Abstract: The present invention concerns a machine for converting a web of preformed pouches to dunnage units. The pouches are defined by transverse seals that extend from a remote edge to within a predetermined distance of an inflation edge. In a first embodiment, the machine includes a guide pin, a drive, a blower, and a sealing element. The guide pin is insertable between the transverse seals and the inflation edge. The guide pin defines a path of travel of the web. The drive moves the web along the path of travel. The blower is positioned with respect to the path of travel for inflating the preformed pouches. The sealing element is positioned to provide a longitudinal seal that intersects the transverse seals to close the preformed pouches and form inflated dunnage units. The disclosed examples of machines for converting a web of preformed pouches to dunnage units including various improvements to existing machines.

Abstract: A web for the manufacture of fluid filled units with a novel machine and process is disclosed. The web includes an elongate heat sealable, flattened plastic tube comprised of face and back imperforate layers. The layers are imperforately joined together along spaced side edges. The layers include superposed longitudinal lines of weakness disposed generally transversely midway between the side edges. The web has longitudinally spaced, pairs of transverse seals. Each transverse seal extends from a respective side edge to an end near but spaced from the longitudinal lines of weakness. The transverse seal pairs include transverse lines of weakness extending from one side edge to the other generally centrally of each seal in a longitudinal direction. The side edges, transverse seals and lines of weakness together delineating two oppositely oriented strings of pouches with each pouch having three imperforate sides and a centrally located fill opening at its fourth side.

Abstract: A machine for the manufacture of inflated plastic dunnage and other fluid filled units is disclosed. In a disclosed and pictured dunnage embodiment, the machine includes a hollow shaft rotatably mounted on a frame. In the preferred embodiment the shaft is solid. With either embodiment a drive is operably connected to the shaft for causing the shaft to rotate about its axis and a drum mounted on the shaft to rotate with the shaft. The drum is in the form of a pair of closely spaced discs having perimetral, cylindrically contoured sealing surfaces for support and, in cooperation with driven metal belts, transport of a web being formed into dunnage units. Sets of heating and cooling shoes having spaced arcuate surfaces are complementally positioned adjacent the drum surfaces with the cooling shoes downstream from the heating shoes in the direction of dunnage formation rotation. A nozzle is mounted generally tangentially of the drum at a location midway between the discs.

Abstract: A packaging machine utilizing side connected chains of open bags is disclosed. The machine has loading and closure sections which are moveable between operating and cleaning/service positions. A resistance heater subassembly is removeable to enable washdown.

Abstract: A machine for the manufacture of inflated plastic dunnage and other fluid filled units is disclosed. In a disclosed and pictured dunnage embodiment, the machine includes a hollow shaft rotatably mounted on a frame. In the preferred embodiment the shaft is solid. With either embodiment a drive is operably connected to the shaft for causing the shaft to rotate about its axis and a drum mounted on the shaft to rotate with the shaft. The drum is in the form of a pair of closely spaced discs having perimetral, cylindrically contoured sealing surfaces for support and, in cooperation with driven metal belts, transport of a web being formed into dunnage units. Sets of heating and cooling shoes having spaced arcuate surfaces are complementally positioned adjacent the drum surfaces with the cooling shoes downstream from the heating shoes in the direction of dunnage formation rotation. A nozzle is mounted generally tangentially of the drum at a location midway between the discs.

Abstract: A web for the manufacture of fluid filled units with a novel machine and process is disclosed. The web includes an elongate heat sealable, flattened plastic tube comprised of face and back imperforate layers. The layers are imperforately joined together along spaced side edges. The layers include superposed longitudinal lines of weakness disposed generally transversely midway between the side edges. The web has longitudinally spaced, pairs of transverse seals. Each transverse seal extends from a respective side edge to an end near but spaced from the longitudinal lines of weakness. The transverse seal pairs include transverse lines of weakness extending from one side edge to the other generally centrally of each seal in a longitudinal direction. The side edges, transverse seals and lines of weakness together delineating two oppositely oriented strings of pouches with each pouch having three imperforate sides and a centrally located fill opening at its fourth side.

