Bag body for coffee storage, and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

To provide a bag body for coffee storage which suppresses discharge of carbon dioxide and intrusion of oxygen, has sufficient strength, and can prevent inflow of outer air accompanying a sudden volumetric change.SOLUTION: A bag body 10 for storing 60 g or more and 1,200 g or less of coffee includes a belt-like joined region 16 where two ends 12a of a film are overlapped and joined to each other, wherein in the belt-like joined region, an air chamber 26 which is formed in such a manner that the film is non-joined, extends along the end of the film, and is a space having such a substantially rectangular waveform that both end parts are sealed, an internal ventilation path 28 communicating the air chamber with the internal space, and an external ventilation path 30 communicating the air chamber with the external space are provided so as to constitute a ventilation path 24, and the air chamber has a substantially linear lateral part 36 extending in an extension direction of rectangular waves almost in parallel with the end of the film, a vertical part 38 which forms an angle of 40 degrees or more and 120 degrees or less with respect to the lateral part and extends in a direction of connecting the internal space and the external space of the bag body, and a bent part 40 as a joined part of the lateral part and the vertical part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coffee storage bag and a method for manufacturing the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a coffee storage bag and a method for manufacturing the same that can release carbon dioxide generated inside the bag to the outside of the bag, and can store the coffee inside the bag in a stable quality for a long period of time while preventing deterioration. [Background technology]

[0002] Coffee (beans or grounds) deteriorates in quality when exposed to oxygen during storage, so storage bags for coffee must have properties that prevent oxygen from entering from the outside. On the other hand, the carbon dioxide produced by the coffee during storage can cause the bag to expand and, in some cases, burst. Therefore, it is necessary to release the carbon dioxide produced by the coffee inside the bag during storage. In particular, since coffee is often stored for longer periods than fresh produce or flowers, high oxygen intrusion prevention and carbon dioxide release functions are required.

[0003] To meet these requirements, some methods involve attaching check valves to coffee storage bags. However, check valves are expensive, and the manufacturing process for bags with check valves is complicated.

[0004] To improve upon this drawback, a bag with a long ventilation channel connecting the inside and outside of the bag has been proposed (Patent Documents 1 and 2). Using this configuration, it is possible to store coffee without causing the bag to swell, while suppressing deterioration due to oxygen intrusion. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7004359 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-75303 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] However, if the bag is subjected to external force during storage, such as by dropping it on the floor, the bag may be damaged.

[0007] Furthermore, if external force is applied and the bag does not break, but its volume changes rapidly, oxygen-containing outside air may enter the bag as a result of the volume change, making it difficult to adequately suppress the deterioration of the coffee inside the bag.

[0008] While the configurations described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are highly effective in achieving both carbon dioxide emission and oxygen inflow prevention, they were not necessarily sufficient in terms of bag strength and preventing outside air inflow due to rapid volume changes.

[0009] Therefore, in addition to suppressing carbon dioxide emissions and oxygen intrusion, there was a need for technology that could suppress the inflow of outside air due to sufficient strength and rapid volume changes.

[0010] The present invention aims to provide a coffee storage bag that, in addition to suppressing carbon dioxide emissions and oxygen intrusion, possesses sufficient strength and can prevent the inflow of outside air due to rapid volume changes. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing such a coffee storage bag, and a method for storing coffee using the above-mentioned coffee storage bag. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A coffee storage bag for storing 60g to 1200g of coffee, The bag is formed of a barrier film, with a length of 10 cm to 60 cm in the vertical direction and a length of 10 cm to 40 cm in the horizontal direction. The film comprises a strip-shaped joining region in which the two ends of the film are overlapped and joined together. Within the aforementioned strip-shaped bonding region, there is an air chamber which is a substantially rectangular, corrugated space formed by not bonding the film and extending along the end of the film with both ends sealed, an internal ventilation passage which connects the air chamber to the internal space of the bag, and an external ventilation passage which connects the air chamber to the external space of the bag. The internal ventilation passage, the portion of the air chamber communicating with the internal ventilation passage, and the external ventilation passage adjacent to the internal ventilation passage and communicating with the portion of the air chamber constitute a ventilation passage that connects the inside and outside of the bag. The air chamber has a substantially straight transverse portion extending substantially parallel to the edge of the film in the direction in which the rectangular wave extends, a longitudinal portion extending at an angle of 40 degrees to 120 degrees with respect to the transverse portion in the direction connecting the internal space and the external space of the bag, and a bent portion that forms the joint between the transverse portion and the longitudinal portion. A coffee storage bag is provided, characterized by the following features.

[0012] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, A coffee storage bag for storing 60g to 1200g of coffee, The bag is formed of a barrier film, with a length of 10 cm to 60 cm in the vertical direction and a length of 10 cm to 40 cm in the horizontal direction. The film comprises a strip-shaped joining region in which the two ends of the film are overlapped and joined together. Within the aforementioned strip-shaped bonding region, there is an air chamber which is a substantially rectangular, corrugated space formed by not bonding the film and extending along the end of the film with both ends sealed, an internal ventilation passage which connects the air chamber to the internal space of the bag, and an external ventilation passage which connects the air chamber to the external space of the bag. The internal ventilation passage, the portion of the air chamber communicating with the internal ventilation passage, and the external ventilation passage adjacent to the internal ventilation passage and communicating with the portion of the air chamber constitute a ventilation passage that connects the inside and outside of the bag. The air chamber has a substantially linear horizontal portion extending in a direction substantially parallel to an end of the film and in a direction in which the rectangular wave extends, a vertical portion extending at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal portion and connecting an internal space and an external space of the bag body, and a bent portion serving as a joint between the horizontal portion and the vertical portion. When an angle α formed by the horizontal portion and the vertical portion at one end of one of the horizontal portions and an angle β formed by the horizontal portion and the vertical portion at the other end of the one horizontal portion are considered, α + β is 150 degrees or more and 240 degrees or less. There is provided a bag body for coffee storage, which is characterized by this.

