Vertically Disposed Tube Patents (Class 53/554)
  • Patent number: 11851226
    Abstract: A device (10) for sealing three-dimensional objects (16) in the bag opening (14) of a film bag (12) comprises a clamp (36, 38) for the film bag (12), which has a pair of clamping shoes (42, 44) on each side, between which the edge of the film bag (12) is held. A heat sealer (26, 28) is provided for sealing the three-dimensional object (16) in the bag opening (14) of the film bag (12), wherein the heat sealer (26, 28) has a pair of sealing jaws (26, 28) between which the bag opening (14) of the film bag (12) can be sealed. The two clamping shoe pairs (42, 44) of the clamp (36, 38) are moved apart from one another during the sealing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Harro Höfliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Nico Hjordt, Daniel Birkhold, Timo Graf
  • Patent number: 11667414
    Abstract: A vertical bag-making/filling/packaging machine (1) comprises: a film supplying portion (5) which lets out a film (F) from a roll (Fr); a bag-making guide (31) which folds the film (F) into a tubular shape and changes a conveying direction downward; a vertical sealing portion (60) which thermally seals side edges of the film (F) to each other in an up-down direction so as to make the film into a tubular shape; a film conveying portion (50) which conveys the film (F) downward; a filling portion (70) which loads a content (X) into an interior of the film (F); a lateral sealing portion (80) which thermally seals the film (F) in a left-right direction so as to make a bag body; a square-bottom sealing portion (90) which expands a bottom of the bag body to a rectangular shape from an inside and then thermally seals the bottom to form a rectangular bottom surface; and a cutter (89) which cuts off the bag body from the film (F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ORIHIRO ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masataka Tsuruta, Akira Yamaguchi, Takayuki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10865002
    Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for extruding into a tube and filling the tube at a high speed and simultaneously sealing the tube. Specifically provided is a method for producing a polymer tube, containing a liquid therein and being sealed at constant intervals, the method including an extrusion step of continuously melt-extruding a polymer material through a die into at least one tube, while feeding a liquid into the tube to obtain at least one liquid-containing tube; and sealing step of discontinuously pressing the at least one liquid-containing tube between a pair of pressurizing members at constant intervals to cause pressure-bonding before the tube solidifies, while continuously taking up the extruded tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuichi Saguchi, Tomoaki Kaji, Masahiko Naruse
  • Patent number: 9822838
    Abstract: A spring system that includes a compressible material that is used to control the speed of the rod movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Barnes Group Inc.
    Inventors: Joel McCoy, Tyler Schroeder, Adrian Vine
  • Patent number: 9238537
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for making a multi-compartment package on a form, fill, and seal machine. Two pairs of heat sealing jaws are provided below a product delivery tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Eduard Edwards, Joseph Paul Sagel
  • Patent number: 8959879
    Abstract: A vertical bag-manufacturing and packaging machine includes a feeding unit having an upstream tube portion, an opening/closing mechanism, and a downstream tube portion. The upstream tube portion is configured and arranged to downwardly convey the article. The opening/closing mechanism is disposed on a downstream side of the upstream tube portion with a gap being formed between a downstream end of the upstream tube portion and an upstream end of the opening/closing mechanism, and configured and arranged to selectively open or close to selectively discharge or hold the article discharged by the upstream tube portion. The downstream tube portion is disposed on a downstream side of the opening/closing mechanism, and configured and arranged to downwardly convey the article discharged by the opening/closing mechanism, the downstream tube portion having an internal diameter that is larger than an internal diameter of the upstream tube portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Iwasaki, Masayuki Yamane, Taro Sano, Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8938938
    Abstract: A packaging and filling machine is capable of easily preforming with the forming flaps by keeping the pressure of the filled liquid food in the tube the positive pressure, capable of preventing the pressure of the liquid food from dropping to negative pressure, even if the pressure of the liquid food decreases due to the up-and-down of the liquid food pressure, and capable of preventing outside atmosphere materials from invading into the tube. A positive pressure keeping means absorbs fluctuation of the pressure of the liquid food in the tube below the pressure flange, and prevents the liquid food pressure from dropping in negative pressure to keep the pressure of the liquid food in the tube below the pressure flange a positive pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Konno, Yutaka Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8631633
