Abstract: A laser welding system for sealing or cutting polymeric sheets is described. The system comprises a laser source capable of delivering a laser beam. The laser beam is projected onto a region of the polymeric sheets where the sealing or cutting is to be performed. An optical device is provided to image the sealing or cutting as it is performed. An image analyser asserts the sealing or cutting quality. An integrated control means is provided to control the laser source, the projection of the laser beam, the optical device and the image analyser.

Abstract: A clamp holds together at least two superposed, flexible polymeric films while they are optically sealed or cut by at least a laser beam. The clamp is comprised of two jaws wherein at least one of the jaws can be moved to allow a closing and an opening of the clamp. One of the jaws is a contact jaw to bring the films into contact. The other jaw is an optical jaw having an optical window to let at least one laser beam pass through it and wherein the window is wide enough to allow to optically seal or cut the whole width of the films if required. A support mechanism interconnects the jaws and allows a controlled opening and closing of the clamp.

Abstract: The invention is specially directed towards intermittent motion packaging machines where the packages are momentarily immobilized at a forming station for the time duration of the package sealing and cutting. The polymeric sheets or films are sealed and cut after being exposed to a laser beam in a controlled and optimized manner. The laser beam is shaped with appropriate optical elements to provide a desired intensity profile in the section of the films to be sealed or sealed and cut. With this method, a package can be sealed and cut simultaneously in one exposure step. An optical clamp holds the films together while they are being sealed by the laser. The optical clamp can reflect back to the films, partially or totally, the laser beam intensity that has not been previously absorbed. The optical clamp further allows to monitor the sealing and cutting process while the process is being performed.

Abstract: A sealing jaw assembly is comprised of a passive jaw pad and an active ceramic jaw adapted to conduct a heating current for generating a sealing temperature in a profiled sealing head to form a seal in a polyolefin film material compressed between the jaws. The sealing head of the passive jaw has a triangular profile defining opposed inclined side walls and a joint. The side walls provide variable pressure and the joint defines a cutting edge. The inclined side walls are disposed at selected angles to form an angled seal profile to enhance the quality of the seal formed in the polyolefin film.

Abstract: An automatic bagging system and method of operation having an intelligent programmable controller is described. Articles are discharged, one at a time, at a rapid rate into compartments of an article receiving housing and are then discharged in a bag. The article receiving housing has hinge gates for guiding the articles in respective ones of the compartments. A detector detects the position of articles being discharged into the article receiving housing and sends article detection signals to a controller. The controller has a programmable processor in which is inputted article loading time lapse data for each of the compartments. The system continuously loads articles into the article receiving housing and retains a first article during the discharge operation of the housing. The controller also operates the hinge gates after a delay of the time lapse data and in synchronism with the article detection signals.

Abstract: A heat sealing and slitting blade for slit sealing overlaid sheet of thermoplastic film material. The film material to be slit and sealed has at least two portions of different thickness. The blade has an elongated cutting tip having at least two different transverse radius sections therealong with a larger one of the radius sections being adapted to seal a thicker one of the two portions of different thickness to improve seal integrity along the predetermined length.

Abstract: A convertible computer controlled form, fill and seal bagging machine comprising a film drive drawing a film sheet about a pouch former with the film sheet being folded and overlapped along longitudinal edge portions; a first sealer heat fusing the overlapped edge portions together to form a hollow film tube; a temperature and a pressure controller controlling the temperature and pressure of the first sealer; a transverse sealer forming a transverse seal across the hollow film tube; a feeder supplying a predetermined content in the hollow tube at a pouch forming station; a computer controller controlling the temperature and pressure of the first sealer to progressively form a seal along the longitudinal edge portions based on a selected predetermined programmed pouch size and the length of the seal bar of the first sealer.

Abstract: A convertible computer controlled form, full and seal bagging machine and method of operation is described. A film drive draws a film sheet about a pouch former with said film sheet being folded and overlapped along longitudinal edge portions. A first sealer heat fuses the overlapped edge portions together to form a hollow film tube. A temperature controller controls the temperature of the sealing means. A transverse sealer forms a transverse seal across the hollow film tube and is synchronized with the first sealer. A feeder supplies a predetermined content in said hollow tube at a pouch forming station thereof. A computer controller controls the film drive, the sealing time of the first sealer, the temperature controller, the sealing time of said transverse sealer, and the rate of feed whereby to produce pouches of a predetermined programmed size filled with a predetermined programmed content volume.

