Abstract: An apparatus for packing products includes a product information acquisition stage arranged to acquire information relating to one or more characteristics of products on a product packing line; a bag supply system arranged to supply bags sequentially as individual products on a conveyor approach a packing apparatus; and a bag opener arranged to automatedly take up a bag from the bag supply system as each individual product approaches the bag opener, and to subsequently machine open a mouth of each bag to a controlled extent based on information relating to products being packed acquired at the upstream product information acquisition stage. An apparatus for packing products includes a product information acquisition stage arranged to acquire information relating to one or more characteristics of products on a product packing line; a product packing stage; and two or more generally parallel conveyors arranged to deliver products of different sizes to the packing stage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the non-invasive use of a luminescent compound to detect and measure concentrations of oxygen dissolved in a rigid container, especially a bottle, a tray, a carton, a lidstock associated with a tray, a stand up pouch, or a paperboard container. The measurement is made independent of the oxygen concentration of the surrounding atmosphere. The invention is especially useful as a quality assurance check to verify oxygen scavenger activation during the assembly of bottled products, and modified atmosphere and vacuum packages. The method according to the invention is faster and less wasteful than previous methods that rely on measuring oxygen concentration within the headspace of an assembled package.

Abstract: A package includes a non-thermoformed thermoplastic pouch including a first and second panel; and an optical data storage medium disposed in the pouch; wherein the pouch comprises an oxygen barrier material, and an oxygen scavenger. Two methods of making a package include (1) providing a web; providing an optical data storage medium; forming a non-thermoformed pouch from the thermoplastic web, the pouch comprising a first and second panel; placing the optical data storage medium in the pouch; and sealing the pouch; wherein the web includes an oxygen barrier material and an oxygen scavenger; or (2) providing a first and second web; providing an optical data storage medium; forming a non-thermoformed pouch from the webs; placing the optical data storage medium in the pouch; and sealing the pouch; wherein at least one of the webs includes an oxygen barrier material, and at least one of the webs includes an oxygen scavenger.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for manufacturing, through a vacuum skin packaging (VSP) method, an easy-to-open package provided with a device for initiating the opening thereof. The apparatus includes a sealing station (115) wherein a top web (113) is sealed to a bottom web (104) in a first area (A) all around a product (P) arranged on the bottom web by providing heat and vacuum in a fundamentally closed chamber. The apparatus further includes a local sealing inhibition unit (130) including at least one removable local sealing inhibition tool (150) for inhibiting the sealing between the top and bottom webs in at least a second area (B). A method is also disclosed including the step of inhibiting the sealing between the top and bottom webs by arranging at least one removable local sealing inhibition tool between the top and bottom webs in at least a second area.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging machine includes a plurality of vacuum chambers (3a, 3b) each arranged to receive at least one unsealed product package and operable to perform an independent vacuum sealing operation, each vacuum chamber having a longitudinal direction defined by a direction of travel of the respective product package through the chamber (3a, 3b), each chamber having a heat seal assembly (15) therein which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction. An infeed conveyor (17) can be provided with a telescoping portion (17a) which can extend over the heat seal assembly or a part thereof. Each vacuum chamber can have a respective bed (9) and independently moveable hood (11), and the beds (9) can be synchronously vertically moveable. The vacuum packaging machine can be used in combination with a suitable product bagging or wrapping machine.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a modified ethylene vinyl alcohol polymer (EVOH) comprising an oxygen scavenging functional group. Preferably, the modified EVOH comprises structures IV, V, and VI: wherein x is an integer greater than or equal to 1, y is an integer greater than or equal to 1, z is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and R comprises a cycloalkenyl group. The modified EVOH is useful in oxygen barrier applications, such as a forming an oxygen barrier layer of a packaging article. Also disclosed are methods of modifying ethylene vinyl alcohol polymers, and using the modified EVOH to make packaging articles with a superior barrier to entry by atmospheric oxygen.

