MULTI-COMPARTMENT POUCH WITH SINGLE NOZZLE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

Abstract

A package and method of filling it with flowable materials is disclosed. The package includes first, second and third panels form of flexible materials that are juxtaposed and fixedly secured to one another along a portion of their periphery to form a pair of isolated compartments and a common nozzle. The nozzle is arranged to be torn open and includes a pair of passageways in communication with respective ones of the compartments. Two of the panels include edges which are free (unsecured) to form respective mouths through which the flowable materials can be introduced into the compartments. Then those edges are sealed to hold the flowable materials within the compartments until the nozzle is torn open. At that time the flowable materials can simultaneous flow out of the package.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/437,155, filed on Jan. 28, 2011, entitled Multi-Compartment Pouch With Single Nozzle And Method Of Making The Same, which application is assigned to the same assignee as this application and whose disclosure is incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

“Not Applicable”

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK

“Not Applicable”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to methods of making flexible packages and the packages themselves and more particularly to flexible packages for holding at least two flowable components in separate compartments for simultaneous dispensing from the package.

Various flexible packages are available commercially for holding flowable materials in the separate compartments to keep them from mingling. Some of those packages include tearably openable outlets through which the materials may be dispensed when desired. Heretofore, such packages have not been constructed to ensure that when the outlet is torn open the materials are dispensed simultaneously. Moreover, the construction of those packages makes their manufacture, filling and sealing by automated somewhat complex and difficult. Thus, a need exists for a flexible package for holding flowable materials in separate compartments of the package and which can be torn open to simultaneously dispense the contents of those compartments. In addition a need exists for a method of readily filling and sealing such packages on automated equipment. The subject invention addresses those needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of this invention is directed to a flexible package for holding flowable materials in separate compartments isolated from each other. The package basically comprises a first panel of flexible material, a second panel of flexible material, and a third panel of flexible material. The first, second and third panels are fixedly secured to one another along a portion of the periphery of each of the panels to form a pair of compartments. A first one of those compartments is located between the first and second panel. A second one of the compartments is located between the second panel and the third panel. A portion of the first panel and the second panel are free from each other to form a first mouth to enable a flowable material to be introduced into the first compartment. A portion of the second panel and the third panel are free from each other to form a second mouth to enable a flowable material to be introduced into the second compartment. The first and second mouths are unaligned, e.g., longitudinally spaced from each other. The first and second mouths are sealable, e.g., heat sealable, after the flowable materials have been introduced into the first and second compartments.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention the package includes a nozzle through which the flowable contents of the package can be simultaneously dispensed. To that end, the first and second panels are fixedly secured to each other to form the first compartment and to form a first passageway in communication with the first compartment. The second and third panels are fixedly secured to each other to form the second compartment and to form a second passageway in communication with the second compartment. The first and second passageways are located immediately adjacent each other to form the nozzle. The nozzle arranged to be opened, e.g., torn open, to simultaneously open the first and second passageways to enable the simultaneous dispensing of the flowable materials through the nozzle. The size of both passageways may be the same or different, depending upon the desired ratio for the two flowable materials to flow out of the package.

Another aspect of this invention entails the method of filling and sealing a multi-compartment package, like those described above. To that end, the method includes providing a first panel of flexible film material, a second panel of flexible film material, and a third panel of flexible film material, with the first, second and third panels being fixedly secured to one another along a portion of the periphery of each of the panels to form a pair of compartments. A first one of those compartments is located between the first and second panel. The second one of the compartments is located between the second panel and the third panel. A portion of the first panel and the second panel are free from (unsecured to) each other to form a first mouth to enable a flowable material to be introduced into the first compartment. A portion of the second panel and the third panel are free from (unsecured to) each other to form a second mouth to enable a flowable material to be introduced into the second compartment. The first and second mouths are unaligned, e.g., located longitudinally spaced from each other. Portions of the first and second panels at the first mouth are then grasped to open the first mouth. A flowable material is then through the first open mouth into the first compartment. The first mouth is then sealed to hold the flowable material in said the first compartment. Portions of the second and third panels at the second mouth are also grasped to open the second mouth. After that a flowable material is introduced through the second open mouth into the second compartment and then the second mouth is sealed to hold the flowable material in the second compartment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of a package constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of one portion, i.e., the outlet or nozzle, of another embodiment of a package constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of still another embodiment of a package constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the package shown in FIG. 6 taken along line 7-7 thereof; and

FIGS. 8-11 are cross-sectional view illustrations showing the steps involved in the method of manufacturing packages of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown in FIG. 1 an exemplary embodiment of a package 20 constructed in accordance with this invention. The package 20 is in the form of a pouch or bag formed of flexible sheet materials into at least two compartments and a communicating outlet or nozzle through which the contents of the package may be dispensed. In the exemplary embodiments shown the package includes a pair of compartments 22 and 24 (FIG. 2) and a communicating outlet or nozzle 26. Packages with more than two compartments can be constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. Thus, for such packages all that will be required is an additional sheet of panel for each additional compartment.

