Abstract: A wrapping machine which includes a film former for shaping a continuous film of packaging material into a continuous tube, a film drive for drawing the continuous film of packaging material past the former and past a cutting and sealing station, a product infeed drive for feeding products to be packaged through the former into the continuous tube of packaging material so that the products are spaced apart from one another in the tube, and a motor-driven rotary cut/seal head at the cutting and sealing station for cutting and sealing the continuous tube of packaging material as each product moves through that station. The wrapping machine also includes independent closed-loop servo-control circuits for the film drive, the product infeed drive, and the cut/seal head drive, each of which is responsive to a desired velocity control signal.

Abstract: In a horizontal packaging machine for wrapping and sealing articles with flexible films, a servo control system for maintaining synchronism between the finwheel drive, the in-feed conveyer and the cut-off knife assembly so that proper registration of the graphic art work on the packaged article is achieved. The finwheels are driven by a D.C. motor whose armature windings are connected to the output of a servo amplifier. A master tachometer driven by the horizontal wrapper's drive motor provides a voltage which is directly proportional to the angular velocity of that drive motor. The output from the master tachometer is passed through a calibrating network and into a first input of the servo amplifier circuit. A second tachometer is coupled to the finwheel shaft and produces a feedback signal proportional to the angular velocity of the finwheels. The feedback signal is applied to the second input of the servo amplifier and functions to control the D.C. current driving the finwheel drive motor.

Abstract: Apparatus having a plurality of controlled overlapping chain drives, each chain drive containing a plurality of raised members for receiving collated stacks of mailing literature and conveying the literature over their successive paths in synchrony with a collating assembly to a film wrapping assembly coupled at the opposite end thereof. Independently hinged overlying hold-down assemblies prevent the collating material from curling or otherwise becoming disassembled before wrapping in a film wrapper or in a paper wrapper.

Abstract: A horizontal wrapping machine which includes a former for shaping a continuous film of packaging material drawn past the former into a continuous tube, a film drive for drawing the continuous film of packaging material past the former and past a cutting and sealing station, a product infeed drive for feeding products to be packaged through the former into the continuous tube of packaging material so that the products are spaced apart from one another in the tube, and a pair of motor-driven cut-heads at the cutting and sealing station for cutting and sealing the continuous tube of packaging material as each product moves past the cutting and sealing station. The horizontal wrapping machine further includes independent closed loop servo control circuits for the film drive, product infeed drive, and cut-head drive, each of which are responsive to a desired velocity control signal.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming a tube from a web of paper or film. A perforated endless belt has at least one vacuum box applied to the underside of one run. The web is fed onto the belt and held down by it. The leading portion of the web is folded rearwardly and the longitudinal edges of the web are folded inwardly to create a tube. The thus formed tube is continuously withdrawn rearwardly while product is inserted into the opening which is continuously being formed in the tube. The tube is longitudinally sealed and thereafter transversely sealed and transversely cut to form individual pouches.

Abstract: In a packaging machine, a folder assembly for folding the tops of bags as part of a ceiling operation wherein the folder assembly can accommodate irregularities in the bags without jamming. A first folding station includes a stationary support member to which is hingedly affixed a first and a second folder plate, each having predetermined profiles formed along a working edge thereof. These folder plates are resiliently biased by springs toward their associated support member such that limited freedom to yield in a vertical plane is achieved. Associated with the working edge and spaced slightly therefrom is a front fold blade which, too, is spring mounted to allow a limited yield in a horizontal plane. In the event a jam should occur, the assembly may be readily opened to facilitate the clearing of that jam.

Abstract: A horizontal wrapping machine which includes a former for shaping a continuous film of packaging material drawn past the former into a continuous tube, a film drive for drawing the continuous film of packaging material past the former and past a cutting and sealing station, a product infeed drive for feeding products to be packaged through the former into the continuous tube of packaging material so that the products are spaced apart from one another in the tube, and a pair of motor-driven cut-heads at the cutting and sealing station for cutting and sealing the continuous tube of packaging material as each product moves past the cutting and sealing station. The horizontal wrapping machine further includes independent closed loop servo control circuits for the film drive, product infeed drive, and cut-head drive, each of which are responsive to a desired velocity control signal.

Abstract: A machine automatically applies a tin tie strip across the top of bags in a predetermined series of steps wherein the bag top is closed downwardly twice in a double fold after the tin tie strip is affixed to one of the bag side walls. Glue applied to the exposed, outside surface of the first fold holds the bag top closed in the double fold condition. Bendable lengths of the tin tie strip projecting from the leading and trailing edges of the bag side wall are sequentially bent around the bag top through full 180.degree. turns into snug engagement with the other bag side wall as bags are moved through the machine by conveyor means.

Abstract: A packing machine having a film former for converting a flat, unfolded web of thermoplastic film material into a relatively flat rectangular tube with one major surface of the flat tube having an inwardly turned edge and the other major surface of the flat tube overlapping the turned-in edge. In one embodiment, the former itself comprises a single piece of rigid sheet material which has a generally rectangular portion with an isosceles right triangle integrally formed thereon, the two legs of that triangle being aligned, respectively, with an end edge and an adjacent side edge of the rectangular piece. The sheet material is then folded over or otherwise formed such that the end edge and its extension, i.e., one leg of the isosceles triangle, are parallel to the adjacent side edge with the plane of the folded portion being generally parallel to the plane of the rectangular portion.