Zippered packaging bags and zippered packaging bags containing contents

Abstract

The packaging bag has a filling opening on the side for filling with contents, and it is possible to prevent insufficient sealing due to insufficient heat sealing of the filling opening after filling with contents. [Solution] The bag comprises a pouch-shaped bag body 2 made of laminated film formed by laminating a pair of flat and bottom portions to form an internal space K capable of accommodating contents, and a zipper 3 heat-sealed to the inner surface of the bag body 2, comprising a male member having a first base and a first fitting portion, and a female member having a second base and a second fitting portion. The upper part 2a, lower part, and one first side portion 2b of the bag body 2 are sealed by heat fusion, and the other second side portion 2c has an unsealed portion of a predetermined length where the inner surfaces of the laminated film are not heat-sealed to each other, and a recess 5 is formed in the second side portion 2c in a position that overlaps in the extension direction of the zipper 3, with the second side portion 2c recessed toward the internal space K in the region between the upper part 2a and the unsealed portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a zipper-equipped packaging bag and a content-filled zipper-equipped packaging bag.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a standing pouch bag with a zipper is known, in which a zipper consisting of resealable male and female engaging portions is provided on the upper side, and a filling port formed with a non-sealed portion of a predetermined length is provided in the heat-sealed portion on one side (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a standing pouch bag with a zipper, the content is filled from the filling port which is a non-sealed portion on one side, so unlike conventional zipper-equipped packaging bags, there is no need to open the zipper during filling, and automatic filling and packaging is possible.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a standing pouch bag with a zipper, after filling the content, the filling port must be heat-sealed and sealed by heat sealing means. However, in the standing pouch bag with a zipper of Patent Document 1, a thick zipper is present on the same extension line where the filling port is linearly heat-sealed, so when sealing the filling port with a general linear heat seal bar, the heat seal bar may sandwich the zipper and perform heat sealing. In that case, the thickness of the portion with the zipper is approximately 1.5 to 2.0 mm, and even if the fitting portion of the zipper is crushed, it is as thick as about 0.7 to 1.0 mm, so the pressure necessary and sufficient for heat-sealing the filling port is not applied, resulting in insufficient heat fusion, insufficient sealing, and the content may leak from the filling port in some cases. Furthermore, by shortening the heat sealing bar to prevent heat sealing through the zipper, the filling opening can be sealed without being affected by differences in thickness. In this case, the sealing state of the filling opening can be stabilized, but there is a problem in that it is troublesome to replace the heat sealing bar with one that matches the dimensions of the packaging bag each time production is carried out, and there was room for improvement in that respect.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a resealable packaging bag and a resealable packaging bag with contents inside, which have a filling opening on the side of the packaging bag for filling with contents, while preventing insufficient sealing due to insufficient heat sealing of the filling opening after filling with contents. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) Embodiment 1 of the zippered packaging bag according to the present invention comprises a bag body composed of a pair of laminated films and forming an internal space capable of accommodating contents, and a strip-shaped zipper comprising a first fitting member having a first base and a first fitting portion and being heat-sealed to the inner surface at the upper part of the bag body, and a second fitting member having a second base and a second fitting portion, wherein the upper part, lower part and one first side of the bag body are sealed by heat sealing, and the other second side has a non-seal portion formed for a predetermined length in which the inner surfaces of the laminated films are not heat-sealed to each other, and the second side has a recess formed in the region between the upper part and the non-seal portion in which the second side is recessed toward the internal space, positioned to overlap in the extension direction of the zipper.

[0007] According to Embodiment 1 of the zippered packaging bag of the present invention, a recess is provided in the region between the upper part and the unsealed part at a height position including the zipper on the second side. Therefore, when sealing the unsealed part in a straight line during the manufacturing process, the zipper is not on the extension line to be sealed. As a result, a straight heat plate (heat seal bar) can be positioned away from the zipper without interfering with it, and the unsealed part can be reliably sealed by heat fusion without being affected by the thickness of the zipper. Therefore, as in the case where no recess is provided, the heat seal bar sandwiches the zipper, and the pressure of the heat seal bar is not applied uniformly to the unsealed part due to the thickness of the zipper, which can lead to insufficient heat fusion and inadequate sealing. Furthermore, in this case, by providing a recess, it becomes unnecessary to change to heat sealing bars of different lengths for each zippered packaging bag of different dimensions, allowing for more efficient work.

[0008] (2) A second aspect of the present invention may be a resealable packaging bag according to aspect 1, characterized in that a vent is provided that connects the internal space with the outside of the bag body and discharges water vapor generated in the internal space when microwave heating is performed.

[0009] In this case, the steam generated by microwave heating causes the internal pressure to rise, and once it reaches a predetermined pressure, the steam is automatically released through the vent. This configuration prevents excessive pressure buildup in the internal space, thus preventing the packaging bag from bursting during cooking. Furthermore, since the ingredients inside are heated under appropriate pressure, not only is cooking time shortened, but the ingredients can also be cooked to a tender consistency.

[0010] (3) A third aspect of the present invention is a resealable packaging bag according to aspect 2, wherein the ventilation portion is preferably formed by partial heat fusion between the inner surface of the bag body and the first base.

[0011] With this configuration, a ventilation section can be formed by a simple method of partially heat-sealing a portion of the first base of the first fitting member to the inner surface of the bag body. In this case, as the internal pressure of the internal space rises to a predetermined pressure, a gap is created between the bag body and the first base in the ventilation section of the zipper due to the pressure, and water vapor is released through that gap.

