Method for manufacturing a pouch container and a pouch container

Abstract

This method for manufacturing a pouch container A1 comprises: a step for preparing a first film member 1 that includes a section which is to be a top gusset portion 10 of the pouch container A1; a step for preparing a tubular second film member 2 that includes a section which is to be a body portion 20 of the pouch container A1; a step for forming an annular top seal portion; a step for forming an auxiliary seal portion 45; and a cutting step for cutting off, from the first film member 1, the section which is to be the top gusset portion 10. The cutting step includes processing to form a cut portion CP that intersects the auxiliary seal portion 45 and that passes through the first film member 1, a first subsection 22A, a second subsection 22B, a first main section 21A, and a second main section 21B. Such a configuration makes it possible to improve the external shape of the pouch container while maintaining its airtightness.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Pouch containers are widely used as containers for storing various articles such as food and beverages. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a conventional method for manufacturing a pouch container. The method for manufacturing a pouch container disclosed in this document uses a strip film member including a portion that becomes the top gusset portion of the pouch container and a single-leaf film member including a portion that becomes the body portion of the pouch container.

[0003] In the above manufacturing method, the strip film member and a pair of welding margins are heat-welded in a state where the pair of welding margins of the single-leaf film member are separated from each other. Next, by cutting the strip film member, a portion that becomes the top gusset portion is cut out from the strip film member. Thereby, a film member having a top gusset portion and a body portion welded to each other is obtained. After that, a pouch container is obtained by appropriately going through processes of cutting and heat welding.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] A pouch container is required to maintain airtightness during manufacturing, transportation, sales, use, etc., so as not to leak the articles stored inside. Since the above-described pouch container is manufactured by heat-welding a plurality of film members, ensuring airtightness at joints of the film members and the like can be a problem. In addition, the pouch container preferably has an external shape in which aesthetics and touch are enhanced during sales and use.

[0006] The present invention was conceived under the circumstances described above, and its objective is to provide a method for manufacturing a pouch container and a pouch container that can improve the external shape while maintaining airtightness. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A method for manufacturing a pouch container provided by a first aspect of the present invention comprises the steps of: preparing a first film member including a portion that will become the top gusset portion of the pouch container; preparing a second tubular film member including a portion that will become the body portion of the pouch container, which includes first and second main portions that are superimposed on each other, and first and second sub-parts that extend from the first and second main portions along the axial direction of the body portion, respectively, and having a pair of side seal portions to which the widthwise ends of the first and second main portions are joined; and preparing the first and second film members in a state that is separated from each other The process includes the steps of: forming an annular top seal portion by heat welding the second sub-part and the first film member; forming an auxiliary seal portion by heating a region including the boundary between the first and second sub-parts, which includes a part of the top seal portion and a part of the side seal portion; and cutting a portion from the first film member that will become the top gusset portion, wherein the cutting step includes forming a cut portion that intersects the auxiliary seal portion and penetrates the first film member, the first and second sub-parts and the first and second main parts.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, after the step of forming the top seal portion and before the step of forming the auxiliary seal portion, the invention further includes a step of folding the second film member so that the first main portion faces the first sub-part, thereby overlapping the first film member, the first sub-part, and the first and second main portions in a flat manner.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the process of forming the cut portion is to cut along a cutting line that overlaps the side seal portion and has an inclined section that is inclined so that it moves away from the boundary between the first and second sub-parts in the axial direction and away from the center of the second film member in the width direction.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner edge of the side seal portion has an inclined portion that is inclined so as it moves away from the boundary between the first and second sub-parts in the axial direction, it moves away from the center of the second film member in the width direction, and the inclined section of the cutting line is located outside the inclined portion in the width direction.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first and second main parts each include a wide portion connected to the first and second sub-parts, and a narrow portion connected to the wide portion on the opposite side from the first and second sub-parts and having a smaller width dimension than the wide portion.

[0012] A pouch container provided by a second aspect of the present invention comprises a cylindrical body and a top gusset portion that closes the axial open end of the body, a pair of side seal portions, a top seal portion, and a pair of auxiliary seal portions, wherein the body includes first and second main portions and first and second sub-portions connected to the first and second main portions, respectively, the pair of side seal portions are portions where the widthwise ends of the first and second main portions are joined together, the top seal portion is an annular portion where the first and second sub-portions and the top gusset portion are joined together, and the pair of auxiliary seal portions are A region including the boundary between the first and second sub-parts is formed in a region including a portion of each of the top seal portion and a portion of each of the side seal portion, wherein at both ends in the width direction of the boundary between the first and second sub-parts, the outer edge of the top gusset portion, the outer edge of the top seal portion, the outer edge of the auxiliary seal portion, and the outer edges of the first and second main portions coincide with each other, and the outer edge of the side seal portion includes an inclined portion that is inclined so that it moves away from the boundary between the first and second sub-parts in the axial direction and away from the center of the body portion in the width direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing a pouch container and a pouch container that can improve the external appearance shape while maintaining airtightness.

[0014] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is a plan view showing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a bottom view showing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] It is a perspective view showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a front view showing a second film member used in the method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X of FIG. 9. [Figure 11] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 9. [Figure 12] It is a plan view of the main part showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] It is a plan view of the main part showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14]It is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV of FIG. 13. [Figure 15] It is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part taken along line XV-XV of FIG. 13. [Figure 16] It is a perspective view showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] It is a plan view of the main part showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] It is a plan view of the main part showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIX-XIX of FIG. 18. [Figure 20] It is a plan view of the main part showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] It is an enlarged plan view of the main part showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] It is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part taken along line XXII-XXII of FIG. 21. [Figure 23] It is a perspective view showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] It is a plan view of the main part showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] It is an enlarged plan view of the main part showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] It is a plan view of the main part showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27] It is an enlarged plan view of the main part showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXVIII-XXVIII of FIG. 27. [Figure 29] It is an enlarged plan view of the main part showing the first modification example of the method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 30] It is an enlarged plan view of the main part showing the first modification example of the method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 31] This is an enlarged plan view of a key part showing a second modified example of the method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 32] This is an enlarged plan view of a key part showing a third modified example of the method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 33] This is a plan view of the main part showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 34] This is a plan view of the main parts showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 35] This is a plan view of the main parts showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 36] This is a plan view of the main part showing a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0017] The terms "first," "second," "third," etc., used in this disclosure are used solely for the purpose of identifying components and are not intended to assign any order to those components.

