And Moving Perpendicularly To Package Movement During Closing Patents (Class 53/374.6)
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Patent number: 12179951Abstract: Vertical flow-wrapper that includes a frame, a web feed, which feeds a web to a form-shoulder, and a form-fill tube, which forms the web into a web tube, a longitudinal sealing-means to seal longitudinal edges of the web tube together, and a cross sealing means to provide a cross-seal to the web tube. The cross sealing means includes seal jaws, a closing motor, and a jaw closing mechanism; the seal jaws and the jaw closing mechanism reciprocate between an upper and lower vertical position; the closing motor is provided at the frame and a torque transfer means is provided between the closing motor and the jaw closing mechanism; the closing motor and the reciprocation motor are operated independently from each other; and the closing motor is connected to the frame by a slide bearing or is pivotably connected to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2021Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: GEA FOOD SOLUTIONS WEERT B.V.Inventor: Bruno Gerfried Baumeister
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Patent number: 12172788Abstract: A packer machine for producing pouches containing portions of a loose product having: a frame; a conveyor device configured to move two bands of wrapping material along two parallel packing paths; a wrapping station arranged along each packing path at which the corresponding band is wrapped to form a tubular wrap; a longitudinal sealing unit with at least two sealing elements; a feeding device with two feeding ducts around each of which a band is bent to form the corresponding tubular wrap, each being configured to feed, one after the other, the loose product into the corresponding tubular wrap; two movable assemblies, each being mounted on the frame to move along a pressing direction independently of the other movable assembly and supports one single corresponding sealing element; and two actuator devices, each of which applies an elastic force to a corresponding movable assembly independently of the other actuator device.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2023Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: SASIB S.P.A.Inventors: Roberto Ghiotti, Sandro Baletti, Alan Belgiovine
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Patent number: 12151835Abstract: The present application relates to a film wrapping equipment. The film wrapping equipment includes: a film wrapping assembly including two film wrapping rollers arranged opposite to each other in a first direction, and a film wrapping channel for a product to pass through formed between the two film wrapping rollers; a film pulling assembly arranged on one side of the film wrapping assembly in the first direction; a product loading assembly used to clamp the product and drive the product to pass through the film wrapping channel; and a strip cutting assembly used to cut off material strip located on two sides of the two film wrapping rollers in the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2022Date of Patent: November 26, 2024Assignee: WUXI LEAD INTELLIGENT EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Shengli Yang, Yizhou Sun
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Patent number: 11945618Abstract: A sealing machine is provided for sealing a sealing material by heating a fin of the sealing material wrapped around a product. The sealing machine comprises, in a transport direction of the sealing material, a pair of tracking rollers for tensioning the sealing material and a pair of heating rollers for sealing the sealing material by applying heat to the fin when the fin is moved between the pair of heating rollers. Furthermore, the pair of tracking rollers and the pair of heating rollers are configured to be driven independently.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Multivac Sepp Haggenmueller SE & Co. KGInventors: Carles Colomer, Gerard Maltas, Carles Verdugo
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Patent number: 11691353Abstract: A process is provided for heat sealing substrate layers.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Jonathan L. Price, Pawel M. Siczek, Andre Mellin
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Patent number: 11591128Abstract: A fin sealer and method to seal a radially outwardly directed fin of a tubular web structure by directing the fin through a nip between a first and a second fin sealing rollers while communicating heat to the fin through at least one of the fin sealing rollers is provided. The fin sealer is configured to maintain a nominal face-to-face relation between an outer annulus of the first fin sealing roller and an outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller with a flexible connection between a hub element of the second fin sealing roller with the outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Jarrod W. Chalkley, James D. Evans, Thien Hoang Nguyen, Patrick S. McElhinney
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Patent number: 11358326Abstract: A hotend assembly for an additive manufacturing device. The hotend assembly comprises a heated chamber, a number of inlets configured to feed filament into the heated chamber, and an exit orifice from the heated chamber. An actuated rod extends into the heated chamber and is rotated by a motor, wherein the actuated rod is configured to impart mechanical energy to the filament inside the heated chamber prior to extrusion through the exit orifice.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: Joshua T. Green, Roger V. Gonzalez
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Patent number: 11207848Abstract: Disclosed is a buffering air cushion machine, wherein the angle between a heat-sealing cooling transmission module as a core component of the buffering air cushion machine and a horizontal plane is between 20-50 degrees, thus greatly decreasing the transverse dimension of the buffering air cushion machine, so as to decrease the size of the whole machine and decrease the space occupied by the buffering air cushion machine; an inflation guide rod of a bent type may release some tension on a sealing side (an inflating passage) of a air cushion film, and may prevent wrinkles and bends from forming on the sealing side of the air cushion film during heat-sealing, so as to improve the quality of heat-sealing; furthermore, an upper coiling film guide rod and a lower coiling film guide rod may block the inflating passage connecting two air cushion films, and may prevent the air in the air cushion film which is filled with air but not sealed yet from travelling forward, so as to form a sealed high-pressure region and mType: GrantFiled: July 15, 2016Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: HANGZHOU BING JIA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTDInventors: Kuangshu Si, Yugui Liu, Yuan Li, Guian Si
