Longitudinal Tube Formed From Single Web Patents (Class 53/550)
  • Publication number: 20080047232
    Abstract: An infeed assembly for spacing a continuous line of product into units to be wrapped in a continuous wrapping system is disclosed. At least one set of registration belts is orientated downstream of a set of spaced infeed belts in communication with a continuous line of product. The registration belts are programmed to move at the same velocity as the infeed belts to receive a product and then at a velocity greater than the infeed belt in order to separate and register one or more products into units to be wrapped and before returning to the velocity of the infeed belts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Lloyd Kovacs
  • Patent number: 7328555
    Abstract: A plant (10) for the continuous packing of food products in modified atmosphere (11), comprises a machine (12) for continuous packing of food products in modified atmosphere and conveyor (13) for the continuous sequential feeding of food products to the machine. A device (21) is present at the entrance of the machine (12) that temporarily submits a product fed by the conveyor (13) to vacuum and to a modified atmosphere before being packed in modified atmosphere in the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Ilapak Macchine Automatiche S.A.
    Inventor: Roger S. Levy
  • Patent number: 7328545
    Abstract: A packaging line and method for continuously packaging discrete products such as, for instance, magazines, CDs, DVDs and combinations thereof in a continuous manner, comprising: a product assembling path which is provided with a conveyor and feeders arranged therealong; a packaging module provided with folding means for forming a packaging tube from a continuous packaging web, and a cross separating device for separating packages in cross direction; a control which is designed for, inter alia, controlling the sealing means and the cross separating device such that per product to be packaged at least three cross seals are formed such that a packaged product is obtained which is characterized by a first and a second cross seal which are situated at a small distance from the end edges of the product and with a third cross seal which is situated at some distance from the second cross seal for forming a flap on the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Buhrs - Zaandam B.V.
    Inventors: Menno Koppen, Roberto Tuyn
  • Patent number: 7325373
    Abstract: A rotary unit, of an FFS (Form, Fill and Seal) machine, for ultrasound sealing a continuous tubular strip housing an orderly succession of products and fed along a feed path extending through a sealing station; the rotary unit having two substantially identical rotors located on opposite sides of the feed path, and which rotate in opposite directions about respective axes, and have respective pitch surfaces tangent to each other and to the feed path; and an ultrasound sealing head, forming part of one of the two rotors, cooperates at the sealing station with a corresponding anvil forming part of the other rotor, to close the tubular strip along a transverse seal line located at a respective portion of the tubular strip extending between two respective adjacent products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Azionairia Constrizoni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fulvio Boldrini, Roberto Ghiotti, Stefano Cavallari
  • Patent number: 7310926
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing film tube which can be filled with liquid, viscous or granular filling material, from a film strip, is provided wherein the apparatus comprises a filling tube which can be connected to a filling machine, a device for transforming the film strip into a film tube, a sealing device for sealing longitudinal edges of the film strip, an advance drive means for the film tube and a measuring device for determining the amount of film tube delivered by the sealing device. The measuring device includes a first sensor which detects the length of the film tube delivered by the sealing device to the film tube supply and a second sensor which detects the length of the film tube drawn off the film tube supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Poly-Clip System GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Nikoley, Edmund Frey, Jürgen Hanten
  • Patent number: 7308780
    Abstract: An apparatus for sealing longitudinal overlapping edges of tubular thermoplastic film. The apparatus comprises a fixed block (31) for guiding and holding the overlapping edges and a sealing head (6) spaced from the fixed block for directing jets of hot air onto the overlapping edges of the film guided on the fixed block. The sealing head (6) is movably mounted such that the sealing head is positioned a short distance from the film as the film is advancing and the sealing head is withdrawn from the film when the film is stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: A.W.A.X. Progettazione E Ricerca S.r.l.