[0012] (4) Aspect 4 of the present invention is a resealable packaging bag in any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the bag body is preferably a standing pouch shape consisting of a flat portion made of the pair of laminated films and a bottom portion made of the other laminated film.

[0013] In this case, the resealable packaging bag can stand upright and is less likely to tip over, so when heating in a microwave oven, the contents or ingredients will not leak out of the bag through the ventilation opening of the zipper, thus preventing the inside of the microwave oven from getting soiled with the contents or ingredients.

[0014] (5) Embodiment 5 of the present invention is a resealable packaging bag in any one of Embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the recess is provided on the upper part of the first side and the second side, and a tab is provided on the upper part of the recess on both sides, which is a part for gripping when opening the bag body.

[0015] A notch can be formed between the recess and the tab. In this case, the bag can be opened by tearing it open by hand from either side of the notch, resulting in a user-friendly packaging bag.

[0016] (6) Embodiment 6 of the resealable packaging bag containing contents according to the present invention is a resealable packaging bag containing contents using a resealable packaging bag according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 5, characterized in that contents are contained in the internal space of the resealable packaging bag and the non-seal portion is sealed.

[0017] According to Aspect 6 of the content-filled zippered packaging bag of the present invention, the content is filled into the internal space of the bag body in a state where the non-seal portion is reliably sealed. Therefore, even during heating in cooking using the content-filled zippered packaging bag, it is possible to prevent the problem that the seal sealing the non-seal portion is broken by the internal pressure of the internal space and the content leaks out. [Advantageous Effects of Invention]

[0018] According to the zippered packaging bag and the content-filled zippered packaging bag of the present invention, while having a filling port for filling the content on the side portion of the packaging bag, it is possible to prevent insufficient sealing due to insufficient heat fusion even during heat fusion of the filling port after content filling. [Brief Description of Drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a front view of the zippered packaging bag according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line I-I of the zippered packaging bag shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] It is the upper part of the cross-sectional view taken along line I-I shown in Figure 1, where (a) is a view showing a state in which the zipper and the liquid-tight seal portion are closed, and (b) is a view showing a state in which the zipper and the liquid-tight seal portion are open. [Figure 4] It is the upper part of the cross-sectional view taken along line II-II shown in Figure 1, where (a) is a view showing a state in which the zipper and the liquid-tight seal portion are closed, and (b) is a view showing a state in which the zipper and the liquid-tight seal portion are open. [Figure 5] It is a front view of a zippered packaging bag according to a modification. [Description of Embodiments]

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the zippered packaging bag and the content-filled zippered packaging bag according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings used in the following description may, for the sake of clarity of features, show portions that are features enlarged for convenience, and the dimensional ratios and the like of the respective components are not necessarily the same as the actual ones. In addition, the materials, dimensions, and the like exemplified in the following description are merely examples, and the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range that does not alter the gist of the present invention.

[0021] The zippered packaging bag 1 of the present embodiment is composed of a pair of laminated films. The zippered packaging bag 1 includes a bag body 2 that forms an internal space K capable of containing contents, and a strip-shaped zipper 3 that is heat-sealed to the inner surface at the upper part of the bag body 2 and consists of a male member 3A (first fitting member) having a first base portion 31 and a first fitting portion 32, and a female member 3B (second fitting member) having a second base portion 33 and a second fitting portion 34. In the zippered packaging bag 1, the upper portion 2a, the lower portion (bottom portion 2d) and one first side portion 2b of the bag body 2 are sealed by heat sealing, and a non-sealed portion 24 where the inner surfaces of the laminated films are not heat-sealed to each other with a predetermined length is formed on the other second side portion 2c. At the second side portion 2c, a recess 5 is provided at a position overlapping the extension direction of the zipper 3, and the second side portion 2c is recessed toward the internal space K side in the region between the upper portion and the non-sealed portion 24.

[0022] Figure 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of the zippered packaging bag 1. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I of the zippered packaging bag 1 shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the zippered packaging bag (hereinafter simply referred to as "packaging bag") 1 of the present embodiment has a standing pouch shape. Here, in the present embodiment, in the stood state, the bottom side is defined as the lower side, the zipper 3 side is defined as the upper side, and the left-right direction in a front view as viewed from the direction orthogonal to the film of the packaging bag 1 is defined as the width direction X1. The up-down direction at this time is referred to as X2, and is also referred to as the height direction X2.

[0023] The packaging bag 1 comprises a bag body 2 and a zipper 3. The bag body 2 comprises a notch 4 and a recess 5. The packaging bag 1 can be opened by tearing a part of the bag body 2 at the notch 4 to form an opening. The formed opening has the function of accommodating contents in the internal space K when the bag body 2 is separated into a pair of laminated films, namely the first laminated film 21 and the second laminated film 22, which will be described later. The packaging bag 1 is used to cook food by, for example, opening the packaging bag 1, placing ingredients (not shown) into the internal space K of the bag body 2 through the opening, sealing the zipper 3, and then subjecting it to microwave heating in a microwave oven.

[0024] In this embodiment, the contents refer to the contents M and the ingredients mentioned above. Unlike the ingredients, contents M is defined as a seasoning liquid or the like that is pre-filled in the packaging bag 1 at the stage when the ingredients are to be placed inside the opening. That is, the ingredients are placed by the consumer into the internal space K, which is the storage area inside the bag body 2, through the opening after the packaging bag is opened. On the other hand, contents M, such as the seasoning liquid, are filled by a user such as a food manufacturer through the non-sealed section 24, which will be described later. Contents M may also contain some ingredients that have been pre-soaked in the seasoning liquid. Furthermore, if the contents M already contain ingredients in the seasoning liquid, the step of placing the ingredients into the inside of the bag body 2 through the opening after the packaging bag is opened can be omitted.

