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

Abstract: A packaging machine for forming a web of packaging material into a vertical tube, filling contents into the tube, dividing the tube into lengths each corresponding to one container and forming each length into a baglike container. The machine comprises a filling device for filling a liquid into the tube to a specified level with the lower end of the tube closed, and a cleaning device for cleaning a required portion of the filling device. The filling device has a vertical filling pipe to be covered with the tube. The cleaning device has a vertical tubular jacket having a top wall and covering the upper portion of the filling pipe, a bottomed tubular cleaner removably connectable to the jacket for covering the lower portion of the filling pipe, and a cleaning liquid collecting duct removably connectable to the jacket. A cleaning liquid is supplied to the filling pipe with the duct connected to the jacket to clean the pipe and is thereafter collected through the duct.

Abstract: A zipper guide tracking device and method whereby zipper profiles on package making film running over a forming shoulder about a forming and filling tube of a form, fill and seal machine are tracked in grooved tracking structure which may comprise either or both of a grooved tracking roller and a grooved tracking bar.

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

Abstract: A vessel manufacturing system is disclosed which manufactures vessels having a rectangular configuration from a tubular body which is filled with a content. The system includes a transverse sealing unit which applies transverse seals to the tubular body at a given spacing, a cutter for cutting through the transverse seals in the succession of vessels which are formed by the transverse sealing unit, a diversion unit for handing the vessels separated by the cutter by changing the orientation of the vessel from one in which the pair of transverse seals are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of a rotatable member to another in which the pair of transverse seals are spaced apart in the radial direction thereof, and a vessel shaper receiving vessels from the diversion unit to shape them into a rectangular configuration and adhesively connecting the flaps to the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tubular bagging machine comprising at least two cross-welding jaws arranged on opposing sides of a foil tube to be welded and rotating along a self-contained cam track. In order to be able to precisely infuence the amount of air to be enclosed in a tubular bag the invention provides squeezing members such that each one squeezing member is provided in direction of movement in front of the cross-welding jaws, which squeezing memer contacts the tubular bag only over a portion of its width in order to squeeze in this manner the air in the tubular bag out of said bag. The tubular bagging machine of the invention can particularly be used for large tubular bags, in which a defined air cushion must be constructed to protect sensitive goods.

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

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

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

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

Abstract: A filling and packaging machine for continuous filling and packaging of containers made from a sheeting tube (51) is described. It consists of a frame in which an extended sheeting tube (51) of rectangular cross-section can be fed vertically downwards (52). A plurality of uniformly spaced guide elements (2) are provided which can be tracked longitudinally on opposite sides of the sheeting tube (51) at the same speed as it and which have a U-shaped part facing the sheeting tube (51) with a base which can be placed flush against one face of the sheeting tube and two lateral faces projecting at right angles and enclosing the sheeting tube (51). A plurality of uniformly spaced, convex (in the direction of the sheeting tube (51)) pressure elements (2) which are located between the guide elements (2) and are capable of travelling with them have a front face (54) directed towards the sheeting tube (51) and lateral faces (55) connected to this.

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

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

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

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

Abstract: A zipper guide and spreader device for form, fill and seal apparatus comprises a package material guiding and spreading mechanism wherein a pair of articulated members have zipper guideways. The members are hingedly connected together and one of the members is hingedly connected to a fixed support. An actuator operates the articulated members from a biased relaxed position into an articulated material-spreading position wherein the material is spread for eliminating wrinkles before edge sealing across the material below the discharge end of the forming and filling tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing bags in which a band of a packing material is shaped into a tube about a shaping mandrel and which comprises a reciprocating transverse sealing device for dividing the tube into separate bags, a rotatable conveying device frictionally engaging the tube in an area of the shaping mandrel for intermittently feeding the tube, and a drive for synchronously moving the rotatable conveying device and the transverse sealing device during feeding the tube by a bag length.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for forming, filling and sealing bag-type packages. For certain filling products it is advantageous to "strip" or flatten the bag-type package prior to sealing, i.e. to ensure that the bag is volumetrically displaced. As a result all bag-type packages are tightly filled despite varying specific weight of the filling product. This object of the invention is achieved by return conveyance or feed of the bag hose or tube and passage of the latter through a constrictive location. An advantage of the apparatus resides in the possibility of achieving high production speeds by virtue of small moved masses.

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

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the level of a liquid filling a packaging tube comprises a float for use as suspended in the liquid filling the tube, a magnet attached to the float, and a magnetic sensor for detecting from outside the tube variations in the intensity of magnetism due to the upward or downward movement of the magnet to produce an output signal. The level of the liquid in the tube is adjusted in accordance with the output signal of the sensor.