    Inventor: Renato Rimondi
  • Patent number: 7305808
    Abstract: A packaging machine moves its heater unit for longitudinal sealing of a tubularly formed film between a sealing position at which the heater unit contacts the film and a retracted position at which it is separated from the film. In addition to the mechanism for this motion, an air cylinder is provided for controlling the compressive force with which the heater unit at its sealing position compresses the film. A pressure controlling system regulates the air pressure supplied to the air cylinder. If the mechanism for moving the heater unit also employs another air cylinder, a higher pressure for moving the heater unit and a lower pressure for controlling its compressive force may be generated from a single air source and supplied to the two air cylinders by a switching mechanism. A single air cylinder with two air chambers may be used for the both functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Fukuda, Michihiro Kubo
  • Publication number: 20070261371
    Abstract: An automatic machine for the packaging of a series of editorial products in plastic film comprising feeding means of editorial products (11, 11?) and a packaging station (20) equipped with a mechanical conformer (21) for the winding of the film (12) around the products (11, 11?) and means for the closing of the same, also comprising two pusher conveyors (14, 16) alongside each other for the feeding of a first product (11) and at least a second product (11?) respectively, to the packaging station (20), which comprises at least one longitudinal closing device (23) and a transversal welding station (25) for the formation of a packaging (100), the packaging (100) comprising two closed and separate bags (101) for the first product (11) and the second product (11?) respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: SITMA S.p.A
    Inventors: Aris Ballestrazzi, Lamberto Tassi
  • Patent number: 7213383
    Abstract: A foam-in-bag assembly with a film feed mechanism which feeds film with a film driver and a bag forming assembly which includes an edge sealer that contacts film being fed by the film driver and which is supported on a moving member of the film feed mechanism and retains a fixed position relative to the moving member while in sealing engagement with the film being fed by the film driver. The edge seal assembly is preferably for use with a nip roller set and has a bearing through which a driving shaft of the nip roller extends and an edge wire is received on an edge wire support of the edge sealer. The support for the edge wire retains a fixed edge seal position while the driving member rotates within the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: IntelliPack
    Inventors: Douglas Walker, George Bertram
  • Patent number: 7174697
    Abstract: A system and process for packaging groups of products, such as spirally wound paper products are disclosed. During the packaging of groups, a continuous supply of a wrapping material is unwound and cut periodically in the edge regions. Optionally, a perforation line may also be formed into the wrapping material in between the two cut edges. The cut edges form flaps that are then wrapped around the product groups and sealed. The wrapping material is then broken along the perforation lines in order to form individual packages. Finally, the ends of the packages are folded and sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank S. Hada, Brian J. Gingras
  • Patent number: 7171795
    Abstract: The bag-manufacturing and packaging machine transverse sealing mechanism is for a bag-manufacturing and packaging machine that makes bags by sealing a tubular packaging material longitudinally and transversely while also filling the bags with items to be packaged. The transverse sealing mechanism functions to thermally seal the packaging material in a transverse direction, which is perpendicular to the direction in which the packaging material is conveyed. The transverse sealing mechanism is equipped with a plurality of sealing jaws and an adjusting part. The plurality of sealing jaws rotate about a rotational axis and execute thermal sealing by making contact with the tubular packaging material. The adjusting part adjusts a relative distance between the sealing jaws. The bag-manufacturing and packaging machine transverse sealing mechanism readily accommodates different bag sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Kondo, Yukio Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7165378
    Abstract: A machine for the packaging of products with stretchable and thermoplastic film, comprising of a tubularization means comprising a tubular forming head device having an inlet and an outlet, for the tubularization of a wrapping film taken from a feeding bobbin and means for the longitudinal tight-seal welding of the superimposed edges of such tubularization film; means which alternate in the transversal grip of the head of the tubular wrapping which comes out from the tubularization means, which are pre-arranged for the longitudinal movement of the wrapping, to longitudinally stretch it and to perform on same at least two transversal, parallel and tight seal weldings, a transversal cut placed between the weldings and to retain the wrapping upstream and downstream of the two welded zones separated by the cut; means for the cyclical introduction of a product through the inlet of the tubularization means and through the outlet of the tubularization means thereby advancing the tubular wrapping film; means to tempo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: A.W.A.X. Progettazione E Ricerca S.r.l.