[0025] In the packaging bag 1, the contents M, such as seasoning liquid, are pre-filled inside the bag body 2. A product in which the contents M are contained in the packaging bag 1 in this manner becomes a resealable packaging bag 1A containing contents. That is, in the resealable packaging bag 1A containing contents, the contents M are contained in the internal space K of the packaging bag 1, and the non-seal portion 24 is sealed to form a user seal portion. The contents M are not necessarily limited to liquids, but may also be in powder or solid form. In addition to the seasonings mentioned above, the contents M may also be, for example, freeze-dried food ingredients. Furthermore, the packaging bag 1 of this embodiment is not limited to one in which the contents M are pre-filled inside the bag body 2 as described above, but may also be empty inside the bag body 2 before opening.

[0026] <Bag body> In this embodiment, the bag body 2 is composed of a pair of flat sections and a bottom section folded in half along an inverted V-shaped fold line between the pair of flat sections. The bag body 2 has a first laminated film 21 that constitutes one of the flat sections, a second laminated film 22 that constitutes the other flat section, and a third laminated film 23 that constitutes the bottom section of the bag body 2. The bag body 2 is formed by overlapping the three laminated films 21 and laminated films 22, 23 with the third laminated film, which is folded in half between the laminated films 21, 22, and bonding the upper part 2a, a pair of side sections 2b, 2c, and the peripheral edges of the bottom section 2d, except for the non-sealed section 24 which will be described later, using heat sealing means, thereby forming an upper edge seal section 2A, a side edge seal section 2B, and a bottom edge seal section 2C, and having an internal space K for accommodating contents M or ingredients such as food inside. The thickness of the upper edge seal portion 2A, the side edge seal portion 2B, and the thickness of the bottom edge seal portion 2C at the center of the width direction X1 (length from the edge of the packaging bag 1 toward the internal space K) are, for example, 5 to 10 mm.

[0027] Both sides of the bottom edge seal portion 2C in the width direction X1 have an inclined shape that extends toward the side edge seal portions 2B and 2C towards the fold line of the bottom surface, and seals the bottom portion 2d. The inclined seal portion and the seal portion that seals the bottom portion 2d may be a single unit as shown in Figure 1, or they may be separate. The inclined seal portion may also be curved.

[0028] The dimensions of the bag body 2 should at least correspond to the dimensions of the interior of a household or commercial microwave oven. The lower edge of the bag body 2 may be parallel and straight to the width direction X1, but to improve its ability to stand upright inside the microwave oven, the lower corners of the bag body 2 may be cut at an angle or in an arc shape.

[0029] The bag body 2 comprises a first laminated film 21 that constitutes one flat surface, a second laminated film 22 that constitutes the other flat surface, and a third laminated film 23 that constitutes the bottom surface of the packaging bag 1. The packaging bag 1 is made by overlapping the first laminated film 21 and the second laminated film 22 with the third laminated film 23 folded in half in an inverted V shape sandwiched in between, and then bonding its periphery by heat welding (hereinafter also referred to as "heat sealing"), thereby creating a self-standing bottom gusset bag with a gusset at the bottom 2d, also known as a standing pouch.

[0030] The laminated films 21, 22, and 23 are made of resin and are formed by laminating a base layer that forms the outer surface of the bag body 2 with a sealant layer that forms the inner surface of the bag body 2 via an adhesive layer. For the formation of the laminated films 21, 22, and 23, a dry lamination method can be suitably used, for example, in which an adhesive diluted with an organic solvent is applied, dried, and then heat-pressed.

[0031] For the base layer, suitable materials with excellent properties such as impact resistance and pinhole resistance include biaxially oriented films such as biaxially oriented polyester film, biaxially oriented polyamide film, and biaxially oriented polypropylene film, or biaxially oriented films on which metal or metal oxide has been deposited.

[0032] For the sealant layer (heat-sealable layer), films made of polyethylene such as low-density polyethylene, medium-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene (hereinafter referred to as "PE"), or polypropylene such as homopolypropylene, random polypropylene, or block polypropylene (hereinafter referred to as "PP") can be suitably used as the heat-sealable layer.

[0033] For the adhesive layer, suitable adhesives for dry lamination include, for example, polyester-based adhesives and polyether-based adhesives. The adhesive layer can be formed by dry lamination, non-solvent lamination, or extrusion lamination, in which molten polyethylene or the like is extruded into a film from a T-die and laminated. Among these, dry lamination is the most preferred method for forming the adhesive layer from the viewpoint of adhesive strength and versatility.

[0034] Furthermore, the laminated films 21, 22, and 23 may be composed of laminated films that include at least one intermediate layer or printed layer in addition to the base material layer and sealant layer described above. Examples of such laminated films 21, 22, and 23 include laminated films in which a base material layer, a printed layer, an adhesive layer, an intermediate layer, an adhesive layer, and a sealant layer are sequentially laminated, and laminated films in which a base material layer, a printed layer, an adhesive layer, and a sealant layer are sequentially laminated. It should be noted that the inclusion of a printed layer or an intermediate layer is not limited to this.

[0035] For the intermediate layer, a layer made of the same material as the base layer can be suitably used, as it has excellent properties such as impact resistance and pinhole resistance. Examples of intermediate layers include stretched films of polyester, polyamide, polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, or films in which a metal oxide has been vapor-deposited onto the stretched film.

