Importance

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Abstract

Layers of material are bonded together to include portions that yield an integral filling conduit or snout in a completed single or multiple-ply bag particularly useful in bag-in-box shipping containers. The layers are bonded to form the preferred shape of a trapezoid whose long base is parallel to and runs into the top of a rectangle, the bonds forming seams on the sides of the trapezoid and the sides and base of the rectangle. Alternatively, half the number of layers can be folded and bonded to yield the trapezoid/rectangle shape, in which case no base seal is required. The trapezoid's short base is the snout opening and, where necessary, interply bonds are formed around the opening circumference. The invention can also be formed with an evacuation enhancement system that uses an inflatable air chamber in an interply region to cause more of the bag contents to be discharged than would otherwise occur. Interply bonds in two key locations form the air chamber, and an air input conduit included between the plies allows access to the interply region. In use, the filled bag's edge seals preferably lie in the corners of a rigid container with the air input conduit, when present, against a side of the container opposite the bag's drain port and connected to a source of pressurized air. As the enhanced evacuation system bag contents level drops, the air chamber inflates and urges the contents toward the drain port.

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First Claim