[0018] Figures 1 to 5 show a pouch container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The pouch container A1 of this embodiment comprises a top gusset portion 10, a body portion 20, a bottom gusset portion 23, a spout 7, a pair of side seal portions 41, a top seal portion 42, a bottom seal portion 43, a spout seal portion 44, and a pair of auxiliary seal portions 45. The pouch container A1 is a container for holding contents such as food and beverages.

[0019] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing pouch container A1 with the body portion 20 inflated. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along line II-II in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line III-III in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a plan view showing pouch container A1 folded flat so that the body portion 20 is aligned with the top gusset portion 10, and Figure 5 is a bottom view.

[0020] The body section 20 is cylindrical and has a first main section 21A, a second main section 21B, a first sub-section 22A, and a second sub-section 22B. The first main section 21A and the first sub-section 22A are made of a single film material. The second main section 21B and the second sub-section 22B are made of a single film material. In the state shown in Figures 4 and 5, the first main section 21A and the second main section 21B are superimposed on each other in the z direction. Furthermore, when the body section 20 is folded, the top gusset section 10, the first sub-section 22A, the first main section 21A, and the second main section 21B are superimposed on each other in the z direction in that order.

[0021] The top gusset portion 10 is made of a film material and closes one of the open ends of the body portion 20 in the axial direction (z-direction in Figures 1 to 3). The shape of the top gusset portion 10 is not limited in any way, and various shapes such as polygonal or elliptical shapes can be used as appropriate. In this embodiment, the top gusset portion 10 is octagonal in the state shown in Figure 4. Furthermore, the top gusset portion 10 may be symmetrical with respect to the boundary B1, or it may be asymmetrical.

[0022] The spout 7 is a component used for filling and extracting the contents of the pouch container A1, and is made of resin, for example. The spout 7 is fixed to the top gusset portion 10 by being inserted through a through hole 11 provided in the top gusset portion 10. The specific configuration of the spout 7 is not limited in any way, and in the illustrated example, it has a cylindrical portion and a flange-shaped portion. For example, a threaded portion is formed on the cylindrical portion, and a lid portion (not shown) is attached by screwing it on. The flange-shaped portion is fixed to the top gusset portion 10. Note that the pouch container according to the present invention may have a configuration without a spout 7.

[0023] The bottom gusset portion 23 is made of a film material and closes the open end on the other side of the body portion 20 in the axial direction (z direction in Figures 1 to 3). In the state shown in Figures 4 and 5, the bottom gusset portion 23 is folded and positioned between the first main portion 21A and the second main portion 21B. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the pouch container A1, by having the bottom gusset portion 23, is configured to be self-supporting with the bottom gusset portion 23 vertically downward when the body portion 20 is inflated. Note that the pouch container according to the present invention may also be configured without the bottom gusset portion 23.

[0024] The pair of side seal portions 41 are the parts where the ends of the first main portion 21A and the second main portion 21B in the width direction (x direction) are joined together. The pair of side seal portions 41 are spaced apart from each other in the x direction.

[0025] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the side seal portion 41 has an inner edge 411 and an outer edge 412. The inner edge 411 is the inner edge in the x-direction, and the outer edge 412 is the outer edge in the x-direction.

[0026] The inner edge 411 includes an inclined portion 4111 and a straight portion 4112. The inclined portion 4111 is the part of the inner edge 411 that is located closer to the open end on one side of the body 20 (the open end closed by the top gusset portion 10) in the axial direction (z direction in Figures 1 to 3, y direction in Figures 4 and 5). That is, in the state shown in Figures 4 and 5, the inclined portion 4111 is the part of the inner edge 411 that is located closer to boundary B1, which is the boundary between the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B. In the state shown in Figures 4 and 5, the inclined portion 4111 is inclined so that it moves away from the boundary B1 in the axial direction (y direction) (i.e., away from the top gusset portion 10 and closer to the bottom gusset portion 23) and away from the center of the body 20 in the width direction (x direction). The angle α that the inclined portion 4111 makes with the y-direction in Figures 4 and 5 is preferably 10° or less, and more preferably 3° to 7°.

[0027] The outer edge 412 includes an inclined portion 4121, a straight portion 4122, and a straight portion 4123. The inclined portion 4121 is the part of the outer edge 412 located closer to one side of the body portion 20's open end (the open end closed by the top gusset portion 10) in the axial direction (z direction in Figures 1 to 3, y direction in Figures 4 and 5). That is, in the state shown in Figures 4 and 5, the inclined portion 4121 is the part of the outer edge 412 located closer to boundary B1. In the state shown in Figures 4 and 5, the inclined portion 4121 is inclined so that the further it is from boundary B1 in the axial direction (y direction) (i.e., the further it is from the top gusset portion 10 and the closer it is to the bottom gusset portion 23), the further it is from the center of the body portion 20 in the width direction (x direction). Also, the inclined portion 4121 is located outside the inner edge 411 in the x direction. The angle β that the inclined portion 4121 makes with the y-direction in Figures 4 and 5 is preferably 10° or less, and more preferably 3° to 7°. It is also preferable that angle α and angle β are the same. In this case, the inclined portions 4111 and 4121 are parallel to each other.

[0028] In this embodiment, in the state shown in Figures 4 and 5, the inclined portion 4111 and the inclined portion 4121 are located in the y-direction between the boundary B1 and the first side portion 421 at the bottom of the figure (the first side portion 421 that overlaps with the first main portion 21A).

[0029] The straight section 4122 is located in the axial direction (y-direction in Figures 4 and 5) on the opposite side of the boundary B1 from the inclined section 4121. The straight section 4122 is a straight line along the y-direction. The straight section 4123 is located in the axial direction (y-direction in Figures 4 and 5) on the boundary B1 side from the inclined section 4121. The straight section 4122 is a straight line along the y-direction.

[0030] The top seal portion 42 is the area where the top gusset portion 10 and the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B are joined. The shape of the top seal portion 42 is not limited in any way, and in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, it is an annular shape surrounding the spout 7 when viewed in the z direction. In the illustrated example, the top seal portion 42 has a pair of first sides 421, four second sides 422, and a pair of third sides 423, and is an octagonal annular shape that follows the outer shape of the top gusset portion 10. Note that the shape of the inner edge of the top seal portion 42 does not have to follow the outer shape of the top gusset portion 10. That is, the inner edge and outer edge of the top seal portion 42 do not have to be similar in shape to each other.