[0013] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, Two or more and six or less of the ventilation paths are provided.

[0014] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, The length of the ventilation path is 200 mm or more and 2400 mm or less.

[0015] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, In the ventilation path, the ratio of the width of the widest portion to the width of the narrowest portion is 1.2 or more and 3 or less.

[0016] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, Fifteen or more and ninety or less of the bent portions are formed in one of the ventilation paths.

[0017] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, The widths of the internal ventilation path and the external ventilation path are 0.5 mm or more and 3 mm or less.

[0018] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, The ratio of the width of the air chamber to the width of the external ventilation path is 0.4 or more and less than 1.0.

[0019] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, The air chamber is arranged such that the vertical portion extends across a virtual straight line Lc extending in the center in the width direction of the belt-like joint region. Let At be the length of a predetermined portion of the imaginary straight line extending through the vertical portion of the air chamber, and Ad be the total length of the portion of the imaginary straight line of length At to which the film is joined, such that Ad / At is 0.10 or more and 0.75 or less.

[0020] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, The total area of ​​the aforementioned air chamber in a plan view is 75 mm². 2 Above 2000mm 2 The following applies:

[0021] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, The aforementioned band-shaped bonding region is the ultrasonic bonding area.

[0022] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, A method for manufacturing a coffee storage bag is provided, characterized by manufacturing the coffee storage bag described in any of the above descriptions using an ultrasonic bonding machine having a disc-shaped anvil having irregularities on its outer surface corresponding to the strip-shaped bonding region and a disc-shaped horn having a smooth circumferential surface.

[0023] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, A method for storing coffee is provided, which involves filling one of the above-mentioned coffee storage bags with 60g to 1200g of coffee for storage. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to the present invention, a coffee storage bag is provided that, in addition to preventing carbon dioxide emissions and oxygen inflow, has sufficient strength and can prevent oxygen inflow due to rapid volume changes. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing the coffee storage bag described above, and a method for storing coffee using the coffee storage bag described above are provided.

[0025] The inventors surmise that the coffee storage bag of the present invention achieves the above-mentioned effects for the following reasons. First, the coffee storage bag of the present invention has a ventilation channel that allows carbon dioxide generated inside to be expelled through the ventilation channel, and the carbon dioxide filling the ventilation channel also prevents oxygen from entering from the outside through the ventilation channel.

[0026] Furthermore, the coffee storage bag of the present invention has a bent portion in which the air chamber of the ventilation channel provided in the strip-shaped joint region is bent at an angle of 40 degrees to 120 degrees relative to the end of the bag. As a result, sufficient strength is maintained in the strip-shaped joint region in both directions perpendicular and parallel to the end of the film. Consequently, it becomes possible to prevent the bag from being damaged when an external force, particularly a tensile stress perpendicular to the end of the film, is applied to the strip-shaped joint region.

[0027] Furthermore, because the air chamber of the ventilation channel has a bend, it resists the flow of high-velocity gases. Therefore, when a rapid volume reduction occurs in the bag, carbon dioxide inside the bag has difficulty escaping to the outside. As a result, the pressure inside the bag rises slightly. Then, when the volume of the bag returns to its original value, the pressure also returns to its original value at the same time. In this process, oxygen has difficulty entering the inside of the bag.

[0028] Furthermore, even if the ventilation channel has a bend in the air chamber, it does not pose significant resistance to the flow of gases with very slow flow rates, such as the carbon dioxide produced by coffee. Therefore, even if the ventilation channel has a bend, carbon dioxide can be expelled quickly. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0029] [Figure 1] This is a schematic plan view of a coffee storage bag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing a magnified portion of the air chamber of the ventilation channel formed in the bag-like structure shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is a schematic plan view of a coffee storage bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a schematic plan view of a coffee storage bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the air chamber of the ventilation channel formed in the bag body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the air chamber of the ventilation channel formed in the bag body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a schematic plan view of a coffee storage bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a schematic plan view of a coffee storage bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a schematic plan view of a coffee storage bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] This is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the anvil of an ultrasonic bonding machine used to manufacture coffee storage bags according to embodiments of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0030] The following describes the bag body of an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a plan view of a coffee storage bag body 10 of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] In this specification, coffee includes coffee beans, roasted coffee beans, and roasted coffee beans. The bag of this embodiment is suitable for storing 60g to 1200g of coffee. When the amount of coffee to be stored is less than 60g, the amount of carbon dioxide generated is small, so the internal space and ventilation channels of the bag cannot be filled with carbon dioxide, and oxygen may remain inside the bag, potentially degrading the quality of the coffee. On the other hand, when the amount of coffee exceeds 1200g, the amount of carbon dioxide generated is large, making it difficult to adequately release it, which may cause the bag to expand and, in some cases, burst.

