Abstract: A method and apparatus for removably securing flexible packages to a display carrier strip so that the packages can be removed therefrom without damaging the sealed condition of the packages. The apparatus includes sealing jaws which form transverse seals on a package preform that is separated into two packages. The sealing jaws have attached to the underside thereof sealing blocks which carry sealing elements that heat-seal the display carrier strip to the top of each filled sealed package simultaneously with the forming of the transverse seals by the sealing jaws. The attachment of the packages to the carrier strip is greatly simplified compared with prior art attachment systems.

Abstract: In a method for forming reclosable packages on a conventional form-fill-and-seal (FFS) machines, first and second interlocking members are fed toward and longitudinally parallel to the filling tube thereof in an uninterlocked condition. A thermoplastic film is wrapped around the filling tube enclosing the first and second interlocking members, and the lateral edges of the film are bonded together to form a longitudinal seam. At least one of the first and second interlocking members is attached by a heat sealing bar to the inside of the tube so formed from the thermoplastic film. A fold is formed in the tube between the first and second interlocking members to bring the members into a facing relationship, and the members are then interlocked with one another. At intervals, transverse seams are formed to produce individual reclosable packages, which may also be separated from one another. The packages are filled with product during the course of their manufacture.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method for manufacturing flexible, reclosable containers is described herein. A continuous web of flexible film is formed into a tube around a forming tube. The lateral edges of the continuous web are guided so as to extend substantially perpendicularly from the forming tube, thereby forming a longitudinal seam. A pair of interlocked continuous fastener profile strips are then directed downwardly into the seam between the lateral edges of the film. Intermittent impulse sealing bars are utilized for heating the exterior surfaces of the seam so as to heatseal the bases of the fastener strips to the interior surfaces of the seam. Vertical longitudinal sealing bars are further provided externally from the impulse sealing bars which seal the longitudinal seam proximate the lateral edges of the continuous web. A pair of transverse sealing bars form the top seal of a first container and the bottom seal of a second container.

Abstract: In a method for forming reclosable packages on a conventional form-fill-and-seal machine, a "Y-type" zipper strip is fed toward and longitudinally down the filling spout thereof. A thermoplastic film is wrapped around the filling spout enclosing the zipper strip, and the lateral edges of the film are bonded together to form a longitudinal seam. The zipper strip webs are attached by sealing bars to the inside of the tube so formed from the thermoplastic film between the fill tube and the sealing bars. At intervals, transverse seams are formed to produce individual reclosable packages, which may also be separated from one another. The packages are filled with product during the course of their manufacture.

Abstract: This invention relates to a snap zipper, a bag with a snap zipper, manufacture method and apparatus for a bag with a snap zipper, and bagging method and apparatus for a bag with a snap zipper. A hot-welded portion of the snap zipper comprising a male member and a female member is formed of ionomer resin or random copolymer resin of ethylene-acrylic acid. At least one tape with a pair of snap zipper half-members and a base film are supplied and passed through guide rollers for being placed one above the other, followed by hot-welding the tapes with snap zipper half-members and the base film to each other to form a film with a snap zipper. The film with a snap zipper is guided by a guide member such that the pair of snap zipper half-member are intermeshed to form a tubular film. The tubular film is sealed off with intervals of a predetermined distance perpendicularly to the lengthwise direction thereof.

Abstract: A tubular-bag packaging machine having at least one pair of cross-sealing jaws (25) which are supported on a holding device (15) movable vertically back and forth by means of a connecting rod (14) as well as horizontally through a four-bar mechanism comprising a crank disk (9) coupled with the connecting rod (14), and comprising side-fold-forming means (23, 24) which are supported on a guide element (18) movable transversely with respect to the direction of movement of a foil tube (41).

