Abstract: A feeding means for feeding a material web in a packaging machine comprises feeding chains, sprocket wheels and an engagement element for feeding the feeding chains. In order to facilitate the insertion and clamping of the material web the engagement member is designed such that in a first portion of the travelling section the movable clamping member is lifted from the fixed clamping member in a substantially vertical direction and in a second portion of the travelling section following the first portion the movable clamping member is additionally moved laterally away from the edge of the material web to be gripped.

Abstract: A packaging machine is provided having an intermittent foil advance with printing means. During the working cycle of the packaging machine the foil is passed through rotary type printing means for obtaining an improved printing format and generating larger printing formats under narrow space conditions.

Abstract: In a packaging machine for packing in packages formed in a material web a printing means having type bars for printing on the material web reciprocally movable between a rest position having a distance from the material web and an operating position, and an inking wheel and drive means for moving the inking means in a direction transversely to the type bars and for applying ink onto the type bars. In order to eliminate the frequent exchange of an ink ribbon the inking wheel is designed such that ink is applied to the type bars only in case the inking wheel is heated to a temperature being above room temperature, and the inking wheel is disposed in a casing which at least partly surrounds the inking wheel and which is designed to be heated and to be moved reciprocally together with the inking wheel.

Abstract: Apparatus for uniformly preheating sheet material between opposed, spaced, parallel, heated members movable relative to each other into heat-transferring engagement with the sheet material, characterized in that one of said members has a uniformly-flat, unyielding surface and the other a yieldable surface embodying a plurality of uniformly-distributed protrusions between which there are recesses.

Abstract: A packaging machine having a molding station for molding a container from a web of material using a molding die provided with a side wall, a bottom area and an edge area. A rotating cylinder or roll is arranged in at least part of the edge area to prevent damage to the web of material.

Abstract: A feeding means for feeding a material web in a packaging machine comprises feeding chains, sprocket wheels and an engagement element for feeding the feeding chains. In order to facilitate the insertion and clamping of the material web the engagement member is designed such that in a first portion of the travelling section the movable clamping member is lifted from the fixed clamping member in a substantially vertical direction and in a second portion of the travelling section following the first portion the movable clamping member is additionally moved laterally away from the edge of the material web to be gripped.

Abstract: A method of producing a package is provided wherein a product is brought into a depression formed using a shrinkable sheet material, a cover is brought over the depression, the sheet material is shrunk by heating and the depression is closed with a cover by heat-sealing. In order to shrink the depression free from creases onto different and irregular product surfaces steam is admitted to the sheet material having a saturation temperature above the sheet material temperature such that the steam condensing at the sheet material transfers its heat of condensation to the sheet material. The apparatus for performing the method comprises a sealing station with an upper tool and a lower tool movable relatively thereto and having a chamber for receiving the depression, the chamber being connected with a steam generator.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for producing containers from thermoplastic sheet material are disclosed. The sheet material is heated to its plastic state and clamped at its periphery. Then a moulding die is advanced substantially normally towards and against the clamped heated sheet material. The moulding die has a temperature below the temperature of the heated clamped sheet material and is provided with a projecting peripheral portion and/or a recessed central portion directed towards the sheet material. By further advancing the moulding die by a predetermined amount against the sheet material, this is deformed and shaped into the desired container. A cooling air flow is directed against the clamped heated sheet material in a region thereof adjacent to the peripheral portion of the moulding die to avoid reduced wall thickness at the edge and corner regions of the container by excessive stretching of the sheet material. Thus, stable containers of uniform wall thickness may be produced.

Abstract: The packaging machine has a molding station comprising a reciprocating molding die for shaping thermoplastic sheet material to form packaging containers. Reciprocating drive is transmitted to the molding die by first engagement means provided laterally thereon and cooperating second engagement means provided laterally of the moving path of the molding die and opposite the first engagement means. The molding die may be moved into a retracted position at one end of its moving path, and when in this retracted position, the first and second engagement means are disengaged so that the molding die and any members secured thereto may be readily removed for replacement thereof and/or of molding inserts provided in a lower part of the molding station. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second engagement means are formed by a driving chain and engagement members, respectively, the engagement members being shaped to engage the chain links.

