Abstract: A packaging method, and an apparatus for carrying out the method, comprises the operation of a conveyor for conveying articles to be packaged, the supply of a packaging film to be formed into a tubular-shaped package for enclosing or packaging the articles to be packaged, and the provision of end sealing mechanisms for sealing the ends of the tubular packages.

Abstract: A packaging article inclusion-proofing device for use with an end-sealing mechanism includes a motor for driving a conveyor for feeding packaging articles, with a predetermined space therebetween, into a packaging material which is disposed downstream and formed into a packaging tube, a motor for driving a series of rolls which deliver the packaging material, and a motor for driving an end-sealing mechanism for achieving end-sealing of the tubular packaging material. A deviation detecting sensor is provided for detecting any deviation of the packaging articles from a position at which they would normally be disposed during the end-sealing operation. A reference timing pulse generator generates predetermined reference timing pulses with respect to the feeding of the packaging articles.

Abstract: A vacant package-proofing control device for use in conenction with a packaging machine includes a first motor for driving a conveyor for feeding articles to be packaged, with a predetermined spaced defined therebetween, and a second motor for driving a series of rolls which deliver packaging material, formed into a tube, into which the articles are to be inserted for packaging. A third motor is also provided for driving a pair of end-sealing mechanisms. An absence detecting sensor is disposed at a predetermined position upstream of the end-sealing mechanisms for detecting the absence of any packaging article from its predetermined position upon its conveyor. A reference timing pulse generator is also provided for generating predetermined reference timing pulses in connection with the timing of the feeding of the packaging articles.

Abstract: A fluid actuator including at least two cylinders connected to a common pressurized-fluid supply mechanism. Actuation units are connected to piston rods of the cylinders, respectively. The piston of one of the cylinders is operated by pressurized fluid, and when the piston is moved back, the pressure in the cylinder is increased to operate the piston of the other cylinder. The actuation units are thus operated with a certain amount of interval of time or in a synchronous mode.

Abstract: An intermittent web feeding apparatus for intermittently feeding fixed length of a web of material during one cycle of a feeding operation by the cooperative operation of a pair of feed rollers for unwinding a web of material from a roll of web material and feeding the web of material to a web processing machine such as a bag-forming and packing machine, and for feeding the web of material to a processing position within the web processing machine, is disclosed. The intermittent web feeding apparatus is equipped with a single servomotor for driving the feed rollers through means of a first transmission mechanism, and the feeding units through means of a second transmission mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are presented for controlling a driving system in a packaging machine. The method comprises providing a first motor for driving an article infeed conveyor for feeding articles to be packaged into a tube of packaging material, a second motor for driving a pair of rollers for drawing a film of packaging material and a third motor for driving a pair of sealing heads at an end seal mechanism and controlling the speed of the second motor and the speed of the third motor to be dependent upon the speed of the first motor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of tensioning a web packaging material in a form-fill-seal packaging apparatus wherein the web is pulled from a supply roll through web feeding rolls, guided over means for forming it into tubing and fed toward means for feeding the tubing forward, and wherein articles to be packaged are provided in the tubing and sealing operations are performed on the tubing to seal it to form packages. The invention method is characterized in that the web feeding rolls and the tubing feeding means are concurrently started, and when the web feeding rolls and the tubing feeding means are stopped to form a seal on the tubing, the tubing feeding means is stopped slightly later than the web feeding rolls so that the web forward by the web feeding rolls is taken up and pulled toward the tubing feeding means under tension.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a web of wrapping material into a tubular configuration is disclosed. The apparatus is basically composed of a highly flexible, elongated elastic sheet material secured at one end, the sheet material extending obliquely upwardly and then returning to form a loop, and an actuator mechanically connected to the other end of the sheet material, the actuator being operable to advance and retract the sheet material so as to contract and expand the loop formed by the sheet material.