Package for granular compositions

Abstract

A package which is sealed with at least one baffled venting closure system, said baffled venting closure system being formed of at least two closure-lines which extend across the width of the package, and an air flow passage formed between the at least two closure-lines, wherein each of said closure-lines form one or more closure-line vents which allow air to vent out of the interior of the package into the air flow passage and out of the bag to the environment external to the package, and wherein at least one of said closure-lines has at least one wall segment parapeting said closure-line from the closure-line vent adjacent thereto.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Bags are used to contain a wide variety of consumer products, including granular or powder compositions such as laundry detergents. Typically, these bags are made of thermoplastic film materials such as polyethylene and / or polypropylene. These bags can be formed from a single sheet which can be rolled into tube shape or folded into a rectangular folded bag. The side edges of the sheet are then sealed to form a spine. Further, the lower end or opening of the tube is sealed to allow product to be deposited within. Following filling, the upper opening is similarly sealed. Typical sealing can be done by applying heat or adhesives.[0002]To be useful to package granular or powder compositions, these bags must be flexible and capable of venting air during stacking on a pallet during packaging or shipping. Although the bags need to allow air to escape, an undesirable side effect known as product sifting can occur, wherein product escapes from any air venting...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0070]The package of the present invention provides the desirable benefits of sufficient air venting capability while controlling product sifting. Air venting capability is a measure of the ability of the package to allow entrapped air to escape the interior of the package after the package is filled with product. Product sifting occurs when particles of the product escape the interior of the package via the escaping air or from product being drawn through the baffled venting closure system by gravity or other externally applied forces, such as encountered during shipping and packaging. In order to provide the dual benefits needed to address the problems encountered with conventional bags, the package of the present invention should allow for

[0073]Test A: Product sifting during simulated transportation and handling vibration conditions. Test A is conducted with the following sample packages:

Problems solved by technology

Although the bags need to allow air to escape, an undesirable side effect known as product sifting can occur, wherein product escapes from any air venting system introduce into the bag.

The dust causes the package to appear dirty and / or greasy and undesirable.

Further, if the air vent system is too large, product can actually leak out of the bag during vibration and / or handling.

Although these apertures allow for venting of air, they are susceptible to allowing excessive moisture or liquid water to enter the bag causing problems such as product caking and deterioration.

The problem with smaller apertures is that they tend to become blocked or clogged by the product more easily, thereby reducing the air venting capabilities.

Like the apertured bags, bags with pairs of interrupted closure-lines have been known to suffer from undesirable product sifting.

Problems with the use of heat seal dots include decreased air venting capabilities when product becomes clogging around the heat seal dot; and increased manufacturing complication as the additional melting point of the heat seal dot may result in excessive melting and deformation in the vicinity of the interruption in the closure-line.

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