Abstract: A pouch conditioner inverts a group of pouches, urges them together while conditioning the by vibrating them, reinverts them and deposits them into a confine container. Product is more evenly dispersed throughout the pouch, reducing the maximum pouch thickness and allowing packaging of a group of pouches in a smaller case than possible with pouches having product which is settled in the pouch bottom.

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.

Abstract: Pouch transfer apparatus for positioning over and generally transverse to the upstream end of a multiple lane pouch conveyor. The apparatus includes a transfer wheel carrying a plurality of suction heads about its outer periphery for picking pouches off a cutting apparatus that has cut a pouch strip into individual pouches. The transfer wheel distributes the individual pouches at three predetermined angular drop-off positions during the rotation of the transfer wheel. The suction heads are divided into three series or flights, i.e., a first series for dropping pouches into a near lane of the pouch conveyor, a second series for dropping pouches into a middle lane of the pouch conveyor, and a third series for dropping pouches into a far lane of the pouch conveyor. Positive pressure is supplied to each suction head at its drop-off point to eject the pouch into the appropriate conveyor lane.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting the knives of a pouch form, fill, seal machine. The knives are to cut pouches from a web. The knives are mounted in a generally cylindrical cage for radial sliding movement with respect to the cage. An axially movable cone inside the cage has slots in its conical surface that receive the inner ends of the knives. A screw is provided to move the cone axially to change the radial position of the knives.

Abstract: A web of pouches is carried around a rotating drum. Above the drum is a filler. The filler has a lower stationary plate with an arcuate slot in it. Above the stationary plate are two rotating plates which are vertically-spaced apart. The plates have aligned holes forming cups. A hopper is located above the rotating plates to pour product onto the rotating plates. A separator is located between the rotating plates and overlies the slot in the stationary plate whereby the lower primary cups are filled through the upper secondary cups and are discharged into pouches through the slot in the stationary plate while the separator holds back the product in the upper secondary cups.

Abstract: Pouching apparatus for increasing the volume of material packed into a pouch. The apparatus includes a filler wheel assembly, means for rotating said assembly, a vacuum transfer wheel mounted below said filler wheel assembly and rotatable therewith, a plurality of vertical lands circumferentially spaced around said transfer wheel to receive a web of pouches, means for applying vacuum to said lands, a plurality of tuck fingers movably mounted on the transfer wheel between said lands, a stationary, circumferential cam mounted adjacent said transfer wheel to raise said tuck fingers to form an upward tuck in the bottom of each pouch of said web thereby increasing its capacity. The apparatus also includes clips to hold the web on the lands of the transfer wheel. The apparatus also includes a feed roll which feeds said web onto said transfer wheel at a preselected speed somewhat greater than the speed of said transfer wheel to force pouches into the space between said lands.

Abstract: Pouching apparatus for increasing the volume of material packed into a pouch. The apparatus includes a filler wheel assembly, means for rotating said assembly, a vacuum transfer wheel mounted below said filler wheel assembly and rotatable therewith, a plurality of vertical lands circumferentially spaced around said transfer wheel to receive a web of pouches, means for applying vacuum to said lands, a plurality of tuck fingers movably mounted on the transfer wheel between said lands, a stationary, circumferential cam mounted adjacent said transfer wheel to raise said tuck fingers to form an upward tuck in the bottom of each pouch of said web thereby increasing its capacity. The apparatus also includes clips to hold the web on the lands of the transfer wheel. The apparatus also includes a feed roll which feeds said web onto said transfer wheel at a preselected speed somewhat greater than the speed of said transfer wheel to force pouches into the space between said lands.