    Inventor: Renato Rimondi
  • Patent number: 7159376
    Abstract: A rotary packaging machine 10 having rotatably driven stripper bars 17 and 18 that strip tubular bag material 36 prior to sealing of the bags being formed. To further inhibit material being located between the sealing jaws there is provided tube closer bars 28 and 29. The bar 28 has a longitudinally extending projection 34 that is received within a longitudinally extending recess 35 of the bar 29. The tubular bag material 36 by engagement within the recess 35 by the projection 34 laterally projects the bag material 36 and three longitudinally spaced locations 54.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: TNA Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Alfred A. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7143569
    Abstract: An automatic high-speed wrapping system for wrapping packages in heat sealable thermoplastic film includes a film delivery unit wherein the film is dispensed and wrapped around the packages at a high rate of speed as the packages travel through the system. The packages travel continuously in a straight line through the system and are delivered at the input end of the system by a feed conveyor into a wrapping station where the packages are surrounded by the film, thence to the side sealing mechanism which forms a seal while severing the salvage from the packages, then into an end sealing mechanism where both ends of the packages are sealed and the film web connecting succeeding packages is severed. The system has a variety of components which are adjustable to efficiently accommodate a variety of product dimensions. The spacings of the various components are represented one calibrated scales for efficient and accurate set up and operation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignees: Lantech Management Corp., Lantech HOlding Corp.
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Limousin
  • Patent number: 7131252
    Abstract: An automatic packaging apparatus has an arraying and supplying station, a sorting station and a packaging station. The arraying and supplying station forcibly arrays and supplies encased products to orient their caps in one direction. The sorting station selectively sorts the arrayed encased products to a first feed path for feeding the encased products to package the encased products in a abreast-arrayed attitude and a second feed path for feeding the encased products to package the encased products in a tandem-arrayed attitude. The packaging station automatically packages the encased products by a shrink sheet in the abreast-arrayed attitude or the tandem-arrayed attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Otsuka, Sakae Kagawa, Rie Aoki
  • Patent number: 7121067
    Abstract: A packaging machine moves its heater unit for longitudinal sealing of a tubularly formed film between a sealing position at which the heater unit contacts the film and a retracted position at which it is separated from the film. In addition to the mechanism for this motion, an air cylinder is provided for controlling the compressive force with which the heater unit at its sealing position compresses the film. A pressure controlling system regulates the air pressure supplied to the air cylinder. If the mechanism for moving the heater unit also employs another air cylinder, a higher pressure for moving the heater unit and a lower pressure for controlling its compressive force may be generated from a single air source and supplied to the two air cylinders by a switching mechanism. A single air cylinder with two air chambers may be used for the both functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Fukuda, Michihiro Kubo
  • Patent number: 7114307
    Abstract: A filling and packaging machine capable of supplementing the shortage of heat quality without lowering package speed when a film is heat-sealed while being pressurized by a vertical sealing mechanism, comprising a film folding mechanism having an inner surface guide member for guiding the film laterally, formed on the inner surface side of the film folded up into two parts, a pair of right and left pre-heating block members having tilted support surfaces or are support surfaces formed along the width-direction of the film on the outer surface side of the film through a specified interval from the inner surface guide member so that the interval on the upstream side of the film in feeding direction is larger than the interval on the downstream side, and heaters installed in the pre-heating block members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Inventors: Toshio Tada, Tohru Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 7104031
    Abstract: A packaging process line that compacts rolled products as they are packaged is disclosed. A firmness measuring device is used to measure the firmness of the rolls as the rolls, for instance, enter the process line. The roll firmness device is placed in communication with a controller, such as a microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to receive information from the roll firmness device and control one or more elements within the process line that apply a compressive force to the rolls. In particular, the controller is configured to adjust any packaging equipment that applies a compressive force to the rolls so that a substantially uniform amount of force is applied to the rolls throughout the system. In this manner, the system is capable of automatically making adjustments based upon any variation in the product. Misfeeds, miscounts and the like are minimized for improving process efficiency and minimizing process downtime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: James Leo Baggot, Michael Earl Daniels
  • Patent number: 7089711
    Abstract: A feeder for feeding products to be dispatched, such as, for instance, documents, periodicals, CDs, DVDs, and the like, to a conveyor of a packaging line, provided with transport pushers, the feeder being provided with a magazine for storing a stack of products, the dimensions of the magazine being settable through the setting of guides, wherein at least a number of the guides are in communication with a sensor, such that the position of the respective guide is known, while the control is arranged, on the basis of the signals coming from the sensors, to set at least one setting of a packaging line of which the feeder forms a part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Buhrs-Zaandam B.V.
