Abstract: A machine for forming, filling and sealing pouches out of continuously fed film material wherein the material forming the pouches extends in a horizontal direction during all steps of the process. Continuous film is fed from a roll thereof with the roll being power driven to prevent stretching of the material as it passes through the various processing stations. The film material can be stamped for marking thereon and can include a header area which is sealed and may or may not have a card placed therein or thereon. The top of the individual pouches may include an aperture therethrough for display mounting or air evacuation. The film then travels to a side sealing device which extends laterally across the moving film for sealing between adjacent pouches. The pouches are loaded with product at a position where immediately thereafter the ends thereof are sealed. At all times the pouch extends in a horizontal position to prevent the weight of the product from interfering with the filling and sealing operations.

Abstract: A packaging machine wraps an article with a web of patterned wrapping paper as it is continuously formed into a sleeve, and seals or cuts or both seals and cuts the front and rear ends of a sleeve enclosure in which the article is wrapped. A timing adjustment device for the packaging machine includes input means for setting an operating pitch of a seal cutter or the like and a thickness of the article, a processor for computing an initial angle or position of the seal cutter or the like based on the settings for the operating pitch and the article thickness to establish timing of operation of the seal cutter or the like with respect to the article fed by a feed conveyor and the patterned wrapping paper and for issuing a control signal based on the result of computation, and a control motor for adjusting a timing mechanism for the seal cutter or the like based on the control signal.

Abstract: An automated bag filling machine particularly adapted to handle reclosable fastener strip profile-type plastic bags fed into the machine in a bag chain employs stations for opening, filling, reclosing, and separating filled and closed bags from the remainder of the chain. The drive means for conveying the chain through the filling mechanism include stroke control devices which enable the operation of the machine to be changed over for handling bags of different width sizes. Means are also provided for automatically preventing the bags in the chain from excessively over traveling their proper registration points with the various work stations.

Abstract: A method for splicing the trailing end portion of an advancing web of packing material to the leading end portion of an initially stationary second web of the same packing material such that after splicing marks provided on each of the webs in an equally spaced relation continue as an uninterrupted regular row, in particular in a packing machine. The articles to be packed are advanced spaced apart as a continuous flow into a web of packing material folded to a tube and are carried and advanced along sealing stations by the advancing tube for producing a longitudinal sealing seam and transverse sealing seams in the packing material between the articles. The transverse seams are cut thereafter and the discrete packed articles are discharged on a coveyor, in which the first web runs over a roller and the leading end portion provided with an adhesive of the second web is placed over a second roller opposite to the first roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are proposed for the combined guidance, incorporating a register, of two continuously advanced foil strips, such as when attaching a foil cover strip to a lower foil strip including container-like recesses. The foil cover strip is preferably of aluminum and has printed legends which must be oriented precisely with respect to the container-like recesses of the lower foil strip. A marking is associated with each legend for scanning by a photo cell. The distribution of the legends and thus of the markings is somewhat closer together than the distribution of the container-like recesses. By stretching the foil cover strip, the distribution of the legends and of the markings can be adapted to the distribution of the container-like recesses.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for assembling and attaching zipper closure means in strip form to open ends of flat sacks fed serratim into an attachment station. Consecutive sections of the closure means must be in proper registration with the sacks in such station. Assembly of the sections with the sack ends is coordinated by monitoring relative orientation of the sections and the sacks and automatically correcting for deviations from the registration.

Abstract: The label indexing and applicator apparatus of the present invention includes laminating means for bonding labels in a controlled index from a rolled strip of flexible and stretchable label stock to a surface of a substrate to form a laminate. The apparatus includes means for unrolling the strip label stock at a tension less than the tension sufficient to impart any substantial longitudinal stretch thereto. Electric motor brake means are connected to and drive one of the nip rollers to grippingly drive the strip label stock therethrough at a controlled linear speed which is less than the pulling speed thereby to effect tension sufficient to impart a longitudinal stretch of controlled magnitude on the strip label stock. Control means are connected to the sensor means and the electric motor brake for receiving detection signals and for controlling and varying the drive speed of the electric motor brake.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling a machine which is operable in cycles, the machine carrying out a plurality of functions during each cycle. Values representing the stages of the machine in its cycle are generated as the machine progresses through a cycle, the values being determined by the actual stage of the machine independently of time. Starting and stopping points in the cycle for at least one of the functions of the machine is preset in terms of the generated values. The generated values are compared with the preset starting and stopping point values. The machine function is initiated and maintained when the generated values are greater than the preset starting point value but are less than the preset stopping point value and the function is stopped when the generated values equal or are greater than the preset stopping point value. Apparatus and method for computing starting and stopping points for an eyespot window using only a single set of delay switches is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a regulating arrangement in particular on packing machines for the feed of weblike packing material in register with decorations or folding indications, so-called crease lines, present on the web. In accordance with the invention the desired control is obtained by regulating the tension of the web with the help of a guide roller over which the web is passed. The speed of the guide roller is regulated so that a web tension required for a feed according to register is obtained.

