Abstract: Layers of heat sealable material are pressed between opposed jaws, cut through, and simultaneously the edges along each side of the cut line are sealed using an improved impulse sealer and method wherein a narrow, internal cooling vein(s) or channel(s), defined near the working interface of the jaws, is cooled by a pressurized stream of refrigerated gas to provide forced cooling to the sealed edges during the cooling portion of the sealing cycle.

Abstract: In a bagging machine for producing industrial bags, an improvement comprising a sealing head compartmented on the back side, and included is a plate valve to block at least certain of the compartments during the initial part of the sealing cycle. During the sealing cycle, a heated air stream exiting from the sealing head is controllably channeled to occur at defined regions, e.g., opposite the bag gussets and lap seam, and then by opening the valve, the channeling is terminated and heat is applied uniformly to complete the bag end sealing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing tea bags and the like is disclosed. The bags are made by forming a web into a flattened closed tube while continuously introducing tea and the like into the tube and pinching the tube at successive locations along transverse pinch lines corresponding generally to the required bag length. The tube is then caused to travel upwardly so that the tea tends to migrate downwardly under gravity and creates voided areas below the pinch locations and the tube is then heat sealed transversely in those voided areas. Finally, the bags are severed from the tube along lines disposed generally centrally of each transverse heat seal.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing and cutting a hose-like wrapper having serially arranged filled pockets and transverse zones therebetween includes oppositely rotating, cooperating clamping shoes between which the wrapper passes for pressing together and transversely sealing opposite wrapper walls in the transverse zones by providing a seam therein. A knife is secured to one of the clamping shoes and a backup support is secured to the other of the clamping shoes. The knife has a first cutting edge cooperating with the backup support for transversely separating wrapper packages from one another by providing a severing cut in each transverse zone. The knife further has at least one second cutting edge adjacent the first cutting edge for providing a cut in each transverse zone adjacent the severing cut to facilitate a manual tearing-open of the seams.

Abstract: Process and means for preforming containers from a tube which is formed of a material which can be automatically welded by pressure and which contains a liquid. The means comprises half-moulds for preforming containers mounted in series on two endless chains on opposite sides of the tube and displaced towards one another for gripping and temporarily holding the tube therebetween, a pair of welding jaws acting above the half-moulds for gripping therebetween the walls of the tube and welding said walls to one another at the point of separation of the container and a means for separating the preformed containers. The means includes a second pair of welding jaws, disposed beneath the first pair and controlled in synchronism with the first pair, the second pair of jaws acting on a section of the tube welded at the top and bottom by the first pair of jaws, so as to provide an intermediate weld.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for wrapping commodities, which may be compressible, and a corresponding method, in which a commodity is conveyed along a fixed path, a pair of opposed lengths of wrapping material are fed in an opposed relationship and in registry, the commodity is inserted between the opposed lengths of the wrapping material which have a leading end which has been sealed to form an open-sided and open-trailing end envelope, the lateral sides of the wrapping material are then sealed, and thereafter, a bag length is severed from the pair of lengths of wrapping material and sealed. Preferably, the commodity is fed under compression in between the opposed lengths of wrapping material, maintained under compression while the wrapping material is side-sealed and is vacuum-packaged while also under compression.