Pouch container and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

In the present invention, in relation to a small-capacity, thin pouch container comprising a spout part, the upper end side portion of a body part thereof is prevented from folding downward when the pouch container is set down.　A pouch container 1 according to the present invention comprises a body part 10, a bottom gusset part 50, and a spout part 90. The spout part 90 is provided to the upper end 10U of the body part 10, and a spout opening 93 is disposed so as to face at least upward U. The width-direction lengths W110, W120 of each of a first wall part 110 and a second wall part 120 are 35-100 mm. The vertical-direction lengths H110, H120 of each of the first wall part 110 and the second wall part 120 are 80-200 mm. The thickness of each of a body part film that constitutes the body part 10 and a bottom gusset film that constitutes the bottom gusset 50 is 64-150 μm. The mass of the spout part 90 is 0.9-1.5 g.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pouch container and a method for manufacturing the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Documents disclosing the structure of pouch containers include Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-182745 (Patent Document 1) and "Kyodo Printing and Orihiro's "T Pouch Shot" wins the "Nisshoku Excellent Food Machinery and Materials Award" in the materials category" (Non-Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-182745 [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] "Kyodo Printing and Orihiro's 'T Pouch Shot' wins 'Nisshoku Excellent Food Machinery Materials and Ingredients Award' in the Materials Category" [Retrieved February 18, 2020], Internet<URL:https: / / p-prom.com / company / ?p=9885> Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a conventional small-capacity, thin pouch container, if the pouring portion is located at the upper end, when the volume of the contents of the pouch container is smaller than the maximum capacity of the pouch container and the pouch container is placed with its lower end acting as a virtual support surface, the contents are unevenly distributed toward the lower end of the pouch container's internal space. Therefore, above the contents of the pouch container, only the body of the pouch container supports the pouring portion. As a result, the body of the pouch container cannot withstand the weight of the pouring portion, and the body of the pouch container body bends downward. When the body of the pouch container body bends, pinholes may form at the bent portion and around the bent portion, causing the contents to leak from the pouch container. Furthermore, when the joint formed by joining the films constituting the pouch container to each other is formed by welding the films, the bending of the body portion at the joint may cause delamination at the joint. Furthermore, the delamination phenomenon may cause gaps to form between the films that make up the joint, which may result in leakage of the contents.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a pouch container that has a pouring section, is small in capacity and thin, and can prevent the upper end portion of the body from bending downward when placed on a surface. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The pouch container according to the present invention comprises a body portion, a bottom gusset portion, and a spout portion. The body portion is composed of a first wall portion and a second wall portion facing the first wall portion. The bottom gusset portion is provided at the lower end of the body portion between the first wall portion and the second wall portion. The spout portion is provided at the upper end of the body portion and is arranged so that the spout faces at least upward. The widthwise length of each of the first wall portion and the second wall portion is 35 mm or more and 100 mm or less. The vertical length of each of the first wall portion and the second wall portion is 80 mm or more and 200 mm or less. The thickness of each of the body film constituting the body portion and the bottom gusset film constituting the bottom gusset portion is 64 μm or more and 150 μm or less. The mass of the spout portion is 0.9 g or more and 1.5 g or less.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom crotch is folded from the lower end of the body between the first wall and the second wall. In each of a pair of regions where the lower end portions of the pair of widthwise side portions of the first wall, the lower end portions of the pair of widthwise side portions of the second wall, and the mountain-folded bottom crotch overlap each other, the first wall and the second wall are joined to each other via notches formed in the pair of widthwise side portions of the mountain-folded bottom crotch, thereby forming a pair of lower-end side joints. Above the mountain-folded bottom crotch, the upper end portions of the pair of widthwise side portions of the first wall and the upper end portions of the pair of widthwise side portions of the second wall are joined to each other, thereby forming a pair of upper-end side joints. In each of the pair of regions, the first wall-side portions of each of the pair of side portions of the mountain-folded bottom crotch are joined to the first wall, and the second wall-side portions of each of the pair of side portions of the mountain-folded bottom crotch are joined to the second wall, thereby forming a pair of bottom crotch side joints. The widthwise length of each of the pair of upper end side joints is the same as the widthwise length of each of the pair of bottom crotch end joints. The widthwise length of each of the pair of lower end side joints is 2.5 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less. The widthwise length of each of the pair of bottom crotch side joints is 5.0 mm or more and 10.0 mm or less.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a pouch container includes the steps of: arranging a bottom gusset portion in a folded state between a first wall portion and a second wall portion; forming a pair of upper-end side joints by joining a pair of widthwise sides of the upper end of the first wall portion and a pair of widthwise sides of the upper end of the second wall portion; and sealing the upper end of the body portion while providing a pouring portion at the upper end of the body portion. The step of forming the upper-end side joints includes a first welding step and a second welding step, in this order. The first welding process includes a process of forming a first left-side side weld portion extending in the vertical direction by welding the left side portions of each of the first wall portion and the second wall portion to each other at a position away from the left side edge of each of the first wall portion and the second wall portion toward the right side edge, and a process of forming a first right-side side weld portion extending in the vertical direction by welding the right side portions of each of the first wall portion and the second wall portion to each other at a position away from the right side edge of each of the first wall portion and the second wall portion toward the left side edge. The second welding process includes a process of forming a second left side welded portion wider than the first left side welded portion by welding the left side portions of the first wall portion and the second wall portion to each other so as to overlap with the first left side welded portion, and a process of forming a second right side welded portion wider than the first right side welded portion by welding the right side portions of the first wall portion and the second wall portion to each other so as to overlap with the first right side welded portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, in a pouch container that has a spout portion, is small in capacity, and is thin, the upper end portion of the body can be prevented from bending downward when the pouch container is placed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing a pouch container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pouch container according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, a pouch container according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the embodiment, the same or corresponding parts in the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a front view showing a pouch container according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pouch container according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pouch container 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a body portion 10, a bottom gusset portion 50, and a spout portion 90. As shown in FIG.