    Abstract: A method is described for sealing a continuous tubular packaging (20), which is fed in a vertical direction, the continuous tubular packaging (20) being shaped as a continuous tubular element (20) exhibiting with a closed bottom (5), in which products are contained, and a group (1) for actuating the method. The group (1) comprises: sealing means (4), configured such as to act in a transversal direction with respect to the continuous tubular packaging (20) in order to separate an inner volume thereof, such that a closed stick pack (2), containing said products, and a new closed bottom (5) are formed; and compression means (8, 9) arranged downstream of the sealing means (4) with respect to the feeding direction (W) of the continuous tubular packaging (20), which are configured such as to compress the continuous tubular packaging (20), consequently eliminating air fluid contained therein, and which are activatable prior to sealing the continuous tubular packaging (20) with the sealing means (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Marchesini Group S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Monti
  • Publication number: 20140000226
    Abstract: The invention is a waste disposal system, particularly constructed to package and collect feminine hygiene and sanitary products, which creates an airtight containment space by use of paired arms which simultaneously seals and feed a continuous, plastic tube type bag fed through the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Staab, Angela SJ Sturdivant
  • Patent number: 8146332
    Abstract: A composite air and foam protective packaging product comprises a packaging cushion having, in cross-section, at least three plies of plastic film, foam between a first ply and a second ply of the three plies of plastic film, and air between the second ply and a third ply of the three plies of plastic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Storopack, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Slovencik
  • Publication number: 20100212268
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for automatically wrapping medicine which is hard to eat or food stuff in a unit which is convenient to eat, and also crushing fruits, vegetables and the like and automatically wrapping crude juice extracted from the crushed fruits and vegetables into a capsule. According to this, a user does not have to make an excessive amount of capsule products at one time and preserve the products for a long time even passing a proper expiration date. Thus, the automatic wrapping device is very useful in that the user can directly crush and eat food and medicine as desired and the capsule products can be kept fresh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Cho Rang Kim
  • Patent number: 7726105
    Abstract: A bag packaging machine with vertical intermittent operation, which has a sealing station for the opposite pair of films that form the bags, in which two sealing plates operate in opposite position with respect to the symmetrical vertical axis Y-Y of the machine, which are supported with possibility of free sliding by corresponding frames fixed to free shafts that extend from the back to the front of the machine with forward inclination towards the front of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Perfect Pack S.R.L.
    Inventor: Roberto Talacci
  • Patent number: 7726098
    Abstract: Tandem, vertically-aligned vertical form, fill, and seal (VFFS) assemblies enable a method for manufacturing an ingredient package. An inner ingredient-bearing package is manufactured by a first superior VFFS assembly, which inner package is then downwardly displaced to a second inferior VFFS assembly. The inner package and a second ingredient are deposited (filled) into an open-ended outer packaging material being formed by the inferior VFFS assembly. After deposing the inner package and the second ingredient into the formed outer package, the outer package and inner package are sealed to one another at superior ends thereof to finally form an ingredient package. The finally formed package may be removed from partially formed packages in superior adjacency thereto. The finally formed package compartmentalizes the first and second ingredients for later consumer consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventor: Paul Edward Doll
  • Patent number: 7607911
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a foam-in-place cushion in which a foam-forming composition is dispensed between two plastic film portions in a predetermined fashion to selectively control the distribution of the foam in the cushion. A foam dispenser can be moved in a transverse direction as foam is dispensed. A dispersion device can be employed to apply pressure on predetermined areas of the film portions towards each other so as to cause the composition to be redistributed in position in a predetermined manner while the composition is in a less than fully expanded state. The plastic film can then be sealed closed to form an expanding foam cushion that can be placed into a shipping carton where the cushion expands to fill void space, or into a mold where the cushion expands and is molded into a desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Charles R. Sperry, Suzanne M. Scott, Dennis F. McNamara, Jr., Vincent A. Piucci, Jr., Michael J. Schamel
  • Patent number: 7356979
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing bag packages, in which netting material of bags to be formed is connected to at least two foil strips which are each provided with a printing repeating in the longitudinal direction of the strip, with the foil strips being supplied in a coupled manner from one stock. The foil strips are preferably obtained from a foil stock comprising a single strip of foil with at least two repeating printing patterns with concurrent repeat which are applied next to each other, with the single strip being divided into sub-strips each bearing a repeating printing pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Jarsan Beheer B.V.