Abstract: A vertical form, fill, seal machine for continuously making filled three sided fin pouches is disclosed herein. Mechanisms for controlling the thermoplastsic web so that the seals are improved are disclosed. One of the mechanisms ensures that equal lengths of web are fed into the sealing jaws. The other mechanism that is carried by the jaws grasps and tensions the web immediately before and during the sealing of the web.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for continuous wrapping of objects in a product package having a reclosable zipper thereon, providing a continuous sheet of thermoplastic film with a reclosable rib and groove fastener profile extending therealong parallel to the formation axis of the film with the profiles interlocked to form a flattened closure, guidingly wrapping the sheet around the object, simultaneously guiding the interlocked fastener to an upright position relative to the object, and flattening the upright interlocked profiles against an outer surface of a wall of the object and thereafter cross-sealing the film at the ends of the object locking the flattened profile to the package end.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for forming, filling and sealing bags and depositing the filled bags in cartons, wherein the bags are formed, filled and sealed by a vertical form-fill-seal machine and each bag is compressed to shape it to fit in a carton.

Abstract: A guide system for improving the orientation of a web of film as it passes around a fill tube structure in a form, fill, seal packaging machine is provided. The guide system comprises at least two members removably coupled to the fill tube structure, and so constructed and arranged that they increase the cross-sectional perimeter of the fill tube structure when they are secured thereto. The members cooperating with the fill tube structure to stretch the web of film as it passes around the fill tube structure. An improved apparatus for attaching fitments to a web of film and method is also provided.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for providing uniform fin-type back seals with flexible packaging material for use in conjunction with form-fill-and-seal machines is disclosed which utilizes a moveable tucker plate disposed between the mated edges of the flexible packaging material and the body of the packaging material. When sealing, the tucker plate moves against the body of the packaging material and prevents lateral movement of such material during the sealing operation. The tucker plate is joined to a sealing platen in a manner which maintains a fixed distance between the tucker plate and the sealing platen until a threshold sealing pressure is exceeded.

Abstract: A film drive unit 10 for a packaging machine to move sheet material 16 through the unit 10, the film drive unit 10 includes at least one rotatably driven roller 18 which is hollow and to which a vacuum is delivered to the interior thereof, with the roller 18 having an outer cylindrical member 30 with radially extending passages 39 to which the vacuum is applied to draw the sheet material 16 into contact with the cylindrical outer surface of the roller 18.

Abstract: A new method of making a form fill bag having a reclosable fastener thereon and a mechanism therefor wherein a continuous length of film is advanced and joined first and second fastener profile strips are laid laterally onto the film of a length substantially equal to one-half of the film width, the film is advanced and formed into a tube with the side edges folded together and seamed, the first profile strip is attached to the surface of the film prior to forming it into the tube and the second opposed interlocked profile strip is attached to the inner surface of the film after it is formed into a tube, and a cross-seam is formed in the tube above the closure strip to form the bottom of the succeeding bag and a completed bag is cut from the film by cutting below the bottom seam and above the fastener strips.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a tube and bag from a supply of thin thermoplastic film with the film being formed into tubular shape about a filling tube with the edges of the film brought together and joined solely by a zipper strip having reclosable pressure interlocking members thereon with the zipper strip preferably heat sealed to the film and the zipper strip having a web between the pressure interlocking members which provides a tamper-evident juncture between the edges of the film so that the web must be severed for access to the interior of a bag formed from the film, and individual bags formed from the continuous tube by filling the tube through the filling tube and cross-seaming and cutting individual bags from the continuous film tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously filling flexible bags or pouches with a perfusion liquid contained in a reservoir to which the perfusion liquid is fed from a source.The apparatus comprises regulating means including a sensor which sends a signal as a function of the level of the liquid in reservoir and is connected to a regulator that continuously regulates the feeding of the perfusion liquid to said reservoir, so as to maintain the level of the liquid in reservoir close to a pre-set level.

Abstract: A driving method and system for controlling the operating characteristics of a tubular-bag machine, in which a tubular bag is closed off at the bottom end so as to be fillable with packing material through a fill pipe. An intermittently moved thin foil tube is for this purpose guided vertically between transversely arranged, heated sealing jaws, the opening and closing of which being camcontrolled. The foil movement is adjusted to the opening and closing movement. The drive for effecting the foil movement and the drive for effecting the sealing, separating and welding device are driven by separate motors controlled independently from one another, and are adjusted to one another such that each angular-speed stage can be adjusted independently from the preceding or following stage to the demands of the work cycle at any time during the work cycle. The magnitude of the angular speed can be adjusted as well.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for forming, filling and sealing packages wherein a web of flexible packaging interval is formed into tubing around a mandrel and intermittently fed downwardly in package length increments by intermittently moving portions of continuously driven belts into engagement with the tubing for a predetermined interval.

