Abstract: A continuous process for forming a transdermal patch which comprises the steps of: continuously feeding a strip of material comprising a layer of permeable membrane; continuously feeding into close proximity and in face-to-face relationship with the first strip a second strip formed of impermeable backing material; passing the first and second strips together through a filling and sealing station in which the material containing an active substance is introduced between the strips and pouches are formed by first sealing devices which seal the strips together in a longitudinal direction of the strips and second sealing devices which seal the strips together in a transverse direction of the strips; the size of the pouches being adjusted by adjusting the number position and/or frequency of operation of the first sealing devices and/or by adjusting the number position and/or frequency of operation of the second sealing devices.

Abstract: A form-fill sealing machine (1) for manufacturing resealable packages (W) includes a tearable line forming device (30) that serves to form tearable lines (104) in a film (F). A labeling device (40) serves to stick re-stickable labels (103) onto the film in positions to cover respective tearable lines. A tube forming device (60) serves to form the film into a tubular film (T). A first sealing device (80) serves to seal lapped edges of the tubular film so as to form a lengthwise sealed portion (111). A second sealing device (90) serves to seal the tubular film in a crosswise direction, so that crosswise sealed portions (109) are formed on the tubular film. Each tearable line is positioned between two adjacent crosswise sealed portions and adjacent to one of two adjacent crosswise sealed portions.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing wrinkles in a film includes a first pair of cylindrical rollers including a first roller and a second roller, the first and second roller each in parallel juxtaposed relation to each other, and each having a substantially smooth surface; and a second pair of cylindrical rollers including a third roller and a fourth roller, the third and fourth roller each in parallel juxtaposed relation to each other, and at least one of the third and fourth roller having a chevron pattern disposed on the surface thereof; the first pair of rollers being adjacent to and spaced apart from the second pair of rollers. A method for reducing wrinkles is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a tube blank, comprising the following steps: (a) forming a tube hose around a mandrel and advancing the said tube hose along the said mandrel such that a leading edge of the said tube hose is flush with a leading face of the said mandrel; (b) presenting a dispensing assembly to the said leading edge of the said tube hose; (c) sealing the dispensing assembly with the said tube hose to form a tube blank; (d) separating the tube blank from the mandrel.

Abstract: The machine is provided with means (6, 8, 9, 11″, 13) for the controlled feeding of the plastics film to the forming head (17) which forms with the said film a continuous and descending tubular winding, in which are inserted the products to be packaged by means of a hopper (18). A heat-sealing unit (22) performs a longitudinal and continuous sealing (Z) upon the longitudinal and reciprocally superimposed edges of the said tubular winding and downstream of the forming device (17) sealing and transversal cutting means (23) perform upon the same tubular winding at least a double transversal continuous tight-sealing, for the head-closing of the filled bag and for the sealing of the bottom of the following bag, while a cut between the two sealing, separates the consecutive bags between them. These means can also comprise an incision device to facilitate the following tear-opening of the bag.

Abstract: A tubular bag-making machine for forming a flexible tube from a hot-sealable web of packaging material sealed longitudinally by means of a longitudinal seam sealing device and transversely by means of a transverse seam sealing device to produce individual tubular bag packages. To improve the transverse sealing seams, bores which can be made to communicate in alternation with a negative-pressure source or an overpressure source are embodied in the sealing jaws of the transverse seam sealing device in regions having a reduced number of layers of packaging material to enable a good heat transfer and a higher sealing pressure in the region of changes in the number of layers of packaging material of the transverse sealing seams.

Abstract: A vertical pouch forming, filling and sealing machine and method for making pouches and filling same with a liquid content in the range of about 5 to 20 liters, is described. As a pouch is being filled with a liquid it descends into a support cage to restrain the pouch from ballooning out and prevents the weight of the liquid in the filled pouch from tensioning the film in the hot horizontal seal zone of the horizontal sealer. The support cage compensates for loss of surface tension of the film in the hot horizontal seal zone during the horizontal sealing cycle. The cage also has a gate section to discharge the filled pouch by gravity after the horizontal sealing cycle.

