Longitudinal Tube Formed From Single Web Patents (Class 53/550)
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Patent number: 4709537Abstract: Longitudinal welding equipment in a machine for packaging products fed on a conveyor belt inside a continuous film of plastic material wrapped around the products with overlapping longitudinal side edges. The equipment comprises a longitudinal welding means positioned above the edges of the means for generating an oscillatory rotary-translational motion on a vertical plane. Furthermore, the equipment provides at least one pressure and accompanying belt a top of the products wrapped inside the film. The welding means and the pressure belt are operatively driven by the same central motor means which actuates said conveyor belt. The welding means is equipped with a means for temperature control operatively connected to the packaging speed.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1986Date of Patent: December 1, 1987Assignee: Sitma- Societa Italiana Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.Inventors: Aris Ballestrazzi, Lamberto Tassi
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Patent number: 4709447Abstract: The encased product of the present invention comprises an elongated flexible casing cylindrically shaped substantially along its length and having opposite end closures. A product material fills the cavity formed by the flexible casing and maintains the casing in a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical casing is formed from an elongated strip of flexible material having opposite side edges, the strip being formed into a plurality of helical revolutions with the side edges of the strip within each one of the helical revolutions frictionally overlapping and engaging the side edges within adjacent helical revolutions of the strip.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1986Date of Patent: December 1, 1987Assignee: Townsend Engineering CompanyInventors: Ray T. Townsend, David W. Smith, Robert M. Dykes
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Patent number: 4704842Abstract: A system for handling zipper-equipped wrapper sheet material to be used in a form, fill, and seal machine for wrapping product enables the wrapper sheet to be drawn from a supply with a flap sheet portion overlying a panel sheet portion and subsequently disposing the flap sheet portion such that it is folded back away from the panel sheet portion to fully open up the wrapper sheet material. The folding over of the flap sheet portion brought about by apparatus which permits continuously flow of wrapper sheet to the form, fill, and seal machine at conventional machine high speed production rates. The system is made adjustable to handle zipper-equipped wrapper sheet material of various sizes. Devices are included to ensure proper tensioning of the line of wrapper sheet material passing to the form, fill, and seal machine.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1985Date of Patent: November 10, 1987Assignee: Minigrip, Inc.Inventors: Hugo Boeckmann, Donald L. Van Erden
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Patent number: 4704843Abstract: Conventional horizontal form-fill-seal equipment for packaging articles such as cheese can be improved by the use of shrink barrier films. In conjunction with the use of such films, the improvement includes means for supporting the film prior to longitudinally sealing to form a tube, and means for heating sealing elements of transverse impulse type sealing dies for a limited duration, to effect sealing of the tube formed from the film.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1986Date of Patent: November 10, 1987Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co., Cryovac Div.Inventors: Dave L. Owen, David K. Domnitz
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Patent number: 4696147Abstract: A film tubing device for use in a packaging apparatus comprising a former arranged in a transfer path of a continuous length of a heat-meltable film, the former including an inner former member on which the film is wrapped with its longitudinal side edges overlapping each other, the former further including an outer former member having a longitudinal outlet through which the overlapping side edges of the film project out, a pair of longitudinal sealers disposed adjacent to the longitudinal outlet as slightly spaced from the outer former member for nipping the overlapping side edges of the film, the sealers being heated for heat-sealing the overlapping side edges of the film, a thin air guide plate arranged between the outer former member and each sealer to define a clearance between the guide plate and the outer former member, and an air supplying nozzle for feeding cooling air into the clearance.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1986Date of Patent: September 29, 1987Assignee: Tokiwa Kogyo Co., Ltd.Inventor: Chuji Noh
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Patent number: 4679379Abstract: A fully automatic bundling machine forms a bundle of stacked compressed rows of rolled tissue product and wraps the bundle with thermoweldable material which is taken from a single roll. For larger rolled products such as household paper towels, the individual product rolls are not upended at any point during bundling, but always remain horizontal. The single roll of thermoweldable material is bundled around a selected number of stacked rows of product after compression thereof, so as to form a tunnel which is open at one end. The compressed product rolls are inserted into the tunnel and the wrapped bundle is advanced to a welding and cutting station which simultaneously closes the open end of the bundle and cuts the thermoweldable material along the weld line such that the wrapped bundle is completely sealed and one end of the thermoweldable wrapping for the next bundle is closed.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1983Date of Patent: July 14, 1987Assignee: Cassoli s.r.l. Macchine Automatiche ConfezionatriciInventor: Paolo Cassoli
