Abstract: A pair of sealing bars for a pouch packaging machine have sealing surfaces which are asymmetrical with respect to one another. The sealing surface on one of the sealing bars is flat and smooth, having linear edges in two perpendicular directions. The sealing surface on the other of the sealing bars is shaped as a portion of a curved cylindrical surface, defined by a linear edge in a first direction and an arcuate edge in a perpendicular direction. The bars are positioned with respect to one another such that the curved sealing surface on the one bar convexly projects toward the flat, planar sealing surface on the other bar. Seals formed with these asymmetrical sealing bars have a sealing bead which is thinner in the center and thickens outwardly toward both ends moving away from the center.

Abstract: A back-up pad is provided over an anvil surface of a back-up plate, and between the anvil surface and a sealing surface of a sealing die, in an apparatus for forming seals between layers of film material. The back-up pad has a slip surface on one side thereof and a spring surface on an opposite side thereof, the slip surface opposing the sealing face of the die so that the layers of film material pass between the sealing die and the back-up pad during seal formation. The spring surface is comprised of a plurality of outwardly extending resilient spring loops that act against the back-up plate during seal formation, the spring loops resiliently urging the layers of film material against the sealing face to effect seal formation between the film layers while cushioning the film layers to prevent damage to the film layers due to drag between layers and the die face.

Abstract: A vertical form, fill, seal machine for continuously making filled three sided fin pouches is disclosed herein. Mechanisms for controlling the thermoplastsic web so that the seals are improved are disclosed. One of the mechanisms ensures that equal lengths of web are fed into the sealing jaws. The other mechanism that is carried by the jaws grasps and tensions the web immediately before and during the sealing of the web.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for forming, filling and sealing bags and depositing the filled bags in cartons, wherein the bags are formed, filled and sealed by a vertical form-fill-seal machine and each bag is compressed to shape it to fit in a carton.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for providing uniform fin-type back seals with flexible packaging material for use in conjunction with form-fill-and-seal machines is disclosed which utilizes a moveable tucker plate disposed between the mated edges of the flexible packaging material and the body of the packaging material. When sealing, the tucker plate moves against the body of the packaging material and prevents lateral movement of such material during the sealing operation. The tucker plate is joined to a sealing platen in a manner which maintains a fixed distance between the tucker plate and the sealing platen until a threshold sealing pressure is exceeded.

Abstract: A new method of making a form fill bag having a reclosable fastener thereon and a mechanism therefor wherein a continuous length of film is advanced and joined first and second fastener profile strips are laid laterally onto the film of a length substantially equal to one-half of the film width, the film is advanced and formed into a tube with the side edges folded together and seamed, the first profile strip is attached to the surface of the film prior to forming it into the tube and the second opposed interlocked profile strip is attached to the inner surface of the film after it is formed into a tube, and a cross-seam is formed in the tube above the closure strip to form the bottom of the succeeding bag and a completed bag is cut from the film by cutting below the bottom seam and above the fastener strips.

Abstract: A pouch and a method and apparatus for forming an easy open pouch in a vertical form-fill-seal process wherein a pouch is formed from a sheet of thermoplastic film and a heat seal between pouches as they are filled serves as the top closure for the lower pouch and a bottom closure for the upper pouch, the easy open feature being provided by a U-shaped portion having a plurality of seal ribs, and a tear initiation notch.

Abstract: A package of a food or a similar product which has to be preserved in fresh state. The package contains a sack charged with a freshness keeping agent for keeping the product fresh together with the product. The package comprises a carrier seat provided in the package and carrying the sack of freshness keeping agent fixed thereto, the seat having one end integrally heat-welded in one of the heat-sealed portions of the package and the other end integrally heat-welded in the other of the heat-sealed portions of the package.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a tube and bag from a supply of thin thermoplastic film with the film being formed into tubular shape about a filling tube with the edges of the film brought together and joined solely by a zipper strip having reclosable pressure interlocking members thereon with the zipper strip preferably heat sealed to the film and the zipper strip having a web between the pressure interlocking members which provides a tamper-evident juncture between the edges of the film so that the web must be severed for access to the interior of a bag formed from the film, and individual bags formed from the continuous tube by filling the tube through the filling tube and cross-seaming and cutting individual bags from the continuous film tube.

