Abstract: A vacuum belt assembly (10) to drive tubular bag material (11) through a packaging machine. The assembly (10) includes three belts (19, 20, 21) with the belts (19, 20, 21) being driven by rollers (22). The belts (20, 21) have respectively lengths (28, 29) being located in planes inclined by an angle greater than 0° but less than 180°, preferably an obtuse angle.

Abstract: A slip conveyor (10) having an elongated pan (11) along which articles are conveyed in a predetermined direction. The pan (11) is vertically and horizontally reciprocated by a drive assembly (22). The drive assembly (22) includes a cowl (25) that governs the operation of a motor (23), the control (25) being configured to operate the motor (23) so that the pan (11) does not have a downward acceleration greater than gravity so that product on the pan (11) remains in contact therewith.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly 18 that detects bags that leak. The assembly 18 includes a first conveyor 24 that operates in unison with a second conveyor 29. The conveyors 24 and 29 confine the bags in chambers, with the bags being engaged by pressure assemblies 50 so that the bags that leak are reduced in volume. The bags are engaged at a downstream position and at an upstream position by detection devices 44 that provide a signal indicative of the volume of each bag. These signals are compared to thereby identify bags that leak.

Abstract: A device (10) to coat food products such as potato crisps and biscuits. The device (10) includes a flavour dispenser 21 that delivers granular flavour material to the products (12) being coated. The device (10) further includes a conveyor (11) with conveyor surfaces (15 to 18) that are arranged in cascade so that the food products tumble from one surface to the next so that the granular flavour material is applied to the various surfaces of the food products.

Abstract: A packaging machine former (10) having a base (11) upon which there is mounted a former member (12). Strip bag material passes over the member (12) to be arranged from a strip configuration to a tubular configuration into which product to be packaged is delivered. The base (11) and member (12) have passages through which a gas is delivered to be included with the product in the bags being formed.

Abstract: A conveyor (10) that delivers product to a plurality of transverse conveyors of chutes (11). The conveyor (10) includes conveyor segments (12) along which the product is conveyed. Product is removed from the conveyor (10) by the lateral displacement of an upstream end 15 or a downstream end 16 of adjacent conveyor segments (12).

Abstract: A splicing machine (10) to join strip material, the strip material being intended to be delivered to a packaging machine. The splicing machine (10) supports two rolls of strip material on supports (12, 13), with the strip material being taken from one of the rolls. When the material taken from one roll becomes depleted the trailing end of the material is engaged by a first web securing member (18). A second web securing member (19) engages and retains the leading portion of the next roll. The trailing portion of the first roll is then joined to the leading portion of the next roll so that the strip material is continuously delivered to an associated packaging machine.

Abstract: A weigher for a packaging machine has buckets that deliver product batches. Each bucket includes a pair of spaced side walls between which a bottom extends, and over which the product passes. A bottom wall has at least one trough to control the trajectory of the product leaving the bucket to minimize angular velocity of the product about the vertical axis of a chute. The chute has a substantially vertical axis and receives the batches of product from the weighing buckets. The chute has a side wall converging downwardly from an upper opening to a lower opening, and an internal surface over which the product passes.

Abstract: An assembly and method for forming bags (10) having a “block bottom” with external flanges (13). The method and apparatus includes forming folds (18) in a strip (17) and delivering the strip (17) to a former (30) so that the folds (18) engage the forming surface (33) to thereby locate the flanges (18) on the exterior of the tubular bag material (32).

Abstract: A packaging apparatus 10 including a cabinet 11 provided with a door 12 which is movable relative to an axis opening 13. Within the cabinet 11 is a packaging machine 15 with which there is associated a former 14. The former 14 is movably supported for movement between an operative position aligned with the packaging machine 15, and a service position spaced laterally toward the access opening 13.