[0032] As shown in Figure 1, the bag 10 has a rectangular shape in which a single rectangular film 12 is folded in half along a fold line 14 which is the horizontal center line, so that both ends 12a overlap.

[0033] The two overlapping ends of the two films 12 are joined together by ultrasonic welding, forming a strip-shaped joining region 16, which will be described later. The upper and lower ends of the overlapping films are also joined together, forming a top seal portion 18 and a bottom seal portion 20. As a result, the bag 10 has a rectangular internal space 22 in plan view, enclosed on all four sides by the folded portion 14, the strip-shaped joining region 16, the top seal portion 18, and the bottom seal portion 20, and this internal space 22 serves as the space for containing coffee.

[0034] In the top seal section 18 and the bottom seal section 20, the overlapping films 12 are joined by heat sealing to form an airtight structure. The width of the top seal section 18 and the bottom seal section 20 is preferably set to, for example, 3 mm or more and 20 mm or less, but more preferably 5 mm or more and 15 mm or less. Setting the width of the top seal section 18 and the bottom seal section 20 to 3 mm or more makes it possible to maintain seal strength, and setting it to 20 mm or less makes it possible to achieve uniform joining.

[0035] In this embodiment, the bag 10 has a vertical length of 10 cm to 60 cm and a horizontal length of 10 cm to 40 cm. By combining these bag dimensions with the amount of coffee that can be stored as described above, the effects of this embodiment can be effectively obtained. Furthermore, by setting the size of the bag within this range, the handling of the bag becomes easier.

[0036] In this embodiment, known films such as films made of polymers containing vinyl alcohol or vinylidene chloride as constituent components, polymer films with silica, alumina, or aluminum vapor-deposited on them, or metal foil layers are used as barrier films.

[0037] Furthermore, a laminated film consisting of a base film and an oxygen barrier film, or a laminated film with an oxygen barrier coating on the base film, can also be used. As the base film, polymer films such as polypropylene and polyethylene, or films (including paper) with a sealant layer on paper can be used.

[0038] The barrier film used in this embodiment has a thickness of 15 μm to 150 μm, more preferably 20 μm to 100 μm. If the film thickness is less than 15 μm, the strength of the bag may be insufficient, and if it exceeds 150 μm, it becomes disadvantageous in terms of cost.

[0039] The barrier film used in this embodiment may be transparent or opaque. However, it is preferable to use an opaque packaging film to prevent the contents from deteriorating due to sunlight. In addition, a film with a printed surface may be used to enhance its aesthetic appeal.

[0040] Next, the structure of the strip-shaped joining region 16 will be described. As described above, the coffee storage bag 10 of this embodiment includes a strip-shaped joining region 16 formed by overlapping and joining the two ends 12a of the film by ultrasonic welding. This strip-shaped joining region 16 has a rectangular shape with substantially the same width. The strip-shaped joining region 16 extends along the end of the bag 10 formed by the end 12a of the film 12, in the direction of arrow X in Figure 2, which is substantially parallel to the end 12a of the film 12, and along the entire length of the end 21 of the film. In this embodiment, a strip-shaped joining region 16 is provided on the side seal portion of the bag body 10, but it may also be provided on other parts of the bag body, such as other sealing portions such as the center seal portion.

[0041] In this embodiment, the width of the strip-shaped joining region 16 is preferably 5 mm or more and 20 mm or less, and more preferably 6 mm or more and 15 mm or less. If the width of the strip-shaped joining region 16 is less than 5 mm, the strength of the bag may be insufficient, and if it exceeds 20 mm, it may be undesirable from a design perspective.

[0042] In this embodiment, the strip-shaped joining region 16 is formed by ultrasonic welding, but other forming methods may be used. For example, it may be formed by adhesive or heat sealing. Using ultrasonic bonding is preferable because it allows for the formation of precisely shaped ventilation channels and offers a fast bonding speed.

[0043] In the strip-shaped joint region 16, at least one ventilation passage 24 is formed that connects the internal space 22 of the bag body 10 to the outside. The ventilation passage 24 is a hollow portion formed in the strip-shaped joint region 16 by leaving the overlapping films 12 unjoined. The ventilation passage 24 consists of an air chamber 26, which is a roughly rectangular, corrugated space extending along the end of the film and sealed at both ends; an internal ventilation passage 28 that connects the air chamber 26 to the internal space 22 of the bag body 10; and an external ventilation passage 30 that connects the air chamber 26 to the external space of the bag body 10. More specifically, the ventilation passage 24 is composed of an internal ventilation passage 28, a portion (section, i.e., a segment) of the air chamber 24 that communicates with the internal ventilation passage 28, and an external ventilation passage 30 adjacent to the internal ventilation passage 28 and communicating with the portion (section) of the air chamber. Since the bag body 10 in Figure 1 is provided with one internal ventilation passage 28 and one external ventilation passage 30, the bag body 10 is provided with a single ventilation passage 24 that runs from the internal passage 28 through the air chamber 26 to the external ventilation passage 30. The internal space 22 of the bag 10 is then fluidly connected to the outside through this ventilation passage 24.

