils mit dem Ventilstück (12) mit Klebstoffsäumen (16.1, 16.2) verklebt ist, so dass das Verkleben der Bodenenden mit Säumen (16.1, 16.2) den Boden schließt und strafft.
     
    2. Sack nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass Luft durch beide Enden des Bodens austreten kann.
     
    3. Sack nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass Luft durch beide Enden des Sacks austreten kann.
     
    4. Sack nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass Luft sich im Gebiet zwischen der inneren Schicht (1) und der Barriereschicht (2) auf beiden Seiten des Sacks zu beiden Enden des Sacks bewegen kann.
     
    5. Sack nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Barriereschicht (2) mit der inneren Schicht (1) oder der äußeren Schicht (3) an den Enden des Mantels mit einer quer laufenden Punktklebung (10, 11) verklebt ist.
     


    Revendications

    1. Sac fermé comportant une enveloppe tubulaire à couches multiples, enveloppe sur les deux extrémités de laquelle il existe un fond plan avec des rabats d'extrémité (6) pliés vers l'intérieur, et des rabats latéraux (5.1, 5.2) pliés sur le dessus des rabats d'extrémité, dans lequel la surface intérieure du rabat latéral (5.2) supérieur est collée contre la surface extérieure du rabat latéral (5.1) inférieur, caractérisé en ce que l'enveloppe comprend une couche intérieure de papier perméable à l'air mais filtrant la poussière (1), à l'extérieur de laquelle se trouve une couche séparée de barrière imperméable à l'air (2), et à l'extérieur de celle-ci se trouve une ou plusieurs couches de papier extérieures (3), en ce que sur l'une des extrémités d'un fond, un élément de valve (12) est fixé au rabat d'extrémité (6), en ce que sur chaque fond, dans le rabat latéral (5.1) inférieur du fond, la couche intérieure (1) est plus longue que la couche de barrière, et la couche extérieure (3) est plus courte que la couche de barrière (2), dans le rabat latéral (5.2) supérieur, la couche intérieure (1) est plus courte que la couche de barrière (2), et la couche extérieure (3) est plus longue que la couche de barrière (2),
       la surface intérieure de la couche intérieure (1) du rabat latéral (5.2) supérieur est collée contre la surface extérieure de la couche intérieure (1) du rabat latéral (5.1) inférieur avec une ligne de colle du côté intérieur (17), et
       la surface intérieure de la couche extérieure (3) du rabat latéral (5.2) supérieur est collée contre la surface extérieure du rabat latéral (5.1) inférieur avec une ligne de colle du côté extérieur (18), en permettant ainsi que l'air s'échappe de la zone comprise entre la couche intérieure (1) et la couche de barrière (2) dans le fond, vers la zone comprise entre les rabats latéraux (5.1, 5.2), et hors de là, à travers les extrémités du fond, et
       en ce que sur chaque fond, la couche intérieure (1) des rabats latéraux (5.1, 5.2) est collée aux rabats d'extrémité (6), respectivement à l'élément de valve (12) avec des cordons de colle (16.1, 16.2), de sorte que le collage des extrémités de fond avec des cordons de colle (16.1, 16.2) ferme et rend étanche le fond.
     
    2. Sac selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'air peut s'échapper à travers les deux extrémités du fond.
     
    3. Sac selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que l'air peut s'échapper à travers les deux extrémités du sac.
     
    4. Sac selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que l'air peut se déplacer dans la zone comprise entre la couche intérieure (1) et la couche de barrière (2) des deux côtés du sac jusqu'aux deux extrémités du sac.
     
    5. Sac selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que la couche de barrière (2) est collée à la couche intérieure (1) ou à la couche extérieure (3) aux extrémités de l'enveloppe avec une application transversale de colle par points (10/11).
     




    Drawing