Abstract: In a method of forming prismatic liquid containers from continuously fed tubing, lateral regions of the tube to be connected by sealing strips are pressed inwardly before adjacent gable surfaces of the tubing are pressed together and sealed, thereby avoiding the formation of unsightly projections and any internal air cushion.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for forming, filling and sealing packages wherein a web of flexible packaging interval is formed into tubing around a mandrel and intermittently fed downwardly in package length increments by intermittently moving portions of continuously driven belts into engagement with the tubing for a predetermined interval.

Abstract: Improved clamp, seal, sever, and brick apparatus for use in form, fill, and seal machines that form a polyfoil tube filled with a product into a plurality of sealed packages, preferably aseptic packages. The improved apparatus incorporates a plurality of sealing heads mounted on a continuously advancing structure that transversely clamps, seals, and severs the endlessly advancing tube into packages, and compresses the packages to preform them into about their final rectangular configuration. Induction heating is used to seal the web. The sealing heads include a sealing jaw and an anvil jaw hinged together and adapted to clamp the tube therebetween at predetermined locations as the sealing heads and product filled tubing advance, the locations being adjustable and the sealing and anvil jaws being adjustable to control the volume of product clamped and sealed in each package.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming bags such as in a form, fill and seal machine wherein the bags are formed by drawing film downwardly over a filling tube and cross-sealing the bag tube and applying a lateral stretching force to the bag tube at the location of cross-sealing preventing wrinkles at the location of the seam formed by the cross-sealing with the stretching force applied at the extreme lateral edge of the film preferably by opposed cam surfaces at each of the bag edge which contact each other at a point just outside of the bag edges and progressively walk into the edge of the bag with the point of contact shifting in an outward direction while it progresses inwardly on the bag to apply a stretching force to the film of the bag for smoothing the entire width.

Abstract: A control system and method for an apparatus for sealing packages wherein a web of flexible packaging material having a series of registration marks is formed into tubing and fed past a sealing device for sealing the tubing to form packages. As the tubing is fed past the sealing device, a photoeye detects the registration marks. A CPU, responsive to the photoeye, compares the location of registration marks relative to a window. A counter, responsive to the CPU, sets a delay length of tubing to be fed past the sealing device in response to the relative location of the registration marks and the window. The feeding of the tubing is stopped after the counter has been decremented to zero and the delay length of tubing has passed the sealing device. An in registration delay length of tubing to be fed past the sealing device is set in response to detection by said photoeye of a registration mark within the window.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for successively forming foam filled bags or cushions of the type wherein a foamable composition is deposited in a plastic bag. The method and apparatus includes advancing a pair of plastic webs along a substantially horizontal path of travel and through the nip of a pair of drive rollers, while heat sealing the opposing longitudinal side edges of the webs together. Periodically, a predetermined amount of the foamable composition is deposited between the advancing webs from a position offset from the center of the pair of plastic webs and the heat sealing along the side edges is periodically and momentarily interrupted to form side edge openings for the subsequent escapement of gases generated during foaming. The advance of the webs is momentarily terminated, and a heated wire then engages the webs to sever the formed bag, while forming a sealed top edge of the formed bag and a sealed bottom edge for the next succeeding bag.

Abstract: A method for making parallelepiped or brick-shaped containers of greater mechanical strength and better appearance, avoiding any mismatching of the printed patterns due to displaced joints in the middle of the side of the container walls. A longitudinal seal is positioned at the corners rather than on the face of the side walls, thus leaving the side walls without joints or splices. A packaging material web taped coated with thermoplastic material and provided with folding lines is twisted when passing through two bending rollers and one slack-absorbing roller and is converted into a cylindrical shaped and then sealed at the overlapping side edges. The cylindrical container is then filled with a liquid through a filler pipe and sealed at predetermined intervals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for forming an article such as a tampon having a securely attached string. The method includes intermittently feeding filler members into one end of a hollow tube which is open at both ends. A sheet of heat sealable material is advanced towards the tube and folded so as to cylindrically wrap about the tube. The abutting edges of the material are fused together to form a cylindrical casing into which the filler members enter upon exiting the tube. Apertures are then transversely formed in the casing between the adjacent filler members and a string is inserted through the apertures. The casing is then heated and compressed against the string to form a permanent bond. After the bond is formed, the casing is severed to form individual articles which are sealed at both ends and have a string attached to one of the ends.