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Patent number: 4671047Abstract: A forming shoulder for an HFFS machine comprises a pair of side wires 3a and 3b each comprising an upper limb 11 joined to a lower limb 14 at an elbow 12 and each supported near a respective end of a support bar 16. The width of the tube, defined by side walls where the tube passes inwardly of the two lower limbs 14 and by a floor (defined by the marginal portions of the film 10) and a ceiling (defined by the central portion 10a of the film spanning the gap between the two elbows 12), is adjustable by re-positioning of the side wires 3a and 3b on the support bar 16 and the height of the tube is adjustable by replacement of one pair of side wires by a different pair having an alternative geometry.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1985Date of Patent: June 9, 1987Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co., Cryovac Div.Inventor: Giorgio Mugnai
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Patent number: 4670279Abstract: Methods and devices for wrapping essentially flat products of the luxury-comestibles or foodstuffs industry, especially squares or bars of chocolate, in packaging foil or film. The object is tubular packaging, especially the inner wrapping of squares or bars of chocolate at high machine output without especially stressing the particular packaging foil while maintaining a low level of packaging-material consumption. This is attained in that the webs of foil are transported by means of an intermittently direct connection between foil web and pushers.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1984Date of Patent: June 2, 1987Assignee: Otto Hansel GmbHInventor: Hans Lesch
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Patent number: 4663915Abstract: A method of and apparatus for packaging a blocky product such as cheese, into a wrapped envelope package, with material especially adapted for said packaging and wherein a bottom face of the product article is engaged on a panel area of the wrapper sheet which sheet has extended portions that are wrapped about the article and sealed across a top face of the article, with one of the portions of the wrapper sheet having a reclosable zipper and a web portion alongside said zipper which is adapted to be severed or ruptured to provide a mouth opening for access to the article within the package and the mouth opening being reclosable by the enclosed zipper. The zipper may be provided with structure to prevent its being pulled open during the wrapping and sealing of the wrapper about the article. The web portion may have guidance for severing or rupturing the same when access is desired into the package.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1986Date of Patent: May 12, 1987Assignee: Signode CorporationInventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Steven Ausnit
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Patent number: 4660356Abstract: A device for the step feeding of web material for making bags, in automatic bag-filling machines. The device comprises two opposing feeding members which are made to rotate continuously and are supported by slides running along horizontal guides, in order to move alternatively from an advanced position in which they frictionally feed and move forward a sufficient length of web material to form a bag, to a retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1985Date of Patent: April 28, 1987Assignee: Simionato S.r.l. Macchine ConfezionatriciInventor: Paolo Simionato
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Patent number: 4658569Abstract: A packaging apparatus for packaging articles in a weldable and heat-contractive plastic film, comprising: a sealing device for welding and heat-cutting the plastic film to provide a package sealed at the opposite ends, a forming device disposed before the sealing device and having a pair of deflecting members for spreading the plastic film a transfer belt conveyor extended through the forming device to convey an article through the forming device to the front end of the opening of the spreaded plastic film, and a driving roller and a pressure roller disposed between the front end of the transfer belt conveyor and the sealing device so as to nip the plastic film therebetween to advance the plastic film through the sealing device. The side edges of the plastic film is pulled out by a necessary length for every sealing cycle of the sealing device.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 1986Date of Patent: April 21, 1987Assignee: Hanagata Press Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Toshiyuki Hanagata
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Patent number: 4642969Abstract: Blocks of cheese are entubed in relatively thin plastic film wrapping material that is heat shrinkable and sealable. According to the method and apparatus, the entubed blocks of cheese are heated to tightly shrink the wrap onto the blocks of cheese to drive air out from between the cheese and the film wrap to provide for good shelf-life and to maintain flavor and other qualities of the product.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1985Date of Patent: February 17, 1987Inventor: Charles H. Johnson