[0036] The printed layer is formed by printing on the outer or inner surface of the substrate layer. Methods for forming the printed layer include gravure printing, offset printing, and flexographic printing. Among these printing methods, gravure printing is preferred because it offers superior color reproduction. The printed layer is formed by printing characters, figures, decorations, and codes for management related to the contents.

[0037] In this embodiment, the laminated films 21, 22, and 23 are laminated films obtained by sequentially laminating a base layer made of a 12 μm thick biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate film (hereinafter referred to as "PET"), an adhesive layer, a first intermediate layer made of a 12 μm thick transparent vapor-deposited PET, an adhesive layer, a second intermediate layer made of a 15 μm thick biaxially oriented nylon film (hereinafter referred to as "ONY"), an adhesive layer, and a sealant layer made of an unoriented polypropylene film (hereinafter referred to as "CPP") with a thickness of 60 to 100 μm, using a dry lamination method. The total thickness of this laminated film is approximately 90 to 130 μm.

[0038] A non-seal portion 24 is formed on the second side portion 2c of the packaging bag 1, where the inner surfaces 21a and 22a of the first laminated film 21 and the second laminated film 22 are not heat-sealed to each other for a predetermined length in the vertical direction X2. Note that, as in this embodiment, at least one non-seal portion 24 is required on the second side portion 2c. If there is only one non-seal portion 24, its length is preferably 30% to 70% of the length of the second side portion 2c, and more preferably 45% to 60%. If the length of the non-seal portion 24 is within the above preferred range, the filling nozzle of the filling machine can move smoothly in and out during filling, thus not hindering the filling process.

[0039] The non-seal portion 24 is provided in the second side portion 2c between the recess 5 (described later) and the bottom edge seal portion 2C. The non-seal portion 24 functions as an opening when filling with contents M. After filling with contents M, the non-seal portion 24 is heat-sealed to be liquid-tight by a heat-sealing means or the like. In other words, the non-seal portion 24 is a portion intended for user sealing, which becomes a user seal portion after the user of the packaging bag 1 (food manufacturer, etc.) fills with contents M and then heat-seals it. The thickness of the user seal portion is set to 5 to 10 mm, similar to the top edge seal portion 2A, the side edge seal portion 2B, and the bottom edge seal portion 2C.

[0040] The bag body 2 has an intersection seal portion 6 at the intersection of the second side portion 2c and the folded fold line of the bottom portion. In this embodiment, the intersection seal portion 6 protrudes inward from the user seal portion which is sealed later in the width direction X1, and protrudes upward from the fold line in the vertical direction X2. The degree to which the intersection seal portion 6 protrudes inward from the user seal portion in the width direction X1 is preferably 1 mm to 10 mm. The intersection seal portion 6 is formed in advance during the manufacturing process of the packaging bag 1 before the contents M are filled. The intersection is at the boundary between the four layers of laminated films 21, 22, and 23, where a pair of first laminated films 21 and second laminated films 22 and a third laminated film 23 which is folded in half to form a bottom gusset overlap, and the two layers of laminated films 21 and 22, and there is a step there. Around this boundary, the thickness difference caused by the steps of the laminated films 21, 22, and 23 makes it easy for insufficient heat sealing to occur during sealing. In other words, if the intersection is sealed simultaneously with the heat seal bar that forms the user seal portion that seals the unsealed portion 24, it is difficult to heat seal the intersection, and insufficient heat sealing may occur, potentially causing the contents M to leak out. This is because when pressure is applied with the heat seal bar (hot plate) for heat sealing, the thickness difference affects the transmission of sufficient pressure to seal the steps at the intersection. Therefore, the intersection must be securely sealed before the contents M are filled. For this reason, by pre-heat sealing the intersection that is difficult to heat seal and the area spanning the intersection on the manufacturer side of the packaging bag 1 to form the intersection seal portion 6, it becomes easier for the user to seal the user seal portion, and quality control of the packaging bag by the user becomes easier.

[0041] Furthermore, the thickness of the third laminated film 23 of the base material may be made thinner than the thickness of the first laminated film 21 and the second laminated film 22 for the flat section, thereby reducing the step difference between the four laminated films and the two laminated films. For example, by setting the thickness of the sealant layer of the first laminated film 21 and the second laminated film 22 to 60 μm and the thickness of the sealant layer of the third laminated film 23 to 40 μm, the step difference at the intersection seal section 6 is reduced, making sealing easier and facilitating management of the sealing state of the intersection seal section 6.

[0042] <Chuck> The chuck 3 is strip-shaped and, as shown in Figures 2, 3(a), (b), and 4(a), (b), comprises a male member 3A (first fitting member) and a female member 3B (second fitting member) that constitute the chuck tape. The female member may be the first fitting member and the male member may be the second fitting member.

[0043] The male member 3A and the female member 3B can be made of any material that can be heat-welded to the sealant layer of the first laminated film 21 and the second laminated film 22, such as PE resin or PP resin.

[0044] In the chuck 3, the male member 3A, which is the male fitting part, is fitted into the female member 3B, which is the female fitting part, thereby sealing the space between the male member 3A and the female member 3B across the width X1 of the bag body 2.