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Patent number: 10793306Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing station in a film bag filling device for sealing of film bags after a filling process, wherein the sealing station comprises a first and a second sealing arm for sealing of several filled film bags that are arranged next to one another, wherein the first sealing arm is moveable with a first drive shaft and the second sealing arm with a second drive shaft. A servo engine is disposed on the first drive shaft, and a drive movement of the first drive shaft from a first gear wheel is transferred to a second gear wheel that encroaches in the first gear wheel and from the second gear wheel to the second drive shaft. The invention further relates to a method for sealing of film bags after a filling process with the sealing station according to the invention with the following steps: positioning of filled film bags below the sealing station; closing of the sealing arms and application of a contact pressure with a first value and sealing of the filled film bags.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2016Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: INDAG POUCH PARTNERS GMBHInventors: Rolf Harth, Frank Lechert
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Patent number: 10449728Abstract: There is described a forming assembly (10a, 10b) for forming a plurality of sealed packs (3) starting from a tube (2) of packaging material, comprising: a track (13a, 13b); a first element (15a, 15b), which is cyclically movable along the track (13a, 13b) and comprises, in turn, one of a sealing element (22b) or a counter-sealing element (22a) adapted to seal the pack (3); and a second element (14a, 14b), which is cyclically movable along the track (13a, 13b) and comprises, in turn, a first half-shell (21a, 21b; 21a?, 21b?) adapted, in use, contact the tube (2) so as to bound at least part of a respective pack (3) and control the shape of the pack (3) during the formation thereof; the first element (15a, 15b) and the second element (14a, 14b) are self-movable along the track (13a, 13b) independently of one another.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2016Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.Inventor: Paolo Fontanazzi
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Patent number: 9598188Abstract: A packaging machine comprising a transversal sealing unit (20) of bags, substantially consisting of a plate support (21) which comprises a series of additional supports and kinematic organs for the horizontal and vertical activation of grippers (22, 23), one internal and the other external, for the sealing and cutting of each bag, said machine comprising motors (25, 26), mounted on a fixed support (24), which cause the vertical movement of a main carriage (29) and of a gripper carriage (30) by means respectively of a screw shaft (27) and a screw shaft (28), said main carriage (29) supporting two pairs of horizontal and sliding parallel arms (33, 34), the internal first of which control the horizontal movement of the internal grippers (22) and the second control the horizontal movement of the external grippers (23), while the vertical movement of the grippers to follow the moving bag is achieved by the vertical movement of the main carriage (29).Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: P.F.M. SPAInventors: Andrea Fioravanti, Giovanni Boschetti
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Patent number: 9409306Abstract: In various embodiments, a dynamically directed workpiece positioning system may include a transport, a sensor positioned to detect a workpiece on the transport, a cutting member positioned along or downstream of the transport, and a computer system. The sensor may scan the workpiece as the workpiece is moved relative to the transport by a human operator or a positioning device. Based on the scan data, the computer system may generate commands to guide the human operator or positioning device in moving the workpiece to a desired position corresponding to a cut solution for the workpiece. Optionally, the computer system may cause the cutting member to be repositioned while the workpiece is being moved relative to the transport. Once the workpiece is in the desired position, the transport may be used to move the workpiece toward the cutting member. Corresponding methods and apparatuses are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2015Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: USNR, LLCInventors: Garyland Kirk Middleton, Scott Erling Norton, Christopher W. Blomquist
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Patent number: 8850780Abstract: A forming member for controlling the volume of packages of pourable food products formed from a tube of packaging material and sealed at a number of sections of the tube crosswise to an axis of the tube; the forming member having: a main wall which cooperates cyclically with a first portion of the tube extending between two consecutive sections; and at least one flap extending alongside the wall. The flap is movable, with respect to the wall, between a first position, in which it cooperates with a second portion of the tube, extending between the two consecutive sections, to control the volume, between the two consecutive sections, of the package being formed, and a second position, in which it is detached from the second portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2013Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.Inventors: Paolo Fontanazzi, Giorgio Mattioli, Franco Santi, Stefano Caselli
