Pouch for storing granules

Abstract

To provide a pouch for storing granules which can smoothly pour out the granular content even when filled with various granules.A pouch for storing granules where the perimeter of a front and back pair of synthetic resin film are sealed, wherein:a pouring spout with an easily opened port is formed to protrude out from the top perimeter region of the pouch, and opening support member is placed at the pour spout, and the front and back pair of synthetic resin film are prevented from mutually contacting by the opening support member in the region where the opening support member is established and surrounding regions thereof, so that the opening of the pour spout is always maintained in an open condition.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 852,538, filed Oct. 18, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 762,761, filed Jan. 27, 2006.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a pouch for filling with and storing contents made from various powders such as powdered detergent, flour, table salt, sugar, and powdered spices or the like as well as contents made from various solids such as rice, wheat, red beans, and glass beads or the like, or in other words contents known as granules, and in further detail, relates to a pouch with pour spout for storing granules where the granular contents can smoothly be poured out from the pour spout which is always open.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Conventional pouches having synthetic resin films which are heat sealed around the perimeter for filling with and storing granules such as coffee powder or powdered spices or t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0024]With the present invention, anyone can easily form the pour spout without individual differences by cutting or tearing along the cutting opening of the easily opened port. Because the opening support member is positioned in the pour spout region, the pair of synthetic resin films will be kept from mutually contacting by the opening support member in the region where the opening support member is located and the surrounding regions thereof, and the opening of the pour spout will always be maintained in an open condition, so the opening will not need to be supported while pressing by hand. Therefore, when content is poured from a pouch for storing granules which has a relatively large volume, both hands will be necessary to hold the container, but both hands can be freely used in this case so the content can be poured smoothly.

[0025]Furthermore, the always opened opening formed by the front and back pair of synthetic resin films which are on both sides of the opening support member, is divided into a plurality of flow paths by the opening support member so the flow path of the divided openings will successively move down from the top in conjunction with changes in the remaining quantity of content.

[0026]Therefore, when the pouch for storing granules is inclined, the pile of granules, which are piled at a steeper angle than the resting angle which is a physical property determined by the type of granular content, can be prevented from suddenly collapsing and concentrating at the opening, and thus plugging the opening.

[0027]Furthermore, the opening support member is located in a position which does not contact with the cut away region of the easily opened port, and therefore the flow paths which divide the opening region are unrestricted at the ends, and if the pouch is inclined such that the top is at an angle slightly lower than horizontal, the contents can be smoothly poured until completely gone even when there is little content remaining.

[0028]Furthermore, the synthetic resin films which form the pouch are bonded by spot seals in at least one or more spots, and therefore shifting of the opening support member attaching position can be prevented, and the effect of the opening support member can be maintained.

[0029]Furthermore, a sagging region (swelling region) is formed by plastic working using vacuum and heat on the front and back pair of synthetic resin films in the area where the opening support member is established and surrounding areas thereof, and therefore the accumulation of granular contents in the gap between the front and back pair of synthetic resin films and the opening support member can be prevented.

Problems solved by technology

However, how wide of an opening to make when opening the container can only be determined by experience based on the results of repeated failures.

For instance, if the width of the opening of the easily opened port is large and too open, the pouring speed of the contents cannot be controlled, too much content will pour out at once, and the content will be spilled from the receiving container, resulting in failure.

Incidentally, if the opening is too narrow, the contents will not be able to pour out easily, and thus making an appropriate opening width by oneself is a difficult problem.

However, pouches with pour spout for storing granules are not currently used as described above for granular contents.

If a conventional liquid refilling pouch with pour spout is filled with granules, there will be problems with the contents plugging the pour spout.

For instance, as shown in patent reference 1, even if the opening region has a curved swelling region established at the protruding pour spout, the pour spout region made from thin synthetic resin film will not have sufficient rigidity, the pour spout region will collapse under the weight of the granular contents, and there will be problems with the contents spilling.

Furthermore, as shown in patent reference 2, even if flattening of the flow path is prevented by inserting a cylinder, the thickness will increase corresponding to the outer diameter of the inserted cylinder, so empty unused pouches which have a cylinder inserted prior to filling with the contents, will require additional space and additional costs for storage and transport, and set up for the filling operation will be more difficult.

Therefore, the outer diameter and inner diameter of the cylinder to be inserted cannot be made unreasonably large, and the outer diameter of the cylinder must be kept below a certain dimension when considering both costs and productivity or the like.

However, even though the opening retaining member inserted into the pour opening is not a hindrance in the case of liquids, for the case where the contents are granules, the opening retaining member which is inserted into the pour hole will itself become a hindrance and there will be problems such that pouring will not be smooth.

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