[0045] The male member 3A comprises a first base portion 31 and a first fitting portion 32. The first base portion 31 and the first fitting portion 32 are integrally formed. The first base portion 31 is formed in a strip shape that extends along the width direction X1 and has a constant width dimension in the height direction X2. The first base portion 31 is a flat, film-like member that is partially heat-sealed to the inner surface 21a of the first laminated film 21. The first fitting portion 32 has a male shape that protrudes from the vertical center of the first base portion 31. The first fitting portion 32 is formed continuously along the length of the first base portion 31 and faces the second fitting portion 34, which will be described later. As shown in Figure 1, in the male member 3A, the heat sealing between the first base portion 31 and the inner surface 21a of the first laminated film 21 is partial, and non-welded portions 3a having a gap (ventilation portion 35 shown in Figures 4(a) and (b)) between the first base portion 31 and the inner surface 21a of the first laminated film 21, and welded portions 3b that are welded between the first base portion 31 and the inner surface 21a are alternately arranged along the width direction X1 of the bag body 2.

[0046] As shown in Figures 4(a) and (b), the ventilation section 35 connects the internal space K with the outside of the bag body 2 and functions as an exhaust port that discharges water vapor generated in the internal space K during microwave heating to the outside of the bag body 2. The ventilation section 35 connects the internal space K with the front chamber k (the chamber between the zipper 3 and the upper edge seal portion 2A) across the zipper 3, while the inner surface 21a of the first laminated film 21 of the bag body 2 and the first base portion 31 of the male member 3A are not adhered together.

[0047] In Figure 1, multiple ventilation openings 35 are provided in the width direction X1 of the packaging bag 1, but it is sufficient to provide at least one. The width of the ventilation opening 35 is preferably 5 mm to 20 mm. If it is 5 mm or more, sufficient ventilation is possible, and if it is 20 mm or less, the zipper 3 can be released without affecting ease of opening. If it is more than 20 mm, when releasing the zipper 3, the first base 31 may move away from the bag body 2, making it difficult to open.

[0048] As shown in Figures 2, 3(a), (b), and 4(a), (b), the female member 3B comprises a second base portion 33 and a second fitting portion 34. The second base portion 33 and the second fitting portion 34 are integrally formed. The second base portion 33 is formed in a strip shape that extends along the width direction X1 and has a constant width dimension in the height direction X2.

[0049] In this embodiment, the second base portion 33 consists of an upper portion 33a and a lower portion. The upper portion 33a of the second base portion 33 is a flat, film-like member that is heat-sealed to the inner surface 22a of the second laminated film 22. The lower portion of the second base portion 33 is bent inward in the width direction in the drawing, i.e., toward the male member 3A, and is separated from the second laminated film 22. The lower portion of the second base portion 33 is an easy-peel portion 33b. More specifically, an easy-peel layer is pre-formed on the easy-peel portion 33b. The easy-peel portion 33b is heat-sealed to the inner surface 21a of the first laminated film 21 on the side to which the first base portion 31 is heat-sealed, with a strength that allows it to be peeled off by hand. By heat-sealing the easy-peel portion 33b to the heat-seal layer of the first laminated film 21, a liquid-tight seal portion 36, which will be described later, is formed.

[0050] The second fitting portion 34 is located in the vertical center of the upper part 33a of the second base portion 33 and has a bowl shape that is recessed into the female mold. The second fitting portion 34 has a claw portion at its tip that protrudes into the inside of the bowl-shaped recess. The second fitting portion 34 is formed continuously along the length of the second base portion 33 and faces the first fitting portion 32, into which the first fitting portion 32 is fitted. The female member 3B is attached to the upper part of the inner surface 22a of the second laminated film 22 via the second welding portion 3c by heat welding across the width direction of the bag body 2.

[0051] The liquid-tight seal portion 36 is formed by bonding the inner surface 21a of the first laminated film 21 to which the first base portion 31 is bonded, and the easily peelable portion 33b of the second base portion 33. The liquid-tight seal portion 36 has the function of preventing the contents M from entering the ventilation portion 35 or the front chamber k during the distribution stage of the product containing the contents M (packaging bag 1A with contents and zipper). If the liquid-tight seal portion 36 is not provided, there is a possibility that the contents M may enter the ventilation portion 35, the fitting portion of the zipper 3, and the front chamber k during the distribution stage. In that case, there is a risk that the contents M may come into contact with the consumer's fingers when the consumer opens the packaging bag 1.

[0052] The liquid-tight seal portion 36 only needs to be adhered to such an extent that the contents M do not enter the anteroom k until the resealable packaging bag 1A containing the contents is used by the consumer. Furthermore, since the liquid-tight seal portion 36 needs to be easily peeled off when the consumer uses it, it does not need to be strongly adhered.

[0053] There are no particular restrictions on the pattern of the liquid-tight seal portion 36; it may be a plain seal (a so-called solid seal), a regularly designed seal, or an irregularly designed seal. Furthermore, there are no particular restrictions on the shape of the seal portion 36; it may be a straight seal or a wavy seal. For example, if the seal shape is wavy, when a consumer peels off the liquid-tight seal portion 36 to use the resealable packaging bag 1A containing the contents, the stress for opening is concentrated at the peaks of the waves, making it easier to peel off.

[0054] <Notch> As shown in Figure 1, the bag body 2 of this embodiment has a notch 4. The notch 4 is an opening start point for forming an opening by tearing a part of the bag body 2. The notch 4 is provided in the side edge seal portion 2B between the upper edge seal portion 2A and the zipper 3 of the bag body 2. More specifically, the notch 4 on the second side portion 2c is provided in the upper corner portion 5d of the recess 5, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the notch 4 is a V-notch, but it can be appropriately selected from a hexagonal (base) notch, an I-notch, or a U-notch, etc. The notch 4 serves as an opening start point, allowing the bag body 2 to be opened by hand from there without using scissors or the like.

