Flexible container forming apparatus having integrated web surface deformation

Abstract

A flexible container forming apparatus which forms a flexible container from at least one film comprising a surface deformation assembly and a flexible container sealing assembly. The surface deformation assembly includes a subassembly which has a heating assembly and a surface deformation station. The heating assembly heats a portion of film, and the deformation station plastically deforms a portion of the film. The heating assembly includes a member for selectively introducing the film to the heated roller. The surface deformation station includes a member for directing the film in opposing directions. A slack accumulation assembly accumulates at least a portion of the film that has been deformed by the surface deformation station. The apparatus may include a filler device and a transfer assembly for transferring formed containers to a filler device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 of the drawings comprises a schematic side elevational view of the flexible container forming and filling apparatus of the present invention;

FIGS. 2( a) through 2(f) of the drawings comprise schematic side elevational views a surface deformation subassembly of the present invention each showing an operations phase thereof; and

FIG. 3 of the drawings comprises a schematic side elevational view of an embodiment of the flexible container forming and filling apparatus of the present invention, showing, in particular, the surface deformation of multiple films simultaneously.

Claims

1. A flexible container forming and filling apparatus which forms a flexible container from at least one film and fills the formed container, the apparatus comprising: a flexible container forming assembly including: a surface deformation assembly comprising at least one surface deformation subassembly having a heating assembly for heating a portion of a film, the heating assembly including means for selectively introducing the film to the heated roller;a surface deformation station configured for plastically deforming at least a portion of the film heated by the heating assembly, the surface deformation station including means for directing the film in opposing directions therethrough;a slack accumulation assembly configured for accumulating at least a portion of the film, positioned after the surface deformation station; anda flexible container sealing assemblya flexible container filling assembly; anda transfer assembly positioned between the flexible container forming assembly and the flexible container filling assembly, the transfer assembly transferring formed flexible containers from the flexible container forming assembly to the flexible container filling assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heating assembly further comprises a heated roller.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the selective introduction means further comprises: a bracket having a first end pivotally coupled relative to the heated roller;a roller positioned at a second of the bracket; andmeans for pivoting the bracket about the first end so as to move the roller relative to the heated roller.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the surface deformation subassembly comprises an embossing roller and a compression roller, the directing means comprises means for rotating the embossing roller in opposing directions.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container is formed from two separate films, the surface deformation subassembly comprises at least one surface deformation subassembly for each web of film.

6. A flexible container forming apparatus which forms a flexible container from at least one film, the apparatus comprising: a surface deformation assembly comprising at least one surface deformation subassembly having a heating assembly for heating a portion of a film, the heating assembly including means for selectively introducing the film to the heated roller;a surface deformation station configured for plastically deforming at least a portion of the film heated by the heating assembly, the surface deformation station including means for directing the film in opposing directions therethrough;a slack accumulation assembly configured for accumulating at least a portion of the film, positioned after the surface deformation station; anda flexible container sealing assembly.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a spout attachment assembly.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a cutting assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the heating assembly further comprises a heated roller.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the selective introduction means further comprises: a bracket having a first end pivotally coupled relative to the heated roller;a roller positioned at a second of the bracket; andmeans for pivoting the bracket about the first end so as to move the roller relative to the heated roller.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the surface deformation subassembly comprises an embossing roller and a compression roller, the directing means comprises means for rotating the embossing roller in opposing directions.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the container is formed from two separate films, the surface deformation subassembly comprises at least one surface deformation subassembly for each web of film.

13. A method of forming a container comprising the steps of: providing at least one film;continuously deforming at least a portion of the surface of the at least one film;accumulating film after the step of surface deforming;indexing the film to a flexible container sealing assembly; andsequentially activating the flexible container sealing assembly to form sequential containers.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of separating sequentially formed containers from the film.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of: heating at least a portion of the film against a heated roller; andforcing the film into contact with an embossing roller.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: lifting the film from the heated roller in the event that the method is stopped;reversing the film so that the portion of film that was against the embossing roller is positioned proximate the heated roller;placing the film against the heated roller when the method is restarted.