Abstract: The present invention relates to a unique method and apparatus for packaging a product in individual vacuum-sealed packets constructed of a sheet of flexible material. In the method of the present invention, a sheet of flexible packaging material is formed into a channel-shaped member having spaced apart vertical sidewalls. The facing surfaces of the sidewalls are sealed at horizontally spaced apart, vertical locations to define a plurality of open top packets. A predetermined amount of a flowable product is introduced into each of the open top packets. Next, the upper corner portions of each individual packet are sealed to reduce the size of the opening in the packets. A vacuum tube is introduced into the open top packet and the upper portion of the open top packet is sealed around the vacuum tube. The interior of the packet is then evacuated through the vacuum tube and an initial horizontal top seal is produced below the vacuum tube to initially seal the packet.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing sacks from synthetic thermoplastic material. A tubular structure is formed from webs of plastic film in that the side portions are infolded and their overlapping margins are adhesively joined by an adhesive seam, tubular sections are severed from the tubular structure and the tubular sections are provided with bottom seam welds and are then filled and provided with top seam welds. The two plastic film webs are moved in unison, and cut sections of oriented plastic material are provided, which cut sections are shorter than the distance between the subsequently formed bottom and top seam welds as measured along the flattened sacks. The cut sections are introduced between the plastic film webs with such a spacing relative to each other that the spaces between the bottom and top seam welds are to be formed. The plastic film webs and the fabric sections are brought together and are laterally offset from each other.

Abstract: A plastic bag is formed, filled, sealed and separated from a continuous web of longitudinally folded plastic material. The web passes downwardly between complementary L-shaped heat sealing jaws that reciprocate and cooperate to provide seams which form a pocket that is closed after it has been filled from above and indexed downwardly. The top seam of one pocket is formed simultaneously with the bottom seam of an adjacent pocket and a weakened line of juncture is provided therebetween. Grippers carried on the heat sealing jaws engage opposite sides of the plastic web above the location of the top seam of the filled pocket and cooperate with a separator that tensions the web along the weakened line to rupture the filled pocket from the web while the web is still in a thermally weakened condition.

Abstract: Rectangular blanks of laminated cardboard are converted into containers for foodstuffs or the like in an apparatus wherein the central portion of a blank is clamped between two coaxial tools one of which has a concave blank-contacting surface and the other of which has a complementary convex blank-contacting surface. The tools can enter the cavity of a matrix with edges at one end of the cavity serving to cooperate with edges bounding the surfaces of the two tools so as to define pronounced boundaries between the clamped portion and the adjacent outer portions of the blank. The tool with the concave front surface is caused to penetrate into the cavity and to push the other tool in front of it whereby the outer portions of the blank are converted into a pair of sidewalls with convex outer sides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a unique method for packaging a product in individual packets constructed of a sheet of flexible material. In the method of the present invention, a sheet of flexible packaging material is formed into a generally U-shaped channel having spaced apart vertical sidewalls. The facing surfaces of the sidewalls are sealed at horizontally spaced apart locations to define a plurality of open top packets. A predetermined amount of a flowable product is introduced into each of the open top packets. Next, the upper corner portions of each individual packet are sealed and a prdetermined portion is cut from each upper corner. The upper corner portions of each packet then are pulled away from one another in a generally horizontal direction to urge the spaced apart upper marginal edges of the sidewalls of the packet toward one another. After the upper corner portions have been pulled away from one another, the upper marginal edges of the packets are sealed together to close the packet.

Abstract: A fluid-impervious self-inflatable sealed pouch containing separately compartmented first and second gas generating components which, upon admixture in successive discrete quantities, generate gas, causing the pouch to expand gradually from an initial collapsed condition to an ultimately fully expanded condition. Within the pouch is a mechanically rupturable solvent-containing member optimally including a measured quantity of one of said components and the other said component is enclosed by a water-soluble film barrier of polyvinyl alcohol, methylcellulose or the like, additional inner receptacles within the pouch contain measured quantities of said one component for successive release into said admixture caused by expansion of said pouch.

Abstract: An insulated pipe for conducting high and low temperature fluids includes a rigid carrier pipe, a layer of volumetrically compressible insulating material around the O.D. of the carrier pipe, and a protective outer pipe around the insulating layer. The method of making the pipe product includes placing a closed flexible bag around the carrier pipe and the insulating layer, and then drawing a vacuum on the interior of the bag to compress the insulating layer. The outer pipe is slid lengthwise over the compressed insulating layer, and the vacuum is then removed to allow the insulation to partially expand and fill the annulus between the carrier pipe and the outer pipe.

Abstract: The method of forming a pouch in a horizontal form/fill/seal machine and applying a dispensing fitment to a folded edge of the pouch.

Abstract: In combination, a predetermined quantity of particulate soluble beverage product, a predetermined quantity of aroma oil containing aromatic volatiles and a flexible air-tight packet for housing said particulate beverage product and said aroma oil for an extended period of time without substantial degradation in the quality or substantial decrease in the quantity of aromatic volatiles present in said aroma oil and said beverage product. In a particularly preferred embodiment the particulate soluble beverage product comprises instant coffee and the aroma oil comprises coffee aroma oil. Said packet preferably comprises at least two layers of a flexible sheet material which is substantially impervious to the passage of gas and liquid, said flexible sheet material having at least one surface which is substantially inert to the aromatic volatiles contained in said coffee aroma oil and said particulate soluble coffee product.

