Abstract: To easily position and bond together a preceding strip-like film and a succeeding strip-like film and with improved operational performance, pairs of front and rear clamp members (27, 32, 28, 33) are arranged on a running path 10 of a strip-like film (F). A preceding film (F1) clamped by these clamp members is cut by a cutter (49). The rear clamp only is then released, and a portion of the preceding film (F1) backward from a cut position (C) is removed. A succeeding film (F2) is moved forwardly until the succeeding film (F2) comes in contact with the front clamp member (32) whereby the succeeding film (F2) can be positioned with respect to the preceding film (F1). The succeeding film (F2) is clamped again by the rear clamp, electricity is conducted to a heater (45) under this state whereby overlapped portions of the two films (F1, F2) are bonded. Thereafter the two clamps are released and the running of the bonded film is restarted.

Abstract: Bags containing a particle, powder or granule product are packed inside a wrapper formed from an elongated laminar wrapping of thermo-bonding plastic. The wrapping is sealed along longitudinal seams to form a sleeve. The bags of product are advanced on a transporter and pressed to a compact and even shape. A first bag is placed on a temporary support and the wrapping formed into a sleeve about the bag. The first bag is allowed to fall into the sleeve. The sleeve and bag are caused to ascend at the same time, and the sleeve is closed with seams during its descent. The process is then repeated for successive bags until the sleeve contains a set number of bags. The sleeve is then closed into a welded wrapping about the bags.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for stripping the end seal area in a vertical form, fill and seal machine. First and second wiper members are secured to the sealing jaws and extend toward the film tube being formed, filled and sealed. The wiper members have engagement portions vertically staggered or offset from one another which engage opposite sides of the film tube for the purposes of stripping. The stripping apparatus and process can be used with intermittent machines which use film reversal for stripping, as well as continuous motion machines which always advance the film in the forward direction.

Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal machine, components and method is disclosed which makes reclosable bags having a safety seal exterior to a reclosable seal and also produces durable, substantially air-tight bags at high speed and provides for the production of different size bags and different amounts of product in the bags. The disclosed machine includes a drive and pinch roll pair for pulling plastic film off of a plastic film supply roll, a pair of film pull belts biased against the plastic film wrapped around the fill tube and driven to pull the plastic film down along the side of the fill tube, and a pair of drive rollers for pulling the zipper strip through the machine. The production of different size bags is facilitated by having the plastic film drive roll, endless film pull belts, and zipper strip drive rollers all driven by a common drive source which is operated in bag length increments.

Abstract: Featured is a web sealing device for controlling the sealing pressure so as to carry out a sufficient sealing while monitoring the sealing pressure directly acting on the web. Also featured is a packaging container producing equipment using the aforementioned sealing device and a packaging container producing method using the same. When sealing a part of web W by engaging hooks 16a, 16b, which directly give a sealing pressure to the web W in order to seal a part of both web N by heating and melting both side surfaces of a double web while pressing the same, the strain amount of the hooks 16a, 16b is measured by a strain gauge 23.

Abstract: A machine for making sealed liquid pouches with a free-floating straw inside the pouch is described. The machine comprises a vertical pouch former which forms a continuous plastic film tube from a film sheet with the plastic film tube disposed about a liquid dispensing spout. A straw convecting tube also extends to one side of the liquid dispensing spout inside the tube. A straw is released through the convecting tube at predetermined intervals in synchronism with a transverse sealer which forms a bottom and top edge seal of pouches as liquid is continuously dispensed through the liquid dispensing tube. The plastic film tube is maintained in a transversely expanded condition during the filling of the pouch and is advanced by an engagement mechanism between the sealing cycles.

