Abstract: An apparatus and method adaptable to a double indexing forming, filling and sealing machine for packaging liquid products in cartons, associated with the filling and top forming and sealing units for displacing with nitrogen the oxygen normally present in the headspace of the filled cartons. The apparatus includes a housing having a covered chamber and open bottom, with a diffuser screen and pairs of baffle arrangements therein for directing the nitrogen downwardly and forwardly into the leading carton of an aligned pair of filled but open-topped cartons, and downwardly and rearwardly into the trailing carton of the pair prior to sealing the end closures thereof.

Abstract: In a packaging machine, a plurality of upwardly open receptacles are moved along a first path by a first conveyor and a plurality of packages are formed and inserted into each receptacle respectively. The packages may be filled before or after insertion into the receptacle. A plurality of covers are movable on a second closed path by a second conveyor and are brought into sealed engagement with a respective receptacle to define a sealed chamber. A pressure control device is connected to each chamber by means of a rotatable plenum chamber and a plurality of flexible conduits connected between the rotatable plenum chamber and each sealed chamber. After subjecting the contents of each package to the desired pressure, each package is sealed and subsequently removed from the receptacle.

Abstract: Different products are hermetically sealed in separate but integrally adjoining packages to form package pairs or what might be called "dual" packages. All of the packages are made from two continuous sheets of plastic packaging material, and the separate packages of each pair are differentially-conditioned by differential evacuation and/or gassing to different pressure levels. A continuous series of filled side-by-side containers formed from one sheet of packaging material is conveyed in two parallel rows into a sealing region where a cover sheet is laid over the containers to form packages. A group of the packages is stopped in the sealing region, and are clamped and partially sealed around the peripheries of the individual packages. The individual side-by-side units of the package pairs are differentially conditioned as to vacuum pressure or gas pressure or composition through aligned openings between adjacent containers in each of the parallel rows.

Abstract: A support tray 6a with a product 11a thereon is covered loosely by a cover sheet 8 in a first chamber portion 12 to be drawn upwardly into contact with the heated walls of a shallow first mould cavity. The combination of the product 11a, support tray 6a and cover sheet 8 is then advanced to a second chamber portion 13 defined by a deeper second mould cavity into which the cover sheet can be drawn while vacuum is applied to the interior of the ensuing pack through slits in the tray 6a, by means of suction ports 20.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 for effecting sealing of a fused quartz ampoule 24 while maintaining a vacuum on the ampoule via system 12 is disclosed. A plug 28 of fused quartz is lowered into the vertically disposed ampoule 24 (while maintaining the vacuum thereon) and heat sealed therein to prevent any vapor escape from, or contamination of, the contained semiconductor growth charge 29 during subsequent semiconductor crystal growth processes. A rotary vacuum feed-through mechanism 16 selectively rotates axle 34 and spool 32 to unwind wire 30 for lowering of plug 28 into the reduced diameter portion 24b of ampoule 24. Ampoule 24 is hermatically connected to vacuum housing 18 by quick release flange 20 wherein O-ring 22 retains ampoule 24.

Abstract: Different products are hermetically sealed in separate but integrally adjoining packages to form package pairs or what might be called "dual" packages. All of the packages are made from two continuous sheets of plastic packaging material, and the separate packages of each pair are differentially-conditioned by differential evacuation and/or gassing to different pressure levels. A continuous series of filled side-by-side containers formed from one sheet of packaging material is conveyed in two parallel rows into a sealing region where a cover sheet is laid over the containers to form packages. A group of the packages is stopped in the sealing region, and are clamped and partially sealed around the peripheries of the individual packages. The individual side-by-side units of the package pairs are differentially conditioned as to vacuum pressure or gas pressure or composition through aligned openings between adjacent containers in each of the parallel rows.

