Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
218Ql~I
PACKING BAG AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME
The present invention relates to a packing bag usable for
packing vegetables, fruits and flowers such as egg-apple,
cucumber, spinach and so forth (hereinafter {eferred to as
article ) .
~ any of articles are sold in a supermarket or the like while
a suitable number of them are packed in a bag made of synthetic
resin film such as polyethyleLIe or the like. Packing is normally
performed during the course they are collected from producers
and delivered to the supermarket or the like.
Articles are packed in f acilities owned by a local
agricultural organization or the like. In facilities where a
number of articles are handled, they are packed in an automatic
packing machine, whereas in facilities where a small number of
vegetables, fruits or flowers are handled, they are manually
packed with operators ~ hands . In the case that article are
manually packed, an efficiency of the packing operation varies
remarkably depending on the kind of articles . For example, when
a several number of egg-apples, pimentos, apples, persimmons
or the like are collectivel~r packed in a bag, it is difficult
for them to slidably proceed to the bottom of the bag due to
the fact that their surfaces adhere to the inner surface of the
packing f ilm . When they are put in the bag one by one, their
adhesive contact state is attenuated but the packing efficiency
is remarkably degraded.
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218~191
Especially, in the case of egg-apples, their surfaces are
liable to adhere to each other attributable to their whole
configuration and elasticitli when second and third egg-apples
are put in the same bag. Thus, there readily arises an occasion
that an egg-apple to be put in the bag later can not move back
and forth due to its close contact with the surface of the bag
film as well as close cont~ct with the surface of egg-apple
previously put in the bag.
To cope with the foreqoing malfunction, the applicant
common to the present invention invented a packing assisting
instrument which comprises a packing bag holding frame including
a through hole for allowing the article and a packing bag to
pass therethrough and a support stand for supporting the packing
bag holding frame while the through hole assumes a hori20ntal
attitude. Fig. 9 is perspective view of the packing assist
instrument 51 which is substantially composed of a ring-like
holding frame 52, a support column 53 and a stand base 54.
The holding frame 52 is made of a plastic material or a
stainless steel to exhibit a ring-like contour, and the holding
frame 52 is supported by a sul?port column 53 such that it assumes
a substantially hori20ntal attitude. A through hole of the
holding frame 52 is dimensioned to have a diameter so that
plurality of articles to be packed such as egg-apples or the
like can pass therethrough.
To assure that the whole packing assist instrument 51 can
be supported in stable state eve~ though a load is eccentrically
applied thereto when it is used, it includes four feet 54a,54b,
54c and 54d, and among them, the feet 54a and 54b located
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on the holding frame 52 side have a length longer than that of
the feet 54c and 54d on the opposite side.
When egg-apples N are put using the packing assist
instrument 51, first, the latter is placed on a suitable working
table, and then, a bag H is put on the holding frame 52 while
it is turned upside down as shown in Fig. lO(a). Subsequently,
several egg-apples N are simultaneously brought in contact with
the bottom portion of the bag H while they are seized with an
operator~s hand so that they are thrust in the holding frame
52 together with the bag H (see Fig. 10(b)). This causes the
bag H to be pushed by egg-a3?ples N downwardly of the holding
frame 52 so as to wrap them while the bag H is turned inside
out, whereby they are displaced through the holding frame 52
until they fall down on the working table (see Fig. lO(c)).
In such manner, by using the packing assist instrument 51,
it becomes possible that the bag H is put on the holding frame
52 while it is turned upside down, and egg-apples N are thrust
in the holding frame 52 from the above of the bag H so that they
are inserted into the bag H while the latter is turned inside
out. ThuS, in the course of the steps shown in Fig. lO(a) to
Fig. lO(c), the egg-apples 3!~ and the bag H are simultaneously
displaced as they are brought in contact with each other.
Consequently, in spite of the fact that the surface of each
egg-apple N is smooth and the egg-apple is apt to come in close
contact with the bag H, the egg-apples N are smoothly inserted
into the bag H with the result that it can be packed at a high
ef f iciency .
The packing bag H used for packing in that way is kept closed
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by hot sealing both the side surfaces and the bottom surface
with the exception of the opening portion along the position
located away from the outer edge by several millimeters, and
informations such as content, production site, handling company
and so forth are placed on the surface of the packing bag H .
Therefore, to assure that the packing bag H assumes the state
as 6hown in Fig. lO(a), it is necessary that the packing bag
H is placed on the holding frame 52 while it is turned inside
out. This operation becomes a significant factor of degrading
an efficiency of packing operation with the use of the packing
assist instrument ~1.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the
aforementioned background.