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Patent number: 4640082Abstract: The apparatus of each embodiment includes a suction housing having a perforated duct therein. Fibrous material supplied to the inlet of the duct is compacted by air being evacuated through the perforated sidewall of the duct. The continuous compacting of fibrous material aids in moving the already compacted material out the outlet of the duct.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1985Date of Patent: February 3, 1987Assignee: Owens-Corning Fiberglas CorporationInventor: Gurdev S. Gill
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Patent number: 4625495Abstract: A method of individually wrapping items with a heat-sealable thermoplastic film overwrap including the use of heated streams of gas to form gussets at the end seals of the package and uniformly heat-sealing all layers of film at both ends of the packaged item. A system for carrying out this process is also described.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 1985Date of Patent: December 2, 1986Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventor: John M. Holovach
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Patent number: 4624100Abstract: A device for continuously feeding (synchronizing) essentially flat articles of the luxury-food or food industry, especially bars or strips of chocolate, to a packaging machine, in which carriers in a transport assembly introduce the articles into a tube of wrapping material and shape them into individual packages with it, characterized in that an infeed (25) for the articles (1) that operates transversely with respect to and is synchronized with a transport mechanism (3a) that operates at a constant speed and is equipped with carriers (3) is positioned upstream of the transport mechanism and in that buffers (30) for the articles arriving on the infeed are positioned between the carriers and controlled in such a way that the articles will enter the tube (5) of wrapping material in sequence and in a direction derived from the infeed and transport directions.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1985Date of Patent: November 25, 1986Assignee: Otto Hansel GmbHInventor: Hans Lesch
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Patent number: 4608797Abstract: A machine for continuously packaging/bagging articles within a thermoplastic film, includes a microprocessor cued by magnetic encoder wheels for coordinating intermittent advancement of a film web by a continuous side sealing mechanism with operation of a bar sealing mechanism across the film web. The machine is tiltable between horizontal and vertical positions on a pivoting base for allowing gravity infeed of the articles being packaged/bagged.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1985Date of Patent: September 2, 1986Assignee: Lyle F. Shabram, Jr.Inventors: Lyle F. Shabram, Jr., Jeff Shabram, Paul Shabram, Kevin Shabram
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Patent number: 4608113Abstract: The present invention is an improved waterproof quick match and apparatus and method of making same in which the loose fitting central core (fuse) covering is made of a plastic coated paper and heat sealed at the seams in a waterproof relationship.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1981Date of Patent: August 26, 1986Inventor: Thomas E. Miller
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Patent number: 4607479Abstract: An apparatus for packaging snuff ready for use in the form of portions enclosed, for example, in a paper sachet (3,9) from a snuff store. The apparatus is characterizing in that the portioning means (3,9) is arranged to compress the snuff portion in a portion pocket (9), wherewith each portion pocket comprises a through-passing opening in a portion conveyor (4). The compressed snuff portions are blown by pneumatic means (11,14) to an intended position in a packaging band (16).Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1984Date of Patent: August 26, 1986Assignee: Svenska Tobaks ABInventor: Gunther Linden
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Patent number: 4601159Abstract: A machine for packaging articles in continuous tubular material, which may be formed by rolling the marginal edges of a flat web around a succession of the product articles to bring the marginal edges into contact and then sealing them continuously to complete the tube, comprises a pair of transverse sealing jaws 14 and 15 which each include a hemi-cylindrical chamber 24 having gas-pervious walls 16 and defining a cylindrical space 25 initially centrally divided by the film between two successive product articles 1.The film extending diametrically across the space 25 is first of all severed and then suction is applied to the gas-pervious walls 16 to draw the film into contact with the walls 16. To the righthand side of the space 25 is a double impulse sealing system 18, 19 centrally divided by a knife 21 which separates a righthand pack 28 from the film in the space 25, and to the lefthand side of that space 25 is a further double impulse sealing system 18, 20, again with a knife 22 to effect separation.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 1985Date of Patent: July 22, 1986Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co., Cryovac Div.Inventor: Giorgio Mugnai
