PAPER BAG

Abstract

The invention relates to a paper bag for storing and transporting goods, having a main body, a first opening at one end of the main body for removing the goods and a flap connected to the main body which is designed to close the first opening by folding over. The paper bag also has a second opening for introducing the goods into the main body which lies opposite the first opening.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of German Patent Application DE 10 2018 126 929.3, filed on Oct. 29, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a paper bag for storing and transporting goods, having a main body, a first opening at one end of the main body for removing the goods and a flap connected to the main body which is designed to close the first opening by folding over. The invention further relates to a method for filling a paper bag with goods.

Paper bags of the aforementioned kind are generally known in the art. A paper bag which has an opening is known from DE 10 2015 001 206 A1, for example, wherein at least two adhesive elements are provided for closing the opening. The adhesive elements can be activated separately. In addition, at least one tear-open element is provided by means of which the opening can be opened if it has been closed by means of a first of the at least two adhesive elements.

Paper bags of this kind are mainly used as containers for transporting goods that are to be sent by post, for example. The recipient of the paper bag can open said paper bag with the help of the tear-open element, in order to remove the goods. The user is then able to use the paper bag once more by means of the second adhesive element, as the opening can be closed once again.

In the event that small goods are to be transported, for example, this document proposes that the flap with the adhesive elements should be folded very far over so as to reduce the remaining size of the paper bag which is now closed.

This folding-over action to reduce the volume is time-consuming and prone to errors in the case of automated packing, particularly when the goods are not flat. Pressing on the flap to secure it to the main body can only be carried out with some difficulty in these cases.

In addition, the thickness of the paper bag increases due to the folding-over of a large portion of the main body, for example, in order to reduce the volume, wherein this also gives rise to unnecessary weight which can be of particular importance during transportation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against this background, the problem addressed by the present invention is that of developing a paper bag of the aforementioned kind in such a manner that said paper bag comprises as little material as possible during the transportation of goods and allows easy handling when being filled with the goods.

This problem is solved in that a second opening is provided for introducing the goods into the main body which lies opposite the first opening.

In other words, this means that the paper bag initially has two openings in the interior of the paper bag, wherein the first opening can be closed by the flap. Subsequent opening of the paper bag then takes place at this flap.

The second opening is then used to move the goods into the interior when they are being packed, this opening then being closed in a subsequent step. If the volume of the paper bag is to be reduced after the goods have been introduced, said paper bag can very easily be cut to length or shortened in the region of the second opening, as the second opening can be closed at any point.

Using the paper bag according to the invention, it is possible for different volumes to be supplied for packing different goods. One or only a small number of paper bag sizes is adequate and these can then be shortened to a suitable length after the goods have been packed, so that the goods are held firmly within the paper bag.

The problem is thereby completely solved.

In a preferred embodiment, the flap has a first fastening means for fastening the folded-over flap to the main body. The first fastening means is preferably an adhesive applied in strips, in particular a hot melt.

More preferably, the flap has a second fastening means for fastening the folded-over flap to the main body, said fastening means being spaced apart from the first fastening means. The second fastening means is particularly preferably an activatable adhesive that is applied in strips. The activatable adhesive is preferably an adhesive strip with a removable cover.

More preferably, a tear-open means is provided between the first fastening means and the second fastening means. The tear-open means may comprise a strip and two perforation lines running laterally and parallel thereto.

These measures result in a closure system which allows a first closing, a first tearing-open and a second closing of the paper bag. The recipient can therefore open the paper bag by tearing it open with the help of the tear-open means and then close the paper bag again where necessary using the second fastening means. The second fastening means is, for example, an adhesive strip that can be activated by removing a cover film.

In a preferred embodiment, the main body has openings for ventilating the interior of the paper bag.

This measure has the advantage that the introduction of the goods and closure of the second opening leads to fewer errors, since the air inside the paper bag can escape through these openings.

The problem addressed by the invention is also solved by a method which exhibits the following features:

Provision of a paper bag according to the invention, introduction of the goods via the second opening, shortening of the paper bag in the region of the second opening in order to reduce the volume of the paper bag and closure of the second opening in the paper bag.

Closure of the second opening takes place by sewing, for example. Other possibilities are also conceivable, however, for example adhesion. The use of adhesive tape is also possible, wherein the end of the paper bag being closed is folded over at least once for this purpose.

