Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Flexible, collapsible containers made of
polyvinyl chlorlde plastic, polypropylene-based materials,
etc. are presently in commercial use, particularly for
the dispensing of parenteral solutions, blood, and the
like. In many designs of such containers, it is desira-
ble to place a stiffening member in the end of the con-
tainer, to provide support to promote flat collapse as
it is hung on an IV pole or the like for administration
of blood, parenteral solution, or any other liquid as de-
sired. The stiffener member facilitates tha flat collapse
of the container by holding the tail end of the container
in a linear configuration~ and promotes the accurate reading
of volume graduations.
At the present time manual and mechanical methods
have been proposed for inserting the stiffener member into
the tail end of such containers. Manual methods are rela-
tively high in their labor costs, and ~he mechanical methods
involve expensive machinery,and are subject to mechanical
breakdown because of their high complexity of the machinery
and the criticality required in the placement of stiffener
members into bags.
- Furthermore, accomodation must be made for the
fact that some collapsible bag ma~erials, such as polyvinyl
chloride, tend to shrink during the heat sterilization
process. Accordingly, the stiffener member must be prop
erly proportioned so tha-t it fits the width of the steri-
lized container, an~ not jus-t the container in its as-
made configuration.
rrhis invention provides a simplified method
fo:r Eabricating collapsible contalners with an installed
s-t:iffcner membe.r. The me-thod is hiyh].y automated, and pro-
vides essentially flawless commercial produc-tion capabi:lity
for large numbers of such flexible collapsible containers at
a significantly reduced manufacturing cost over the cost oE
the previously suggested methods for installing a stiffener
member in a flexible, collapsible container.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
:,
Broadl:y spea~ing the present invention contemplates
the method of forming flexible, collapsible containers from
a pair of facing sheet sections and a stiffener bar positioned
between the sheet sections, which comprises: passing the pair
of facing sheet sections along a process path through a seal-
ing die, with a continuous length of the stiffener bar being
positioned between the sheet sections and passed along the
process path with the sheet sections; forming seal lines with : :
the sealing die between the facing sheet sections to define
a group of the collapsible containers, each carrying the stiff-
ener bar in transverse relation thereto; cutting through at
least one of the sheet sec-tions and incompletely cutting the
stiffener bar at positions adjacent the edges of the collapsible
containers; cutting the one sheet section and stiffener bar a-t a
position within each edge o~ each collapsible containerj and
removing the cut-away edge portions of the s-tiffener bar, to
facilitate the sepa:ration of the forme~, collapsible contain-
ers, carrying separated stiffener bar sections, from each other
whereby each remaining stiffener bar section is of less width
than each collapsible con:tainer in its as-made configuration.
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The above me-thod may be effected by way of
apparatus for manufacturing flexibler collapsible con-tain
ers which contai.n a stiffener bar to provide selective : .:
dimensional stability at one end thereof, which comprises:
means Eor advancing a pair of facing sheet sections along
a process pa-th through a sealing die; means for advancing
a continuous sti:Efener bar in registry with and positioned
between the sheet sections through the die r -the sealing
die being adapted to form seal lines between the sheet sec-
tions to define separate groups of the flexible, collapsible
containers; and means for severing the stiffener bar at
positions adjacent the edges of the collapsible containers r
to permit the separation of the formed r collapsible contain-
ers, carrying separated stiffener bar sections, from each ~ -
other. .
Thus with this invention, flexible collapsible con- :
tainers are made from a pair of facing sheet sections and a
stiffener bar positioned between the sheet sections b~ pass-
ing a pair of the facing sheet sections along a process path
through a sealing die with a continuous length of the stiff-
ener bar being positioned between the shee-t sections and pass-
ed along the process path with the sheet sections, Seal lines
are formed between the facing sheet sections with the sealing
die to define a group of the collapsible containers, each ~:
carrying the stiffener bar in transverse relation thereto. ~t
least one of the sheet sections and the stiffener bar is cut
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through by pneumatically-operated knife members or slmilar
means, positioned adjacent the edges of the collapsible
containers, to permit the separation of the formed col-
lapsihle containers, carryiny separated stiffener bar
sections, from each other.
