System and method of in-line shaping, filling and enclosing to form product packaging

Abstract

Disclosed in the present invention is a system for forming a product package by online forming, filling and sealing, the system comprising: a sterilization apparatus, a forming apparatus, a conveyor belt, a filling apparatus and a first closing apparatus. Also disclosed is a method for forming a product package by online forming, filling and sealing. The method of the present invention integrates production and filling of large-volume packages, greatly shortening the supply chain and increasing production efficiency.

1 . A system for forming a product package by online forming, filling and sealing, characterized in that the system comprises:
 a sterilization apparatus, for sterilizing a packaging material;   a forming apparatus, for forming the packaging material to have a space for holding a product to be dispensed;   a conveyor belt, for conveying the packaging material;   a filling apparatus, for filling the space for holding the product to be dispensed in the packaging material with the product to be dispensed; and   a first closing apparatus, for completely closing the packaging material filled with the product, to obtain the product package.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the system may be used to produce a large-volume package. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the conveyor belt forms an angle with a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  or  3 , characterized in that the system further comprises a bearing apparatus, for bearing the packaging material. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 3  or  4 , characterized in that the system provides a sterile environment for each process after the packaging material has been sterilized, until the packaging material is completely closed. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 3  or  4 , characterized in that in the system, the filling apparatus uses a hot filling process. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 3  or  4 , characterized in that the forming apparatus comprises:
 a folding unit, for folding the packaging material; and 
 a longitudinal closing unit, for longitudinally closing edges of the folded packaging material, to form a tubular shape. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 3  or  4 , characterized in that the system also comprises an interface attaching apparatus, for attaching a dispensing interface to an outer surface of the packaging material; the dispensing interface comprises an interface base part, an interface connection mouth and an interface neck part located therebetween. 
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 8 , characterized in that the interface attaching apparatus is used for attaching the dispensing interface to an outer surface of packaging material which has not been formed to have a space for holding a product to be dispensed. 
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 9 , characterized in that the system also comprises an interface sterilization apparatus, for sterilizing the dispensing interface. 
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in  claim 8 , characterized in that the interface attaching apparatus is used for attaching the dispensing interface to an outer surface of packaging material which has a space for holding a product to be dispensed. 
     
     
         12 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the interface attaching apparatus attaches, in a non-sterile environment, the dispensing interface to an outer surface of packaging material which has a space for holding a product to be dispensed. 
     
     
         13 . The system as claimed in  claim 3  or  4 , characterized in that the first closing apparatus is further used for making a package internal space include a first space and a tubular space in communication with each other. 
     
     
         14 . The system as claimed in  claim 3  or  4 , characterized in that the system also comprises a second closing apparatus, for making a package internal space include a first space and a tubular space in communication with each other. 
     
     
         15 . The system as claimed in  claim 13  or  14 , characterized in that the step of making the package internal space include a first space and a tubular space in communication with each other consists of partially bonding together opposing first and second parts of the packaging material, to form a long, narrow bonded part which divides the package internal space into a first space and a tubular space which can be used as a dispensing port, the first space and the tubular space being in communication with each other. 
     
     
         16 . The system as claimed in  claim 13  or  14 , characterized in that the step of making the package internal space include a first space and a tubular space in communication with each other consists of forming the package internal space to include a first space and a tubular space which extends outward from the first space and can be used as a dispensing port. 
     
     
         17 . The system as claimed in  claim 16 , characterized in that the product package has an external shape suited to close arrangement. 
     
     
         18 . A method for forming a product package by online forming, filling and sealing, characterized by comprising the following steps:
 sterilizing a packaging material;   forming the sterilized packaging material to have a space for holding a product to be dispensed;   filling the space for holding the product to be dispensed in the packaging material with the product to be dispensed; and   completely closing the packaging material filled with the product, to obtain the product package;   wherein support is provided for the packaging material at least in the filling step.   
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , characterized in that in the method, each process step after the packaging material has been sterilized is carried out in a sterile environment until the packaging material is completely closed to obtain the product package. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , characterized in that in the method, the filling employs a hot filling process. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , characterized in that the method may be used to produce large-volume packages. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , characterized in that the packaging material forming step comprises:
 folding the packaging material;   longitudinally closing edges of the folded packaging material, to form a tubular shape.   
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , characterized in that the method also comprises attaching a dispensing interface to an outer surface of the packaging material; the dispensing interface comprises an interface base part, an interface connection mouth and an interface neck part located therebetween. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , characterized in that the step of attaching the dispensing interface to an outer surface of the packaging material consists of attaching the dispensing interface to an outer surface of packaging material which has not been formed to have a space for holding a product to be dispensed. 
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , characterized in that the method also comprises sterilizing the dispensing interface. 
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , characterized in that the step of attaching the dispensing interface to an outer surface of the packaging material consists of attaching the dispensing interface to an outer surface of packaging material which has a space for holding a product to be dispensed. 
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , characterized in that the step of attaching the dispensing interface to an outer surface of the packaging material consists of attaching, in a non-sterile environment, the dispensing interface to an outer surface of packaging material which has a space for holding a product to be dispensed. 
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , characterized in that the method further comprises dividing a package internal space into a first space and a tubular space in communication with each other. 
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , characterized in that by partially bonding together opposing first and second parts of the packaging material, the method forms a long, narrow bonded part such that the long, narrow bonded part divides the package internal space into a first space and a tubular space which can be used as a dispensing port, the first space and the tubular space being in communication with each other. 
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , characterized in that the method further comprises forming the package internal space to include a first space and a tubular space which extends outward from the first space and can be used as a dispensing port. 
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 30 , characterized in that the product package has an external shape suited to close arrangement. 
     
