Liner for a flexible container having one or more internal receptacle(s) for receiving oxygen absorbent material, and corresponding flexible container

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a liner (2) to be placed inside an outer body (1) so as to form a flexible container (100), said liner having: - an internal storage enclosure (22) intended to receive a stored product, and - at least one internal receptacle (212, 215) comprising at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material defining an interior volume intended to receive dioxygen absorbent material, said at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material allowing dioxygen to pass through it and to be removed from the stored product by the dioxygen absorbent material accommodated in the internal receptacle (212, 215).

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] The present disclosure relates to handling and storage containers, and more particularly to flexible containers, known as "Big Bag" and FIBC (Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container), used for the handling and storage of various bulk materials such as food grade or industrial material (in the form of granules or powder for instance).BACKGROUND

[0002] In order to store and carry various cast, powder, semi-fluid and similar materials, flexible containers known as "Big Bags" or FIBC's (Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container) are widely used in the commercial field.

[0003] These flexible containers, which are in bag form, are flat when they are empty, and they substantially swell when material is put inside them.

[0004] For materials that require a high degree of purity when packed, such as food products, a complementary liner made of a coextruded complex barrier film may be placed inside the outer body of the flexible containers.

[0005] The liner covers the whole inner surface of the outer body of the flexible container so the material filled in the liner does not come into contact with the fabric or seams of the outer body.

[0006] The liner is used to prevent leakage and provide barrier properties for example to water vapor and oxygen (also called dioxygen), avoiding contamination, moisture and oxidation of the stored product, oxidation being responsible for the deterioration in the quality of food products, including loss of organoleptic and nutritional qualities.

[0007] In order to avoid oxidation and slow the degradation of the stored product inside the liner, it is known to reduce the dioxygen ratio by vacuuming the inner liner and / or injecting a gas inside the liner so that the product is stored under a modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Vacuuming and gas injection requires specific costly equipment that requires maintenance, and does not avoid the presence of some remaining dioxygen which will generate oxidation (and thus degradation) of the stored product after some time of storage.

[0008] Another use of MAP is preserving the harvests cereals and seeds from germination and insect pests. However, lots of insects still survive with only a few percent of remaining dioxygen inside the barrier-liner, and germination still occurs for many varieties of seeds. An alternative to vacuuming and gassing processes in order to reduce oxygen ratio in a MAP is the use of dioxygen absorbers.

[0009] Those absorbers are the only solution allowing to reach total anoxia in a MAP (i.e. 0% of remaining dioxygen (O 2 )).

[0010] On the current market, most users of FIBC's in the food, pharmaceuticals and other industries, refuse to put those dioxygen absorbers inside the inner liner in direct contact with the packed product. Those absorbers are indeed considered as foreign bodies inside the inner liner.

[0011] Therefore, this technology of total anoxia into large volume packaging like FIBCs is not developed on today's market.

[0012] As a result, an improvement is required in the related technical field.SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0013] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liner for eliminating the above-mentioned disadvantages and for bringing new advantages to the related technical field.

[0014] The liner is to be placed inside an outer body so as to form a flexible container, said liner having : an internal storage enclosure intended to receive a stored product, and at least one internal receptacle comprising at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material defining an interior volume intended to receive dioxygen absorbent material, said at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material allowing dioxygen to pass through it and to be removed from the stored product by the dioxygen absorbent material accommodated in the internal receptacle.

[0015] The liner of the invention is particularly, but not exclusively, adapted for preservation of food grade products, pharmaceutical products and products from agriculture.

[0016] The liner is designed to carry dioxygen absorbers which eliminates dioxygen located around the stored product and dioxygen dissolved or included in the stored product, without chemical impact or modification of the preserved product.

[0017] In other words, it is possible to put dioxygen absorbers in or more receptacles located inside the inner liner with or without contact with the packed product and reach total anoxia in the liner. Indeed, the receptacle has at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material allowing dioxygen to pass through it and to be removed from the stored product by the dioxygen absorbent material accommodated in the internal receptacle.