Thereafter, ater cutting of the stiffener bar
sections, the groups of containers formed by the sealing
dies may be easily separated by any desired manual or auto-
mated technique into separate, collapsible containers, each
L0 carrying a stiffener bar section.
Preferably, the one sheet section and stiffener
bar is cut by the knife member at a position within each
side edge of each collapsible con~ainer. The cutaway por-
tions of the stiffener bar are then removed, so that each
remaining stiffener bar section is of less width than each
collapsible container in its as-made configuration. rThe
width of the stiffener bar is made less than the width of
the collapsible container, particularly when the container
wall material is of the heat shrinkable variety, and the
container is intended for subjection to a heating process,
for example steam ste ilization. In this instance, it is
desirable to proportion the length of ~he stiffener bar
~o that when the container is subjected to the predeter-
mined heating process such as sterilization, it shrinks
to a width which essentially corresponds to the length of
the stiffener bar, which preferably runs transversely
~v~
across the tail end of the container.
It is also furthex preferable for a furthex cut
to be made from the outside through at least one of the
sheet sections to incompletely cut the stiffener bar at
positions between adjacent edge cuts of the stiffener bar,
at the junctions between adjacent, collapsible containers~
This providas flexibility to fold the adjacent containers.
At the same time, as the containers are separated, it fa-
cilitates the removal of the portions of the stiffener
bars which are between the edge cuts, since that portion
of the stiffener bar remains an integral plece despite the
partial cut.
The sealing die is pre~erably used to form seal
lines in the groups of facing sheet sections on each
side of, and adjacent to and parallel to, the stiffener
bar sections in the container. This serves to retain and
isolat~ the stif~ener bar sections from the remainder of
the con~ainer.
Also, the sealing die is proportioned to form
double seal lines between ad3acent containersl as well as
a thinned line of tearing weakness positioned between the
double seal lines. Accordingly, upon separation of the
containers, t~aring takes place between the double seal
lines along the line of tearing weakness to provide in-
tact containers after separation.
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It is also preferred to provide means for severing
and removing portions of the stiffener bar between the sepa-
rate groups of flexible collapsible containers, each group
of containers being made by a single impressment of the
sealing die~
Accordingly, in this invention, continuous rolls
of shee~ members are advanced toward the sealing die, along
with a continuous roll of stiffening member, which may pre~
ferably comprise a generally oval rod of polypropylene
plastic. The desired segments of the stiffener rod are
then removed after the sealing step with the die member,
to provide a reliable means for mass producing containers
made of sealed plas~ic sheets which carry properly propor-
tioned and positioned stiffening members, to facilitate the
flat collapse of the draining containers.
Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a per-
spective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a
typical apparatus for performing the method of this inven-
- tion.
Figure 2 i5 a plan view of the sealing die and
~ other portions of the apparatus of Figure 1, with upper
.~
parts of the structure removed for clarity.
Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged perspective vlew
of a portion of the facing sheet sections and stiffener
bar as sealed by the die member, showing positions of the
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cutting of the stiffener bar in at least one sheet section.
Figure 4 is a further enlarged perspective view
showing the pneumatically operated knife members positioned
in the die member which are used to make the cuts as illus-
S trated in Figure 3.
Figure 5 shows a completed group of the containers
of this invention in the process of having the cut portions
of the stiffener bar manually removed after perormance of
the process o this invention, to provide thP flexible, col-
lapsible containers having properly proportioned stifening
bars as described above.
Referring to the drawings, the apparatus and method
are shown for making the containers of this invention. A
double layer of facing sheet sections 10, 12 is advanced
by a conventional oscillating advanc2 clamp 13, passing
through tension contro~ing dancer rolls 14 and web align-
ment rolls 15 through guide rollexs 18, along a process
path, ~hrough a sealing die assembly 20, for heat sealing
of any desired type of the facing sheet sections into groups
of the containers as shown. Preferably, when polyvinyl
chloride sheet sections are used, radio frequency sealing
is a preferred way for accomplishing the sealing step.