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Patent number: 4592193Abstract: Apparatus for providing resiliently compressible articles, which by being compressed have been lended a considerably reduced volume, with a casing formed of heat sealable pliable sheet material preventing the articles from regaining their original volume. The articles are first precompressed to a volume which is smaller than said reduced volume. The precompressed articles are thereafter introduced into a tube which is formed of a lengthy web of pliable sheet material by heat sealing overlapping longitudinal margin portions of the web so as to unite them. The articles introduced into the tube are prevented from expanding to said reduced volume, in which they fill out the tube, until the heat sealing seam of the tube has attained sufficient strength. The tube can be closed between the introduced articles by transverse heat sealing seams.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 1983Date of Patent: June 3, 1986Inventor: Olov E. Gustavsson
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Patent number: 4590747Abstract: Cam driven apparatus for positioning a folded film relative to a film spreading and clamping assembly and which holds an open end of the film, while the film is sealed to form a bag. A cam driven pedestal, in turn, aligns the thus prepared bag with a filling assembly where the bag is grasped and rammed full of produce or the like, before being sealed.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1984Date of Patent: May 27, 1986Assignee: Robert AlamedaInventor: Gilmore T. Schjeldahl
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Patent number: 4589247Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for transversely stretching a film tube at a portion to be transversely sealed and preventing creases from occurring in the transversely sealed portion of the film tube when a product fed in the film tube is separated by a squeeze roll means into a specified amount for one pack and thereafter the film tube is transversely sealed. Butterfly arms which pivotally spread apart in a fan-like manner are used for the stretching means.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1984Date of Patent: May 20, 1986Assignee: Orihiro Co., Ltd.Inventors: Orihiro Tsuruta, Yasuo Oki, Yasugi Zinbo
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Patent number: 4587794Abstract: An apparatus for forming a single-fin wrapper sleeve about articles advanced through the apparatus, comprises a conveyor for advancing the articles in a conveying direction and in a plane of conveyance and a shaping body having a vertical longitudinal halving plane extending parallel to the conveying direction and perpendicularly to the plane of conveyance. The shaping body includes a first main forming surface including a planar surface portion and a second main forming surface joining the first main forming surface downstream as viewed in the conveying direction. The second main forming surface has a gradually closing tubular shape surrounding the conveyor and a longitudinal slot extending underneath the plane of conveyance parallel to the conveying direction and symmetrically with respect to the halving plane.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 1984Date of Patent: May 13, 1986Assignee: SIG Schweizerische Industrie-GesellschaftInventor: Georg Kopp
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Patent number: 4574566Abstract: A wrapping machine which includes a film former for shaping a continuous film of packaging material into a continuous tube, a film drive for drawing the continuous film of packaging material past the former and past a cutting and sealing station, a product infeed drive for feeding products to be packaged through the former into the continuous tube of packaging material so that the products are spaced apart from one another in the tube, and a motor-driven rotary cut/seal head at the cutting and sealing station for cutting and sealing the continuous tube of packaging material as each product moves through that station. The wrapping machine also includes independent closed-loop servo-control circuits for the film drive, the product infeed drive, and the cut/seal head drive, each of which is responsive to a desired velocity control signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1985Date of Patent: March 11, 1986Assignee: Doboy Packaging Machinery, Inc.Inventors: Fred W. Eaves, Timothy S. Matt, Wayne D. Sommer, James B. Wensink
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Patent number: 4563792Abstract: In the making of sausages wherein a continuous web of plastic sheet is supplied and formed into a tubular wrapper about a filling tube, the wrapper is filled with sausage meat, and the filled tubular wrapper is intermittently closed to form sausages, the improvement which comprises controlling the filling and closing steps in dependence upon the amount of unfilled formed tubular wrapper waiting to be filled. An apparatus therefor is provided, including a stop displaceable longitudinally along the filling tube against a spring, the stop actuating certain switches as it moves back and forth along the filling tube, the switches controlling the supply of plastic sheet, filling supply and closing of the sausages.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1983Date of Patent: January 14, 1986Inventor: Herbert Niedecker