[0015] The body 10 is composed of a first wall 110 and a second wall 120 facing the first wall 110. Fig. 1 shows the pouch container 1 in a state where the first wall 110 and the second wall 120 are in close contact with each other at the portion of the body 10 closer to the upper end 10U of the mountain-folded bottom gusset 50. Fig. 2 shows the first wall 110 and the second wall 120 in a spaced-apart state before the body 10 is formed.

[0016] The lengths W110, W120 of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 in the width direction W are 35 mm or more and 100 mm or less. The above-mentioned width directions W110, W120 are the width directions of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 in a flat state as shown in FIG.

[0017] In this embodiment, the length of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 in the width direction W is constant in the up-down direction H, but it does not have to be constant. If the length of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 in the width direction W is not constant in the up-down direction H, it is sufficient that the maximum length of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 in the width direction W is 35 mm or more and 100 mm or less.

[0018] In this embodiment, the widthwise length W110 of the first wall portion 110 and the widthwise length W120 of the second wall portion 120 are the same. These lengths W110 and W120 are both approximately the same as the widthwise length W10 of the body portion 10 in the pouch container 1 when the first wall portion 110, the second wall portion 120, and the mountain-folded bottom gusset portion 50 are in close contact with each other, as shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, in this embodiment, the widthwise length W10 of the body portion 10 is also 35 mm or more and 100 mm or less.

[0019] The vertical lengths H110, H120 of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 are 80 mm or more and 200 mm or less, respectively. The vertical lengths H110, H120 are the vertical lengths of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 in a flat state as shown in FIG.

[0020] In this embodiment, the length of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 in the up-down direction H is constant across the width direction W, but it does not have to be constant. If the length of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 in the up-down direction H across the width direction is not constant, it is sufficient that the maximum length of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 in the up-down direction H is 80 mm or more and 200 mm or less.

[0021] In this embodiment, the vertical length H110 of the first wall portion 110 is the same as the vertical length H120 of the second wall portion 120. These lengths H110 and H120 are both 80 mm or more and 200 mm or less, as is the length H10 of the body portion 10 in the vertical direction H in the pouch container 1 in a state in which the first wall portion 110, the second wall portion 120, and the mountain-folded bottom gusset portion 50 are in close contact with each other, as shown in FIG.

[0022] The body 10 is made of a body film. That is, the first wall 110 and the second wall 120 are both made of body films. In this embodiment, the body film is a laminated film made of multiple layers.

[0023] The configuration of the body film is not particularly limited, but an example of the body film is a laminate film composed of, in order from the outside of the pouch container 1 toward the interior space, an outer base material layer, a barrier layer, an inner base material layer, and a sealant layer. The thickness of the outer base material layer is, for example, 12 μm or more and 70 μm or less. The thickness of the barrier layer is, for example, 7 μm or more and 12 μm or less. The thickness of the inner base material layer is, for example, 12 μm or more and 15 μm or less. The thickness of the sealant layer is, for example, 40 μm or more and 119 μm or less. The thicker each of these layers is, the more it can suppress the neck breaking phenomenon of the pouch container 1 described below, and the thinner each layer is, the thinner the pouch container 1 as a whole can be made.

[0024] The outer substrate layer is made of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The barrier layer is made of, for example, aluminum (Al). The inner substrate layer is made of, for example, PET or oriented nylon (ONY). The sealant layer is made of, for example, linear low-density polyethylene (LLPDE). Note that when the barrier layer is made of Al and the inner substrate layer is made of PET, the barrier layer and the inner substrate layer may be made of aluminum-deposited polyethylene terephthalate.

[0025] The thickness of the body film is 64 μm or more and 150 μm or less. If the body film thickness is less than 64 μm, the body film is too thin, making it difficult to prevent the neck breaking phenomenon described below in the pouch container 1. If the body film thickness is more than 150 μm, the body 10 becomes too hard, making the pouch container 1 less easy to handle.

