APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FORMING A FLEXIBLE POUCH WITH IMPROVED SIDE SEAM

Abstract

An improved flexible pouch, apparatus and methodology for a pouch having an upper edge, a lower edge, and side edges extending therebetween. The side seal is 4-6±1 mm wide. The apparatus and method includes the steps of unrolling the material along a horizontal orientation, and turning the sheet of material to have a vertical orientation. The method also checks the alignment of the sheet of material, and adjusts the alignment relative to a vertical axis, to align the outer edges of the sheet of material. The method cuts the roll width of material into sections, and positions the aligned sections together to form the body of the pouch. The method forms side seams by sealing along the side edges of each pouch. The method also separates the individual pouches from the roll width of material, and removes the pouches from the machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a flexible pouch with improved side seam, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of forming and filling the flexible pouch of FIG. 1, according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 a is an elevational view of the film as it is unrolled, according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 b is an elevational view of the film after it is cut, according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an apparatus for forming a flexible pouch using the method of FIG. 2.

Claims

1. A flexible pouch with an improved side seam for packaging a product, said pouch comprising: a front panel having an inner surface and an outer surface, and an upper edge, an opposed lower edge and side edges extending therebetween the upper edge and the lower edge;a back panel having an inner surface and an outer surface, and an upper edge, an opposed lower edge and side edges extending therebetween the upper edge and the lower edge wherein the front panel inner surface faces the back panel inner surface;a side seal joining the front panel to the back panel along a side seam, wherein the side seam has a width of 4-6 mm±1 mm; andan opening means formed in the pouch for accessing the product contained within the pouch.

2. The pouch as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pouch includes an insert positioned between the front panel lower edge and back panel lower edge so that the pouch can stand upright.

3. A method of forming a flexible pouch having an improved side seam, said method comprising the steps of; providing a roll of flexible material having a material locating indicia positioned at a predetermined location on the flexible material;unrolling the material from the roll along a horizontally oriented plane;changing a planar orientation of the unrolling material to a vertically oriented plane;checking the alignment of the unrolling material with respect to a vertically oriented axis using the material locating indicia, and correcting the alignment if the unrolling material is out of alignment;cutting the aligned material into at least two sections, wherein each section has an inner surface and an outer surface, and an outer edge;rotating a first section 180 degrees and placing the first section on top of a second section, so that the inner surface of the first section faces the inner surface of the second section, and the outermost edges of the first section and the second section are in alignment;forming a side seam defining adjacent pouches in the aligned sections, wherein the width of the side seam for each pouch is 4-6 mm±1 mm;sealing a lower edge of the pouch using a sealing means; andseparating the adjacent pouches in the aligned sections into individual pouches along an outermost edge of each side seam.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said step of aligning the material includes the step of adjusting the position of the material 2 degrees from a vertically oriented axis.

5. The method as set forth in claim 3 further includes the step of positioning an insert between the front panel and back panel prior to the step of sealing.

6. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the step of forming the side seam includes using a heat weld to form the side seam.

7. The method as set forth in claim 3 further including the step of including an opening means in the pouch for dispensing product from the pouch.

8. An apparatus for forming a flexible pouch for a product that has an improved side seal comprising: a base;a transport means secured to the base for transporting a film of laminate material, wherein the film of laminate material is provided on a roll and includes a registration mark in a predetermined location;a material feed station for unrolling the roll of laminate material along a horizontal plane;a material turning station for modifying the orientation of the unrolling material to a vertical plane;an alignment station for checking the alignment of the unrolling material, wherein the alignment station includes an optical reading means that identifies the registration mark and uses the registration mark to determine if the material is in alignment with respect to a vertically oriented axis, and adjusting the alignment of the unrolling material with respect to the vertically oriented axis;a cutting station for cutting the width aligned material into sections having an inner surface and an outer surface, and positioning a first section on top of a second section, wherein the first section inner surface faces the second section outer surface;a sealing station for forming a side seam defining adjacent pouches in the aligned sections, and the width of the side seam for each pouch is 4-6 mm±1 mm; anda cutting station for separating the panel of material into individual pouches along an outermost edge of the side seam, wherein each pouch includes a front panel, a back panel, and each panel has an upper edge, a lower edge.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an unloading station for removing the pouch from the transport means and placing the pouch in a receptacle.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising forming a lower edge seal at the sealing station.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an opening means insertion station for adding an opening means to the pouch used to access the product in the pouch.