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Patent number: 4553377Abstract: For producing transverse seams on tube bag machines, two conjointly, oppositely moving sealing tool jaws (15, 16) are provided, which are movable on a carriage (6) during the sealing process.For driving the sealing tool and selecting an appropriate stroke length, the frame (5) on which the carriage (6) rests is movable up and down by a pair of coupled cam-actuated levers (19). The axes of rotation (34) of two levers (19), and thus the distances travelled by their uncoupled, flapping ends, are adjustable along the lengths of the levers. This is accomplished by turning a spindle (3) bearing oppositely wound screw threads, which sets adjustment bodies (30) with sliding blocks (4) for the two-armed levers (19).Thus, packages of varying heights can be efficiently sealed, since the sealing mechanism always seals in the middle of the package height, regardless of stroke length selected.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1984Date of Patent: November 19, 1985Assignee: Eurobreva Engineering TrustInventor: Wolfgang Klinkel
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Patent number: 4552613Abstract: The apparatus for producing pouch packages in pairs has two tube shaping devices disposed beside one another and two crosswise closure devices. To prevent having to stop both tubular pouch shaping devices at the same time in the event of an interruption or malfunction, or when changing a roll of packaging material, the crosswise closure devices are disposed on separate carriers. The carriers which are movable up and down individually can be coupled with a reciprocating element, which is moved incrementally up and down by a drive mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1984Date of Patent: November 12, 1985Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Hugo Auer
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Patent number: 4549386Abstract: Microprocessor 60 controlled form-fill-seal apparatus has an infeed conveyor 13, web advance and longitudinal sealing unit 19 and transverse sealing jaws 20 and 21 each of which is driven by its own separate motor M1, M2 and M3 respectively. The microprocessor maintains the operation of the motors in synchronism. The movement of the jaws is modulated in accordance with a selected pattern (15) drawn from a library 73 of modulation patterns available to the microprocessor.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 1984Date of Patent: October 29, 1985Assignee: Baker Perkins Holdings PLCInventor: Peter G. Wilson
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Patent number: 4546597Abstract: Apparatus having a plurality of controlled overlapping chain drives, each chain drive containing a plurality of raised members for receiving collated stacks of mailing literature and conveying the literature over their successive paths in synchrony with a collating assembly to a film wrapping assembly coupled at the opposite end thereof. Independently hinged overlying hold-down assemblies prevent the collating material from curling or otherwise becoming disassembled before wrapping in a film wrapper or in a paper wrapper.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1983Date of Patent: October 15, 1985Assignee: Doboy Packaging Machinery, Inc.Inventor: Stanley D. Denker
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Patent number: 4546595Abstract: Articles to be packaged are introduced at a constant rate into a continuous length of heat sealable film which is being folded into approximately tubular shape while being fed at a speed selected in accordance with the size of the articles. The side edges of the folded film are heat sealed over the successive articles received therein at longitudinal spacings. A package conveyor receives the side sealed film, together with the articles contained therein, for transporting the same along a linear track between an upper sealer conveyor carrying a series of heater bar assemblies and a lower sealer conveyor carrying a series of anvil bar and cutter assemblies. The heater bar assemblies and the anvil bar and cutter assemblies coact to engage therebetween the side sealed film, at points intermediate the articles received therein, and to cut the film, at the entrance end of the package conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1984Date of Patent: October 15, 1985Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Furukawa Seisakusho, Furukawa Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaru Yasumune, Junsaku Yamada, Sumiaki Kurokawa
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Patent number: 4537016Abstract: A form fill seal type wrapping machine uses equal speed conveyors which are start/stop controlled to accept randomly fed packages and uniformly space them for wrapping and sealing in a roll fed wrapping material such as thermoplastic film. Different length packages can be wrapped without adjustment. One embodiment uses a traveling transverse seal mechanism so the machine can run continuously. Machine speed is enhanced by controlling dwell time for the transverse seal and time of travel for the transverse seal mechanism to be no longer than required to make the seal. A fast return mechanism for the transverse seal mechanism operates at a speed independent of machine speed.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1982Date of Patent: August 27, 1985Assignee: Shanklin CorporationInventors: Frank G. Shanklin, Francis X. King
