Abstract: A method of sealing pouches formed of multiple plies such as in gusseted pouches having a bottom gusset structure requiring seals through at least four plies of pouch film and upper pouch structures having a two-ply upper structure requiring seals through only two-plies. Differential sealing heat is applied with more thermal energy applied to the bottom pouch structure than to the upper pouch structure.

Abstract: Bandoliers of serially-connected four-seam pouches are received, opened and filled in continuous motion on a rotating parallel land high capacity filler wheel with a tucker finger engaging the bottom seam of each pouch to facilitate the opening process, and where the pouches are held solely by the lands without other pouch engaging or holding clips or other structures.

Abstract: Web sealing apparatus includes a shaped sealing unit where the shape on one side of the element corresponds to a desired seal pattern in a multiple ply web and a heating element secured to another side of the sealing element, where the heating element is oriented to provide more heat energy to a portion of the sealing element corresponding to a desired seal pattern in one multiple ply portion of said web and less heat energy to a portion of the sealing element corresponding to a desired seal pattern in another portion of said web of fewer plies, The invention includes structure for adjusting the radial position of sealing units on a rotatable drum sealer. Multiple sealing units are adjustably mounted on a sealing drum or wheel for applying varied parameter seals in multiple-ply webs wrapped about said drum in contact with said sealing units. Methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A single level filler wheel for filling pouches with multiple products including a filler wheel having at least two sets of funnels defined within the wheel and spouts attached to the underside of the wheel, alternating spouts communicating with funnels of each set so that products dispensed on the wheel into two different feed paths are respectively received by the respective funnel sets and transferred directly into alternating spouts for filling at least two products, one into each alternate pouch. The total product drop is halved with respect to dual level filling devices and through-put speeds can be significantly increased. Multiple products in excess of two and varied feed drops can be provided by adding funnel sets, alternating spouts differently and the like. Methods and apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: A web of pouches is fed past a detector. Inflating mechanism inflates individual pouches to create individual profiles. The detector responds to the appearance of a preselected distance between the surface of the pouch and the detector as each pouch passes the detector.

Abstract: A web is folded upon itself and transversely sealed. The web is cut into individual pouches which are fed into gripper units, on an endless conveyor, each having a fixed leading jaw and a movable trailing jaw which grip the leading and trailing edges of the pouches. To open a pouch, the trailing jaw is moved toward the fixed jaw by a cam and held in position by friction. Each opened pouch is carried around a filler unit where it is filled. Thereafter, a cam causes said jaws to spread apart, stretching the mouth of the pouch, where it is sealed in a heat sealer.