Abstract: A device for wrapping an article, the device comprising a first feeder for a first sheet of plastics film, a second feeder for a second sheet of plastics film, a carriage for positioning the article between the first and second sheets of plastics film and a sealing mechanism for sealing the first and second sheets of plastics film together adjacent the periphery of the article.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing reclosable bags (30) by forming a film (50) includes moving the film (50) and attaching to the film (50) sequentially and crosswise with reference to the direction of movement of the film (50), a fastener (1) including a first strip (2) supporting at least one reclosable profile (10) engaged with another reclosable profile (12) that is complementary thereto and supported by a second strip (4) or a part of the first strip (2), which will subsequently be attached to the film (50). Each strip (2, 4) includes at least one web (6, 8) extending substantially mostly sideways on one side of the profiles (12). The above arrangements make possible special fasteners (1) that include sliders (9), gasket membranes (26), fasteners inverted within the bag (30), peel seals (18, 20, 21) and hinged fasteners (1).

Abstract: A standup bag for granular products or the like and a method of manufacturing the bag. The standup bag is manufactured from an extruded heat scalable material and includes both an integral handle and a perforation to facilitate opening and pouring out the contents of the bag.

Abstract: A double-bag package, and method for manufacturing same, constructed by modification to existing vertical form and fill packaging machines and perforation knives. In a preferred embodiment, the invention involves producing a double-bag package from a single sheet of packaging film by feeding a roll of film having graphics printed sideways rather than vertically into a vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine and using a novel perforating/cutting knife to alternately cut and perforate transverse seals. The perforating/cutting knife has teeth in the shape of oblique triangular pyramids, with each tooth having three cutting edges. The perforating/cutting knife produces self-correcting T-shaped perforation patterns capable of capturing and redirecting errant tears for fail-safe directional separation.

Abstract: A rotary mechanism for cutting and/or sealing a web has a pair of counter-rotating rotors mounted on parallel axes and having radially projecting arms between which the web is momentarily gripped for cutting and/or sealing. Sealing is performed by heated pressure outer faces on the rotor arms. Cutting is performed by cutter and anvil bars on the opposed arms engaging the web. Bearer faces on the arms beyond the pressure faces set a gap between the pressure faces and a rectangular-section tongue and groove in mating contact faces one side of the pressure faces locate the pressure faces laterally. The cutting means are adjusted by a wedge bar bearing on the inner face of the cutter bar or anvil. The wedge bar is movable in the direction of rotation and has an outer face inclined in the same direction. Means accessible from the leading and/or trailing faces of the rotor arms are provided for adjusting the wedge bar and clamping the cutter and anvil bars.

Abstract: For pre-sterilizing a tubular bag packing machine to be operated under sterile conditions after the pre-sterilization phase, following the steam sterilization of the device metering the loading material and forming part of the machine, and of the forming pipe simultaneously serving as a filling pipe, the subsequent supply of sterile air to the meter, to the forming pipe and to the sterile chamber will be maintained. The longitudinally sealed tube of packing material formed on the forming pipe from the web of packing material is kept open underneath the opening of the sterile chamber in order to allow both the sterile air and the mixture of steam and sterilization agent conducted after pre-sterilization of the metering device into the sterile chamber to be discharged through the forming pipe and the tube of packing material open at the bottom.

Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine has an ultrasonic vibration emitter head 11 positioned outside the tube being formed by the overlapping of the margins 3 and 5 of a film web, and an anvil 13 positioned inside the tube defined by those margins, the anvil being mounted on an anvil carrier 25 which is supported by a frame element entirely independent of the forming box 1 used to fold the film, so as to isolate the anvil from vibrations sustained from the forming box. The anvil carrier can be mounted directly to a carrier body for the ultrasonic vibration emitter, and preferably has the shape of an inverted letter J where the anvil is positioned near the toe 25a of the J, the mounting to the sealing machine frame is at the top of the stem 25c of the J, with a slot 25b between the toe 25a and the stem 25c.