Abstract: A packaging machine which has a station in which a thermoplastic packaging foil is heated to its thermoplastic state by contacting with the surface of a heating plate. The contacting surface of the heating plate has a plurality of raised zones adjacent to and surrounded by interconnected retracted zones which together form a venting channel for preventing the inclusion of any residual air between the foil and the contacting surface of the heating plate. The raised zones are generally convex in shape, with continuous curvature towards the retracted interconnected and surrounding zones so that, in use, the foil may be applied across its total surface on the contacting surface of the heating plate without inclusion of residual air therebetween, thus achieving uniform heating of the packaging foil and avoiding any deformation or warping thereof.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for producing containers from thermoplastic sheet material are disclosed. The sheet material is heated to its plastic state and clamped at its periphery. Then a moulding die is advanced substantially normally towards and against the clamped heated sheet material. The moulding die has a temperature below the temperature of the heated clamped sheet material and is provided with a projecting peripheral portion and/or a recessed central portion directed towards the sheet material. By further advancing the moulding die by a predetermined amount against the sheet material, this is deformed and shaped into the desired container. A cooling air flow is directed against the clamped heated sheet material in a region thereof adjacent to the peripheral portion of the moulding die to avoid reduced wall thickness at the edge and corner regions of the container by excessive stretching of the sheet material. Thus, stable containers of uniform wall thickness may be produced.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging machine for producing sealed vacuum packages is disclosed which includes an improved sealing station. The sealing station has a heatable sealing member and a backing member for co-operation therewith, and deflector means are associated with the scaling member to deflect the air and moisture sucked off from the evacuating chamber of the evacuating and sealing station in operation in order to direct said air and moisture away from the sealing member to avoid contact therebetween, so that the air and moisture contained therein will substantially not be heated by the sealing member which is heated in operation. As a result, the moisture contained in the air sucked off from the evacuating chamber will not expand under the action of heat from the sealing member, and a substantially better vacuum will be achieved with the same capacity of the evacuating system.

Abstract: A sealing device suitable for use in a vacuum packaging machine. The device is provided with a sealing tool and a resilient sealing backing cooperating with said sealing tool to seal two webs of heat-sealable packaging material therebetween when the sealing tool is moved towards the sealing backing. The sealing backing has a milled or knurled contacting surface structure comprising protrusions and/or depressions which may be pyramidal in shape, and the sealing tool has a substantially smooth or planar sealing surface. Adherence of the packaging material to the backing and to the sealing tool is avoided by cooperation of the protrusions and/or depressions with the smooth or planar surface of the sealing tool.

Abstract: Plastics foil is shaped in a deep drawing apparatus by being placed in a mould, while the foil is below its deformation temperature, having heated wall surfaces and by applying a pressure differential to the foil so that it progressively stretches and contacts the mould wall. The progressive heating and stretching of the foil ensures that the corners of the moulded article are not thinner than the remaining portions of the moulded article, thus reducing the amount of plastics material necessary for an article of given strength.

Abstract: Plastics foil is shaped in a deep drawing apparatus by being placed in a mould, while the foil is below its deformation temperature, having heated wall surfaces and by applying a pressure differential to the foil so that it progressively stretches and contacts the mould wall. The progressive heating and stretching ensures that the corners of the moulded article are not thinner than the remaining portions of the moulded article, thus reducing the amount of plastics material necessary for an article of given strength.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging machine is provided in which the working stations are mounted on a movable rod, this rod is provided with means to move the working stations back and forth and simultaneously drive the web feed arrangement thereby achieving an almost continuous flow of the web at the necessary rate.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging machine is described in which two packaging material webs are used. One of these webs is fed continuously and the second web is sealed to it in a sealing station. Means are provided to reel off the second web in an intermittent way so as to allow the printing of data on the web using a simple printing apparatus.

Abstract: In the present method and apparatus materials such as hot and/or liquid foodstuffs are sealed into pouches or containers formed between layers or foils of a synthetic material, whereby gas above the material is evacuated prior to sealing of the containers or pouches. In order to avoid splashing of the material onto the sealing surfaces of the foils, the temperature of the material is measured just before the sealing step. The vacuum is adjusted as a function of the measured temperature to inhibit boiling of the material being packed and thus preventing the splashing of the material.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging machine is disclosed for the production of packages from two different packaging material webs, one having printing marks on it. By controlling the movement of the individual working stations in accordance with the spacing of the printing marks the correct position of the imprinted cover foils on the formed trays is achieved.

Abstract: In the present method a package is produced by forming a pouch in a first foil thereby stretching the material thus creating latent shrinking forces. The package is sealed using a second flat foil or a foil having a pouch extending to the opposite direction as the first pouch. The sealing is done inside an evacuated space and the heating of the first foil in order to shrink the pouch is done prior to or at the same time as the vacuum space is aerated.