Abstract: A lid pick and place system having a primary magazine assembly and a pick and place assembly. The primary magazine assembly includes a base plate and at least one guide rod extending therefrom to define an elongated lid chamber with at least one lid bore. Rotation of the at least one guide rod within the at least one guide rod bore directs at least a portion of a lower offset flange beyond a lid bore perimeter and into a path of the elongated lid chamber. The pick and place assembly includes a connecting rod with a suction cup. A linear movement assembly is structurally configured to move the connecting rod linearly closer and further from the lower surface of the base plate. A rotative movement assembly structurally configured to rotate the connecting rod relative to the lower surface of the base plate.

Abstract: A form fill seal apparatus for forming and filling a plurality of bags with a product having a tube formation assembly forming a tubular film, a bag forming assembly configured to form transverse seals and to cut the tubular film to form bags. A product delivery system is provided to deliver product from a positive displacement pump to a product delivery tube. A control system is structurally configured to direct the positive displacement pump to operate in two different modes, a first, continuous operating mode and a second, dosing operating mode. A method of filling is likewise disclosed.

Abstract: A valve assembly for a dose filling machine having a valve body, a rotor and a first end seal assembly. The valve body has a main supply bore, a rotor bore, an upper rotor piston bore, and a side rotor dispensing bore. The rotor is rotatably positioned in the rotor bore. The first end seal assembly comprising a first end rotor seal engaging the valve bore and the rotor. A first end inner plate overlies the first side of the valve body and the first end rotor seal. The first end outer plate includes a bearing positioned within an opening thereof. A transverse slot extends from the opening to an outer edge so that a leak beyond the first end rotor seal proceeds through the transverse slot away from the bearing.

Abstract: A razor blade holder assembly having a body, a movable jaw and an adjustment member. The body has a fixed jaw with a support face and an adjustor channel. The movable jaw assembly has a plate member and a releasable securement subassembly. The plate member is over the adjustor channel and the support face. The releasable securement subassembly couples the plate member to the body and applies a biasing force against the plate member toward the support face. The adjustment member has an elongated rod member rotatably within the adjustor channel, a forcing surface is selectively rotatable into the plate member to direct the plate member away from the support face. In a clamped configuration, the plate member clamps a razor blade. In an open configuration, the forcing surface of the elongated rod member overcomes the biasing member to separate the plate member from the support face.

Abstract: A lid pick and place system having a primary magazine assembly and a pick and place assembly. The primary magazine assembly includes a base plate and at least one guide rod extending therefrom to define an elongated lid chamber with at least one lid bore. Rotation of the at least one guide rod within the at least one guide rod bore directs at least a portion of a lower offset flange beyond a lid bore perimeter and into a path of the elongated lid chamber. The pick and place assembly includes a connecting rod with a suction cup. A linear movement assembly is structurally configured to move the connecting rod linearly closer and further from the lower surface of the base plate. A rotative movement assembly structurally configured to rotate the connecting rod relative to the lower surface of the base plate.

Abstract: A forming station for forming pairs of three side seal pouches including a shaped outer top surface and an inner forming slot. The inner forming slot has an upper portion extending from an upper entry edge, and a transition portion. The inner forming slot may further include a lower portion.

Abstract: A form, fill and seal system having a product fill assembly, a tube forming assembly and a fitment securing assembly. The system allows for the relative positioning of the fitment that is to be applied to the film that forms the bags, at various points along the film by having the fitment securing assembly relatively positionable with respect to the tube forming assembly. In turn, with adjustments, a fitment can be located at a number of locations on a finished bag.

Abstract: A form, fill and seal packaging machine having at least one multi-channel former therein for forming a pair of streams of three side sealed pouches. The at least one multi-channel former includes a shaped top and an open central forming area in which a strip of material brought to the former by a drive means from a roller is bent over and is then folded into a unique figure 8 or infinity sign, tubular configuration as it exits from the bottom. The unique configuration is then side sealed and cut into two tubular elements, which are then bottom sealed, filled, top sealed and cut-off in the machine to form two separate streams of three side sealed pouches. The machine may have a number of separate forming areas therein and the unique tubular configuration from which the pouches are formed is provided by the unique shaped top, open central and exit configurations of the formers, over and through, which the strip of material is bent and folded.

Abstract: A dispenser system having a substantially large pouch (20) for holding a substantially large amount of viscous food product for dispensing from a dispenser (122). The pouch is formed so as to include a tear strip (38) to open a funnel-shaped, centrally disposed outlet spout (24) and to be sealingly held in the dispenser. The pouch may include a pair of alignment/holding openings (32, 34) formed on either side of the outlet spout for aligning the pouch in a preferred position in the dispenser, so that a piston-type extruding member (136) may pressurize and dispense predetermined size shots of viscous food product therefrom.

Abstract: A sanitary fill tube assembly includes an oval fill tube connected between an oval inlet tube and an oval spreader having a hollow interior with a piston valve member reciprocally mounted therein. The piston valve member is actuated by a plunger rod and is guided by a pair of arcuate guide slots formed in the spreader to accurately move the piston valve between open and closed position. The plunger rod and the piston valve member may include elongated internal passages therein and the piston valve member closely fits into a discharge outlet from the hollow interior of the spreader to accurately control and meter material being fed into a pouch. The piston valve member may be provided with a sharpened leading edge to cut off particulate material contacted thereby.

Abstract: A sanitary fill tube assembly includes a pair of large diameter fill tubes connected to a spreader having a rotary valve system mounted therein. The rotary valve system is actuated by pairs of actuator arms guided through openings in a manifold connected to the fill tubes to precisely move the rotary valve between open and closed position. The rotary valve includes elongated openings therein which are closely matched with and connected to the same size and shape passageways and discharge openings in the spreader so as to more accurately control and meter material being fed into a pouch, and to maintain the overall assembly in a sanitary condition.

Abstract: A dispenser system having a substantially large pouch (20) for holding a substantially large amount of viscous food product for dispensing from a dispenser (122). The pouch is formed so as to include a tear strip (38) to open a funnel-shaped, centrally disposed outlet spout (24) and to be sealingly held in the dispenser. The pouch may include a pair of alignment/holding openings (32, 34) formed on either side of the outlet spout for aligning the pouch in a preferred position in the dispenser, so that a piston-type extruding member (136) may pressurize and dispense predetermined size shots of viscous food product therefrom.

Abstract: A cutoff assembly for a form, fill and seal packaging machine having a fixed blade and a floating movable blade. The movable blade is adjustable horizontally with respect to the machine and the fixed blade so as to accurately cut off formed pouches, passing downwardly, in the vertical direction, through the machine.