Abstract: A motor-driven and controlled packaging machine for forming pouches from a web of material. The controls allow the machine to be run with either a continuously or intermittently advancing web. Seal bars are mounted on moveable carriages which move with the web as they form the seals. A web unwind is servo controlled to minimize the amount of festoon section needed when operating in intermittent mode. Each registration-related component of the machine has a dedicated sensor for independently registering each component with the web. Accordingly, the machine may regain registration with minimal web waste and can be quickly and easily repositioned for different pouch sizes.

Abstract: A packaging machine that uses cylinders to automatically adjust the pressure gradient on a web feed roller system is presented. The cylinders are controlled by an air operated or an electrical sensing device that senses the edge of the web. When the sensor detects the web rising it will increase the pressure on bottom of the feed rollers and lower the pressure at the top. This action drives the web down. When the web falls below the proper height the reverse happens and the web is driven back up. This system creates a seeking process that is always driving the web to the correct height. The system can also be used on a pivoting feed roller system. The sensor feedback turns an eccentric that changes the pressure gradient, moving the web to the proper height.

Abstract: A packaging machine for forming pouches from a web of material having web tension control. A second pair of infeed rolls allows web tension through a sealing section to be controlled. An unwind reel is power-driven according to downstream web demand to thereby minimize tension spikes through the infeed section. The power unwind further minimizes the amount of festoon area needed. An entire packaging machine may be provided using modules. The registration-related operations of each section are independently controlled so that each module need only coordinate input and/or output speeds with interfacing sections.

Abstract: A motor-driven and controlled packaging machine for forming pouches from a web of material. The controls allow the machine to be run with either a continuously or intermittently advancing web. Seal bars are mounted on moveable carriages which move with the web as they form the seals. A web unwind is servo controlled to minimize the amount of festoon section needed when operating in intermittent mode. Each registration-related component of the machine has a dedicated sensor for independently registering each component with the web. Accordingly, the machine may regain registration with minimal web waste and can be quickly and easily repositioned for different pouch sizes.

Abstract: A packaging machine for forming pouches from a web of material having web tension control. A second pair of infeed rolls allows web tension through a sealing section to be controlled. An unwind reel is power-driven according to downstream web demand to thereby minimize tension spikes through the infeed section. The power unwind further minimizes the amount of festoon area needed. An entire packaging machine may be provided using modules. The registration-related operations of each section are independently controlled so that each module need only coordinate input and/or output speeds with interfacing sections.

Abstract: A packaging machine for forming pouches from a web of material having web tension control. A second pair of infeed rolls allows web tension through a sealing section to be controlled. An unwind reel is power-driven according to downstream web demand to thereby minimize tension spikes through the infeed section. The power unwind further minimizes the amount of festoon area needed. An entire packaging machine may be provided using modules. The registration-related operations of each section are independently controlled so that each module need only coordinate input and/or output speeds with interfacing sections.

Abstract: A motor-driven and controlled packaging machine for forming pouches from a web of material. The controls allow the machine to be run with either a continuously or intermittently advancing web. Seal bars are mounted on moveable carriages which move with the web as they form the seals. A web unwind is servo controlled to minimize the amount of festoon section needed when operating in intermittent mode. Each registration-related component of the machine has a dedicated sensor for independently registering each component with the web. Accordingly, the machine may regain registration with minimal web waste and can be quickly and easily repositioned for different pouch sizes.

Abstract: A sealing mechanism for a form, fill and seal packing machine having box motion sealers suitable for forming seals in both continuously and intermittently advancing webs. The sealers are disposed on opposite sides of the web and are operable to reciprocate into and out of engagement with the web. The sealers are further supported on carriages moveable longitudinally along the web path. As a result, the sealers may be operated in the box motion in which the sealers actuate into engagement with the web as the carriages move longitudinally downstream at the web speed. The sealers remain engaged with the web for a time sufficient to form a seal in the web before retracting out of engagement. The carriages then return longitudinally upstream to initial positions. The box motion may be repeated to form a series of seals in the web.

Abstract: A packaging machine for forming pouches from a web of material having web tension control. A second pair of infeed rolls allows web tension through a sealing section to be controlled. An unwind reel is power-driven according to downstream web demand to thereby minimize tension spikes through the infeed section. The power unwind further minimizes the amount of festoon area needed. An entire packaging machine may be provided using modules. The registration-related operations of each section are independently controlled so that each module need only coordinate input and/or output speeds with interfacing sections.