[0055] <Recess> As shown in Figure 1, the recess 5 is provided on the upper part of the second side portion 2c, which is on the non-seal portion 24 side of the pair of left and right side portions 2b, 2c. In this embodiment, the first side portion 2b is straight in the vertical direction and no recessed portion is formed. The recess 5 is formed by removing the laminated films 21, 22 and the zipper 3 at the location corresponding to the zipper 3 on the second side portion 2c of the bag body 2. That is, the recess 5 is positioned to overlap with the zipper 3 in the extension direction. The recess 5 is substantially rectangular in plan view. The recess 5 has a bottom wall 5a and a pair of side walls 5b, 5c. The side walls 5b, 5c are parallel to each other and face each other in the vertical direction. The bottom wall 5a and the side walls 5b, 5c are perpendicular to each other. The side walls 5b, 5c are each connected to the second side portion 2c via a curved chamfered portion. The end of the zipper 3 is connected to the internal space K side of the bottom wall 5a of the recess 5. The first and second fitting portions 32 and 34 of the thick chuck 3 are sealed by crushing them with heat and strong pressure within the side edge sealing portion 2B using ultrasonic sealing or the like, thereby destroying the shape of the fitting portions. Although crushed, the first and second fitting portions 32 and 34 still retain a certain thickness. The recess 5 is sealed along the bottom wall 5a and side walls 5b and 5c by the side edge sealing portion 2B.

[0056] The length of the recess 5 in the height direction X2 is preferably at least longer than the length of the chuck 3 in the height direction X2, and is also preferably 5% to 30% of the length of the second side portion 2c. Furthermore, the length (depth) of the recess 5 in the width direction X1 is preferably at least longer than the length of the user seal portion in the width direction X1. By setting the dimensions of the recess 5 in this way, the heat seal bar that seals the user seal portion does not clamp the chuck 3, so that insufficient heat fusion due to the thickness of the chuck 3 does not occur, and the user can form a user seal portion with high liquid-tightness.

[0057] As described above, the recess 5 in this embodiment is provided on the non-seal portion 24 side (second side portion 2c side), that is, on only one side in the width direction X1. Therefore, users such as food manufacturers can visually recognize the position of the non-seal portion 24, which is the filling opening. This prevents incorrect orientation when setting the packaging bag 1 in the filling machine.

[0058] <Pickling part> The tab portion 7 is provided above the recess 5 in the second side portion 2c. The tab portion 7 is the part that consumers grasp when opening the resealable packaging bag 1A containing the contents. A notch 4 is provided between the tab portion 7 and the recess 5. Providing the tab portion 7 not only has a visual effect in that the notch 4 is easily recognizable as the opening start point, but also has the effect of being easy to open from the notch 4 even if the hands are wet, because the gripping area is large and easy to grasp.

[0059] <Manufacturing method for resealable packaging bags containing contents> As shown in Figure 1, when manufacturing the above-mentioned resealable packaging bag 1A containing contents, first the packaging bag 1 is manufactured. Then, the packaging bag 1, which is not filled with contents M, is set in a filling machine (not shown) for filling the packaging bag 1 with contents M. Then, the filling nozzle (not shown) of the filling machine is inserted into the internal space K from the non-sealed portion 24 of the packaging bag 1, and the contents M is filled into the internal space K. After a predetermined amount of contents M has been filled into the internal space K, the filling nozzle is withdrawn from the non-sealed portion 24, which is the opening.

[0060] Next, with the outer edge of the packaging bag 1 held by the filling machine, the second side portion 2c is heat-sealed with a heat plate (heat seal bar) (not shown) to seal the unsealed portion 24 and form the user seal portion. More specifically, in the sealing process of the user seal portion, a heating process is performed in which the second side portion 2c is heat-sealed using a straight heat seal bar for, for example, about 1 second, followed by a cooling process in which it is pressed with a cooling bar. At this time, a recess 5 is formed in the second side portion 2c, and since the chuck 3 is not provided on the extension of the unsealed portion 24 of the second side portion 2c, the straight heat seal bar that forms the user seal portion can seal only the second side portion 2c without interference from the chuck 3. This ensures that the unsealed portion 24 is heat-sealed and the sealed user seal portion is formed.

[0061] The thickness of the portion of the packaging bag 1 with the zipper 3 is approximately 1.5 to 2.0 mm when the male member 3A and the female member 3B are fitted together, and even if the fitted portion is crushed by ultrasonic sealing or the like and its shape is broken, it remains approximately 0.7 to 1.0 mm. In this embodiment, the combined thickness of the two laminated films 21 and 22 is 180 μm to 260 μm, and the thickness difference with the portion with the zipper 3 is 500 μm or more. On the other hand, intersection seal portions 6 are formed at intersections where insufficient heat sealing is likely to occur, ensuring a secure seal. At the intersections, there is a thickness difference of two layers of laminated film 23 across the fold line, and in this embodiment, this thickness difference is approximately 180 μm to 260 μm. This thickness difference is small compared to the thickness difference with the portion with the zipper 3, and even if a linear heat seal bar that seals the user seal portion seals the intersection, the user seal portion can be sealed without causing insufficient heat sealing.

[0062] <Instructions for using resealable packaging bags containing contents> Next, a method for using the above-described resealable packaging bag 1A containing contents M will be explained. When a consumer uses the resealable packaging bag 1A containing contents, they pinch the tab 7 and tear the bag body 2 from the notch 4 to form an opening. Then, they release the engagement between the male member 3A and the female member 3B of the zipper 3 and peel off the liquid-tight seal portion 36. Then, they put ingredients such as meat and vegetables into the internal space K through the opening created by opening the zipper 3. Next, they reseal the zipper 3 by re-engaging the male member 3A and the female member 3B of the zipper 3, and then cook the contents inside the packaging bag 1 by heating it in a microwave oven. This cooks the contents M and any added ingredients. With this method of use, cooking is possible without using cooking utensils, and after cooking, the used resealable packaging bag 1 can be discarded, thus saving time on household chores by eliminating the need to wash cooking utensils.