[0044] The air chamber 26 has a roughly rectangular wave-like planar shape and is arranged within the band-shaped joint region 16 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the band-shaped joint region 16. The term "approximately rectangular wave" is not limited to a series of strictly rectangular waves, but also includes waves where the angle between the horizontal and vertical portions is not 90 degrees, or waves that are bent (curved) with a rounded shape. Furthermore, the individual parts that make up an approximate rectangular wave do not need to be perfectly straight lines; waves with some curvature are also included in the definition of an approximate rectangular wave. However, wave-like shapes composed entirely of smooth curves, such as undulations, sine curves, and U-shapes, do not provide the effects of the present invention and are therefore not included in the definition of an approximate rectangular wave. In this embodiment, the "approximately rectangular wave" is a series of "rectangular" portions of the same dimensions and shape, and also has a shape that is symmetrical vertically (left and right on the bag).

[0045] The air chamber 26 is formed in a direction substantially parallel to the end 12a of the film 12 (direction X in Figure 2), and the two films 12 are joined together around its periphery. In addition, one end 32 and the other end 34 of the air chamber 26 are sealed by joining the two films 12 around their periphery.

[0046] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a magnified portion of the air chamber 26. As shown in Figure 2, the air chamber 26 of the bag 10 in this embodiment has a rectangular wave shape due to the provision of a substantially straight horizontal portion 36 extending substantially parallel to the end 12a of the film 12 in the direction in which the rectangular wave extends, a vertical portion 38 extending from each end of the horizontal portion 36 at an angle θ with respect to the horizontal portion 36 in the direction connecting the internal space 22 and the external space of the bag 10, and a plurality of bent portions 40 that serve as joints between the horizontal portion 36 and the vertical portion 38.

[0047] In the bag body 10 of this embodiment, the angle θ of the bent portion 40 is set to be between 40 degrees and 120 degrees.

[0048] The strength of the bag can be increased by setting the angle of the bend to 40 degrees or more and 120 degrees or less. Furthermore, by setting this angle to 45 degrees or more and 85 degrees or less, more preferably 50 degrees or more and 80 degrees or less, in addition to increasing the strength of the bag, it becomes possible to suppress the inflow of oxygen into the bag when the volume of the bag changes instantaneously. In particular, by combining this with the method of varying the width of the air chamber 26 as described above, the inflow of oxygen can be suppressed even more effectively.

[0049] In this embodiment, one ventilation passage 24 is configured to have 15 to 90 bends. More preferably, the number of bends 40 provided in one ventilation passage 24 is 20 to 80. Having 15 or more bends ensures that oxygen does not enter from the outside and the strength of the bag is maintained. Also, having 90 or fewer bends facilitates carbon dioxide emission.

[0050] In this embodiment, the length of the ventilation passage 24 is preferably 200 mm or more and 2400 mm or less, more preferably 300 mm or more and 2000 mm or less, and even more preferably 400 mm or more and 1600 mm or less. By making the length of the ventilation passage 24 200 mm or more, it becomes easier to suppress the intrusion of oxygen, and by making it 2400 mm or less, it becomes easier to ensure the strength of the bag body.

[0051] In the bag 10 of this embodiment, the width of the air chamber 26 is substantially constant along the entire length of the air chamber 26 and is set to 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less. Setting the width of the air chamber 26 to 0.5 mm or more facilitates the release of carbon dioxide, and setting it to 5 mm or less facilitates the suppression of oxygen intrusion. Preferably, the width of the air chamber 26 is 0.6 mm or more and 4 mm or less, and more preferably 0.7 mm or more and 3.5 mm or less.

[0052] In this embodiment, the area of ​​the air chamber 26 in a plan view is 75 mm². 2 Above 2000mm 2 It is set to the following: 100mm 2 Above 1750mm 2 Preferably, it is 200 mm 2 1500mm or more 2It is more preferable that the following conditions are met. By setting the area of the air chamber 26 to be 75 mm 2 or more, it becomes possible to effectively suppress the inflow of oxygen. Also, by setting the area of the air chamber 26 to be 2000 mm 2 or less, it becomes possible for the bag body to have sufficient strength.

[0053] In the bag body 10 of the present embodiment, the width of the internal ventilation path 42 is set to be 0.5 mm or more and 3 mm or less. By setting the width of the internal ventilation path 42 to be 0.5 mm or more, it becomes possible to efficiently discharge carbon dioxide into the bag body, and by setting it to be 3 mm or less, it becomes possible to effectively suppress the inflow of oxygen. More preferably, the width of the internal ventilation path 42 is 0.7 mm or more and 2.5 mm or less.

[0054] In the bag body 10 of the present embodiment, the length of the internal ventilation path 42 is set to be 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less. By setting the length of the internal ventilation path 42 to be 0.5 mm or more, it becomes possible to maintain a greater joint strength at this part, and by setting it to be 5 mm or less, it becomes possible to prevent a decrease in design quality. More preferably, the length of the internal ventilation path 42 is 0.6 mm or more and 4 mm or less, and even more preferably, it is 0.7 mm or more and 3 mm or less.

[0055] In the bag body 10 of the present embodiment, the width of the external ventilation path 44 is set to be 0.5 mm or more and 3 mm or less. By setting the width of the external ventilation path 44 to be 0.5 mm or more, it becomes possible to efficiently discharge carbon dioxide into the bag body, and by setting it to be 3 mm or less, it becomes possible to effectively suppress the inflow of oxygen. More preferably, the width of the internal ventilation path 42 is 0.7 mm or more and 2.5 mm or less.