Abstract: A packaging unit (1) for continuously producing aseptic sealed packages (2), containing a pourable food product, from a tube (14) of packaging material filled with the food product; the unit (1) has a first and second chain conveyor (10, 11) respectively having a number of jaws (12) and a number of counter-jaws (13), which interact with and grip the tube (14) to heat-seal cross sections of the tube; and the chain conveyors (10, 11) also have half shell elements (38) for controlling the volume of the packages (2), and which are connected to respective jaws (12) and counter-jaws (13) and cooperate with a relative cam (44) for controlling the relative movement of the half shell elements to and from the supply path (A) of the tube (14) of packaging material.

Abstract: A packaging unit (1) for continuously producing aseptic sealed packages (2), containing a pourable food product, from a tube (14) of packaging material filled with the food product; the unit (1) has a first and second chain conveyor (10, 11) respectively having a number of first and second jaws (12, 13) which interact with and grip the tube (14) at respective equally spaced cross sections (88) to perform, at the cross sections (88), respective sealing operations on the tube (14); and the unit (1) also has a monitoring device (91) for monitoring the sealing operations, and in turn having at least one fixed sensor (92; 93) cooperating with each second jaw (13) to generate at least one monitoring signal (S1, S2; S3, S4) related to an operating value (Vo) of a quantity associated with the second jaw (13), and a comparing circuit (99) for comparing the operating value (Vo) with at least one predetermined reference value (Vf) of the aforementioned quantity, and for generating a fault signal (S5) indicating malfunct

Abstract: A convertible, vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine and method for making a variety of types and styles of bags and seals is disclosed. The machine produces durable, substantially air-tight bags at high speed and provides for the production of different size and make of bags and different amounts and types of product in the bags. The machine includes a film drive and pinch roll pair, a pair of film pull belts, and a pair of zipper driver rollers for pulling plastic film and zipper strip through the machine. The machine is convertible from one for producing reclosable edge fin seal bags to another for producing nonreclosable midline seal pillow type bags. The pinch seal assembly can be pulled out of the machine, indexed 90.degree., and pushed back into the machine. The film pull belts are part of a self-contained pull belt unit which can be adjusted or removed from the machine, inverted and placed back into the machine.

Abstract: The present device serves for packaging products and is equipped with a product supply line and a packaging means supply line for a tube-like packaging material. In addition, the present device is equipped with at least two sealing elements that after a filling can be moved relative to one another. At least one of the sealing elements contains a thermal sealing element for executing the sealing process. Two sealing pairs of sealing elements are situated opposed one another on separate carriers. Provision is made in each instance for separate controls for the opening and closing movements and the adjusting movements of the carriers. When a contra-rotating movement of the carriers occurs, one of the sealing pairs will be opened at least during positioning on an identical carrier level of one of the sealing pairs and the other sealing pair will be closed. By this means the sealing elements of the opened sealing pair are guided lateral to the sealing elements of the closed sealing pair.

Abstract: A zipper sealer machine for use with a form, fill and seal machines and the method for bonding strips of reclosable fastener material to the film of a form fill and seal machine. Strips of reclosable fastener material are cut and the cut ends fused together by cutter-fuser jaws. A sensor senses when the cutter-fuser jaws become fully closed and when they begin to open so that other steps in the operation can be based on when the jaws actually begin to open and when they are actually fully closed rather than when the signal is sent that causes them to open and close. Relief area that have been coated with an anti-stick substance have been provide in the engaging surfaces of the cutter-fuser jaws to avoid fusing of the flanges and to prevent sticking of the flanges to the cutter-fuser jaws. The cut strips of reclosable fastener material are held on an edge of the rotor that is remote from the film surface.

Abstract: A zipper sealer machine for use with form, fill and seal machines and the method for bonding strips of reclosable fastener material strip fastener material to the film of a form fill and seal machine. The zipper sealer machine is adapted to be mounted within in the form, fill and seal machine and coordinate with the components of the form, fill and seal machine such as its film control mechanism. The zipper sealer machine includes a substantially symmetrically formed rotor having a pair of outer edges. Reclosable fastener material strip fastener material is fed to an outer edge of the rotor and cut to length. The cutting process also fuses the cut ends of the reclosable fastener material strip fastener material . The rotor is rotated 180 degrees, which locates the strip of reclosable fastener material strip fastener material adjacent to the film course at which it is bonded to the film.