[0031] The angle γ, which is the angle between the inner edge of the second side portion 422 and the x-direction as shown in Figure 4, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 35° to 40°. The length L, which is the length of the inner edge of the third side portion 423, is also not particularly limited, but is preferably 2 mm to 8 mm. As an example of a preferred combination of angle γ and length L, for example, when angle γ is 40°, length L is preferably 2 to 4 mm, when angle γ is 35°, length L is preferably 2 to 8 mm, and the combination of angle γ being 35° and length L being 2 mm is particularly preferred.

[0032] A pair of first edges 421 are spaced apart in the y-direction, each extending in the x-direction. Four second edges 422 are connected to both ends of the pair of first edges 421 and are inclined with respect to the x and y directions. A pair of third edges 423 are located at both ends of the top seal portion 42 in the x-direction. Each third edge 423 is connected to a pair of second edges 422 aligned in the y-direction. The third edges 423 are shaped along the y-direction.

[0033] The bottom seal portion 43 is the area where the body portion 20 and the bottom gusset portion 23 are joined. In this embodiment, the bottom seal portion 43 is joined to the portion including the lower ends of the first main portion 21A and the second main portion 21B. In the illustrated example, the inner edge of the bottom seal portion 43 has a bent shape that forms part of a polygon, but it is not limited to this, and various shapes such as an arc shape can be selected. In the case of a pouch container without a bottom gusset portion 23, the bottom seal portion 43 may be configured in which the lower ends of the first main portion 21A and the second main portion 21B are directly joined together.

[0034] The spout seal portion 44 is the portion where the flange-shaped part of the spout 7 and the top gusset portion 10 are joined. In the illustrated example, the spout seal portion 44 is annular in shape.

[0035] The pair of auxiliary sealing portions 45 are provided to seal any gaps that may occur between the top gusset portion 10, the first main portion 21A, the second main portion 21B, the first sub-portion 22A, and the second sub-portion 22B in the manufacturing method of the pouch container A1 described later. The auxiliary sealing portions 45 are formed in a region including the boundary B1, and in a region including a part of the top gusset portion 10 and a part of the side sealing portion 41. The pair of auxiliary sealing portions 45 are arranged at both ends of the top gusset portion 10 in the x-direction.

[0036] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, at the boundary ends E1, which are both x-direction ends of boundary B1, the outer edge 12 of the top gusset portion 10 in the x-direction, the outer edge 429 of the top seal portion 42 in the x-direction, the outer edge 454 of the auxiliary seal portion 45 in the x-direction, and the outer edges 215A and 215B of the first main portion 21A and the second main portion 21B, respectively, coincide with each other.

[0037] The film material constituting the top gusset portion 10 and the body portion 20 is, for example, a resin film. The resin film is required to possess basic performance characteristics as a pouch container, such as impact resistance, abrasion resistance, and heat resistance. Furthermore, since each of the above-mentioned seal portions is usually formed by heat welding, the resin film is also required to have heat-weldability. As the resin film, a multilayer sheet having a base film layer and a sealant layer that provides heat-weldability is preferred, and if high gas barrier properties or light shielding properties are required, it is preferable to provide a barrier layer between the base film layer and the sealant layer. In addition, the base film layer itself may be given barrier properties. In this case, the barrier layer is used as the base film layer, resulting in a multilayer sheet having a barrier layer and a sealant layer. Furthermore, the film material constituting the top gusset portion 10 and the body portion 20 may also contain biomass material.

[0038] Here, we illustrate the constituent materials of the base film layer, sealant layer, and gas barrier layer. These layers can be laminated using conventional lamination methods, such as co-extrusion lamination, dry lamination with adhesive, or thermal lamination where a heat-adhesive layer is sandwiched between layers for heat bonding.

[0039] Examples of films constituting the base film layer include one or more stretched or unstretched films made of polyester (polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), etc.), polyolefin (polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), etc.), polyamide (nylon-6, nylon-66, etc.), etc., with biaxially oriented films being preferred.

[0040] Examples of films constituting the sealant layer include one or more stretched or unstretched films or extruded resin layers made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), ethylene-propylene copolymer (EP), unstretched polypropylene (CPP), ethylene-olefin copolymer, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer (EAA), ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer (EMAA), and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), with substantially unstretched films being preferred.

[0041] Examples of gas barrier layers include metal foil such as aluminum, resin films such as vinylidene chloride (PVDC) and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), or any synthetic resin film (for example, a base film layer) on which inorganic oxides such as aluminum, aluminum oxide, or silica are deposited (or sputtered).

[0042] In this embodiment, the outer surfaces of the top gusset portion 10, the body portion 20, and the bottom gusset portion 23 are composed of a base film layer, and their inner surfaces are composed of a sealant layer. The film composition of the top gusset portion 10, the body portion 20, and the bottom gusset portion 23 may be the same or different from each other.

[0043] Next, the manufacturing method for pouch container A1 will be described below with reference to Figures 6 to 28.

[0044] Figure 6 is a flow chart showing the manufacturing method of pouch container A1 according to this embodiment. Figures 7, 8, 16, and 23 are perspective views showing this manufacturing method. Figures 9 to 15, 17 to 22, and 24 to 28 are diagrams showing the parts in each step of this manufacturing method.

[0045] In this manufacturing method, a pouch container A1 is manufactured using a first film member 1 and a second film member 2 as materials. The first film member 1 includes the portion that will become the top gusset portion 10 of the pouch container A1. The second film member 2 includes the portion that will become the body portion 20 of the pouch container A1. In the illustrated example, a strip-shaped first film member 1 is used as the first film member 1, and a plurality of second film members 2 are used. In this embodiment, a single film roll is used as the strip-shaped first film member 1. The plurality of second film members 2 are so-called single-sheet film materials, each prepared as a film material corresponding to one pouch container A1. Furthermore, the manufacturing configuration is such that the first film member 1 and the plurality of second film members 2 are sequentially conveyed in the longitudinal direction of the first film member 1. This is intended to enable the continuous manufacture of multiple pouch containers A1.

[0046] Positions P1 to P14 in the figure indicate the positions of each part of the manufacturing apparatus that realizes this manufacturing method. The direction in which the first film member 1 is conveyed is defined as the x-direction, the direction in which both ends of the first film member 1 separate is defined as the y-direction, and the direction perpendicular to the x-direction and the y-direction is defined as the z-direction. Note that the conveying direction of the first film member 1 and the directions of each part in each step of the manufacturing method can be changed as appropriate to the extent that the manufacturing method described below can be realized.