Irrespective of the number of compartments that the package has, each of those compartments is arranged to hold any type of flowable material therein. The flowable materials can be granulated solids, liquids, foams, slurries or any other material that is able to flow through a passageway. The flowable materials held in the respective compartments typically will be such that mixing or mingling of them before desired use is to be precluded. For example, one compartment may hold foam or some other inert flowable carrier material, while the other compartment includes a flowable active ingredient for an insecticide. In that example the simultaneous dispensing of the two components enables them to be mixed to result in the activation and application of the insecticide.

It must be pointed out at this juncture that any type of flowable materials, e.g., foodstuffs, drinks, chemicals, medicines, biologics, adhesives, which are desired to be isolated from each other until they are dispensed, can be used in the subject package. In the interest of simplicity and economy the nozzle portion of the package is formed of the same materials, e.g., flexible film panels (to be described later) forming the package's compartments. That nozzle is arranged to be opened, e.g., torn, to enable the contents of the two compartments to simultaneously flow out of the package.

In the exemplary embodiment shown the package 20 the two compartments 22 and 24 are formed by three flexible sheets or panels 28, 30 and 32. Each of the sheets or panels comprises any suitable flexible packaging material, e.g., a film. The use of three panels enables the package to include two compartments. If three compartments are required of the package an additional sheet can be provide. In any case each sheet can by of a single ply or multiple plies (e.g., a laminate, co-extrusion or any other construction).

As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, the three panels 28, 30 and 32 are juxtaposed with respect to each other and are sealed together along portions their peripheries by a seal lines (e.g., heat seal lines, to be described later) to form the two compartments 22 and 24. Other confronting portions of those panels are unsecured or free from each other to form respective mouths 22A and 24A (FIGS. 10 and 8, respectively) for the compartments. The mouths 22A and 22B are in fluid communication with the compartments 22 and 24, respectively. The portions of the confronting panels 28 and 30 forming the mouth 22A and the portions of the confronting panels 32 and 30 forming the mouth 22B are securable (e.g., heat sealable) to each other so that the mouth to each compartment may be sealed shut after the flowable material has been introduced through the mouth into its associated compartment. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 the compartment 22 holds a flowable material FM1, while the compartment 24 holds a flowable material FM2.

In the embodiment of the multi-compartment package 20 shown in FIG. 1, the panels 28, 30 and 32 making up the package's body are of a generally rectangular shape. That is merely exemplary. Thus, it is contemplated that the package can be of any desired shape, such as square, circular, oval or any other regular or non-regular shape. It should be noted that the size of the package can be any dimension desired for the particular application. Irrespective of the shape, size or number of compartments in the package, it should include a nozzle located at some portion of it through which the contents of the package's compartments may be simultaneously dispensed when the nozzle is opened.

