Fill-accuracy during pouch formation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10059475-B2
Application number	US-76543810-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2010
Priority date	May 1, 2009
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

Abstract

In one of its aspects, the present invention relates to a process for forming a flexible liquid-packaging pouch. This process improves fill-accuracy of the flowable material contained in the pouch. Specifically, the invention relates to a process for improving the fill-accuracy of a pouch by incorporating at least one stand-pipe in a balance tank that feeds the pouch with flowable material to be packaged. This invention also relates to such apparatus for improving the fill-accuracy of the flexible liquid-packaging pouch.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A process for forming a pouch with improved fill-accuracy, said process comprising the steps of:
(A) providing a continuous tube of flexible and sealable film;
(B) supplying the continuous tube with a predetermined flow-rate of flowable material fed from an external balance tank; wherein said balance tank comprises an inlet for said flowable material, at least one outlet for said flowable material, and at least one stand-pipe within said balance tank and over said at least one outlet, wherein said stand-pipe is flowably attached to said at least one outlet, such that the inside of said balance tank is at a steady state and localized disturbances are reduced and wherein said balance tank feeds at least one continuous flexible tube and wherein the height of said stand-pipe, measured as a percentage of the level of said flowable material in said balance tank is in the range from about 1% to about 99%.

2. The process as recited in claim 1 , wherein the height of the stand-pipe, measured as a percentage of the level of said flowable material in said tank is in the range of from about 3% to about 25%.

3. The process as recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one stand-pipe is substantially centrally located on said at least one outlet.

4. The process as recited on claim 1 , wherein said balance tank has a floor, and said balance tank comprises at least one drain-hole on the floor of said balance tank.

5. The process as recited on claim 1 , wherein said balance tank comprises at least one drain-hole on said stand-pipe.

6. The process as recited on claim 1 , wherein said balance tank comprises at least one drain-hole on said stand-pipe, wherein said drain-hole is at the base of said stand-pipe.

7. The process as recited on claim 1 , wherein said balance tank has a floor, and said balance tank comprises at least one drain-hole on said stand-pipe and at least one drain-hole on the floor of said balance tank.

8. The process as recited in claim 1 , wherein said balance tank is filled at least 30% of its volume with flowable material.

9. The process of claim 1 , wherein said at least one stand pipe comprises a cross-section selected from the group consisting a circular cross-section, a random cross-section, a cross-section that varies in vertical direction, and a cross-section with at least three defined angles, wherein the sides of said cross-section are equilateral.

Assignees

• Weagant Simon
• Peterson Jason G
• Sadler James W
• Liqui Box Corp

Inventors

• Weagant Simon
• Peterson Jason G
• Sadler James W

Classifications

• Y10T137/86381

  Head-establishing standpipe or expansion chamber [e.g., surge tanks] · CPC title

• B65B37/02

  by gravity flow · CPC title

• B65B37/16

  Separating measured quantities from supply (in container-filling machines B65B1/30, B65B3/26) · CPC title

• B65B3/36

  and arresting flow by cut-off means · CPC title

• B65B2220/18

  the primary packaging being bags the subsequent secondary packaging being rigid containers, e.g. cardboard box · CPC title