Abstract: An improved loading assembly in a packaging system utilizing chains of interconnected preopened bags is disclosed. The assembly includes an elongated chute component including a tubular portion having spaced end loading and exit openings. The chute is movably mounted adjacent a load station for sequential cooperation with bags sequentially registered in and opened at the load station. A gate is mounted on the chute. The gate is movable between a closed position closing the exit opening and an open position for transfer of products being packaged from positions within the chute into registered bags. The gate includes a canning arrangement for moving the gate from its closed to its open position. A spring against the gate for urging the gate toward its closed position. A process of packaging using the assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process of and apparatus for forming dunnage are disclosed. A chain of interconnected plastic pouches are fed along a path of travel to a fill and seal station. The pouches are sequentially opened as each pouch is positioned in the fill station. Each pouch is opened by directing a flow of air through a pouch fill opening to separate a face from a back of each such pouch and continuing the flow of air through each such opening to inflate each opened pouch. Steps are taken to control the volume of air in an inflated pouch. Each such inflated pouch is then sealed to create hermetically closed and inflated dunnage units. Novel web and dunnage units are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process of forming dunnage is disclosed. A chain of interconnected plastic pouches are fed along a path of travel to a fill and seal station. The pouches are sequentially opened as each pouch is positioned in the fill station by directing a flow of air through a pouch fill opening to separate a face from a back of each such pouch and continuing the flow of air through each such opening to completely inflate each opened pouch. Each such inflated pouch is then sealed to create hermetically closed and inflated dunnage units. Novel web and dunnage units are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sealing machine and process for sealing loaded bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through the sealer by a pair of grooved main transport belts. A holding belt is disposed in the groove of an associated main belt and extends into the groove of the other main belt as the belts move through the seal station. Processes of transporting and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing webs of side connected bags is disclosed. A tube of heat sealable material is flattened and spaced, transverse seals are formed from one edge of the tube toward the other to delineate bag sides. Thereafter, the seals are bisected by lines of weakness to facilitate separation of sides of adjacent bags. Longitudinal lines of weakness are formed immediately adjacent the seals to delineate the tops of bag faces and backs and a separate top or lip section.

Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belt as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sealing machine and process for sealing loaded bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through the sealer by a pair of grooved main transport belts. A holding belt is disposed in the groove of an associated main belt and extends into the groove of the other main belt as the belts move through the seal station. Processes of transporting and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of making a container strip in the form of a chain of interconnected preopened bags with openings preferably having longitudinal dimensions of at least about 1/64 inch is disclosed. The container strip provides greatly enhanced facility for bag registration and opening during packaging operations utilizing the improved container strip. Processes of forming a chain of preopened bags are also disclosed. Face and back plastic webs are fed along individual paths of travel to a common path. In one embodiment the webs are differentially tensioned while in their independent paths by stretching the face web more than the back web such that the face web will retract longitudinally more than the back web upon release of the web tension. While so tensioned edge seals are formed between the webs to convert the webs into a tube and longitudinally spaced transverse seals are formed between the webs to delineate bottoms of bags.

Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A coil of an interconnected chain of open bags is provided in which the coil has a center opening having a diameter at least as great as the transverse dimension of the bags. A dispenser is provided on which a coil of bags is mounted. An end of the chain is pulled from the center opening and fed around a tapered mandrel and thence over a feed control mandrel oriented in angular relationship with the tapered mandrel. The web is then fed to a bagging machine for dispensing, loading and closing of the bags. The table on which the coil is mounted is rotatable so that the orientation of a span of bags running from the coil to the tapered mandrel remains substantially constant as the web is fed.

Abstract: A compact disc (CD) dispenser mounted on a bagging machine is disclosed. The dispenser includes turret and transfer assemblies. The turret assembly includes an indexing system to sequentially and one at a time position mandrels carrying CD disc sets at a dispensing location. The transfer assembly includes a pair of pickup heads driven by the rotary actuator. The pickup heads are adapted sequentially and one at a time to remove discs from a set positioned at the dispensing location and after 180.degree. rotation of the fluid actuator, drop a picked up disc into a waiting bag in the bagging machine.

Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A seal assembly for packaging machines facilitates the heat sealing of layers of material at the mouth of loaded bags. An operator may insert the layers of material between a pressure pad and a seal member positioned in a spaced position. Upon activation of a switch by the operator, an oscillating signal is applied to a solenoid to actuate movement of the pressure pad toward the seal member with a relatively soft force. An optical sensor senses when the pressure pad moves within a predetermined distance from the seal member and generates a sensor signal. In response to the sensor signal, a relatively constant voltage signal is applied to the solenoid to actuate movement of the pressure pad with a relatively high seal or clamping force to secure the layers of material against the seal member. The sensor signal also triggers energization of a heating element carried by the seal member to effectuate the heat seal between the layers of material.

Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A conveyor system for gripping and transporting plastic film is disclosed in the environment of a packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. Alternate conveyor embodiments are also disclosed. The belts of each embodiment are constructed such that when force is applied to a gripped plastic film coaction of the film and belts causes the belt gripping of the film to tighten.

Abstract: A system for packaging thin products such as compact discs in plastic bags is disclosed. A CD dispenser is used in combination with a known but modified bagging machine. The modifications include an improved guide arrangement for guiding a gravity fed disc toward an open bag and a load station which includes a tunnel housing the open bag and of only slightly greater thickness dimension than the bag including the product to be packaged. As an end bag of a web of interconnected, preopened bags is fed into the tunnel, a flow of air is established behind the web to create a film of air spacing the back of the end bag from a wall of the tunnel. The flow of air also has the unexpected property of creating a venturi like effect to draw the end bag away from a front wall of the tunnel. A method of packaging thin objects such as compact discs is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for sequentially establishing batches of predetermined numbers of items is disclosed. The system includes a feeder for continuously dispensing items serially and one at a time. A counter counts items as they are dispensed by the feeder and emits a batch control signal each time a predetermined number of items has been dispensed by the feeder. An item accumulator/separator separates items fed on a continuous basis into batches. The separator includes a diverter for diverting items forming each succeeding batch to a collection location separated from the location of items in the batch immediately preceding each separated batch while maintaining all items along a flow path from the feeder to a collection station. The diverter is operative to establish diversion of items of a succeeding batch in response to each such batch control signal. A collector is positioned at the collection station for sequentially collecting such batches and maintaining them in such separated condition.

Abstract: A method for producing inflated dunnage on the site of use, comprising providing, in web form, a plurality of preformed plastic bags, each of the bags comprising two plastic sheets in facing relationship and sealed along three edges with one edge remaining open. Air is blown toward each of the open edges in sequence, causing each bag to inflate, and the open edge of each inflated bag is sealed, the bag being empty except for the air. A plurality of sealed inflated bags is separated from the web and placed in a carton to serve as dunnage. The bags have a slip resistant outer surface which causes the bags to interlock in the carton and better protect object therein from shock.