[0018] The rate of dioxygen in the product stored in such a liner may be inferior to 0,01%.

[0019] The structure of the liner thus avoids deterioration or decay of the big bag contents.

[0020] The liner is also compliant with EC food regulations.

[0021] According to at least some example embodiments, the at least one internal receptacle is a pocket secured to the liner.

[0022] In yet another illustrative embodiment, said internal pocket has an opening for introducing said dioxygen absorbent material, and a front sheet and rear sheet being sealed together along their edges, at least one of said front sheet and rear sheet being made of an oxygen permeable material.

[0023] In yet another illustrative embodiment, said internal pocket has an opening for introducing said dioxygen absorbent material, and a front sheet and rear sheet being welded together, said front sheet being made of an oxygen permeable material and said rear sheet being defined by a portion of the wall of the liner.

[0024] According to at least some example embodiments, the at least one internal receptacle is a bag comprising at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material, said bag being intended to be located in the internal storage enclosure in contact with the stored product.

[0025] In yet another illustrative embodiment, said bag has an opening for introducing said dioxygen absorbent material and a closure means for sealing the opening and closing the bag.

[0026] According to at least some example embodiments, said at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material is made of a synthetic material.

[0027] In some embodiments, said at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material is made of a non-woven synthetic material, such as TYVEK.

[0028] In yet other illustrative embodiments, said at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material comprises polyethylene.

[0029] According to at least some example embodiments, said at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material is a solid sheet or a perforated sheet.

[0030] According to at least some example embodiments, the liner has a filling spout, said at least one internal pocket being located inside the filling spout.

[0031] According to at least some example embodiments, the filling spout comprises a first opening communicating with said at least one internal pocket and a second opening communicating with the internal storage enclosure.

[0032] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a flexible container, such as a big bag, comprising an outer body having a liner as described previously.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Features of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and advantages will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 is a perspective view with portions broken away of a flexible container in which a liner according to a first embodiment of the invention is disposed; Figure 2A is a perspective view of a liner according to the first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2B is an alternative embodiment of the liner of Figure 2A; Figure 2C is another alternative embodiment of the liner of Figure 2A; Figure 3 is an end view of a liner according to the first embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a schematic partial view of a liner according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a schematic partial view of a liner according to a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a schematic partial view of a liner according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Figure 1 illustrates a flexible container 100, in the form of a bulk bag (also called big bag or FIBC).

[0035] The flexible container comprises an outer body 1 which is collapsible and made of a flexible material such as a woven fabric from polymer-based materials.

[0036] The outer body 1 has a cubical shape in this example and comprises four rectangular side walls 12 extending between a bottom panel (not visible) and a top panel 13 with all of the walls being of a flexible material.

[0037] In this example, the outer body 1 has loops of cords operably connected with the side walls on the four corners of the top panel for the flexible container or bag 100 to be suspended.

[0038] A inner liner 2 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, acting as a barrier film, is integrated into the outer body 1 and is intended to receive a stored or packed product.

[0039] The outer body 1 protects against mechanical stress and is able to hold the packed product weight (2000kg max).

[0040] The inner-liner 2 is a barrier to dioxygen and water vapor, so as to preserve the packed product.

[0041] In one possible implementation, the outer body 1 and the inner barrier-liner 2 are secured together and supplied as a single set.

[0042] The liner 2 covers the whole inner surface of the outer body 1.

[0043] The liner 2-is for instance a coextruded multi-layer film that may be transparent or colored. The liner is produced from non-porous, leak-proof polymer-based material for instance.

[0044] The liner 2 may be produced from PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), PA (polyamide), aluminium and / or EVOH (Ethylene vinyl alcohol) copolymer for instance.

[0045] The inner liner 2 has side walls, the inside surface of the walls defining an enclosure for receiving a product to be stored / packed, such as food product.

[0046] The liner 2 provides protection against oxidation and moisture, and has high sealing capacity and mechanical strength.