Abstract: An assembly and method provide a continuous supply of packaging film to a form, fill and seal packaging machine with two spindles alternately operating as the active spindle to feed the film from one roll at a time. Opposed pneumatic manifolds are operative to splice the tail-end of the film from the active roll to the head-end of the film from the standby roll. The opposed manifolds pivot in opposite directions away from the machine to provide easy access for loading. A programmable controller controls the splicing operation. Valves operated by the controller connect a vacuum source to one of the manifolds to hold the head-end at a splicing station and to the other to maintain tension on the active film after the tail-end leaves the spindle. An end-of-roll detector near the spindle triggers the tensioning function. The width of the manifold is adjustable to accommodate different width film. A photocell detector and encoder in the circuit allow tracking of the tail-end.

Abstract: A vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine controlled by a controller for receiving input data defining the package length, cycle time and sealing time and for controlling the feed of the packaging material as a function of the input data, the machine having a measuring roll for feeding the material forward in package length increments which is also operable to maintain the material tracking properly, further having a control maintaining the material under substantially constant tension, rapid controllable sealing jaw operation, a readily retractable longitudinal seam sealer, and a stripper operable independently of the sealing jaws.

Abstract: A single use dispensing sachet (10) which is made up of flexible sheet sections (14,16) peripherally sealed (12) to define an outer envelope, and within the outer envelope is a sealed compartment containing the sachet contents. The compartment is ruptured to displace the contents into an expansion chamber within the sachet so as to retard the flow of the contents and prevent splashing. The sachet may have a baffle (32) defined by a line of sealing connecting the outer sheet sections of the sachet, the baffle forming an obstruction between the contents emerging from the ruptured sealed compartment to an outlet at the periphery of the sachet. Also described is a method and machine for manufacturing the sachets.

Abstract: A bag package making machine that operates aseptically and in which a product is filled into a tube of packaging material and bag packages are partitioned off from that tube, the parts that come into contact with the packaging material and the product are sterilized, before filling operation begins, by passing a sterilizing agent through the filling tube and the bag forming part. For passing a sterilizing agent through the filling tube, a cup-shaped connecting element, which is enclosed by the packaging material tube, is connected to the outlet of the filling tube. Toward the end of the sterilizing phase, the filling tube and the connecting element are moved apart from one another, and the part of the packaging material tube surrounding these parts is sealed off between the connecting element and the filling tube and severed, so that the filling tube end remains in the closed end portion of the tube of packaging material which continues in a sterilized condition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for successively forming foam filled cushions for packaging purposes of the type in which a bag containing foam precursors is added to a container so that as the foam precursors form foam, the bag forms a custom cushion adjacent objects in the container. The method comprises attaching an adhesive strip to the longitudinal edges of a pair of sheets of plastic film material being advanced along predetermined paths of travel in face to face contact from a stock supply, and between which sheets a foamable composition is injected, to thereby join the sheets together and form one edge of the bag, while periodically sealing the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheets together transversely to the path of travel to form a bag while periodically severing a completed bag from the next succeeding bag being formed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing reclosable plastic bags or packages, wherein sections of zipper profiles are pre-softened at intervals equal in length to the width of the bags or packages to be manufactured. The pre-softening enables the zipper profiles to be fused together and completely flattened when a seal bar clamps thereacross to form a side seal area transverse to the zipper.

Abstract: A bag forming/filling system includes a delivery mechanism to feed a predetermined length of web material from a web roll to a bag forming cylinder, in which the web is sealed by a sealing machine to form a bag. A predelivery mechanism unwinds and loosens a portion of the web from the web roll by a length substantially corresponding to the predetermined length before operation of the delivery mechanism. The predelivery mechanism may include a pivotally movable tension lever, which moves in an unwinding direction substantially during the closing motion of the sealing machine. In a second embodiment, the predelivery mechanism includes a drive element for rotating the web roll and a detector for detecting a slackened length of a portion of the web.

Abstract: Bags custom-sized to the volume of articles packed and to be packed therein are manufactured on-site and on-demand at the location at which the articles are packed in the bags. The bags are formed from a continuous sheet of flexible film material which is shaped into a tubular wrapper along the interior of a generally quadrangular former. The bags are sealed along their tops so as to prevent inadvertent spillage of articles therefrom and may incorporate unitary handles formed during manufacture of the bags and a readily removable protective envelope at least partly defining the top closure thereof.