Abstract: A packaging device is disclosed for forming packaging cushions of the type that include a plastic bag filled with a solid foam, and wherein the cushions are initially formed of a plastic bag filled with a foamable material that reacts and then hardens to form solid foam. The device comprises means for advancing a sheet of plastic film material that has been center-folded to form a doubled web with one closed edge defined by the center fold and one open edge defined by the adjacent edges of the sheet. Means are included for injecting a foamable composition into the center-folded web between the two folded portions of the sheet, as are means for forming a substantially linear seal along the open edge and substantially parallel to the open edge to thereby longitudinally seal the open edge of the web.

Abstract: A poker is provided to a packaging machine which has a former for bending a film into a tubular form and a chute for guiding articles to be packaged into a bag being made below. The poker includes a driver link which is driven to undergo a reciprocating rotary motion around a fixed axis and a generally L-shaped arm member disposed above and behind the former. A base part of the arm member is rotatably connected with a moving end part of the driver link such that the arm member can undergo a reciprocating rotary motion around a mobile axis of rotation which rotates around the stationary axis of rotation. A connecting mechanism is further provided to coordinate these two rotational motions such that the tip of the arm member distal from its mobile axis of rotation will move along a desired trajectory to reach a desired bottom center part of the chute which is likely to become clogged with the articles dropped thereinto.

Abstract: In a packaging machine 2 with a movable part 27, which can be moved toward a packaging 26 or a product to be packaged, and a carrier movable with the part 27 and connected to the part 27, the part 27 and/or the carrier consists of a magnesium alloy 28, for example Mg Ag3 Se2 Zr1 or Mg A19 Zn1. A magnesium alloy 28 has low mass, low moment of inertia, high capability to conduct heat, high heat capacity and good stiffness. It can also be used for heated, package-building elements, for example, a longitudinal sealing jaw 33 movable toward a foil tube 6, a cross-sealing jaw 16, 17 or a cutting knife 25. Relatively small forces are needed for moving a part 27 and/or a carrier 23 consisting of a magnesium alloy 28, which makes the packaging machine 2 less expensive to operate.

Abstract: A pouch and a method and apparatus for forming an easy open pouch in a form-fill-seal process is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first bar; a means for cutting, housed within the first bar, the means for cutting including a main cutting blade having two ends, and a tear notch blade attached to the main cutting blade between the ends of the main cutting blade, the tear notch blade disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the main cutting blade; a means for holding the means for cutting within the first bar; a second bar; and means for advancing the means for cutting from the first bar, and through the pouch material, and subsequently retracting the means for cutting from the pouch material, thereby severing the pouch material and cutting a tear notch in an upper transverse seal of a first pouch, and a lower transverse seal of a second pouch.

Abstract: A form-fill-seal packaging machine in which a packaging material (F) is sealed crosswise by bringing a pair of sealing jaws (41, 42) into contact with each other. The sealing jaws (41, 42) are caused to follow the packaging material along the packaging material transfer direction while they are kept in the same condition, to cause the sealing jaws to take contacting and following motions by means of a single drive source. The rotation of a motor (25) is converted into a linear reciprocating motion along the transfer route of the packaging material through a cam mechanism comprised of a circular cam plate (24) and an arm (33) and the converted reciprocating motion is transmitted to a block (30). Similarly, the rotation of the motor (25) is converted into a linear reciprocating motion in a direction intersecting the packaging material transfer route at right angles through vertically elongated cam plates (50, 50) and the converted reciprocating motion is transmitted to blocks (37, 38).

