Abstract: A method of forming a container including the steps of: providing a sheet material defining a peripheral wall structure bounding a receptacle with an open end, and a closure portion having gable panels and a plurality of fins for closing the open end of the receptacle; reconfiguring the closure portion to place the closure portion in a closed state wherein the plurality of fins are in overlying relationship and the gable panels reside between the fins and the peripheral wall structure; effecting a seal between a plurality of the fins using a first sealing pattern; and after effecting the seal using the first sealing pattern effecting a seal between a plurality of the fins using a second sealing pattern.

Abstract: A filling system of a packaging machine is set forth that reduces the mixing of product and air during the filling of the container with a flowable material such as low fat milk. The fill pipe of the filling system has an elliptical cross-section which provides for a reduced velocity of the flowable material entering the container while allowing for an increased production time of the packaging machine. The fill system is especially adopted to fill containers having a rectangular cross-section. Connected to the fill pipe is a nozzle with flaps designed to substantially conform and engage with the sidewalls of a container. When the flaps are urged to an open position, the mixing of air and product is inhibited as the flowable material is dispensed into the container through the nozzle and as a moving mechanism is operated to relatively move the container and nozzle from a first to a second position. The fill pipe has an elongate body, an inlet end and an outlet end.

Abstract: A method for producing ultrasonic vibrations at a preselected amplitude in a workpiece.

Abstract: A filling system of a packaging machine is set forth that reduces the mixing of product and air during the filling of a container with a product. The filling system is designed to fill a container having a cross section defined by a plurality of sidewalls, an interior bottom engaging the sidewalls, and an open top. The system includes a fill pump for pumping a liquid product and a fill pipe, the fill pipe having an inlet receiving liquid under pressure from the fill pump and an outlet overlying the container. A nozzle is disposed over the outlet end of the fill pipe. The nozzle comprises a collar for connecting the nozzle to the outlet end of the fill pipe and a plurality of flaps formed from a flexible material extending from the collar. The plurality of flaps are preferably biased to a closed position, such as under their own resilience. The nozzle seals the outlet end of the fill pipe when in this closed position.

Abstract: The present invention may be utilized as a single station integrated with a standard form, fill and seal machine. The present invention is able to retrieve fitments from a source, apply the fitments to a container and seal the fitments to the container at a single station. The design of the present invention requires only minimal space on a form, fill and seal machine. In practicing the present invention, an anvil retrieves a fitment from a source and then translationally retreats to a position for longitudinal descent into a container. The anvil, with the fitment attached, longitudinally descends into the container to a position parallel to an incision previously incised into the container wall. The anvil proceeds forward to the incision, substantially recovering the translational retreat discussed above, only at a lower level. Once the fitment is positioned therethrough the incision, a sealer permanently attaches the fitment to the container.

Abstract: An anvil system including a plurality of anvils having an interconnected cooling system. Each of the anvils has a means for acoustically insulating the anvil body from ultrasonic energy which originates from a ultrasonic horn. The insulation means may be a airspace slot essentially separating the vibrating portion of the anvil from the anvil body. The anvil may also have an adjustable sealing pattern which allows for facilitated exchange of sealing patterns. The anvil may also have a plurality of projecting pads which reduces damage to the ultrasonic sealing equipment and to the object to be sealed.

Abstract: A gabled carton is set forth that is comprised of a top gabled portion, a bottom gabled portion and a bottom fin extending from the bottom gabled portion. The bottom fin has a distal seal extending lengthwise along the bottom fin at a location between the bottom gabled portion and an outer edge. There is also a proximal seal on the bottom fin and it extends lengthwise along the bottom fin at a location between the bottom gabled portion and the distal seal. There is a relieved area on a central portion of the proximal seal. Both of the seals extend lengthwise along the entire length of the bottom fin. The proximal seal is shallower than the distal seal. The relieved area extends above and below the proximal seal and is centered on it.

Abstract: A sealing device is set forth which assists in overcoming the foregoing problems. The sealing device includes a first sealing jaw for sealing a fin of the gabled container. A second sealing jaw is disposed opposite the first sealing jaw. Both the first and second sealing jaws include a generally flat face portion. The second sealing jaw further includes a sealing bar extending from a mid-region of its generally flat face portion lengthwise along at least a portion thereof for sealing the fin of the gabled container with, for example, ultrasonic energy. A ridge extends respectively from each of the generally flat face portions at a position to form a fin base crease at the base of the fin, for example, over the existing weak crease at the base of the fin. The fin base crease assists in preventing separation at the base of the fin below the principal horizontal seal formed by the sealing bar.

Abstract: Opening arrangements for packing containers of the type which comprise a tearing or pulling device applied to the outside of the packing container are known. By means of the pulling device a part of the wall material of the packing container can be removed so that a pouring opening is generated. To prevent the packing laminate from delaminating on opening, so that only the outer layer accompanies the pulling device, it is proposed in accordance with the invention to design the opening part so that a penetrating part is first thrust downwards through the laminate, whereupon the opening part with the pentrating part and the underlying, breached part of the packing laminate is lifted upwards so that a pouring opening is generated.

Abstract: In the stepwise feeding of a packing material web for the application of cover strips over prepunched pouring openings, the pouring opening is sensed by means of a photocell which is located at as great a distance from the point of application as the distance between two pouring openings. Any errors in this distance will thus affect the accuracy of application. In order to avoid this is proposed in accordance with the invention to sense the passage of the actual pouring opening and start a countdown sequence, at the end of which the web feed is interrupted with the pouring opening in correct position for the application of the cover strip. An arrangement for the realization of this, seen in the direction of feed of the material web (1) comprises a sensing device (4), a processing device (5) and a forward feeding device (9) which are connected to a control unit (13).

Abstract: An arrangement for the oriented feeding out of caps provided with pull-lugs comprises a disc which rotates at high speed, and onto the planar working surface of which the caps are dropped. By the rotation of the disc the caps are moved to the periphery of the disc where they contact a guide rail in the form of an uninterrupted ring which is arranged at such a distance above the surface of the disc that the cap is allowed to project beneath the guide rail. However, the lug on the cap prevents the cap from wholly passing under the guide rail. At a point along the ring periphery a radially movable feeding out element is provided which engages the passing caps and withdraws them via the space between the disc and the guide rail, with a short-time deformation of the pull-lug.

Abstract: A capping machine of the rotary type for closing filled bottle type packing containers for beer or other liquids which are made from a plastic material includes a lower wheel on which the bottles to be capped are placed and an upper wheel which supports closing rams which are movable vertically towards and away from the bottles by means of a cammed track. Caps loaded into a magazine are transferred one by one to the rams as the wheels turn, and the bottles are capped as the ram moves downward onto the bottle mouth.