Abstract: An oxygen scavenger film includes a layer including an oxygen scavenger, and a layer including a cyclic olefin copolymer. An oxygen scavenger film includes a layer including a blend of an oxygen scavenger, and a cyclic olefin copolymer. A method of triggering an oxygen scavenger film includes providing an oxygen scavenger film including a layer including an oxygen scavenger, and a layer including a cyclic olefin copolymer; and subjecting the oxygen scavenger film to a dosage of actinic radiation effective to trigger the oxygen scavenger. A method of triggering an oxygen scavenger film includes providing an oxygen scavenger film including a layer including a blend of an oxygen scavenger and a cyclic olefin copolymer; and subjecting the oxygen scavenger film to a dosage of actinic radiation effective to trigger the oxygen scavenger.

Abstract: An article, such as a polymeric film, sachet, purge control pad, or label, includes a sulfur scavenger. In some embodiments, an oxygen scavenger is also included. A method includes providing an article, including a sulfur scavenger and an oxygen scavenger; and subjecting the article to a dosage of actinic radiation effective to trigger the oxygen scavenger. A method of reducing the sulfur content of a package containing a food product includes either (1) providing a film including a layer including a zinc ionomer, and a layer including an oxygen scavenger; packaging the food product in the film; and storing the package for at least 24 hours; or (2) providing the food product at a temperature of ?40° F.; providing a film including a layer including a sulfur scavenger; packaging the food product in the film; and storing the package for at least 24 hours.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging machine for performing a vacuum sealing operation on product packages, comprises a vertical stack of vacuum chambers 4 which each manage to receive at least one unsealed product package 2 and are operable to perform an independent vacuum sealing operation on the least one product package 2. A conveyor arrangement 8, 9 is operable to load and unload a selected vacuum chamber 4 with the at least one product package, and the machine is arranged to operate the respective vacuum chambers 4 to perform the vacuum sealing operation while the conveyor arrangement is operated to load and unload another vacuum chamber 4. The conveyor arrangement loads and unloads the vacuum chambers in sequence, and the vacuum chambers are synchronously operated to perform the vacuum sealing operation to allow the conveyor arrangement to operate continuously.

Abstract: A package includes a thermoformed web or support member, an optical data storage medium disposed in a cavity of the thermoformed web, or on the support member; and a covering web disposed on the optical data storage medium, and on the thermoformed web or support member, and in sealing relationship to the thermoformed web or support member; where each of the thermoformed web or support member, and the covering web, includes an oxygen barrier; and where at least one of the thermoformed web or support member, and the covering web, includes an oxygen scavenger. Methods of making the package are also disclosed. In addition to, or alternatively to including the oxygen scavenger in at least one of the thermoformed or support member, and the covering web, the oxygen scavenger can be disposed on the optical medium, e.g. in the form of a disc, coating, label, pellet, wafer, or flattened sachet.

Abstract: An oxygen scavenger composition includes an organic oxygen scavenger, a transition metal catalyst, and a blend of at least two photoinitiators selected from 1,3,5-tris(4-benzoylphenyl)benzene, thioxanthone derivative, acyl phenylphosphineoxide derivative, and diphenyl sulfide derivative. A film includes at least one layer including an organic oxygen scavenger, a transition metal catalyst, and a blend of at least two photoinitiators selected from 1,3,5-tris(4-benzoylphenyl)benzene, thioxanthone derivative, acyl phenylphosphineoxide derivative, and diphenyl sulfide derivative.

Abstract: A multi-layer, thermoplastic film bi-axially oriented at a stretching ratio ? to about 3.0:1 in the machine direction and at a stretching ratio ? about 6.0:1 in the transverse direction, which film comprises a layer a) comprising at least 50 wt. % of a crystalline or partially crystalline co-polyamide characterized by a Tg?100° C. and at least one outer heat-sealing layer b) comprising a polyolefin, said film being further characterized in that it has a % free shrink at 100° C.?3 in each direction.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging machine for performing a vacuum sealing operation on product packages, comprises a vertical stack of vacuum chambers 4 which each manage to receive at least one unsealed product package 2 and are operable to perform an independent vacuum sealing operation on the least one product package 2. A conveyor arrangement 8, 9 is operable to load and unload a selected vacuum chamber 4 with the at least one product package, and the machine is arranged to operate the respective vacuum chambers 4 to perform the vacuum sealing operation while the conveyor arrangement is operated to load and unload another vacuum chamber 4. The conveyor arrangement loads and unloads the vacuum chambers in sequence, and the vacuum chambers are synchronously operated to perform the vacuum sealing operation to allow the conveyor arrangement to operate continuously.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in packing meat cuts including a machine vision system arranged to scan or view individual meat cuts and acquire dimensional, volume, shape, cut type, or meat quality or grading information or other information relating to the individual meat cuts, two or more meat cut packing stations arranged to receive the acquired information relating to individual meat cuts and to dispense to an operator or automatedly apply to the meat cuts a pack matched to each individual meat cut as meat cuts arrive at the packing stations, and a diversion stage arranged to direct individual meat cuts to one or other of the packing stations based on the acquired information relating to the individual meat cuts from the machine vision system.