Turning now to FIG. 1 it can be seen that the panel 28 is of a rectangular shape, except for two triangular cut-away portions in the upper left corner. That is where the nozzle 26 is located and that portion of the panel 28 forms one portion of the nozzle. The panel 28 also includes a includes a linear top edge 28A, a pair of linear side edges 28B and 28C and a linear bottom edge 28D. The panel 30 is of the same general shape as the panel 28, except that it is slightly longer in length, so that its top edge 30A extends slightly above the top edge 28A of the panel 28. All other edges of the panel 30 are coincident with the corresponding edges of the panel 28. The panel 32 is of the same shape and size as the panel 30, with all of the edges of the panel 32 being coincident with the edges of the panel 30. Thus, the three panels 28, 30 and 32 form a sandwich, with the panel 30 being the intermediate panel of the sandwich. The edges of the three panels 28, 30 and 32 are initially sealed to one another by a seal line (e.g., a weld line) 34 along all of their edges except for their top edges to result in the formation of the package's mouths 22A and 24A as shown in FIGS. 8-11 and as will be described later. Suffice it for now to state that after the package's compartment 24 is filled through its open mouth 24A, the portion of the panel 32 immediately adjacent its edge 32A is sealed, e.g., welded, to the underlying portion of the intermediate panel 30. In a similar manner, after the package's compartment 22 is filled through its open mouth 22A, the portion of the panel 28 immediately adjacent its edge 28A is sealed, e.g., welded, to the underlying portion of the intermediate panel 30. This results in the completed package shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As seen in FIG. 3, the nozzle includes a pair of passageways 22B and 24B. The passageway 22B is in fluid communication with the compartment 22 and is formed between the corner portion of the panels 28 and 30. The passageway 24B is in fluid communication with the compartment 24 and is formed between the corner portion of the panels 30 and 32. The end of each of the passageways 22B and 24B is sealed by a portion of the seal line 34. A pair of notches 36 is cut in the panels forming the nozzle. The notches form the start of a tear line to enable the user of the package to tear the nozzle open along that line by pulling on the package at either notch. By so doing the passageways 22B and 24B are opened so that the contents, e.g., flowable materials FM1 and FM2, of the package can flow out of both compartments simultaneously.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 both passageways 22B and 24B are of the same size. Thus, equal amounts of the flowable material contents FM1 and FM2 of the package will flow out both compartments 22 and 24 simultaneously when the nozzle is opened.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a nozzle 26′ for the package shown in FIG. 1. The nozzle 26′ is identical to the nozzle 26 except that the seal lines 34 are made so that the passageways 22B′ and 24B′ making up that nozzle are of a different size from each other. In particular, in that embodiment the passageway 22B′ is larger than the passageway 24B′, so that more of the flowable material FM1 of compartment 22 will flow out of the package through passageway 22B′ than the flowable material FM2 will flow out of compartment 24 through passageway 24B′ when the nozzle 26 is opened.

As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the size of each passageway can be chosen to produce a desired amount of the flowable materials that will flow out of the package when the nozzle is opened and also the desired ratio of the two materials to each other.

In FIG. 6 there is shown another alternative embodiment of a package 120 constructed in accordance with this invention. The package 120 is of identical construction to the package 20 except for the construction of its outlet or nozzle. In the interest of brevity the features and components making up the package 120 that are in common with those of the package 20 will be given the same reference numbers and the details of their construction and operation will not be reiterated. In particular, as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 the package 120 includes a nozzle 126 which is located in at the bottom edge of the package. The seal 34 extending along the bottom edges of the panels 28, 30 and 32 is of a greater width than the other portions of the seal and includes a recess 136 at its center in communication with each of the compartments. Thus, the portion of the panels 28 and 30 that are encompassed by the recess 136 in the seal 34 forms a passageway (not shown) in communication with the compartment 22. In a similar manner, the portion of the panels 30 and 32 that are encompassed by the recess 136 in the seal 34 forms another passageway (not shown) in communication with the compartment 22.

A pair of elongated thin channels 138 extends inward from the respective side edges of the package into the seal 34 at the bottom of the package to form a tear strip. The tear strip is represented by the broken line 140 in FIG. 6 and intersects through the passageways formed by the recess 136. Thus, the tearing of the package along the tear line will tear open the panels forming the passageways in the nozzle, whereupon the flowable materials located within the package's compartments can flow out of the package through those passageways.

It should be evident that the width of the recess forming the two passageways for the nozzle 126 can be selected so that those passageways can be of the same size or one of the passageways can be larger than the other. In the former case the same amount of material will flow out of the two compartments simultaneously, whereas in the latter arrangement more of one material will flow out of the compartment associated with the larger passageway than that which will flow out of the compartment associated with the smaller passageway.

As mentioned earlier, it the subject packages can be filled and sealed on an automated apparatus or machine, e.g., a “form, fill and seal” machine. One such machine is the GL-90 machine sold by Fres-co System USA, Inc., the assignee of the subject invention. That machine, or any other prior art apparatus for filling and sealing a flexible package, is preferably configured to include at least one pair of film-grasping jaws (e.g., suction cups) and at least one pair of heat-sealing (e.g., thermal welding) jaws. The film-grasping jaws are arranged to grasp portions of the package's panels to open the package's mouths so that the flowable materials can be introduced into the associated compartments of the package. The heat-sealing jaws serve to seal the mouths of the package after the flowable materials have been introduced into the package's compartments. The GL90 machine can also be used to form the packages to the state at which they are ready to be filled and sealed. That state is shown in FIG. 8 and the manner of fabricating the packages into that state will not be discussed in the interest of brevity since it doesn't constitute any part of the subject invention.