    Inventor: Petrus Clemens Maria Pannekeet
  • Patent number: 7325386
    Abstract: This is a double acting, multi-lane machine and method for the forming, filling and sealing of plastic or paper film pouches of various sizes commonly used to hold liquid viscous, dry, particulated or powdery materials or other substances. The machine includes a four roll film dispensing station, a multi unit pump or dispensing station, one of each double acting stations such as side seal station, pull wheel station, cross seal station, and cross cut station. The invention provides for production of a multitude of pouches in a manner of two sets of two films allowing to double the production output of current machinery without any change to cycle time or increase of operational time. Coordination and movement of the various stations is accomplished through electronic computer control, working in conjunction with multiple motion controlling devices such as servo motors, air cylinders, belts, linkages and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Inventor: Etienne Kissling
  • Patent number: 7325378
    Abstract: Various embodiments and alternatives for vertical form fill and seal methods and apparatus are disclosed. In particular, two sheets of web are fed by forming collars to a fill tube (or in some embodiments, side by side fill tubes) wherein the sheets of web are wrapped approximately 180 degrees around the periphery of the fill tube. Zippers can be provided mounted transversely on the first sheet of web, mounted in the machine direction on the first sheet of web, or fed as a continuous length between the two longitudinal edges of the two sheets of web. Additionally, some embodiments fill side by side bags from a single fill tube. Other embodiments fill side by side bags from side by side fill tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Ausnit
  • Patent number: 7325370
    Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine for making a pouch style package is provided, comprising an optional bulge forming station for forming a puff or bulge; a heating and filling station for creating seals and filling the pouch; and an optional flap making station comprising a mechanism for folding over a flap and sealing the inside portion of the flap to the front face of the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Sanford Redmond, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanford Redmond
  • Patent number: 7100658
    Abstract: Machine for manufacturing mesh bags from a continuous roll of tubular mesh, and for filling and closing said mesh bags, which comprise an expansion device which is perimetric to the tubular mesh, the core expander of which is equipped with a vertical aperture which, as if it were a slot, traverses said core expander and connects the two frontal faces thereof and extends from its base to an intermediate point, for which the core expander adopts an inverted “U” shape, the machine also being fitted with preventive welding means, adapted for partially welding the two frontal faces of the tubular mesh and, as the case may be, the adjoining laminates of thermally weldable material through the aperture of the core expander; a traction device which drags a section of the tubular mesh provided with a bottom; conveyor means; and second and third filling and closing stations, respectively, both being arranged linearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Giro GH, S.A.
    Inventor: Ezequiel Giro Amigo
  • Patent number: 7069705
    Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine for making a pouch style package is provided, comprising an optional bulge forming station for forming a puff or bulge; a heating and filling station for creating seals and filling the pouch; and an optional flap making station comprising a folding mechanism for folding over a flap and sealing the inside portion of the flap to the front face of the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Sanford Redmond, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanford Redmond
  • Patent number: 7036293
    Abstract: In order to be able to realize complicated jaw movements in a device for welding of a foil tube, comprising two welding jaws, which can be moved opposingly and clamp the foil tube between one another, whereby a linear motor is provided as the jaw drive, it is suggested that the gearing houses a cam plate connected to a movable part of the linear drive, that the cam plate has two separate curves, and that each one cam connected to a jaw carrier is guided along a curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Rovema Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Roman Kammler, Ralf Bardtke, Walter Baur
  • Patent number: 7013615
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser generally includes a housing and a valving rod disposed in and movable within the housing, the valving rod including a central bore, at least one inlet for receiving a cleaning fluid composed of a solvent and a gas, and one or more outlet ports in fluid communication with the bore, wherein the outlet ports are capable of directing cleaning fluid radially outwards from the bore and against an interior surface of the dispenser to facilitate the removal of at least a portion of any fluid product or derivatives thereof that may be in adherence with such interior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Vincent A. Piucci, Jr., Charles R. Sperry, Walter C. Sadakierski, Suzanne M. Scott
  • Publication number: 20040231295
    Abstract: A device for wrapping an article, the device comprising a first feeder for a first sheet of plastics film, a second feeder for a second sheet of plastics film, a carriage for positioning the article between the first and second sheets of plastics film and a sealing mechanism for sealing the first and second sheets of plastics film together adjacent the periphery of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Angelo Luckey Chrisostomidis
  • Patent number: 6789371
    Abstract: A packaging machine including a seal bar assembly for bonding layers of polymeric material together about a wrapped product to form an airtight package seal comprises a length of SILVERSTONE encapsulated, flat electrical resistance heating ribbon disposed upon a rigid seal bar having a smooth face surface. The seal bar is preferably constructed of thermally conductive and electrically insulating materials, such as virgin TEFLON. The heating ribbon is mounted onto the seal bar under nearly constant tension throughout its temperature range. Low resistance electrical leads provide a path for supplying electricity to the heating ribbon. A silicon rubber-backed seal bar mating assembly for providing pressure to the polymeric materials during bonding is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Buysman, Thomas E. Bomgaars
