Packaging System and Method

Abstract

A package for an article comprises a pressurised outer bag having gas-tight seals at opposite ends, and an inner web for supporting the article within the outer bag. The web extends along the length of the outer bag and is secured to the outer bag only at the gas-tight seals. The web is maintained under sufficient tension by the pressure within the outer bag to suspend the article within the bag and to maintain a space between the article and the outer bag on all sides of the article.

1 . A package for an article comprising a pressurised outer bag having gas-tight seals at opposite ends, and an inner pouch for supporting the article within the outer bag, wherein (a) the pouch extends along the length of the outer bag and is secured to the outer bag only at the gas-tight seals; (b) the pouch is maintained under sufficient tension by gas pressure within the outer bag to suspend the article within the bag and to maintain a space between the article and the outer bag on all sides of the article; and (c) back seals closing the inner pouch and the outer bag respectively are laterally offset from one another. 
     
     
         2 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pouch is evacuated or filled with an inert gas or gaseous mixture. 
     
     
         3 . A package as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the outer bag is pressurised with an inert gas or gaseous mixture. 
     
     
         4 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outer bag includes longitudinally extending welded pinches to impart a cusped cross-section to the outer bag. 
     
     
         5 . An assembly comprising a plurality of packages as connected end to end to one another, each package comprising a pressurised outer bag having gas-tight seals at opposite ends, and an inner pouch for supporting the article within the outer bag, wherein (a) the pouch extends along the length of the outer bag and is secured to the outer bag only at the gas-tight seals; (b) the pouch is maintained under sufficient tension by gas pressure within the outer bag to suspend the article within the bag and to maintain a space between the article and the outer bag on all sides of the article; and (c) back seals closing the inner pouch and the outer bag respectively are laterally offset from one another. 
     
     
         6 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A packaging machine for packaging a continuous stream of articles, comprising:
 (i) a first forming and sealing station at which the articles are supported within pouches formed at fixed intervals in a longitudinally extending web;   (ii) a second forming and sealing station at which the web and the articles supported thereby are enveloped in a tube;   (iii) a source of pressurised gas for inflating the tube, and   (iv) a final sealing station at which the inflated tube is sealed transversely to the length of the web and the tube on opposing sides of each article, so as to form a sealed outer bag within which an article is packaged;   wherein (a) the pressure within the tube serves to tension the web in order to suspend the article within the outer bag and to maintain a space between the article and the outer bag on all sides of the article; and   (b) back seals closing the inner web and the outer bag respectively are laterally offset from one another.   
     
     
         11 . A packaging machine as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the web and the tube are severed across the transverse seals to form discrete packaged articles each suspended within a pressurised outer bag. 
     
     
         12 . A packaging machine as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the first station is operative to wrap the web around the articles to form sealed inner pouches. 
     
     
         13 . A packaging machine as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein within the first station the inner pouches are evacuated or filled with an inert gas. 
     
     
         14 . A packaging machine as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein a station forms longitudinally extending welded pinches in the outer bag to impart a cusped cross-section to the outer bag. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled)