Abstract: A form, fill and seal machine for making a reclosable package with a reclosable fastener includes a reclosable fastener handling assembly, a forming tube, a vertical seal assembly and a sealing jaw assembly. The handling assembly includes a flattening device, a reclosable fastener feed device and a slack sensor. A form, fill and seal machine alternatively includes a forming tube, a vertical seal assembly disposed adjacent the forming tube, wherein the vertical seal assembly is configured to continuously seal the film tube, and a tear notch applicator positioned downstream of the vertical seal assembly and configured to apply a slit to the continuously moving film tube. The tear notch applicator is positionally fixed in the machine direction. Methods for continuously forming a reclosable package are also provided.

Abstract: A method for forming a bag includes moving a film at a first velocity, forming a seal on the moving film with a sealing device moving at the first velocity, moving the film and the sealing device relative to each other and thereby moving the sealing device out of alignment with the seal, aligning a film separation device with the seal on the moving film, moving the film separation device with the moving film, and separating the film across the seal with the film separation device. A sealing and cutting device includes a carriage moveable along a longitudinal axis and upper and lower grippers coupled to the carriage. A sealing device and a cutting device are positioned between the upper and lower grippers.

Abstract: A loading assembly for a packaging system includes a carriage coupled and reciprocally moveable relative to a support structure. The carriage is moveable relative to the support structure along a longitudinal axis in a first direction and a second direction opposite said first direction. A continuous loop configured with a plurality of spaced apart receptacles is moveably supported by the carriage. The loop includes a first portion that is moved at a continuous speed relative to the support structure, and a second portion that is alternatively moved and stopped relative to the support structure. Various methods of loading a receptacle are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drive mechanism for a form, fill and seal machine for forming a tube out of a heat sealable sheet. The machine includes front and rear jaw assemblies arranged on opposite sides of the tube, which follow the movement of the tube during the sealing operation. The drive mechanism for each side of the jaw assemblies comprises a front drive gear and a real drive gear, which are driven in opposing directions. The front and rear drive gears are coupled to front and rear linkage bases, respectively, which in turn are coupled to the front and rear jaw assemblies, respectively, to cyclically bring the opposing jaw assemblies into contact to seal the tube. A slide bar may be disposed directly between the front and rear linkage bases, or alternatively, directly between the front and rear jaw assemblies, to help maintain the linkage bases and jaw assemblies in registry during their rotational cycles, thereby improving the sealing quality of the package being formed.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods suitable for adjusting a carton pocket size in a cartoning machine. First and second side plates are spaced longitudinally apart from one another a first distance to form a first pocket size adapted to accommodate a carton of a first configuration. Means are provided for longitudinally moving the first and second side plates a distance with respect to one another to vary the first pocket size. In one embodiment, the means for longitudinally moving comprises a gear and first and second gear racks that are adapted to mesh with the gear and be driven in longitudinal directions by rotation of the gear. The first and second gear racks are coupled to the first and second side plates, respectively.

Abstract: A cartoner assembly comprises a loader and an indexer. The loader comprises at least one horizontally extending drive belt, an input end and an output end. The drive belt is adapted to support one or more packages as they are moved from the input end to the output end. The indexer is positioned adjacent the output end of the loader and comprises a plurality of moveable support members defining in part a plurality of loading stations. The support members are adapted to support a carton at each of the loading stations and are moveable such that the plurality of loading stations are successively aligned with the drive belt of the loader at the output end of said loader. Preferably, the support members are vertically, intermittently moveable. In one preferred embodiment, the indexer includes an output end positioned adjacent a continuously moving conveyor. A method of inserting a package into a carton is also provided.

Abstract: A combination weighing machine chassis that is comprised of an enclosed hollow support member having an inner surface upon which the drives and controls for the components of the product batch handling units are carried. There are openings formed in the hollow support member that include seals through which the necessary drives and controls extend. As a result, components of the product batch handling units, such as the vibrating trays, chambers and buckets, can be removed for cleaning and the outer surface of the hollow support member can also be cleaned. The operating components are now housed in a closed compartment where they are protected from contamination by air and water borne debris such as oil and food, and the entire weighing machine can now be conveniently washed down and thoroughly cleaned. The vibrator mechanisms for the feeder trays are suspended by extension coil springs from the inner surface of the top portion of the enclosed hollow support member.

Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine in which a heated longitudinal seam sealer continuously forms a longitudinal lap seam along lapped edges of the tube being formed. This longitudinal lap seam sealer can be used in machines having conventional cross sealing jaws as well as in machines in which the cross sealing jaws move in the direction of the moving film during the cross sealing operation. The heated longitudinal seam sealer includes a wafer thin internal hot air dispenser that discharges hot air from both surfaces on the surfaces to be fused together. The heated longitudinal seam sealer also includes an external hot air dispenser that includes a plurality of hot air discharge jets through which hot air is discharges on the outer surface of one of the overlapped edges that not only provides necessary heat to cause fusion but also exerts sufficient pressure on the overlapped edge to insure proper sealing.

Abstract: A zipper sealer machine for use with a form, fill and seal machines and the method for bonding strips of reclosable fastener material to the film of a form fill and seal machine. Strips of reclosable fastener material arc cut and the cut ends fused together by cutter-fuser jaws. A sensor senses when the cutter-fuser jaws become fully closed and when they begin to open so that other steps in the operation can be based on when the jaws actually begin to open and when they are actually fully closed rather than when the signal is sent that causes them to open and close. The cutter-fuser jaws have been coated with an anti-stick substance to prevent sticking of the flanges to the cutter-fuser jaws. The cut strips of reclosable fastener material are held on an edge of the rotor that is remote from the film surface. Upon rotation of the rotor the held strip of reclosable fastener material is moved to a location adjacent to the film surface.

Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine in which a heated longitudinal seam sealer continuously forms a longitudinal lap seam along lapped edges of the tube being formed. This longitudinal lap seam sealer can be used in machines having conventional cross sealing jaws as well as in machines in which the cross sealing jaws move in the direction of the moving film during the cross sealing operation. The heated longitudinal seam sealer includes a wafer thin internal hot air dispenser that discharges hot air from both surfaces on the surfaces to be fused together. The heated longitudinal seam sealer also includes an external hot air dispenser that includes a plurality of hot air discharge jets through which hot air is discharges on the outer surface of one of the overlapped edges that not only provides necessary heat to cause fusion but also exerts sufficient pressure on the overlapped edge to insure proper sealing.

Abstract: A zipper sealer machine for use with a form, fill and seal machines and the method for bonding strips of reclosable fastener material to the film of a form fill and seal machine. Strips of reclosable fastener material are cut and the cut ends fused together by cutter-fuser jaws. A sensor senses when the cutter-fuser jaws become fully closed and when they begin to open so that other steps in the operation can be based on when the jaws actually begin to open and when they are actually fully closed rather than when the signal is sent that causes them to open and close. Relief area that have been coated with an anti-stick substance have been provide in the engaging surfaces of the cutter-fuser jaws to avoid fusing of the flanges and to prevent sticking of the flanges to the cutter-fuser jaws. The cut strips of reclosable fastener material are held on an edge of the rotor that is remote from the film surface.

Abstract: A zipper sealer machine for use with form, fill and seal machines and the method for bonding strips of reclosable fastener material strip fastener material to the film of a form fill and seal machine. The zipper sealer machine is adapted to be mounted within in the form, fill and seal machine and coordinate with the components of the form, fill and seal machine such as its film control mechanism. The zipper sealer machine includes a substantially symmetrically formed rotor having a pair of outer edges. Reclosable fastener material strip fastener material is fed to an outer edge of the rotor and cut to length. The cutting process also fuses the cut ends of the reclosable fastener material strip fastener material . The rotor is rotated 180 degrees, which locates the strip of reclosable fastener material strip fastener material adjacent to the film course at which it is bonded to the film.

Abstract: A standard vertical form, fill and seal machine is provided with a change part that allows the marginal edges of the film to be formed into a lap or fold over seam at a location offset from the center of the flat front surface of a D-shape forming tube. The film is formed into a loop at the central portion of the rear generally cylindrical section of the forming tube and an interlocked zipper strip is fed into this loop and bonded to the inner surface of the loop. The cross seam for the bag is formed in the fore and aft direction so that it will be in the plane of the interlocked zipper strip.

Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine in which an heated longitudinal seam sealer continuously forms a longitudinal seam along lapped edges of the tube being formed. This longitudinal seam sealer can be used in machines having conventional cross sealing jaws as well as in machines in which the cross sealing jaws move in the direction of the moving film during the cross sealing operation. The heated longitudinal seam sealer includes a pair of sealer bars that include shaped confronting portions. The shaped confronting portions are heated and seal the lapped edges to form a seam. After exiting the shaped confronting portions the seam is engaged by a pair of pressure rollers that force the heated edges together to insure complete closure of the seam. The lapped edges of the film pass between the shaped confronting portions of the sealer bars which confine the lapped edges to a labyrinth cross section shape.

Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine in which the cross sealing jaws move in the direction of the moving film during the sealing operation with the continuously moving tube. The drive for the cross sealing jaws include a pair of gear cases on opposite of the sealing jaws, each having two sets of spaced drive shafts. The drive shafts include cranks that impart rotary motion to a pair of link bases for the front and rear sealing jaw. Pairs of parallel links are pivotally connected at one end to the link bases and at the other end to the sealing jaws. The pivot connections of the parallel links include pressure or torsion members which bias the sealing jaws toward engagement.

Abstract: A combination weighing machine has a plurality of weigh scales for weighing quantities of product, and the scales are selectively dumped and loaded in a cyclic operation to form a package containing a number or weight of product that closely approximates a target amount. The machine includes a plurality of feeders and corresponding accumulators that are associated respectively with the scales for loading product into the scales after they are dumped. To ensure a more accurate feeding of product to a scale, a sensor is provided for detecting the pieces of product as they are loaded into the associated accumulator from a feeder, and the feeder is regulated in accordance with the pieces of product detected to control the duration of feeder operation.

Abstract: A radial combination weighing machine having a nutating distribution disc that imparts a radially outward directional force to product that is deposited on its upper surface.

Abstract: A combination weighing machine that discharges individual batches of product into a collecting hopper in a weight sensitive sequential order and/or in weight sensitive timing between batches order to avoid clogging at the outlet of the collecting hopper and enhances the efficiency, reliability and speed of the machine.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating and sorting articles that are supplied in bulk employs a series of vibratory feeders for generating a stream of the articles and gradually reducing the size of the stream for discharging the articles one by one into an accumulator. Individual articles are dispensed alternately from the accumulator to a pair of weigh scales which supply weight data to a controller for classifying each article in accordance with its weight. The individual articles are released from the weigh scales onto a conveyor where the articles are tracked and then sorted into a series of collectors according to their weight.

Abstract: A storage reel mechanism for use in a gum stick wrapping machine or the like comprises a pair of similar reels for strip material arranged for alternate operation with the inoperative reel available for reloading. A reel support shaft is swingable through 180.degree. to reverse reel position from operational to reloading. Manually operable locking mechanism releasably secures the reels in position and a brake is selectively engageable through a gear connection with the operational reel for control of the rate of delivery of strip material therefrom.