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Patent number: 4525977Abstract: A horizontal wrapping machine which includes a former for shaping a continuous film of packaging material drawn past the former into a continuous tube, a film drive for drawing the continuous film of packaging material past the former and past a cutting and sealing station, a product infeed drive for feeding products to be packaged through the former into the continuous tube of packaging material so that the products are spaced apart from one another in the tube, and a pair of motor-driven cut-heads at the cutting and sealing station for cutting and sealing the continuous tube of packaging material as each product moves past the cutting and sealing station. The horizontal wrapping machine further includes independent closed loop servo control circuits for the film drive, product infeed drive, and cut-head drive, each of which are responsive to a desired velocity control signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1983Date of Patent: July 2, 1985Assignee: Doboy Packaging Machinery, Inc.Inventor: Timothy S. Matt
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Patent number: 4520615Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming a tube from a web of paper or film. A perforated endless belt has at least one vacuum box applied to the underside of one run. The web is fed onto the belt and held down by it. The leading portion of the web is folded rearwardly and the longitudinal edges of the web are folded inwardly to create a tube. The thus formed tube is continuously withdrawn rearwardly while product is inserted into the opening which is continuously being formed in the tube. The tube is longitudinally sealed and thereafter transversely sealed and transversely cut to form individual pouches.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1983Date of Patent: June 4, 1985Assignee: Doboy Packaging Machinery, Inc.Inventors: Peter B. Engler, Stanley D. Denker
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Patent number: 4519185Abstract: In order to realize a device for the deflection of a continuous film web folded in its axial midline in a packaging machine for wrapping a number of sequentially fed objects in which the two film web halves, making flat contact with each other, are fed in a vertical plane located parallel to the feed direction of the objects and are separated in a roof-like manner along a ridge edge extending parallel to the feed direction--and in order to obtain an adaptation to objects of different size vertical to the feed plane on the edges of a guide extending parallel to the feed direction, it is proposed that the guide comprise two guide rails parallel to the feed direction which are inserted opposite to the feed direction into the space between the two roof areas and the top layer and which by their free ends define the lower corners of the triangular area, and that the spacing of the guide rails as well as the vertical distance between the guide elements defining the ridge edge and the guide rails are adjustable.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 1982Date of Patent: May 28, 1985Assignee: Beck & Co., PackautomatenInventors: Roland Horn, Erhardt Glausch
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Patent number: 4517787Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and sealing bags in a continuous or intermittent manner where the bags can be filled during the forming operation. Specifically, there is disclosed an apparatus for supplying a sheet or film of bag material to a mechanism for forming the sheet into a tube having overlapping edges in a longitudinal direction. A series of plates are arranged in the forming apparatus for applying adhesive in spaced lines or strips on opposed surfaces of the overlapping edges. After the adhesive is applied in this manner the opposed surfaces of the overlapped edges are pressed together to seal the edges. The tube is sealed in a transverse direction at the bottom, filled in a conventional manner, sealed in a transverse direction at the top, and then cut to form the bag filled with food or other material, ready for distribution and sale.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 1982Date of Patent: May 21, 1985Assignee: Frito-Lay, Inc.Inventor: William D. Kreager
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Patent number: 4517786Abstract: Wrapping fragile or easily collapsible articles in foil, for example, aluminium foil by feeding the articles in succession along a track or slideway, forming a tube of foil about the articles, twisting the leading article and its surrounding foil about the main axis of the tube and severing the tube at the twist.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1982Date of Patent: May 21, 1985Assignee: Ranks Hovis McDougall p.l.c.Inventor: Jeffrey G. Barker
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Patent number: 4516385Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping objects in heat-sealable film which provides for continuous mechanical wrapping of objects and which is suitable for wrapping objects which have poorly-defined shape or which are non-uniform in size or shape is described. The apparatus of the invention comprises a frame; a conveyor assembly for advancing the film and the object and for bringing the film into a wrapping relationship with the object; a sealing assembly for bringing the sides of the film having the object contained therein into heat-sealable contact and for sealing the film to sealably enclose the object; an indexing carriage for advancing the sealing assembly at the same rate as the conveyor assembly; and means for sensing the object and activating the sealing assembly to seal the film.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1982Date of Patent: May 14, 1985Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of AgricultureInventors: Don H. Lenker, Dennis F. Nascimento