[0056] In the bag body 10 of the present embodiment, the ratio of the width of the air chamber 26 to the width of the external ventilation path 44 is set to be 0.4 or more and less than 1.0. By setting this ratio to be 0.4 or more and less than 1.0, not only can both the discharge of carbon dioxide and the prevention of the inflow of oxygen be achieved, but it also becomes difficult for oxygen to flow in when there is a sudden volume reduction in the bag body. More preferably, the ratio of the width of the air chamber 26 to the width of the external ventilation path 44 is 0.45 or more and 0.97 or less.

[0057] In the bag body 10 of this embodiment, the length of the external ventilation passage 44 is set to 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less. Setting the length of the external ventilation passage 44 to 0.5 mm or more makes it possible to maintain greater bonding strength in this part, and setting it to 5 mm or less makes it possible to prevent a decrease in design quality. The length of the internal ventilation passage 42 is more preferably 0.6 mm or more and 4 mm or less, and even more preferably 0.7 mm or more and 3 mm or less.

[0058] As shown in the example in Figure 3, when multiple internal ventilation passages 28 and external ventilation passages 30 (three of each in this example) are provided, the internal ventilation passages 28 and external ventilation passages 30 are arranged alternately along the length of the rectangular, wave-shaped air chamber 26. In the bag shown in Figure 3, there are five ventilation passages, which consist of an internal ventilation passage 28, a portion of an air chamber 26 that communicates with the internal ventilation passage 28, and an external ventilation passage 30 that is adjacent to the internal ventilation passage 28 and communicates with a portion of the air chamber 28.

[0059] In other words, the bag body 10 in Figure 3 has a first ventilation passage 241 formed by a first internal ventilation passage 281 located on the upper side, a first portion 261 of an air chamber 26 that communicates with the first internal ventilation passage 281 (upward), and a first external ventilation passage 301 adjacent to the first internal ventilation passage 281 in the longitudinal (propagation) direction of the rectangular wave traced by the air chamber. Furthermore, the second ventilation passage 242 is formed by the first internal ventilation passage 281 located on the upper side, the second portion 262 of the air chamber 26 which communicates with the first internal ventilation passage 281 (downward), and another second external ventilation passage 302 which is adjacent to the first internal ventilation passage 281 in the longitudinal direction (opposite to the propagation direction) of the rectangular wave traced by the air chamber.

[0060] Furthermore, the third ventilation passage 243 is formed by a second internal ventilation passage 282 located in the middle, a third portion 263 of the air chamber 26 that communicates with the second internal ventilation passage 282 (upward), and a third external ventilation passage 303 adjacent to the second internal ventilation passage 282 in the longitudinal (propagation) direction of the rectangular wave traced by the air chamber. Furthermore, the fourth ventilation passage 244 is formed by the second internal ventilation passage 282 located in the middle, the fourth portion 264 of the air chamber 26 communicating with the second internal ventilation passage 282 (downward), and another third external ventilation passage 303 adjacent to the second internal ventilation passage 282 in the longitudinal direction (opposite to the propagation described above) of the rectangular wave traced by the air chamber. The fifth ventilation passage 245 is formed by a third internal ventilation passage 283 located below, a fifth portion 265 of the air chamber 26 communicating with the third internal ventilation passage 283 (towards the upper side), and a third external ventilation passage 303 adjacent to the third internal ventilation passage 283 in the longitudinal (propagation) direction of the rectangular wave traced by the air chamber.

[0061] Each ventilation passage 24 has such a configuration 1-5 Through each of these channels, carbon dioxide generated by the coffee inside the bag 10 is released to the outside. In addition, since the ventilation channel 24 is filled with carbon dioxide during coffee storage, it also suppresses the entry of oxygen into the internal space 22 of the bag 10 through the ventilation channel 24.

[0062] In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 3, one air chamber 26 was provided in the strip-shaped joining region 16 of the bag body 10, and this single air chamber 26 formed one or five ventilation passages 24. However, the present invention may also be configured such that, as schematically shown in Figure 4, multiple independent air chambers 26a, 26b (for example, 2 to 6, 2 in Figure 4) are provided in the strip-shaped joint region 16, and at least one internal air passage 28 and an external air passage 30 are provided in each air chamber 26a, 26b, thereby forming two or more air passages 24a, 24b in a single strip-shaped joint region 16. With such a configuration, even if one air passage becomes non-functional due to clogging of foreign matter, a certain degree of carbon dioxide emission function can still be achieved.

[0063] Furthermore, in the bag 10 of this embodiment, the air chamber 26 is set such that the sum of the two internal angles α and β (Figure 5) of a single rectangular wave is between 150 degrees and 240 degrees. By setting the sum of the internal angles α and β to between 150 degrees and 240 degrees, the strength of the bag 10 can be increased, and it becomes possible to suppress the inflow of oxygen into the inside of the bag 10 when the volume of the bag 10 changes instantaneously. The sum of the interior angles α and β is more preferably between 160 degrees and 200 degrees.

[0064] Furthermore, in the bag body 10 of this embodiment, as schematically shown in Figure 6, the vertical portion 38 of the air chamber 26 is positioned to cross the widthwise center line (virtual straight line) Lc of the strip-shaped joining region 16.