[0047] The first film member 1 is not limited to a strip shape. Nor is it limited to a configuration in which multiple second film members 2 are used for one first film member 1. When the first film member 1 is transported in the x direction, positions P1 to P14 refer to the positions described above. However, if, for example, the first film member 1 is not transported and the pouch container A1 is manufactured at a predetermined location, positions P1 to P14 may refer to the times when the illustrated processes and operations are performed.

[0048] As shown in Figure 6, the method for manufacturing the pouch container A1 of this embodiment comprises steps S1 to S7.

[0049] First, as shown in Figure 7, step S1 is performed. Step S1 is the process of preparing the first film member 1. The first film member 1 is in the shape of a strip and includes multiple portions that will become the top gusset portion 10 of the pouch container A1. The first film member 1 is sequentially transported to positions P1 to P4 along the x-direction.

[0050] At position P1, a through hole 11 is formed in the first film member 1. The through hole 11 penetrates the first film member 1 and is, for example, circular in shape.

[0051] At position P2, the spout 7 is inserted through the through hole 11 of the first film member 1. In the illustrated example, the spout 7 is lifted from the lower side in the z direction of the first film member 1, and the cylindrical portion of the spout 7 is inserted through the through hole 11.

[0052] At position P3, the spout 7 and the first film member 1 are joined. The first welding mechanism M1 is a mechanism for heat welding the spout 7 and the first film member 1, and includes, for example, a heater and a lifting mechanism (neither of which are shown). By heat welding with the first welding mechanism M1, the spout seal portion 44 is formed. At position P4, for example, a cooling process may be performed on the spout seal portion 44. This increases the bonding strength of the spout seal portion 44 and lowers the temperature of the spout seal portion 44 to room temperature, allowing the next process to be carried out quickly. In the illustrated example, the spout 7 is heat-welded to the lower surface in the z direction of the first film member 1 in Figure 7 (the surface corresponding to the inner surface of the top gusset portion 10 in the pouch container A1), but it is not limited to this, and the spout 7 may also be heat-welded to the upper surface in the z direction of the first film member 1 in Figure 7 (the surface corresponding to the outer surface of the top gusset portion 10 in the pouch container A1). In addition, unlike this embodiment, a first film member 1 without a through hole 11 may be used. In this case, a pouch container without a through hole 11 can be obtained by joining the spout 7 to the first film member 1 and going through the subsequent manufacturing process. When using this pouch container, a method of forming a through hole in the top gusset portion 10 may be adopted. If the through hole 11 is not provided, it is expected that the airtightness of the pouch container can be further improved.

[0053] Next, as shown in Figure 8, step S2 is performed. Step S2 is the process of preparing the second film member 2. The second film member 2 includes the portion that will become the body 20 of the pouch container A1 and is cylindrical in shape. As shown in Figures 9 to 11, the second film member 2 of this embodiment has a first main portion 21A, a second main portion 21B, a first sub-part 22A, a second sub-part 22B, a bottom gusset portion 23, and a pair of side seal portions 41 and bottom seal portions 43.

[0054] The first main section 21A and the second main section 21B are joined at both ends in the width direction (x direction in Figures 9 to 11) by a pair of side seal sections 41. The second main section 21B and the second sub-section 22B extend from the first main section 21A and the second main section 21B along the axial direction (z direction in Figures 9 to 11), respectively. In the example shown in Figure 9, the boundary between the first main section 21A and the second main section 21B, and the boundary between the second main section 21B and the second sub-section 22B are set slightly away from the upper ends of the pair of side seal sections 41 in the figure. This is to accommodate the case where the first sub-section 22A and the second sub-section 22B are folded at the illustrated position in the manufacturing process described later, in order to avoid excessive force being applied to the upper ends of the pair of side seal sections 41 when they are opened and separated from each other.

[0055] In the illustrated example, the first main section 21A includes a wide section 211A and a narrow section 212A. The wide section 211A is connected to the first sub-section 22A, and in this example, its width (x-direction) dimension is the same as that of the first sub-section 22A. The narrow section 212A is connected to the wide section 211A on the opposite side from the first sub-section 22A, and its width (x-direction) dimension is smaller than that of the wide section 211A. The illustrated wide section 211A includes a portion where the width (x-direction) dimension increases as you move from the narrow section 212A side towards the first sub-section 22A side, and a portion where the width (x-direction) dimension remains constant.

[0056] Furthermore, the second main section 21B includes a wide section 211B and a narrow section 212B. The wide section 211B is connected to the second sub-section 22B, and in this example, its width (x-direction) dimension is the same as that of the second sub-section 22B. The narrow section 212B is connected to the wide section 211B on the opposite side from the second sub-section 22B, and its width (x-direction) dimension is smaller than that of the wide section 211B. The illustrated wide section 211B includes a portion where the width (x-direction) dimension increases as you move from the narrow section 212B side towards the second sub-section 22B side, and a portion where the width (x-direction) dimension remains constant.

[0057] As shown in Figure 10, the bottom gusset portion 23 is positioned between the first main portion 21A and the second main portion 21B in a mountain-folded state. The first main portion 21A and the second main portion 21B and the bottom gusset portion 23 are joined to each other at the bottom seal portion 43. The bottom gusset portion 23 may be a separate part from the first main portion 21A and the second main portion 21B, or it may be integrated with one or both of the first main portion 21A and the second main portion 21B.

[0058] The second film member 2 may, for example, not have a bottom gusset portion 23. In this case, the first main portion 21A and the second main portion 21B may be directly joined by a bottom seal portion 43. Alternatively, the second film member 2 may be used in a state where it is open on both sides in the axial direction (z direction in Figures 9 to 11). In this case, after the manufacturing method described later, steps such as adding a bottom gusset portion 23 or joining the bottoms of the first main portion 21A and the second main portion 21B as a bottom seal portion 43 may be appropriately performed.

[0059] As shown in Figure 8, in step S2, the second film member 2 is prepared in a position where its axial direction coincides with the z direction and its width direction coincides with the x direction. In the illustrated example, at position P5, the second film member 2 is positioned below the first film member 1 in the z direction. The second film member 2 is held by a holding mechanism (not shown) and is conveyed continuously or intermittently in the x direction in synchronization with the first film member 1.

[0060] Next, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, step S3 is performed. Step S3 is the process of forming the top seal portion 42. In step S3 of this embodiment, first, at position P6, the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B are separated from each other. Specifically, by opening the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B, which are in a position along the z-direction, they are positioned along the xy-plane and separated from each other, as shown in Figures 8 and 12. This process is performed by individually holding the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B with, for example, a vacuum head (not shown).

