PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR POUCH-FORMING WITH OPTIMIZED FILL ACCURACY AND HEADSPACE

摘要

This invention discloses a process for forming a pouch having an evacuated headspace containing a flowable material. The process relates to optimizing both, the evacuation of the headspace in the pouch and the accuracy of the flowable material filled in the pouch. Specifically, the present invention employs a process that includes a multiple-step or a continuous compression of the pouch headspace to accomplish the goals. Also disclosed is a vertical form-fill-seal apparatus for forming a pouch containing a flowable material and having an evacuated headspace.

主权项

1. A pouch having an evacuated headspace and containing a flowable material, formed according to a process comprising the steps of:
(A) providing a continuous tube of flexible and sealable film; (B) supplying the continuous tube with a predetermined amount of flowable material; (C) evacuating the headspace above said predetermined amount of flowable material; wherein said evacuation is performed in two steps: (i) transversely compressing said continuous tube, at a point where said continuous tube comprises the top portion of said predetermined amount of flowable material, wherein said transverse compressing is accomplished by deflating jaws while said pouch is indexing; and (ii) further transversely compressing said continuous tube with deflating jaws near or at the end of said indexing of said pouch; and wherein said transvers compressing is accomplished without stopping said pouch for such transverse compressions and wherein an evacuating passage is provided for removing air from said headspace; (D) reducing headspace in the pouch by evacuation and allowing flowable material to remain in the pouch; (E) forming an optimized head space and a pouch having the predetermined amount of flowable material; (F) pinching said continuous tube above a sealing region so as to form a pinched portion of said continuous tube; and (G) sealing said continuous tube at said sealing region to form a top seal of said pouch containing flowable material and a bottom seal of a next-to-be filled pouch.