[0063] Next, we will explain in detail the function of the resealable packaging bag and the resealable packaging bag containing contents, which are configured in this way.

[0064] The zippered packaging bag (packaging bag 1) of this embodiment comprises a pouch-shaped bag body 2 made of laminated films 21, 22, and 23, which are composed of a pair of flat and bottom portions and form an internal space K capable of accommodating contents M, and a strip-shaped zipper 3 made of a male member 3A having a first base portion 31 and a first fitting portion 32, and a female member 3B having a second base portion 33 and a second fitting portion 34, which are heat-sealed to the inner surface of the upper part of the bag body 2. The upper part 2a, bottom portion 2d, and one first side portion 2b of the bag body 2 are sealed by heat fusion, and the other second side portion 2c has a non-seal portion 24 formed where the inner surfaces of the laminated films 21 and 22 are not heat-sealed to each other for a predetermined length. Furthermore, in the second side portion 2c, a recess 5 is formed in the region between the upper part 2a and the non-seal portion 24, where the second side portion 2c is recessed toward the internal space K, and is positioned to overlap in the extension direction of the zipper 3.

[0065] In this embodiment, the packaging bag 1 has a recess 5 in the area between the upper part 2a and the unsealed portion 24, with a height (length) including the zipper 3 in the height direction X2 of the second side portion 2c. Therefore, the zipper 3 is not located on the extension of the line that linearly seals the unsealed portion 24 after filling with contents, and the linear heat plate (heat seal bar) does not interfere with the zipper 3 when sealing the unsealed portion 24 to form the user seal portion. As a result, the unsealed portion 24 can be sealed by heat fusion without being affected by the thickness of the zipper 3, and a highly airtight user seal portion can be formed. If the recess 5 is not provided, the heat seal bar will pinch the chuck 3, and due to the thickness of the chuck 3, the pressure of the heat seal bar will not be applied sufficiently uniformly to the non-sealed portion 24. As a result, the user seal portion will not be adequately sealed due to insufficient heat fusion, which may cause leakage of contents from the user seal portion. However, because the packaging bag 1 of this embodiment is provided with the recess 5, a highly liquid-tight user seal portion can be formed, so the problem of insufficient heat fusion in the user seal portion does not occur. Furthermore, since the packaging bag 1 of this embodiment is provided with a recess 5, there is no need to replace the heat seal bar with one of a shorter length to match the length of the unseal portion 24 in the height direction X2 for sealing while avoiding the zipper 3, as the same heat seal bar can be used even if the length of the unseal portion 24 is different for packaging bags 1 of various sizes. This allows the user to perform the filling work efficiently.

[0066] Furthermore, the packaging bag 1 of this embodiment is provided with a vent 35 that connects the internal space K to the outside of the bag body 2 and discharges the water vapor generated in the internal space K when microwave heating is performed. With this configuration, the internal pressure of the internal space K begins to rise due to the action of water vapor generated by microwave heating, and when it rises to a predetermined internal pressure, the water vapor is automatically discharged from the vent 35. In this way, the vent 35 functions as a pressure regulating valve, preventing the packaging bag 1 from bursting during cooking by suppressing an excessive rise in the internal pressure of the internal space K, and also retaining the flavor of the contents M and ingredients in the internal space K, minimizing the loss of flavor. In addition, due to the effect of the vent 35, the ingredients in the internal space K are heated under appropriate pressure, which not only shortens the cooking time but also makes the ingredients softer.

[0067] Furthermore, the ventilation portion 35 of the packaging bag 1 in this embodiment consists of a non-welded portion 3a formed by the partial heat fusion between the inner surface 21a of the bag body 2 and the first base portion 31. This configuration is formed by partially heat-fusing a part of the first base portion 31 of the male member 3A to the inner surface 21a of the bag body 2. In this case, as the internal pressure of the internal space K rises to a predetermined pressure, a gap is created between the bag body 2 and the first base portion 31 in the ventilation portion 35 of the zipper 3 due to the pressure, and water vapor is discharged from that gap. Also, after cooking, water vapor adheres to the surfaces of the bag body 2 and the first base portion 31, causing the surfaces to be in close contact. Therefore, even if the packaging bag 1 is accidentally knocked over or held with the opening facing downwards, the contents M will not easily leak out from the ventilation portion 35.

[0068] Furthermore, since the packaging bag 1 of this embodiment is a self-standing pouch with a bottom, it can stand on its own and rarely tips over accidentally. Therefore, even before steam adheres to the inner surface 21a of the bag body 2 and the surface of the first base 31 due to steam during heating in a microwave oven, the contents M and ingredients will not leak out through the ventilation part 35, and the inside of the microwave oven will not be soiled with the contents M and ingredients.

[0069] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Embodiments and their modifications include, for example, those that can be easily imagined by those skilled in the art, those that are substantially the same, and those that are equivalent.

[0070] For example, the packaging bag 1 of this embodiment is intended to be a self-standing pouch with a bottom, but the packaging bag is not limited to being a standing pouch. That is, it may also be a flat pouch, a three-sided pouch, or a four-sided pouch, which is a packaging bag without a bottom.

