Sealable repulpable valve bag and method of assembling

Abstract

A valve tube assembly for a repulpable bag having a valve end portion includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a valve tube member formed from a repulpable paper material, wherein the valve tube member includes a first end, a second end, an inside surface, and an outside surface, and a water dispersible hot melt adhesive layer deposited on at least a portion of the inside surface adjacent the first end by a timed application, with a remainder of the inside surface being free of the water dispersible hot melt adhesive. The valve tube member is sized to extend into the valve end portion of the repulpable bag with the second end positioned inside the repulpable bag.

1 . A valve tube assembly for a repulpable bag having a valve end portion, said valve tube assembly comprising:
 a valve tube member formed from a repulpable paper material, said valve tube member comprising a first end, a second end, an inside surface, and an outside surface; and   a water dispersible hot melt adhesive layer deposited on at least a portion of said inside surface adjacent said first end by a timed application, a remainder of said inside surface being free of said water dispersible hot melt adhesive;   said valve tube member sized to extend into the valve end portion of the repulpable bag with said second end positioned inside the repulpable bag.   
   
   
       2 . A valve tube assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said water dispersible hot melt adhesive layer comprises a water dispersible hot melt polyamid adhesive, said water dispersible hot melt polyamid adhesive repulpable and dispersible into a pulp mixture of a paper making process. 
   
   
       3 . A valve tube assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said valve tube member comprises a valve passage extending therethrough. 
   
   
       4 . A method of assembling a valve tube assembly for a repulpable bag having a valve end portion, said method comprising:
 providing a roll of repulpable paper material having an inside surface and an outer surface;   applying a water dispersible hot melt adhesive to at least a portion of the inside surface of the repulpable paper material; and   cutting the repulpable paper material to a predetermined length to form a valve tube blank, the valve tube blank comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the water dispersible hot melt adhesive applied to the inside surface is located adjacent the first end of the valve tube blank.   
   
   
       5 . A method in accordance with  claim 4  wherein applying a water dispersible hot melt adhesive to at least a portion of the inside surface of the repulpable paper material comprises timing the application of the water dispersible hot melt adhesive so that the water dispersible hot melt adhesive is applied adjacent a predetermined cut line that defines the first end of one valve tube blank and the second end of an adjacent valve tube blank, wherein the water dispersible hot melt adhesive is not applied to the second end of the adjacent valve tube blank. 
   
   
       6 . A method in accordance with  claim 4  further comprising forming a tubular valve tube assembly from one valve tube blank wherein the inside surface of the repulpable paper material forms the inside surface of the valve tube assembly. 
   
   
       7 . A method in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the inside surface of the valve tube assembly defines a valve passage extending through the valve tube assembly. 
   
   
       8 . A method in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the valve tube assembly formed from the valve tube blank is repulpable and dispersible into a pulp mixture of a paper making process. 
   
   
       9 . A method in accordance with  claim 4  wherein cutting the repulpable paper material to a predetermined length to form a valve tube blank comprises cutting the repulpable paper material to a length that permits one end of the valve tube assembly to be positioned inside the valve end portion of the repulpable bag while an opposing end of the valve tube assembly is positioned outside the repulpable bag. 
   
   
       10 . A method of assembling a sealable repulpable valve bag, the repulpable bag having a front wall, a rear wall, and opposing side walls, and a valve end portion, said method comprising:
 providing a repulpable valve bag having a first outer flap, an opposing second outer flap, a first in-folded flap and a second in-folded flap;   assembling a valve tube assembly by:   providing a roll of repulpable paper material having an inside surface and an outer surface;   applying a water dispersible hot melt adhesive to at least a portion of the inside surface of the repulpable paper material; and   cutting the repulpable paper material to a predetermined length to form a valve tube blank, the valve tube blank comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the water dispersible hot melt adhesive applied to the inside surface is located adjacent the first end of the valve tube blank; and   forming a tubular valve tube assembly from one valve tube blank wherein the inside surface of the repulpable paper material forms the inside surface of the valve tube assembly;   attaching the valve tube assembly to the first in-folded flap so that the first end of the valve tube assembly is located outside the repulpable valve bag and the second end of the valve tube assembly is located inside the repulpable valve bag; and   folding the first and second outer flaps and attaching the outer flaps to each other, the valve tube assembly and the second in-folded flap.   
   
   
       11 . A method in accordance with  claim 10  wherein applying a water dispersible hot melt adhesive to at least a portion of the inside surface of the repulpable paper material comprises timing the application of the water dispersible hot melt adhesive so that the water dispersible hot melt adhesive is applied adjacent a predetermined cut line that defines the first end of one valve tube blank and the second end of an adjacent valve tube blank, wherein the water dispersible hot melt adhesive is not applied to the second end of the adjacent valve tube blank. 
   
   
       12 . A method in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the valve bag and the valve tube assembly formed from the valve tube blank is repulpable and dispersible into a pulp mixture of a paper making process. 
   
   
       13 . A method in accordance with  claim 10  wherein providing a repulpable valve bag comprises providing a repulpable valve bag having at least two layers of repulpable paper. 
   
   
       14 . A method in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the inside surface of the valve tube assembly defines a valve passage extending through the valve tube assembly.