Abstract: A form, fill and seal pouch packaging machine has independent side and cross seals. A first prime mover driving a first output linkage moves the side seals. A second prime mover driving a second output linkage moves the cross seals. The first and second prime movers are independent of each other and as such the side seals can be operated independently of the cross seal. Because the cross seal is independent of the side seals, pouches of any desired length can be formed, filled and sealed on the pouch packaging machine.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for advancing a continuous length of bag making plastic film having a reclosable fastener strip extending therealong with a filling tube over which the film is formed, means for sealing the edges of the film over the filling tube, opposed pairs of advancing belts for pressing the film against the tube and driving it incrementally downwardly, means for guiding the fastener between the belts of one of the pairs and means for driving the belts incrementally to move the film downwardly as it is filled and cross-sealed.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing a folded web of film under tension comprising at least one pair of rollers, a first side of the folded web of film being fed between the pair of rollers, the pair of rollers being mounted out of parallel to the first side of the folded web of film and pulling the first side of the folded web of film in a first direction, and a member for preventing a second side of the folded web of film from moving in the first direction. Preferably, the member biases the second side of the folded web of film in a second direction opposite the first direction. A method for placing a folded web of film under tension is also provided.

Abstract: An improved tube spreader for flattening and removing wrinkles from a bag film web in a form, fill, and seal packaging machine is provided. The tube spreader includes a plurality of clamping fingers which grasp a first edge of the bag film and a spreader bar, located within the bag film, and adapted to exert a lateral force on the opposite edge of the film to eliminate and remove wrinkles prior to the film being sealed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for packaging particulate product in bags for deposit into cartons of predetermined cross section and height. Sheet material is formed about a filling tube. The sheet material is sealed and severed beneath the filling tube creating the top of one bag and the bottom of the next. Product is dropped through the filling tube into the formed sheet material which is vibrated. A sensor may be used to determine if product exceeds a predetermined height. After a predetermined amount of product has been dropped into the sheet material, the material is lowered, sealed and severd to form a filled bag.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming bags of predetermined length with a predetermined weight of product, the apparatus being provided with a vibrator for effecting vibration of a bag shaper and a sensor adjacent the bag shaper for determining when the product has subsided to a level less than the height of the bag so that jaws may be engaged to seal the top of the bag without being jammed by product.

Abstract: Improved form, fill, and seal machine for making aseptic sealed packages incorporating a plurality of sealing mechanisms mounted on a continuously advancing structure in a form, fill, and seal machine. Induction heating is used to longitudinally seal the edges of the web together to form a tube and to transversely seal the tube. A circuit means is used for controlling the electromagnetic energy source output to form longitudinal seals and transverse seals. The plurality of sealing mechanisms include a sealing jaw and an anvil jaw hinged together and adapted to pinch the tube therebetween at predetermined locations as the sealing mechanisms and web tubing advance. Each sealing jaw contains a transverse induction coil for transversely sealing the tube. Coupling and energization means select for forming a longitudinal seal segment or a transverse seal or both.

Abstract: Components for aseptic packaging, a method of forming such a package and an aseptically filled package using a construction of flexible plastics material sandwiching a material which is impervious to micro-organisms, the longitudinal seal being made between two surfaces of the same material. The specification also discloses a form of end closure including a plug of resilient material which ensure the integrity of the closure.

