Abstract: A rotatable thermoforming machine for producing soluble pockets made from a soluble web. The machine has a plurality of pocket forming cavities 38a, b, c in each of which a respective pocket is formed in the soluble web. The pockets travel in a machine direction defined as the X direction and filling means 44 is arranged to at least partially fill the or each pocket formed in the soluble web. The filling means 44 comprising one or more nozzles 44, each nozzle 44 being arranged to be moveable in at least the X-direction as the or each respective pocket is filled from the filling nozzle 44.

Abstract: A multi-compartment pouch is formed from two water soluble substrates, wherein the pouch is substantially symmetrical about a weld line between the two substrates.

Abstract: A method of producing a water soluble pouch having at least one compartment containing more than one component includes forming an open compartment in a base web, adding a component to the compartment at a sufficiently high temperature to be in a molten form, and solidifying at least an upper surface of the molten material. The method further includes adding at least one further component to the compartment after the upper surface has solidified to prevent the components mixing with each other and closing the compartment with a lidding web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing multi-compartment water-soluble pouches 38 from a base web 27 and a lidding web 35 is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotatable former 21 having compartment forming cavities 23 into which the base web 27 can be formed. The former 21 is configured so that compartments 26,29,32 of a pouch 38 can be formed and filled sequentially and thereafter all compartments 26,29,32 closed and sealed by affixing the lidding web 35 to the base web 27.

Abstract: A machine and method of forming multi-compartment pouches is disclosed in which two pouches formed on separate adjacent formers (1, 3) are brought together in register and the lidding webs (9, 15) of the pouches joined to form a combined pouch (33). The pouches may be held on the formers (1, 3) by vacuum until the pouches are joined whereupon the vacuum holding one of the pouches on its former (1) is released while maintaining the vacuum holding the other pouch on its former (3) so that the combined pouches (33) are held on that former by the vacuum until the vacuum is released.

Abstract: A method of making a pouch from webs that include soluble polymeric substrates includes, among other steps, rotating a former that includes a plurality of cavities around its periphery and one or more heaters around the former for heating the cavities and heating the cavities. A base web is drawn into the cavities with a vacuum to form pockets in the base web, after which the pockets are filled and closed.

Abstract: Soluble pouches are formed on a continous motion rotating thermoforming machine having cavities in the surface of a drum into which a web of polymeric film is drawn by a vacuum to form pockets. The pockets are filled with one or more components and closed by a further web of polymeric film. Shrink-back of the polymeric film within the cavities is reduced by heating the cavities with heaters.

Abstract: Soluble pouches are formed on a continous motion rotating thermoforming machine having cavities in the surface of a drum into which a web of polymeric film is drawn by a vacuum to form pockets. The pockets are filled with one or more components and closed by a further web of polymeric film. Shrink-back of the polymeric film within the cavities is reduced by heating the cavities with heaters.

Abstract: A pouch form, fill seal apparatus includes a cutter having a plurality of radially extending knives and package guides which are simultaneously adjustable independently of the knives to accommodate a wider range of pouch chord variations due to pouch size or product fills.