Abstract: For a form, fill and seal bagging machine a process and apparatus are provided whereby simultaneous with product discharged into the interior of the bag during the filling segment of the form, fill and seal cycle, a gas is also discharged into the interior of the bag to purge the interior of the bag and further, a low pressure area is created within the interior of the bag to remove excess purging gas and/or condensing fluids from the interior of the bag prior to sealing the bag.

Abstract: A stuffer nozzle of a double pipe type is inserted in a cylindrical member formed by joining opposite ends of a film. Fluid material such as raw egg is supplied from an inner pipe of the stuffer nozzle to fill the cylindrical member with the fluid material. An air valve communicating with an outer pipe of the stuffer nozzle is opened to exhaust air in the cylindrical member and reduce pressure in the cylindrical member in synchronism with a timing that a pair of squeezing rollers squeeze the cylindrical member filled with the fluid material. The squeezed cylindrical member is clamped by a clamping member. The air vent valve is closed to prevent air from entering into the cylindrical member from outside through the outer pipe of the stuffer nozzle in synchronism with a timing that the squeezing rollers are separated from the cylindrical member.

Abstract: The manufacture of non-returnable packages for e.g. milk is frequently carried out by the conversion of web-shaped, laminated packing material to a tube, filling of the tube with milk and sealing and forming to filled packing containers of the desired, e.g. parallelepipedic, shape. During the forming, which is done by means of external forming devices, the contents are made use of as an internal mandrel or a holder-up for the forming devices, so that the desired shape can be achieved without creasing or other deformations. The above-mentioned forming principle works less well if the packing containers are not to be completely filled but have a certain air space or headspace. The proportioning of the contents also becomes uncertain and the desired accuracy of volume cannot always be achieved.

Abstract: Machine for packaging paper pockets or bags containing substances used in infused beverages comprising a plurality of cup or pan-like devices, having a central depression, on which bears a first or lower paper ribbon or web receiving measures or doses or said substance, e.g. in powdered form, metering means to supply said measures to said paper ribbon, tamping means to tamp said substance and means to apply and seal a second paper ribbon on said first paper ribbon closing said substance measures in pockets or bags so-formed.

Abstract: To fill low-weight, high-volume goods, such as potato chips, popcorn and the like into bags as the bags are being made, the fill goods are introduced into a hopper and a filling funnel which is joined to a fill tube. The fill tube has air inlet openings at the upper portion, air outlet openings at the lower portion, and then continues to a holder and bag-forming tube. A film (102), for example, of plastic, is wrapped about the bag forming tube (105), and seamed vertically, so that the tube is being made as goods are introduced into the hopper and funnel. An air stream (B) is generated longitudinally in the fill tube (103) by introducing air under above-atmospheric pressure into the upper air inlet openings (104) formed as downwardly directed flap nozzles (119), the air being removed from lower openings (122) and, for example, recirculated in the recirculating blower (107), the openings being closed off outwardly by a jacket forming respective air inlet and outlet chambers (111,116).

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: Packaging for foodstuffs, particularly meat, comprises a rigid tray (3) of plastic material, preferably polypropylene, enclosed between two opposing, preferably transparent, plastic webs (2, 4), one of which (4) has a depression formed therein in which the tray nests. The tray has corrugations (5) which give it its rigidity, with those on the base (7) also serving to support and space the contents above the base. The package is air evacuated and filled with a desired gas to prevent deterioration of the contents. The method of packaging essentially entails placing the tray, with contents, in the depression, overlying the upper web, evacuating and gasifying the partially completed package and sealing the webs together. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming capsules having a fill material which might be adversely affected by the presence of air. A capsule forming material, which forms a portion of the casing of the capsules, is fed along a predetermined path of movement past a sealing station for sealing of the cavities. A fill material is deposited in the cavities of the capsule forming material prior to cavities being sealed at the sealing station. An evacuation member having an evacuation surface is disposed to face the cavities in the capsule forming material and seal against the capsule forming material as the capsule forming material is moved past the evacuation member to form a substantially airtight seal between the evacuation member and the capsule forming material.