[0061] Next, at position P7, the second film member 2, with the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B separated, is brought closer to the first film member 1. In the illustrated example, this process is performed using the second welding mechanism M2. The second welding mechanism M2 performs the process of bringing the first film member 1 and the second film member 2 closer to a predetermined state and heat welding to form the bottom seal portion 43.

[0062] The second welding mechanism M2 includes a welding die m21 and a pair of welding dies m22. The welding die m21 is located above the first film member 1 in the z direction and is driven by an actuator (not shown) that allows it to move downward and upward along the z direction, and has a heating section that corresponds to the shape of the top seal portion 42. The pair of welding dies m22 are arranged on both sides in the y direction, flanking the first main portion 21A and the second main portion 21B, and are driven by an actuator (not shown) that allows them to move toward and away from the second film member 2 in the y direction, and upward and downward along the z direction, and have a heating section that corresponds to the shape of the top seal portion 42.

[0063] For example, a pair of welding dies m22 move closer to each other in the y-direction and move downward in the z-direction of the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B. Then, the pair of welding dies m22 move upward along the z-direction, bringing the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B into contact with the lower surface of the first film member 1 in the z-direction. In conjunction with this, welding die m21 moves downward along the z-direction. As a result, as shown in Figure 14, the first film member 1 and the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B are sandwiched between welding die m21 and the pair of welding dies m22. At this time, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the boundary B1 between the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B is positioned to overlap with the spout 7 when viewed in the z-direction. In the illustrated example, the boundary B1 is located approximately at the center in the y-direction of the first film member 1 and the spout 7. Then, the heating elements of the welding die m21 and the pair of welding dies m22 heat-weld the first film member 1 and the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B to each other at the appropriate locations. As a result, an annular top seal portion 42 surrounding the spout 7 is formed, as shown in Figures 8 and 13 to 15.

[0064] The top seal portion 42 has a pair of first sides 421, four second sides 422, and a pair of third sides 423. The pair of first sides 421, the four second sides 422, and the pair of third sides 423 are substantially the same as those in pouch container A1. The pair of third sides 423 overlap with boundary B1.

[0065] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 15, when the bottom seal portion 43 is formed in step S3, a gap Gp may exist between the first film member 1 and the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B and the first main part 21A and the second main part 21B. The gap Gp may be created, for example, by folding the second film member 2 at a position slightly away from the side seal portion 41 during the process of opening the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B as described above. It may also be created by providing a gap between the pair of welding dies m22 when bringing the pair of welding dies m22 closer together in the y direction, for the purpose of providing a margin for the machine and preventing excessive force from being applied to the first main part 21A and the second main part 21B and causing them to be unintentionally damaged. In other words, due to a gap Gp, there may be unwelded portions interposed between the pair of side seal portions 41 and the top seal portion 42 in the first film member 1, the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B, and the first main part 21A and the second main part 21B. In this case, there may be unwelded portions that cross the third side portion 423 in the x direction at a position overlapping with the boundary B1, but these unwelded portions are omitted in figures other than Figure 15.

[0066] Next, at position P8, for example, a cooling process may be performed on the bottom seal portion 43. This increases the bonding strength of the bottom seal portion 43 and lowers the temperature of the bottom seal portion 43 to around room temperature, allowing the next process to be carried out quickly.

[0067] Next, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, step S4 is performed. Step S4 is the process of cutting the first film member 1 and the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B. Depending on the shape of the first film member 1 and the shape of the top gusset portion 10 of the pouch container A1, step S4 may not be performed. In step S4 of this embodiment, the first cutting mechanism M3 is used at position P10. The first cutting mechanism M3 has a cutting blade (not shown) that is shaped to be cut in step S4. In the illustrated example, the first cutting mechanism M3 cuts the first film member 1 and the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B along a cutting line that follows most of the outer shape of the top gusset portion 10 of the pouch container A1. As a result, a pair of cut pieces 15 are cut out, as shown in Figures 16 and 17. Furthermore, in the section from the formation of the top seal portion 42 at position P7 until step S7 is performed at position P14 (described later), the multiple second film members 2 are connected via the first film member 1, with intervals between them in the x-direction. Also, even after step S4 is performed at position P10, the state in which adjacent second film members 2 in the x-direction are connected is maintained via the portion of the first film member 1 located between adjacent second film members 2 in the x-direction. As a result, in this section, the first film member 1 and the multiple second film members 2 can be transported between each process (each position) in a continuous, integrated state.

[0068] Next, as shown in Figures 16, 18, and 19, step S5 is performed. Step S5 is a process of overlapping the first film member 1, the first sub-part 22A, the first main part 21A, and the second main part 21B in a flat manner by folding the second film member 2 so that the first main part 21A faces the first sub-part 22A. In the illustrated example, the second film member 2 is folded by lifting, for example, the area near the lower ends (bottom seal portion 43) of the first main part 21A and the second main part 21B while maintaining the first film member 1 and the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B in alignment with the xy plane. This overlaps the first film member 1, the first sub-part 22A, the first main part 21A, and the second main part 21B in a flat manner along the xy plane. Note that the method for manufacturing a pouch container according to the present invention is not limited to a configuration that includes step S5. A configuration may be used in which steps 6 and onward are performed without performing step 5 after step S4. Alternatively, the configuration may involve performing step S5 after step S6 and before step S7.

[0069] Next, step S6 is performed as shown in Figures 16 and 20-23. Step S6 is the process of forming the auxiliary seal portion 45. The purpose of forming the auxiliary seal portion 45 is to weld the unwelded portion caused by the gap Gp, as explained with reference to Figure 15, by heat welding. In this embodiment, for example, step S6 is performed using the third welding mechanism M4 shown in Figure 16.

[0070] The third welding mechanism M4 is a mechanism for heat welding the region including the unwelded portion caused by the gap Gp mentioned above, and includes, for example, a heater and a lifting mechanism (neither of which are shown). As shown in Figures 20 and 21, the region heated by the third welding mechanism M4 in the formation of the auxiliary seal portion 45 is first the region including the boundary B1 when viewed in the z direction. Next, this region includes a part of the top seal portion 42. Specifically, this region includes a part of the third side portion 423. This region may also include a part of the second side portion 422. This region also includes a part of the side seal portion 41. By heating this region while sandwiching it from the upper and lower directions in the z direction, the illustrated auxiliary seal portion 45 is formed.