Abstract: A high speed bagging system and a method for placing a liquid product into a bag and placing at least two of these bags into a pouch is described. The system comprises at least two bag fillers housed in a common filler housing and operating simultaneously to place the liquid product in respective bags on a continuous basis during a working cycle. Filled bags are simultaneously conveyed on a two lane conveyor system. The two-lane conveyor is configured to optimize floor space area. Each conveyor belt has an outlet end associated with a respective bagging machine at a bagging station. The bagging machines are adapted to place at least two of the bags into a pouch on a continuous basis during the working cycle. The bagging machines feed a respective pouch closure device to close a mouth opening of the pouches which are then discharged on a discharge conveyor.

Abstract: A vertical pouch forming, filling and sealing machine and method for making pouches and filling same with a liquid content in the range of about 5 to 20 liters, is described. As a pouch is being filled with a liquid it descends into a support cage to restrain the pouch from ballooning out and prevents the weight of the liquid in the filled pouch from tensioning the film in the hot horizontal seal zone of the horizontal sealer. The support cage compensates for loss of surface tension of the film in the hot horizontal seal zone during the horizontal sealing cycle. The cage also has a gate section to discharge the filled pouch by gravity after the horizontal sealing cycle.

Abstract: A high speed bagging system and a method for placing a liquid product into a bag and placing at least two of these bags into a pouch is described. The system comprises at least two bag fillers housed in a common filler housing and operating simultaneously to place the liquid product in respective bags on a continuous basis during a working cycle. Filled bags are simultaneously conveyed on a two lane conveyor system. The two-lane conveyor is configured to optimize floor space area. Each conveyor belt has an outlet end associated with a respective bagging machine at a bagging station. The bagging machines are adapted to place at least two of the bags into a pouch on a continuous basis during the working cycle. The bagging machines feed a respective pouch closure device to close a mouth opening of the pouches which are then discharged on a discharge conveyor.

Abstract: The multi-layer film structure having an inner sealing layer which comprises metallocene catalyzed resin, a core which includes polypropylene copolymer and an outer layer and wherein the multi-layer film structure has a thickness within a range between about 50 and 70 microns. By utilizing this thin film with specific properties the sealers may be operated at lower temperatures thereby resulting in an energy saving and they produce seals having improved seal strength of 30% to 50% as compared with known prior mono-layer polyethylene film. The seal initiation temperature is reduced by 10° C. to 15° C. and the film exhibits an improved machine direction tensile strength of 25% to 40% and an improvement of 30% to 50% in puncture resistance as compared with a 76 microns mono-layer polyethylene film. This results in a reduction in the sealing cycle time and an increase in the throughput of the machine.

Abstract: A system for sealing sheets of plastic film together, comprising an apparatus having a first jaw, a second jaw, a sealing wire and a temperature sensor device. The first jaw and the second jaw are displaceable with respect to one another to a closed position, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are opposed to one another with the sealing wire therebetween, such that sheets of plastic film positioned between the first and the second jaw in the closed position ate sealed together by the sealing wire when heated during a sealing cycle. The temperature sensor device is positioned to measure a temperature of the sealing wire during the sealing cycle. A power supply is connected to the sealing wire to supply an electric current thereto for heating the sealing wire.

Abstract: A heat sealing jaw assembly for effecting a heat seal of at least two juxtaposed heat sealable sheet materials is described. Preferably, but not exclusively, the heat sealing jaw assembly is adapted for use in a form, fill and seal machine forming thermoplastic bags. The heat sealing jaw assembly comprises a first and a second metal jaw member, each having a heating element for heating the jaw members. Each of the jaw members has an end face disposed in facial alignment with one another. A ribbon member is secured to each of the end faces and disposed in planar alignment with one another. The ribbon member is made of soft material having rubber-like properties and capable of conducting heat from the sealing jaw to a fusing temperature to melt the heat sealable sheet materials.