    Inventors: Ronald Timmerman, Roberto Tuyn
  • Patent number: 7076936
    Abstract: An automatic high-speed wrapping system for wrapping packages in heat sealable thermoplastic film includes a film delivery unit wherein the film is dispensed and wrapped around the packages at a high rate of speed as the packages travel through the system. The packages travel continuously in a straight line through the system and are delivered at the input end of the system by a feed conveyor into a wrapping station where the packages are surrounded by the film, thence to the side sealing mechanism which forms a seal while severing the salvage from the packages, then into an end sealing mechanism where both ends of the packages are sealed and the film web connecting succeeding packages is severed. The film is delivered to the wrapping station in two plies and subsequently inverted for wrapping around the products. The positions of the wrapping station and film delivery units are adjustable to efficiently accommodate a variety of product heights while providing proper film delivery geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Lantech Management Corp. and Lantech Holding Corp.
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Limousin
  • Patent number: 7065939
    Abstract: A method of individually wrapping digital tampons having a withdrawal string attached thereto is disclosed. The method includes a multiplicity of transporting devices for transporting digital tampons in a machine direction and for holding withdrawal strings attached to the tampons such that the withdrawal strings do not interfere with the subsequent wrapping operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Matthew Howard Wasson, Holger Wendt, Francis Michael Nicholas
  • Patent number: 7059103
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sealing apparatus wherein, as a drum (5) and a rotary base (6) are rotated together, a follower (10a) of a rocking support member (9) rockably provided on the outer periphery of the rotary base (6) is guided along a cam groove (15c) of a cam member (15) to drive the rocking support member (9) to rock. When the rotary drum (5) reaches a predetermined rotational position, an anvil (14) supported by the rocking support member (9) is urged onto a horn (8), and then, when it reaches another rotational position, the anvil (14) is moved away from the horn (8). Since the anvil (14) is driven by the rocking motion of the rocking support member (9), entire operation becomes quite simple, and a continuous soft work can be certainly clamped between the horn (8) and the anvil (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Akihide Ninomiya, Hironori Nomura, Junji Shinohara, Hiroki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7032365
    Abstract: The wrapping of groups of products positioned according to a determined number of mutually superposed layers is achieved by feeding in succession groups of products firstly into a tubular case made to heat-sealable material and, then, to a first wrapping device when the number of layers is equal to one and to a second wrapping device when the number of layers is at least equal to two; the two wrapping devices being able to wrap each group inside a related wrapping sheet, which is folded substantially in contact with the related group, and which is stabilized by means of sealing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: KPL Packaging S.p.A.