Abstract: A skin packaging machine have a base, an inclined oven above the base, and a film frame pivoted to swing between the base and the inclined oven. The oven has transverse elongated heating elements closely spaced at the lower end and widely spaced at the upper end to provide uniform heat across the surface of the oven. The frame has a pneumatic system for swinging it between its upper and lower positions in order to minimize the possibility of injury.

Abstract: Blocks of cheese are entubed in relatively thin plastic film wrapping material that is heat shrinkable and sealable. According to the method and apparatus, the entubed blocks of cheese are heated to tightly shrink the wrap onto the blocks of cheese to drive air out from between the cheese and the film wrap to provide for good shelf-life and to maintain flavor and other qualities of the product.

Abstract: In a machine for manufacturing packing containers by sealing and cutting a tubular packing material, a sealing unit positioned in the tube comprising a sealing guide, a sealing holder movably supported by the sealing guide, a sealing member of flexible material on the periphery of the sealing holder which contacts the inside of the material tube and passages in the sealing guide and sealing holder for conveying pressurized air therethrough.

Abstract: This relates to the sterile packaging of sterile products. A suitable thermoplastic film tube is formed by an extrusion process wherein the resultant tube is initially sterile internally and externally. The shape of the tube is maintained by a gas supplied under pressure, which gas is maintained in a sterile condition. The resultant tube portions, containers or pouches are filled utilizing filling equipment which is disposed within a housing of the sterile gas supply apparatus and is maintained externally in a sterile state by a suitable heater or other external sterilization methods. A sterile product is delivered from a sterile kettle or the like through a conduit to the filling equipment. The conduit and the filling equipment may be internally sterilized by circulating a suitable chemical sterilizing liquid therethrough as an initial part of the product packaging operation.

Abstract: This invention relates to an air extractor for a bag-making filling and packaging machine for exhausting the air in a bag filled with goods. The air extractor comprises frames freely closing and opening for surrounding in an air-tight manner the bag filled with the goods. Air is supplied into the closed frames so as to squeeze the outer surfaces of the bag by the pressure of the supplied air to extract the air from the bag. In this manner, the air in the bag is reliably extracted irrespective of the shapes of the goods and their filled conditions without damaging the goods.

Abstract: The manufacture of non-returnable packages is frequently carried out by the conversion of web-shaped, laminated packing material to a tube, filling of the tube with milk, and sealing and forming the filled packing containers to the desired shape. During the forming, which is done by external forming devices, the contents are used as a mandrel or a holder-up for the forming device, so that the desired shape can be achieved without creasing or other deformations. The above-mentioned forming principle works less well if the packing containers are not completely filled, but have a certain air space or headspace. The proportioning of the contents also becomes uncertain and the desired accuracy of volume cannot always be achieved. These difficulties are overcome by the invention wherein a sealed off part of the packing material tube is pressurized with the help of gas during the forming process, so that the internal back pressure required during the forming is obtained, independently of the quantity of contents.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the continuous and rapid production of a plurality of flexible packages containing a non-solid substance such as an ointment, by continuously forming and vacuum sealing the packages from two webs of material in the nip of cooperating roller surfaces. The packages each contain a precise quantity of medication which may be, for example, the kind of medication which is self-administered by the user by transdermal application. The method and apparatus herein joins together two specially prepared webs of material continuously drawn from supply rolls while at the same time incorporating and vacuum sealing a desired quantity of the medication therebetween.

Abstract: A machine for packaging articles in continuous tubular material, which may be formed by rolling the marginal edges of a flat web around a succession of the product articles to bring the marginal edges into contact and then sealing them continuously to complete the tube, comprises a pair of transverse sealing jaws 14 and 15 which each include a hemi-cylindrical chamber 24 having gas-pervious walls 16 and defining a cylindrical space 25 initially centrally divided by the film between two successive product articles 1.The film extending diametrically across the space 25 is first of all severed and then suction is applied to the gas-pervious walls 16 to draw the film into contact with the walls 16. To the righthand side of the space 25 is a double impulse sealing system 18, 19 centrally divided by a knife 21 which separates a righthand pack 28 from the film in the space 25, and to the lefthand side of that space 25 is a further double impulse sealing system 18, 20, again with a knife 22 to effect separation.