     
         32 . A large-volume packaging bag having a dispensing interface, characterized by comprising: a packaging bag, and a dispensing interface attached to an outer surface of the packaging bag, the dispensing interface comprising an interface base part in contact with a packaging material, an interface connection mouth and an interface neck part located therebetween. 
     
     
         33 . The large-volume packaging bag having a dispensing interface as claimed in  claim 32 , characterized in that a first sealing structure is provided at the interface connection mouth of the dispensing interface. 
     
     
         34 . The large-volume packaging bag having a dispensing interface as claimed in  claim 33 , characterized in that a pull-open structure is provided on the first sealing structure, for separating the first sealing structure from the interface connection mouth at least partially. 
     
     
         35 . The large-volume packaging bag having a dispensing interface as claimed in  claim 32 , characterized in that the packaging bag also comprises a cap having a pointed structure; the cap comprises a cap base part, a cap head part having a pointed structure, and a cap neck part located therebetween; when the cap is fitted to the dispensing interface, the pointed structure is used to pierce the packaging material. 
     
     
         36 . The large-volume packaging bag having a dispensing interface as claimed in  claim 32 , characterized in that the packaging bag also comprises a cap having a pointed structure; the cap comprises a cap base part, a cap head part having a pointed structure, and a cap neck part located therebetween; when the cap is fitted to the dispensing interface, the pointed structure is used to pierce the packaging material; the cap neck part is a hollow structure; an opening is provided on the cap base part, the opening being in communication with the hollow structure; an additional cap is provided on the cap base part, for closing the opening. 
     
     
         37 . The large-volume packaging bag having a dispensing interface as claimed in  claim 32 , characterized in that the packaging bag also comprises a cap having a pointed structure; the cap comprises a cap base part, a cap head part having a pointed structure, and a cap neck part located therebetween; when the cap is fitted to the dispensing interface, the pointed structure is used to pierce the packaging material; the cap neck part of the cap is a hollow structure; an opening is provided on the cap base part, the opening being in communication with the hollow structure; a connecting tube is provided on that side of the cap base part which is remote from the cap head part, the opening being in communication with the connecting tube. 
     
     
         38 . The large-volume packaging bag having a dispensing interface as claimed in any one of  claims 35 ,  36  and  37 , characterized in that the cap is connected to the dispensing interface in a fitted manner. 
     
     
         39 . The large-volume packaging bag having a dispensing interface as claimed in  claim 36  or  37 , characterized in that the cap and dispensing interface are provided with matching second sealing structures, for ensuring that when the cap is fitted to the dispensing interface, a seal has already been formed in the dispensing interface before the packaging material is pierced by the pointed structure of the cap head part. 
     
     
         40 . The large-volume packaging bag having a dispensing interface as claimed in  claim 39 , characterized in that the second sealing structure is a projection disposed on an inner wall of the interface neck part or a projection on an outer wall of the cap neck part. 
     
     
         41 . The large-volume packaging bag having a dispensing interface as claimed in  claim 39 , characterized in that the second sealing structure is a sealing ring disposed on an inner wall of the interface neck part or on an outer wall of the cap neck part. 
     
     
         42 . The large-volume packaging bag having a dispensing interface as claimed in any one of  claims 35 ,  36  and  37 , characterized in that a first screw-thread is provided on an inner wall of the interface neck part, a second screw-thread is provided on an outer wall of the cap neck part, and the first screw-thread matches the second screw-thread. 
     
     
         43 . The large-volume packaging bag having a dispensing interface as claimed in any one of  claims 35 ,  36  and  37 , characterized in that the cap base part comprises a cap base part bottom and a cap base part sidewall; a third screw-thread is provided on an outer wall of the interface neck part, a fourth screw-thread is provided on an inner wall of the cap base part sidewall, and the third screw-thread matches the fourth screw-thread. 
     
     
         44 . A large-volume packaging bag having a tubular space, characterized in that an internal space thereof comprises a first space and a tubular space in communication with each other. 
     
     
         45 . The large-volume packaging bag having a tubular space as claimed in  claim 44 , characterized in that the packaging bag comprises a long, narrow bonded part which divides the internal space of the packaging bag into a first space and a tubular space which can be used as a dispensing port, the first space and the tubular space being in communication with each other. 
     
     
         46 . The large-volume packaging bag having a tubular space as claimed in  claim 44 , characterized in that the internal space of the packaging bag comprises a first space and a tubular space which extends outward from the first space and can be used as a dispensing port. 
     
     
         47 . The large-volume packaging bag having a tubular space as claimed in  claim 46 , characterized in that the packaging bag has an external shape suited to close arrangement.