Abstract: A decoration correction method for a form-and-seal unit (1) for producing sealed packages of a pourable food product from a tube (2) of packaging material fed along a feed path, and having two pairs of jaws (7) movable along the feed path and opened and closed so as to travel, cyclically and alternately with each other, along a form-and-seal portion along which the pairs of jaws (7) are closed and travel integrally with the tube, and along a repositioning portion along which the pairs of jaws open and move with respect to the tube (2). To make a decoration correction, a nominal trajectory (P) of the jaws (7) is modified along the repositioning portion on the basis of a position error of the tube (2) with respect to a nominal position. A first solution provides for correcting the travel of the jaws by selectively modifying the amplitude of the trajectory; and a second solution provides for correcting the phase of the jaw trajectory.

Abstract: Form-fill-seal machine for making bag-shaped packagings for products, such as edible products, from a web of foil material, such as synthetic foil, the machine comprising a frame having a stock of web of foil material and a supply of the web of foil material in flat condition, and a form-fill unit positioned at a front side of the machine, wherein the form-fill unit comprises a form shoulder for transforming the flat web of foil material into a foil tube, as well as a form-fill tube connecting to the form shoulder, having a vertical main plane of section, in which the machine furthermore comprises transverse sealing jaws that are positioned below the lower end of the fill tube for forming transverse seals in the foil tube and which are reciprocally moveable in a vertical plane perpendicular to the front side of the machine and the said vertical plane of section, the form shoulder being asymmetrically shaped for forming an overlap in the foil tube which extends to at least a short distance from or near the sai

Abstract: Vertical form fill seal apparatus for making flexible packages with slider fastener closures is provided. A fastener track is applied in-line with a plastic web and is bonded thereto at the same time that a peel seal is formed. All package components are brought together at the point of fill. Prior to assembly at the fill station a series of spaced-apart stop members are formed along the fastener tracks.

Abstract: A vertical pouch forming, filling and sealing machine and method for making pouches and filling same with a liquid content in the range of about 5 to 20 liters, is described. As a pouch is being filled with a liquid it descends into a support cage to restrain the pouch from ballooning out and prevents the weight of the liquid in the filled pouch from tensioning the film in the hot horizontal seal zone of the horizontal sealer. The support cage compensates for loss of surface tension of the film in the hot horizontal seal zone during the horizontal sealing cycle. The cage also has a gate section to discharge the filled pouch by gravity after the horizontal sealing cycle.

Abstract: A pre-prepared mesh-film web is used on a conventional vertical form-fill-seal packing machine to form a plurality of mesh-film bags.

Abstract: The method is aimed at indirectly determining the energy absorbed by a conducting layer (5) forming part of a strip of packaging material (1) to be sealed transversely. The method is based on measuring parameters correlated with the power supplied by a current source (45) to the packaging material (1) during sealing, and with the temperature of the conducting layer (5). The temperature measurement takes into account the temperature of the product to be packed, the characteristics of the packaging material, and the characteristics of the mechanical sealing members; correct cutting of the packaging material after sealing is also determined; and the parameters are monitored by measuring associated quantities and by comparison with permissible values.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forming and filling a flexible package are provided in which cross seals are made substantially parallel to a central axis (60) of fitments (40). The cross seals (68, 82) are substantially parallel to the vertical plane that includes the central axis (60) of the fitment (40), and may comprise at least a section angled toward the fitment (66, 84, 86) to create an angled side.