Abstract: A method of producing a package is provided wherein a product is brought into a depression formed using a shrinkable sheet material, a cover is brought over the depression, the sheet material is shrunk by heating and the depression is closed with a cover by heat-sealing. In order to shrink the depression free from creases onto different and irregular product surfaces steam is admitted to the sheet material having a saturation temperature above the sheet material temperature such that the steam condensing at the sheet material transfers its heat of condensation to the sheet material. The apparatus for performing the method comprises a sealing station with an upper tool and a lower tool movable relatively thereto and having a chamber for receiving the depression, the chamber being connected with a steam generator.

Abstract: An apparatus for the dosed filling of highly viscous material, particularly pasty sealing compound, into tubular bags has a dosing device and a filling device connected thereto, which is provided with a filling tube projecting into the foil tube. The apparatus also has a closing device for the filled tubular bags. In order to permit a dosed filling of highly viscous, stringy materials into tubular bags, the filling device has a foil tube formation device surrounding the filling tube. There is also a conveying mechanism for the foil tube and a pick-up for determining the dosed material quantity and a pick-up for determining the conveying length of the foil tube. A device for cutting through the material strand is positioned directly at the end of the filling tube. There is also a transverse welding means with a cutting device below the filling device.

Abstract: A combined holding and stripper jaw apparatus is provided for use in a form, fill and seal packaging machine. The apparatus includes a pair of opposed holding jaws operated in reciprocating fashion to close and grasp the packaging film tube following the product filling step of the cycle. A stripper jaw is pivotally mounted to the underside of each holding jaw. The stripper jaws are each movable between a ready position adjacent the holding jaws and a strip position for stripping the product in the packaging film tube. Sealing jaws independently mounted between the holding and stripping jaws are separately cycled to close and seal the packaging film into a bag. As the sealing jaws close, a cam surface on the sealing jaws contacts an angled portion of the stripper jaws forcing the stripper jaws downward against spring tension to the strip position. In addition, the holding and stripper jaws include relief features in the edges contacting the packaging film for the venting of trapped air.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging method and apparatus for packaging solid objects such as food products of various shapes automatically. A web of tubular plastic film is supplied from a roll and drawn over an opening core which opens the plastic film into a rectangular shape. The film is then drawn over the object to be packaged and cut to a predetermined length. In one embodiment, the front end of the film is then sealed and the object urged towards the sealed end. In another embodiment, both ends of the film are left open at this point. The object with the film positioned therearound is transferred to a vacuum chamber. Prior to the chamber being evacuated, tension is applied to the film so as to prevent the formation of creases.

Abstract: Effective sterilization is obtained in an apparatus for producing a succession of containers from a length of foil, charging the containers and closing the charged containers in a sterile environment, where the deep-drawing station for forming the containers in the foil includes a vertically reciprocable lower portion defining a mold recess for receiving and forming respective containers in the foil and a stationary upper portion associated with the lower portion and defining a chamber in communication with the mold recess.

Abstract: A skin packaging machine having a base, an inclined oven above the base, and a film frame pivoted to swing between the base and the inclined oven. The oven has transverse elongated heating elements closely spaced at the lower end and widely spaced at the upper end to provide uniform heat across the surface of the oven. The frame has a pneumatic system for swinging it between its upper and lower positions in order to minimize the possibility of injury.