Abstract: A cutting device is provided for securing the cutting of the lateral sealed parts of a tubular packaging material web in the filling and packing machine of a filling and packaging apparatus that manufactures package containers each have a rectangular cross section and are filled with a fluid such as juice, etc. The cutting device includes the tubular packaging material web which is filled with a fluid, a pair of seal bars for laterally sealing the packaging material web, a cutter for cutting the packing material web at sealed parts thereof by a length corresponding to one container, fluid (such as air) pressure serving as a means for giving a biasing force to the cutter in a direction to retreat the cutter, and a pressure sensor capable of detecting a change of the fluid pressure in the supply passage.

Abstract: To avoid the folding of a flat tubular bag 1, which has been set up supported on its bottom-side cross seam 4, a welding seam 7, 8 reinforcing the tubular bag 1 is provided along at least one edge 5, 6. A further tubular bag 101 is introduced, where on the side folds 110, 111 of which the edges 105, 106 have welding seams 107, 108. Because of the welding seams 107, 108, the stability of the tubular bag 101 is improved. The longitudinal seam 2, 102 in the two tubular bags 1, 101 extends in a reinforcing welding seam 7, 107. The tubular bagging machine 14 for the manufacture of the tubular bag 1, 101 has at least one expanding element on the fill pipe 20 for expanding the film tube 21. A longitudinal welding device 22 is provided following the expanding element 27 in film feeding direction (FIGS. 7, 8).

Abstract: A packaging machine comprising an incomplete container forming device for forming a web into a tube, filling contents into the tube, thereafter transporting the tube by a length corresponding to one container at a time, sealing and cutting the tube transversely of the tube every time the tube is transported to obtain flat tubular incomplete containers, and discharging the containers as arranged in a row; a pair of container conveyors arranged at a lower level than the discharging position of the device, horizontally spaced from the discharging position by a specified distance and having respective transport paths spaced from each other by a predetermined distance; a complete container forming device for making the incomplete containers into complete rectangular parallelepipedal containers during transport on the conveyors; and a transfer device for receiving the row of incomplete containers as discharged from the incomplete container forming device, dividing the row into two rows and delivering the two rows a

Abstract: A form-fill-seal packaging machine capable of easily performing positioning between the two side edge portions of a strip-like film to be sealed and a vertical sealing device when the position of the portions to be sealed is shifted or offset, without complicating a support mechanism of the vertical sealing device bonding the portions of the strip-like film which is made to wrap on a cylindrical chute. A forming unit (7) and a cylindrical chute (8) are attached to a support unit (18). The support unit (18) is disposed opposite to a vertical sealing device (10) by engaging it with pins (16) and an adjusting screw (17) which are protrudingly provided on frames (3) of the apparatus.

Abstract: A machine for making film packages that includes complementary closure ribs, the machine including a drive for conveying closure ribs transversely with respect to the film and comprising in combination: a rectilinear guide superposed relative to the film and extending transversely relative thereto, the guide being designed to accurately position at least one closure rib transversely over the film; and a device for grasping the leading end of the closure rib and capable of moving transversely along the guide to convey the closure rib therealong by pulling on the leading end of the closure rib.

Abstract: A forming roller or a supporting roller for a packaging material web used for a liquid container according to the present invention comprises a plurality of rollers with outer peripheral surface thereof curved in axial direction of a rotating shaft, and the plurality of rollers are arranged at positions for forming a planar packaging material web into tubular shape or at positions for supporting the packaging material web after it has been formed into tubular shape. Each roller is divided into a plurality of roller portions by planes perpendicular to a rotating shaft thereof. The packaging material web is passed between the plurality of rollers, and the surface of the packaging material web is brought into contact with outer peripheral surface of the plurality of rollers. When said packaging material web is transported, each of the divided roller portions of the rollers is independently rotated.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are disclosed for making a polymer foam cushioning element. The method comprises advancing a pair of sheets of plastic film material in parallel face-to-face relationship; injecting foam precursors between the advancing plastic sheets; sealing the sheets together to form a plastic bag containing the foam precursors; forming the bag into the shape of a panel; and thereafter maintaining the bag in the panel shape until the foam precursors have substantially finished expanding into foam to thereby form a foam cushion panel.