The apparatus used may be largely conventional,
for example, a Sealomatic hea~ sealing machine sold by the
Solidyne Corporation of Long Island, New York, modified
as shown herein.
Shee~ sections 10, 12 may be provided off of rolls
of material and advanced into the process path through
rollers 14 and 15 by a conventional feed mechanism. It
is generally preferred to store both sheet sections 10, 12
prior to processing upon the same storage reel.
The sheet sections 10, 12 are divided by splitter
bar 22 as they are advanced, which may be made o polytetra-
fluoroethylene plastic or the like. Simultaneously, with
the advancement of sheet sections 10, 12, stiffener rod 24
is advanced through roller guide member 26 and safety alarm
28 to be posi~ioned be~ween sheet sections 10 and 12. Alarm
membér 28 is present for the purpose of shutting off the
apparatus by conventional means when the stiffener bar 24
is exhausted, so that the process does not continue in the
absence of stif~ener bar 24.
It is preferable to provide a conventional an-
choring die means 25 so that on the first operation of the
sealing die, the stiffener member 24 becomes adhered by
mashing together with the sheet members 10, 12. Thereafter,
shee~ members 10, 12 are advanced in direc~ion 30, to expose
a fresh section of sheet members lQ, 12 to the sealing die
20. This advancement causes the corresponding advancement
of stiffener rod 24. Thereafter, the rollers halt their
mo~ion, and platen 32 of die 20 is dropped against the sheet
sections to provide radio fre~uency sealing, or any other
sealing technique as desired, of the sheet sections 10, 12
along container-defining seal lines 24, 36, etc., as shown
particularly in Figure 2.
Top seal 39 of the container is also provi.ded, being
made thin enough to permit tearing away of outer strip 41.
Other auxiliary seal lines are provided as de-
sired, the specific shape shown herein being that of the
VIAFLEX~ parenteral solution container, sold by Travenol
Laboratories, Inc. of Deerfield, Illinois. Specifically,
a tail seal section 38 is provided including a generally
oblong line of tearing weakness 40 to permit the punchlng
through of the tail section 38 for hanging of the container
upon an IV pole or the like. Other tear lines such as
lines 42 are also impressed in sheets 10, 12 by die 20, as
well as annular lines of weakness 44 to provide punch-out
poxtions at the upper end of the container in the manner
of the commercially available VIAFLEX~ container. The var-
ious tear lines and sealing lines are formed in the sheet
sections 10 and 12 in any conventional manner of the sealing
of plastic materials with a sealing die, using elevated seal
line forming ridges and the like for pressing against
raisable and lowerable platen 32.
The various seal-forming ridges of die 20 are de-
fined by die inserts 42, which may be attached to the base
45 of sealing die 20.
Heat or radio frequency ene.rgy is transmitted as
desired, such as by lines 47, to the raised portions under
seal lines 34, 36, 44, etc. of the sealing die 20 or platen
32 by a connected generator.
As is seen in Figure 2, groups of separate containers
46 are defined in sheet sections 10, 12 by sealing die 20.
The lateral seal lines 34 are typically, as
~ sho~n in Figure 3, made of a pair of heat seal lines 48,
-` one for each adjacent container, separated by a thinned.
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line of tearing weakness 50 to permit separation of the
containers 46 after processing. Line of weakness 50 merges
with a line of weakness in tearable top seal line 39.
Rear seal line 51 is positioned parallel to and
adjacent to stiffener bar 24. Another seal line 52 is posi-
tioned in parallel relation to stiffener bar 24 on the other
side from seal line 36, to retain and isolate the sti~ener
bar sections which are formed from stiffener bar 24.
Open mouths S3 are defined in the individual
containers 46 for later sealing.