Abstract: Improved clamp, seal, sever, and brick apparatus for use in form, fill, and seal machines that form a polyfoil tube filled with a product into a plurality of sealed packages, preferably aseptic packages. The improved apparatus incorporates a plurality of sealing heads mounted on a continuously advancing structure that transversely clamps, seals, and severs the endlessly advancing tube into packages, and compresses the packages to preform them into about their final rectangular configuration. Induction heating is used to seal the web. The sealing heads include a sealing jaw and an anvil jaw hinged together and adapted to clamp the tube therebetween at predetermined locations as the sealing heads and product filled tubing advance, the locations being adjustable and the sealing and anvil jaws being adjustable to control the volume of product clamped and sealed in each package.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for forming, filling and sealing bags and depositing the filled bags in cartons, wherein the bags are formed, filled and sealed by a vertical form-fill-seal machine and each bag is compressed to shape it to fit in a carton.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for successively forming foam filled bags or cushions of the type wherein a foamable composition is deposited in a plastic bag. The formed bags are adapted to be placed in containers with articles being packaged, and so that when the foam expands, the bags and resulting foam are conformed to the configuration of the articles. The method and apparatus includes advancing a pair of plastic webs through the nip of a pair of drive rollers, while heat sealing the opposing longitudinal side edges of the webs together. Periodically, a predetermined amount of the foamable composition is deposited between the advancing webs immediately above the nip, and the heat sealing along the side edges is periodically and momentarily interrupted to form side edge openings for the subsequent escapement of gases generated during foaming.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for form, fill, and seal operation using bag-making sheet material having complementary male and female reclosable profiles includes sheet guide and tensioning devices to ensure continuous, effective packaging. The inventive features address the presence of tracking problems in sheet feed using bag material having profiles and being of a laminated type, and serve to ensure wrinkle-free, acceptable sealing of bag edges.

Abstract: A medication packaging and dispensing machine has a solid oral medication feeder bowl mounted near the top and a sizing disk in the feeder bowl to receive the medication units such as capsules or tablets from the bowl and deliver them individually to a drop tube through which they descend to a packaging station. Packing strip material stored in two rolls is pulled into the packaging station by a cooperating pair of rotary pull and seal platens which move the strips around the medication units and seal the strips together perimetrically around each unit. A printer prints medication and patient identifying information and prescribed administration date and time information on one of the strips for each unit as the strip is moved toward the packaging station. Gear drive and gear belt drive means and position sensing switch and motor control means coordinate the movement of the disk drive with the movement of the platens and the printer whereby each packaged unit has relevant information printed thereon.

Abstract: In packing machines which produce aseptic packing containers for e.g. foodstuffs, it is of greatest importance that the machines can be cleaned and sterilized in a satisfactory manner prior to the production of packing containers. In accordance with the invention a method and an arrangement are provided on a packing machine for the sterilization of the lower end of a filling pipe 10 as well as of surrounding parts of a packing material tube 8. Use is made for this prupose of a connecting element 20 which connects two feed ducts 11,12 present in the filling pipe 10 to each other so that cleaning and sterilizing agent can circulate in the filling pipe. In a subsequent stage the connecting element 20 is removed so that sterilizing agent can be made to circulate also along the outside of the filling pipe 10 and in the packing material tube surrounding the filling pipe, whereupon the production of the packing containers commences.

Abstract: A plastic bag is formed, filled, sealed and separated from continuous webs of plastic material. The webs pass downwardly between complementary U-shaped heat sealing jaws that reciprocate and cooperate to provide seams which form a pocket that is closed after it has been filled from above and indexed downwardly. The top seam of one pocket is formed simultaneously with the bottom seam of an adjacent pocket and a weakened line of juncture is provided therebetween. Grippers carried on the heat sealing jaws engage opposite sides of the plastic webs above the location of the top seam of the filled pocket and cooperate with a separator that tensions the webs along the weakened line to rupture the filled pocket from the webs while the webs are still in a thermally weakened condition.

Abstract: For a form, fill and seal bagging machine a process and apparatus are provided whereby simultaneous with product discharged into the interior of the bag during the filling segment of the form, fill and seal cycle, a gas is also discharged into the interior of the bag to purge the interior of the bag and further, a low pressure area is created within the interior of the bag to remove excess purging gas and/or condensing fluids from the interior of the bag prior to sealing the bag.

Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine is characterized by a sealing apparatus which provides for variable sealing jaw displacement having an externally selectable magnitude. The sealing apparatus also includes a displacement sensor for providing feedback signals indicative of a measured sealing jaw displacement.

Abstract: To provide for continuous feed of a packaging film, the film into a tube, filling the tube into packages and severing the packages, markers are located longitudinally along the film for example of plastic; the film is fed and formed into a tube by a pulling mechanism, the drive of which is synchronized with the bag-forming operation as such, that is, sealing and severing tube portions, under control of the markers so that slippage between drive rollers or units and the film being fed or inaccuracies in operation of the filling mechanism are immediately compensated by change in speed of the drive unit or operation of the filling and bag-forming mechanism to maintain relative alignment of bag closing with respective areas on the film, preventing accumulation of positioning errors and hence possible misalignment of printed information on the film with respect to the closing seams of the bag.