Abstract: A machine for the manufacture of inflated plastic dunnage and other fluid filled units is disclosed. In a disclosed and pictured dunnage embodiment, the machine includes a hollow shaft rotatably mounted on a frame. In the preferred embodiment the shaft is solid. With either embodiment a drive is operably connected to the shaft for causing the shaft to rotate about its axis and a drum mounted on the shaft to rotate with the shaft. The drum is in the form of a pair of closely spaced discs having perimetral, cylindrically contoured sealing surfaces for support and, in cooperation with driven metal belts, transport of a web being formed into dunnage units. Sets of heating and cooling shoes having spaced arcuate surfaces are complementally positioned adjacent the drum surfaces with the cooling shoes downstream from the heating shoes in the direction of dunnage formation rotation. A nozzle is mounted generally tangentially of the drum at a location midway between the discs.

Abstract: A sealing machine and process for sealing loaded bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through the sealer by a pair of grooved main transport belts. A holding belt is disposed in the groove of an associated main belt and extends into the groove of the other main belt as the belts move through the seal station. Processes of transporting and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing webs of side connected bags is disclosed. A tube of heat sealable material is flattened and spaced, transverse seals are formed from one edge of the tube toward the other to delineate bag sides. Thereafter, the seals are bisected by lines of weakness to facilitate separation of sides of adjacent bags. Longitudinal lines of weakness are formed immediately adjacent the seals to delineate the tops of bag faces and backs and a separate top or lip section.

Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belt as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sealing machine and process for sealing loaded bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through the sealer by a pair of grooved main transport belts. A holding belt is disposed in the groove of an associated main belt and extends into the groove of the other main belt as the belts move through the seal station. Processes of transporting and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are shown and described for labeling bottles in a stream. An input conveyor is provided for supplying bottles to a presenting station. Bottles are restrained at the presenting station until the appropriate time by an entrance gate. Bottles are conveyed from the presenting station to a work station by an advancing conveyor. Bottles entering the work station drive the predecessor bottle out of the work station to a slowing conveyor. Slowed bottles are abutted by subsequent relatively faster moving bottles to be labeled. Abutment with a slowed labeled bottle serves to register each bottle to be labeled at the labeling station.

Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A conveyor system for gripping and transporting plastic film is disclosed in the environment of a packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. Alternate conveyor embodiments are also disclosed. The belts of each embodiment are constructed such that when force is applied to a gripped plastic film coaction of the film and belts causes the belt gripping of the film to tighten.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placing sleeves on bottles and other objects is disclosed. In particular, a high speed method and apparatus having a plurality of sleeving stations for placing sleeves on bottles is disclosed. Each sleeving station includes a circularly arranged set of relatively movable parallel pins which are operable to contract or expand. A label transporter deposits a sleeve on the pins when they are contracted. The pins expand to stretch the sleeve. A bottle and the pins are then moved relative to one another to place the bottle inside the stretched sleeve. A gas flow is provided between the bottle and the sleeve to reduce friction. The sleeved bottle is then stripped from the pins. The method occurs without starts and stops by the bottle or the sleeve and is thus capable of very high production rates.

Abstract: A machine for removing tubular plastic labels from bottles to facilitate their re-use and recycling. The machine has a multi-station turret and supply and exit conveyors to sequentially supply labeled bottles in line to the turret and remove delabeled bottles from the turret. The delabeling is accomplished with a cutter which is preferably in the form of a high-pressure jet of water. Ideally, the cutter is adjusted so that it is a differential cutter which will cut a label without cutting or marring a bottle from which a label is being removed. With one embodiment, a water flush mechanism is provided to flush cut labels from their bottles and the turret onto a screen conveyor. The flush water passes through the conveyor into a container from which it is pumped for re-use. Removed labels are transported by the screen conveyor to a collection bin. With another embodiment, an air blast mechanism is used to strip cut labels from bottles and a vacuum pick up is used to collect stripped labels.