An object of the present invention is to provide a packing
bag which assures that the packing assist instrument of the
foregoing type can be used without any necessity turning a
packing bag inside out in order to achieve each packing operation
at an increased efficiency.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
method of producing a packing bag of the foregoing type.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a packing bag for~ed by a synthetic resin sheet and
including an opening portion at the upper part thereof wherein
the packing bag comprises a packing bag main body of which
peripheral portion is connected by fusible seals and which can
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be turned inside out and an information portion printed on the
inside surface or the outside surface reversed at a transparent
part of the packing bag.
In addition, according to other aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a method of producing a packing
bag of the foregoing kind wherein the method comprises the steps
of folding an elongated transparent synthetic resin sheet
including a printing portion with a certain amount of in such
a manner that the folded part serves as a bottom of the packing
bag, and cutting the folded portions of the synthetic resin sheet
by fusible seals to form a paclcing bag defined by both side edges.
Triangular cut portions are formed by fusible seals on the
opposite sides of the bottom portion of the packing bag.
Further, one of the front surface sheet and the rear surface
sheet is protruded from the other one so as to allow the protruded
part to serve as a holding portion.
E~ere, the reverse printing represents a printing method
wherein when an information ~uch as a design printed on the bag
or the like is visually obser~ved in the packed state, the normal
state of the information is normally recognized from the reverse
side. To this end, there is present the case that an information
is printed on the inside surl ace of the bag in the bag produced
state and there is present the case that an information is
printed on the outside surface of the same. Especially, in the
case that the packing bag is used for packing a foodstuff, it
is desirable that an information is printed on the inside surface
of the bag in the bag produced state. In contrast with a hot
seal method of connecting surfaces to each other, the fusible
~ 2180191
seal method is practiced by linearly continuously connecting
the edges of the synthetic resin sheet to each other at the same
time as fusing is performed, and the bag produced by the fusible
seal can be used regardless of the relationship between the front
side and the rear side.
To assure that the bag is easily turned inside out during
a packing operation performed using a packing assist instrument,
triangular cut portions are formed by fusible seal on the
opposite sides of the botto]~ of the bag.
When one of the front surface sheet and the rear surface
sheet is protruded from the other one, it becomes possible that
an operation for putting paciking bags on holding frames can be
performed automatically.
According to the present invention, since the bag main body
is formed by fusible seals and an information is placed on the
bag by reverse printing, when the packing bag is put on the
holding frame of a packing assist instrument, it can be used
as it is without a necessity for turning inside out.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will readily become apparent from reading of the
description which has made in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings .
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a packing bag which shows
an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the packing bag taken in line
2l8aIg~
A - P. in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows by way of perspective views a process of
producing the packing bag shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 shows by way of perspective views the procedure of
a packing operation performed using the packing bag shown in
Fig. 1 and a stationary packing assist instrument.
Fig. S is a perspective view of a consecutive packing assist
apparatus to be operated using the packing bags shown in Fig.
1.
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the packing
assist apparatus shown in Fig. 5, illustrating how laminated
packing baqs are placed on a base board of said packing assist
apparatus .
Fig. 7 shows by way of perspective views a packing process
to be practiced using the pac~:ing assist apparatus shown in Fig.
5.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of egg-apples received in the
packing bag shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a stationary packing assist
ins trument .
The present invention will be described in detail
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings which
illustrate preferred embodiments thereof.
Fig. 1 is perspective view of a packing bag constructed in
_ _ _ _ _ _
2~8019~
.
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig.
2 is a sectional view of the packing bag taken in line A - A
in Fig. 1.
According to this embodiment, the packing bag 10 is made
of transparent biaxial exte]~sible polypropylene and includes
a front surface sheet 12 and a rear surface sheet 13 of which
upper part is protruded fro~ the front surface sheet 12 as a
lip 13a. Reference numeral 11 denotes a bottom portion which
is formed by folding a sheet-like article, and the joint portion
between the front surface sheet 12 and the rear surface sheet
13 is connected by fusible seals 14, whereby a bag main body
having an opening portion at the upper part is formed. In
contrast with a method of face-to-face jointing via a hot seal,
the fusible seal 14 is lormed by linearly continuously
connecting the edges of the sheets 12 and 13 of synthetic resin
to each other at the same time as fusing without any substantial
distinction between the inner side and the outer side as
illustrated by a f ragmentary enlarged view shown in Fig . 1. Thus,
the packing bag produced by the fusible seals 14 in the form
of a bag-like article can practically be used regardless of any
relationship between the front side and the rear side.
Reference numeral 15 shown by phantom lines denotes a
triangular cut portion which is formed by another fusible seal
14. The presence of the triangular cut portions 15 contributes
to elimination of bag corner portions which are hitherto
difficult to be reversed. Consequently, it becomes easy that
a bag 10 is turned inside out. As shown in Fig. 2, a printing
portion 16 having an information representing the on tent of
~ 218~19~
the bag placed thereon is formed via reverse printing on the
inner surface of the front surface sheet 12.
