Method for attaching a spout to a flexible film pouch

Abstract

A flexible film pouch includes an aperture to access its contents, and a closure means such as a re-sealable spout is applied over the aperture to permit sealed storage of the contents after opening. The closure means is attached to the flexible film pouch by means of a patch that is bonded to the inside of the pouch adjacent to the aperture. The patch is selected to have a mating surface that bonds with the inner surface of the pouch, where such bonding is preferably conducted by ultrasonic welding or adhesive bonding. The patch itself may have a hole that permits access to the contents of the pouch, or the closure means may include a cutting surface that tears a portion of the patch to permit access.

1 . A method for applying closure spout to a thin-film pouch to obtain a re-sealable film pouch comprising the steps of:
 providing a thin-film beverage pouch having front and back walls defining a volume therebetween, said front wall including an aperture and inner and outer surfaces;   bonding a mating surface of a patch to the inner surface of the front wall behind said aperture, where the mating surface is selected to bond with the inner surface and the connection of the patch with the front wall provides a fluid-tight seal;   providing a closure means with a flange having a substantially flat annular base with an integrally formed, downwardly projecting ring portion and a spout;   affixing the substantially flat annular base of the closure means on said front wall of the thin-film beverage pouch;   passing said downwardly projecting ring portion of the closure spout through said aperture such that a patch rupturing projection on said closure spout is brought in proximity with said patch; and   bonding the ring portion to the patch.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  where the bonding of the patch to the front wall is achieved by ultrasonic bonding. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  where the bonding of the spout to the patch is achieved by ultrasonic bonding. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  where the closure means is a spout with a closeable lid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  where the mating surface of the patch and the inner surface of the front wall are of a common material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  where the spout and the mating surface of the patch are of a common material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing said closure means with a cutting surface to tear a portion of said patch to access the pouch's volume.