    Inventor: Andrea Cinotti
  • Patent number: 7028451
    Abstract: In order to be able to remove in a vertical tubular bagging machine in a simple manner a worm-dosing means stored in a fill pipe, it is suggested that the fill pipe is formed out of two troughs aligned against one another with their insides, and that a trough is releasably connected to the other trough. One trough is in a preferred embodiment connected to the other trough via a swivel joint, and a fastening device is provided for locking the trough, which can be swung away, in a position supported by the other trough, so that the swingable trough can be swung away in order to remove the worm-dosing means laterally out of the opened fill pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Rovema Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Braun, Walter Baur
  • Patent number: 7021028
    Abstract: In a process for the production of portion packs of viscous to pasty filling material such as sausage meat, grease, putty or cement and the like in a tubular film (12) which is formed prior to introduction of the filling material (10) by welding or sealing of the longitudinal edges of a film strip (1) drawn off a supply and bent into a tubular form, and into which filling material portions are discontinuously introduced under pressure, whereupon the tubular film (12) is closed with braid formation, the tubular film (12) is drawn out of the welding or sealing station towards the filling station directly by the filling pressure and film strip (1) is subsequently drawn along from the supply into the welding or sealing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Poly-clip System GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jürgen Hanten
  • Patent number: 7017324
    Abstract: In a machine for obtaining strip packages a station feeds products to a packaging group, which places and seals each of the products in a relative welded pockets distributed along a continuous strip. In a working station, situated in cascade with the packaging group, a feeler group, a printing group, a working group, a drawing group, a cutting group cooperate to supply at the outlet a plurality of strip packages. The packaging group is arranged in a vertical configuration and the configuration of the working group is horizontal. Direction-changing means make the continuous strip pass from a vertical configuration to a horizontal one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Packservice S.R.L.
    Inventor: Antonio Battisti
  • Patent number: 6962033
    Abstract: An automatic high speed packaging machine for wrapping packages in polymer film is disclosed wherein the film seal at the sides and ends of the packages is made at a high rate of speed as the packages travel through the machine. The packages travel continuously in a straight line through the machine. The packages are delivered at the input end of the machine by an in-feed conveyor into a film inverting head where the packages are surrounded by longitudinally half-folded polymer film. Thereafter, the packages are transported to a side sealing mechanism which forms a longitudinal seal in the film on the side opposite the fold. Finally, the packages are transported to a traveling end seal mechanism where a lateral seal is formed at each end of the package and the film web connecting succeeding packages is severed. The machine produces packages which have a sealed film wrap around the entire package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Belco Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Foster Guzman
  • Patent number: 6938393
    Abstract: A packaging line and method for packaging separate products such as, for instance, magazines, CDs, DVDs and combinations thereof in a continuous manner, comprising: a product assembling path (2) which is provided with a conveyor and feeders arranged therealong; a packaging module provided with folding means for forming a packaging tube from a continuous packaging web, and a cross separating device for separating, in cross direction, separate packages filled with product from the packaging tube; a control for controlling the discharge of the products from the feeders, for controlling the transport speed of the conveyors and for controlling the speed of the cross separating device, the control being designed for processing information about the length of each product to be packaged and for setting in-process, per product, the horizontal, and optionally, the vertical, stroke length of the cross separating device such that packages with different lengths for products of different lengths can be manufactured in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Buhrs-Zaandam B.V.
    Inventors: Ronald Timmerman, Roberto Tuyn
  • Patent number: 6922972
    Abstract: Form-fill-seal machine includes parts for moving a web of packaging material through the machine according to a process path and parts for transforming the web into filled bags, as well as a zipper strip applicator device for supplying a zipper strip for each bag transverse to the process path, by use of a first and a second conveyor, which in the supply direction of the zipper strip are placed one behind the other and are both provided with parts for retaining the zipper strip during supply, a blade being placed between the first and the second conveyor for cutting the zipper strip and the first and the second conveyor being provided with their own first and second drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: CFS Weert B.V.