Abstract: Disclosed is a container for storing product, a process and apparatus for making that container, a process and apparatus for drawing and blow forming plastic into a paperboard outer container and a process and apparatus for heat sealing a container. The container comprises a paperboard outer container and a plastic inner container which has been drawn and blow formed into the outer container. At the mouth of the container are horizontal plastic flanges which extend about the periphery of the container at least about 1/8 inch outwardly from the plastic inner container. Vertical flanges extend downwardly at least about 1/8 inch from the horizontal flanges. After product is placed in the container, the container is sealed by a heat sealable cover. A plastic overcap may be provided which engagedly fits around the container at its top.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging apparatus has two lower chambers with open upper face in side-by-side arrangement in a base box and a single upper chamber with an open bottom face in an upper head which is supported by a plurality of links on the base box and can be shifted alternately from atop one lower chamber to atop the other thereby to form alternatively two vacuum chambers for vacuum packaging. Moving parts of the apparatus are actuated by an electric and vacuum control system including some valves, some switches for controlling the valves, fluid passages formed in the base box and the upper and lower heads and a vacuum pump. While vacuum packaging is being carried out in the vacuum chamber formed on one side, preparation of a commodity to be packaged and packaging materials can be carried out in the other lower chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping, filling and closing packaging containers is proposed. In order to create an inert gas atmosphere in the head room of packaging containers which are to be closed with a foil strip and in order to distribute portions of a product in the containers, the apparatus has a gas-treatment device having a chamber which narrows toward the closure device. This chamber is defined at the top by the foil strip moving toward it, which is supported by a slide track, and at the bottom by the containers. Protruding into this chamber in the direction in which the containers are conveyed and overlapping the lateral rims of the containers are gas supply lines, which have gas outlet openings directed transversely with respect to their longitudinal axis. The outlet openings are disposed in staggered fashion on sides of the gas supply lines which face one another.

Abstract: A reclosable package, e.g. for food products, is made by sealing one side of a closure strip to a first thermoplastic sheet; enclosing a product between that first sheet and a second thermoplastic sheet with the closure strip inside the enclosure; and, sealing another side of the closure strip to the second sheet while the strip and product are so enclosed.

Abstract: A method for wrapping commodities comprising supplying a pair of spaced apart layers of air-impermeable wrapping material and securing the layers together transversely along a leading end. A commodity is inserted between the layers to lie adjacent the secured leading end. The side or sides of the layers are secured together. The layers are then perforated in a transverse row adjacent the commodity on its side opposite the other side adjacent the leading end. The layers are then sealed transversely between the commodity and the row of perforations to completely seal the commodity within the layers. Prior to completely sealing the commodity, but after perforating, the space surrounding the commodity between the layers is evacuated. The invention also covers an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A package comprising a receptacle cup of semi-rigid plastic having a top of semi-rigid plastic sealed to flanges of the receptacle and formed inwardly to press against the packaged product and hold it in place with or without evacuation of the interior. Different techniques and apparatus are disclosed for forming such packages. Package configurations also are disclosed providing improved recloseable characteristics, wherein the semi-rigid nature of both the top and the cup are utilized to enable the reclosed top to be held securely in place.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method of packaging commodities in a flexible wrapper. The apparatus includes first and second stations with a wrapper engaging assembly moving between the first and second stations, wrapper cutting and sealing means which severs a bag length from a continuous roll of flexible material, a component for opening the open leading end of the wrapper at the second station, a funnel which is preferably expandable and which engages the open mouth of the wrapper so as to permit loading of the commodity into the wrapper, and a further assembly which seals the open mouth of the bag length, preferably under vacuum, by having a component preferably in the form of a pair of fingers which engages the mouth of the bag to place it under tension whereafter a sealing assembly seals the mouth of the bag to form an improved weld across the mouth of the bag.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus for making vacuum or gas-filled packages of the type including a flanged cup-shaped receptacle with a closure film sealed to the flanges and stretched down into the cup to engage and press against the product. The apparatus comprises a first packaging station where the film is sealed to the cup flanges part way around the cup mouth; simultaneously the film is heated in pre-selected locations to soften it for subsequent stretching. In a subsequent station, the partially-completed package is placed in a vacuum chamber and evacuated. Thereafter, a plug is driven against the still heated film, to force it down into the cup interior adjacent the product. Before or after the plug movement, the film is fully sealed to the cup, to make a hermetically-sealed package.