Abstract: Improved clamp, seal, sever, and brick apparatus for use in form, fill, and seal machines that form a polyfoil tube filled with a product into a plurality of sealed packages, preferably aseptic packages. The improved apparatus incorporates a plurality of sealing heads mounted on a continuously advancing structure that transversely clamps, seals, and severs the endlessly advancing tube into packages, and compresses the packages to preform them into about their final rectangular configuration. Induction heating is used to seal the web. The sealing heads include a sealing jaw and an anvil jaw hinged together and adapted to clamp the tube therebetween at predetermined locations as the sealing heads and product filled tubing advance, the locations being adjustable and the sealing and anvil jaws being adjustable to control the volume of product clamped and sealed in each package.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming bags such as in a form, fill and seal machine wherein the bags are formed by drawing film downwardly over a filling tube and cross-sealing the bag tube and applying a lateral stretching force to the bag tube at the location of cross-sealing preventing wrinkles at the location of the seam formed by the cross-sealing with the stretching force applied at the extreme lateral edge of the film preferably by opposed cam surfaces at each of the bag edge which contact each other at a point just outside of the bag edges and progressively walk into the edge of the bag with the point of contact shifting in an outward direction while it progresses inwardly on the bag to apply a stretching force to the film of the bag for smoothing the entire width.

Abstract: A control system and method for an apparatus for sealing packages wherein a web of flexible packaging material having a series of registration marks is formed into tubing and fed past a sealing device for sealing the tubing to form packages. As the tubing is fed past the sealing device, a photoeye detects the registration marks. A CPU, responsive to the photoeye, compares the location of registration marks relative to a window. A counter, responsive to the CPU, sets a delay length of tubing to be fed past the sealing device in response to the relative location of the registration marks and the window. The feeding of the tubing is stopped after the counter has been decremented to zero and the delay length of tubing has passed the sealing device. An in registration delay length of tubing to be fed past the sealing device is set in response to detection by said photoeye of a registration mark within the window.

Abstract: A pouch and a method and apparatus for forming an easy open pouch in a vertical form-fill-seal process wherein a pouch is formed from a sheet of thermoplastic film and a heat seal between pouches as they are filled serves as the top closure for the lower pouch and a bottom closure for the upper pouch, the easy open feature being provided by a U-shaped portion having a plurality of seal ribs, and a tear initiation notch.

Abstract: A method for making parallelepiped or brick-shaped containers of greater mechanical strength and better appearance, avoiding any mismatching of the printed patterns due to displaced joints in the middle of the side of the container walls. A longitudinal seal is positioned at the corners rather than on the face of the side walls, thus leaving the side walls without joints or splices. A packaging material web taped coated with thermoplastic material and provided with folding lines is twisted when passing through two bending rollers and one slack-absorbing roller and is converted into a cylindrical shaped and then sealed at the overlapping side edges. The cylindrical container is then filled with a liquid through a filler pipe and sealed at predetermined intervals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for forming an article such as a tampon having a securely attached string. The method includes intermittently feeding filler members into one end of a hollow tube which is open at both ends. A sheet of heat sealable material is advanced towards the tube and folded so as to cylindrically wrap about the tube. The abutting edges of the material are fused together to form a cylindrical casing into which the filler members enter upon exiting the tube. Apertures are then transversely formed in the casing between the adjacent filler members and a string is inserted through the apertures. The casing is then heated and compressed against the string to form a permanent bond. After the bond is formed, the casing is severed to form individual articles which are sealed at both ends and have a string attached to one of the ends.

Abstract: A form, fill and seal pouch packaging machine has independent side and cross seals. A first prime mover driving a first output linkage moves the side seals. A second prime mover driving a second output linkage moves the cross seals. The first and second prime movers are independent of each other and as such the side seals can be operated independently of the cross seal. Because the cross seal is independent of the side seals, pouches of any desired length can be formed, filled and sealed on the pouch packaging machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing a folded web of film under tension comprising at least one pair of rollers, a first side of the folded web of film being fed between the pair of rollers, the pair of rollers being mounted out of parallel to the first side of the folded web of film and pulling the first side of the folded web of film in a first direction, and a member for preventing a second side of the folded web of film from moving in the first direction. Preferably, the member biases the second side of the folded web of film in a second direction opposite the first direction. A method for placing a folded web of film under tension is also provided.