Abstract: A vertical stand-up pouch, or flexible package having a zipper seal mechanism incorporated therein, and method for manufacturing same, constructed with a quick change module modification to existing vertical form and fill packaging machines. The invention involves producing a vertical stand-up pouch from a single sheet of packaging film by inserting a zipper seal mechanism on a first side of the packaging film tube and creating a vertical crease along the tube prior to forming a transverse seal on the tube. The zipper seal mechanism is attached to the packaging film prior to sealing the sheet of the packaging film along its longitudinal seam forming a tube comprising, in part, a quick change module that easily installs on the base of a forming tube. Likewise, the crease is formed using fixed or stationary modifications to prior art vertical form, fill, and seal machines comprising, in part, a quick change module that easily installs on the base of a forming tube.

Abstract: A vertical type forming, filling and sealing machine according to the present invention includes a film shaping mechanism for forming long lengths of film into tubular shapes, a vertical sealing mechanism for heat sealing the edges of the film formed by the film shaping mechanism in the longitudinal direction of the film to form tubular film, a supply nozzle for supplying contents into the tubular film, and two horizontal sealing mechanisms for heat sealing the tubular film in its width direction. A first horizontal sealing mechanism heat seals opposing inner surfaces of the tubular film except for a portion in the width direction. A second horizontal sealing mechanism is placed below the first horizontal sealing mechanism and heat seals the area which is not heat sealed by the first horizontal sealing mechanism.

Abstract: A tubular bagging machine in which expanding elements projecting away from the fill pipe are provided in order to create bags with welded edges. A separate longitudinal welding device for welding of an area adjacent to the edge of the tube is provided. It is thus possible to produce directly side-by-side a longitudinal seam and a welded edge. A bag-opening aid or a reclosing aid can be integrated into the longitudinal seam or the edge.

Abstract: A flat bottom bag or flexible package, and method for manufacturing same, constructed by modification to existing vertical form and fill packaging machines. The invention involves producing a flat bottom bag from a single sheet of packaging film by creating two vertical creases along opposite sides of a packaging film tube prior to forming a transverse seal on the tube. These creases are formed using fixed or stationary modifications to prior art vertical form, fill, and seal machines.

Abstract: A vertical stand-up pouch or flexible package, and method for manufacturing same, constructed by modification to existing vertical form and fill packaging machines. The invention involves producing a vertical stand-up pouch from a single sheet of packaging film by creating a vertical crease along one edge of a packaging film tube prior to forming a transverse seal on the tube. Said vertical crease is formed using a stationary tucker bar positioned outside the packaging film tube and between two forming plates positioned inside the packaging film tube.

Abstract: A flexible polymeric container for holding albumin. The container is made of a sheet of flexible polymeric film formed into a bag having a cavity enclosed by a first wall, an opposing second wall, and seals about a periphery of the first and second walls. The seals join an interior portion of the opposing first and second walls and create a fluid-tight chamber within the cavity of the container for storing a concentration of the albumin. A method of packaging the albumin protein into a flexible polymeric container is also provided. Therein a flexible polymeric material is converted into bags, the bags are filled with a quantity of albumin by a filler, and a seal area of the bags is sealed to enclose the albumin within the bag.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming reclosable packages at a form, fill and seal (FFS) apparatus by advancing a film of package making material longitudinally to form a tube while guiding opposite longitudinal edges of the film into a fin. A zipper having interlocking members and an attached flange is fed into the fin by capturing external surfaces of the interlocking members within a first guide member positioned adjacent to said fin and feeding the flanges along opposite sides of a second guide member positioned within said fin. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for enabling unsupported packaging film (e.g., low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, and high density polyethylene) to be sealed in a tube in the process of making a flexible package. A “following belt” is provided which allows for a sandwiching effect to be imported on the film as it passes through its welding zone. In the prior art, while in this welding zone the polyethylene film would move with a conventional band seal assembly. But the opposite side of the polyethylene film would have to move relative to a drag iron this causing potential friction, seam failure and poor tracking. The present invention's use of a following belt allows the elements on both sides of the unsupported film to move with the film.