[0026] The bottom crotch portion 50 is provided between the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 at the lower end 10D of the body portion 10. Specifically, the bottom crotch portion 50 is folded from the lower end 10D of the body portion 10 between the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120. The bottom crotch portion 50 is formed in a mountain fold. FIG. 1 shows the pouch container 1 in a state in which the first wall portion 110 and the bottom crotch portion 50 are in close contact with each other, the second wall portion 120 and the bottom crotch portion 50 are in close contact with each other, and the mountain-folded portion of the bottom crotch portion 50 on the first wall portion 110 side and the portion on the second wall portion 120 side are in close contact with each other. Figure 2 shows the bottom crotch portion 50 in a state before it is folded between the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120, in which the bottom crotch portion 50 is formed in a mountain fold shape, and the portion on the first wall portion 110 side and the portion on the second wall portion 120 side are separated from each other.

[0027] The mountain-folded bottom crotch portion 50 has a pair of lower ends 50D aligned in the direction in which the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 face each other, and a mountain fold portion 50U. Each of the pair of lower ends 50D extends along the width direction W. In this embodiment, the length in the width direction W of each of the pair of lower ends 50D of the mountain-folded bottom crotch portion 50 is the same as the length W10 in the width direction W of the body portion 10 in the up-down direction H. When the bottom crotch portion 50 is folded and the pouch container 1 is viewed from a direction in which the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 face each other, the pair of lower ends 50D are located at the same position.

[0028] 1, the mountain fold 50U extends along the width direction W when the bottom crotch portion 50 is folded. In this embodiment, the length of the mountain fold 50U in the width direction W is the same as the length of each of the pair of lower ends 50D in the width direction W.

[0029] 1 , the vertical length H50 of the bottom crotch portion 50, i.e., the folding depth of the bottom crotch portion 50, is preferably 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less. If the vertical length of the bottom crotch portion 50 is 10 mm or more, when the pouch container 1 having the body portion 10 of the above-mentioned size is filled with contents, the bottom crotch portion 50 opens, improving the uprightness of the pouch container 1. If the vertical length of the bottom crotch portion 50 is 20 mm or less, when the pouch container 1 having the body portion 10 of the above-mentioned size is filled with contents, the bottom crotch portion 50 is prevented from opening too much, reducing the distance between the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 when they are separated by the contents, improving the uprightness of the pouch container 1.

[0030] The thickness of each bottom grommet film constituting the bottom grommet 50 is 64 μm or more and 150 μm or less. If the thickness of the bottom grommet film is less than 64 μm, the film is too thin, making it difficult for the pouch container 1 to stand upright when placed on it. In this embodiment, the bottom grommet film is a laminated film made up of multiple layers. The bottom grommet film can be made up of a laminated film that can also form the body film. In this embodiment, the bottom grommet film is made up of the same laminated film as the laminated film that forms the body film.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the bottom crotch film constituting the bottom crotch portion 50 is joined to the body film constituting the body portion 10 as a separate member, but the bottom crotch film and the body film may also be a single film that is continuous with each other.

[0032] Next, we will explain each joint formed by joining the first wall 110, the second wall 120, and the bottom crotch 50. Note that Fig. 2 shows the state before the first wall 110, the second wall 120, and the bottom crotch 50 are joined together, but for convenience, the parts corresponding to each joint of the pouch container 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals as the respective joints.

[0033] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in each of a pair of regions R where the portions of the lower ends 110D of the pair of side portions 111 in the width direction W of the first wall portion 110, the portions of the lower ends 120D of the pair of side portions 121 in the width direction W of the second wall portion 120, and the mountain-folded bottom crotch portion 50 overlap each other, the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 are joined to each other via cutouts 52 formed in each of the pair of side portions 51 in the width direction W of the mountain-folded bottom crotch portion 50, thereby forming a pair of lower-end side joints 11.

[0034] The length W11 in the width direction W of each of the pair of lower end side joints 11 is preferably 2.5 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less. If the length W11 in the width direction W of the pair of lower end side joints 11 is 2.5 mm or more, in a pouch container 1 in which the lengths W110, W120 in the width direction W of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 are 35 mm or more and 100 mm or less and the lengths H110, H120 in the up-down direction H of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 are 80 mm or more and 200 mm or less, the pouch container 1 can stand upright when placed on a support. If the length W11 of the width direction W of the pair of lower end side joints 11 is 5.0 mm or less, the appearance of the pouch container 1 is improved in a pouch container 1 in which the lengths W110, W120 of the width direction W of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 are 35 mm or more and 100 mm or less, and the lengths H110, H120 of the up-down direction H of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 are 80 mm or more and 200 mm or less.

[0035] The length W11 in the width direction W of each of the pair of bottom side joints 11 is preferably 12.5% ​​or more and 26.7% or less of the above-mentioned vertical length H50 of the mountain-folded bottom crotch 50. If the width direction length W11 of the bottom side joint 11 is 12.5% ​​or more of the above-mentioned vertical length H50 of the mountain-folded bottom crotch 50, the first wall 110 and the second wall 120 are firmly joined to each other at the lower end 10D of the body 10, improving the uprightness of the pouch container 1. If the width direction length W11 is 26.7% or less, the size of the bottom side joint 11 becomes relatively small, improving the aesthetic appearance of the pouch container 1.

