GB2105672A

GB2105672A - Packaging of articles in flexible bags

Info

Publication number: GB2105672A
Application number: GB08224294A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Bernard Cross
Original assignee: Netlon Ltd
Current assignee: Netlon Ltd
Priority date: 1981-08-25
Filing date: 1982-08-24
Publication date: 1983-03-30
Also published as: AU8754282A; ES266983U; JPS58160211A

Abstract

In order to provide a simple and inexpensive method of packaging articles, a length of tubular, flexible packaging material, e.g. netting, 1 is closed throughout at spaced zones 2. The packaging material 1 is then drawn through the inside of a cylinder 11 and its leading end is held open by folding it back over the upper edge of the cylinder 11. Articles 24 are then placed in the packaging material 1. The top of the bag so formed can be tied and the packaging material 1 is severed just below the first closed zone 2. More packaging material 1 can then be pulled up from the reel 4. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Packaging of articles in flexible bags BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention realtes to the packaging of articles, for instance apples, potatoes, oranges, onions or like produce, in flexible bags.

THE INVENTION The present invention provides methods as set forth in Claim 1 or 14, apparatus as set forth in Claim 9 or 1 5, and a length of tubular, flexible packaging net as set forth in Claim 1 3 or 1 6. The remaining Claims set forth preferred features of the invention.

The method of the invention is very simple and does not require much exertion or skill. It can be quick and efficient in continuous operation. The apparatus needed is cheap and uncomplicated and need occupy only a small space. The apparatus is particularly suitable for small packaging plants or shops and stores. For instance, the apparatus could be used for prepackaging in shops or stores, or may even be used at a self-packaging point, for instance with different sized apparatus of different colours to contain different volumes of produce.

Generally, the leading end portion of the length of packaging material will be closed once the articles have been placed therein, to complete the bag. This closing may take place before or after the packaging material is drawn through the tubular member, e.g. to expose the next closed zone of the packaging material.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view showing the production of the length of tubular, flexible packaging material; Figure 2 is an isometric view of a first apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 is an enlarged, scrap vertical section along the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged scrap view, partly in vertical section, of the upper edge of the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 5 is an enlarged scrap view, showing the openings in the transverse wall in the apparatus of Figure 2; Figures 6 to 10 show five stages in the method of the invention; Figure 11 is an isometric view of a second apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Figure 12 is a vertical section along the line XIl-XII in Figure 11.

Figure 1 A length 1 of empty, tubular, flexible packaging material is closed at spaced zones 2 in a closure stage 3. The closures can be applied inline with the extrusion and orientation, thereby making the procedure very efficient. The packaging material 1 is wound onto a collection reel 4. The tubular, flexible packaging material may be of any suitable type, such as plastics film, for instance condensed polyethelene, or rope orientated integrally-extruded plastics netting such as that sold under the trade mark "Netlon." The closure at the spaced closed zones 2 may be achieved by heat-sealing or clipping or any other suitable method. The closed zones 2 are equaily spaced substantially throughout the length of the packaging material 1. For instance, the zones 2 can be 30 cms apart, and there can be hundreds of them.

Figures 2 to 5 The first apparatus has a tubular member in the form of a cylinder 11 which has a lower flange 12 for fixing to a suitable base 13 (see Figures 6 to 10), e.g. a shelf, with a hole therethrough. The cylinder 11 has its axis vertical, and its open end uppermost. The cylinder 11 can be of circular or any other cross-sectional shape to suit the packaging material and the articles to be packed.

The cylinder 11 has a transverse member or wall or platform 14 which is spaced from the upper end by a predetermined but adjustable distance, the transverse wall 14 in effect forming the bottom of a container. The position of the transverse wall 14 can be adjusted in any simple manner; the adjustment means are here shown as small support brackets 1 5 with thumb screws 16 protruding through vertical slots in the cylinder 11 and screwed into the brackets 1 5.

In the centre of the transverse wall 14, there is a hole covered by a resilient rubber diaphragm 1 7 which has a narrow opening formed by a slit 18.

As explained below, the slit 1 8 forms a drag or brake on the packaging material 1.

The top edge of the cylinder 11 is notched with an angled slot 1 9 and a cutter blade 20 is provided at the base of the slot 19. The cutter blade 20 can be secured in any suitable manner.

As shown, the blade 20 lies in a vertical slot 21 and a further vertical slot 22 is provided so that the point of say a pencil can be inserted into a shorter slot 23 in the blade 20, to lift the blade 20 until its upper end can be grasped. The blade 20 can then be sharpened or replaced.

The apparatus can be constructed from standard polyvinyl chloride tube components.

Operation (Figures 6 to 10) Some means are provided for supporting a supply of the packaging material so that it can be drawn through the slit 18 into the cylinder 11. In Figures 6 to 10, the supply of packaging material is in the form of a reel 4 mounted below the base 13 in any suitable manner. Another suitable alternative is shown in Figures 11 and 12.

