Abstract: An apparatus for opening one layer of a tube-like material web comprises a cutting member and a straight support for guiding the material web, which support extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the material web. The cutting member includes a cutting knife mounted on a carriage movable back and forth parallel to the support by means of a first driving member. The carriage carries a guiding element for guiding the carriage on the support during cutting open said one layer. The cutting knife projects with respect to the guiding element in the direction of the support along an adjustable length.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging products in a bag of plastic material comprises means for transporting step by step a continuous tube-like material web with upper and lower layers lying flat one upon the other, a cutting unit for making a cut in the upper layer of the material web, a separating and stretching unit for moving the upper and lower layers away from each other and towards each other, respectively, at the location of the cut, a filling station for filling a formed bag still contained in the material web with the product to be packed and a sealing unit for applying a seal between the upper and lower layers of the material web. The sealing unit makes a strip-like seal extending transverse to the material web and extending in the longitudinal direction of the material web on both sides of the seal. The sealing unit further comprises a cutting means for cutting through the material web at the location of the seal.