[0036] Above the bottom crotch portion 50 of the mountain fold, the portions of the upper end 110U of each of the pair of side portions 111 in the width direction W of the first wall portion 110 and the portions of the upper end 120U of each of the pair of side portions 121 in the width direction W of the second wall portion 120 are joined to each other, thereby forming a pair of upper end side joint portions 12.

[0037] The length W12 in the width direction W of each of the pair of upper end side joints 12 is preferably 5.0 mm or more and 10.0 mm or less. If the width direction length W12 of each of the upper end side joints 12 is 5.0 mm or more, the uprightness of the pouch container 1 is improved, and if the width direction W12 is 10.0 mm or less, the volume of contents that can be filled into the pouch container 1 can be increased.

[0038] In each of the pair of regions R, the portions of the pair of side portions 51 of the mountain-folded bottom crotch portion 50 on the first wall 110 side are joined to the first wall 110, and the portions of the pair of side portions 51 of the mountain-folded bottom crotch portion 50 on the second wall 120 side are joined to the second wall 120, thereby forming a pair of bottom crotch side joints 53. It is preferable that the length W11 in the width direction W of each of the pair of upper end side joints 12 is the same as the length W53 in the width direction W of each of the pair of bottom crotch side joints 53. This makes it easy to form the upper end side joints 12 and the bottom crotch side joints 53 simultaneously.

[0039] In the present embodiment, the length W53 in the width direction W of each of the pair of bottom crotch side joints 53 is preferably 5.0 mm or more and 10.0 mm or less. If the length W53 in the width direction W of each of the pair of bottom crotch side joints 53 is 5.0 mm or more, in a pouch container 1 in which the lengths W110, W120 in the width direction W of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 are 35 mm or more and 100 mm or less and the lengths H110, H120 in the up-down direction H of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 are 80 mm or more and 200 mm or less, the pouch container 1 can be improved in uprightness when placed on a support. If the length W53 in the width direction W of each of a pair of bottom crotch side joints 53 is 10.0 mm or less, the appearance of the pouch container 1 is improved in a pouch container 1 in which the lengths W110, W120 in the width direction W of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 are 35 mm or more and 100 mm or less, and the lengths H110, H120 in the vertical direction H of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 are 80 mm or more and 200 mm or less.

[0040] The length W11 in the width direction W of each of the pair of bottom side joints 11 is preferably 12.5% ​​to 66.7% of the length W53 in the width direction W of each of the pair of bottom crotch side joints 53. If the length W11 in the width direction W of each of the bottom side joints 11 is 12.5% ​​or more of the length W53 in the width direction W of the bottom crotch side joints 53, the first wall 110 and the second wall 120 are firmly joined to each other at the lower end 10D of the body 10, improving the uprightness of the pouch container 1. If the length W11 is 66.7% or less, the size of the bottom side joints 11 is relatively small, improving the aesthetic appearance of the pouch container 1. It is most preferable that the length W11 in the width direction W of each of the bottom side joints 11 is 50% of the length W53 in the width direction W of the bottom crotch side joints 53.

[0041] The length W53 in the width direction W of each of the pair of bottom crotch side joints 53 is preferably 25.0% or more and 66.7% or less of the vertical length H50 of the mountain-folded bottom crotch 50. If the length W53 in the width direction W of each of the bottom crotch side joints 53 is 25.0% or more of the vertical length H50 of the mountain-folded bottom crotch 50, the bottom crotch side joints 53 become rigid, improving the uprightness of the pouch container 1 when placed on it. If the length W53 is 66.7% or less, the volume of contents that can be filled into the pouch container 1 can be increased.

[0042] The portion of the bottom crotch portion 50 of the mountain fold on the side of the lower end 50D on the first wall portion 110 side is joined to the first wall portion 110, and the portion of the bottom crotch portion 50 of the mountain fold on the side of the lower end 50D on the second wall portion 120 side is joined to the second wall portion 120, thereby forming a lower end joint portion 54.

[0043] Here, the pair of upper-end side joints 12 will be further described. Of the pair of upper-end side joints 12, the left upper-end side joint 12 has a first left-side welded portion 13L and a second left-side welded portion 14L formed therein. Of the pair of upper-end side joints 12, the right upper-end side joint 12 has a first right-side welded portion 13R and a second right-side welded portion 14R formed therein.

[0044] The first left side welded portion 13L is formed by welding the left side portions 111L, 121L of the first wall portion 110 and the left side portions 111L, 121L of the second wall portion 120 to each other at a position away from the left side edges 110L, 120L of the first wall portion 110 and the left side edges 110R, 120R of the second wall portion 120. The first left side welded portion 13L extends in the vertical direction. The length of the width direction W of the first left side welded portion 13L is, for example, 1 mm or more and 2 mm or less.

[0045] The second left side welded portion 14L is formed by welding together the left side portions 111L, 121L of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 so as to overlap the first left side welded portion 13L. The second left side welded portion 14L is wider than the first left side welded portion 13L.