Abstract: A package assembly (10) that includes a strip (11) of flexible plastics material. Attached to the strip (11) at spaced positions longitudinally of the strip (11) are bags (12). The bags (12) are sealingly closed and include ends sealed areas (13 and 14). Each bag (12) is attached to the strip (11) by a respective one of the end sealed areas (13). Each end sealed area (13) can be peeled from the strip (11) to enable removal of the bag (12). In an alternative embodiment, the bags (12) are arranged in sets (17). A machine (28) is adapted to form the package assembly (10).

Abstract: A film storage device 20 to receive film 19 from a roll or roll 17 to deliver the film 19 to a packaging machine 10. The film storage device 20 includes a base 21 upon which there is pivotably mounted a carriage 22. The carriage 22 has a transverse passage 50 through which the film 19 passes to be wound about the periphery of the carriage 22. The carriage 22 is provided with a plurality of rollers 53 that facilitates movement of the film 19 through the device 20.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly 18 that detects bags that leak. The assembly 18 includes a first conveyor 24 that operates in unison with a second conveyor 29. The conveyors 24 and 29 confine the bags in chambers, with the bags being engaged by pressure assemblies 50 so that the bags that leak are reduced in volume. The bags are engaged at a downstream position and at an upstream position by detection devices 44 that provide a signal indicative of the volume of each bag. These signals are compared to thereby identify bags that leak.

Abstract: A conveyor device 10 to aide a person 11 to place bags 12 of snack foods in a box 13. The device includes a base 14 that rotatably supports a hub 17. The hub 17 has a plurality of clips 20 that engage the bags 12 and move them to a position at which the bags 12 are griped by the person 11 and placed in the box 13.

Abstract: A chute assembly 11 to be positioned between a weigher 10 and a former 12 of a packaging machine. The chute assembly 11 includes a timing gate device 23 including a plurality of timing gates 25 that regulates the delivery of batches of product from the weigher 10 to the former 12. The gates 25 are driven between a first position at which they inhibit the delivery of batches of product to the former 12, and a second position permitting the flow of batches of product to the former 12.

Abstract: A machine 10 to aid in forming at least one flange 11 on tubular bag material 12. The machine 10 includes at least one assembly 28 provided with a longitudinally extending slot 22 through which a fold 13 passes to be heated by hot air delivered to the slot 22. A pair of pressure rollers 27 engage the heated fold 13 so that the bag material 12 of the fold 13 adheres to form the flange 11.

Abstract: A weigher for a packaging machine has buckets that deliver product batches. Each bucket includes a pair of spaced side walls between which a bottom extends, and over which the product passes. A bottom wall has at least one trough to control the trajectory of the product leaving the bucket to minimise angular velocity of the product about the vertical axis of a chute. The chute has a substantially vertical axis and receives the batches of product from the weighing buckets. The chute has a side wall converging downwardly from an upper opening to a lower opening, and an internal surface over which the product passes.

Abstract: A rotary packaging machine 10 having rotatably driven stripper bars 17 and 18 that strip tubular bag material 36 prior to sealing of the bags being formed. To further inhibit material being located between the sealing jaws there is provided tube closer bars 28 and 29. The bar 28 has a longitudinally extending projection 34 that is received within a longitudinally extending recess 35 of the bar 29. The tubular bag material 36 by engagement within the recess 35 by the projection 34 laterally projects the bag material 36 and three longitudinally spaced locations 54.

Abstract: A machine 10 to test bags 11 to detect faulty bags 11a. The machine 10 includes a probe assembly 23 including a belt 27 which supports a plurality of probes 31. More particularly the bags 11 are engaged by probe portions 33, with displacement of the probe portions 33 providing data for a CPU controller 24 enabling the detection of faulty bags 11a. Faulty bags 11a are then ejected from the conveyor 13 by bag ejector 21.

Abstract: A film storage 20 to resolve film 19 from a roll or roll 17 to deliver the film 19 to a packaging machine 10. The film storage device 20 includes a base 20 upon which there is pivotably mounted a carriage 22. The carriage 22 has a transverse passage 50 through which the film 19 passes to be wound about the periphery of the carriage 22. The carriage 22 is provided with a plurality of rollers 53 that facilitates movement of the film 19 through the device 20.