Abstract: In a vacuum packaging machine having a forming station and an evacuation and sealing station, wherein each station has a chamber made of an upper and a lower part, and each part comprises a base portion (top cover or floor, as the case may be) and four upstanding walls, one or both of said chamber parts is made from material having an appropriate cross-sectional shape, preferably U-shaped, forming the base portion and opposite side walls, the front and rear walls being secured thereto in the form of covers. The cross-sectional shape may be double U-shaped, providing accommodation for connections for chamber supply requirements (vacuum, air, power). Also the cooling plate for the lower part is secured on the under-side of the floor of said part and mounts it on the means for imparting chamber opening and closing movement to the lower part, while the cooling plate for the upper part is inside the chamber, on the under-side of the top cover.

Abstract: An improvement in the wrapping of successive articles in heat-sealable film supplied in a continuous length to an elongated generally tubular former which progressively wraps the film around the sides of the articles and seals the margins together while air is being evacuated from the interior of the wrapping material comprises the provision of a lengthwise slot in the tubular former and placing the vacuum supply pipe outside the former and near the slot so that the articles do not ride on, or come in contact with, this supply pipe. In the preferred form the margins of the film are sealed along a continuous line outside the supply pipe and along a discontinuous on the other side of the pipe so that air evacuation can take place.

Abstract: A wheel-type form-fill-seal vacuum packaging machine in which a wheel carrying a circular series of dies or molds is adapted to be driven at different speeds for accommodation to different product infeed conditions, and in which a vacuum chamber/seal plate assembly is closed with respect to one of the molds with a timed dwell interval for the seal plate which is the same for different wheel speeds.

Abstract: The meat packaging machine of the present invention is designed to vacuum pack meat products between two webs of heat sealable thermo-plastic material. One web of each package is formed with at least two pockets connected by and bounded by a sealing flange extending outwardly therefrom. The second web which closes the pockets also extends over the sealing flange and the entire interface between the two webs is heat sealed to prevent migration of meat juices. The machine includes a sealing head and a sealing die mounted one on either side of the sealing plane. Heated sealing members are located in the sealing head and in the sealing die which, when the head and die are in the closed position, are disposed to engage the first and second webs therebetween to effect a heat seal over the entire sealing interface of the webs.

Abstract: A heat-sealable foil is shaped around a shaping pipe to form a tube and during removal from the shaping pipe is provided with transverse seams by means of transverse heating jaws. The resulting bags are filled by means of a fill pipe and a dosaging worm or auger. A conduit leads from the lower end of the shaping pipe to a bellows and to a bottle of protective gas. The bellows forms a closed chamber whose volume is periodically increased and reduced in the operating rhythm of the bag forming apparatus by means of drive members. Thus the pressure conditions at the end of the shaping pipe can be influenced periodically, so as to avoid that the filled or sealed bags contain undesirable air inclusions or, when filling under protective gas, so as to avoid greater losses of protective gas from leaking into the open air.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a reclosable package from a forming web, a covering web and a closure strip. The closure strip is indented at desired intervals and sealed at its lower surface to the forming web. A cavity is formed in the forming web after which a product is placed therein and covered with the covering web. After evacuating the space therebetween the covering and forming webs are sealed together with longitudinal and transverse seals which enclose the product and the closure strip. The upper surface of the closure strip is sealed to the covering web so that when the package is severed between the closure strip and an adjacent longitudinal seal, the closure strip may be opened for access to the product.

Abstract: The invention concerns the packaging of commodities into vacuum-sealed packs formed from sheet plastics packaging material. In accordance with this invention, the packaging material is formed from a two-layer laminate the inside layer of which has a much lower softening point than the outside layer. The commodity is sandwiched between two sheets of the packaging material and is passed to a vacuum chamber in which it is sealed between the two sheets under reduced pressure. Simultaneously the material is heated to a temperature at which the inner laminate softens, and when the chamber is aerated, the heated material collapses around the commodity and the inner layers fuse together around the margins to form a highly effective hermetic seal around the commodity.