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Patent number: 4506488Abstract: A horizontal wrapping machine which includes a former for shaping a continuous film of packaging material drawn past the former into a continuous tube, a film drive for drawing the continuous film of packaging material past the former and past a cutting and sealing station, a product infeed drive for feeding products to be packaged through the former into the continuous tube of packaging material so that the products are spaced apart from one another in the tube, and a pair of motor-driven cut-heads at the cutting and sealing station for cutting and sealing the continuous tube of packaging material as each product moves past the cutting and sealing station. The horizontal wrapping machine further includes independent closed loop servo control circuits for the film drive, product infeed drive, and cut-head drive, each of which are responsive to a desired velocity control signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1983Date of Patent: March 26, 1985Assignee: Doboy Packaging Machinery, Inc.Inventors: Timothy S. Matt, James B. Wensink
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Patent number: 4494362Abstract: A travelling web made of packaging film is folded about collated sheets of material in response to a reversal in travel direction of the web about an arrangement of three guide edge segments. Two of the guide edge segments on either side of the intermediate guide edge segment form parts of two triangular folding guide members through which the web is folded into transversely overlapping portions overlying an intermediate portion reversed in travel direction by the intermediate guide segment.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1981Date of Patent: January 22, 1985Assignee: Metromail, Inc.Inventor: Keith C. Koch
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Patent number: 4490962Abstract: Apparatus for securing plastic film about a product including a curved forming plate, sealer means cooperating with the plate to form spaced discrete heat seals in overlapping portions of plastic sheet disposed about the plate and product, and transport means for reciprocatably moving the sealer means so that it remains in engagement with overlapped sheet portions and follows the path of movement thereof for a predetermined period of time.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1983Date of Patent: January 1, 1985Assignee: Crown Zellerbach CorporationInventors: Rudolf R. Weis, Rudolph W. Schutz
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Patent number: 4483125Abstract: The packaging machine of the present invention is of the type in which successive trays moving along a conveyor line are enclosed in a continuous tube of plastic film which is thereafter severed between the trays to provide end flaps which are first pulled downwardly by suction forces and then folded upwardly against the bottom of the respective ends of the trays to seal the contents therein. A nozzle system placed near the location where the severing takes place pulls the severed portions of the tube downwardly between each adjacent pair of trays. The nozzle system is controlled by a valve system which teminates the downward pull as the severed portions are being folded upwardly against the bottoms of their respective trays.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1981Date of Patent: November 20, 1984Inventor: Tadoru Suga
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Patent number: 4482341Abstract: For converting a web of wrapping material from a U-shaped cross section into a tubular shape, an edge guiding mechanism is used having two edge engaging means which may be performed as suction means. Each of the suction means is supported by a pair of guiding rods converging from a forming means and towards a longitudinal welding means. When the suction means are moved along the rods, the suction means are moved towards one another. The suction means provide an engagement with the outer surface of the edges of the web of material and ensure the movement of the edges towards one another and towards the longitudinal welding means so that a web even of a thin and flexible material is securely engaged with the longitudinal welding means.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1982Date of Patent: November 13, 1984Assignee: Brodrene Gram A/SInventor: Hans Gram
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Patent number: 4479283Abstract: Methods of and apparatus for stuffing foodstuff into a casing, more particularly a method and apparatus for stuffing foodstuffs such as sausage meat or hams which are to be cured by smoking into a casing of fibrous material suitable for the smoking of the foodstuff, in which the casing is formed from flat web stock, the web being fed forward from a supply roll and formed into a tubular casing, the casing being fed forward along a stuffing tube through which the foodstuff is forced into the casing.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 1982Date of Patent: October 30, 1984Assignee: H-Worth, Inc.Inventor: William C. Hollingsworth
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Patent number: 4478670Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for forming a tube from a flat web by overlapping the edge zones of the web with one another or with a flexible strip while maintaining distance between the adhering, overlapping surfaces in order to provide horizontally straight edges, and thus a circumferentially constant diameter.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1982Date of Patent: October 23, 1984Assignee: Hoechst AktiengesellschaftInventors: Klaus Heyse, Klaus Andrae
