Method and apparatus for sealing packaging bags using adhesive, as well as packaging

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for sealing packaging bags using adhesive, as well as to packaging. According to the invention, the packaging bags are sealed using adhesive, wherein the material of the packaging bag in the sealing area is at least almost completely penetrated by the adhesive.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for sealing packaging bags, in particular net bags, using adhesive.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for sealing packaging bags, in particular net bags, using adhesive.

[0003] Furthermore, the invention relates to packaging, in particular in the sense of a packaging bag.

[0004] Various products, especially fruits and vegetables, are packaged for retail in bags made of netting or fabric. These bags are usually made of a tubular packaging material and are therefore also called tubular bags.

[0005] These packaging bags are often made of plastics, but they are also known to be made from natural fibers such as cellulose or cotton.

[0006] Packaging bags made of natural fibers are usually closed with metal clips during machine packaging of products, since the thermal welding known, for example, from DE 10 2019 111 657 A1 and used for plastics does not work to produce a sufficiently mechanically robust bag closure or the use of plastics is not desired.

[0007] Furthermore, the high temperature during the thermal welding of the fibers may cause an unwanted weakening of individual fibers in a packaging net.

[0008] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for closing packaging bags that at least partially solves the aforementioned problems.

[0009] This problem is solved according to the invention by a packaging machine according to claim 1.

[0010] A further objective of the invention is to create a method for sealing packaging bags that at least partially solves the aforementioned problems.

[0011] This problem is solved according to the invention by a method for sealing packaging bags according to claim 2.

[0012] Furthermore, it is an objective of the invention to create packaging that at least partially solves the aforementioned problems.

[0013] This problem is solved according to the invention by a packaging according to claim 10.

[0014] The following disclosed features of a packaging machine, a method for sealing packaging bags and a packaging are part of the invention in all feasible combinations.

[0015] According to the invention, the packaging is designed as a packaging bag and is sealed on at least one side using adhesive. This eliminates the need for a metal clip. Furthermore, the adhesive does not significantly damage the fibers of the packaging bag compared to welding; instead, their structure remains intact.

[0016] A packaging bag according to the invention is preferably made of a mesh or woven material.

[0017] Preferably, the material of the packaging bag is made entirely or at least substantially from natural fibers, for example cellulose, cotton or linen.

[0018] In advantageous embodiments of the invention, the adhesive used to seal the packaging bag is implemented as a biological adhesive (bio-adhesive). For example, sucrose or fructose, starch, protein products and compounds, or resins can be used as the adhesive in embodiments of the invention.

[0019] In embodiments of the invention, the biological adhesive is a biodegradable adhesive, preferably made from natural materials.

[0020] According to the invention, after the closure is complete, the packaging material in the closure area is completely or at least substantially penetrated by the adhesive. This is important to ensure that all or at least nearly all fibers of the packaging are fixed in the closure area, preventing even internal fibers from detaching from the closure. This is particularly important in contrast to the use of known adhesive strips, where the packaging bag material in the closure area only comes into superficial and external contact with the adhesive.

[0021] In embodiments of the invention, the packaging bag is wrapped with a metal-free sealing tape strip in the closure area in addition to being glued. The sealing tape strip serves to mechanically stabilize the closure by supporting the fibers of the packaging bag located on the outside in the closure area and to provide additional protection for the adhesive closure through its shielding function.

[0022] In preferred embodiments of the invention, the metal-free closure strip is made of natural fibers.

[0023] Metal-free within the meaning of the invention means that the closure strip is not made of metal. However, this includes materials, in particular natural fibers, which may contain traces of metals due to their natural composition.

[0024] In embodiments of the invention, the adhesive is applied to at least one side of the closure tape strip and / or the closure tape strip is permeated with the adhesive.

[0025] In a method according to the invention for closing packaging bags made of mesh or fabric, the packaging bag is wrapped in the closure area with at least one strip of closure tape.