[0071] The shape of the auxiliary sealing portion 45 is not limited in any way and can be formed by heating the above-mentioned region. The illustrated auxiliary sealing portion 45 has an inner edge 451, an outer edge 452, and a pair of lateral edges 453. The inner edge 451 is an edge located inward in the x-direction and extends along the y-direction. The outer edge 452 is an edge located outward in the x-direction and extends along the y-direction. The inner edge 451 and the outer edge 452 intersect with boundary B1. The illustrated inner edge 451 is longer than the outer edge 452. The pair of lateral edges 453 connect the ends of the inner edge 451 and the outer edge 452, respectively. The pair of lateral edges 453 have a portion where the distance in the y-direction gradually decreases from the side of the inner edge 451 to the side of the outer edge 452 in the x-direction, and a portion where the distance in the y-direction is approximately constant.

[0072] As shown in Figure 22, the unwelded portion resulting from the gap Gp described above becomes a welded portion as an auxiliary seal portion 45. That is, the unwelded portion that existed between the first film member 1 and the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B is heat-welded, and the unwelded portion that existed between the first main part 21A and the second main part 21B is heat-welded. The formation of the auxiliary seal portion 45 is important for improving the airtightness of the pouch container A1, and for example, the auxiliary seal portion 45 may be formed by heating the above-mentioned region multiple times. To form the auxiliary seal portion 45 more reliably, leakage portions 491 and 492 shown in Figure 22 may be formed. Leakage portion 491 is the portion where the sealant layer of the first film member 1 and the first sub-part 22A (second sub-part 22B) softened during the formation of the auxiliary seal portion 45 and leaked outward in the x-direction from the above-mentioned region pressed by the third welding mechanism M4. The leakage portion 492 is the area where the sealant layers of the first main portion 21A and the second main portion 21B have similarly leaked outward in the x-direction. That is, the auxiliary seal portion 45 may be formed with the leakage portions 491 and 492 attached to its outer edge 452.

[0073] At position P13 in Figure 23, for example, a cooling process may be performed on the auxiliary seal portion 45. This increases the bonding strength of the auxiliary seal portion 45 and lowers its temperature to room temperature, allowing the next process to proceed quickly. If step S5 is not performed before step S6, the auxiliary seal portion 45 may be formed using a third welding mechanism M4 with a different configuration than that of this embodiment. In other words, there are no limitations on whether or not step S5 is performed prior to step 6, or on the specific configuration of the third welding mechanism M4. A configuration that can appropriately heat-weld the unwelded portion caused by the gap Gp described above should be adopted as appropriate.

[0074] Next, step S7 is performed as shown in Figures 23 to 28. Step S7 is a cutting process in which the portion that will become the top gusset portion 10 is cut out from the first film member 1. In this embodiment, step S7 is performed at position P14 using the second cutting mechanism M5. The second cutting mechanism M5 is a mechanism that cuts the first film member 1 and the second film member 2 together, and includes, for example, a pair of cutting blades m51 and a lifting mechanism (not shown). The cutting blades m51 are arranged apart from each other in the x direction and achieve cutting along a pair of cutting lines CL shown in Figures 24 and 25.

[0075] The cutting line CL intersects the auxiliary sealing portion 45 and is located between the inner edge 451 and the outer edge 452 in the x-direction. The cutting line CL also intersects the third side portion 423 and the side sealing portion 41 of the top sealing portion 42. In the illustrated example, the cutting line CL is generally aligned with the y-direction and crosses the first film member 1 and the second film member 2 in the y-direction. However, the cutting line CL in the present invention is not limited to a configuration that crosses the first film member 1 and the second film member 2.

[0076] In the illustrated example, the cutting line CL has an inclined section CL1 and a straight section CL2. The inclined section CL1 overlaps with the side seal portion 41 and is inclined such that it moves away from the boundary B1 in the y-direction (axial direction) in Figures 24 and 25, and away from the center of the second film member 2 in the x-direction (width direction). The angle between the inclined section CL1 and the y-direction is the angle β described above. The shape of the inclined section CL1 is not limited, and a straight or curved shape can be selected as appropriate. In the illustrated example, the inclined section CL1 is an inclined straight line. Also, as shown in detail of section A in Figure 25, the inclined section CL1 intersects the outer edge 412 of the side seal portion 41 at intersection point Is. The position of intersection point Is is not limited in any way. In the illustrated example, intersection point Is is located in the part of the outer edge 412 that is included in the narrow section 212A. That is, intersection point Is is set at a position away from the bottom gusset portion 23 in the y-direction relative to the wide section 211A. The straight section CL2 is connected to the boundary B1 side in the y-direction, which is axial with respect to the inclined section CL1, and intersects with boundary B1, the auxiliary seal section 45, and the third side section 423. The straight section CL2 is a straight line along the y-direction.

[0077] Using the second cutting mechanism M5, a cut is made through the first film member 1, the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B, and the first main part 21A and the second main part 21B along the cutting line CL. As a result, step S7 includes the process of forming a cut portion CP that penetrates the first film member 1, the first sub-part 22A and the second sub-part 22B, and the first main part 21A and the second main part 21B, as shown in Figures 26 to 28. In this example, step S7 is substantially completed by this process. The shape of the cut portion CP corresponds to the shape of the cutting line CL described above.

[0078] Corresponding to the formation of the cut portion CP, the inclined portion 4121, the straight portion 4122, and the straight portion 4123 are formed on the outer edge 412 of the side seal portion 41. In addition, boundary ends Ba1 are formed at both ends of the boundary B1. Furthermore, an outer edge 12 is formed on the first film member 1, and an outer edge 454 is formed on the auxiliary seal portion 45. Furthermore, an outer edge 225A is formed on the first sub-part 22A, and an outer edge 225B is formed on the second sub-part 22B. An outer edge 215A is formed on the first main part 21A, and an outer edge 215B is formed on the second main part 21B. Since the outer edges 12, 454, 225A, 225B, 215A, and 215B are formed by cutting them all at once with the cutting blade m51, they coincide with each other at the boundary end Ba1 when viewed in the z direction. This is also true for pouch container A1 in the state shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0079] Furthermore, by cutting the auxiliary seal portion 45 along the cutting line CL, the leakage portions 491 and 492 are separated from the portion that will become the top gusset portion 10, as shown in Figure 28.

[0080] The second cutting mechanism M5 cuts out the portion that will become the top gusset portion 10 from the first film member 1. As a result, a pouch container A1 is obtained, as shown in Figure 23. If step S5 is not performed before step S7, the cutting along the cutting line CL may be performed using a second cutting mechanism M5 with a different configuration than that of this embodiment. In other words, there are no limitations on whether or not step S5 is performed before step S7, or on the specific configuration of the second cutting mechanism M5. Furthermore, step S5 may not be performed before step S6, and steps S5 and S7 may be performed sequentially after step S6.