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Patent number: 4467589Abstract: A method for splicing the trailing end portion of an advancing web of packing material to the leading end portion of an initially stationary second web of the same packing material such that after splicing marks provided on each of the webs in an equally spaced relation continue as an uninterrupted regular row, in particular in a packing machine. The articles to be packed are advanced spaced apart as a continuous flow into a web of packing material folded to a tube and are carried and advanced along sealing stations by the advancing tube for producing a longitudinal sealing seam and transverse sealing seams in the packing material between the articles. The transverse seams are cut thereafter and the discrete packed articles are discharged on a coveyor, in which the first web runs over a roller and the leading end portion provided with an adhesive of the second web is placed over a second roller opposite to the first roller.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1981Date of Patent: August 28, 1984Assignee: Tevopharm-Schiedam B.V.Inventor: Johannes D. van Maanen
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Patent number: 4464883Abstract: A wrapping material of the horizontal form, fill and seal type has, positioned between a horizontal tube former which forms a web of wrapping material into a tube with a longitudinal bottom joint and an infeed conveyor which advances articles to be wrapped at regular intervals towards the tube former, a platform on which the articles are temporarily supported until pushed off it into the tube former by succeeding articles delivered by the infeed conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1981Date of Patent: August 14, 1984Assignee: Baker Perkins Holdings LimitedInventor: William Glover
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Patent number: 4439977Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for making a series of coil springs pocketed within individual pockets in an elongate fabric strip comprised of two overlying plies capable of being thermally welded together. The fabric strip is fed along a guide path during which compressed coil springs are inserted between the piles with the axes of the springs substantially normal to the planes of the plies, whereafter the fabric plies are thermally welded together longitudinally and transversly to form a series of connected pocketed springs. After thermal welding, the pocketed springs are passed through a turner assembly during which the coil springs are reoriented within the fabric pockets to positions wherein the axes of the springs are transverse to the fabric strip.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1981Date of Patent: April 3, 1984Assignee: Simmons U.S.A. CorporationInventor: Walter Stumpf
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Patent number: 4430844Abstract: A method of and apparatus for wrapping units to be wrapped, such as two rolls of paper, in which transverse lines of weakness are formed in a web of flexible sheet wrapping material at measured intervals along the length of the web corresponding to wrapper length as the web is continuously fed forward, the web is formed into a tube around the units with the lines of weakness extending girthwise of the tube and spaced lengthwise of the tube at the wrapper length intervals, the units are fed into the tube one after another spaced lengthwise in the tube at wrapper length intervals and located between the lines of weakness, the tube with the units therein is continuously fed forward at a predetermined speed, and the leading wrapper of the tube with a unit therein is pulled forward at higher speed to sever it from the tube at the line of weakness between it and the preceding wrapper.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1981Date of Patent: February 14, 1984Assignee: Hayssen Manufacturing CompanyInventor: Robert C. James
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Patent number: 4430845Abstract: A packing machine having a film former for converting a flat, unfolded web of thermoplastic film material into a relatively flat rectangular tube with one major surface of the flat tube having an inwardly turned edge and the other major surface of the flat tube overlapping the turned-in edge. In one embodiment, the former itself comprises a single piece of rigid sheet material which has a generally rectangular portion with an isosceles right triangle integrally formed thereon, the two legs of that triangle being aligned, respectively, with an end edge and an adjacent side edge of the rectangular piece. The sheet material is then folded over or otherwise formed such that the end edge and its extension, i.e., one leg of the isosceles triangle, are parallel to the adjacent side edge with the plane of the folded portion being generally parallel to the plane of the rectangular portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1980Date of Patent: February 14, 1984Assignee: Doboy Packaging Machinery Inc.Inventor: Hans A. Dohrendorf
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Patent number: 4429513Abstract: An apparatus for enclosing objects, for example, candies, with a sheet of packaging material has a tube forming and guiding apparatus. To tightly fit the tube to the objects, an elastic collar is arranged at the end of the tube forming and guiding apparatus in the shape of a funnel and under tension, so that the collar presses the tube against the objects and forces superfluous packaging material into an overlap of the packaging material edges.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1981Date of Patent: February 7, 1984Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Hans Beckers, Klaus Vollmer