US4793121A — Dispensing spout pre-forming system for pouch

Claim 1

Independent Claim 96 words

A spout pre-forming system for flexible web material being formed into a filled and peripherally sealed pouch having a discharge spout therefrom to improve the discharge spout functioning thereof, comprising: a die plate defining a substantially planar surface having a shallow groove of tortuous configuration therein over which said web material is to be received, and, means for applying pressure to said web material when so overlaid, thereby to displace said web material into said groove by stretching the same and define therein the tortuous configuration of the spout to be formed in the finished pouch.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 96 words

A spout pre-forming system for flexible web material being formed into a filled and peripherally sealed pouch having a discharge spout therefrom to improve the discharge spout functioning thereof, comprising: a die plate defining a substantially planar surface having a shallow groove of tortuous configuration therein over which said web material is to be received, and, means for applying pressure to said web material when so overlaid, thereby to displace said web material into said groove by stretching the same and define therein the tortuous configuration of the spout to be formed in the finished pouch.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 49 words

The spout pre-forming system of claim 1 further comprising a pair of said die plates and having respective mirror image said groove configurations therein, whereby the said die plates are employed with respective separate web material portions to form separate displacements therein for subsequent-mirror-image association in forming said pouch.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The spout pre-forming system of claim 2 wherein said pressure-applying means includes an overlying plate having means for applying fluid pressure therethrough to displace said web material into said groove.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 22 words

The spout pre-forming system of claim 3 further including a die insert on said die plate, said insert having said groove therein.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 56 words

The spout pre-forming system of claim 2 wherein said groove includes a first portion commencing inwardly of said plate margins and extending theretoward, an intermediate portion connected to said first portion and extending reversely therefrom, and a terminal portion connected to said intermediate portion and extending reversely therefrom back toward a margin of said die plate.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

The spout pre-forming system of claim 3 wherein said plate includes an internal manifold chamber, and, a plurality of ports communicating said chamber to the face of said plate, thereby to direct gaseous pressure against said web material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 65 words

The spout pre-forming system of claim 2 further including an elastomeric member interposed between said dicplates having an area at least as great as that of said grooves, whereby when a said respective web material portion lies between each said plate and said elastomeric member, and said plates are closed thereupon, said elastomeric member stretches said web material and displaces the same into said grooves.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 50 words

The spout pre-forming system of claim 3 wherein said plate includes an internal manifold chamber, and, a flexible diaphragm forming a portion of the face of said plate, whereby liquid fluid pressure directed thereagainst from said chamber distends said diaphragm outwardly to displace said web material into said tortuous groove.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 86 words

A spout pre-forming system for flexible web material being formed into a filled and peripherally sealed pouch having a discharge spout to improve the discharge spout functioning thereof, comprising: a die-shaping means defining a groove of tortuous configuration including a first portion, a second reversely directed portion connected thereto, and a third again reversely directed portion connected to said second portion, and, means cooperating with said die-shaping means to displace pouch-forming web material disposed therebetween into the said tortuous configuration prior to formation of the pouch.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 86 words

A spout pre-forming system for flexible web material being formed into a filled and peripherally sealed pouch having a discharge spout to improve the discharge spout functioning thereof, comprising: a die-shaping means defining a groove of tortuous configuration including a first portion, a second reversely directed portion connected thereto, and a third again reversely directed portion connected to said second portion, and, means cooperating with said die-shaping means to displace pouch-forming web material disposed therebetween into the said tortuous configuration prior to formation of the pouch.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

The spout pre-forming system of claim 9 wherein cooperating means includes fluid pressure acting on the surface of said web material to force the same into said groove.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 47 words

The spout pre-forming system of claim 9 wherein said cooperating means includes a resilient member of an volume greater than the said groove configuration, and said cooperating means exerts pressure on said resilient member and thereby onto said web material to force the same into said groove.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 109 words

In a pouch forming, filling and sealing machine including means for advancing a pair of confronting lengths of flexible web material from which the pouch will be formed, for peripherally sealing said lengths to each other to define therebetween a product supply area and a discharge passageway extending therefrom toward the peripheral edge of said web lengths, and filling the pouch in said product supply area, the improvement therein to preclude unwanted blockage and sealing of the discharge passageway during pouch manufacture comprising passageway pre-forming means for displacing and stretching the web material i a configuration corresponding to said discharge passageway prior to forming, filling and sealing said pouch.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 109 words

In a pouch forming, filling and sealing machine including means for advancing a pair of confronting lengths of flexible web material from which the pouch will be formed, for peripherally sealing said lengths to each other to define therebetween a product supply area and a discharge passageway extending therefrom toward the peripheral edge of said web lengths, and filling the pouch in said product supply area, the improvement therein to preclude unwanted blockage and sealing of the discharge passageway during pouch manufacture comprising passageway pre-forming means for displacing and stretching the web material i a configuration corresponding to said discharge passageway prior to forming, filling and sealing said pouch.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 40 words

The improved pouch machine of claim 12 wherein said pre-forming means includes die plate means having a groove therein corresponding in configuration to the passageway to be formed, and means for displacing and stretching said web material into said groove.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 15 words

The improved pouch machine of claim 13 including fluid means for stretching said web material.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 41 words

The improved pouch machine of claim 13 including a resilient member of greater volume than said passageway, and means for displacing and stretching said web material about said member and forcing the material into the groove of the die plate means.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 77 words

A method of pre-forming a spout in a peripherally sealed flexible pouch to preclude unwanted blockage thereof during pouch sealing comprising the steps of: advancing confronting lengths of said web material toward pouch forming, filling and sealing stations including forming a discharge passageway within the seal from the filled pouch, prior thereto, displacing a portion of said web material from the plane thereof and stretching the same into a configuration corresponding to that of said discharge passageway.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 77 words

A method of pre-forming a spout in a peripherally sealed flexible pouch to preclude unwanted blockage thereof during pouch sealing comprising the steps of: advancing confronting lengths of said web material toward pouch forming, filling and sealing stations including forming a discharge passageway within the seal from the filled pouch, prior thereto, displacing a portion of said web material from the plane thereof and stretching the same into a configuration corresponding to that of said discharge passageway.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 16 including the step of displacing mirror image portions of said passageway configuration into confronting lengths of said web material prior to pouch formation therefrom.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 16 wherein said displacing step moves said web material only slightly out of the plane of the remaining portion of the web material prior to package formation.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 18 wherein said displacing step is effected by the application of gas pressure.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 18 wherein said displacing step is effected by the application of pressure by a resilient member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-12-27	1992-06-27	1992-12-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-12-27	1996-06-27	1996-12-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-12-27	2000-06-27	2000-12-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Dispensing spout pre-forming system for pouch

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