Abstract: The multi-layer film structure having an inner sealing layer (36) which comprises metallocene resin, a core (38) which includes polypropylene copolymer and an outer layer (37) and wherein the multi-layer film structure has a thickness (X) within a range between about 50 and 70 microns (2.0-2.75 mil). By utilizing this thin film with specific properties the sealers may be operated at lower temperatures thereby resulting in an energy saving and they produce seals having improved seal strength of 30% to 50% as compared with known prior mono-layer polyethylene film. The seal initiation temperature is reduced by 10° C. to 15° C. and the film exhibits an improved machine direction tensile strength of 25% to 40% and an improvement of 30% to 50% in puncture resistance as compared with a 76 microns (3 mil) mono-layer polyethylene film. This results in a reduction in the sealing cycle time and an increase in the throughput of the machine.

Abstract: A method and a machine for making a plastic film bag with opposed closable end openings as well as a double compartment bag is described. The bags may be formed from J-folded, U-folded or tubular film sheets. In one embodiment, a bag is formed with a gusseted end adjacent which a zipper closure and a detachable end is provided and at the other end of the bag there is provided an opening which is closable by a closure tag. The method and machine are also adaptable to form double-ended closure bags having two distinct compartments, each accessible by a respective one of the end closure. The bags formed by the method and machine have various uses such as carrying two separate articles, each article being accessible from one of the opposed ends of the bags. The double compartment bags may also contain two different products, each accessible separately through a zipper closure. The bags may also be formed with a flap provided with wicket holes to support the bag in an automatic bag filling machine.

Abstract: A machine and method for making plastic bags each having a curved or roundish-like bottom wall and an open top end is described. The machine has a bottom wall forming die having opposed concavely curved seal-forming edges converging to a common apex. The die is heated and reciprocated over a folded film sheet which is oriented such that the die will simultaneously slit heat-fuse opposed film sheets of the folded film sheet when stroked on the film sheet. The die forms opposed concavely curved seals extending from a longitudinal folded side edge of the folded film sheet and converging to an apex at a location spaced on a transverse axis from the longitudinal folded side edge. An evacuation port is located under the folded film sheet in the die-cut area of the folded film sheet and is exposed between slitting and heat-fusing strokes of the die whereby to evacuate the cut-out film portion.

Abstract: The multi-layer film structure having an inner sealing layer which comprises metallocene catalyzed resin, a core which includes polypropylene copolymer and an outer layer and wherein the multi-layer film structure has a thickness within a range between about 50 and 70 microns. By utilizing this thin film with specific properties the sealers may be operated at lower temperatures thereby resulting in an energy saving and they produce seals having improved seal strength of 30% to 50% as compared with known prior mono-layer polyethylene film. The seal initiation temperature is reduced by 10° C. to 15° C. and the film exhibits an improved machine direction tensile strength of 25% to 40% and an improvement of 30% to 50% in puncture resistance as compared with a 76 microns mono-layer polyethylene film. This results in a reduction in the sealing cycle time and an increase in the throughput of the machine.

Abstract: An automatic turret bagging machine utilizes a turret transport mechanism having four article receiving compartments to receive liquid pouches, herein milk pouches, oriented longitudinally therein. An indexing motor drives the turret transport mechanism between an article loading position, an article discharge position, an intermediate position and an article unloading position. A control plate is synchronized with the turret transport mechanism and provides a support for a follower bearing member secured to the trap door of each of the compartments whereby to retain and release articles loaded in the compartments. The control plate also has a formation which automatically recloses the trap doors of the compartment upon reaching a predetermined position and simultaneously repositions the follower bearing member with a lower surface of the control plate.

Abstract: A heat sealing jaw assembly for effecting a heat seal of at least two juxtaposed heat sealable sheet materials is described. Preferably, but not exclusively, the heat sealing jaw assembly is adapted for use in a form, fill and seal machine forming thermoplastic bags. The heat sealing jaw assembly comprises a first and a second metal jaw member, each having a heating element for heating the jaw members. Each of the jaw members has an end face disposed in facial alignment with one another. A ribbon member is secured to each of the end faces and disposed in planar alignment with one another. The ribbon member is made of soft material having rubber-like properties and capable of conducting heat from the sealing jaw to a fusing temperature to melt the heat sealable sheet materials.