  • Patent number: 6761016
    Abstract: A high speed vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine has a dual pump pouch-filling system, adjustable packaging material roll holders and side-seal jaws that are longer than pouches being formed in the machine, and which move with the packaging material traveling through the machine. Packaging material is moved in a semi-continuous manner and has side seals formed therein that are slit by a slitter system and pulled downwardly by a multi-jaw, rotary cross-seal system. After being completed, the formed pouches are cut off by a reciprocating or rotary cut-off system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventor: Richard A. Soleri
  • Patent number: 6662530
    Abstract: A dual chamber sachet with a dispensing outlet can be made in a form/fill sequence by attaching the dispensing outlet to the film that is to form the chamber divider wall followed by attaching films that are to form the outer walls of the sachet to the dispensing outlet. The upper and side lateral edges of the sachet then are sealed together to produce a sachet with an open bottom end. The sachet can be produced from three film sources, two film sources with the outer walls being formed from a single film, or from a single film formed into a W-shape. The sachet preferably is filled through the open bottom end and the bottom end then sealed. However the sachet can be top filled through the nozzle. The sachets then are severed one from the other by cutting along a lateral seal and packed into a carton, or preformatted along a lateral seal and cut to produce a string of a set number of sachets. The sachets can have a single use dispensing outlet or a reclosable dispensing outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Joel Millon, Orlando Fuquen, Christopher Joseph Miller, Scott Murray Walsh
  • Patent number: 6527147
    Abstract: A system for providing dunnage to packages as the packages are formed is disclosed. The system includes a dunnage forming machine having a work station for inflating and sealing plastic pouches to form dunnage units. An accumulator is positioned below the station for receiving and collecting such units as they are formed. The accumulator includes an outlet opening laterally offset from the station. A pair of counter rotating brushes having axes journaled in spaced relationship are mounted at the outlet. Each of the brushes includes circumferentially spaced bristle sets defining unit receiving spaces between adjacent sets. A motor drive is operably connected to the brushes for causing counter rotation. A unit volume sensor is provided for emitting a machine start signal when the volume of units in the accumulator reaches a predetermined low volume. A process for providing dunnage in packages being formed is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Automated Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick Steven Wehrmann
  • Patent number: 6499270
    Abstract: The present invention is an automated and integrated method and apparatus for packaging, loading, storing, and/or retrieving a specified product. A preferred embodiment of a system comprises a packager, a feeder device, a magazine, an unloading device, and a control unit. The packager is adapted to package a predetermined quantity of a product in a package. The feeder device has a loading screw which engages the package and transfers it to a storage screw in the magazine. The magazine preferably comprises multiple horizontal rows of storage screws. Each horizontal row of storage screws may be individually rotated about a central axis of the magazine. The control unit maintains a data base of the location and contents of each package in the magazine. The unloading device is adapted to retrieve a desired package from the magazine. The unloading device then transfers the desired package to a predetermined location such as a tote, bin, or patient specific drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Pyxis Corporation
    Inventors: Günther Peroni, Giuseppina Martelli
  • Patent number: 6332305
    Abstract: In a heat seal device of a filling and packaging machine, wherein a continuously fed film F is vertically sealed by a vertical seal mechanism 19 and the laterally sealed by lateral seal mechanisms 20, 21, contents W, W1, W2 are filled in the film formed in the bottomed cylindrical shape and, while the film F is fed, a portion of the film F which forms a bag opening part side is sealed laterally by the lateral seal mechanisms 20,21 for continuously packaging as pouches P, the vertical seal mechanism 19 comprises a pair of rotating shafts 25 incorporating heaters H and mounted rotatably and two pairs of vertical seal rolls 31, 34 which are mounted in pairs on the rotating shafts 25 with a given distance in the axial direction of the rotating shafts 25 and have seal portions 30,35 protruded in a flange shape around outer peripheral portions thereof respectively, the heaters H incorporated in the rotating shafts 25 are disposed movably along the axial direction of the rotating shafts 25 with the position of the h
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshimori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6260336
    Abstract: A cutter cleaning apparatus for a filling machine which prevents liquid food adhering to the cutting knife from dirtying cut ends of packaging material. A web-shaped packaging material is continuously sealed in the longitudinal direction thereof to be formed into a tubular shape, a liquid food is charged into the tubular packaging material (11), and the tubular packaging material (11) is nipped from opposite lateral sides at a position below the surface of the liquid food, so that a laterally sealed portion (S) is formed. Subsequently, the laterally sealed portion (S) is cut in order to obtain an original-shape container. The cutter cleaning apparatus includes a cutting knife (21) for cutting the laterally sealed portion (S), and cleaning medium supply means for supplying a cleaning medium to the tip end of the cutting knife (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance, S.A.