[0046] The first right side welded portion 13R is formed by welding the right side portions 111R, 121R of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 together, spaced apart from the right side edges 110R, 120R of the first wall portion 110 and the left side edges 110L, 120L of the second wall portion 120. The first right side welded portion 13R extends in the vertical direction. The length of the width direction W of the first right side welded portion 13R is, for example, 1 mm or more and 2 mm or less.

[0047] The second right side welded portion 14R is formed by welding together the right side portions 111R, 121R of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 so as to overlap the first right side welded portion 13R. The second right side welded portion 14R is wider than the first right side welded portion 13R.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pouring portion 90 is provided at the upper end 10U of the body 10. In this embodiment, the pouring portion 90 has a spout 91 and a cap 92. The cap 92 is provided to cover a pouring outlet 93 provided in the spout 91. The pouring portion 90 is arranged so that the pouring outlet 93 faces at least upward U. However, the shapes of the cap 92 and the spout 91 are not particularly limited. The pouring portion 90 may be a so-called break-off cap spout in which the cap 92 and the spout 91 are integrated with each other.

[0049] The length of the spout 90 is preferably, for example, 25.0 mm or less. In this embodiment, the length of the spout 90 refers to the overall length of the spout 91 from the internal space of the pouch container 1 toward the spout 93. The spout 93 has a circular outer shape, and preferably has a diameter of 6.0 mm or less. The diameter of the spout 93 is, for example, approximately 5.5 mm. The outer shape and size of the spout are not particularly limited.

[0050] The mass of the spout 90 is 0.9 g or more and 1.5 g or less. By making the mass of the spout 90 1.5 g or less, it is possible to prevent the portion of the body 10 on the upper end 10U side from bending downward D, a phenomenon known as a broken neck, in the pouch container 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] In the pouch container 1 according to this embodiment, the pouring portion 90 may further have a top gusset portion. The top gusset portion is provided at the upper end 10U of the body portion 10. For example, the top gusset portion is joined or connected to the upper end 110U of the first wall portion 110 on one side and joined or connected to the upper end 120U of the second wall portion 120 on the other side. The top gusset portion is made of, for example, a top gusset film. The top gusset film can be made of, for example, a laminated film that can form the body film and the bottom gusset film. When the pouring portion 90 has a top gusset portion, the spout 91 may be provided in the top gusset portion so as to penetrate the top gusset film, or may be provided between the top gusset portion and the upper end 110U of the first wall portion 110, or between the top gusset portion and the upper end 120U of the second wall portion 120.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 1 , the pouch container 1 according to this embodiment can contain, for example, liquid or viscous contents C. Because the contents C are liquid or viscous, when the pouch container 1 is placed, the contents C are unevenly distributed on the bottom gusset 50 side of the internal space of the pouch container 1. As a result, the portion of the internal space of the pouch container 1 opposite the bottom gusset 50 side becomes a non-filled region NF where the contents C are not filled. However, the contents C are not limited to being liquid or viscous, and may have other properties such as powder or granules. For example, when the contents C are powder or granules, the non-filled region NF is defined as the region opposite the contents C side when viewed from a virtual plane formed by the portion of the internal space of the pouch container 1 that is located on the opposite side of the bottom gusset 50 side of the contents C when the pouch container 1 is placed.

[0053] 1 shows the position of the contents C schematically, and when the contents C are actually sealed in the pouch container 1, the portion of the bottom crotch portion 50 on the first wall portion 110 side and the portion on the second wall portion 120 side move away from each other, and the mountain fold portion 50U of the bottom crotch portion 50 moves downward. Then, the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 move away from each other via the contents C. As a result, the lower end 50D of the bottom crotch portion 50, the lower end 110D of the first wall portion 110, and the lower end 120D of the second wall portion 120 form a virtual placement surface.

[0054] In this embodiment, the length of the non-filling region NF in the vertical direction H is, for example, 10 mm or more and 70 mm or less. If the vertical length of the non-filling region NF is 10 mm or more, the contents C can be easily pre-filled before sealing the upper end 10U of the body portion 10. If the vertical length of the non-filling region NF is 70 mm or less, the portion of the body portion 10 on the side of the upper end 10U can be further prevented from bending downward D.

[0055] A method for manufacturing a pouch container 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 3, the method for manufacturing a pouch container 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an arrangement step S1, a lower end side joint forming step S2, an upper end side joint forming step S3, a contents filling step S4, and a body upper end sealing step S5.

[0056] In the arrangement step S1, the bottom gusset portion 50 is arranged in a state where it is folded between the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 in a mountain fold shape.

[0057] In the lower end side joint forming step S2, the first wall 110 and the second wall 120 are joined together by welding to form a pair of lower end side joints 11. At the same time, the bottom crotch 50 and the first wall 110 are joined together by welding, and the bottom crotch 50 and the second wall 120 are joined together by welding to form a pair of bottom crotch side joints 53. Furthermore, in the lower end side joint forming step, a portion of the lower end 110D of the first wall 110 and a portion of the bottom crotch 50 on the lower end 50D side may be joined together by welding, and a portion of the second wall 120 on the lower end 120D side and a portion of the bottom crotch 50 on the lower end 50D side may be joined together by welding to form a lower end joint 54. The formation of the lower end side joints 11 and the formation of the bottom crotch side joints 53 may be performed together with the upper end side joint forming step S3. In this case, the formation of the lower end joints 54 may be performed in a step different from the lower end side joint forming step S2.