Abstract: The method entails unwinding portion of film stored in roll form. The film is made of a heat-sealable single- or multilayer flexible material. The flaps for the unwound portion are folded until they are side by side or overlapped along a narrow band. The resulting new lateral edges are folded further so as to form longitudinal accordion-like portions and the bottom is then formed with a transverse heat-sealed portion which is produced simultaneously with a median cut relative to the heat-sealed portion, successively separating two pairs of adjacent containers. The heat-sealed bottom is inserted into the container by an extent which is equal to half the width of the lateral accordion-like portion and a longitudinal heat-sealed portion is then produced in the region where the flaps lie side by side and/or overlap, blocking the bottom and the accordion-like portion, simultaneously with a complete or partial cutting of the longitudinal heat-sealed portion.

Abstract: An automated reclosable packaging manufacturing equipment for applying zipper tape to bag making film, especially as part of a form-fill-seal process, and a method of joining a zipper flange of a zipper assembly to bag making film without “seal-through” of the zipper flanges. The method comprises the steps of: (a) pressing a web of bag making film and first and second zipper flanges of a zipper assembly together along the length of the latter, with the first zipper flange sandwiched between and in contact with the web of bag making film and the second zipper flange; and (b) during step (a), causing heat to be conducted through the web of bag making film into the first zipper flange. The amount of heat conducted through the web of bag making film must be sufficient to seal the web of bag making film to the first zipper flange without sealing the first zipper flange to the second zipper flange.

Abstract: A packaging machine (1) for continuously producing sealed packages (2) of a pourable food product from a tube (4) of heat-seal sheet packaging material fed along a vertical path (A) and filled continuously with the food product by means of a fill conduit (8) extending inside the tube (4). The packaging machine (1) has a capacitive level sensor (14) located outside the tube (4) and in turn having a plate element (20) made of conducting material, positioned facing the fill conduit (8), and defining, together with the fill conduit (8), a capacitive element (22) whose capacitance depends, among other things, on the amount of food product between its plates. The level sensor (14) also has a detecting circuit (24) connected to and for detecting the capacitance of the capacitive element (22), and generating a level signal (SL) indicating the level of the food product inside the tube (4).

Abstract: In order to reduce the percentage of leaks in sealed packages, the sealing jaws contain one or more raised regions that correspond to problem areas for leaks, i.e., adjacent to back seals and folds in the package design. The raised regions are raised approximately 4-20 mils above the regions that seal the normal two layers of material.

Abstract: A form-fill sealing machine (1) for manufacturing resealable packages (W) includes a tearable line forming device (30) that serves to form tearable lines (104) in a film (F). A labeling device (40) serves to stick re-stickable labels (103) onto the film in positions to cover respective tearable lines. A tube forming device (60) serves to form the film into a tubular film (T). A first sealing device (80) serves to seal lapped edges of the tubular film so as to form a lengthwise sealed portion (111). A second sealing device (90) serves to seal the tubular film in a crosswise direction, so that crosswise sealed portions (109) are formed on the tubular film. Each tearable line is positioned between two adjacent crosswise sealed portions and adjacent to one of two adjacent crosswise sealed portions.

Abstract: For pre-sterilizing a tubular bag packing machine to be operated under sterile conditions after the pre-sterilization phase, following the steam sterilization of the device metering the loading material and forming part of the machine, and of the forming pipe simultaneously serving as a filling pipe, the subsequent supply of sterile air to the meter, to the forming pipe and to the sterile chamber will be maintained. The longitudinally sealed tube of packing material formed on the forming pipe from the web of packing material is kept open underneath the opening of the sterile chamber in order to allow both the sterile air and the mixture of steam and sterilization agent conducted after pre-sterilization of the metering device into the sterile chamber to be discharged through the forming pipe and the tube of packing material open at the bottom.

