Abstract: Heated seal bars are located on opposite sides of an elongated strip of heat sealable material adapted to be advanced with a step-by-step motion. When the strip dwells, the bars are shifted linearly inwardly into engagement with the strip to form a heat seal and then are retracted linearly a short distance away from the strip to permit the strip to advance through its next step. If an abnormal condition prevents the strip from advancing, the bars are retracted linearly to a parked position in which the bars are spaced a substantial distance away from the strip in order to prevent the heat radiating from the bars from damaging the stopped strip.

Abstract: Pouches in an interconnected strip are advanced edgewise to a cut-off station where the leading pouch is severed from the strip. Prior to being severed, the leading pouch is gripped by a transfer mechanism which lifts the severed pouch upwardly into pouch clamps carried on the opposing inboard runs of two chains adapted to advance the pouch broadwise through a filling section and along a path extending at right angles to the path of the pouch strip. Before being filled, the pouches are opened by shifting portions of the inboard runs of the two chains laterally toward one another and by pulling the side panels of the pouch away from one another with suction cups. The chains are adapted to be simultaneously adjusted in laterally opposite directions and through equal distances to enable the machine to be changed over to run pouches of different width while keeping pouches of all widths centered with respect to a common datum line as the pouches are advanced through the filling section.