[0071] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the recess 5 is provided only on the upper part of the second side portion 2c, but the invention is not limited to this form. For example, as shown in the modified packaging bag 1B (zippered packaging bag) in Figure 5, recesses 5 (5A, 5B) may be provided on the upper parts of both sides 2b and 2c. At least the recess 5 should be provided on the second side portion 2c where the non-seal portion 24 is formed. In the modified packaging bag 1B, the tab portion 7 (7A, 7B) and notch 4 are also formed on the upper parts of both sides 2b and 2c, so the bag body 2 can be opened by hand from the notch 4 from either direction, resulting in a user-friendly packaging bag 1B.

[0072] Furthermore, the configuration of the ventilation portion of the zipper 3 is not limited to the ventilation portion 35 of the embodiment described above. For example, it may be composed of a pair of slits located on both the upper and lower sides of the first fitting portion 32 on the first base portion 31 of the male member 3A, and arranged in parallel to each other, such that a part of the first base portion 31 is formed to tear linearly in the direction in which the male member 3A extends (width direction X1). In this case, the first base portion 31 and the bag body 2 do not need to be partially welded, and may be a pair of welded portions that are continuous along the width direction X1 on both the upper and lower sides of the first fitting portion 32. The pair of slits penetrate the first base portion 31 linearly in the thickness direction between the first fitting portion 32 and the pair of welded portions, and the slits are cut linearly by the pressure of water vapor generated inside the bag body 2. The pair of slits may be one set, or multiple sets of perforations arranged on the same line. Also, the pair of slits may be in the same position, or they may be in offset positions.

[0073] Furthermore, the ventilation section can be configured as follows as a modified example. For example, instead of a slit, a configuration with one or more holes may be adopted. In the case of multiple holes, they may be arranged regularly in a linear pattern or irregularly. The shape of the holes is not particularly limited and may be round, oval, or other shapes. These holes can be formed, for example, by punching them out before bonding the zipper 3 to the bag body 2. Thus, the ventilation section may include either a slit or a hole, or both, located on both the upper and lower sides of the first base 31 and formed by cutting the male member 3A. Furthermore, the arrangement and number of ventilation sections can be changed as appropriate.

[0074] Furthermore, the notch 4 does not have to be a notch, as long as it facilitates the opening of the bag body 2. For example, it may be a rough surface with multiple scratches on the side edge sealing portion 2B, or it may be a configuration in which an opening is formed by pulling a tab provided on one end of the cut tape and tearing the laminated film along the cut tape. In short, it is sufficient if it is an opening start point that forms an opening by tearing a part of the bag body 2.

[0075] Furthermore, the chuck and liquid-tight seal portion are not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the chuck may not have a second base portion that is divided into upper and lower parts, but rather a strip-shaped portion having the same width as the first base portion. In this case, the second base portion does not have an easily peelable portion. The liquid-tight seal portion may be such that the inner surfaces of the laminated film below the chuck are sealed to a strength that allows the consumer to peel them apart with their fingers. In this embodiment, if the ventilation portion is formed by a non-welded portion between the base material of the male or female member of the chuck and the inner surface of the laminated film, the non-welded portion only needs to be provided in at least one of the first base portion and the second base portion. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0076] 1. 1B Packaging bag (packaging bag with zipper) 1A Zippered packaging bag containing contents 2 bags (main body) 2A Upper edge sealing section 2B Side edge sealing section 2C Bottom edge seal section 2a upper part 2b, 2c Side 2d bottom 3 zippers 3A Male member (first fitting member) 3B Female component (second fitting component) 4 Notches 5 recesses 6. Intersection seal section 7. Thumb part 21. First Laminate Film 21a Inner surface 22 Second Laminate Film 22a Inner surface 23 Third Laminate Film 24 Non-sealed portion 31 1st base 32 First mating section 33 Second base 33b Easy peeling part 34 Second mating section 35 Ventilation section 36 Liquid-tight seal section M Contents K interior space k vestibule X1 Width direction X2 Vertical direction (height direction)

Claims

1. A bag body composed of a pair of laminated films forming an internal space capable of containing contents; a strip-shaped zipper consisting of a first fitting member heat-sealed to the inner surface of the upper part of the bag body and having a first base and a first fitting portion, and a second fitting member having a second base and a second fitting portion; A resealable packaging bag equipped with, The upper part, lower part, and one of the first sides of the bag body are sealed by heat fusion. On the other side, the second side has a non-sealed portion formed over a predetermined length where the inner surfaces of the laminated films are not heat-fused together. In the second side portion, a recess is formed in the region between the upper portion and the non-seal portion, where the second side portion is recessed toward the internal space, and the region is positioned to overlap in the extension direction of the chuck. A resealable packaging bag characterized by the following features.

2. The zippered packaging bag according to claim 1, wherein a vent is provided that connects the internal space to the outside of the bag body and discharges water vapor generated in the internal space when microwave heating is performed.

3. The zippered packaging bag according to claim 2, wherein the ventilation portion is formed by partial heat fusion between the inner surface of the bag body and the first base portion.

4. The zippered packaging bag according to claim 1, wherein the bag body has a standing pouch shape consisting of a flat portion made of the pair of laminated films and a bottom portion made of another laminated film.

5. The recess is provided on the upper part of the first side and the second side, The resealable packaging bag according to claim 1, wherein a tab is provided on the upper side of each of the recesses provided on both sides, which serves as a part for gripping when opening the bag body.

6. A resealable packaging bag containing contents, using a resealable packaging bag according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The contents are contained in the internal space of the resealable packaging bag, and the non-seal portion is sealed. A resealable packaging bag containing contents, characterized by the following features.

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