Methods of Forming Flexible Containers with Gussets

• US 20160325518A1
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: ISHIHARA, Tadayoshi, LESTER, Joseph Craig, BOURGEOIS, Marc Richard, McGUIRE, Kenneth Stephen, CLARE, Benjamin Jacob, STANLEY, Scott Kendyl, ARENT, Lee Mathew, YOU, Jun, RAPACH, Andrew Paul, BERG, Charles John Jr., GUNNERSON, Kory Adam
• Application Number:
  US15/148,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20160325518A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2155/00 Flexible containers made from webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2160/20 with structural provision for thickness of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2170/00 Construction of flexible containers
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2170/20 having multi-layered walls, e.g. laminated or lined
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/00 Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/00 Making flexible containers, e.g. envelopes or bags
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/26 Folding sheets, blanks or webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/266 involving gusset-forming
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/36 by continuously feeding them to stationary members, e.g. plates, ploughs or cores
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 31/10 with gusseted sides
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/008 Standing pouches, i.e. "Standbeutel"
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5866 Integral spouts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5883 connected to the package at the sealed junction of two package walls

Abstract

Methods of forming flexible containers having gussets formed by Z-folding then V-folding.

Claims

1. A method of forming a flexible container, the method comprising:

moving, in a machine direction, a continuous web of film having a first side edge and a second side edge;

first, as the web moves in the machine direction, continuously forming, in a cross-section of the web;

a Z-fold having a top extension and a bottom extension; and

a reverse Z-fold having a top extension and a bottom extension;

wherein the bottom extension of the Z-fold is directly connected to the bottom extension of the reverse Z-fold, one of the top extensions is longer than the other top extension, and the longer top extension is proximate to the second side edge; and

second, as the web moves in the machine direction;

continuously forming, in a cross-section of the web, a V-fold in the longer top extension; and

moving at least one of the side edges such that the first side edge and the second side edge are proximate to each other.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the web includes two layers of film that are cofacial with each other.

3. The method of claim 2, including sealing the two layers of film to each other, such that the layers are partially sealed to each other, wherein the sealing is performed before the second step.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the sealing is performed before the first step.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first step includes applying an inward fold to a portion of the web that is between the Z-fold and the side edge that is nearest to the Z-fold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first step includes applying an inward fold to a portion of the web that is between the reverse Z-fold and the side edge that is nearest to the reverse Z-fold.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, during the first step, the forming of the Z-fold and the forming of the reverse Z-fold occur at overlapping times.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, immediately after the first step, in a cross-section of the web, there is no intermediate fold in between the bottom extension of the Z-fold and the bottom extension of the reverse Z-fold.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, immediately after the first step, the folded web has a substantially horizontal orientation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of the V-fold includes applying two inward folds to the web.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the fold having the top extension that is longer is a first fold and the fold having the top extension that is shorter is a second fold, and the V-fold is proximate to the second fold.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second fold forms a first leg of a second gusset and the V-fold forms a second leg of the second gusset.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first leg of the second gusset and the second leg of the second gusset have approximately the same length.

14. The method of claim 1, including moving the first side edge and moving the second side edge such that the first side edge and the second side edge are proximate to each other.

15. The method of claim 1, including moving at least one of the side edges such that the first side edge and the second side edge are aligned with each other.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the fold having the top extension that is longer is a first fold and the fold having the top extension that is shorter is a second fold, and the second fold forms a first leg of a first gusset and the side edges together form a second leg of the first gusset.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second leg of the first gusset is longer than the first leg of the first gusset.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein, immediately after the second step, in a cross-section of the web, there is no intermediate fold in between the V-fold and the second side edge.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein, immediately after the second step, the folded web has an overall shape that is substantially planar.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, immediately after the second step, the overall shape has a substantially vertical orientation.