Abstract: A combined stripper and bag sealing apparatus for use in a form, fill and seal packaging machine includes a pair of sealing jaws operated in reciprocating fashion to close and seal a package film tube. A pair of stripper plates are mounted on the sealing jaws for movement into and out of contact with the packaging film tube to strip any product from the area of the package film tube to be sealed prior to sealing by the sealing jaws. The sealing jaws are mounted on a carriage for limited oscillating movement in the longitudinal direction of the package film tube to perform the stripping and sealing functions. The stripper/plates sealing jaws are sequentially moved by one or more crank assemblies having drive links connected to the sealing jaws. Each crank assembly is actuated by means of opposed pneumatic operating cylinders functioning in concert to move and positively stop and accurately position the stripper plates/sealing jaws.

Abstract: A packaging machine for manufacturing filling and closing of bags. A foil tube (4) is pulled off continuously by means of unwinding belts (13) on a packaging machine contracted as a tubular bag-forming machine. Cross sealing seams are created by means of continuously moving cross sealing jaws. The cross sealing jaws are maintained in a horizontal position during their entire movement by being guided in guide grooves. The guide curves have straight curve pieces in the area of a sealing zone, which curve pieces extend parallel with respect to the unwinding direction of the foil tube (4). The packaging machine permits a high operating speed, since the cross sealing occurs simultaneously with the unwinding movement and the cross sealing jaws, are guided exactly in an optimum position with respect to the foil tube. (4). The machine can be operated such that the unwinding speed for the thin sheet material is only a little slower than the speed of the goods to be packaged at the end of the fill pipe.

Abstract: The manufacture of non-returnable packages for e.g. milk is frequently carried out by the conversion of web-shaped, laminated packing material to a tube, filling of the tube with milk and sealing and forming to filled packing containers of the desired, e.g. parallelepipedic, shape. During the forming, which is done by means of external forming devices, the contents are made use of as an internal mandrel or a holder-up for the forming devices, so that the desired shape can be achieved without creasing or other deformations. The above-mentioned forming principle works less well if the packing containers are not to be completely filled but have a certain air space or headspace. The proportioning of the contents also becomes uncertain and the desired accuracy of volume cannot always be achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for forming reclosable storage containers are provided to form and seal pouches containing products such as consumer food products. The film material handled thereby and the pouches thus formed include an access opening assembly having a reclosable closure assembly that is characterized by mating flexible closure strips having interlocking means that permit the consumer to easily open and readily and positively reclose the formed pouch. The apparatus and method engage together mating strips of film material sheeting to form a substantially closed web of sheet material that is generally spread or flattened and otherwise handled in order to minimize the formation of kinks and the like in seals formed by the apparatus and method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the relative position of printing appearing on packages formed by form-fill-seal packaging machine in which individual packages are formed in substantially continuous fashion from a web of pre-printed package stock. Pre-printed registration indicia are detected on the web of package stock, and a control signal if generated which actuates a tension regulating device which varies the tension applied to the package stock as the package stock is formed into packages. In a preferred embodiment, the tension regulating device comprises a roll having selectable rotational resistance, over which the web is partially wrapped.

Abstract: The present invention is used to heat seal seams, and the like, of item holding means such as plastic bags holding loose fill product like beans, hard candy, pretzels, potato chips, etc. The heating station of the present invention has at least two independently controlled heating positions in each half of a pair of jaws and each heating position is heat insulated from the other and each respectively can provide different amounts of heat to material coming in contact therewith. Accordingly, the bonded areas of item holding means can be manipulated to control local package characteristics, i.e., sealed to have a stronger bond strength at one location that at another location, adjust tear properties to suit marketing methods (such as hole punched top seals) and to control seal integrity.

Abstract: Process for packaging items having irregular shape and size, singly on in groups, in a stretchable film of plastic material, comprising the operations of forming, filling and sealing a bag from the stretchable plastic film such film being maintained under adjustable tension and stretch and subsequently adherent on the items due to the elastic "memory" of the released film. The machine for operating the process continuously comprises essentially two members subjected to a reciprocating motion, provided with means for gripping, stretching, sealing and cutting the plastic film, each of such members being subjected to a motion having a stroke of varying length and independent from the one to the other member.