Abstract: A storage bag and a method and apparatus for forming such a storage bag. The storage bag contains a reclosure tie formed as an integral marginal portion of the bag beyond an edge of the bag. The marginal portion includes overlying layers of bag material that form an elongated structure along an axis with first and second ends. A fused closure is formed in the marginal portion parallel to the axis and over a portion of the marginal portion spaced from one end thereof. This structure defines a tail and open loop that wrap around an opened bag thereby to close the bag in a positive fashion.

Abstract: A horizontal sealer for a vertical pillow type form-fill-seal packaging machine has a pair of horizontally elongated heater assemblies which are supported such that they remain horizontal as they individually rotate around mutually parallel axes. The distance between these axes are varied as the heater assemblies rotate around them such that the heater assemblies have generally D-shaped trajectories as they horizontally seal a tubularly formed thermoplastic flexible film material to make a bag. Mechanisms are provided whereby the heating surfaces of the assemblies remain oriented in the same direction, the pressure applied to the film material can be controlled and the bag can be squeezed before the horizontal sealing such that articles being packaged will settle inside the bag. A similarly structured vertical sealer may be provided to a horizontal pillow type packaging machine.

Abstract: An improved system for making packages includes one or more packaging machines, a storage device for storing film rolls and a transporting device for transporting these film rolls to the packaging machines for loading. The packaging machines are of a type having a cantilevered film-supporting shaft for holding a film roll and sealers for longitudinally sealing overlapped side edges of a film pulled out of a film roll supported by the film-supporting shaft and horizontally sealing tubularly formed film to make bags. The film-supporting shaft extends in the forward-backward direction of the machine such that, when a plurality of these machines are arranged in a mutually side-by-side relationship, their film-supporting shafts are also in a side-by-side relationship and can be easily approached from one direction. The storage device may store the film rolls horizontally or vertically. The transporting device may be a forklift.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated flex-pack case packer for servicing a form-fill-seal machine. The flex-pack case packer employs a two-stage displacement cylinder to move an interchangeable head assembly having grippers that, when moved into position to receive severed flexible pouches from the form-fill-seal machine, grasp the flexible pouches. The head assembly is then retracted and swung from its horizontal position to a vertical position. Once an open top container is indexed into position, the head assembly is lowered toward the container and the grippers open to release the flexible pouches. Also, the lateral distances between the flexible pouches as they are held by their respective grippers can be expanded or contracted by using an air cylinder to actuate a rocker arm. A programmable controller coordinates all air control valve and solenoid activity.

Abstract: A multiple bag forming and filling apparatus and method utilizes a plurality of filling tubes which have a cross-sectional width in the range from one-third to one times the width of the tubular preform between the vertical seals at the filling tube means. There is also disclosed the directing of horizontally adjacent vertical tubular bag preforms to opposite sides of a center sealing bar prior to forming transverse seals by movable seal bars on the opposite sides. The horizontal displacement of the horizontally adjacent bags prevents the adjacent bags from being sealed together.

Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal machine for making material-filled, slack pouches, having little or no headspace in the pouches. One jaw of the heat sealing assembly has a jaw wall convex about a vertical axis and located below the heat sealing element. The opposite jaw of the assembly has a jaw wall of an elastomeric sheet stretched under tension and adapted to cooperate with the convex jaw wall. During operation, the jaw walls bias against the material-filled pouch causing air to be expelled from the material and collapsing the tube as the jaws are closed. The machine is useful for making slack pouches filled with flowable material such as emulsions, soft margarine, food dressings, pastes, peanut butter, preserves, pie fillings, marmalade, jellies, dough, ground meat, detergents and granular solids.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for automatically packaging small cloth articles, such as nylon stockings, in bags. The packaging machine comprises two or more loading conduits each having a loading end and a discharge end. A vacuum system is associated with the conduits for conveying the cloth articles therein. A retention housing is provided at the discharge end of each of the loading conduits to retain the cloth article introduced at the loading end. A piston head is displaced in the conduit at the discharge end to transfer the cloth articles in the retention housings of all of the conduits simultaneously and into an associated discharge container. The containers are mounted on a turret and are displaced, serially, to a discharge position where a predetermined number of articles contained within the containers are transferred into a bag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a wrapped food material in single slice form. The apparatus comprises means to conduct the food material into a wrapping film to form a wrapped food material, a slice forming assembly to press the wrapped food material at spaced intervals to form a continuous strip of connected, wrapped food material slices, and a cutting assembly to cut that continuous strip at the spaced intervals to produce individually wrapped and sealed food material slices. The apparatus also includes a guide plate to guide the continuous strip of wrapped food material slices from the slice forming assembly to the cutting assembly along a predetermined path of travel; a partial vacuum is developed between the continuous strip of wrapped food material slices and at least a portion of the guide plate to draw that strip thereagainst as the strip of connected slices passes to the cutting assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel deflator means for expelling excess air from packages which is used in connection with form, fill and seal packaging machines, said deflator means comprising flexible walled, fluid-filled bladder means which engages a product-containing bag and forces excess air out from the bag, the bladder fluid also being provided to be in communication with a reservoir which permits fluid exchange between the bladder, and the reservoir during the packaging cycle.