    Inventor: Tatsumi Motomura
  • Patent number: 6151868
    Abstract: A funnel for a form-fill-seal (FFS) machine configured to make transverse-zippered reclosable packages from a continuous supply of thermoplastic film having a plurality of zipper strips transversely sealed thereto at package length intervals is provided. The funnel includes a lower surface a contoured to keep the zipper profiles substantially parallel to each other as the thermoplastic film is fed over the FFS machine forming collar and folded around the FFS machine filling tube. A method and apparatus for making transverse zippered reclosable packages is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Matthews
  • Patent number: 6145283
    Abstract: An apparatus for air and liquid-tight packing of objects for disposal, such as sanitary towels, disposable nappies, hypodermic needles and other hospital wastes comprises a pair of supply rolls of mutually adhesive foil strips. The side edge of the foil strips are urged towards each other to seal the respective side edges together while a transport system engages the side edges and moves the foil strips through the apparatus. A pressing system includes a pair of substantially flat elements, at least one of which is rotatable, which extend substantially over the width of the foil strips and guide the strips together capturing and sealing an object to be packed therebetween, and sealing the foil strips together across their width after passage of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: CWS International AG
    Inventors: Gideon Noordenbos, Frederic A. Montijn
  • Patent number: 5981028
    Abstract: A film for a multiple bag which film is a multiple film comprising at least two sheets of film put one on another and having scattered along its both-side edge portions spot-fused portions by which the at least two sheets of film is partially united.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignees: Asahi Chemical Polyflex Co., Ltd., Orihiro Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Sugawa, Tetsuo Matsushita, Yuzi Fukushima
  • Patent number: 5870884
    Abstract: A multiple compartment package having a connecting bridge with a frangible internal barrier is made from two composite or thermoplastic sheets or webs welded together to form the front and back walls of the package, and the central bridge portion is defined by one or more partitions spanning the short distance between the webs. In the preferred embodiment, multiple partitions form a plurality of parallel compartment strips to create an obstruction to penetration of substances from one packet to the other. One process for making the invention uses a comb-shaped mask and a thermoplastic insert strip interwoven between the tines of the comb. The tines are extended down between the welding heads of the packaging machine, preventing welding from taking place between the thermoplastic sheets wherever the comb mash is, with the result that the welding occurs between the strip and an alternating one of the side webs creating a zig-zag pattern that forms the vacant barrier compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Inventor: Brian R Pike
  • Patent number: 5794776
    Abstract: An improved instrumentation and method for manufacturing from film wrapping material hermetically sealed packages containing an untangled, unknotted segment of flaccid filament, and packages produced by the instrumentation and method. Instrumentation improvements include a gripper assembly for impeding uncut filament from backing up during filament loading in the course of package construction, an improved piston also impeding filament backup and facilitating deposition of a filament segment into an open package compartment, and a sealing mechanism for superimposing a seal over the top and bottom package seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: Arthur P. Corella
  • Patent number: 5784863
    Abstract: A sanitary fill tube assembly includes a pair of large diameter fill tubes connected to a spreader having a rotary valve system mounted therein. The rotary valve system is actuated by pairs of actuator arms guided through openings in a manifold connected to the fill tubes to precisely move the rotary valve between open and closed position. The rotary valve includes elongated openings therein which are closely matched with and connected to the same size and shape passageways and discharge openings in the spreader so as to more accurately control and meter material being fed into a pouch, and to maintain the overall assembly in a sanitary condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Winpak Lane, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven D. Davis
  • Patent number: 5775065
    Abstract: Method of and apparatus for cutting and heat sealing a film with a smooth seam which extends substantially the transverse width of a wrapped package utilizes a mechanism having a cool clamping portion and a hot sealing portion which are sequentially actuated. The clamping portion, with segments upstream and downstream of a sealing position, is activated to firmly hold the film against a base plate. The sealing portion is located between the upstream and downstream segments of the clamping portion. The heated sealing portion is brought into contact with the film as a cutting member cuts the film. The sealing head is retracted as the clamping portion holds the film to allow longitudinal film shrinkage and prevent transverse film shrinkage of the film. The clamping portion separates and the next package in a succession of film-enclosed packages is moved downstream of the sealing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Ossid Corporation