In effect, Figure 6 shows the first step. The leading end of the packaging material protrudes from the upper, open end of the cylinder 11. As shown in Figure 7, the leading end is held open by folding the leading end portion back over the protruding upper edge of the cylinder 11. Only a short portion of the leading end may be so folded back, for instance about 2 cms, or, as is found rather easier, the leading end can be pulled back a relatively long distance over the outside of the cylinder 11, as shown in Figure 7. The drag effect of the opening slit 18 helps the operator fold the leading end of the packaging material 1 back over the upper edge of the cylinder 11 as it provides some resistance against which he can work.

Next, as shown in Figure 8, articles 24 are placed in the leading end portion of the packaging material 1. The articles 24 will push the packaging material 1 down until the articles rest against the transverse wall 14, the leading edge of the packaging material 1 down until the articles rest against the transverse wall 14, the leading edge of the packaging material 1 slipping up the outside of the cylinder 11. When the bag is full, for instance when the articles 24 have reached the top of the cylinder 11, the leading edge of the length of material 1 is disengaged from the upper edge of the cylinder 11 and is closed at 25 (Figure 9) by tying, clipping or the like.The bagged articles 24 are then removed from the cylinder 11, as shown in Figure 9 drawing further packaging material 1 up through the opening slit 18, the first closed zone 2 then being above the open end of the cylinder 11. The material 1 below the zone 2 is then drawn into the inclined slot 1 9 and is severed by the cutter blade 20 just on the other side of the articles 24 of the first closed zone 2 (see Figure 10). This produces a fresh leading end which can be pulled up as shown in Figure 6, to begin a new cycle. The packaging material 1 should be pulled up until a closed zone 2 can be seen above the level of the transverse wall 14. The drag effect of the opening slit 18 prevents the packaging material 1 falling back, and thus prevents the necessity for re-threading.

Figures 11 and 12 The operation of the second apparatus is very similar and the same references are used for similar or like parts.

The upper end portion of the cylinder 11 still protrudes, but it has a lip 31 which assists in the retention of the folded-back leading end portion of the packaging material 1. The opening 32 is in the wall of the cylinder 11 and is shown as protected by a simple grommet 33. The opening 32 can be of any shape to suit the packaging material. The cylinder 11 does not have an adjustable bottom, but is placed directly on the base 13. However, a transverse member or bridge 34 can be placed in the cylinder 11 so as to form smaller packs, the weight of the goods being carried by the bridge 34. Without the bridge 34, the weight of the goods could cause the packaging material 1 to become disengaged from the top edge of the cylinder 11.

The means for supporting the supply of packaging material 1 is a simple box 35 in which the reel 4 is placed.

Claims

1. A method of packaging articles in flexible bags formed from a length of tubular, flexible packaging material, including the steps of closing the length of packaging material at spaced zones, drawing the length of packaging material through the inside of a tubular member until the leading end protrudes from an open end of the tubular member, holding open the leading end of the packaging material by folding the leading end portion back over the edge of the open end of the tubular member, placing the article or articles in the leading end portion of the packaging material, and severing the packaging material on the other side to the article(s) of the first closed zone of the packaging material.

2. The method of Claim 1 , wherein, after placing the article(s) in the leading end portion of the packaging material, the article or articles are removed wholly or partly from the tubular member before the packaging material is severed, thereby drawing the length of packaging material further through the tubular member.

3. The method of Claim 1 or 2, wherein, after placing the article(s) in the leading end portion of the packaging material, the length of packaging material is drawn further through the tubular member until the first closed zone is exposed in or above the open end of the tubular member.

4. The method of any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the leading end portion of the packaging material is closed before removing the article(s) from the tubular member.

5. The method of any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the tubular member has a transverse member spaced from its open end, the article(s) being placed in the packaging material so that they rest against the transverse member.

6. The method of any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the axis of the tubular member is substantially vertical, the open end being uppermost.

7. The method of any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the length of packaging material enters the tubular member through a narrow opening at least one side of which is resilient, to provide some frictional drag.

8. The method of any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the open end of the tubular member is provided with a cutter blade, the packaging material being severed by drawing it against the cutter blade.

9. Apparatus for carrying out the method of any one of the preceding Claims, including a tubular member having at least a protruding open end portion, a transverse member in the tubular member and spaced from the open end of the tubular member so that the article(s) placed in the packaging material can be supported by the transverse member, an opening in the tubular member and spaced from its open end, for allowing the length of packaging material to pass into the tubular member, and means for supporting a supply of packaging material so that it can be drawn through the opening into the tubular member.

10. The apparatus of Claim 9, wherein the opening is narrow and at least one side is resilient, to provide some frictional drag to the length of packaging material.

11. The apparatus of Claim 10, wherein the opening is formed by a resilient diaphragm having a slit in it.

12. The apparatus of any one of Claims 9 to 11, wherein the open end of the tubular member is provided with a cutter blade so that the packaging material can be severed by drawing it against the cutter blade.

13. A length of empty, tubular, flexible packaging net which is closed at a large number of zones spaced substantially throughout its length.

14. A method of packaging articles in flexible bags formed from a length of tubular, flexible packaging material, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 to 10 or Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. Apparatus for packaging articles in flexible bags formed from a length of tubular, flexible packaging material, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 2 to 10 or Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.

1 6. A length of empty, tubular, flexible packaging net, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.