[0026] In a first embodiment of the method, adhesive is applied at least to the side of the sealing tape strip facing the packaging bag material during sealing. The adhesive can be applied either when the sealing tape strip is fed from a supply for sealing the packaging bag, or pre-adhesive sealing tape strips are stored.

[0027] Depending on the adhesive used, the sealing tape strip is pressed onto the packaging bag in the sealing area and / or wrapped around it, or the adhesive is additionally melted by applying heat, so that in all cases the adhesive penetrates the material of the packaging bag in the sealing area and embeds the fibers.

[0028] In a second embodiment of the method, sealing tape strips are used without previously applied adhesive, wherein, prior to joining the sealing tape strip with the packaging bag, adhesive is applied to the packaging bag in the sealing area, which, if necessary after heating the adhesive, penetrates through the fibers of the packaging bag.

[0029] If an adhesive with thermoplastic properties is used, i.e., an adhesive that melts when heated and solidifies again when cooled, the seal is achieved after the adhesive has hardened through cooling.

[0030] In embodiments of the method according to the invention, two closures are provided simultaneously to close the respective upper and lower bag openings.

[0031] In embodiments of the inventive method, a packaging tube is used for packaging products, wherein the net / fabric of the packaging bags is separated from each other by closing the packaging bags between the closures of adjacent packaging bags.

[0032] In embodiments of the method according to the invention, a packaging machine according to the invention is used.

[0033] In embodiments of the method according to the invention, a packaging according to the invention is produced.

[0034] In preferred embodiments, the packaging machine according to the invention is designed to implement the inventive method for closing packaging bags.

[0035] A packaging according to the invention is designed as a packaging bag and has at least one, usually two, closure areas.

[0036] When manufacturing tubular bags, both variants are conceivable in which both sides of the packaging tube are sealed together in one sealing area, and variants in which each tubular bag has a separate lower and upper sealing area.

[0037] In preferred embodiments of the packaging according to the invention, the packaging tube and the at least one closure strip are made of natural fibers.

[0038] In particularly preferred embodiments of the packaging according to the invention, the adhesive is also designed as a biological adhesive.

[0039] In embodiments of the invention, the closure of the packaging bag is realized by means of a fused adhesive with thermoplastic properties, such as sucrose, fructose or resins.

[0040] In embodiments of the invention, the material of the packaging bag is designed as a cellulose network. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2019 111 657 A1

[0006]

Claims

[1] Packaging machine for packaging products in packaging bags, characterized by that it is designed to seal the packaging bag with adhesive and a metal-free sealing strip, wherein the material of the packaging bag in the sealing area is at least almost completely penetrated by the adhesive. [2] Method for closing packaging bags made of a net or woven material made of natural fibers, wherein the packaging bag is wrapped in the closure area with at least one metal-free sealing tape strip when closing, characterized by , that the closure of the packaging bag is achieved using adhesive, whereby the material of the packaging bag in the closure area is at least almost completely penetrated by the adhesive. [3] Method according to claim 2, characterized by, that the sealing tape strip, which is already coated with adhesive on at least one side, is applied in the sealing area. [4] Method according to claim 2, characterized by , that first the adhesive is applied to the packaging bag in the sealing area and then a sealing tape strip that has not previously been coated with adhesive is applied in the sealing area. [5] Method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that the sealing tape strip is pressed against the packaging bag in the sealing area and / or wrapped around the packaging bag. [6] Method according to claim 5, characterized by that the adhesive is melted by heating. [7] Method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized by , that two closures are carried out simultaneously to close the upper and lower bag openings. [8] Method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized by, that a packaging tube made of mesh or fabric material is used for packaging products, wherein the mesh / fabric of the packaging bags is separated from each other by the closure of the packaging bags between the closures of adjacent packaging bags. [9] Method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized by , that a packaging machine according to claim 1 is used. [10] Packaging designed as a packaging bag made of a mesh or woven material, characterized by that the closure is achieved using adhesive and a metal-free sealing strip, wherein the material of the packaging bag in the closure area is at least almost completely penetrated by the adhesive.