Abstract: Vertical form fill seal apparatus for making flexible packages with slider fastener closures is provided. A fastener track is applied in-line with a plastic web and is bonded thereto at the same time that a peel seal is formed. All package components are brought together at the point of fill. Prior to assembly at the fill station a series of spaced-apart stop members are formed along the fastener tracks.

Abstract: A system of dividing an endless, wide multi-layered web of packing material into a plurality of individual webs of equal width and aseptically processing the individual webs comprises laser-cutting elongated slits into the endless wide multi-layered web at a distance corresponding to the width of the individual webs to produce the individual webs, the slits extending through all layers of the web except for a web layer remote from the laser, which is only notched at least at selected distances, whereby the notched remote web layer holds the individual webs together, then sterilizing the laser-cut multi-layered web in a sterilization station, and conveying the sterilized, laser-cut multi-layered web in a sterile chamber to a number of tube-shaping elements corresponding to the number of individual webs, the notched remote web layer being torn by the tube-shaping elements to separate the individual webs from each other.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing snack food hanging pouches, and for combining beverage containers and snack food hanging pouches, are disclosed. A combined beverage and snack food package according to the invention can include a beverage container and a snack food hanging pouch that is suspended from the protrusion of the beverage container. A snack food hanging pouch according to the invention can include a pouch portion that is adapted to contain a snack food item, and a hanger portion that is attached to the pouch portion, having a hanging hole that is adapted to fit onto the protrusion of a beverage container. The pouch portion can be adapted to contain a loose snack food item or a packaged snack food item.

Abstract: A flexible package and method for making the same provides for a package that has a pouch formed adjacent to a portion of a package. Thereby, the package, such as a snack food package, can be filled with one product in the main compartment of the package and can be filled with a separate product in the pouch. To realize this, the package is formed with an extra length of film extended adjacent to the main portion of the tube of the package. First and second longitudinal seals are provided to form the pouch over a portion of the tube of the package. The package can then be filled with a first product in the main portion of the package and a second product in the separate and distinct pouch. As the pouch is filled, the material of the pouch protrudes away from the surface of the main portion of the package.

Abstract: The multi-layer film structure having an inner sealing layer (36) which comprises metallocene resin, a core (38) which includes polypropylene copolymer and an outer layer (37) and wherein the multi-layer film structure has a thickness (X) within a range between about 50 and 70 microns (2.0-2.75 mil). By utilizing this thin film with specific properties the sealers may be operated at lower temperatures thereby resulting in an energy saving and they produce seals having improved seal strength of 30% to 50% as compared with known prior mono-layer polyethylene film. The seal initiation temperature is reduced by 10° C. to 15° C. and the film exhibits an improved machine direction tensile strength of 25% to 40% and an improvement of 30% to 50% in puncture resistance as compared with a 76 microns (3 mil) mono-layer polyethylene film. This results in a reduction in the sealing cycle time and an increase in the throughput of the machine.

Abstract: A standup bag for granular products or the like and a method of manufacturing the bag. The standup bag is manufactured from an extruded heat sealable material and includes both an integral handle and a perforation to facilitate opening and pouring out the contents of the bag.

Abstract: A flexible polymeric container for holding albumin. The container is made of a sheet of flexible polymeric film formed into a bag having a cavity enclosed by a first wall, an opposing second wall, and seals about a periphery of the first and second walls. The seals join an interior portion of the opposing first and second walls and create a fluid-tight chamber within the cavity of the container for storing a concentration of the albumin. A method of packaging the albumin protein into a flexible polymeric container is also provided. Therein a flexible polymeric material is converted into bags, the bags are filled with a quantity of albumin by a filler, and a seal area of the bags is sealed to enclose the albumin within the bag.

