Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine having plows for forming an advancing web of thermoplastic material into a depending upwardly opening tubular configuration. A heat sealing belt located below the forming plows, seals overlapping marginal portions of the web together to form a long seam. A sealing jaw mechanism located below the plows in vertically stationary relation thereto includes a pair of coupled rotary actuators which move links in opposite directions to open and close sealing jaws which form transverse seals at spaced intervals along the formed tube to complete the packages.

Abstract: A sealing wheel having a plurality of radially outwardly opening pockets is rotatably indexed through loading and discharging positions. Each pocket, formed by a pair of stationary jaws, receives an article and its wrapper at the loading position and forms the wrapper to a U-fold about the article. Movable heat sealing jaws associated with each pair of stationary jaws have U-shaped sealing surfaces which engage marginal portions of the wrapper outwardly of the stationary jaws to form a U-shaped fin seal around three sides of the package, a fourth side being formed by the wrapper fold. A jaw opening mechanism opens each set of sealing jaws as it approaches the discharging position, where the wrapped and sealed package is ejected. The jaw opening mechanism is also arranged to simultaneously open all jaws in closed position in response to a predetermined condition, such as machine shut-down.

Abstract: A sealing wheel having a plurality of radially outwardly opening pockets is rotatably indexed through loading and discharging positions. Each pocket, formed by a pair of stationary jaws, receives an article and its wrapper at the loading position and forms the wrapper to a U-fold about the article. Movable heat sealing jaws associated with each pair of stationary jaws have U-shaped sealing surfaces which engage marginal portions of the wrapper outwardly of the stationary jaws to form a U-shaped fin seal around three sides of the package, a fourth side being formed by the wrapper fold. A jaw opening mechanism opens each set of sealing jaws as it approaches the discharging position, where the wrapped and sealed package is ejected. The jaw opening mechanism is also arranged to simultaneously open all jaws in closed position in response to a predetermined condition, such as machine shut-down.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a package containing rows of stacked articles includes a bottom loaded spiral stacker for successively elevating individual articles to be packed, an article conveyor for feeding successive articles to the stacker, a stacking conveyor above the stacker for accumulating stacks of articles formed by the stacker and moving the stacks away from the stacker, a separator conveyor which moves in parallel relation with the stacker conveyor and receives U-shaped separators or partitions, a first transfer mechanism for moving each successive formed stack from the stacking conveyor to the separator conveyor, and a second transfer mechanism for moving successive rows of stacked articles from the separator conveyor to a carton set-up station. The spiral stacker operates in timed relation with the stacking conveyor which operates intermittently to move each successive stack formed by the spiral stacker in a direction away from the spiral stacker.