Abstract: A composite strip for producing a sterile package comprises two superposed individual strips, the inner surfaces of which are sterile, and at least one of which comprises a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material is such that after the separation of the two individual strips, the individual strip comprising thermoplastic material can be sealed to a part of itself or to the other strip by welding or glueing with the application of heat and pressure. A first part of one individual strip and another part of the same strip or of the other individual strip are joined at their edges in a sealed manner to form a hollow and sealed packing.

Abstract: Open mouth square ended bags are formed from a tube-like band and in a chain with the back wall and top end of each bag partially sealed together from each side wall to provide an open mouth therebetween. Each bag in turn may be filled through the mouth located between the back wall and top end, the bag expanding forwardly from the back wall by expanding gussets in the top and bottom ends.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making bag-type packages from strip web material in which a lead end portion of strip web material is formed around a forward end portion of a mandrel and the sleeve is advanced with the mandrel during at least a portion of the forward stroke of the mandrel. A sleeve opening device on the lead end of the mandrel is extended through the end of the sleeve to open the sleeve and the mandrel is retracted and transversely sealed and severed at a location inwardly of its open end to form a bag. A turret is provided for gripping the open end of the bag at a bag loading station and transferring the bag with its open end up sequentially to a bag filling station and to a top closing and sealing station.

Abstract: A mailing and display package and method for manufacturing the same is prepared from a cardboard or paper board blank which is divided into two panels by a fold line. A window is cut in the blank and is symmetrical in each of the two panels on each side of the fold line and is further bordered on all sides by the blank. A piece of transparent film covers the window and the blank is folded along the fold line until the two panels of the blank are in face to face contact at which time they are secured to each other. The transparent film material forms an enclosed transparent pouch to retain a product for mailing or displaying.

Abstract: Pouching apparatus for increasing the volume of material packed into a pouch. The apparatus includes a filler wheel assembly, means for rotating said assembly, a vacuum transfer wheel mounted below said filler wheel assembly and rotatable therewith, a plurality of vertical lands circumferentially spaced around said transfer wheel to receive a web of pouches, means for applying vacuum to said lands, a plurality of tuck fingers movably mounted on the transfer wheel between said lands, a stationary, circumferential cam mounted adjacent said transfer wheel to raise said tuck fingers to form an upward tuck in the bottom of each pouch of said web thereby increasing its capacity. The apparatus also includes clips to hold the web on the lands of the transfer wheel. The apparatus also includes a feed roll which feeds said web onto said transfer wheel at a preselected speed somewhat greater than the speed of said transfer wheel to force pouches into the space between said lands.

Abstract: A reclosable film plastic hang-up and/or identification pocket merchandise contents display bag has front and rear walls joined at sides and bottom and provides an openable top with complementary separable fastener profiles on the walls across the openable top with a fastener-opening front pull flange that is substantially shorter than its rear fastener-opening pull flange. A panel is joined to the front of the rear pull flange to provide therewith a plural thickness header having, if required, matching hang-up holes through the panel and rear pull flange. A header reinforcing bead structure secures the upper edges of the panel and the rear pull flange together. The panel and rear pull flange define therebetween a downwardly opening pocket adapted to house identification means. A method of making the bag from plastic extrusion is disclosed.

Abstract: A container made of synthetic material and comprising two compartments, one containing the liquid or other matter the container is to carry, and one, of smaller volume, containing a gas under pressure. The smaller pressurized container rigidifies the structure and may be shaped in such a way as to form a handle or grip for the container. A process and apparatus for manufacturing and filling rows of such containers is also disclosed, said process involving forming a strip of synthetic material into the shape of a letter W in transverse section and performing various welding operations on the strip to form individual containers and to divide off the two compartments.

Abstract: An envelope-type pouch is divided into two compartments by a divider panel which is disposed between and is sealed to the two side panels of the pouch. The top margin of the divider panel and the top margin of one of the side panels are disposed above the top margin of the other side panel to facilitate opening of the pouch by an automatic packaging machine. Sealing of the upper end of the pouch is effected by first sealing the top margin of the divider panel to the top margin of the one side panel and then by sealing the top margin of the other side panel to the divider.

Abstract: A process for wrapping articles and providing a reclosable plastic container is disclosed. A plastic sheet is conveyed in a feed direction and a stiff closure member is aligned with the plastic sheet substantially parallel to the feed direction. The article to be wrapped is fed into the plastic sheet and one side of the plastic sheet is folded over the article and alongside the closure member. The other side of the plastic sheet is folded alongside the closure member in the opposite direction so that portions of the plastic sheet alongside the closure member face each other. Portions of the platic sheet facing each other on opposite sides of the closure member are heat sealed so as to enclose the closure member within heat sealed portions of the plastic sheet. The overfolded plastic sheet is heat sealed and cut transversely to form the container.