[0058] In the upper end side joint formation process S3, the upper end 110U side portions of the pair of side portions 111 in the width direction W of the first wall portion 110 and the upper end 120U side portions of the pair of side portions 121 in the width direction of the second wall portion 120 are joined together to form a pair of upper end side joints 12.

[0059] The upper end side joint forming step S3 includes a first welding step S31 and a second welding step S32 in this order.

[0060] The first welding process S31 includes a first left side weld forming process S311 and a first right side weld forming process S312. In the first left side weld forming process S311, first left side portions 111L, 121L of first wall portion 110 and second wall portion 120 are welded to each other at the above-mentioned positions to form first left side weld 13L extending in the vertical direction. In the first right side weld forming process S312, first right side portions 111R, 121R of first wall portion 110 and second wall portion 120 are welded to each other at the above-mentioned positions to form first right side weld 13R extending in the vertical direction.

[0061] The second welding process S32 includes a second left side weld forming process S321 and a second right side weld forming process S322. In the second left side weld forming process S321, second left side weld 14L is formed by welding left side portions 111L, 121L of first wall portion 110 and second wall portion 120 to each other at the above-mentioned position. In the second right side weld forming process S322, second right side weld 14R, which is wider than first right side weld 13R, is formed by welding right side portions 111R, 121R of first wall portion 110 and second wall portion 120 to each other at the above-mentioned position.

[0062] In the content filling step S4, liquid or viscous content C is filled into the internal space of the pouch container 1 consisting of the body portion 10 and the bottom gusset portion 50 from the upper end 10U side of the body portion 10 before it is sealed. When the content filling step S4 is performed before the body portion upper end sealing step S5, it is preferable to provide a non-filling region NF inside the pouch container 1 where the content C is not filled, in order to provide a pouring portion 90.

[0063] In the body upper end sealing process S5, the upper end 10U of the body 10 is sealed while the spouting portion 90 is provided at the upper end 10U of the body 10. Specifically, first, the spouting portion 90 is sandwiched between the portion of the first wall 110 on the upper end 110U side and the portion of the second wall 120 on the upper end 120U side. Next, with the spouting portion 90 sandwiched as described above, the portion of the first wall 110 on the upper end 110U side, the portion of the second wall 120 on the upper end 120U side, and the spouting portion 90 are welded to one another. Through the above steps, a pouch container 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is manufactured.

[0064] When manufacturing a pouch container 1 in which the pouring portion 90 includes a top gusset portion, the top gusset portion film, on which the spout 91 is already provided, may be provided at the top end 10U of the body portion 10 to seal the top end 10U of the body portion 10. Furthermore, when joining the top gusset portion film and the top end of the body portion film by welding, the spout 91 may be joined to the top gusset portion film and the body portion film by welding to seal the top end 10U of the body portion 10.

[0065] (Experimental example) An experimental example of one embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In this experimental example, pouch containers according to Examples 1 to 9 and pouch containers according to Comparative Examples 1 to 6 were first produced. The configurations of each example and comparative example are shown in Tables 1 to 4 below. [Table 1] [Table 2] [Table 3] [Table 4]

[0066] In each of the pouch containers according to the examples and comparative examples, the body film and bottom gusset film are made of the same type of film. The films used for the body film and bottom gusset film in each of the examples and comparative examples are shown in Tables 1 to 4 above as film types A to D.

[0067] Film type A is a laminated film composed of, in order from the outside of the pouch container toward the internal space, a layer of polyPET 12 μm thick, a layer of Al 7 μm thick, a layer of PET 12 μm thick, and a layer of LLPDE 70 μm or less thick.

[0068] Film type B is the same as film type A except that the thickness of the layer made of LLPDE in film type A is changed to 40 μm.

[0069] Film type C is similar to film type B, except that it is composed of a 12 μm thick layer of aluminum-deposited PET instead of the Al layer and PET layer in film type B.

[0070] Film type D is the same as film type A except that the thickness of the layer made of LLPDE in film type A is changed to 119 μm.

[0071] Then, for each of the Examples and Comparative Examples shown in Tables 1 and 2, a pouch container filled with a liquid content so that the length of the non-filled region NF in the up-down direction H was 70 mm or more was placed on a flat placing table with the bottom end 50D of the bottom gusset 50, the bottom end 110D of the first wall 110, and the bottom end 120D of the second wall 120, which are the imaginary placing surfaces of the pouch container, facing the placing table. For each of the Examples and Comparative Examples placed in this manner, it was confirmed whether or not a so-called neck-breaking phenomenon occurred, in which the body 10 bends above the contents C at a position U.

