Abstract: A tube material opening apparatus includes two pairs of rotatable wheels which are positioned at upstream and downstream locations within tube material. The peripheral edge of each rotatable wheel is rounded or tapered and contacts the inner surface of the tube material as the material travels in a longitudinal direction. The wheels are mounted to provide appropriate lateral tension to the tube material. The apparatus may include T-shaped bearing members or positioning rollers for maintaining the rotatable wheel positioning within the tube material.

Abstract: A seal bar for cutting and sealing plastic films about wrapped products comprises a laminated seal bar arrangement in which seal bar halves with a cutting knife, heating element and temperature sensor therebetween are adhesively secured together with a heat cured epoxy. The seal bar halves are preferably extruded members. A fixed temperature controller maintains the operating temperature of the seal bar below the melting temperature of the adhesive epoxy to prevent delamination from occurring.