    Inventor: Sidney S. Tolson
  • Patent number: 5622033
    Abstract: A bag maker bends an elongated bag-forming film into a tubular shape, moves it longitudinally along a path, seals its mutually overlapping side edges into a tubular shape, fills it with articles to be packaged and simultaneously seals it transversely with a transverse sealer to make individual filled bags. The transverse sealer has a pair of seal jaws opposite each other across the path of the film, each adapted to move in a D-shaped closed trajectory and inwardly towards each other to transversely seal the film over a seal area. A pair of shutters is disposed on the seal jaws so as to each move behind corresponding one of the seal jaws when moving downward. These shutters are biased inward towards each other and normally protrude inwardly from the inward-facing surfaces of the seal jaws so as to prevent articles intended for the next bag to be produced will not be caught between the seal jaws when transverse sealing is effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Fukuda
  • Patent number: 5596867
    Abstract: A cutoff assembly for a form, fill and seal packaging machine having a fixed blade and a floating movable blade. The movable blade is adjustable horizontally with respect to the machine and the fixed blade so as to accurately cut off formed pouches, passing downwardly, in the vertical direction, through the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Winpak Lane, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven D. Davis
  • Patent number: 5575137
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Rovema Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Hartmut Metz, Dieter Korzer, Walter Baur
  • Patent number: 5465555
    Abstract: An apparatus for packaging granular materials, wherein the granular material flows vertically through various components, wherein the apparatus comprises a frame, a plurality of servo driven packaging payout means, a plurality of packaging material alignment means, granular material filler means, sealing means, and severing means. The apparatus further comprises a computer controlled coordination means for controlling and coordinating the operations performed by the components of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Copack International Inc.
    Inventors: Gaylard M. Morgan, Anthony Malczanek, Peter J. Gould
  • Patent number: 5460844
    Abstract: A travelling two-ply web of infusion packages (11) is cut transversely by rotary cutting device (50) to form individual packages (1) which are attached to a styrene cover web (70). The packages 91) and web (70) are fed at the same speed rotary attachment device (100) comprising heated welding tips (102) cooperating with an anvil roller (90). The web (70) is fed to the attachment device at constant speed, but the packages (1) are accelerated up to the speed of the web (70) by accelerating rollers (62, 63) which grip the sealed edges of the packages. This introduces the necessary gap between successive packages. A hinge line (5) is produced in the web (70) by hinging device which facilitates folding of the cover and the package when the web carrying attached packages is cut into individual lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: A. G. (Patents) Limited
    Inventor: Ian M. D. Gaylor
  • Patent number: 5408807
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: W. A. Lane, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Lane, Jr., Steven D. Davis
  • Patent number: 5235794
    Abstract: A multiple bag forming and filling apparatus and method utilizes a plurality of filling tubes which have a cross-sectional width in the range from one-third to one times the width of the tubular preform between the vertical seals at the filling tube means. There is also disclosed the directing of horizontally adjacent vertical tubular bag preforms to opposite sides of a center sealing bar prior to forming transverse seals by movable seal bars on the opposite sides. The horizontal displacement of the horizontally adjacent bags prevents the adjacent bags from being sealed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Center
  • Patent number: 5203145
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stripper mechanism for a tubular bag packaging machine, in which a foil strip (1) is formed into a tube (3) by means of a longitudinal sealing jaw (2) and is formed into bags by means of cross-sealing jaws (4). A stripper mechanism (5) is arranged in the area of the cross-sealing jaws (4), which stripper mechanism (5) includes two stripper rods (6) supported on the end areas of support arms (7). In order to provide a drive for the stripper mechanism (5), which drive is independent of the drive of the cross-sealing jaws (4), the stripper rods (6) are connected to a common closing mechanism (8), and that furthermore the stripper rods are connected to a moving mechanism (9) for effecting a relative movement along the foil tube (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Rovema Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Roman Kammler, Dirk Wenzel, Werner Schneider