[0065] Furthermore, the vertical portion 38 of the air chamber 26 is positioned within a region having a width of 50% to 98% of the width of the strip-shaped joint region 16. By positioning the air chamber within a region with a width of 50% to 98%, it becomes easier to achieve both the emission of carbon oxide and the prevention of oxygen inflow, and it is also aesthetically pleasing.

[0066] The vertical portion 38 of the air chamber 26 is preferably located within a region having a width of 55% to 95% of the width of the strip-shaped joining region 16, and more preferably within a region having a width of 60% to 90%.

[0067] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the bag 10 has a length of a virtual straight line Lc at At, and the lengths of each part where the two films are joined on the virtual straight line Lc are (Ad1, Ad2, Ad3, Ad1). 14 ...Ad 11 The bag is configured such that the Ad / At ratio is between 0.10 and 0.75, where Ad is the sum of the two components. If the Ad / At ratio is less than 0.10, the strength of the bag 10 becomes insufficient, and the bag may break when dropped from a height. Conversely, if the Ad / At ratio exceeds 0.75, the width of the air chamber becomes too small, resulting in insufficient carbon dioxide discharge, or the length of the air chamber becomes too short, making it difficult to adequately prevent oxygen from entering from the outside.

[0068] This point will be explained again with reference to Figure 6. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the strip-shaped joining region and ventilation passage 24 of the bag body 10 of this embodiment. In Figure 6, for clarity, the air chamber 26 of the ventilation passage 24 is depicted in a highly schematic manner.

[0069] In this embodiment, as described above, the length of the virtual straight line Lc is defined as At, and the portion where the film is joined on the virtual straight line Lc is defined as Ad1, Ad2, Ad3, Ad1 in Figure 6. 14 ...Ad 11 ) That is, when Ad is the total length of the portion that does not cross the air chamber 26 (more specifically, the vertical portion 38 of the air chamber 26), the configuration is such that the value of Ad / At is between 0.10 and 0.75.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the air chamber 26 had a constant width along its entire length, that is, the width of the horizontal portion 36 and the vertical portion 38 were equal. However, in the present invention, the air chamber 26 may have a configuration in which the width differs in parts.

[0071] For example, the bag may have a configuration where the width of the horizontal portion 36 is narrower than the width of the vertical portion 38, as shown in Figure 7, or a configuration where the width of the vertical portion 38 is narrower than the width of the horizontal portion 36, as shown in Figure 8. Furthermore, the bag may have a configuration where the width changes within the vertical portion 38, as shown in Figure 9. Even with such configurations, oxygen inflow due to rapid volume changes can be effectively prevented.

[0072] When varying the width of the air chamber 26, it is preferable that the ratio of the widest part to the narrowest part be 1.2 or more and 3 or less, more preferably 1.5 or more and 2.5 or less.

[0073] In the drawings of this application, for clarity, the shapes of each wave constituting the roughly rectangular air chamber, the pitch between each wave, etc., are depicted schematically.

[0074] Next, the manufacturing method for the coffee storage bag according to this embodiment will be described. First, the configuration of the ultrasonic bonding machine used for manufacturing the bag (formation of the strip-shaped bonding region) will be described.

[0075] For forming the strip-shaped bonding region of the bag, an ultrasonic bonding machine is preferably used. The ultrasonic bonding machine is a known type of ultrasonic bonding machine that includes an ultrasonic oscillator that converts commercial electricity of 50 Hz or 60 Hz into a high-frequency signal of about 15 to 70 kHz, a converter that converts this signal into mechanical vibrations, a booster that amplifies these mechanical vibrations, a disc-shaped horn that transmits the amplified vibrations to the object to be welded, and a disc-shaped anvil that sandwiches the two ends of the film between the horn and the object to be welded.

[0076] The horn and anvil are both disc-shaped and rotate while gripping the two ends of the film, continuously forming a strip-shaped bonding region at the two overlapping ends of the film. The horn and anvil are rotationally driven by a drive mechanism (not shown).

[0077] Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of an anvil 50 used in an ultrasonic bonding machine. The anvil 50 has a disc shape, and its outer surface 52 has protrusions 54 that form the shape of the strip-shaped bonding region of the bag. Grooves 56 corresponding to the planar shape of the ventilation passage 24 of the bag are formed in these protrusions 54.

[0078] The height of the protrusion 54 and the depth of the groove 56 are preferably 0.2 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less, more preferably 0.25 mm or more and 0.8 mm or less, and even more preferably 0.3 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less. If the height of the protrusion 54 and the depth of the groove 56 are less than 0.2 mm, the bonding strength of the strip-shaped bonding area may be insufficient, and if they exceed 1.0 mm, the film may tear at the edges and the bonding may not be successful. The height of the protrusion 54 and the depth of the groove 56 may be the same or different.

[0079] The cross-sectional shape of the protrusion 54 and groove 56 is preferably rectangular, semi-circular, or trapezoidal, but semi-circular or trapezoidal is preferred from the viewpoint of preventing the film from tearing at the edges.

[0080] The horn used in the ultrasonic bonding machine of this embodiment is disc-shaped and has a smooth outer surface.

[0081] The diameter of the horn and anvil is approximately 50 mm to 150 mm, and the width of the outer surface of the horn and anvil is approximately 7 mm to 25 mm, corresponding to the width of the strip-shaped joining region. While known materials can be used for the horn and anvil, stainless steel or titanium alloy is particularly preferred.