[0072] The occurrence of the neck breaking phenomenon is shown in Tables 1 to 4 above. As shown in Tables 1 to 4 above, in the pouch containers according to Comparative Examples 1 to 8 and 10 to 13, the mass of the spouting portion 90 exceeded 1.5 g, and the mass of the spouting portion 90 was too heavy, causing the neck breaking phenomenon. Furthermore, in the pouch containers according to Comparative Examples 9 to 11, the vertical length H10 of the body portion 10 exceeded 200 mm, i.e., the vertical lengths H110, H120 of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 exceeded 200 mm. In Comparative Examples 9 to 11, the vertical lengths H110, H120 were too long, causing each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 to have a shape that was easily bent in the vertical direction, causing the neck breaking phenomenon.

[0073] On the other hand, the pouch containers of Examples 1 to 17 had a length W10 of the width direction W of the body portion 10 of 35 mm or more and 100 mm or less, a length H10 of the vertical direction H of the body portion 10 of 80 mm or more and 200 mm or less, a thickness of the film constituting the body portion film and the bottom gusset film of 64 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and a mass of the pouring portion 90 of 0.9 g or more and 1.5 g or less, and no neck breaking phenomenon occurred.

[0074] As described above, the pouch container 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a body 10, a bottom gusset 50, and a spout 90. The body 10 is composed of a first wall 110 and a second wall 120 facing the first wall 110. The bottom gusset 50 is provided at the lower end 10D of the body 10, between the first wall 110 and the second wall 120. The spout 90 is provided at the upper end 10U of the body 10, and is positioned so that the spout 93 faces at least upward U. The widthwise lengths W110 and W120 of the first wall 110 and the second wall 120 are 35 mm or more and 100 mm or less. The up-down lengths H110 and H120 of the first wall 110 and the second wall 120 are 80 mm or more and 200 mm or less. The thickness of each of the body film constituting the body 10 and the bottom gusset film constituting the bottom gusset 50 is 64 μm or more and 150 μm or less. The mass of the spout 90 is 0.9 g or more and 1.5 g or less.

[0075] This makes it possible to prevent the portion of the body 10 on the upper end 10U side from bending downward D when the small-capacity pouch container 1 equipped with the spout 90 is placed on the pouch container 1.

[0076] In one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom crotch portion 50 is folded from the lower end 10D of the body portion 10 between the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120. In each of a pair of regions R where the portions of the first wall portion 110 on the lower end 110D side of the pair of side portions 111 on the width direction W side of the pair of side portions 121 on the lower end 120D side of the pair of side portions 121 on the width direction W side of the pair of side portions 120 on the width direction W side of the mountain-folded bottom crotch portion 50 overlap each other, the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 are joined to each other via notches 52 formed in each of the pair of side portions 51 on the width direction W of the mountain-folded bottom crotch portion 50, thereby forming a pair of lower end side joint portions 11. Above the mountain-folded bottom crotch portion 50, a pair of upper end side joints 12 are formed by joining the upper end 110U sides of each of the pair of side portions 111 of the first wall portion 110 in the width direction W and the upper end 120U sides of each of the pair of side portions 121 of the second wall portion 120 in the width direction W. In each of the pair of regions R, the first wall 110 side portions of each of the pair of side portions 51 of the mountain-folded bottom crotch portion 50 are joined to the first wall portion 110, and the second wall 120 side portions of each of the pair of side portions 51 of the mountain-folded bottom crotch portion 50 are joined to the second wall portion 120, thereby forming a pair of bottom crotch side joints 53. The length W12 in the width direction W of each of the pair of upper end side joints 12 is the same as the length W53 in the width direction W of each of the pair of bottom crotch side joints 53. The length W11 in the width direction W of each of the pair of lower end side joints 11 is 2.5 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less. The length W53 in the width direction W of each of the pair of bottom crotch side joints 53 is 5.0 mm or more and 10.0 mm or less.

[0077] This improves the self-standing ability of the pouch container 1 when placed on the surface, and also improves the aesthetic appearance of the pouch container 1.

[0078] In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a pouch container 1 includes a step S1 of arranging the bottom gusset portion 50 in a folded state between the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120, a step S3 of forming a pair of upper end side joint portions 12 by joining portions of the pair of side portions 111 in the width direction of the first wall portion 110 on the side of the upper end 110U and portions of the pair of side portions 121 in the width direction W on the side of the upper end 120U to each other, and a step S4 of sealing the upper end 10U of the body portion 10 while providing a spout portion 90 at the upper end 10U of the body portion 10. The step S3 of forming the upper end side joint portion 12 includes a first welding step S31 and a second welding step S32, in this order. The first welding process S31 includes a process S311 of welding the left side portions 111L, 121L of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 to each other at a position away from the left side edge 110L, 120L of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 toward the right side edge 110R, 120R, thereby forming a first left side weld portion 13L extending in the vertical direction, and a process S312 of welding the right side portions 111R, 121R of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 to each other at a position away from the right side edge 110R, 120R of each of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 toward the left side edge 110L, 120L, thereby forming a first right side weld portion 13R extending in the vertical direction. The second welding process S32 includes a process S321 of welding the left side portions 111L, 121L of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 to each other so as to overlap the first left side weld portion 13L, thereby forming a second left side weld portion 14L wider than the first left side weld portion 13L, and a process S322 of welding the right side portions 111R, 121R of the first wall portion 110 and the second wall portion 120 to each other so as to overlap the first right side weld portion 13R, thereby forming a second right side weld portion 14R wider than the first right side weld portion 13R.

