DESC:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
[ 39 of 1970 ]
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

( Section 10 ; Rule 13 )

An automated secondary packaging machine for making pouch bags for transporting of commodities in pouches to retailers and a method for the same

INNOMATION,
A Small Entity registered under the SME laws
having address at FACTORY NO. 4/5, NO. P/5/2/B, STREET NO. 13, IDA NACHARAM, HYDERABAD - 500 076.
TELANGANA STATE

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

FIELD OF INVENTION:-
WRAP AROUND BAGGING OF FLEXIBLE POUCHES

The present invention relates to the field of packaging, specifically secondary bagging of flexible pouches, which are filled with bulk solids such as granules, powders, flakes, agglomerates etc. of tea, flour, food additives, snacks, detergents etc.
These are either the secondary bags made of film or woven materials, ready- made or to be formed from tubular sections, gusseted or flat. The principle also takes care of forming bags from tubular film before stuffing them with flexible pouches online before their closure.
These bags are then shipped to the distributors for retailing.
The invention is an alternative to the present method of dropping pouches from height into the formed bags. The invention successfully nullifies the resultant problems of free-falling pouches, resulting in tumbling, shuffling or even damage to the pouches inside the bag. In some cases the pouches also burst due to the fall.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION:-
It is a well-known fact that the Indian packaging industry is under constant pressure from various quarters and reducing in costs incurred without any compromise in quality has been a critical requirement and challenge which is more pronounced in the recent years in the industry.
Before this invention, the principle of bagging, adopted by various players in the market locally and globally for vertical bagging, was identical to the one used in bulk solids bagging. Just as bulk solids are dropped into open mouth bags, the currently available automatic machines drop pouches. This is a serious flaw and was unacceptable to many users, who were concerned with the appearance and efficiency of packaging.
The present invention was made to minimize the dropping height to nearly one tenth of the present measurements by creating a wrap-around principle in which the bag is made to wrap itself around the product just as in case of wrap around case packers. However, the big difference was to turn the bag inside out, to present the bag bottom first to the pouches and as the layers stack one over the other, the bag is made to wrap itself progressively around the stacked pouches.
Hence it is absolutely essential, to provide a tumble-free or shuffle-free packaging, bagging cost reduction with an added advantage of providing the printed contents inside the package are made visible and on the other hand, they cannot be accessed or tampered with.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION:-
A Principal object of invention is to perform this task without any possibilities of pouch orientation disturbance or damage to the pouch. This also ensures tighter bagging as neat stacking of pouches inside the bag to enable “close to brim” sealing or stitching, which was difficult to achieve with consistency.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatic pouch bagger which can reduce the cost of bag making through incorporation of an online tubular film dispensing and bag making.
It is yet another object of the invention to use a tubular film which can reduce the number of joint seals as compared to a conventional bag from three to two and makes the bag stronger and makes the bag withstand the rigours of long shipments.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatic pouch bagger which can reduce the total manpower to one person per shift and can cater to the fastest upstream machineries in the country.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:-
The invention can be divided into four main zones.
Zone-1 is for forming and opening the bag either from a tubular film or directly from a stack of ready-made bags. As described earlier, tubular plastic films are printed on outer surface but in mirror image format, whereas the ready bags with outer print are to be turned inside out first to receive the pouches. This shall be an important difference between conventional bagging and this invention. The tubular film is dispensed and is cut-to-length after sealing after draping on the fixture.
Zone-2 consists of a series of free or interlinked collapsible boxes or fixtures, which are made to present themselves in collapsed form to easily receive the open formed bag onto them. A bag draper does this to hood these collapsed fixtures. Thus the fixtures will carry the bags draped on them with the bottom of the bags now on top to the flexible pouch stacking station.
Zone-3 consists of bag braking or anti-slip device, which holds the bag from slipping back into the now expanded fixture or box. The brake allows only progressive slip of the bag into the fixture after each layer of pouches is complete. Once the bag is filled with the pre-determined number of layers, the bag is allowed to fall into the fixture.
Zone-4 is the pouch feeding device, which directs each pouch into the designated space in the bag and repeats the operation for each layer until the bag is filled to required layers.
Zone-5 is an optional station for label insertion etc or even for vibrator settling of pouches before sealing.
Zone-6 is the station, which receives the filled bags with their mouths now on the top. The filled bag is lifted by tong like device to present the mouth to the sealing or stitching system.
Zone-7 is the bag mouth closure station involving sealing or stitching operation, which can be equipped with heat or ultrasonic sealer or a stitching device. A method of identifying the top surface of the products inside and deciding the sealing closeness to this is also optional. This ensures varying product heights after stacking due to presence or absence of air, varying bulk densities as in tea powder can also be bagged tighter.
Zone-8 Ejects the bag from the fixture and returns the fixture to the first station in collapsed condition. A static check-weigher ensures count of the products by weighing as a quality assurance check.
Digitally signed
Senthil Kumar B
Agent for the applicant
IN/PA-1549

,CLAIMS:CLAIMS :-
What is claimed is
1) A packaging machine for creating packages into which pouches of relatively smaller dimensions are contained, wherein the said packaging machine comprising of
- A First zone, which is for forming and opening the bag either from a tubular film or directly from a stack of ready-made bags, wherein the , tubular plastic films are printed on outer surface but in mirror image format, whereas the ready bags with outer print are to be turned inside out first to receive the pouches and the tubular film is dispensed and is cut-to-length after sealing and after draping on the fixture.
- A second zone which is consisting of a series of free or interlinked collapsible boxes or fixtures, which are made to present themselves in collapsed form to easily receive the open formed bag onto them. A bag draper does this to hood these collapsed fixtures and the fixtures being capable of carrying the bags draped on them with the bottom of the bags now on top to the flexible pouch stacking station
- A third zone consisting of a bag braking or anti-slip device, which holds the bag from slipping back into the now expanded fixture or box. The brake allows only progressive slip of the bag into the fixture after each layer of pouches is complete, and further the bag is filled with the pre-determined number of layers, the bag is allowed to fall into the fixture
- A fourth zone, being the pouch feeding device, capable of directing each pouch into the designated space in the bag and repeats the operation for each layer until the bag is filled to required layers
- A Fifth zone, being an optional station for label insertion etc or even for vibrator settling of pouches before sealing.
- A Sixth zone is capable of receiving the filled bags with their mouths now on the top. The filled bag is lifted by tong like device to present the mouth to the sealing or stitching system.
- A seventh zone, being the bag mouth closure station involving sealing or stitching operation, which can be equipped with heat or ultrasonic sealer or a stitching device. A method of identifying the top surface of the products inside and deciding the sealing closeness to this is also optional. This ensures varying product heights after stacking due to presence or absence of air, varying bulk densities as in tea powder can also be bagged tighter
- An Eighth zone, capable of Ejecting the bag from the fixture and returning the fixture to the first station in collapsed condition. A static check-weigher ensures count of the products by weighing as a quality assurance check.
2) A method for achieving automated secondary packaging machine for making pouch bags meant for for transporting of commodities in pouches to retailers, the said method comprising of takes care of forming bags from tubular film before stuffing them with flexible pouches online before their closure can reduce the number of joint seals as compared to a conventional bag from three to two and makes the bag stronger and makes the bag withstand the rigours of long shipments.

Digitally signed
Senthil Kumar B
Agent for the applicant
IN/PA-1549