[0047] In the first embodiment described in relation to figures 1 to 3, the liner 2 has an internal storage enclosure 22 delimited by four side walls and communicating with a filling spout 21 located at the top end of the internal storage enclosure 22 and a discharge spout 23 located at the bottom end of the internal storage enclosure 22. When material such as food product is inserted in the internal storage enclosure 22 of the liner 2 via the filling spout 21, the liner 2 changes shape together with the outer body 1.

[0048] The discharge spout 23 is sealed at the bottom during production, and the filling spout 21 is sealed at the top after its filling with the packed product in order to be oxygen-tight.

[0049] The spouts 21, 23 for material filling in the liner 2 and material discharge from the liner 2 may be of circular, rectangular or squared section for instance.

[0050] The liner 2 may be secured to the inner surface of the outer body 1 by attaching means.

[0051] This prevents efficiently the movement of the liner 2 within the flexible container 1 which may otherwise create problems during product filling and discharging.

[0052] The liner 2 may be secured to the walls of the outer body 1 with for instance eight to twelve tabbings 41, 42 in the top and bottom corners of the big bag as illustrated in figure 2 (for clarity reasons, only two tabbings are illustrated here).

[0053] In another embodiment, the liner 2 may be secured to the walls of the outer body 1 by sewing.

[0054] In an alternative embodiment, the liner 2 may be secured to the walls of the outer body 1 by hotmelt glue.

[0055] In a further embodiment, the liner 2 is loosely inserted inside the outer body 1 without attaching it to the outer body 1.

[0056] The dimensions of the liner 2 are determined based on the dimensions of the outer body 1 for which it is used.

[0057] Depending on the type and purpose of the material, the thickness of the liner 2 can vary between 10 -500 microns (µ), preferably between 50 -200 microns (µ).

[0058] Advantageously, the liner 2 comprises one or more internal receptacles for receiving oxygen absorbent material in a solid or powdery form. The absorbent material is conditioned in a packet, a container or a flexible pouch for instance.

[0059] Each internal receptacle is configured to provide retention of absorbent material in its interior volume thereof.

[0060] In the first embodiment described in relation to figures 1 to 3, the liner 2 comprises a single receptacle in the form of a pocket 212 extending in the filling spout 21 of the liner 2.

[0061] As visible in figures 1 and 2, the pocket 212 has a front sheet and rear sheet, the front sheet being made of an oxygen permeable material and the rear sheet being defined by a portion of the wall of the liner 2.

[0062] The filling spout 21 comprises a first opening communicating with the interior volume of the pocket 212 and a second opening communicating with the internal storage enclosure 22, the openings being separated by the front sheet forming a partition wall 210. The first opening is defined by the upper peripheral edge of the pocket 212.

[0063] The partition wall 210 defined by the front sheet is a sheet made of an oxygen permeable material. In other words, the partition wall 210 is porous to oxygen thus allowing dioxygen to pass through it and to be removed from the stored / packed product enclosed in the internal storage enclosure 22 of the liner 2.

[0064] In a particular embodiment, the partition wall 210 is made of a synthetic material sheet, such as polyethylene.

[0065] The partition wall 210 may have perforations 2101 or micro-perforations 2102 as represented on Figures 2B and 2C respectively, or may be a solid sheet without perforation as represented on Figure 2A.

[0066] In another embodiment, the partition wall 210 is made of a non-woven synthetic material. As an example, the partition wall 210 is made from TYVEK (registered trademark) which is a non-woven product made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fibers that are spun into a sheet, then bonded with heat and pressure to interconnect the fibers.

[0067] The thickness of such a partition wall 210 is approximately 140 microns (µ) for instance.

[0068] As illustrated in figure 3, the edges 213, 214 of the partition wall 210 are sealed to the wall of the liner 2 so as to define the pocket 212 having a first opening for insertion or removal of the oxygen absorbent material in its interior volume.

