Abstract: The present invention provides a pressure relief valve for a flexible pouch which is integrated directly into the flexible pouch material. The valve permits excess of gas to dissipate through the valve mechanism but does not permit the reentry of air (hence oxygen) which maintains the food product fresh. The valve is integrated into the pouch material without implanting a fitment. The nature of the valve design results in the closing of the channels of the valve when gas is not discharging through the valve. A secondary purpose of the valve is to maintain the pressure in the pouch below an amount that can bloat the pouch to the extent that the seals can rupture and permit oxygen penetration or spilling of the contents outside the pouch. A nitrogen cap is maintained in the pouch thereby ensuring freshness of the product stored in the pouch.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for the manufacturing of pouches. The system includes a pouch dispensing module, robotics module, filling and sealing module and a cartoning module. The robotics system is coupled with the other modules and loads containers with pouches for delivery to the filling and sealing module. The robotics module increases production and decreases costs of manufacturing the pouches.

Abstract: A flexible pouch having a pressure sensitive gas valve for releasing gas from a sealed flexible pouch is disclosed. The gas valve is integrally formed in the lateral edge portions of the front and back wall panels which are heat sealed to form the flexible pouch. The gas valve has an unobstructed tortuous gas pathway, preferably having convoluted channels, extending across at least one and preferably both of the lateral heat seals of the pouch with one end of the gas pathway opening into the interior of the flexible pouch and the outer end of the gas pathway open to the ambient atmosphere at the outer edge of the lateral heat seal. A method of forming a pressure sensitive gas valve in each lateral heat seal of a flexible pouch is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser is disclosed for dispensing a fluid from a pouch having a discharge passage that extends along a tortuous path. The dispenser has a dispenser station and dispenser mechanism in the dispenser station. In one aspect the dispenser mechanism comprises a backstop on one side of the dispenser path and a cam operated cylindrical roller confronting the backstop located on the other side of the dispenser path. The roller is attached to a roller bracket which is pivotally attached to the interior of a hollow pushbutton. The pushbutton is mounted in an opening in the dispenser front cover. Springs are attached to the bracket and the front cover which maintain the roller against the flexible dispenser compartment of the pouch.

Abstract: A pliable, fluid dispensing pouch is provided which includes a flexible shot-chamber having at least two narrow spaced tortuous fluid pathways each leading to a separate discharge opening at one end of the pouch. The discharge openings are initially sealed closed by the presence of a sealing tab. The discharge openings are unsealed by tearing off the tab. The separate discharge openings are of a diameter suitable to prevent fluid from being hand or finger squeezed out of the pouch once the tear tab has been detached.

Abstract: An improvement in certain types of fluid containers is disclosed. The improvement is particularly directed to a certain type of squeezable fluid container that is made of a flexible plastic material. Such a fluid container defines a longitudinal axis and a cavity for containing a dispensable fluid. The fluid container has flexible side walls, a sealed bottom, a pair of spaced-apart sealed deformable side-edge margins, and a sealed deformable upper-edge margin which is unitary with an upper-edge portion of each of the side-edge margins and which defines a fluid-discharge passageway that communicates with the fluid cavity. The improvement comprises an indent, defined by at least one of the side-edge margins, for dividing the fluid cavity into two fluid chambers along the longitudinal axis. The two chambers are in fluid communication with each other. One of the two fluid chambers is located adjacent to, and is in fluid communicaton with, the fluid passageway.

Abstract: A pre-forming technique for web material utilized to make flexible pouches for fluent products comestibles and non-comestibles in form-and fill equipment of well known type characterized by the initial stretching displacement of each web from its normal plane and in a configuration corresponding to the ultimate spout configuration prior to forming of the pouch with the spout therein, thereby preventing undesired blockage of the spout by unintended adherence of the packaging film in the spout zone during sealing operations. The technique is especially desirable in pouches having a unique and complex reversely curved discharge passageway.

Abstract: A pre-forming technique for web material utilized to make flexible pouches for fluent products comestibles and non-comestibles in form-and fill equipment of well known type characterized by the initial stretching displacement of each web from its normal plane and in a configuration corresponding to the ultimate spout configuration prior to forming of the pouch with the spout therein, thereby preventing undesired blockage of the spout by unintended adherence of the packaging film in the spout zone during sealing operations. The technique is especially desirable in pouches having a unique and complex reversely curved discharge passageway.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing container of the pliable pouch type having a spout of a serpentine shape extending from the pouch and toward a marginal edge of the container. The spout is unsealed by tearing off an end of the container which has a pre-cut slit therein to facilitate the tearing.