The method of filling and sealing of the compartments 22 and 24 of the exemplary packages 20 and 120 from the state shown in FIG. 8 will now be described with reference to that figures and to FIGS. 9-11. Those figures constitutes illustrations that show the package 20 after its various panels have been sealed to each other along their peripheries to form the bottom seal, the two side seals, and the seal forming the nozzle 26. Once those seals have been completed the two compartments 22 and 24 are ready for receipt of the flowable material(s) therein. The filling and sealing of those compartments is accomplished sequentially using any suitable automated filling and sealing machine. That machine, as mentioned above, includes a pair of film-grasping (e.g., suction cup) jaws 40A and 40B. The film-grasping jaw 40A is constructed and arranged to grasp the outer surface of the panel 32 adjacent its top edge 32A as shown in FIG. 8. The other jaw 40B is constructed and arranged to grasp the outer surface of the intermediate panel 30 adjacent its top end 30A. The two jaws 40A and 40B are then pulled apart in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 8 to form an open mouth 24A at the top end of the compartment 24. A flowable material FM2 can then be introduced into the compartment 24 through the mouth 24A. Once the flowable material FM2 has been introduced into the compartment 24, the package can be indexed to a position adjacent a pair of heat-sealing jaws 42A and 42B. The jaws 42A and 42B are then moved into confronting position with respect to the top edge of the panels 32 and 30, respectively. In particular, the heat-sealing jaw 42A is brought into engagement with the outer surface of the panel 32 adjacent its top end 32A, and the heat-sealing jaw 42B is brought into engagement with the outer surface of the panel 30 adjacent the top end 30A. The two jaws 42A and 42B are then brought together in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 9 to apply heat and pressure to seal, e.g., weld, the top edges of those panels together. This action seals the flowable material FM2 within the compartment 24.

The second (and smaller) compartment 22 is now ready to be filled and sealed. To that end, if the filling and sealing machine is a G90 machine which makes use of two pairs of film-grasping jaws, the film-grasping jaw 40B′ of the second pair of film-grasping jaws is constructed and arranged to grasp the outer surface of the panel 28 adjacent its top end 28A as shown in FIG. 10. The other film-grasping jaw 40A′ of that pair is constructed and arranged to grasp the outer surface of the panel 32 at a vertical position which is aligned with the film-grasping jaw 40B′. The two jaws 40A′ and 40B′ are then pulled apart in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 10 to form an open mouth 22A at the top end of the compartment 22. The flowable material FM1 can then be introduced into the compartment 22 through the mouth 22A.

Once the flowable material FM1 has been introduced into the compartment 22, the package is indexed to a position adjacent a second pair of heat sealing jaws 42A′ and 42B′ (assuming that the machine is a G90 machine which has two pairs of heat-sealing jaws). That second pair of heat-sealing jaws is then moved into confronting position with respect to the top edge of the film panel forming the mouth of the compartment 22. In particular heat-sealing jaw 42A′ is brought into engagement with the outer surface of the panel 32 adjacent its top end 32A and heat-sealing jaw 42B′ is brought into engagement with the outer surface of the panel 28 at a position which is aligned with the heat-sealing jaw 42A′. The two jaws 42A′ and 42B′ are then brought together in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 11 to apply heat and pressure to seal the top edges of the panels 30 and 28 together. This action seals the flowable material FM1 within the compartment 22, thereby completing the filling and sealing of the package.

It should be noted at this juncture that the automated apparatus for filling and sealing the packages as described above need not make use of two pairs of film-grasping jaws and two pairs of heat-sealing jaws. For example, the filling and sealing apparatus may make use of a single pair of film-grasping jaws, e.g., jaws 40A and 40B, and a single pair of heat-sealing jaws (e.g., jaws 42A and 42B). In such a case the film-grasping jaws will have to be movable between two positions, i.e., the position shown in FIG. 8 to grasp the portion of the panels 32 and 30 forming the mouth 24A of compartment 24 and the position shown in FIG. 10 to grasp the portion of the panels 28 and 30 forming the mouth 22A of compartment 22. In a similar manner the heat sealing jaws will have to be movable between two positions, i.e., the position shown in FIG. 9 to heat seal the portion of the panels 32 and 30 forming the mouth 24A of compartment 24 and the position shown in FIG. 11 to heat seal the portion of the panels 28 and 30 forming the mouth 24A of compartment 24.

Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, adopt the same for use under various conditions of service.