Thus, when the bag 10 is turned inside out, the printed
surface is reversed to assul~e an outer surface side, whereby
the printing portion 16 can visually be observed from the outside
as a normal character information (see Fig. 8).
Next, a method of producing the packing bag 10 will be
described below with reference to Fig. 3.
As shown in Fig. 3(a), a rectangular synthetic resin sheet
S having a printing portion 16 preliminarily formed on the upper
surface side (which becomes an inside surface after the bag is
made) is folded with a some amount of off-center as shown in
Fig. 3 (b) so as to form a front surface sheet 12 and a rear surface
sheet 13. Next, parts serving as both side edges of the packing
bag 10 are formed, the front seat 12 and the rear sheet 13 are
cut by fusible seals 14, and moreover, the opposite sides of
the bottom portion 11 are triangularly cut, whereby the front
surface sheet 12 and the rear surface
sheet 13 are connected to each other as shown in Fig. 3(c).
Consequently, formation of each packing bag 10 shown in Fig.
1 is completed.
Fig. 4 is an illustrative view which shows a packing
operation for egg-apples N using a packing assist instrument
51. First, the bag 10 is placed on a holding frame 52 while
it is turned upside down as shown in Flg. 4(a). While the
foregoing state is maintained, the printing portion 16 is
recognized on the inside surface of the bag 10. Next, a several
number of egg- apples N are brought in contact with the bag 10
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.
while they are seized with an operator ' s hand, and subsequently,
the egg apples N are thrust in the holding f rame 5 2 together
with the bag 10 ( see Fig . 4 (b ~ ) . This causes the bottom portion
of the bag 10 to be downwardly thrust in the holding frame 52
by the egg-apples N so that the bag 10 passes past the holding
frame 52 together with the egg-apples N while it is turned
inside out. Finally, the egg-apples N fall down on the working
table while they are packed in the bag 10 (see Fig. 4(c)).
Fig . 8 is a perspective view which shows the f oregoing packed
state. The packing bag lO is completely turned inside out from
the state shown in Fig. 1, and the printing portion 16 is visually
recognized on the outer surface side to assume a normal
information representing state. Since the triangular cut
portions 15 are formed by the fusible seals 14, this contributes
to elimination of the corner parts which are dif f icult to be
reversed. Thus, the packing back 10 can easily be turned inside
out merely by allowing articles to be packed to fall down through
the holding frame 52. Thereafter, packing is completed by
binding the upper part of the packing bag 10 using an adhesive
tape or by thermally fusing it in the same manner as the
conventional bag.
In the aforementioned embodiment, the printing portion 16
is located on the inside of the bag at the time of production
of the bag in order to prevent the articles to be packed from
coming in contact with the printing ink at the time of packing.
On the contrary, it is acceptable that the printing surface is
located on the outside of the bag at the time of packing. In
this case, since the printing portion 16 is located on the inner
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~ 218~19t
surface while articles to be packed are received in the bag,
there does arise few occasion that the printed matter is peeled
of f due to contact with othe~: material in contrast with the case
that the printing portion 16 is printed on the outer surface.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a consecutive packing assist
apparatus which assures that packing bags can automatically be
put on holding frames, Fig. 6 is a perspective view which shows
that packing bags are placed on said packing assist instrument
apparatus, and Fig. 7 shows by way of perspective views a process
of packing.
This apparatus is constructed such that a plurality of
holding frames are fitted to a support column in the vertical
plane and packing bags are automatically put on the holding
frames by utilizing rotation of the holding frames.
This packing assist apparatus 30 is composed of four L-
shaped arms 31a to 31d, holding frames 32a to 32d on the arms
31a to 31d, a gate type supl?ort column 33, a base board 35 and
a blower 36.
The arms 31a to 31d are such that each pipe molded of
synthetic resin is formed in an L-shaped pattern. The holding
frames 32a to 32d are attac~led to the foremost ends of the arms
32a to 31d and base ends of the arms 31a to 31d are crosswise
collected and attached to an upper beam of the support column
33 so that they are supported in such a manner that they can
be rotated only in the B arrow-marked direction via a ratchet
mechanism ( not shown ) .
Each of the holding frames 32a to 32d is made of a stainless
steel rod which is formed in the ring-shaped contour, and the
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~ 218019~
holding frames 32a to 32d are attached to the foremost ends of
the arms 31a to 31d so that they assume substantially horizontal
state when their upper parts are upwardly oriented, and moreover,
as partially shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 5, an angle of
each of the holding frames 32a to 32d relative to the arms 31a
to 31d can be adjusted as re~uired. Each holding frames 32a
tb 32d has a dimension such that the packing bag 10 can be put
on each of the holding frames 32a to 32d as shown in Fig. 7(e).