Abstract: An improved tube spreader for flattening and removing wrinkles from a bag film web in a form, fill, and seal packaging machine is provided. The tube spreader includes a plurality of clamping fingers which grasp a first edge of the bag film and a spreader bar, located within the bag film, and adapted to exert a lateral force on the opposite edge of the film to eliminate and remove wrinkles prior to the film being sealed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for packaging particulate product in bags for deposit into cartons of predetermined cross section and height. Sheet material is formed about a filling tube. The sheet material is sealed and severed beneath the filling tube creating the top of one bag and the bottom of the next. Product is dropped through the filling tube into the formed sheet material which is vibrated. A sensor may be used to determine if product exceeds a predetermined height. After a predetermined amount of product has been dropped into the sheet material, the material is lowered, sealed and severd to form a filled bag.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming bags of predetermined length with a predetermined weight of product, the apparatus being provided with a vibrator for effecting vibration of a bag shaper and a sensor adjacent the bag shaper for determining when the product has subsided to a level less than the height of the bag so that jaws may be engaged to seal the top of the bag without being jammed by product.

Abstract: Improved form, fill, and seal machine for making aseptic sealed packages incorporating a plurality of sealing mechanisms mounted on a continuously advancing structure in a form, fill, and seal machine. Induction heating is used to longitudinally seal the edges of the web together to form a tube and to transversely seal the tube. A circuit means is used for controlling the electromagnetic energy source output to form longitudinal seals and transverse seals. The plurality of sealing mechanisms include a sealing jaw and an anvil jaw hinged together and adapted to pinch the tube therebetween at predetermined locations as the sealing mechanisms and web tubing advance. Each sealing jaw contains a transverse induction coil for transversely sealing the tube. Coupling and energization means select for forming a longitudinal seal segment or a transverse seal or both.

Abstract: Improved form, fill, and seal machine for making aseptic sealed packages incorporating a plurality of web guiding rollers and flanges for manipulating a continuously fed polyfoil web into a longitudinal tube having a triangular cross section and opposing superimposed web edges that are sealed together to form the longitudinal seal in the tube. Web advance may be continuous or intermittent. Induction heating is used to longitudinally seal the edges of the web together to form a tube.

Abstract: Improved clamp, seal, sever, and brick apparatus for use in form, fill, and seal machines that form a polyfoil tube filled with a product into a plurality of sealed packages, preferably aseptic packages. The improved apparatus incorporates a plurality of sealing heads mounted on a continuously advancing structure that transversely clamps, seals, and severs the endlessly advancing tube into packages, and compresses the packages to preform them into about their final rectangular configuration. Induction heating is used to seal the web. The sealing heads include a sealing jaw and an anvil jaw hinged together and adapted to clamp the tube therebetween at predetermined locations as the sealing heads and product filled tubing advance, the locations being adjustable and the sealing and anvil jaws being adjustable to control the volume of product clamped and sealed in each package.

Abstract: A weighing and packing device including a weighing section for successively weighing out quantities of product each having a predetermined weight and a packing section for successively packing the quantities of product delivered from the weighing section. The device further includes a metal detector for detecting a metallic substance included in each quantity of product and means for enabling removal of defective packages containing metallic substances from the normal conveying line.

Abstract: In packing machines of the type which manufacture packing containers from flexible, tubular material, the contents are fed via a filling pipe opens into the tube. The level of contents in the tube is controlled by means of a float which is connected mechanically to a valve located at the mouth of the filling pipe. On filling of highly viscous types of contents, an arrangement for the control of the flow of contents is used instead, in accordance with the invention, which comprises a sealing device surrounding the filling pipe which on the one hand prevents the contents from penetrating upwards into the tube, and which on the other hand is used for controlling the feed of contents in that its vertical position is monitored by means of a monitoring device surrounding the tube and allowed to control a pump for the feed of contents via the filling pipe.

Abstract: In continuous packaging of comestibles in individual packages of thermo plastic sheet material, elongate, reciprocating crimper bars or dies simultaneously sever the packages and inpart end crimp seals to the packages but unfortunately featuring a high rate of rejects overcome by a special contour in the surface of one of the said crimper dies, according to present discovery.

Abstract: A packaging machine for creating from a web of flexible film a bag for housing a product comprising an apparatus for feeding a web of film through the packaging machine, a sealing station for heating the web of film to create seals in the web of film, the sealing station including a pair of jaws located diametric each other, at least one of the jaws having coupled thereto a member for heating the web of film, and the second jaw having coupled thereto a back-up bar, the jaws being coupled to a member for urging the jaws towards each other. The packaging machine includes boots for segregating a sterile area of the packaging machine through which the web of film is fed, from nonsterile areas, the boots including a plurality of flexible, pleated rubber members that segregate nonsterile internal areas of the sealing station from the sterile area.

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