Claims

1. A package for holding flowable materials in separate compartments isolated from each other, said package comprising a first panel of flexible material, a second panel of flexible material, and a third panel of flexible material, said first, second and third panels being fixedly secured to one another along a portion of the periphery of each of said panels to form a pair of compartments, a first one of said compartments being located between said first and second panel, a second one of said compartments being located between said second panel and said third panel, a portion of said first panel and said second panel being free from each other to form a first mouth to enable a flowable material to be introduced into said first compartment, a portion of said second panel and said third panel being free from each other to form a second mouth to enable a flowable material to be introduced into said second compartment, said first and second mouth being unaligned, said first and second mouths being sealable after flowable materials have been introduced into said first and second compartments.

2. The package of claim 1 additionally comprising a nozzle through which the flowable materials can be simultaneously dispensed.

3. The package of claim 2 wherein said nozzle is formed by portions of said first, second and third panels.

4. The package of claim 3 wherein said nozzle comprises a first passageway and a second passageway, said first passageway being formed by portions of said first and said second panels and being in fluid communication with said first compartment, said second passageway being formed by portions of said second and said third panels and being in fluid communication with said second compartment.

5. The package of claim 4 wherein said first and second passageways are of the same size.

6. The package of claim 4 wherein said first and second passageways are of different sizes.

7. The package of claim 4 wherein said nozzle is initially sealed, but arranged to be opened when desired.

8. The package of claim 7 wherein said portions of said panels forming said nozzle are tearable and wherein said nozzle comprises at least one notch to facilitate the tearing of said nozzle.

9. The package of claim 4 wherein said nozzle is located at a corner of said package.

10. The package of claim 4 wherein said nozzle is located at a side of said package.

11. A multi-compartment package for holding flowable materials in at least two separate compartments isolated from each other, said package comprising a first panel of flexible material, a second panel of flexible material, and a third panel of flexible material, said first and said second panels being fixedly secured to each other to form a first compartment and a first passageway in communication with said first compartment, said second and said third panels being fixedly secured to each other to form a second compartment and a second passageway in communication with said second compartment, said first and second passageways being located immediately adjacent each other to form a nozzle, said nozzle arranged to be opened to effect the simultaneous opening of said first and second passageways for enabling the simultaneous dispensing of the flowable materials therethrough.

12. The package of claim 11 wherein said first and second passageways are of the same size.

13. The package of claim 11 wherein said first and second passageways are of different sizes.

14. The package of claim 11 wherein said nozzle is initially sealed, but arranged to be opened when desired.

15. The package of claim 14 wherein said portions of said panels forming said nozzle are tearable and wherein said nozzle comprises at least one notch to facilitate the tearing of said nozzle.

16. The package of claim 11 wherein said nozzle is located at a corner of said package.

17. The package of claim 11 wherein said nozzle is located at a side of said package.

18. A method of filing and sealing a multi-compartment flexible package, said method comprising:

providing a first panel of flexible film material, a second panel of flexible film material, and a third panel of flexible film material, said first, second and third panels being fixedly secured to one another along a portion of the periphery of each of said panels to form a pair of compartments, a first one of said compartments being located between said first and second panel, a second one of said compartments being located between said second panel and said third panel, a portion of said first panel and said second panel being free from each other to form a first mouth to enable a flowable material to be introduced into said first compartment, a portion of said second panel and said third panel being free from each other to form a second mouth to enable a flowable material to be introduced into said second compartment, said first and second mouths being unaligned;

grasping portions of said first and second panels at said first mouth to open said first mouth;

introducing a flowable material through said first open mouth into said first compartment;

sealing said first mouth to hold the flowable material in said first compartment;

grasping portions of said second and third panels at said second mouth to open said second mouth;

introducing a flowable material through said second open mouth into said second compartment; and

sealing said second mouth to hold the flowable material in said second compartment.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the opening of said first mouth is accomplished by use of a pair of movable film-grasping jaws and the opening of said second mouth is accomplished by use of a pair of movable film-grasping jaws.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said pair of movable film-grasping jaws for opening said second mouth is a different pair of movable film-grasping jaws for opening said first mouth.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said pair of movable film-grasping jaws for opening said second mouth is the same pair of movable film-grasping jaws for opening said first mouth.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the sealing of said first mouth is accomplished by use of a pair of movable heat-sealing jaws and the sealing of said second mouth is accomplished by use of a pair of movable heat-sealing jaws.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein said pair of movable heat-sealing jaws for sealing said second mouth is a different pair of movable heat-sealing jaws for sealing said first mouth.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein said pair of movable heat-sealing jaws for sealing said second mouth is the same pair of movable heat-sealing jaws for sealing said first mouth.