Abstract: The welding jaws 7, 8 in a tubular bagging machine 1 for the creation of cross seams are driven by a drive 3 acting perpendicularly with respect to the foil-transporting direction 4 through a movable element 11. The jaw force (sealing force) is clearly increased through a lever 15 rotatable about a pivot point 17, and is precisely adapted to the requirements of a particle bagging operation. A drive with a small force, for example a linear motor 9, can be utilized in an economical manner in the tubular bagging machine of the invention. By providing a second drive, and connecting this drive to the lever (15), any desired motion path curves of the cross jaws and a continuous run sequence of the machine can be achieved. If the second drive stopped, then one has an intermittent tubular bagging machine.

Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal machine, components and method is disclosed which makes reclosable bags having a safety seal exterior to a reclosable seal and also produces durable, substantially air-tight bags at high speed and provides for the production of different size bags and different amounts of product in the bags. The disclosed machine includes a drive and pinch roll pair for pulling plastic film off of a plastic film supply roll, a pair of film pull belts biased against the plastic film wrapped around the fill tube and driven to pull the plastic film down along the side of the fill tube, and a pair of drive rollers for pulling the zipper strip through the machine. The production of different size bags is facilitated by having the plastic film drive roll, endless film pull belts, and zipper strip drive rollers all driven by a common drive source which is operated in bag length increments.

Abstract: A bag forming, filling, and sealing machine (10) for producing bag packages (1) has a tube forming device (7) comprised of a forming shoulder (18) and a forming tube (19) connected to it. In order to permit a bag forming, filling, and sealing machine (10) of this kind to produce bag packages (1) out of a single sheet of packaging material (15), with two longitudinal seams (11, 12) and two lateral seams (13, 14), the forming tube (19) has two sections (24, 25) connected to each other. The one section (24) connected to the forming tube (19) is inclined in relation to the incoming sheet of packaging material (15) by an angle (.alpha.). In addition, an element (28) for forming the one longitudinal seam (11) is connected to the forming tube (19). The tube forming device (17) cooperates with two diametrically opposed longitudinal seam sealers (33, 34) and a lateral seam sealer (41).

Abstract: A continuous web of a preprinted heat shrinkable film with a heat sensitive adhesive on one surface thereof is wound around an outer periphery of a core member in such a manner as to overlap opposite longitudinal edges of the film to one another and form a continuous tubular label with the heat sensitive adhesive applied surface inwardly facing. A predetermined length of the continuous tubular label is cut into individual tubular labels, as the continuous tubular label is drawn downstream. The individual tubular label is applied over a container having a portion of a gradually decreasing cross section, from a portion of a smaller cross section of the container. The individual tubular label applied over the container is heated. Thereby, the individual tublar label is shrinked into intimate contact with the container with its portion of a larger cross section being bonded to the individual tubular label via the heat sensitive adhesive applied to the inwardly facing surface.

Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine in which the cross sealing jaws move in the direction of the moving film during the sealing operation with the continuously moving tube. The drive for the cross sealing jaws include a pair of gear cases on opposite of the sealing jaws, each having two sets of spaced drive shafts. The drive shafts include cranks that impart rotary motion to a pair of link bases for the front and rear sealing jaw. Pairs of parallel links are pivotally connected at one end to the link bases and at the other end to the sealing jaws. The pivot connections of the parallel links include pressure or torsion members which bias the sealing jaws toward engagement.

Abstract: A bag maker bends an elongated flexible bag-making film into a tubular form and transversely seals it by a transverse sealer while filling it with articles to produce packaged bags. The transverse sealer has two seal jaws at both sides of the film being pulled downwards. The seal jaws are each caused to move in a generally D-shaped trajectory with a vertically straight portion where they move along the film, sandwiching it therebetween. The seal jaws are operated so as to move faster than the film while on the top half of the straight portion of the trajectory where stripping takes place and more slowly than the film while on the bottom half of the straight portion such that the film will blouse to make it easier for articles to drop deeper inside the bag being produced. The speed of each seal jaw on the arcuate part of its trajectory is adjusted such that the period of the cyclic motion of the seal jaws need not be modified.