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Patent number: 8839597Abstract: A sealing element for heat sealing packaging material for producing sealed packages of food products which are pourable within a tube of packaging material; sealing element comprises a heater adapted to heat-seal the packaging material at spaced cross sections of tube so as to form a plurality of sealed packages, and a groove which may be engaged by a cutting element carried by a counter sealing element during a cutting operation in which a sealed package is separated from tube; sealing element comprises at least a slot which extends between groove and a first outer wall of sealing element.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2010Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.Inventors: Andrea Babini, Roland Palmquist
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Patent number: 8621830Abstract: The film sealing and wrapping machine with a rotary cut and seal jaw is provided. The rotary cut and seal jaw has an internal sliding mechanism which provides for smooth and quiet operation. The rotational speed of the jaw may be varied to increase through put and to provide for a title bag around products. The rotary cut and seal jaw may comprise a seal bar and pressure pad may both be spring loaded to self align the seal bar and pressure pad during the sealing and cutting process. Lastly, a gap defined by a belt disposed upstream and downstream of the seal bar and pressure pad may be mechanically linked to the pressure pad through a control carriage.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Inventors: Raymond Uttaro, John Robinson, Michel Laurin
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Patent number: 8572936Abstract: A sealing jaw for producing sealed packages of a food product from a tube of packaging material fed along a path, the jaw having a first work surface which interacts with a second work surface on a counter-jaw to grip the packaging material and form a sealing strip crosswise to the path. One of the jaw and counter-jaw defines an anvil, and the other defines a heating device which interacts with the anvil to form the strip. The first surface has at least two projections elongated along respective first axes, and which, when forming the strip, compress respective areas of the packaging material against the second surface; and at least one cavity which extends along one of the first axes, is interposed between the projections along a second axis crosswise to the first axis, and is located laterally with respect to a central plane of the first work surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2009Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Financne S.A.Inventors: Sergio Mancin, Francesco Giordano, Ernesto Di Dodo
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Patent number: 8402724Abstract: A device for deflecting a loose fill product from the seal zone of a bag and sealing the bag is provided. The device includes a product stopper. The product stopper is adjacent to the sealing element of a bagging machine. The product stopper includes a mount that mounts the product stopper to a bagging machine and a pinching element that pinches a bag proximal to a sealing zone before the bag is sealed by the sealing element at the sealing zone. In one embodiment, the pincher includes a spring loaded mechanism for pinching the bag proximal to the sealing zone. In another embodiment, the pincher includes an air assist mechanism for pinching the bag proximal to the sealing zone.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.Inventors: Michael Calvin Cecil, Xuan Pham, George Van Bergen
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Patent number: 8087220Abstract: The film sealing and wrapping machine with a rotary cut and seal jaw is provided. The rotary cut and seal jaw has an internal sliding mechanism which provides for smooth and quiet operation. The rotational speed of the jaw may be varied to increase through put and to provide for a title bag around products. The rotary cut and seal jaw may comprise a seal bar and pressure pad may both be spring loaded to self align the seal bar and pressure pad during the sealing and cutting process. Lastly, a gap defined by a belt disposed upstream and downstream of the seal bar and pressure pad may be mechanically linked to the pressure pad through a control carriage.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2009Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Inventors: Raymond Uttaro, John Robinson, Michel Laurin
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Patent number: 8082721Abstract: A packaging group that packages products at a high speed when the products are fed in succession in accordance with a predefined and variable pitch is provided. The packaging group includes a conveyor of the products, at least one roll of at least one plastic film, a feed mechanism that feeds the at least one plastic film from the at least one roll respectively atop and underneath the products substantially upon exiting the conveyor, a counter-welder belt downstream of the conveyor which receives the products covered on their upper and lower parts with the at least one plastic film, and a transverse welder device at the counter-welder belt. The transverse welder device includes a rotating star-like structure equipped with at least three spokes provided at their tips with welder mechanisms cooperating one after the other in succession with the counter-welder belt, in order to weld together portions of the at least one plastic film between the products advancing on the counter-welder belt.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2009Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: SITMA S.p.A.Inventors: Aris Ballestrazzi, Lamberto Tassi
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Patent number: 7775017Abstract: A sealing heater for heat sealing a film onto a multi-compartment container comprises a heating block having a contact surface. The contact surface includes an outer sealing portion and an intermediate sealing portion. The outer sealing seals a film to a perimeter surface of a multi-compartment tray and the intermediate sealing portion seals a film to substantially all of an intermediate surface between the compartments of the multi-compartment tray. The outer sealing portion and the intermediate sealing portion defining recess perimeters in the contact surface that are positioned to correspond substantially to the compartment perimeters in the multi-compartment tray. A heating element is disposed within the heating block for generating heat at the contact surface of the heating block sufficient to heat seal the sealing film to the perimeter surface and the intermediate surface between the compartments of the multi-compartment tray.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2006Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: James Robert Stowell
