Abstract: The invention concerns an installation for packaging liquid doses in sealed bags produced from a longitudinally open blown tubing, comprising a vertical frame, means for moving along said blown tubing, a pipe supplying said liquid, means for welding said opening, means for welding the opposite edges of said tubing beneath the end of said pipe and cutting means. A first welding and cutting station is arranged on either side of said pipe, to provide first weld seams and cuts, a second welding and cutting station is arranged beneath the end of said pipe to provide first weld seams and cuts, a second welding and cutting station is arranged beneath the end of said pipe to produce transverse weld seams to link the two adjacent ends of the first weld seams located on either side of said feeding pipe of two adjacent pairs of said first weld seams and to form cut-outs.

Abstract: An applicator is used for applying an associated closure to an interior surface of an associated carton in a form, fill and seal packaging machine. The associated closure has a flange that is sealed to the interior surface of the carton. The applicator includes a frame, a carriage mounted to the frame for longitudinal movement, a closure supply and an anvil mounted to the carriage for longitudinal movement with the carriage. The anvil is configured for securing the closure thereto for movement of the closure from the closure supply to the carton. The applicator further includes a longitudinal drive for longitudinally moving the anvil, a transverse drive for transversely moving the anvil and a sealing member. The closure is secured by the anvil and is transported on the anvil from the closure supply in a plane transcribed by the longitudinal and transverse drives into an interior portion of the carton.

Abstract: A straw application machine for automatically applying drinking straws, wrapped in protective cover, to beverage containers at very high speeds. The machine comprises a guide roller which presses each straw of a web of parallel straws into a slotted straw drum. A blade cutting drum separates the straws as it rotates in close association and synchronization with the slotted straw drum. A strip of sticky tape runs along the back of the web of parallel straws and a protective cover is removed from the tape exposing an adhesive prior to passing underneath the right side of the guide roller. After the straws are cut from the web, an ejector bar applies each straw to a beverage package where it is retained by the adhesive tape or glue. Multiple servo motors control the operating speed of the machine. Alternate embodiments for the slotted straw drum include a drum center having rubber ends with slots for holding a larger straw, and a drum center having end plates with inserts for holding straws.

Abstract: An automated container production line for automatically removing, orienting, filling, sealing and providing a label and applying a straw to the outside of the labeled container is provided which utilizes a novel orienting conveyor for receiving unoriented containers from a supply bin and orienting the containers for a plurality of novel short production lines having a positioning screw conveyor which intermittently starts and stops the advancement of the containers as groups of containers in which various groups of containers are simultaneously filled, sealed, inspected and then subsequently transported to a sleeving device for adding labels, a heat shrink tunnel for fastening the sleeve to the container and then to a novel straw applicator for subsequently attaching a straw to the outside of the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drinking straw attachment device for attaching drinking straws to beverage containers, wherein the drinking straws are fed in the form of a drinking straw band provided with a glue layer. The feeder device shows at least at the point where the cutting device severs two drinking straws from each other a recess matched in its height position with the glue layer and the height extension of which corresponds at least to the width of the glue layer. The invention relates further to a method for attaching drinking straws to beverage containers, wherein the drinking straw band is cut into pieces between each of the two drinking straws with a cutting device in the area of the feeder device, and where the cutting device pierces through the glue layer and the drinking straw band into a recess provided on the feeder device in a height position corresponding to the glue layer and whereby the height extension of the recess corresponds at least to the width of the glue band.

Abstract: A system and method of continuously forming, sealing, and filling flexible packages with sterile beverages is disclosed wherein the forming, sealing, and filling is performed without stopping or indexing the packages in order to achieve high throughput rates and efficiency. A web feeding device inputs sheet material into the system, which is continuously formed into a series of juxtaposed shaped packages in a forming unit. The packages are formed by a folding technique resulting in top and bottom gussets, and sealed side seams with an open top for filling thereof with liquid. The entire web of formed packages is transported through a filling device, which continuously fills the packages while in web form. The top fill openings of the packages are then sealed in a continuous process, and fabrication within an aseptic or ultra-clean environment is thereby completed. Post-treatment of the packages outside of the aseptic environment, but in a clean environment, then may proceed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for securing a pour spout fitment to a panel of a filled and sealed thermoplastic-coated carton, wherein a machine 10 is mounted over a conveyor 12 conveying a line of cartons. Within the machine 10, a selected panel surface of each filled and sealed carton is heated to a predetermined temperature; next, at least an annular surface of a flange of the fitment is heated to a predetermined temperature. When the heated surface of the fitment is applied to the heated surface of the carton, the heat energy is transferred to the latter surface to an extent capable of activating the thermoplastic coating thereon. Upon pressing and cooling, the fitment and the carton surface are bonded together, without the need for a back-up or support mechanism, such as a mandrel or anvil. Alternatively, the fitment may be secured to the carton by way of a jetted-on, circular bead of hot melt adhesive.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid container of plastic coated boxboard, laminated cardboard or the like having a straw therein is disclosed. A method for attaching a holder/straw assembly to a carton in a continuous form, fill and seal process including the following steps: unrolling a rolled sheet material being comprised of a plurality of carton sections, each carton section having a hole formed therein; sealingly attaching the holder/straw assembly to the sheet material over said hole; attaching a strip to the holder/straw assembly; forming the sheet into a columnar sleeve; sealing a longitudinal seal along the columnar sleeve; adding the beverage into the sealed columnar sleeve; forming a top and bottom transverse seal across the columnar sleeve and through the beverage; cutting each carton from the columnar sleeve; and forming a parallelepipedic carton having a drinking straw therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sealed pouches, and apparatus and processes for producing the same. The pouch includes contoured first and second lateral edges, with each lateral edge having concave and convex surfaces. The concave surface of the first lateral edge is substantially opposite the convex surface of the second lateral edge and the convex surface of the first lateral edge is substantially opposite the concave surface of the second lateral edge. Accordingly, a distance between the first and second lateral edges is substantially the same for all elevations of the pouch.

Abstract: A high speed straw insertion machine has a device which feeds a straw, feeds a lifter and then engages the straw with the lifter. This assembly is transported to a mechanism which secures the lifter to the straw and then puts the straw and the float into a container. The container with the straw and the float is transported to an anchoring machine which engages the straw and the container to trap the straw and float entirely within the container. In one embodiment, the straw is positioned between a corner and a shoulder defined by the container and is retained in this position due to the flexibility of the straw. In another embodiment, the straw is positioned below a rib formed in the body of the container.

Abstract: The present invention provides, at low cost, a self-supporting package which is excellent in heat resistance and can be sterilized at high temperatures and the content of which is drunk through a straw.