Abstract: A detection apparatus is provided in a form, fill and seal operation to detect the position of sealing jaws with respect to one another during the sealing process.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for applying a reclosable profile element and a tear strip element to a packaging film is disclosed. Packaging film is formed into a tubular form about a forming tube. The tubular shaped packaging film is advanced along the length of the forming tube and over a product fill tube having an outer perimeter less than the outer perimeter of the forming tube. The packaging film is deformed to conform to the outer perimeter of the product fill tube. Excess packaging film, made available due to the differences in outer perimeters of the forming tube and product fill tube, is formed into a loop. A reclosable profile element is guided into the loop and adhered to the inner surface of the loop. A tear strip is also provided which may be adhered to the packaging film prior to said film into a tubular shape about said forming tube, or may be guided into the loop of said film.

Abstract: In order to avoid in a tubular bagging machine the disadvantages resulting from the state of the art through a cam-plate control of cross-welding jaws, it is suggested according to the invention, that the control of the movement of the cross-welding jaws occurs in dependency on the contact pressure, the temperature and the needed sealing time, with the drive being able to occur mechanically by means of a toggle-lever drive mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for forming a hermetically sealed package for a slice of a food item. A web of thermoplastic material is first formed into a tubular arrangement with a hermetic longitudinal seal. To form the tubular arrangement, means are provided for folding a continuous web of thermoplastic material into V-folded condition and for continuously forming a hermetic seal along the open longitudinal edge of the V-folded web. The hermetic seal is formed between the inner surfaces of the front and rear faces of the web to define a tubular web member. The food item which has been formed into a soft mass, is then inserted into the tubular member and the tubular member is flattened to form a thin film tube. Means are provided for forming a hermetically sealed cross-seal which are disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal forward moving direction of the web.

Abstract: The stiffness of a flexible, substantially parallelepipedal container formed by shaping and welding a film which is made of a synthetic material and which is to enclose a liquid to be packaged, is improved by applying, before shaping, a second layer of a film formed of an identical or a different material, as a top film, to the surface of the film forming the container which does not subsequently come into contact with the liquid to be packaged. The top film includes a plurality of strips corresponding to the vertical surfaces of the final container which are welded to the film forming the container before shaping, along lines corresponding to the edges of the final parallelepipedal container.

Abstract: A process for providing easy-opening of a sealed and packed bag by means of an automatic bag-making packer involves pressing on a side margin of an outermost turn of a roll of film a cylindrical surface of a cutting roller mounted in the automatic bag-making packer, the cylindrical surface of the cutting roller having multiple edged projections for forming microcuts in the side margin, so that a resulting sealed and packed bag is easily opened from a side margin of the sealed and packed bag without reducing the mechanical strength of a film constituting the sealed and packed bag.