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Patent number: 7770368Abstract: An enveloping device (1), capable of repeatedly performing a process for producing an envelope and inserting a content into the envelope at high speed, comprises: a film feeder (2) for feeding a film (7) wound on a roll and supplied in the form of two overlapping folds that extend in a width direction (W); an envelope making device (3) for repeatedly forming an envelope by cutting and fusing, in a longitudinal direction of the film (7), the two overlapping folds while conveying the film; an envelope conveying conveyor (5) which conveys a plurality of envelopes (8) while arranging these envelopes in a line; and an inserting device (6) for inserting a content (9) into each envelope (8) conveyed by the envelope conveyor (5).Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Gunze LimitedInventors: Kenichi Sugimoto, Toshiyuki Ohnishi, Takashi Kakimoto, Satoshi Hanaoka, Yoshinori Masaoka
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Patent number: 7757458Abstract: A machine (30) is described for packaging products in a plastic film, comprising at least one longitudinal cutting and welding bar (31) actuated in its up-and-down movement by at least one first piston (34), supported by a first supporting structure (37) of such packaging machine (30); at least one transverse cutting and welding bar (33) independent from the longitudinal cutting and welding bar (31) and actuated in its up-and-down movement by at least one second piston (35) supported by a second supporting structure (39) of such packaging machine (30); and controlling and managing means adapted to control and program the operation of at least the first and the second piston (34, 35).Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2006Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Minipack-Torre S.p.A.Inventor: Francesco Torre
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Patent number: 7748201Abstract: A form-and-seal unit for producing aseptic sealed packages from a tube of packaging material filled with a pourable food product. The unit comprises a fixed structure and two forming assemblies which interact alternately and cyclically with the tube of packaging material, and have respective pairs of jaws movable between an open position and a closed position in which they grip the packaging material tube between respective sealing means, and respective forming flaps selectable from different types of forming flaps for producing different types of packages, and having respective half shell forming portions which surround the tube of packaging material to determine the volume and shape of the packages. The approach movement of the forming flaps towards the packaging material tube is controlled by a fixed cam mechanism having different work profiles selectively engaged by cam-follower rollers of the forming flaps depending on the type of forming flaps used.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2004Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.Inventor: Marco Poppi
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Patent number: 7726462Abstract: Described herein is a method and a unit for the formation of groups of products in a machine for continuous packaging of products, according to which at least two continuous rows of products are fed via two conveyor devices set in series with respect to one another along a first given path and in contact with at least one alignment element, which is set transverse to the first path and in front of the rows of products to align the rows themselves with respect to one another, and is displaced along a second, loop-like, path defined by two portions, along which the alignment element is set on the inside and on the outside, respectively, of the first path.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2005Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: KPL Packaging S.p.A. Societa UnipersonaleInventors: Nicola Baldanza, Moreno Cremonini, Giordano Gorrieri
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Patent number: 7610737Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for separating products, such as napkins or rolls of paper, encased in a tube of continuously moving thermoplastic wrapping material into product units is disclosed. At predetermined intervals spaced products are fed into the tube at wrapper length intervals, and the tube is thermally cut at wrapper intervals to form individually girth wrapped articles.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2006Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Valley Tissue Packaging, Inc.Inventor: Lloyd Kovacs
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Patent number: 7607281Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing packages of product; the apparatus according to the invention comprises elements for feeding a plurality of trays, which are arranged substantially horizontally and so that their corresponding cavities are directed upward and are distributed in a line along at least one advancement direction, along which at least one unit for filling at least one of the trays at a time and at least one unit for applying covering elements to the filled tray in order to obtain a package are arranged; the application unit can move in a reciprocating fashion along the advancement direction between an initial configuration, which substantially coincides with the longitudinal position at which the filling of the tray ends with respect to the advancement direction, and a final configuration, which is advanced with respect to the initial one, the filling unit being movable in a reciprocating manner toward and away from the longitudinal end filling position.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2005Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Evifill S.R.L.Inventor: Antonio Freddi
