Film bag

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a multilayer film bag ( 1 ) for storing food products, in particular beverage concentrates, with a bag wall ( 7 ) including at least one external wall ( 10 ), one barrier layer ( 9 ), for example for oxygen and/or light, and one internal wall ( 8 ). The multilayer film bag includes a predetermined breaking point ( 2 ) in the film bag wall which tears open under pressure, for example at pressures above 100 kPa, 150 kPa, 200 kPa, 400 kPa or 500 kPa without any parts of the film bag tearing off.

1 . A multilayer film bag for storing food products with a bag wall comprising at least one external wall, one barrier layer, and one internal wall wherein the multilayer film bag comprises a predetermined breaking point in the bag wall which tears open under pressure without any parts of the film bag tearing off. 
     
     
         2 . A film bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined breaking point is located on an external wall side of the film bag. 
     
     
         3 . A film bag according to  claim 2 , wherein an extension of the predetermined breaking point is smaller than one half, one third, or one fourth of the extension of the external wall side on which the predetermined breaking point is located. 
     
     
         4 . A film bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the film bag comprises a weld seam at least on one side, the weld seam withstanding pressures that are above a pressure range leading to an opening of the predetermined breaking point. 
     
     
         5 . A film bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined breaking point comprises a cover against contamination, wherein the cover is fixed by means of an adhesive and comprises a cover tongue by which the cover can be removed manually or mechanically. 
     
     
         6 . A film bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined breaking point is produced by the action of light. 
     
     
         7 . A film bag according to  claim 1 , wherein a depth of the predetermined breaking point in the external wall of the film bag does not reach deeper than to the barrier layer. 
     
     
         8 . A film bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the film bag has dimensions including a height, a length, and a width, wherein the height is smaller than the length and the width. 
     
     
         9 . A film bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the film bag comprises a position detection mark. 
     
     
         10 . A film bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined breaking point bulges to an outside of the film bag under the action of the pressure before the wall is torn open and forms a bulge. 
     
     
         11 . A method of draining the film bag of  claim 1  largely without leaving any residues, comprising the steps of:
 placing the film bag into a draining chamber, the draining chamber having geometrical dimensions including a draining chamber length and a draining chamber width adapted to a film bag width and a film bag height; 
 exerting pressure onto the film bag by means of a pressing device, so that a bulge is formed which, when the film bag wall is overexpanded on the side of the predetermined breaking point, opens the predetermined breaking point; and 
 draining the film bag largely without leaving any residues. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein uniform pressure is produced onto the surface of the film bag by a cushion attached to the bottom side of the pressing device and which is compressed under pressurization. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the cushion is compressed when pressure is exerted onto the drained film bag on the bottom of the draining chamber, the cushion being pressed into an outlet opening of the draining chamber and pressing the residual quantity of film bag contents through the bulge of the film bag wall from the predetermined breaking point out of the film bag and nearly completely draining the film bag. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein an air bubble in the film bag is located at the uppermost region of the bag's height in a draining position and flushes the residues of film bag contents out of the film bag during draining. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the film bag is drained into a product chamber and further comprising the step of flushing the product chamber with mixing water after the film bag has been drained. 
     
     
         16 . A device for draining a film bag according to  claim 1  filled with product, the device comprising a draining chamber with at least one outlet opening and at least one pressing device, wherein the pressing device can be moved at a predefined speed and is preconfigured such that pressurization can be achieved which leads to an opening of the predetermined breaking point of the film bag and to a draining of the filled film bag. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 16 , wherein the pressing device is configured such that it can be moved at a predefined speed of or above 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, 10, 20 or 40 mm per minute. 
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 16  wherein a bottom side of the pressing device comprises a plunger with a compressible cushion. 
     
     
         19 . A device according to  claim 16  wherein a surrounding distance between the pressing device and an internal wall of the draining chamber is between 0.01 mm and 20 mm. 
     
     
         20 . A film bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the food products comprise beverage concentrates. 
     
     
         21 . A film bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer provides a barrier for oxygen or light. 
     
     
         22 . A film bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the film bag wall tears open at pressures above 100 kPa, 150 kPa, 200 kPa, 400 kPa or 500 kPa, without any parts of the film bag tearing off. 
     
     
         23 . A film bag according to  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined breaking point is positioned centered on the external wall side. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the bulge opens the predetermined breaking point in the center of the predetermined breaking point. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the pressing device is moved at a predefined speed for exerting the pressure onto the film bag. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the mixing water is still or blended with CO 2 . 
     
     
         27 . A device according to  claim 17 , wherein the pressing device is configured such that it can be moved at a continuously variable speed. 
     
     
         28 . A device according to  claim 16 , wherein the pressing device is configured such that pressure variations of 0.0 to 200 or 500 kPa can be reached within 5 to 30 s or within 1 to 100 s. 
     
     
         29 . A device according to  claim 16 , wherein the pressing device is configured such that a pressure exertion on the film bag of more than 50 kPa, 100 kPa, 200 kPa, 400 kPa or 500 kPa can be achieved. 
     
     
         30 . A device according to  claim 18  wherein the compressible cushion comprises an elastomer cushion or an air cushion. 
     
     
         31 . A device according to  claim 19 , wherein the surrounding distance between the pressing device and the internal wall is 1 mm. 
     
     
         32 . A film bag according to  claim 4 , wherein the film bag has a rectangular shape.