[0069] The pocket 212 may have a closure means for sealing the first opening and closing the pocket.

[0070] The first opening is preferably closed when the filling spout 21 is sealed at the top after its filling with the packed product.

[0071] The structure of the pocket 212 and its partition wall 210 allows on the one hand to receive an oxygen absorber material in the interior volume of the pocket 212 which is isolated from the product accommodated in the internal storage enclosure 22 of the liner 2, and on the other hand to remove the oxygen from this stored product (anoxia).

[0072] The quality of the stored products (including organoleptic and nutritional qualities in the case of food products) is maintained longer than with prior art solutions.

[0073] Also, the development of aerobic organisms (bacteria, mould, insects) is halted, the nutritional benefits are preserved and food additives are reduced or even suppressed. Moreover, the expiration date or use-by-date of the stored product can be extended, and global loss of stored products is reduced.

[0074] The outer body 1 with the inner liner 2 are suitable for storing granular, powdery and particulate materials, and particularly but not exclusively food grade products (grains and flours for instance) and pharmaceutical products.

[0075] In a particular embodiment (not represented), the top panel 13 of outer body 1 is provided with an opening closed by a closure zipper element. The opening is on the same side as the pocket 212 of the liner 2 so that visual inspection of the liner 2 is facilitated and insertion or removal of oxygen absorbent material in the pocket 212 is simplified.

[0076] The liner described in relation to figures 1 to 3 may comprise two or more internal pockets 212 inside the filling spout.

[0077] It is to be noted that the type of liner implementing such an internal pocket (or several pockets) is not limited to the liner described in relation to figures 1 to 3.

[0078] Figure 4 is a schematic partial view of a liner according to a second embodiment of the invention. The liner 2 has a filling spout 21 incorporating a pocket 212 having a front sheet 212A and a rear sheet 212B, the front sheet 212A being made of an oxygen permeable material and the rear sheet 212B being made of material permeable to oxygen or not.

[0079] The oxygen permeable material is a non-woven synthetic material for instance, such as TYVEK (registered trademark).

[0080] In an alternative, the oxygen permeable material is a synthetic material. The front sheet 212A being and possibly the rear sheet 212B may be a polyethylene sheet with perforations or micro-perforations or a solid polyethylene sheet.

[0081] The edges of the front sheet 212A and rear sheet 212B are sealed together (by welding preferably) except on the upper edge defining an opening for insertion or removal of an oxygen absorbent material 3 in its interior volume. The pocket 212 may have a closure means for sealing the opening and closing the pocket 212. The pocket 212 may be sealed by welding.

[0082] The pocket 212 is secured to the inside surface of the liner 2 at the top of its rear sheet 212B, and is located in the filling spout 21 in this example.

[0083] The rear sheet 212B may be provided with a cut-out line so as to easily release the pocket 212 from the liner 2 and position the pocket 212 in the internal storage enclosure of the liner 2 intended to receive a stored product.

[0084] Figure 5 is a schematic partial view of a liner according to a third embodiment of the invention. The liner 2 has a filling spout 21 incorporating a pocket 212 having a front sheet 212A and a rear sheet 212B, the front sheet 212A being made of an oxygen permeable material and the rear sheet 212B being made of material permeable to oxygen or not.

[0085] The oxygen permeable material is a non-woven synthetic material for instance, such as TYVEK (registered trademark).

[0086] In an alternative, the oxygen permeable material is a synthetic material. The front sheet 212A being and possibly the rear sheet 212B may be a polyethylene sheet with perforations or micro-perforations or a solid polyethylene sheet.

[0087] The bottom edge and the side edges of the front sheet 212A and rear sheet 212B are sealed together (by welding preferably) except on the upper edge defining an opening for insertion or removal of an oxygen absorbent material 3 in its interior volume.

[0088] The pocket 212 may or may not have a closure means for sealing the opening and closing the pocket 212. The pocket 212 may be sealed by welding.