The support column 33 is made of synthetic resin which is
formed in a gate-shaped contour, and its upper beam is connected
to the base ends of the arms 31a to 31d via a connecting joint
34. ~he lower end of the sup]?ort column 33 is fixed to the base
board 35.
~ he base board 35 is prepared in the form of a flat plate
so that the whole packing assist apparatus can be supported in
the stable state when it is used, and moreover, a number of
packing bags 10 can be placed on the base board 35 in the laminated
state as will be described later.
The blower 36 is a blowing unit for expanding one by one
the packing bags 10 placed on the base board 35 in the laminated
state. While the blowing port of the blower 36 is oriented
toward the upper part of the laminated packing bags l O, the
blower 36 is fixed to the one end side of the base board 35.
When egg-apples N are packed using the packing assist
apparatus 30, first, 30 to 50 bags 10 are laminated in position
with correct orientation and placed on the base board 35 while
the opening side of each bag 10 is located opposing to the blowing
port of the blower 36, and an inverted U-shaped staple 37 is
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2180191
inserted through two holes 13b formed on the lip 13a located
on the opening side of each bag 10, whereby the laminated bags
10 are firmly held on the base board 35.
As shown in Fig. 7(a), ~ihen one of the holding frames 32a
is located between the bag 10 on the base board 35 and the blower
36, a switch for the blower 36 is turned on. As the blower 36
is driven, the air blown from the blower 36 is received by an
uppermost bag lOa of the laminated bags 10 so that it is expanded
as shown in Fig. 7 (b) . Whell the arms 31a to 31d are rotated
as shown in Fig. 7(c) while the foregoing state is maintained,
the holding frame 32a is received in the expanded bag lOa, and
then, when the arms 31a to 31d are rotated as shown in Fig. 7(d),
the holding frame 32a abuts against the bottom of the bag lOa
so that the bag lOa is pulled slantwise upwardly. As mentioned
above, the bag lOa is firml~ held on the base board 35 by the
retainer 37 but it is torn at the holes 13b of the lip 13a as
the bag lOa is pulled slantwise upwardly by rotation of the
holding frame 32a, causing the ~ip 13a to be parted away from
the retainer 37. q~hus, whil,~ the bag lOa is put on the holding
frame 32, it is raised up together with the holding frame 32a
When a several number c~f egg-apples N are thrust in the
holding frame 32a together with the bag lOa while the foregoing
state is maintained as shown in Fig. 7(e), the bottom of the
bag 10a is thrust downwardly of the holding frame 32a, whereby
as shown in Fig. 7(f), the bag passes past the holding frame
32a together with the egg-apples N which are packed as the bag
lOa is turned inside out. When the bag passes past the holding
frame 32a, insertion of the egg-apples N into the bag lOa is
1 3
~ 2180191
terminated. At this time, the packing bag 10 is safely turned
inside out from the state shown in Fig. 1 so that the printing
portion 16 is formed on the upper surface of the bag lOa to assume
a normal information displaying state as shown in Fig. 8.
Thereafter, the arms 31a to 31d are rotated in the same manner
as mentioned above so that insertion of egg-apples into the bag
10 is sequentially achieved. Further, by repeating this
process, an inserting operation of egg-apples into the bag lO
can continuously be performed.
In such manner, with the packing assist apparatus 30, the
bag 10 can automatically be put on each of the holding frames
32a to 32d by expanding the laminated bags lO successively from
the above with the air blown from the blower 36 and then rotating
the arms 31a to 31d.
Conclusively, according to the present invention, the
following advantageous effects can be obtained.
( 1 ) Since a bag main body is formed by fusible seals using a
synthetic resin sheet and a printing portion is placed on the
inside or outside surface of the packing bag, it becomes possible
to use the packing bag without any distinction between the front
side and the rear side. In addition, since the packing bag can
be put on the holding frame as it is without a necessity for
turning inside out, each pa~king operation can be achieved at
an increased efficiency by operating the packing assist
instrument or apparatus.
(2) Since triangular cutting portions are formed by fusible
seals on the opposite sides of the bottom portion, corner
portions which are difficult to be reversed disappear. Thus,
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~ 2180191
it becomes easy that the packing bag is turned inside out merely
by allowing articles to be packed to fall down through the
holding f rame .
(3) Since one of the front surface sheet and the rear surface
sheet is protruded from the other one, packing bags can
automatically be put on holding frames by operating the packing
assist instrument or apparatus.
While the present invention has been described above with
respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be noted
that the present invention should not be limited only to these
embodiments but various change or modif ication can be made
without departure from the scope of the invention as defined
by the appended claims.