  • Patent number: 5199247
    Abstract: An arrangement for enveloping an object located between two heat weldable webs of enveloping material includes two coacting welding jaws for joining the webs together in their transversal direction on mutually opposite sides of the object. The welding jaws extend in the transverse direction of the webs, across the whole width thereof. One of the jaws is a wire-carrying jaw which supports a freely extending heating wire, and the other jaw is forked and has two legs. The jaws are moveable between a starting position on opposite sides of the webs, and a web welding position in which the webs are held together with the free ends of the fork legs in abutment with one side of the webs and with the heating wire located at the mouth region of the fork gap and in abutment with the other side of the webs. The wire functions to weld said material webs together and to melt-off the webs within the weld region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Nybo Seal System AB
    Inventors: Claes Bjorkman, Leif Lundblad, Tord Pettersson
  • Patent number: 5029430
    Abstract: A form, fill and seal pouch packaging machine is augmented by including a heating component for heating the surfaces of its film during product addition. The film is heated to a temperature sufficient to inhibit condensation of hot liquid product on the interior walls of a partly formed pouch during the product addition and/or to achieve asepsis during product addition. The heating member can be positioned in one of several positions adjacent to the surfaces of the film. Irrespective of the positioning of the heating member the surfaces of the film of a partially formed pouch or of the film prior to formation of the pouch is heated to a temperature sufficient to inhibit condensation of vapor on the film and/or to sterilize the surfaces of the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: W.A. Lane, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven D. Davis
  • Patent number: 5016426
    Abstract: A biased seal for a form, fill and seal packaging machine includes an elongated seal bar which is attached to a support element via a plurality of connectors/retainers which are fixed to the seal bear, but movable with respect to the support element. A plurality of compression springs are positioned between the seal bar and the support element. The seal bar is movable on the connectors from a position wherein the seal bar is juxtapositioned against the sealing element and the compression springs are under compression and an extended position wherein the seal bar is displaced outward from the sealing elements by the bias in the compression springs. The support element is fixed to a slide assembly which is connected to an activator rod via an adjustment bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: W. A. Lane, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven D. Davis
  • Patent number: 4999968
    Abstract: A pouch perforator for a form, fill and seal packaging machine of the type which forms pouches from continuous film includes a cutting element and a support element. The cutting element is rotatively mounted on the packaging machine as is the support element with the cutting element located on one side of the film and the support element located on the opposite side of the film. The cutting element includes a plurality of axially extending knife edges located in a circumferentially spaced array. The knife edges rotate in response to rotation of the cutting element. The support element includes a circumferentially extending support surface which rotates in response to rotation of the surface element. The knife edges in response to rotation of the cutting element compress film against the support surface to perforate the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: W. A. Lane, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven D. Davis
  • Patent number: RE42176
    Abstract: Machine for manufacturing mesh bags from a continuous roll of tubular mesh, and for filling and closing said mesh bags, which comprise an expansion device which is perimetric to the tubular mesh, the core expander of which is equipped with a vertical aperture which, as if it were a slot, traverses said core expander and connects the two frontal faces thereof and extends from its base to an intermediate point, for which the core expander adopts an inverted “U” shape, the machine also being fitted with preventive welding means, adapted for partially welding the two frontal faces of the tubular mesh and, as the case may be, the adjoining laminates of thermally weldable material through the aperture of the core expander; a traction device which drags a section of the tubular mesh provided with a bottom; conveyor means; and second and third filling and closing stations, respectively, both being arranged linearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Girnet Internacional, S.L.
    Inventor: Ezequiel Giro Amigo