Abstract: A packaging machine capable of forming pouches from both continuously and intermittently advancing webs. The machine has a pair of drive rolls adapted to advance the web that are operable both continuously and intermittently. Web-engaging components of the machine are operable to engage the web and perform their associated functions as the web is in motion. The web-engaging components are further selectively operable to have an adjustable dwell period between operations, thereby allowing the machine to be switched between continuous and intermittent modes, and to adapt the machine to form pouches of various sizes. The formed pouches are transferred to a pouch filling section which is also operable to receive and advance individual pouches either continuously or intermittently.

Abstract: Pouch filling apparatus for carrying pouches through a pouch filler. The apparatus has leading and trailing clamps which are mounted on independent endless carriers. The endless carriers are driven at the same speed, but are controlled to maintain a set lag distance between the leading and trailing clamps. The lag distance may be adjusted to thereby adapt the apparatus for pouches of various sizes. The apparatus further incorporates a single retard arm and a single advance arm for moving the leading clamp between opened and closed pouch positions, respectively. The advance arm is located upstream of the pouch filler to move the leading clamp into the open pouch position for filling. The retard arm is located downstream of the pouch filler and moves the trailing clamp to the closed pouch position for sealing. The retard and advance arms are independently servo controlled to adapt the apparatus for pouches of various sizes and for continuous and intermittent operation.

Abstract: Longitudinally spaced pairs of laterally spaced openings are formed in a web of material prior to the web being folded into a pouch having a gusset bottom, the holes enabling the side panels of each pouch to be heat-sealed directly together at the side margins of the pouch and in the area of the gussets. To enable the lateral spacing between the openings of each pair to be easily changed and to enable the openings to be located extremely close to the longitudinal centerline of the web, the openings are formed by punches supported by separate punch frames which may be independently adjusted in a direction laterally of the web. The punch frames also are adjustable relative to one another in a direction longitudinally of the web in order to enable the machine to make pouches of various widths.

Abstract: The machine includes a vacuum head which is mounted to rotate on the outer end of an elongated arm adapted to be pivoted upwardly and downwardly about a fixed pivot by a servo drive. As the arm pivots, the vacuum head picks either a carton blank or a tray blank out of a magazine and transfers the blank toward a conveyor. During the pivoting, the vacuum head is turned relative to the arm and, when the blank is a carton blank, the turning motion brings the blank into engagement with a fixed plow which erects the blank. During final downward movement of the arm, the vacuum head is held parallel to the conveyor and moves toward the conveyor with a vertical plunging motion. When the blank is a tray blank, such vertical plunging causes the blank to be erected by flights on the conveyor as the blank is loaded between the flights.

Abstract: The mechanism includes a pair of gates which are horizontally spaced from one another and which are operable to stroke between inwardly extended and outwardly retracted positions for collecting and dropping the articles, respectively. The gates are mounted on a threaded member for selective horizontal adjustment of the distance between the gates to enable collection of articles of various widths. As an incident to adjusting the distance between the gates, the stroke of the gates is simultaneously adjusted.

Abstract: A feed auger is attached to the vertical drive shaft of a dispensing mechanism by a quick disconnect coupling which enables relatively high torque to be transmitted between the shaft and the auger.

Abstract: Heated seal bars are located on opposite sides of an elongated strip of heat sealable material adapted to be advanced with a step-by-step motion. When the strip dwells, the bars are shifted linearly inwardly into engagement with the strip to form a heat seal and then are retracted linearly a short distance away from the strip to permit the strip to advance through its next step. If an abnormal condition prevents the strip from advancing, the bars are retracted linearly to a parked position in which the bars are spaced a substantial distance away from the strip in order to prevent the heat radiating from the bars from damaging the stopped strip.

Abstract: Pouches in an interconnected strip are advanced edgewise to a cut-off station where the leading pouch is severed from the strip. Prior to being severed, the leading pouch is gripped by a transfer mechanism which lifts the severed pouch upwardly into pouch clamps carried on the opposing inboard runs of two chains adapted to advance the pouch broadwise through a filling section and along a path extending at right angles to the path of the pouch strip. Before being filled, the pouches are opened by shifting portions of the inboard runs of the two chains laterally toward one another and by pulling the side panels of the pouch away from one another with suction cups. The chains are adapted to be simultaneously adjusted in laterally opposite directions and through equal distances to enable the machine to be changed over to run pouches of different width while keeping pouches of all widths centered with respect to a common datum line as the pouches are advanced through the filling section.