    Inventors: Joseph Johan Maria Van Rens, Peter Joseph Hendriks, Wilhelmus Catharina Gerardus Maria Tax, Peter Hubertus Daal
  • Patent number: 6915621
    Abstract: The invention is directed to method and apparatus for wrapping pads. A web of flexible wrapping material is adapted to be pulled in tension over a forming device. The forming device has first and second folding members having angled folding edges adapted for contact by respective opposite side margins of the web as the web is pulled past the folding edges. A web guide guides the web toward the folding edges. An opening between the web guide and the folding edges is adapted to be spanned by a central portion of the web as the web is pulled past the forming device. A series of pads are conveyed by a conveyor, one after another, and placed on the web as it is pulled past the forming device so that the pads move with the web over the opening and past the folding edges of the forming device. A surface applies a force to the pads to force the pads against the central portion of the web as the pads move across said opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Moshe Saraf, Stephen L. Nunn, Thomas P. Keenan, Scott D. Dobslaw, Dale J. Fischer, Daniel J. Heuer, James J. Hlaban, Michael K. Lewis, Richard W. Kubalek
  • Patent number: 6907716
    Abstract: A packaging machine has a wrapping device for forming a tubular wrapping from a continuous web of heat-seal material, and for feeding products successively into the tubular wrapping; each product being located between two free tubular portions of the tubular wrapping, which are folded substantially onto the relative products, and are stabilized by means of at least two pairs of sealing devices fed along relative paths with independent laws of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: KPL Packaging S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Cinotti, Giordano Gorrieri
  • Patent number: 6907715
    Abstract: A device for stretching a film in an automatic product packaging machine, in particular products (12) of any thickness and size, spaced from each other at a pre-set distance, which are fed by a first conveyor belt (14) to a second conveyor belt (19) combined with a wrapping film feeder (26, 28) and elements (34, 35) for sealing the film wrapped over the products (12), in which the device comprises elements (25) for stretching the film (26) at the inlet of the second conveyor belt (19) and an element (29-33) that engages the stretched film (26) on the second conveyor belt (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Sitma S.p.A.
    Inventors: Aris Ballestrazzi, Lamberto Tassi
  • Patent number: 6907711
    Abstract: A sheet package producing system includes at least a cutter module and a packaging module. The cutter module has a cutter blade, for producing X-ray films by cutting a continuous sheet material. The packaging module has packaging robots, for producing a sheet package by packaging the X-ray films stacked on one another. In the sheet package producing system, a first module control unit is incorporated in the cutter module, for controlling the cutter blade. A second module control unit is incorporated in the packaging module, for controlling the packaging robots. A CPU is connected with the first and second module control units removably by a component network, for controlling the cutter module and the packaging module in synchronism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Ishii, Hiroyuki Nishida, Takao Asakura, Hideyuki Uezono
  • Patent number: 6889487
    Abstract: An apparatus for vacuum packaging a continuous packaged body of the invention is so constructed that a seal bar and a seal table are mounted in the respective skirt parts of seal blocks opposite to each other with a tube film interposed between them, and in the case of nipping the tube film by both seal blocks plural intermittent teeth spot close the tube film on the inner sides of both skirt parts as one points in the transfer direction of a material to be packaged. Simultaneously, in ports of the face of a standing gap formed thin along the outsides of the above intermittent teeth, the tube film is flared by vacuum suction force, and from the section of the tube film cut by forcing a cutting edge in the seal bar into a receiving groove cut in the seal table, the air in the tube film is sucked through the spot closing gap and the receiving groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Ibaraki Seiki Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadoru Suga
  • Patent number: 6880314
    Abstract: A wrapping apparatus for wrapping a continuous elongated article, such as a continuous stack of interfolded paper towels, includes a web supply section that supplies a pair of continuous webs of wrapping material, and a wrapping section for applying the continuous pair of webs about the article. The web supply section includes a pair of web supply stations for each web of wrapping material, and a source of wrapping material, such as a supply roll, is located at each web supply station. The web supply section includes a splicing mechanism for each pair of web supply stations, for splicing together the trailing end of a web from an exhausted supply roll of wrapping material with the leading end of a web from a fresh supply roll of wrapping material, to provide a continuous web of wrapping material to the wrapping section. The web supply section includes a festoon-type web storage mechanism in which the web downstream of the splicing mechanism is trained about a series of rollers in a serpentine path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: FPNA Acquisition Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew L. Haasl
  • Patent number: 6868649
    Abstract: A zipper applicator operatively attachable to and usable with a horizontal form, fill, seal and separate packaging machine of the type used to make reclosable containers from a folded web of flexible material such as, for example, plastic film. The applicator is vertically adjustable with respect to the horizontal movement of web and zipper through the machine and includes a zipper eyelet for guiding the zipper into the applicator, a web guide that engages the fold of the web material, and an applicator guide for positioning the zipper with respect to the folded web so that the zipper can be attached thereto by the application of heat and pressure from a sealer mounted on the packaging machine. The vertical adjustability permits the applicator to be used for making bags of different sizes depending upon the width of the web material being run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Bodolay Packaging, a division of B&M
    Inventor: Mostafa Farid
  • Patent number: 6860083
    Abstract: A device and system for automatically continuously packaging products through a heat-sealed plastic film. The device and system insert and supply the product downstream in a timed way and along a horizontal direction. A plastic film is applied to the products. The first end of each one of the products is heat-sealed, and each one of the products is simultaneously advanced horizontally. A second end of each one of the products is heat-sealed, and each one of the products is then simultaneously advanced horizontally. The heat-sealed products are then collected and unloaded. The device may be equipped with pairs of pliers for sealing and handling with a mutually opposite reciprocating movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Minipack-Torre S.p.A.