Abstract: A convertible, vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine and method for making a variety of types and styles of bags and seals is disclosed. The machine produces durable, substantially air-tight bags at high speed and provides for the production of different size and make of bags and different amounts and types of product in the bags. The machine includes a film drive and pinch roll pair, a pair of film pull belts, and a pair of zipper drive rollers for pulling plastic film and zipper strip through the machine. The machine is convertible from one for producing reclosable edge fin seal bags to another for producing nonreclosable midline seal pillow type bags. Conversion from one to another is facilitated by having the pinch seal assembly mounted on a base plate which is releasably secured to a drawer-like device. This allows the pinch seal assembly to be pulled out of the machine, indexed 90.degree., and pushed back into the machine.

Abstract: A system and method for forming bags and reliably filling them with solids (such as snack food) prevent blockages of the solids during the filling process, and enable the bag forming and bag filling processes to occur continuously in an overlapping manner, thus improving production efficiency. Longitudinal openings are provided in the lower end of a hollow tubular vertical mandrel. Solids fall by gravity through the interior of the mandrel toward a bag that is formed at the bottom of the mandrel. The longitudinal openings allow solids to protrude radially outward from the mandrel if they form a blockage in the mandrel. The protruding solids that are part of the blockage are dislodged by frictional contact with a tubular film as it is forwarded snugly down the exterior of the mandrel. The film ultimately form the bag into which the solids fall.

Abstract: A bag maker-packaging machine uses three heaters to make bags, one for longitudinal sealing and two for transverse sealing. A device for automatically setting the temperatures of these three heaters includes a memory which stores temperature data from which an operator can retrieve a standard temperature, to which the longitudinal seal heater is to be set, by specifying the characteristics of the material to be used for making bags. Different temperatures, to which the two transverse seal heaters are to be set, are uniquely determined on the basis of the standard temperature. The standard temperature and the other temperatures thus determined may be displayed in different ways on one or more display devices.

Abstract: A narrow profile forming collar for forming thermoplastic tubes from a continuous web has a soldered and welded sheet metal construction which provides a compact, rigid forming collar particularly adapted to replace wide profile forming collars. A small unobtrusive mounting bracket is contained fully within the envelope of the forming collar, except for mounting surfaces on the opposite ends which are utilized to support the fill tube and, if needed, an auxiliary web feed roll.

Abstract: A reclosable bag includes a detachable reclosure tie having a tail portion formed by a series of spaced elongated seals and a closed loop. Apparatus for forming the reclosure tie with a bag includes first and second sealing jaws with external and internal grippers for holding web material. The first sealing jaw carries cutting and perforating knives and a cooling block that directs cooling air onto the knives to prevent the knife temperature from rising to the melting temperature of the web material. Each sealing jaw contains a heating block with complementary sealing surfaces for forming various seals including the seals that form the tail portion of the reclosure tie.

Abstract: A machine to produce filled packages having transverse seals at the top and bottom thereof created by severing a seal area between formed packages by cutting blades the position of which can be adjusted during running of the machine to vary the heights of the transverse seals. The adjustment of seal is caused by movement of a sliding bar member which causes the chain drive of the cutting mechanism to rotate in one direction or the other to move the cutting point of the blade relative to the uncut seal between adjacent packages.

Abstract: A tubular bag machine has between a filling tube and a shaping tube at least two sealing elements, which divide an annular space, formed by the filling tube and shaping tube, into a feed channel and a suction-removal channel. The two channels are connected to a suction device with a filter by connecting lines. The design and arrangement of the sealing elements produce a closed circuit for the air or inert gas used for dust removal.