Abstract: A method includes triggering an oxygen scavenger; and storing the scavenger in a container configured such that the oxygen scavenger exhibits no substantial oxygen scavenging activity while inside the container. The triggered oxygen scavenger can later be removed from the container, and used in packaging oxygen sensitive products. A stored oxygen scavenger, triggered, is also disclosed. A method of distributing an oxygen scavenger film includes providing a tubular film at a first location, the film having oxygen barrier and oxygen scavenger layers; triggering the oxygen scavenger; collapsing the film; rolling up the film; transporting the film to a second location; and triggering the oxygen scavenger. Another method of distributing an oxygen scavenger film includes providing an oxygen scavenger film at a first location; transporting the film to a second location; triggering the oxygen scavenger; storing the oxygen scavenger film in a container; and transporting the film to a third location.

Abstract: This invention relates to packaging apparatus and a method which enables bags of different widths and lengths to be produced so as to enable products of varying sizes to be packaged in those bags.

Abstract: A metallic laminated gusseted insulated bag includes a front and rear wall each having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge; first and second side walls; a bottom member; and a means for hermetically closing the bag; wherein the front and rear walls are joined along their respective lateral edges to the first and second side walls; either or both of the side walls and bottom member are gusseted; and the front and rear walls are joined along their respective bottom edges to the bottom member; and the front and rear walls each include an outer ply including a metallic foil or metallic coated web, and an inner ply having an inner and outer surface, including a thermal insulating layer; the metallic foil or metallic coated web being adhered to the outer surface of the inner ply.

Abstract: A method for triggering an oxygen scavenging composition for use in packaging an oxygen sensitive article includes the steps of providing an oxygen scavenging composition comprising an oxidizable organic compound and, optionally, a transition metal catalyst, and exposing the composition to a source of pulsed light wherein each pulse has a duration of between 1 microsecond and 1 millisecond, a frequency of between 0.1 to 100 Hertz, and a total intensity of at least 350 mW/cm2 so that each pulse provides the composition with a dose of UV light of at least 0.1 J/cm2 so as to provide a triggered composition. The triggered composition can be applied to an article so as to provide an oxygen scavenging package. An apparatus and packaging system are also disclosed.

Abstract: An article of manufacture includes an oxygen scavenger and poly(lactic acid). The article can be in the form of a film, coating, gasket, liner, insert, sealant, or fibrous matte. A film includes at least one layer including an oxygen scavenger, and at least one layer including poly(lactic acid). A package can be made from the film for enclosing an oxygen-sensitive artice such as food. The poly(lactic acid) blocks the migration of odor causing byproducts of the oxygen scavenging process. A method includes providing a film including at least one layer including an oxygen scavenger; and at least one layer including the poly(lactic acid); and exposing the film to actinic radiation. A method for reducing migration of organoleptically significant compounds is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sealing assembly (10) for sealing flexible packaging materials comprising: a sealing mechanism for sealing the packaging material; and a spreading mechanism for spreading the packaging material to be sealed prior to sealing, the spreading mechanism including at least two pair of opposed spreading members (15a, 15b), each pair having opposing converging contact edges (17a, 17b) which engage either side of the packaging material during spreading; wherein the spreading members are mounted for relative movement between a first open orientation and a second closed orientation such that, as the spreading members travel from said first to said second orientation, the contact edges initially contact the packaging material at convergent ends of the contact edges and then proceed to contact the packaging material along the length of the contact edges to divergent ends thereof, and wherein subsequently or simultaneously the spreading members engage the packaging material between the contact edges and travel transverse