[0082] The edges of the outer surfaces of the horn and anvil may be chamfered. Chamfering prevents the film from tearing at these points. Additionally, holes (weight-reducing cutouts) may be formed on the sides of the horn and anvil to reduce weight.

[0083] The joining speed (driving speed) is preferably 5 m / min or more and 50 m / min or less, more preferably 150 m / min or more and 45 m / min or less, and even more preferably 20 m / min or more and 40 m / min or less. A joining speed of 5 m / min or more enables efficient manufacturing. If the joining speed is less than 5 m / min, excessive heat may be applied to the joint, making it impossible to form a ventilation channel of uniform width. On the other hand, a joining speed of 50 m / min or less makes it possible to obtain sufficient joint strength.

[0084] When clamping the edge of the film, a pressure of approximately 20N to 500N is applied between the horn and the anvil by a pressurizing device. Although an ultrasonic bonding machine comprising an anvil with a protrusion on its outer surface and a horn with a smooth outer surface has been described, as another embodiment, an ultrasonic bonding machine comprising an anvil with a smooth outer surface and a horn with a protrusion on its outer surface may also be used.

[0085] Next, a method for manufacturing the coffee storage bag according to this embodiment will be described. However, this manufacturing method is not limited to this.

[0086] (1) Prepare the barrier film. (2) The film is folded in half, and this portion is joined using an ultrasonic bonding machine that has a disc-shaped anvil with irregularities on its circumferential surface corresponding to the strip-shaped bonding region and a disc-shaped horn with a smooth circumferential surface, thereby simultaneously forming the strip-shaped bonding region, air chamber, internal ventilation channel, external ventilation channel, and ventilation channel. This portion is preferably a side seal portion or a back-bonded portion. (3) Next, the bottom seal portion is formed by a method such as heat sealing. When forming the bottom seal, it is also possible to simultaneously form the sealing portion on the underside of the air chamber. (4) Next, the top seal portion is formed by a method such as heat sealing. When forming the top seal, it is also possible to simultaneously form the sealing portion on the upper side of the air chamber.

[0087] The above description concerns a method for creating bags one by one. However, it is also possible to continuously form strip-shaped joining regions for multiple bags using a single film, and then cut the film to create multiple bags. This method is preferable because it allows for very efficient production of bags.

[0088] There are no particular restrictions on the method of filling the coffee storage bag of this embodiment with coffee. For example, one can form a bag using the method described above, fill it with coffee before forming the top seal, and then form the top seal.

[0089] Furthermore, it is preferable to fill the bag with nitrogen after filling it with coffee but before forming the top seal. Filling the bag with nitrogen can more effectively suppress the deterioration of the coffee during storage.

[0090] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. [Examples]

[0091] The following describes embodiments of the present invention. (Example 1) As an ultrasonic bonding machine, we used one in which the horn and anvil were disc-shaped, and a convex portion corresponding to a band-shaped bonding region with an air chamber as shown in Figure 8 was formed on the outer surface of the anvil. On the other hand, the outer surface of the horn was smooth.

[0092] A barrier film (a laminated film of nylon film with a barrier layer and low-density polyethylene) measuring 30 cm in width, 100 cm in length, and 85 μm in thickness was folded in half, and the two ends were overlapped and ultrasonically bonded to form a strip-shaped bonded region. The width of the strip-shaped bonding region was 10 mm, and it was formed along the length of the film over a length of 100 cm.

[0093] The ultrasonic bonding machine's horn oscillation frequency was set to 20 kHz, vibration amplitude to 15 μm, pressing pressure to 250 N, and bonding speed to 25 m / min.

[0094] Based on the above, an intermediate bag structure was created in which four bag-shaped structures, each measuring 25 cm in length and 15 cm in width, were connected vertically.

[0095] The upper 25 cm portion of this bag's intermediate section was heat-sealed in the width direction to form a 3 mm wide bottom seal, simultaneously sealing the lower end of the air chamber.

[0096] Next, the bottom seal was cut in the width direction to create a bag measuring 25 cm in length and 15 cm in width. Next, 100g of coffee beans (Guatemalan peaberry) were placed in the bag, and the inside of the bag was filled with nitrogen gas. Immediately afterward, a 3mm wide top seal was formed by heat sealing, and the bag was closed.

[0097] Based on the above, a bag containing coffee beans was created. Using the same method, the remaining intermediate bags were made into bags containing three coffee beans each. This bag has a strip-shaped joining region in the side seal portion, and a ventilation channel is formed in this portion. There are three ventilation channels, and the length of each ventilation channel is 265 mm. In addition, each ventilation channel has 20 bends, of which 10 have a bending angle of 80 degrees and the other 10 have a bending angle of 100 degrees. The width of the ventilation channels is 2 mm, but the width is 4 mm at the bends.

[0098] When coffee was stored in this condition, the bag did not swell even after 80 days, and the oxygen concentration remained below 3%. Furthermore, the bag did not break even when dropped three times from a height of 1.5m onto a concrete floor. In addition, no oxygen entered the bag during these drops.