Abstract: A combined blousing, stripping and sealing operation is disclosed for providing increased speed and efficiency to a form, fill and seal packaging system. An AC/DC brushless servo motor is utilized for driving the stripping/sealing carriage, as well as operating the sealing jaws to form the bags from a continuous film tube. Each servo motor drives a crank that is coupled for oscillating movement in response to a programmable index controller. Drive linkage connects the crank to the carriage/sealing jaws. The blousing function is provided by a pair of plates on the top of the sealing jaws. On the return movement of the carriage, the plates contact the bottom of the bag next in line to bulge the sides for receipt of the product. The programmable index controller provides a signal to the carriage/sealing jaws in dependence on an external signal indicative of the selected bag size being packaged.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for applying a reclosable profile element to a packaging film is disclosed. Packaging film is formed into a tubular form about a forming tube. The tubular shaped packaging film is advanced along the length of the forming tube and over a product fill tube having an outer perimeter less than the outer perimeter of the forming tube. The packaging film is deformed to conform to the outer perimeter of the product fill tube. Excess packaging film, made available due to the differences in outer perimeters of the forming tube and product fill tube, is formed into a loop. A reclosable profile element is guided into the loop and adhered to the inner surface of the loop.

Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal machine has a pair of transverse heat sealing jaws adapted to collapse a tubular film, a pair of spreader fingers, and at least one pair of detucker fingers to pinch a longitudinal edge of the tubular film and urge the pinched tubular film away from the other longitudinal edge of the film.

Abstract: A method and a mechanism for making plastic film bags having a reclosable zipper including wrapping a continuous supply of film over a forming tube to form a seam joining the edges of the film and cross-seaming the film, supporting the supply roll of film with the film doubled and a zipper at the doubled edge; guiding the location of the zipper in the film so that the film is properly positioned as it is fed forwardly to be wrapped over the forming tube and means unfolding the film as it is fed forwardly to open the doubled film to be fed to the forming tube as a flat sheet.

Abstract: The invention is a method of forming large-volume foam cushions for packaging purposes wherein each cushion comprises a closed bag formed from respective first and second superposed sheets of plastic material and filled with foam.

Abstract: A device for assuring substantial smoothness in bags formed on a form, fill and seal machine comprising structure engageable with a closure along one edge of flattened bag making material below a forming and filling tube, and cooperating members operating cyclically from a position at the stabilizer in a flattening stroke across the material. The flattening members are desirably rollers which may be heated to effect a flatness retaining seal across the flattened material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making and filling bags from plastic film, wrapping an endless supply about a forming and filling tube where the supply has a plastic zipper profile extending intermediate the edges of the film material, controlling the feed of film over a sharp edge of a former so that a tension free slack is maintained in the film to eliminate the possibility of distortion or damage to the small rib and groove interlocking zipper profiles on the film.

Abstract: A support is provided for filled bags in a form, fill and seal package or bag making machine to avoid stretch stress damage to the thermosealed top edge of the filled bag during the cross-sealing and pull-down action of cross-sealing and pull-down bars functioning below the lower or discharge end of the forming and filling tube of the associated form, fill and seal machine. The supoprt may comprise a supporting constant force spring biased finger or a platform plate similarly supported.

Abstract: Vertical form-fill-seal packaging of a fluent product, such as flour, wherein flexible packaging material is formed into tubing around a downwardly extending mandrel, the tubing is intermittently fed downwardly in package length increments off the lower end of the mandrel with a dwell between each successive feed, the tubing is transversely sealed at a level below the lower end of the mandrel during each dwell to form a top seal for a package being completed and a bottom seal for the next package, the tubing is severed between each top and bottom seal during each dwell, product being fed downwardly from the mandrel into the portion of the tubing, sealed at the bottom, being fed off the lower end of the mandrel, wherein the downward feed of the tubing and the feed of the product are such as substantially to fill the volume of the said portion of the tubing created by the downward feed of the tubing.

Abstract: Strips (1,21,31,41,51) of pre-opened bags (2,2') detachably connected together in which each bag (2,2') includes a reclosable system comprising an adhesive tape (15) that is adhered along the exterior of one wall (3) of the bag (2,2') spanning an open zone (14,42) defined therein and that is adhered to an inner surface of the second wall (4) of the bag within the open zone (14,42). Methods for manufacturing strips of pre-opened reclosable bags of the foregoing type are also disclosed.