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Patent number: 7448188Abstract: A machine for forming a bag of a strip of weldable material, filling the bag with a fluent filling, and sealing the filled bag forms the strip into a longitudinally extending and laterally closed tube and continuously advances the tube longitudinally downward through a welding/folding station while pouring the filling into the tube above the station. A cross-seam welder and a folder at the station are both horizontally closable on opposite sides of the tube to form therein folds and a bag-forming crosswise weld. A vertically shiftable lifter is engageable under a filled section of the tube below the station. Simultaneously the welder and folder are closed on the tube to form a crosswise weld and to fold the tube horizontally inward while the filled section is raised and the welder and folder are moved downward generally synchronously while in contact with the downwardly moving tube.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2004Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Inventors: Manfred Hauers, Dieter Vits
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Patent number: 7441391Abstract: A device (8) for forming containers (2) produced continuously from a tubular wrapper (3) fed along a substantially vertical direction of advance (A). The device has at least one support carriage (8a) movable along a respective closed path having at least one active segment parallel to the direction of advance (A). The carriage (8a) supports a sealing base (11) able to be associated to a first lateral face (2a) of the tubular wrapper (3) at a sealing region (Z) of the wrapper (3). A contrasting element (14) is removably associated to the support carriage (8a) and movable between a first closed position in which it is approached to the base (11) and abuts against a second lateral face (2b) of the tubular wrapper (3) opposite to the first lateral face (2a) at the sealing region (Z), and a second position in which it is movable away from the base (11).Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2005Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: IPI S.R.L.Inventors: Lucio Lopparelli, Umberto Gatti
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Patent number: 7441390Abstract: A device (8) for forming containers (2) produced continuously from a tubular wrapper (3) fed along a substantially vertical direction of advance (A). The device has at least one support carriage (8a) movable along a respective closed path having at least one active segment parallel to the direction of advance (A). The carriage (8a) supports a sealing base (11) able to be associated to a first lateral face of the tubular wrapper (3) at a sealing region (Z) of the wrapper (3). A contrasting element (14) is removably associated to the support carriage (8a) and movable between a first closed position in which it approaches the base (11) and abuts against a second lateral face of the tubular wrapper (3) opposite to the first lateral face at the sealing region (Z), and a second position in which it is movable away from the base (11).Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2005Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: IPI S.R.L.Inventors: Lucio Lopparelli, Umberto Gatti
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Patent number: 7383671Abstract: A blistering machine (M1) for producing blister packs (B1) has a production line including, arranged in a series: at least one thermoforming station (101) of a first continuous band (102) of thermoformable material, in order to define a blister band (102) with blisters containing products (104); a station (105) for feeding the products (104) and filling the blister band (102) with the products; a feeding station (106) of a second band (107), feeding continuously the second band (107) over the blister band (102) to form a blister pack band (NB1); a closing station (108), where the first blister band (102) is sealed by the second band (107) to obtain a blister pack; a station (200) for processing the blister pack band (NB1); and a cutting station (R1), in which the blister pack band is cut into respective blister packs (B1) filled with the products (104). The production line extends, at least beginning from the products feeding station (105), along a continuous feeding path (A1), substantially horizontal.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2005Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.Inventor: Roberto Conti
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Patent number: 7360347Abstract: A device for wrapping packets of cigarettes has a conveyor for feeding the packets successively along a path; and a number of heating heads, each of which is brought into contact with a respective packet and accompanies the packet from a contact station to a withdrawal station along part of the path; on reaching the withdrawal station, the heating heads are withdrawn, crosswise to the path, from the respective packets, and are conveyed, parallel to the path, from the withdrawal station to the contact station.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2006Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: G.D Societá per AzioniInventors: Luca Lanzarini, Francesco Milandri, Luca Federici, Stefano Negrini
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Patent number: 7328545Abstract: A packaging line and method for continuously packaging discrete products such as, for instance, magazines, CDs, DVDs and combinations thereof in a continuous manner, comprising: a product assembling path which is provided with a conveyor and feeders arranged therealong; a packaging module provided with folding means for forming a packaging tube from a continuous packaging web, and a cross separating device for separating packages in cross direction; a control which is designed for, inter alia, controlling the sealing means and the cross separating device such that per product to be packaged at least three cross seals are formed such that a packaged product is obtained which is characterized by a first and a second cross seal which are situated at a small distance from the end edges of the product and with a third cross seal which is situated at some distance from the second cross seal for forming a flap on the package.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2005Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Buhrs - Zaandam B.V.Inventors: Menno Koppen, Roberto Tuyn