[0099] (Example 2) Example 2 was carried out in the same manner as Example 1, except that the size of the bag body was set to 27 cm in length and 15 cm in width, and the shape of the ventilation channel was changed as follows. Similar results were obtained as in Example 1. The shape of the air chamber was as shown in Figure 3. Other shapes are as follows. The length of the ventilation passage is 260 mm, and there are 3 ventilation passages. • Width of the ventilation channel: The width of the portion approximately parallel to the edge of the film is 1.5 mm, and the width of the portion approximately perpendicular to the edge of the film is also 1.5 mm. The internal angle α of the bend is 56 degrees, and the internal angle β is 124 degrees. Each ventilation channel has 19 bends with a 56-degree angle and 19 bends with a 124-degree angle. The Ad / At value is 0.21. • Air chamber area is 1170 mm² 2 That is the case. The width of both the external and internal ventilation passages is 1.2, and the ratio of the width of the narrowest part of the ventilation passage to the width of the external ventilation passage is 0.8.

[0100] (Example 3) Example 3 was carried out as described below, except for changing the shape of the ventilation passage as shown below, and the same results as in Example 1 were obtained. The shape of the air chamber was as shown in Figure 7. The other shapes are as follows. The length of the ventilation passage is 260 mm, and there are 3 ventilation passages. • Width of the ventilation channel: The width of the section approximately parallel to the edge of the film is 1.5 mm, and the width of the section approximately perpendicular to the edge of the film is 3.0 mm. The internal angle α of the bend is 56 degrees, and the internal angle β is 124 degrees. Each ventilation channel has 19 bends with a 56-degree angle and 19 bends with a 124-degree angle. The Ad / At value is 0.21. • Air chamber area is 1440 mm² 2 That is the case. The width of both the external and internal ventilation channels is 1.2 mm, and the ratio of the width of the narrowest part of the ventilation channel to the width of the external ventilation channel is 0.8.

[0101] (Example 4) Example 4 was carried out as described below, except that the shape of the ventilation passage was changed as follows, and the same results as in Example 1 were obtained. The shape of the air chamber was as shown in Figure 3. The other shapes are as follows. The length of the ventilation passage is 390 mm, and there is one ventilation passage. • Width of the ventilation channel: The width of the portion 42 that is approximately parallel to the edge of the film is 1.5 mm, and the width of the portion 43 that is approximately perpendicular to the edge of the film is also 1.5 mm. The internal angle α of the bend is 65 degrees, and the internal angle β is 115 degrees. The number of bends in the ventilation channel with a 65-degree angle is 29, and the number of bends with a 115-degree angle is also 29. The Ad / At value is 0.21. • Air chamber area is 1170 mm² 2 That is the case. The width of both the external and internal ventilation channels is 1.2 mm, and the ratio of the width of the narrowest part of the ventilation channel to the width of the external ventilation channel is 0.8. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0102] 10: Bag body 12: Film 12a (of the film) side edge 16: Strip-shaped junction area 22: Interior space 24: Ventilation channel 26: Air chamber 28: Internal ventilation channels 30: External ventilation channel 32: End of (air chamber) 34: End of (air chamber) 36: (The) side of the air chamber 38: The vertical part (of the air chamber) 40: Bending point

Claims

1. A coffee storage bag for storing coffee of 60 g or more and 1200 g or less, The bag body is formed of a barrier film, has a longitudinal length of 10 cm or more and 60 cm or less, and a lateral length of 10 cm or more and 40 cm or less, The film has a band-shaped bonding region in which two ends of the film are overlapped and bonded to each other, Within the band-shaped bonded region, there are provided an air chamber which is a substantially rectangular wave-shaped space formed by disjoining the film, extending along the end of the film and having both end portions sealed, an internal air passage which communicates the air chamber with the internal space of the bag body, and an external air passage which communicates the air chamber with the external space of the bag body; an air passage that communicates between the inside and the outside of the bag body is formed by the internal air passage, a portion of the air chamber that communicates with the internal air passage, and an external air passage that is adjacent to the internal air passage and communicates with the portion of the air chamber; the air chamber has a substantially linear horizontal portion extending in the direction in which the rectangular wave extends substantially parallel to the end of the film, a vertical portion extending in a direction connecting the internal space and the external space of the bag body at an angle of 40 degrees or more and 120 degrees or less with respect to the horizontal portion, and a bent portion which serves as a joint between the horizontal portion and the vertical portion, The air chamber has a width of 0.7 mm or more and 3.5 mm or less, The internal ventilation passage has a width of 0.5 mm or more and 3 mm or less, The external ventilation passage has a width of 0.5 mm or more and 3 mm or less, The ratio of the width of the air chamber to the width of the external air passage is 0.4 or more and less than 1.

0. A coffee storage bag characterized by the above.

2. Each lateral portion of the air chamber has a substantially uniform width; Each vertical portion of the air chamber has a substantially uniform width, Each vertical portion is disposed at a distance from an adjacent vertical portion that is smaller than the width of the vertical portion.

2. The coffee storage bag of claim 1.

3. The band-like bonded region is an ultrasonic bond.

3. The coffee storage bag according to claim 1 or 2.

4. 3. A method for manufacturing a coffee storage bag according to claim 1, wherein the coffee storage bag is manufactured using an ultrasonic bonding machine having a disk-shaped anvil having projections and recesses on its outer circumferential surface corresponding to the band-shaped bonding area, and a disk-shaped horn having a smooth circumferential surface.

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