Abstract: A cross-sealing device for a tubular-bag packaging machine operable with stripping rods moved along the plastic foil tube to be sealed, which stripping rods assure that the sealing surfaces are free of packaging material prior to the sealing task. A drive is provided for the stripping rods which is mechanically robust and makes it possible to adapt the stripping paths on the plastic foil tube to the special requirements. Belt drives are provided for this purpose which are driven independently of the cross-sealing jaws and are controlled by a position controller controlling the position of the stripping rods.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to manufacture efficiently packing bags which are packed in cases of corrugated fiberboard or the like at a good filling rate without dead space. A film sheet 14 from a bobbin 13 is formed to a quadrangular barrel body 24' along the outside of a cylinder 21 through a former 20, a top plane 10 is squeezed and sealed in a onesidedly slant manner, and then the quadrangular packing bag thus manufactured is transferred, through a guide chute 55, on a belt conveyor 54 in the regular posture (a) or inverse posture (b) to a case of corrugated fiberboard or the like. Conventional packing bag manufacturing mechanisms can be used, packing bags can be mass-produced fully automatically in a uniform manner at a high accuracy, and packing bags thus manufactured can be packed in cases of corrugated fiberboard or the like without dead space, thus reducing costs of transport securely.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a resealable tubular form fill package is provided. A supply of thin thermoplastic film is continuously fed over a filling spout and formed into a tubular shape by bringing the lateral edges of the film together in an abutting face-to-face relationship. The faces of the edges are brought together at a seal location to form a fin seal. A supply of zipper closure is continuously fed adjacent the film material and adhered to the film. The film and the zipper closure are sealed and cut to produce a form fill package having a zipper closure. The zipper closure and film may be cut and sealed simultaneously.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gripping a bag and downstream handling, such as application of a header label to the bag. The bag, which has previously been filled with a product, is presented to the apparatus at an upstream bag presentation and accepting station and is gripped proximate its top. It is then transferred from the upstream bag accepting station to a downstream bag release station. Before being released, the bag travels to an intermediate label application station where a label is readied, the label then being transferred upstream to a second position and applied to the bag. Thereafter, the bag proceeds downstream, with the label, and the label is sealed to the bag. A series of grippers are employed for accepting a stream of discreet bags in a continuous manner. The grippers are recirculated continuously so that the apparatus operates continuously so long as bags are presented for application of a label.

Abstract: A monitoring device is used for a web roll which is rotated so as to unwind a web therefrom, for example, for making bags for a packaging machine. The speed of rotation of the web roll is detected by a revolution counter or an eye-mark sensor if the web is provided with eye-marks, and the current outer radius of the web roll is calculated from the detected speed of rotation as well as inputted data such as the length of the web required for making a bag and the number of bags being produced per unit time. The length of the web remaining in the web roll and other related data can be calculated and displayed either all at once or selectably in response to the user's instruction. An alarm signal may be outputted when the calculated outer radius of the web roll becomes small enough according to a preset criterion.

Abstract: A vertical cyclically working flat sack machine (1) serves to package flowable or pourable materials or objects in flat sacks to be sealed, which are formed from two foils (6, 7) with a common vertical foil plane (9). On a machine frame (2) a measurer (3) with filling means (5), a deflector (8) for the two foils (6, 7), a sealer (15), a discharge device (29), and a longitudinal and transverse cutter (30, 31) are provided from top to bottom. The sealer (15) has two symmetrically fashioned units (16, 17), each comprising a pivot spar (18, 18'), a sealer spar support (20, 20'), a sealer spar (21, 21') with a sealer drive (34), a heating plate (23, 23'), a clamping plate (24, 24') and the sealing tools (25, 25', 26, 26') mounted thereupon. The units (16, 17) each are pivotable from a position running parallel to the foil plane (9), especially separated by the length of a sealing lift, about a pivot axis (19, 19') by approximately 90.degree. into a fitting and cleaning position.

Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal machine is disclosed which makes recloseable bags having a safety seal exterior to a recloseable seal and also produces durable, substantially air-tight bags at high speed and provides for the production of different size bags and different amounts of product in the bags. The disclosed machine includes a drive and pinch roll pair for pulling plastic film off of a plastic film supply roll, a pair of film pull belts biased against the plastic film wrapped around the fill tube and driven to pull the plastic film down along the side of the fill tube, and a pair of drive rollers for pulling the zipper strip through the machine. The production of different size bags is facilitated by having the plastic film drive roll, endless film pull belts, and zipper strip drive rollers all driven by a common drive source which is operated in bag length increments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of maintaining tension in the film over the forming shoulder in the forward and reverse directions of a package formed in a vertical form, fill and seal machine and stripping and/or settling products out of the sealing and severing area of a partially formed package. The machine includes a source of film, a measuring axis, a forming shoulder, a pull axis, and a finishing system for stripping, sealing and severing successive packages from a formed tube. The measuring axis and the pull axis are operated in the forward direction to form a film tube while tension is maintained on the tube. After a predetermined length of tubing has been pulled, the measuring axis is operated in the reverse direction while the tube is retained in tension downstream of the forming shoulder. Stripping of product entrained in the film seal area can occur in the reverse direction.

Abstract: An improved packaging machine is provided for vacuum packing elongated products such as french fries into a succession of sealed bags. The packaging machine includes a weigh station for dropping pre-weighed product charges through a vertical column for product free-fall into a bag at a fill station, with the bag being formed from a sheet of film material drawn downwardly about the column. A divider vane subdivides the vertical column and the fill station into a pair of passages of elongated cross section, whereby the products falling through the column passages are substantially aligned as they fall into the bag. The bag is transferred from the fill station to a settling station, preferably by displacement of the divider vane and fill station. The settling station includes vibratory members to achieve substantial product settling. The bag film material may also be retracted a short stroke through a seal jaw assembly, resulting in stripping and squaring of an open end of the bag.

Abstract: A vertical-type filling and packaging machine for filling and packaging a filling material in a tubular film of resin has a pair of squeezing rollers rotatably disposed one on each side of the tubular film filled with a filling material. The squeezing rollers press against the tubular film to clamp and feed the tubular film downwardly and create an unfilled region in the tubular film. A heat sealing mechanism which is disposed downwardly of the squeezing rollers for heat-sealing and severing the unfilled region has a heater bar for heat-sealing the unfilled region and a cooling bar for cooling the portion which has been heat-sealed by the heater bar. The heater bar and the cooling bar are successively pressable against a portion of the unfilled region while the tubular film is being held at rest. A cutting device, which may be an independent cutting blade or a triangular protrusion on the heater bar, severs the heat-sealed portion, thereby producing a sacked product.

Abstract: A longitudinal bag-making, filling and packaging machine, wherein in an outer surface of a product falling and filling tube wrapped by a packaging film folded into a tubular shape by a bag-making device, the packaging film is continuously fed downward by a film feeding device and an edge of the packaging film of which film inner surfaces are superposed on each other in a rib-like fashion is held in a longitudinal sealing device to longitudinally disposition-seal the end edge to form a packaging tube, an article to be packaged supplied through the product falling and filling tube is filled into the packaging tube hung down from the product falling and filling tube and the upper and lower portions of the article to be packaged of the packaging tube are laterally dipositioned-sealed into two strips by a lateral sealing and cutting device and the sealed portion of the two strips is cut.

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

Abstract: A pouch for holding viscous food product for dispensing from a specific hand held or similar type dispenser, is formed so as to include a tear strip to open a funnel-shaped, centrally disposed outlet spout formed to be sealingly held in the specific dispenser. The pouch includes a pair of alignment/holding openings formed on either side of the outlet spout for securing the pouch in a fixed position in the dispenser. The invention also includes head seal tooling having a pair of heated jaws which are brought together to simultaneously form the bottom seal of a top unfilled, pouch and the outlet spout and angularly disposed top seals of a filled lower pouch, while at the same time forming perforations for the tear strip, the pair of openings in the lower pouch and cutting-off the formed, filled and sealed lower pouch from the upper pouch.