Abstract: The meat packaging machine of the present invention is designed to vacuum pack meat products between two webs of heat sealable thermo-plastic material. One web of each package is formed with at least two pockets connected by and bounded by a sealing flange extending outwardly therefrom. The second web which closes the pockets also extends over the sealing flange and the entire interface between the two webs is heat sealed to prevent migration of meat juices. The machine includes a sealing head and a sealing die mounted one on either side of the sealing plane. Heated sealing members are located in the sealing head and in the sealing die which, when the head and die are in the closed position, are disposed to engage the first and second webs therebetween to effect a heat seal over the entire sealing interface of the webs.

Abstract: The apparatus includes an L-sealer and a supply of folded film which is fed across a horizontal table to the vicinity of the sealer, where a product to be packaged is placed between the upper and lower sheets of folded film. The sealer is then operated to hold closed the open side of the film opposite the fold and thus to form a bag which is closed, but not sealed, on three sides.The edge of the table facing the open end of the bag is provided with a vacuum chamber which is operated to remove air from the bag, whereupon the L-sealer is operated to complete the sealing of the bag and the severing of the bag from the film supply.

Abstract: In apparatus for packaging objects by enclosing them in a tube of packaging material, which tube presents two projecting longitudinal flaps which are subsequently welded together to form a longitudinal seam, a flat nozzle is inserted between the flaps ahead of the longitudinal seam welding location and is connected to a suction source for extracting air from each package being formed.

Abstract: Upper and lower continuous films are supplied intermittently, with the upper film being supplied in a direction to form an acute angle relative to the advancing direction of the lower film. A part of the upper film is made soft and expansible by heating and is pressed upon the lower film while both films are stopped from advancement in such a manner that the softened part of the upper film encloses a material on the lower film. The space between the upper and lower films and about the material is then vacuumized. An upper vacuum box having a lower open end is provided above the upper film and has heating means and vacuum suction means therein. The upper vacuum box is moved to an inclined position, in which the lower end of the vacuum box becomes parallel to the upper film, and is then descended to a position, in which the upper film is pressed upon the lower film by the lower end of the vacuum box.

Abstract: A sealing device suitable for use in a vacuum packaging machine. The device is provided with a sealing tool and a resilient sealing backing cooperating with said sealing tool to seal two webs of heat-sealable packaging material therebetween when the sealing tool is moved towards the sealing backing. The sealing backing has a milled or knurled contacting surface structure comprising protrusions and/or depressions which may be pyramidal in shape, and the sealing tool has a substantially smooth or planar sealing surface. Adherence of the packaging material to the backing and to the sealing tool is avoided by cooperation of the protrusions and/or depressions with the smooth or planar surface of the sealing tool.

Abstract: While thermoforming an article skin-wrap packaging, the article being disposed on an air-tight supporting plate firmly applied on an evacuated chamber and a plastic film displaced parallel to the supporting plate to firmly engage the article and the supporting plate, vacuum is provided in the wrapping by means of at least one suction tube or nozzle temporarily placed between the supporting plate and the film.

Abstract: In a vacuum packaging machine there is provided the combination of a sealing unit and vacuum unit. The sealing unit comprises first and second sealing dies and the vacuum unit comprises a primary spacer located adjacent the input end of the sealing dies. The primary spacer is spaced from the first die to form a first web feeding passage therebetween and is spaced from the second die to form a second web feeding passage therebetween. The vacuum unit also includes a secondary spacer located adjacent the input end of the dies and mounted for movement between a retracted position permitting closure of the dies to effect sealing and an extended position maintaining at least a portion of the webs which passed through the first and second web feeding passages, in a spaced relationship to permit evacuation of the container space formed between the webs.