    Inventor: Francesco Torre
  • Patent number: 6860086
    Abstract: A method and packaging apparatus for packaging products starting from a continuous packaging web which moves uninterruptedly and wherein the web is formed into a package tube and, by the application of cross seals, is divided in separate packaged products. Prior to its folding, the film web is then stretched for obtaining, after application of the cross seals, a shrinkback effect. Due to this shrinkback effect, a tight-fitting package is obtained. The invention particularly relates to the manner in which the stretching of the film web is controlled, so that a good reproducible shrinking effect is obtained without the film web being subjected to undesired loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Buhrs-Zaandam B.V.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Johannes Rosloot, Roberto Tuyn
  • Patent number: 6845602
    Abstract: A shaping shoulder has a shoulder part and a prism part, joined at a shaping edge, for producing a web, shaped longitudinally in the web transport direction and having an open or closed cross-section and at least one area inside the web in which the cross-section is curved outwardly. The shoulder part has a web inlet and extends from the web inlet to the shaping edge. The prism part has an exit for the shaped web and extends from the shaping edge to the exit. The shaping edge is slanted relative to a cross-sectional prism plane. The prism cross-section is curved partially inwardly and outwardly not only in the vicinity of a web edge. The curvature of areas of the shaping edge belonging to outwardly curved areas of the prism part extend counter to the exit and the corresponding shoulder part areas are curved away from the exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: GVL Gesellschaft für Verpackungs-technik und -logistik mbH
    Inventor: Henry Drut
  • Patent number: 6829873
    Abstract: Horizontal 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Panagiotis Kinigakis, Orestes Rivero, Kenneth Pokusa
  • Patent number: 6829876
    Abstract: A process for splicing cut ends of a continuous strip of packets or bags used to hold bulk material. The steps of the process include forming a continuous strip of packets from packaging material and filling the packets with bulk material. The edges of the packaging material are sealed to form individual packets of the continuous strip such that adjacent packets share a common sealed area of packaging material. Openings are then formed in the common sealed areas between the adjacent packets. The continuous strip is then cut entirely across the common sealed area of the packets at two separate locations on the continuous strip to form cut ends such that each of the cut ends of the continuous strip contains an opening in the common sealed area. Without using splicing tape, the two cut ends of the continuous strip with openings are spliced together such that the openings in the two cut ends overlap. The splicing process can be accomplished by ultrasonic welding, impulse splicing or other processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventors: Robert W. Young, Tateshi Kimura, Stefan O. Dick
  • Patent number: 6823647
    Abstract: Horizontal 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 a turntable-mounted point of fill. With rotation of the turntable, final sealing operations are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Panagiotis Kinigakis, Kenneth Pokusa, Orestes Rivero
  • Publication number: 20040231293
    Abstract: Methods of making slide-zippered reclosable packages are provided. In one embodiment, a pair of opposing film extensions are provided on each package between which a zipper and slider are attached. In another embodiment, sliders are inserted on to zippered packages output from a form-fill-seal machine or the like. In yet another embodiment, during package formation a reclosable zipper is sealed to each package and then a slider is inserted on to the zipper. In yet another embodiment, during package formation a reclosable zipper is sealed to each package and a slider is inserted on to each zipper, either before or after zipper sealing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Michael J. McMahon, Art Malin, Steve Ausnit, Donald L. Crevier, Joel Johnson, David J. Matthews
  • Publication number: 20040231299
    Abstract: A flavoring system has a portioning device such as a weigher for receiving unflavored food items and sequentially supplying batches of a specified quantity of them, dispenses measured quantities of a flavoring material with a dispenser, applies these measured quantities of flavoring material to the supplied batches and packages the flavored batches of items in a bag. A sensor monitors the discharge of the flavoring material and a sorting device discards packaged products if the sensor detects an abnormality in the discharge of the flavoring material. A plurality of dispensers may be provided for dispensing measured quantities of different flavoring materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Yakushigawa, Adrian Meredith Sunter