Abstract: In a machine for wrapping individual articles with a thermoplastic film, a device is provided for correctly positioning the film, which is for example printed with certain symbols, relative to the articles. Said device comprises a mechanism for detecting at every instant the position of an article, a photoelectric cell for detecting the position of the film and a comparison circuit which receives signals from both the detecting means. The comparison circuit comprises logical gates (of AND type) and storage means and is associated to timing means for actuating a motor so as to increase or reduce the speed of the film consistently with the positive or negative results of the speed comparison made by the comparison circuit, or to leave said speed unaltered when the phase relationship between the film and the articles has been found correct.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of automatically forming packages of materials or goods such as milk packages from flexible film and to the novel packages produced thereby. The roll stock film is passed over a forming shoulder to give it a tubular shape and the opposite edges are joined by a sealing bar to form a tubular portion. The milk pouches or other material to be packaged are then dropped into the tubular portion which has previously been laterally sealed across the bottom. The weight of the pouches draws the film down between a pair of reciprocating cutting and sealing jaws when they are opened until the pouches come to rest upon a pivotal support member. The jaws are then closed to form two lateral seals, i.e. one for that package and one for the next package, and a lateral cut separates the packages. The package thus formed may also have an upper handle portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously forming containers, filling the containers with material and packing the containers containing material includes a heating device for heating a bottom sheet of thermoplastic resin supplied intermittently thereto, a forming device for forming container portions from the heated bottom sheet while keeping the latter continuous, a filling device for filling said container portions with material, a sealing device for sealingly covering the container portions with a cover sheet bearing pitch marks corresponding to symbol marks printed thereon, a punching device for removing the sealed containers from the continuous bottom material sheet, and is characterized by that a mark reading device is disposed at a position separated from the sealing device by a distance equal to a distance between the forming device and the sealing device, that a device is associated with at least one of the sealing device and the punching device for forwardly or reversely moving at least one of the sealing devi

Abstract: In apparatus for pouch forming, filling and sealing, a printed web, having registration marks at locations where transverse seals are to be formed in order to form a pouch, is fed through drive rolls; over a plow which forms a longitudinal fold in the web; around a sealing wheel having lands which the web contacts to form transverse pouch-forming seals; around a filler where product is poured into the pouches; past a top sealer and a cutoff where the pouch forming is completed and the individual pouches are severed by knives. A photoelectric scanner scans the registration marks and produces a pulse when each passes the scanner. An electric eye cooperating with a disk driven by the machine determines the position of the sealer lands. A tachometer driven by the machine produces pulses proportional to the speed of the machine. A stepping motor continuously drives the drive rolls.

Abstract: In a hot forming machine in which molding means deform a thermoplastic foil band and cutting and stamping means further process the deformed foil band. A photocell is adapted to scan marking indicia on the foil band and to adjust a lengthwise adjustable connecting member in accordance with such scanning. The connecting member forms part of an advancing arrangement for the transported foil band. This advancing arrangement includes a swing arm pivotally mounted in the machine; a first shaft mounted on the swing arm in proximity of the free end thereof; and an eccentric rigidly secured to the first shaft and pivotally connected to the connecting member which is also pivotally connected to the swing arm.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for continuously and automatically packaging preferably particulate food in successive fixed amounts by using a ribbon-like film, preferably of a synthetic resin. The film is continuously payed out from a roll and is progressively wrapped around a cylindrical forming chute with the help of a plate, while longitudinally heat sealing the overlap of the opposite lateral edges of the wrapped film, to change it into a tubular form, charging the food thereinto from above the chute, heat sealing the top and bottom of a food receiving region of the tubular film, and cutting off that region from the continuous tubular film. The apparatus allows the continuous production of bags or enclosures, from the initial ribbon-like and later tubular film, charged with the food, in a simple cyclical operation.