More preferably, the first opening of the paper bag which is supplied is already closed when the goods are introduced. In other words, this means that the first opening is already closed by the flap during production. When the paper bag is in the unfilled state, this process is very easy to carry out.

It is evident that the features referred to above and those yet to be explained below can not only be used in the combination indicated in each case, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the framework of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention result from the description and the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a paper bag in plan view;

FIG. 2A shows a schematic perspective representation of a paper bag, in particular a side-gusseted bag with two open longitudinal ends;

FIG. 2B shows the paper bag shown in FIG. 2A in a collapsed state; and

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram for explaining the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a paper bag in schematic representation which is denoted by the reference number 10. The paper bag 10 has a rectangular form in the present exemplary embodiment and is structured symmetrically to a longitudinal axis L. The paper bag 10 has a main body 12 with two longitudinal ends 14, 16. The main body 12 has a closed peripheral surface which delimits an interior 50 (FIG. 2a) which, however, is outwardly open at both longitudinal ends 14, 16 in the present exemplary embodiment via openings 44, 46 (FIG. 2a).

A flap 20 which has the width B of the main body 12 is provided at the first longitudinal end 14. The flap 20 extends in the longitudinal direction L over a certain length which is selected in such a manner that the opening 44 can be closed by folding over the flap 20.

In order to attach or fasten the flap 20 to the main body 12, two fastening means 24, 26 are provided which are both configured as strip-shaped elements. The two fastening means 24, 26 run parallel to an edge 27 at the first longitudinal end 14 of the main body 12.

The two fastening means 24, 26 are also arranged spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction, wherein the first fastening means 24 is closer to an edge 22 of the flap 20 than the second fastening means 26; or in other words, the second fastening means 26 is closer to the edge 27 of the main body 12.

A tear-open means 30 which likewise extends over the entire width B of the flap 20 is provided between the two fastening means 24, 26.

The tear-open means 30 preferably comprises a tear-open thread 32 and also two perforation lines 34 which extend on both sides of the tear-open thread 32. The tear-open thread 32 has a gripping element 36 at a lateral end, which gripping element projects slightly beyond the lateral edge of the flap and allows the user to grip the tear-open thread 32. However, it would also be conceivable for only one perforation line to be provided adjacent to the second fastening means 26. In addition, the gripping element 36 can be replaced by two parallel notches to the left and right of the tear-open thread 32.

With the help of the tear-open thread 32, a strip can be separated from the flap between the two perforation lines 34. This allows the paper bag 10 to be opened when the flap is fastened to the main body 12 during a first closure only with the help of the first fastening means 24. Following the tearing open, part of the flap 20 remains adhered to the main body 12 with the first fastening means 24, while the remaining part of the flap 20 can be folded over again with the second fastening means 26, in order to open up the opening 44.

The first fastening means 24 is preferably provided as an adhesive, preferably a hot melt, dispersion adhesive or starch adhesive, wherein the flap 20 can be adhered to the main body 12 via this first fastening means immediately after the paper bag has been produced. The opening 14 is, in effect, not needed in order to fill the paper bag 10.

The previously explained paper bag 10 is shown as a perspective representation in FIG. 2a. The paper bag 10 is preferably a so-called side-gusseted bag 11. It can clearly be seen from the representation that there is a second opening 46 at the second longitudinal end 16 through which goods 48 can be introduced into the interior 50 of the paper bag 10. The paper bag may of course also be configured as a flat bag.

To illustrate this more clearly, the flap 20 in FIG. 2a is shown in its unfastened state, thereby creating the first opening 44 in the interior 46. As already explained previously, the first opening 44 is closed simply by folding over the flap 20 and part of the main body 12 along a fold line 40. In FIG. 2B, this closure of the first opening 44 is depicted with the help of an arrow P. This arrow P is intended to indicate that the flap 20 is folded upwards with a fold being made along the fold line 40. The edge 22 of the flap 20 is likewise drawn in FIG. 2B in the closed state.

It further emerges from FIG. 2a that the main body 12 has side faces 52 which each have a folding line 54 along which the side faces 52 can be folded.

Multiple openings 60 can be provided in the side faces 52 which are used to ventilate the interior 50. These openings 60 can be made in the side faces 52 by needles.