Alternatively, the sealing die utllized herein may
~e used in conjunction with a plastic sealing machine made
by Kabar Manufacturing Corporation of Farmingdale, New York,
with the platen 32 and its supporting structure (not shown~
and other ancillary parts of the apparatus being of conven-
tional design.
Stiffener bar 24 is guided and held in s~ifener
bar channel 54 in the sealing die defined between the ele-
vated portions which form the seal lines 51, 52.
Positioned within channel 54 are several groups
; of knives, mounted within die bed 45 and actuated by air
cylinders to punch upwardly to penetrate the lower facing
sheet section 12 and to cut stiffener bar 24. Also, if
desired, the knives can cut upper facing sheet section 10.
Each group of knives is shown to comprise a pair of
Xnives 56, 58 which are adapted to be raised by the air cy~
linder for cutting at a position wi~hin each edge of seal 34 of
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each collapsible container 46, to pass through sheet sec-
tion 12 and completely sever stiffener bar 24 into a se-
ries of stiffener bar sections 60, plus a group of
stifener bar portions 62 which will be later removed
from the separated containers.
Also, a central knife member 64 is provided to
operate in conjunction with knife members 56, 58 to cut
stifener bar 24 at positions which are on lines of tearing
weakness 50~ However, this cut is incomplete because of
the presence of recess 66 in the cutting edge of knife
member 64, so that portion 62 of the stiffener bar 24 re-
mains intact although practically cut through. This in
turn facilitates the removal of the entire portion 62 of
the stiffener bar upon tearing of lines 5Q to separate the
separate co~tainers. A piece of portion 62 protrudes af-
ter such separation, and can be easily manually removed.
Air cylinder actuated knives 56, 58 and 64 are
actuated in any conventional manner of processing machine
technology to operate in a manner which correlates with
the remainder of the macnine operations, cuttlng through
stiffener bar 24 to provide the shor~er,stiffener bar
sections 60 for each individual contalner, typically while
sheei sections 10, 12 are stationary and during or just
after the heat sealing s~ep for forming the various seal
lines between the two sheet sections.
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After these processes are complete, sheet sec- .
tions lO, 12 are advanced once a~ain to cause the newly-
fo~ned containers 46 to be advanced out of the sealing die,
and a new portion of the sheet sections la, 12 to be pre-
sented to the sealing die for further processing. At the
same time stiffener bar 24 is ad~anced along with the sheet
sections at the point 25 where the anchor die 25 acted, to
the rear of the cut stiffener bar.
Pneumatically-operated punch-out member 68 is pro-
:- 10 vided to punch out ~he portion of stifener bar at the area
70 between separate groups of containers, each group of
containers being formed by a separ~te sealing operation of
the sealing die 200 This also facilitates the folding of
t~.e groups of containers.
Knives 56, 58 are typically positioned about
5/16 of an inch away from line of tearing weakness 50, so
that each stiffener bar section 60 being cut out on both
ends, is about 5/8 inch shorter than the width of the con-
tainer in its as-made configuration When polyvinylchloride
containers are being manufactured, autoclaving of the con-
tainers after filling wi~h solution can cause them to
~ shrink down to substantially a width which corresponds to
: the length of each stiffener bar section 60. Also, the
shortening of the stiffener bar prevents it ~rom projecting
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outwardly beyond the width of the container, which can
damage an overpouch for the container if that is used, or
other packaging.
The channel 54 between seal lines 51, 15~ may be
proportioned to flare outwardly at the edges of each con-
tainer as shown, from a typical width of about 1/4 inch
at the central portion of the channel 54 to a width of
about 5/16 lnch on each side of the container, to facili-
tate the removal of portions 62 of stiffener bar 24 during
the separation of the containers. This container separa-
tion after manufacture in accordance with this invention
is illustrated in process in Figure 5.
The above has been offered for illustrative pur-
po~es only and is not to be construed as limiting the
scope of the invention, which is as defined in the claims
below.
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