[0081] Next, the manufacturing method of pouch container A1 and the function of pouch container A1 will be explained.

[0082] According to this embodiment, the unsealed portion that may occur due to the presence of the gap Gp shown in Figure 15 can be heat-sealed by forming an auxiliary sealing portion 45, as shown in Figures 21 and 22. This prevents the contents of the pouch container A1 from leaking out through the gap Gp. Furthermore, if the leakage portions 491 and 492 shown in Figure 22 remain on the pouch container A1, it may cause unintended protrusions or other defects in the external shape of the pouch container A1. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 25, by cutting along the cutting line CL that intersects the auxiliary sealing portion 45, the leakage portions 491 and 492 that may occur due to the formation of the auxiliary sealing portion 45 can be separated from the pouch container A1, as shown in Figure 28. Therefore, the external shape can be improved while maintaining the airtightness of the pouch container A1.

[0083] Furthermore, the cutting line CL includes an inclined section CL1. By including the inclined section CL1, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the pouch container A1 has a shape in which the outer edge 412 includes an inclined portion 4121. The inclined portion 4121 has a shape that gradually widens outward in the x-direction downward in the axial direction from the boundary end Ba1 of boundary B1. As a result, the boundary end Ba1 (both ends of the top gusset portion 10 in the x-direction) protrudes outward in the x-direction from the body portion 20, which prevents the top gusset portions 10 of adjacent pouch containers A1 from interfering with each other when transporting or displaying the pouch containers A1. In addition, it is possible to avoid unintended protrusions hitting the hand of the user when gripping the body portion 20 of the pouch container A1. Furthermore, the relative positions of the pair of cutting blades m51 (i.e., the pair of cutting lines CL) of the second cutting mechanism M5, which is an example of a mechanism for performing step S7 shown in Figure 23, and the first film member 1 and the second film member 2 may contain errors due to the operating accuracy of the manufacturing equipment and the expansion and contraction of the film members. Due to these errors, the intersection point Is may shift in the x and y directions in the detail view of part A in Figure 25. In this embodiment, the intersection point Is between the inclined section CL1 and the outer edge 412 is set in a portion included in the narrow section 212A and is separated in the y direction from the wide section 211A. Therefore, even if the intersection point Is shifts in the x and y directions, it is possible to suppress the inclusion of a part of the wide section 211A in the pouch container A1. Thus, it is possible to avoid the unintended wide section (a part of the wide section 211A) being created in the pouch container A1.

[0084] By including the inclined portion 4111 in the inner edge 411, it is possible to prevent the x-direction dimension of the portion of the side seal 41 where the inclined portion 4121 is provided from becoming smaller than that of the remaining portion. This is preferable for maintaining the airtightness of the pouch container A1.

[0085] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the first main section 21A and the second main section 21B each have a wide section 211A, a narrow section 212A, a wide section 211B, and a narrow section 212B, respectively. This makes it possible to intersect the inclined section CL1 with the outer edge 412 without making the angle β of the inclined section CL1 excessively large, as shown in Figures 24 and 25. This is preferable in order to avoid the inclined section 4111 having an extremely large angle β in the pouch container A1, which would result in an unintended shape.

[0086] Figures 29 to 36 show modified examples and other embodiments of the present invention. In these figures, elements identical or similar to those in the above embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals. Furthermore, the configurations of each part in each modified example and each embodiment can be appropriately combined with each other to the extent that no technical inconsistencies arise.

[0087] Figures 29 and 30 show a first modified example of the method for manufacturing a pouch container A1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this modified example, as shown in Figure 29, the cutting line CL does not completely cross the second film member 2, but is interrupted in the y-direction inside the outer edge 412. As shown in Figure 30, the cut portion CP formed by cutting along such a cutting line CL results in a state where the body portion 20 of the pouch container A1 is not yet completely separated. In this modified example, additional cutting may be performed afterward, or the remaining uncut portion may be torn off, for example, by gripping and pulling the bottom seal portion 43.

[0088] This modified version also improves the external shape of the pouch container A1 while maintaining its airtightness. Furthermore, as can be seen from this modified version, in step S7 of the present invention, the external appearance of the pouch container A1 can be improved by cutting along the cutting line CL that intersects the auxiliary sealing portion 45.

[0089] Figure 31 shows a second modified example of the method for manufacturing pouch container A1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this modified example, the shape of the inclined section CL1 of the cutting line CL is different from that of the example described above. In this modified example, the inclined section CL1 is a gently curved shape that bulges outward from the outside in the x-direction.

[0090] This modification also improves the external shape of the pouch container A1 while maintaining its airtightness. Furthermore, as can be seen from this modification, the specific shape of the inclined section CL1 of the cutting line CL is not limited in any way, as long as it is inclined as described above.

[0091] Figure 32 shows a third modified example of the method for manufacturing pouch container A1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this modified example, the shape of the cutting line CL is different from that of the example described above. In this modified example, the inclined section CL1 reaches the boundary B1. This inclined section CL1 is a curved shape similar to the inclined section CL1 in the example shown in Figure 31, for example. The cutting line CL also includes an inclined section CL3. The inclined section CL3 has a shape that is symmetrical to the inclined section CL1 with respect to the boundary B1 as the axis of symmetry, and is connected to the inclined section CL1 at a position where it overlaps with the boundary B1.

[0092] This modified example also improves the external shape of the pouch container A1 while maintaining its airtightness. Furthermore, as can be seen from this modified example, the cutting line CL is not limited to having a straight section CL2, but may be composed of, for example, an inclined section CL1 and an inclined section CL3 that is symmetrical to it.

[0093] Figure 33 shows a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first main portion 21A and the second main portion 21B of the second film member 2 do not have the wide portion 211A, wide portion 211B, narrow portion 212A, and narrow portion 212B as in the above-described embodiment. The first main portion 21A and the second main portion 21B have a shape in which the dimension in the x-direction, which is the width direction, is substantially constant.

[0094] In this embodiment as well, the cutting line CL intersects the outer edge 412 of the side seal portion 41. To more reliably achieve this intersection relationship, it is preferable that the angle β of the inclined section CL1 is larger than the angle β in the first embodiment.