Abstract: New and improved foam cushions for packaging purposes of the type including a cushion envelope partially filled with an expandable cushioning foam material are provided. The cushion envelope includes a foam-receiving cavity and is defined by a unitary web of material folded over itself to provide a folded side. An intermittent labyrinth side seam is provided along the side opposite the folded side and transverse top and bottom seams are provided to complete formation of the cushion envelope. A cushioning foam is disposed in the foam-receiving cavity. A method for making the foam cushions and an automated apparatus for making a continuous supply of the packaging cushions are also described.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for forming filling and sealing packages in which flexible packaging material is formed into tubing, the tubing is fed downwardly and transversely heat sealed at package length intervals by closing a pair of sealing members, the seal area is cut to form a top seal of the package being completed and a bottom seal for the next package to be formed, a quantity of product with which the packages are to be filled is delivered into the lower end of the tubing to provide a fill for each package, the tubing is pinched closed, after the delivery of each fill, above and below the level of the next seal to be made, the pinches are maintained as the sealing members are opened, following the formation of the aforementioned top and bottom seals, to keep product for the next fill from dropping down on the bottom seal, and to hold the package being completed from dropping away, and air is blown on the top and bottom seals to cool them while the pinches are maintained.

Abstract: A combined blousing, stripping and sealing operation is disclosed for providing increased speed and efficiency to a form, fill and seal packaging system. An AC/DC brushless servo motor is utilized for driving the stripping/sealing carriage, as well as operating the sealing jaws to form the bags from a continuous film tube. Each servo motor drives a crank that is coupled for oscillating movement in response to a programmable index controller. Drive linkage connects the crank to the carriage/sealing jaws. The blousing function is provided by a pair of plates on the top of the sealing jaws. On the return movement of the carriage, the plates contact the bottom of the bag next in line to bulge the sides for receipt of the product. The programmable index controller provides a signal to the carriage/sealing jaws in dependence on an external signal indicative of the selected bag size being packaged.

Abstract: A forming shoulder for a forming and filling tube of a form, fill and seal machine has a skirt provided with a guide channel for a longitudinal zipper area of a package making material sheet running over the forming shoulder, thereby retaining the zipper area and the sheet against lateral drifting.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming bags from a thin plastic film in a tube form fill operation wherein plastic film is fed over the outer surface of the tube and the edges of the film are joined to provide a bag tube and an antistatic friction reduction surface treatment is provided on the outer surface of the tube for encouraging sliding movement of the film and insuring uniform feed with the friction reducing and electrically insulating material in the form of a plastic coating or ribs to produce the desired result.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming bags, such as from a continuous sheet of thermoplastic film fed forwardly and wrapped over a forming tube with the contents being filled into the bag through the tube and the end of the film formed into a bag tube being cross-sealed. The lower end of the filling tube is constructed so as to elastically deform and spread as sealing members move in laterally and thereby spread and flatten the tube to insure the making of a seal which is devoid to wrinkles and leakage possibilities.

Abstract: Apparatus for depositing two or more filled and sealed bags of product in a single box, comprising a shuttle embodying two or more chambers for successively receiving the filled and sealed bags from a filling and sealing machine for deposit of the filled and sealed bags into the box.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming, filling, sealing and deflating a package of goods prior to the time the fill opening is sealed includes a blast of air against the exterior flexible sidewalls of the package to thereby drive gas from the inside of the package.

Abstract: A method for separating a pair of plastic bags, connected together at a transversely disposed parting line, comprises the steps of intermittently moving the pair of bags along a path disposed in a horizontal plane, stopping the bags and placing the parting line over an opening extending transversely relative to the path and positioned between a pair of platens, clamping the pair of bags to the platens and severing the parting line to separate the pair of bags from each other by moving a cutting blade in a horizontal direction and transversely through the opening.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in form, fill, and seal machines wherein a polyfoil material is compressed between two jaws, one jaw having a secondary induction coil which passes through an electromagnetic field and induces a current in the metallic layer of the polyfoil, to heat and then seal the polyfoil.

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.