Abstract: A process for continuously manufacturing and filling multiple cavity bags, includes the steps of forming a wrapping into a tubular sleeve shape from at least one sheet of plastic material, feeding the forming plastic sleeve along a forming column, sealing the wrapping along a first longitudinal seal to form a sleeve, feeding the sleeve along two cores, sealing bottom and central parts of the sleeve to form a partially sealed bag with two separate cavities therein, filling each of the cavities formed in the partially sealed bag through filling mouths for the cavities, closing the filling mouths to form a closed bag, cutting off the closed bag from the previous bag, and removing the closed bag.

Abstract: A vertical stand-up pouch or flexible package, and method for manufacturing same, constructed by modification to existing vertical form and fill packaging machines. The invention involves producing a vertical stand-up pouch from a single sheet of packaging film by creating a vertical crease along one edge of a packaging film tube prior to forming a transverse seal on the tube. Said vertical crease is formed using a stationary tucker bar positioned outside the packaging film tube and between two forming plates positioned inside the packaging film tube.

Abstract: A vertical stand-up pouch, flat bottom bag, or flexible package, and method for manufacturing same, constructed with a quick change module modification to existing vertical form and fill packaging machines. The invention involves producing a vertical stand-up pouch or flat bottom bag from a single sheet of packaging film by creating one or two vertical creases along the packaging film tube prior to forming a transverse seal on the tube. Such creases are formed using fixed or stationary modifications to prior art vertical form, fill, and seal machines comprising, in part, a quick change module that easily installs on the base of a forming tube.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of an easy open device for “Flow Pack” or similar packages with longitudinal seams and transversal closings, structured horizontally or vertically, with a detachable strip, attached in alignment on the internal face of the packaging film by means of an applicator head, to be manually grasped and to result in the tearing of said packages, including the steps of:

Abstract: A flat bottom bag or flexible package, and method for manufacturing same, constructed by modification to existing vertical form and fill packaging machines. The invention involves producing a flat bottom bag from a single sheet of packaging film by creating two vertical creases along opposite sides of a packaging film tube prior to forming a transverse seal on the tube. These creases are formed using fixed or stationary modifications to prior art vertical form, fill, and seal machines.

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 layer on one side thereof and a firm polymeric support layer on an opposite side thereof, the slip layer 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 polymeric support layer may have a Shore-A hardness of at least 10 at 20° C. and a dynamic loss tangent of less than 0.1 from 20° C. to 80° C. An example of a support layer is a polycarbonate pad, and an example of slip layer is a glass cloth coated with Teflon™. The back-up pad is particularly useful for forming lap seals in relatively thick film materials, such as laminated films having multi-layered films laminated together.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing reclosable bags having slide zippers on a form-fill-seal (FFS) machine is provided. In a first embodiment a coil of sliders is fed to an insertor mechanism for applying the slider downstream of a coil of zipper. In a second embodiment a magazine of individual or connected sliders is used to feed the slider insertor mechanism. In a third embodiment bulk sliders are introduced into a vibratory feeding bowl which then orients and feeds the sliders to the slider insertor mechanism. The slider insertor mechanism may be upstream of the FFS machine or at the FFS machine upstream or downstream of the sealing bars used to seal the zipper the bag film. The zipper flanges may be provided with a peel seal layer to provide a hermetic and/or tamper evident seal for the bag.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for filling flexible receptacles or bags with bulk or particulate material is provided. In one aspect, an automatic sand bag filling apparatus is disclosed which includes a bulk fill channel which may be placed within the interior of each bag to be filled. The filling apparatus may have a metering device for providing the desired amount of bulk material to the fill channel. The fill channel may be moveable along a fixed path for engaging and advancing a series of interconnected bags. Articulating spreader bars may be provided to support the bag during filling. In one embodiment, the filling apparatus is mounted on a trailer assembly and includes a reservoir for storing the bulk sand. The sand may be transferred from the reservoir to the filling apparatus using augers, conveyors, etc. A preferred construction of a series of interconnected sand bags and a method of making a series of interconnected bags is also disclosed.