Abstract: Sipping straws are confined in discrete envelopes while advancing in a single file of spaced-apart straws through a wrapping station. The envelopes are obtained from a continuous strip of wrapping paper which is conveyed to the wrapping station in the direction of advancement of the file of spaced-apart straws and is draped around the straws in such a way that one of its longitudinally extending marginal portions overlies and adheres to the other marginal portion with simultaneous formation of a seam rather than an outwardly extending fin. The thus obtained tubular wrapper is thereupon severed in the gaps between successive spaced-apart straws, and the end portions of the thus obtained discrete envelopes are sealed by knurling, e.g., simultaneously with severing of the tubular wrapper.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously producing a particulate filled bag or barrier. The apparatus includes a frame having terrain engaging members, such as runners. A wound coil of sheet material is mounted on the forward end of the frame, and located to the rear of the coil is an open bottom hopper that contains a particulate material, such as sand or gravel. The sides of the hopper are composed of spaced double walls and the rear surface of the hopper is formed with an outlet. The sheet material is unwound from the coil and continuously folded into a generally U-shape by a pair of lower rollers and two pair of upper rollers, which are mounted on the frame forwardly of the hopper. The bottom surface of the folded sheet extends across the open bottom of the hopper, so that the particulate material will be in direct contact with the bottom surface, while the side surfaces of the folded sheet extend upwardly in the spaces between the double side walls of the hopper.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for providing uniform fin-type back seals with flexible packaging material for use in conjunction with form-fill-and-seal machines is disclosed which utilizes a moveable tucker plate disposed between the mated edges of the flexible packaging material and the body of the packaging material. When sealing, the tucker plate moves against the body of the packaging material and prevents lateral movement of such material during the sealing operation. The tucker plate is joined to a sealing platen in a manner which maintains a fixed distance between the tucker plate and the sealing platen until a threshold sealing pressure is exceeded.

Abstract: The package of the present invention comprises a sheath formed from a folded, relatively rigid strip having structure for receiving and releasably holding the ends of the fiber to be packaged. In a preferred embodiment, the fiber is between the two folded over parts of the strip with the ends of the fiber anchored in place in a pair of slits. The sheath is in a pouch formed by a pair of foil members on opposite sides of the sheath. When ready for use, the package is opened by peeling the foil members apart, thereby exposing the sheath and permitting access to the fiber carried by the sheath. An improved apparatus and method are provided to form the package. In the first instance, the sheath is prepared by first folding a strip of relatively rigid material, such as siliconized polyester, then moving the folded strip along a path of travel and feeding the fiber into the region between the parts of the strip as the strip moves.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tubular casing of fiber-reinforced regenerated cellulose comprising a film web which is curved to form a tube. The edge regions of the film web, which run parallel to the longitudinal axis, abut or overlap slightly and are sealed by means of a film strip which covers both the edge regions. The film web and the film strip composed of the same material have, in the wet remoistened stage, a breaking strength of about 15 to 30 N/mm.sup.2 and an elongation at break of about 30 to 50% in the longitudinal direction of the web, and a breaking strength of about 15 to 35 N/mm.sup.2 and an elongation at break of about 30 to 50% in the transverse direction of the web. The breaking strength in the transverse direction of the web is equal to or greater than that in the longitudinal direction of the web. On its entire surface facing the film strip, the tubular casing has a substantially gas-impermeable and sealable layer, as has the film strip on the surface which comes into contact with the tubular casing.

Abstract: A form-and-fill packaging machine has a separator-folder at the cross-over for separating the web edges and folding one edge to form a fin seal in the back of the packaging tube. The separator-former is of one-piece construction generally U-shaped in section with an anti-friction surface. It reduces the effects of the friction of touching web surfaces and maintains direct control of the folding edge.

Abstract: A machine for heat sealing articles between two continuous webs of plastic material comprises two parallel synchronously driven shafts, each of which has a pair of wheels on it which are brought into pressure relationship for heat sealing. One shaft is mounted for yielding perpendicularly to its rotational axis and carries a cam follower disc. The follower disc is raised intermittently and the seal wheels are thereby separated, to relieve pressure and omit sealing, with a cam that is on the other shaft and is engaged periodically for rotation by means of a clutch.