Abstract: A package making machine of the vertical form, fill and seal type has an improved electrical control system operable on demand irrespective of the intervals of time between a train of cycle start signals and operable independently of the mechanical power source for the machine and/or its associated product feeder. The machine has a tube feeder operable during a portion of each bag making cycle and an end sealer operable during another portion of each cycle. Side sealing is accomplished during feeding by a hot belt sealer and secondary operations include a jammed product dislodging plunger, an air blast, a code dater, and a bag cut-off knife. All of the foregoing are operable by the control system in timed relationship and the system is also capable of controlling a product dump device in the product feeder. The tube feeder is controlled by an adjustable timer or by a photoregistration circuit which reads marks printed along the length of the web from which the package tube is made.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing thermoformed plastics trays comprising means for entraining along a plane a thermodeformable strip proceeding through a heating station, a station for forming container cells in the strip, a station for filling with a product the cells and a station for closing the cells with a metal strip comprising wording relative to the nature of the contained product. The heating system consists of mutually overlying heating plates driven intermittently parallel to the feed direction of the thermodeformable strip. The closing station comprises guide means for the metal strip which accompany this latter tangentially above the thermodeformable strip so as to close the container cells. The guide means cooperate with a metal strip stretching device controlled by members for off center detection so as to elongate the strip and center the print on the formed trays.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading photocell markings applied at equal intervals on the decorated side of a material web run through a packing machine for the continuous manufacture of separatable packages provided with transverse crease lines in which a cylindrical monitoring element which contacts and is rotated by the crease lines functions to periodically actuate an electrical switch which in turn activates a photocell located close to the web when a photocell marking is calculated to pass.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to change the amount of overlap in a tubular sheet material to maintain the registration of material printed thereon when the tubular sheet of material is converted into individual tetrahedral packages and to provide an alarm system to indicate when the registration system has reached its limit of controllability.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of this invention pertains to a web film advance in which a film advancing roll is carried on a frame moved by a reciprocating pitman arm. This arm is adjustable as to its stroke or travel so that a corresponding travel of the frame is also selectively adjustable. The film advancing roll is carried by a shaft mounted in bearings and is prevented from turning in one direction by a one-way clutch apparatus. This clutch allows the roll to be rotated only when the frame and roll are moved rearwardly. During this film feeding advance by the roller a rotation of the roller is achieved by a roller chain and a sprocket or a timing belt and toothed pulley. This chain or belt may be moved a small amount in response to an electrical signal to bring the web of film or paper into registration in accordance with mark indicia. Bags or simply formed, filled and sealed packages may be made by and on this simplified yet highly reliable film advancing apparatus.

Abstract: A package making machine of the vertical form, fill and seal variety has an electrical control system allowing the length of the package or bag made during each machine cycle to be controlled easily by manual adjustment of a control knob. In particular, the folded web tube from which packages are made is moved through the machine by a tube feeder driven during only a portion of each bag making cycle, the length of time during which the tube feeder is operated during each such cycle being varied to vary the package length. In addition to this control of package length via control of the tube feed time per bag making cycle, the electrical control circuitry may also include circuitry for controlling the package length in response to photoelectric detection of registration marks printed at regularly spaced points along the length of the web from which the tube is made.

Abstract: An arrangement is described for registering stretchable lids with mating product-filled troughs of a heat-sealed product container prior to the heat-sealing operation. The troughs are preformed at first intervals on a first strip, which is successively indexed through the first interval into the heat-sealing station. The lids are defined between regularly spaced detectable markings on a second strip, which is moved into the heat-sealing station simultaneously with the first strip. The markings on the second strip are normally spaced by a second interval slightly smaller than the first interval. At the end of each indexing movement, a marking on the second strip comes into alignment with a photocell to generate a signal.

Abstract: Side gusseted industrial bags are continuously (or intermittently) formed from continuous web materials, and simultaneously filled and sealed in one fast operation by the method and apparatus of this invention.

Abstract: A device for controlling the speed of sheet materials which are fed to a deep-drawing station in a packaging machine. The sheets are advanced by the control device in a step-by-step manner toward the deep-drawing station. The speed of the motor is controlled in a step-by-step manner by a rotating cam member engaging either a part of the conveyor for the sheet material to measure a predefined length of movement by the conveyor for the material. The motor is started slowly so that the sheet material is accelerated slowly to a maximum speed and is thereafter decreased slowly in speed until it is stopped by reason of the measuring reaching the predefined limit.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging machine is disclosed for the production of packages from two different packaging material webs, one having printing marks on it. By controlling the movement of the individual working stations in accordance with the spacing of the printing marks the correct position of the imprinted cover foils on the formed trays is achieved.

Abstract: Foldable sheet articles are packaged by forming a stack of the articles, folding the stack about a center line by exerting pressure from above the stack onto the center line, suspending a doubled-over web of packaging film by its edges below the stack, introducing the stack, fold line foremost, between the web edges from above in a direction at right-angles thereto and fully inserting it in the doubled web while supporting the lowermost web portion, welding the web shut by a seam at the edges and a separating weld seam perpendicular thereto while exerting pressure on the stack to expel air, and, simultaneously with the welding step, advancing the web so as to bring a succeeding length of web below a successive stack of sheet articles to be packaged.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus for packaging units in flexible sheet material with the units spaced longitudinally in a tube formed of a web of the material and with the tube sealed together between successive units. The apparatus includes a rotary sealing wheel carrying a series of sealing assemblies for sealing the tube, the sealing assemblies being uncoupled from the wheel and held at a hold position for again being released in timed relation to movement of the tube for sealing the tube between successive units. The apparatus also includes an electronic pulse counter or encoder driven at a speed proportional to the speed of the wheel to effect the release of a sealing unit in the event the passage of a unit to be packaged is not sensed by a photoelectric sensor when packaging the units in unprinted sheet material, or to control the placement of units to be packaged on a web of the material having registration marks preprinted thereon.