  • Publication number: 20040226263
    Abstract: A machine (100) that makes filter bags (1) containing a product for infusion in a liquid, comprises the following, arranged in succession: a unit (53) for preparing and feeding the materials used to make the filter bags; and at least: an assembly (54) for metering the infusion product; a forming unit (55); a dividing unit (56) and a unit (57) for cutting the filter bags (1). In the preparing and feeding unit (53) three separate filter bag materials, consisting of a web (17) of filter paper, a continuous thread (31), and a row of tags (6) are gradually brought together, while moving continuously, and first loops (10) are made in the thread (31) and gathered between the tags (6). The filter bags (1) are subsequently formed in the metering assembly (54), in the dividing unit (56) and in the cutting unit (57), which also operate with continuous motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: TECNOMECCANICA S.r.L.
    Inventor: Andrea Romagnoli
  • Publication number: 20040226267
    Abstract: A sealed wrapping for foodstuffs such as chocolates, sweets, pralines and the like. The wrapping comprises a single sheet of wrapping material forming a bent part for receiving the product. The wrapping is sealed by means of a single welding line which extends according to a path having the ends located on the bent part and which surrounds the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: SOREMARTEC, S.A.
    Inventor: Sergio Mansuino
  • Publication number: 20040226269
    Abstract: A packaging machine has a wrapping device for forming a tubular wrapping from a continuous web of heat-seal material, and for feeding products successively into the tubular wrapping; each product being located between two free tubular portions of the tubular wrapping, which are folded substantially onto the relative products, and are stabilized by means of at least two pairs of sealing devices fed along relative paths with independent laws of motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: KPL Packaging S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Cinotti, Giordano Gorrieri
  • Patent number: 6817163
    Abstract: An automatic high-speed wrapping system for wrapping packages in heat sealable thermoplastic film includes a film delivery unit wherein the film is dispensed and wrapped around the packages at a high rate of speed as the packages travel through the system. The packages travel continuously in a straight line through the system and are delivered at the input end of the system by a feed conveyor into a wrapping station where the packages are surrounded by the film, thence to the side sealing mechanism which forms a seal while severing the salvage from the packages, then into an end sealing mechanism where both ends of the packages are sealed and the film web connecting succeeding packages is severed. The film is delivered to the wrapping station in two plies and subsequently inverted for wrapping around the products. The positions of the wrapping station and film delivery units are adjustable to efficiently accommodate a variety of product heights while providing proper film delivery geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignees: Lantech Management Corp., Lantech Holding Corp.
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Limousin
  • Patent number: 6810642
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Cortigiano, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6810641
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously forming and filling slider operated reclosable plastic bags two at a time. A base film of plastic bag making material is horizontally advanced in a longitudinal direction and product is loaded onto the base film in two lines. First and second continuous slider operated zippers are then applied onto the base film between the lines of product and a cover film is placed over the base film covering the lines of product and the zippers. The composite is sealed to the base film along longitudinally extending lines disposed on sides of the product opposite to the two zippers and between the zippers. The base film is then sealed to the cover film along transverse seal sections on opposite sides of each row of product and the thus formed filled packages are separated by longitudinally cutting through the base film between the zippers and cutting through the transverse seal sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Ausnit