Abstract: A vertical form, fill, and seal packaging system may comprise a source of flexible thermoplastic packaging material, a tubular folder, a product dispenser of the tubular folder, and a side sealer. The source of flexible packaging material in an elongated thin flat strip of material may comprise successive flat package blanks as integral longitudinally contiguous sections. The tubular folder may be adapted to receive a strip material and progressively forms in passage to a depending and upwardly open tubular configuration, with opposite longitudinal edge portions of the material being progressively juxtaposed in a passage so as to extend in vertical and parallel directions. The product dispenser of the tubular folder for discharging measured quantities of materials may be through a fill tube extending downward into an interior of the depending tube of packaging material through an upwardly open end.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting a protection device operation. The disclosed systems and methods may include detecting a voltage across a protection device. The voltage may be produced when the protection device operates from a closed state to an opened state. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include latching, in response to the detected voltage, the indication that the protection device operated from the closed state to the opened state. Moreover, the disclosed systems and methods may include transmitting, in response to the detected voltage, an indication that the protection device operated from a closed state to an opened state.