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Patent number: 7320206Abstract: For processing flat objects (10), in particular for packing printed products or small groups thereof, using a continuous packing material, the objects are conveyed in a conveying stream in which they are arranged in succession and essentially parallel to the conveying direction, and possibly between two layers of packing material, along a part of the periphery of a processing drum (1). The processing drum (1) has axially extending support elements (2) and tool elements (3) regularly alternating around its periphery. A radial position of the supporting and tool elements is adjustable, to accommodate varying formats of the objects to be processed. The processing drum also includes a pressing belt (4) extending from an entry point (A) to an exit point (B) on the drum periphery and holding and pressing the objects being conveyed on the drum periphery against the tool elements.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2003Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: Ferag AGInventor: Werner Honegger
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Patent number: 7213384Abstract: A device for producing tubular bags filled with bulk goods from continuous foil tubes. The device includes a pair of sealing tools that seal or weld the foil tubes in bag-length intervals. A pair of closing bars connected to the sealing tools are biased toward each other and press the foil tubes before the sealing tools are closed. A stripper is provided to remove the residue of the bulk goods from the area of the seal by a wiping motion in the direction of bag movement through the device. The closing bars are connected to the stripper so that through a closing movement of the closing bars, the stripper is pulled along in the run direction of the foil while touching the foil to strip the area to be sealed before the sealing tools close.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2004Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: CMD CorporationInventors: Thomas Matheyka, Christian Helwig
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Patent number: 7178314Abstract: The present invention discloses a waste disposal apparatus including a container having a first end and a second end. A tubing cassette for supplying tubing is mounted proximate the first end of the container. A first sealing member and a second sealing member are moveable between an open position, wherein tubing from the tubing cassette can pass between the first and second sealing members, and a closed position, wherein the first and second sealing members can be activated to create a seal in the tubing. The first and second sealing members are guided by guide pins that travel along stepped channels for moving the first and second sealing members between the open and closed positions, and for pulling the tubing and waste packages through the waste disposal apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2005Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Playtex Products, Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Chomik, Stewart Schmehl
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Patent number: 7069709Abstract: A device for producing tubular bags filled with bulk goods from continuous foil tubes. The device includes a pair of sealing tools that seal or weld the foil tubes in bag-length intervals. A pair of closing bars connected to the sealing tools are biased toward each other and press the foil tubes before the sealing tools are closed. A stripper is provided to remove the residue of the bulk goods from the area of the seal by a wiping motion in the direction of bag movement through the device. The closing bars are connected to the stripper so that through a closing movement of the closing bars, the stripper is pulled along in the run direction of the foil while touching the foil to strip the area to be sealed before the sealing tools close.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2002Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: CMD CorporationInventors: Thomas Matheyka, Christian Helwig
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Patent number: 6962033Abstract: An automatic high speed packaging machine for wrapping packages in polymer film is disclosed wherein the film seal at the sides and ends of the packages is made at a high rate of speed as the packages travel through the machine. The packages travel continuously in a straight line through the machine. The packages are delivered at the input end of the machine by an in-feed conveyor into a film inverting head where the packages are surrounded by longitudinally half-folded polymer film. Thereafter, the packages are transported to a side sealing mechanism which forms a longitudinal seal in the film on the side opposite the fold. Finally, the packages are transported to a traveling end seal mechanism where a lateral seal is formed at each end of the package and the film web connecting succeeding packages is severed. The machine produces packages which have a sealed film wrap around the entire package.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2001Date of Patent: November 8, 2005Assignee: Belco Packaging Systems, Inc.Inventor: Foster Guzman
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Patent number: 6907716Abstract: A packaging machine has a wrapping device for forming a tubular wrapping from a continuous web of heat-seal material, and for feeding products successively into the tubular wrapping; each product being located between two free tubular portions of the tubular wrapping, which are folded substantially onto the relative products, and are stabilized by means of at least two pairs of sealing devices fed along relative paths with independent laws of motion.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2004Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: KPL Packaging S.p.A.Inventors: Andrea Cinotti, Giordano Gorrieri