[0089] The pocket 212 is secured to the inside surface of the liner 2 at the bottom edge of the front and rear sheets 212A, 212B. The height of the pocket is inferior to the height of the filling spout 21.

[0090] Figure 6 is a schematic partial view of a liner according to a fourth embodiment of the invention having at least one internal receptacle in the form of a bag.

[0091] The bag 215 comprises at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material, said bag 215 being intended to be located in the internal storage enclosure 22 in contact with the stored product 221.

[0092] The oxygen permeable material is a non-woven synthetic material for instance, such as TYVEK (registered trademark), a polyethylene sheet with perforations or micro-perforations or a solid polyethylene sheet.

[0093] The bag 215 may have the shape of a pouch having two parallel surfaces, said surfaces being sealed along their edges.

[0094] The bag (having the shape of a pouch for instance) has an opening for introducing said oxygen absorbent material 3 in its interior volume and a closure means for sealing the opening and closing the bag. The bag 215 may be sealed by welding.

[0095] The liner may comprise more than one bag 215.

[0096] The solution of the invention described above may be combined with the injection of a gas inside the liner 2 so that the product is stored in the storage enclosure 22 of the liner under a modified atmosphere.

[0097] The liner of the invention may comprise at least one pocket and at least one bag as described previously.

[0098] In a particular embodiment (not represented), the liner may be for instance an open top sleeve having one or more internal receptacle (a pocket and / or a bag for instance) for receiving oxygen absorbent material.

[0099] Instead of four loops, the outer body 1 may have one or two openings in its walls defining one or two lifting points.

[0100] It is to be noted that the at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material of the at least one internal receptacle (pocket or bag) of the liner according the invention may be a solid or perforated surface depending on the type of product being stored in the liner.

[0101] It is also to be noted that the at least one internal receptacle (pocket or bag) of the liner according the invention may accommodate a moisture absorbing material, such as silicate, conditioned in a sachet for instance.

Claims

1. Liner (2) to be placed inside an outer body (1) so as to form a flexible container (100), said liner having: - an internal storage enclosure (22) intended to receive a stored product, and - at least one internal receptacle (212, 215) comprising at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material defining an interior volume intended to receive dioxygen absorbent material, said at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material allowing dioxygen to pass through it and to be removed from the stored product by the dioxygen absorbent material accommodated in the internal receptacle (212, 215).

2. Liner (2) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one internal receptacle is a pocket (212) secured to the liner (2).

3. Liner (2) according to claim 2, wherein said internal pocket (212) has an opening for introducing said dioxygen absorbent material, and a front sheet and rear sheet being sealed together along their edges, at least one of said front sheet and rear sheet being made of an oxygen permeable material.

4. Liner (2) according to claim 2, wherein said internal pocket (212) has an opening for introducing said dioxygen absorbent material, and a front sheet and rear sheet being welded together, said front sheet being made of an oxygen permeable material and said rear sheet being defined by a portion of the wall of the liner.

5. Liner (2) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one internal receptacle is a bag (215) comprising at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material, said bag (215) being intended to be located in the internal storage enclosure in contact with the stored product.

6. Liner (2) according to claim 5, wherein said bag (215) has an opening for introducing said dioxygen absorbent material and a closure means for sealing the opening and closing the bag.

7. Liner (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material is made of a synthetic material.

8. Liner (2) according to claim 7, wherein said at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material is made of a non-woven synthetic material, such as TYVEK.

9. Liner (2) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material comprises polyethylene.

10. Liner (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one sheet of an oxygen permeable material is a solid sheet or a perforated sheet.

11. Liner (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, and 7 to 10, wherein the liner has a filling spout (21), said at least one internal pocket (212) being located inside the filling spout (21).

12. Liner (2) according to claim 11, wherein the filling spout (21) comprises a first opening communicating with said at least one internal pocket (212) and a second opening communicating with the internal storage enclosure (22).

13. Flexible container (100), such as a big bag, comprising an outer body (1) having a liner (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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