In order to fill the paper bag 10 with goods 48, the paper bag 10 is supplied with the first opening 44 already closed. In other words, the flap 20 is folded over and fastened to the main body 12 by the first fastening means 24.

The goods 48 are inserted as far as possible in the direction of the first opening 44 or the first longitudinal end 14. The main body 12 is then compressed in the region of the second longitudinal end 16, as is schematically depicted in FIG. 2B. The main body 12 is then closed along a closure line 62, for example by means of a sewing stage, so that the goods 48 lie securely within the interior 50.

The fact that the closure line 62 is spaced apart from the second longitudinal end 16 means that the volume of the interior 50 could be substantially reduced and therefore adapted to the size of the goods 48. The goods 48 are therefore safely received in the interior without great freedom of movement.

In a next step, the region of the main body 12 between the closure line 62 and the second longitudinal end 16 is separated along an intersection line 64. The intersection line 64 is spaced slightly apart from the closure line 62.

The length of the paper bag 10 has therefore been reduced substantially at the end of a packing process. Highly flexibly adjustment to the size of the product 48 is therefore possible, wherein only the closure line 62 must be set accordingly.

The advantage of this solution must be regarded as being, in particular, that the paper bag 10 only ever comprises as much material as is actually needed in order to pack goods 48. The projecting part of the main body 12 is detached and is therefore no longer part of the paper bag being transported.

Since the projecting part is usually detached in a distribution centre, this part can be very easily sent for recycling.

It should also be pointed out here that the sequence of closing and shortening steps can also be reversed. In other words, it is also possible for the paper bag to be shortened first and then closed.

The crucial steps involved in the method for packing goods 48 are once again depicted schematically in FIG. 3.

Hence, the paper bag 10 is provided in a first step 100, the first opening 44 of said paper bag preferably already being closed. In a further step 102, the product is introduced into the interior 50 of the paper bag through the second opening 46.

In the next step 104, the paper bag is shortened along the intersection line 64 and in step 106 the second opening 46 is closed along the closure line 62, by sewing or adhering for example.

It should also be pointed out here that steps 104 and 106, i.e. the shortening of the paper bag and the closure of the second opening, can also be carried out in reverse order.

In light of the above, it emerges that the previously explained paper bag 10 with a second opening 46 for filling offers substantial advantages, particularly in the context of automated packing in a distribution centre. Moreover, goods 48 of different sizes can be packed very flexibly and securely since only the closure line 62 has to be changed.

Claims

1. A paper bag for storing and transporting goods, comprising:

a main body,

a first opening at one end of the main body for removing the goods,

a flap connected to the main body which is designed to close the first opening by folding over, and

a second opening which lies opposite the first opening for introducing the goods into the main body.

2. The paper bag according to claim 1, wherein the flap has a first fastening means for fastening the folded-over flap to the main body.

3. The paper bag according to claim 2, wherein the first fastening means is an adhesive applied in strips.

4. The paper bag according to claim 3, wherein the adhesive is applied as a hot melt.

5. The paper bag according to claim 3, wherein the flap has a second fastening means for fastening the folded-over flap to the main body, said second fastening means being spaced apart from the first fastening means.

6. The paper bag according to claim 5, wherein the second fastening means is an activatable adhesive that is applied in strips.

7. The paper bag according to claim 6, wherein the activatable adhesive is an adhesive strip with a removable cover.

8. The paper bag according to claim 1, wherein a tear-open means is provided between the first fastening means and the second fastening means.

9. The paper bag according to claim 8, wherein the tear-open means comprises a strip and one or two perforation lines running laterally and parallel thereto.

10. The paper bag according to claim 1, wherein the main body has openings for ventilating the interior of the paper bag.

11. A method for filling a paper bag with goods, wherein the paper bag comprises a main body, a first opening at one end of the main body for removing the goods, a flap connected to the main body which is designed to close the first opening by folding over, and a second opening which lies opposite the first opening for introducing the goods into the main body; the method including the steps of:

introducing the goods into the main body via the second opening;

shortening the paper bag in the region of the second opening to reduce the volume of the paper bag; and

closing the second opening of the paper bag.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein closure of the second opening in the paper bag takes place by sewing or adhesion.

13. The method according to claim 11, further including the preliminary step of closing the first opening.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein following the shortening of the paper bag, the main body in the region of the second opening is folded over at least once.