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Patent number: 6889481Abstract: Apparatus for processing continuously fed elongate material, such as forming sealed bags from continuously fed film tubes, uses at least one pair of orbital tools that are cantilevered from tool drives (e.g., crank arms) at one edge of the material, extending transversely across the direction of material travel to engage opposite faces of the material. During material engagement the tools run synchronously with the moving material, but may be returned upstream rapidly to reengage the material for the next processing cycle. In order to achieve a higher throughput an additional pair of tools can be used, cantilevered and driven from the opposite edge of the material, maintaining the same processing (e.g., sealing) time. Through this arrangement the tools on opposing sides can alternate contact with the material and be run independently of each other.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2004Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: CMD CorporationInventors: Christian Helwig, Thomas Matheyka
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Patent number: 6877295Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing sealed packages containing pourable food products from a tube of heat seal sheet packing material fed along a vertical path and filled continuously with the food product. The tube is pressure gripped at equally spaced cross sections of the tube by at least two pairs of jaws acting cyclically and successively on the tube. The tube is cut at each of the cross sections along a respective parting line. The packing material of the tube is heated sealed on opposite sides of the parting line.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1999Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.Inventors: Paolo Benedetti, Hans Selberg
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Patent number: 6820392Abstract: Apparatus for processing continuously fed elongate material, such as forming sealed bags from continuously fed film tubes, uses at least one pair of orbital tools that are cantilevered from tool drives (e.g., crank arms) at one edge of the material, extending transversely across the direction of material travel to engage opposite faces of the material. During material engagement the tools run synchronously with the moving material, but may be returned upstream rapidly to reengage the material for the next processing cycle. In order to achieve a higher throughput an additional pair of tools can be used, cantilevered and driven from the opposite edge of the material, maintaining the same processing (e.g., sealing) time. Through this arrangement the tools on opposing sides can alternate contact with the material and be run independently of each other.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2002Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: CMD CorporationInventors: Christian Helwig, Thomas Matheyka
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Publication number: 20040128957Abstract: An automatic high speed packaging machine (10) for wrapping packages (P) in polymer film (32) is disclosed wherein the film seal at the sides and ends of the packages (P) is made at a high rate of speed as the packages (P) travel through the machine (10). The packages (P) travel continuously in a straight lien through the machine (10). The packages (P) are delivered at the input end of the machine (10) by an in-feed conveyor (20) into a film inverting head (40) where the packages (P) are surrounded by longitudinally half-folded polymer film (32). Thereafter, the packages (P) are transported to a side sealing mechanism (50) which forms a longitudinal seal in the film (32) on the side opposite the fold. Finally, the packages (P) are transported to a travelling end sealing mechanism (70) where a lateral seal is formed at each end of the package (P) and the film web (32) connecting succeeding packages (P) is severed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2004Publication date: July 8, 2004Inventor: Foster Guzman
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Patent number: 6662527Abstract: A tube film grip-pressing time by a pair of seal bars is controlled to set longer. A crank mechanism allows a seal bar frame supported by a pair of rails to reciprocate along the rails. The crank mechanism includes an arm which supports one end support shaft and is capable of swinging, and a circular crank plate which is rotated by power of a center shaft. The crank mechanism is fixed to a crankshaft which rotatably supports a groove-like slide which is engaged with a slide guide formed along a longitudinal direction of a lower surface of the arm on an eccentric portion of the crank plate. A top dead center and a bottom dead center of the arm are formed respectively &thgr;1 and &thgr;2 beyond a 180° region connected across a center shaft that, is a. A servo motor which drives the center shaft controls speed in the point 55 to point 56 region having a radius of 180° to make the speed constant, and cause the frame to advance along rails and then move backward at a high speed.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2002Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Ibaraki Seiki Machinery Company, Ltd.Inventor: Tadoru Suga
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Patent number: 6629400Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for sealing in a single package bundles of product cartons which are conveyed in series along a moving conveyor belt. A stationary frame is aligned with the conveyor, and a movable carriage assembly is connected to the frame. Packages or cartons of product are stacked and bundled by film, such as thermoplastic film, in a series of sealing steps. The apparatus includes at least one motor mounted on the stationary frame and capable of engaging the carriage assembly to facilitate reciprocating movement of the carriage assembly in relation to the moving packages. A separate computer controlled servo motor drives the opening and closing of seal bars on the carriage assembly to seal the film at each end of the package.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2000Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey K. Offermann, Ryan P. Rosenow, John L. Herzberg