[0095] This embodiment also makes it possible to improve the external shape while maintaining the airtightness of the pouch container. Furthermore, the specific shape of the second film member 2 used in the method for manufacturing the pouch container according to the present invention is not limited in any way. By appropriately setting the relationship between the cutting line CL and the outer edge 412 of the side seal portion 41, the above step S7 can be completed in a single cut.

[0096] Figure 34 shows a method for manufacturing a pouch container according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the cutting line CL is composed of a straight section CL2. The first main section 21A is provided with a wide section 211A and a wide section 211B, and the second main section 21B is provided with a wide section 211B and a narrow section 212B, with the intention of intersecting with such a cutting line CL. The cutting line CL is set at a position that intersects with the auxiliary sealing section 45 in the x direction and at a position that intersects with the outer edge 412 included in the wide section 211A and the wide section 211B.

[0097] This embodiment also makes it possible to improve the external shape while maintaining the airtightness of the pouch container. Furthermore, as can be seen from this embodiment, the cutting line CL is not limited to a shape having an inclined section CL1, but can be any shape that allows for appropriate cutting intersecting the auxiliary sealing portion 45.

[0098] Figure 35 shows a pouch container according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The pouch container A4 of this embodiment differs from the embodiment described above in the shape of the top gusset portion 10 and the top seal portion 42.

[0099] In this embodiment, the shape of the inner edge and the shape of the outer edge of the top seal portion 42 are not similar to each other. Also, the top gusset portion 10 (the outer edge of the top seal portion 42) has different sizes on one side (upper side in the figure) and the other side (lower side in the figure) with respect to the boundary B1 in the y direction. On the other hand, the inner edge of the top seal portion 42 is approximately symmetric with respect to the boundary B1.

[0100] In the example shown in the figure, the upper portion of the top gusset portion 10 (the outer edge of the top seal portion 42) is larger than the lower portion of the top seal portion. Also, the inner edge of the top seal portion 42 is roughly polygonal (octagonal), while the outer edge is elliptical.

[0101] This embodiment also makes it possible to improve the external shape while maintaining the airtightness of the pouch container. Furthermore, as can be understood from this embodiment, the shapes of the top gusset portion 10 and the top seal portion 42 are not limited in any way. The shapes of the inner edge and the outer edge of the top seal portion 42 may be similar to each other, or they may not be similar. The shapes of the inner edge and the outer edge of the top seal portion 42 can be independently selected from various shapes such as polygonal shapes and elliptical shapes. In addition, the shapes of the inner edge and the outer edge of the top seal portion 42 can be independently selected from shapes that are substantially symmetrical with respect to the boundary B1 and shapes that are asymmetrical.

[0102] Figure 36 shows a pouch container according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The pouch container A5 of this embodiment differs from the embodiment described above in the shape of the bottom seal portion 43.

[0103] In this embodiment, the inner edge of the bottom seal portion 43 is arc-shaped. This embodiment also makes it possible to improve the external shape while maintaining the airtightness of the pouch container. According to this embodiment, when the contents are filled into the pouch container A5, the body portion 20 and the bottom gusset portion 23 can be opened wider. Furthermore, as can be seen from this embodiment, the shape of the inner edge of the bottom seal portion 43 is not limited in any way and can be selected from various shapes such as a bent shape that forms part of a polygon or an arc shape.

[0104] The method for manufacturing a pouch container and the pouch container according to the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described above. The specific configuration of the method for manufacturing a pouch container and the pouch container according to the present invention can be modified in various ways.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing pouch containers, A step of preparing a first film member including the portion that will become the top gusset of the pouch container, A step of preparing a second film member, which is a cylindrical second film member including a portion that will become the body of the pouch container, comprising first and second main parts that are superimposed on each other, first and second sub-parts that extend from the first and second main parts along the axial direction of the body, and having a pair of side seal parts to which the widthwise ends of the first and second main parts are joined together, The process involves forming an annular top seal portion by heat-welding the first and second sub-parts and the first film member, which are separated from each other, A step of forming an auxiliary seal portion by heating a region including the boundary between the first and second sub-parts, which includes a portion of the top seal portion including the edge closest to the boundary and a portion of the side seal portion including the edge closest to the boundary. The process includes a cutting step of cutting out the portion that will become the top gusset from the first film member, A method for manufacturing a pouch container, wherein the cutting step includes a process to form a cut portion that intersects the auxiliary sealing portion and penetrates the first film member, the first and second sub-parts, and the first and second main parts.

2. A method for manufacturing a pouch container according to claim 1, further comprising the step of folding the second film member so that the first main part faces the first sub-part, after the step of forming the top seal portion and before the step of forming the auxiliary seal portion, thereby overlapping the first film member, the first sub-part, and the first and second main parts in a flat manner.

3. A method for manufacturing a pouch container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the process of forming the cut portion, the cutting is performed along a cutting line having an inclined section that overlaps the side seal portion and is inclined so that it moves away from the boundary between the first and second sub-parts in the axial direction and away from the center of the second film member in the width direction.

4. The inner edge of the side seal portion has an inclined portion that is inclined so that it moves away from the boundary between the first and second sub-parts in the axial direction and away from the center of the second film member in the width direction. The method for manufacturing a pouch container according to claim 3, wherein the inclined section of the cutting line is located outside the width direction relative to the inclined portion.

5. A method for manufacturing a pouch container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first and second main parts each include a wide portion connected to the first and second sub-parts, and a narrow portion connected to the wide portion on the opposite side from the first and second sub-parts and having a smaller width dimension than the wide portion.

6. It comprises a cylindrical body, a top gusset portion that closes the axial open end of the body, a pair of side seals, a top seal portion, and a pair of auxiliary seals, The body includes a first and second main section and a first and second sub-section connected to the first and second main sections, respectively. The pair of side seal portions are the parts where the widthwise ends of the first and second main portions are joined together. The top seal portion is an annular portion to which the first and second sub-parts and the top gusset portion are joined. The pair of auxiliary sealing portions are formed in a region including the boundary between the first and second sub-parts, and each portion includes a part of the top sealing portion that includes the edge closest to the boundary, and each portion includes a part of the side sealing portion that includes the edge closest to the boundary. At both ends in the width direction of the boundary between the first and second sub-parts, the outer edge of the top gusset portion, the outer edge of the top seal portion, the outer edge of the auxiliary seal portion, and the outer edges of the first and second main portions coincide with each other. A pouch container wherein the outer edge of the side seal portion includes an inclined portion that is inclined so as it moves away from the boundary between the first and second sub-parts in the axial direction and away from the center of the body in the width direction.

Images