[0079] This makes it possible to further prevent the pouch container 1 from bending downward D at the portion of the body 10 on the upper end 10U side.

[0080] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1 pouch container, 10 body portion, 11 lower end side joint portion, 12 upper end side joint portion, 13L first left side welded portion, 13R first right side welded portion, 14L second left side welded portion, 14R second right side welded portion, 50 bottom crotch portion, 50U mountain fold portion, 52 notch portion, 53 bottom crotch side joint portion, 54 lower end joint portion, 90 pouring portion, 91 spout, 92 cap, 93 pouring outlet, 110 first wall portion, 111L, 121L left side portions, 111R, 121R right side portions, 120 second wall portion.

Claims

1. a body portion formed by a first wall portion and a second wall portion facing the first wall portion; a bottom gusset disposed between the first wall and the second wall at a lower end of the body; A pouring portion is provided at the upper end of the body portion and is arranged so that the pouring outlet faces at least upward, The length of each of the first wall portion and the second wall portion in the width direction is 35 mm or more and 100 mm or less, The vertical length of each of the first wall portion and the second wall portion is 80 mm or more and 200 mm or less, The thickness of each of the body film constituting the body and the bottom crotch film constituting the bottom crotch is 64 μm or more and 150 μm or less, The mass of the pouring portion is 0.9 g or more and 1.5 g or less, a first left side welded portion extending in the vertical direction, the first wall portion and the second wall portion being formed by welding the left side portions of the first wall portion and the second wall portion to each other at a position spaced apart from the left side edge of each of the first wall portion and the second wall portion toward the right side edge thereof; a first right side welded portion extending in the vertical direction, formed by welding right side portions of the first wall portion and the second wall portion to each other, spaced apart from the right side edge toward the left side edge of each of the first wall portion and the second wall portion; a second left side welded portion that is wider than the first left side welded portion and is formed by welding the left side portions of the first wall portion and the second wall portion to each other so as to overlap the first left side welded portion; the pouch container further comprising a second right side weld portion wider than the first right side weld portion, the second right side weld portion being formed by welding the right side portions of the first wall portion and the second wall portion to each other so as to overlap the first right side weld portion.

2. the bottom gusset is folded from a lower end of the body portion between the first wall portion and the second wall portion, In each of a pair of regions where the lower end portions of the pair of side portions in the width direction of the first wall portion, the lower end portions of the pair of side portions in the width direction of the second wall portion, and the mountain-folded bottom crotch portion overlap each other, the first wall portion and the second wall portion are joined to each other via notches formed in the pair of side portions in the width direction of the mountain-folded bottom crotch portion, thereby forming a pair of lower end side joint portions, Above the bottom crotch of the mountain fold, upper end portions of each of the pair of side portions in the width direction of the first wall portion and upper end portions of each of the pair of side portions in the width direction of the second wall portion are joined to each other, thereby forming a pair of upper end side joint portions, In each of the pair of regions, a portion of each of a pair of side portions of the bottom crotch portion that is mountain-folded on the first wall side is joined to the first wall portion, and a portion of each of a pair of side portions of the bottom crotch portion that is mountain-folded on the second wall side is joined to the second wall portion, thereby forming a pair of bottom crotch side joints, the widthwise length of each of the pair of upper end side joints is the same as the widthwise length of each of the pair of bottom crotch side joints; The width direction length of each of the pair of lower end side joints is 2.5 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less, 2. The pouch container according to claim 1, wherein the width of each of the pair of bottom gusset side joints is 5.0 mm or more and 10.0 mm or less.

3. A method for manufacturing the pouch container according to claim 1 or claim 2, placing the bottom gusset portion between the first wall portion and the second wall portion in a folded state; forming a pair of upper end side joint portions by joining upper end portions of a pair of side portions in the width direction of the first wall portion and upper end portions of a pair of side portions in the width direction of the second wall portion; and sealing the upper end of the body portion while providing the pouring portion at the upper end of the body portion, the step of forming the upper end side joint portion includes a first welding step and a second welding step in this order; The first welding step includes: a step of welding the left side portions of the first wall portion and the second wall portion to each other at a position away from the left side edge of each of the first wall portion and the second wall portion toward the right side edge thereof, thereby forming the first left side welded portion extending in a vertical direction; and welding the right side portions of the first wall portion and the second wall portion to each other away from each other from the right side edge toward the left side edge, thereby forming the first right side welded portion extending in the up-down direction, The second welding step includes: welding the left side portions of the first wall portion and the second wall portion to each other so as to overlap the first left side weld, thereby forming the second left side weld that is wider than the first left side weld; and welding the right side portions of the first wall portion and the second wall portion to each other so as to overlap the first right side weld, thereby forming the second right side weld that is wider than the first right side weld.

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