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Publication number: 20030159401Abstract: A sealing apparatus is especially adapted for a packaging machine which wraps spaced-apart products with a tubular film. The apparatus includes a frame which provides a path along which the products are advanced. A sealing support structure is mounted on the frame for linear reciprocating movement along the path. A crank arm is rotatably mounted on the frame for reciprocating the sealing support structure. Upper and lower sealing dies are mounted on the sealing support structure for linear movement toward and away from each other in a direction which is generally perpendicular to the path.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2002Publication date: August 28, 2003Inventors: Richard D. Sorenson, John C. Odegard, David T. Wilson, Brian Hopkinson
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Patent number: 6604343Abstract: A latitudinal seal mechanism includes seal jaws 78, fixed cams 75, cam followers 76, a pair of partial cams 88, partial cam followers 78a, rotational shafts 80, coupling members 79, and shaft support portions. The seal jaws 78 are heated, and move circularly such that the seal jaws 78 abut on and move away from tubular film. The fixed cams 75 have shapes that correspond to locuses of movement of the seal jaws 78. The cam followers 76 support the seal jaws 78, and move along the fixed cams 75. The rotational shafts 80 move the cam followers 76 relatively about rotational centers of the rotational shafts 80. The coupling members 79 couple the rotational shafts 80 and the cam followers 76. The shaft support portions rotatably support the rotational shafts 80. The partial cams 88 have a shape that corresponds to a locus of movement of the pair of seal jaws 78 when the pair of seal jaws 78 holds the tubular packaging films.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2002Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masao Fukuda
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Patent number: 6550219Abstract: A packaging machine includes a machine chassis and a sealing device supported on the machine chassis. The sealing device includes upper and lower movable members each carrying heat-sealing blades for performing heat-sealing operation of a package film enclosing an article to be packaged. A driving system is arranged in the machine chassis, including a power cylinder or a solenoid mechanically coupled to the upper and lower movable members by a linkage for reciprocally driving the upper and lower members between an open position where the members are separated from each other at a predetermined distance and a closed position where the heat-sealing blades engage each other. An adjustment device includes a screw rod threadingly engaging the machine chassis and a platform attached to an end of the screw rod.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Benison & Co., Ltd.Inventor: Benker P. C. Liao
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Patent number: 6526732Abstract: A packaging system includes a conveyor belt having a carrying surface for carrying an article to be packaged by a package film and an end sealing device including spaced upper and lower sealing blocks between which the article passes. A recessed chamber is formed in the carrying surface by extending the conveyor belt around specially arranged rollers. The end sealing device includes a machine frame slidably supported on rails. A driving system includes a motor and a reciprocating mechanism having an adjustable stroke coupling the machine frame to the motor. The rollers of the recessed chamber are attached to the machine frame to be movable therewith. The upper and lower sealing blocks are movably supported on the machine frame by upright posts with the lower sealing block accommodated in the chamber of the conveyor. Racks extend from the upper and lower sealing blocks with a toothed wheel matingly interposed therebetween for mechanically coupling the sealing blocks together.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2001Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Benison & Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jonathan I. N. Liao
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Publication number: 20020170269Abstract: A packaging system includes a conveyor belt having a carrying surface for carrying an article to be packaged by a package film and an end sealing device including spaced upper and lower sealing blocks between which the article passes. A recessed chamber is formed in the carrying surface by extending the conveyor belt around specially arranged rollers. The end sealing device includes a machine frame slidably supported on rails. A driving system includes a motor and a reciprocating mechanism having an adjustable stroke coupling the machine frame to the motor. The rollers of the recessed chamber are attached to the machine frame to be movable therewith. The upper and lower sealing blocks are movably supported on the machine frame by upright posts with the lower sealing block accommodated in the chamber of the conveyor. Racks extend from the upper and lower sealing blocks with a toothed wheel matingly interposed therebetween for mechanically coupling the sealing blocks together.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2001Publication date: November 21, 2002Inventor: Jonathan I.N. Liao
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Patent number: 6421987Abstract: A latitudinal seal mechanism includes seal jaws 78, fixed cams 75, cam followers 76, a pair of partial cams 88, partial cam followers 78a, rotational shafts 80, coupling members 79, and shaft support portions. The seal jaws 78 are heated, and move circularly such that the seal jaws 78 abut on and move away from tubular film. The fixed cams 75 have shapes that correspond to locuses of movement of the seal jaws 78. The cam followers 76 support the seal jaws 78, and move along the fixed cams 75. The rotational shafts 80 move the cam followers 76 relatively about rotational centers of the rotational shafts 80. The coupling members 79 couple the rotational shafts 80 and the cam followers 76. The shaft support portions rotatably support the rotational shafts 80. The partial cams 88 have a shape that corresponds to a locus of movement of the pair of seal jaws 78 when the pair of seal jaws 78 holds the tubular packaging films.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1999Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masao Fukuda