Abstract: A form, fill and seal packaging machine includes a tube former for forming a film having spaced apart registration marks thereon into a tube around a hollow mandrel. A pair of endless belt devices driven by stepping motors, located at the sides of the hollow mandrel advances the film through the machine. A stripping and sealing apparatus is located beneath the mandrel, for stripping product from the area of the film tube to be sealed, and sealing and cutting a filled package from the tube. A photoelectric cell located upstream of the tube former senses the passing of each registration mark as the film is fed. The photoelectric cell is operatively associated with the belt drive and the actuator for the stripper and the sealer through an index controller. The index controller deactivates the stepping motors. A master controller activates the stripper/sealer actuator at a predetermined point in each packaging cycle.

Abstract: A bag having an article applied to an inside surface thereof is formed in a continuous bag-making operation by conveying a bag-making film web and a continuous strip of material in joinable proximity with each other. The article is formed by severing the strip of material and at least one edge portion of the severed article is bonded to the continuous web of bag film. The longitudinal margins of the web are then brought together and bonded to form a tube with the article bonded to the inner surface of the tube, and bags are formed and severed from the tube with the article bonded to one inner surface of the bag.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing and filling tubular bag packages includes a shaping mandrel, about which a sheet of packaging material is shaped into a tube and an open end of the tube is filled with one portion of a product at a time and separated from the formed tube. For sending the portions of the product gently and quickly through the hollow shaping mandrel, a feed apparatus is disposed in the mandrel. The feed apparatus has a plurality of spaced flaps pivotably connected at equal intervals to two synchronous belt drives. In a feed conduit of the shaping mandrel, these flaps define downwardly moved chambers which receive portions of the product and transport them to the lower end of the shaping mandrel, and then, through a relatively narrow return conduit in the shaping mandrel, the flaps return upward again in an upright position by the belts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving transverse seal strength in a vertical form-fill-seal machine includes directing a cooling medium on a just formed transverse seal from an area beneath and on either side of the film, in an arcuate pattern to effect cooling during at least a portion of the downward movement of the seal toward a cutting means.

Abstract: A dunnage shock absorber and a method and apparatus for making the same is disclosed. The shock absorber is constructed from plastic material which forms a series of trigonal-shaped, gas-filled units which maintain adequate shock absorbing characteristics over a broad range of temperature conditions. This disclosed method includes the steps of forming a plastic tubular body, introducing a cooled gas into the body and forming individual trigonal-shaped units having cooled gas entrapped through angularly heat sealing the edges of such units. The disclosed apparatus forms plastic film into a series of gas-filled trigonal units through the use of fin seal rollers to seal the film into a tubular body. Sponge-like rollers downline of the fin seal rollers grip the tubular body and a conduit injects cooled gas into the tubular body. Horizontal and vertical sealers are provided downline of the sponge-like rollers to heat seal the tubular body with gas entrapped therein.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for packaging sanitary medical sponges which are deformable articles of a shape generally disposed in a flat plane with a stacked array thereof contained between two webs of packaging material, wherein the sponges are formed on a machine, they are delivered in a fixed number of at least two sponges from the machine in a stacked array with the planes of the sponges vertically disposed in a side-by-side relationship. Two webs of the packaging material are converged into a substantially V-shaped vertically disposed reception slot adapted to receive the stacked array of sponges. They are dropped into a reception slot so that the stacked array is substantially wedged therebetween.

Abstract: A vertical form, fill, and seal process and apparatus for individually packaging easily bruised articles of produce such as apples, pears, tomatoes, etc. by catching each article as it is dropped through a tube of thermoplastic, heat sealable film and simultaneously sealing and severing the tube below the caught article without the article forceably contacting the hot seal or striking the heat sealing means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a vertical tubular form fill package feeding the film vertically downwardly over a spout, pressing the outer lateral edges of the film together between pressure rollers, feeding joined strips of plastic zipper consisting of interlocking elements and attaching webs between the outer edges of the film and the spout, positioning guide bars on either side of the zipper between the zipper webs and sealing bars outwardly of the guide bars with the sealing bars simultaneously forming a fin seal at the outer edge and joining the zipper webs to the inner surfaces of the film between the fin seal and the spout and thereafter cross-cutting and sealing to form packages enclosing contents dropped through the spout.