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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A film feed device for a form, fill and seal packaging machine includes front and rear rolls of film which are individually unwound and fed to the packaging machine via a drive assembly which contacts the rolls and rotates the same independent of other film feed mechanisms on the packaging machine. The drive assemblies contain motors which can be further controlled with sensing devices capable of sensing both when the film has been exhausted from the film roll and when the rate of output of the film from the film rolls by the drive assemblies is greater than the rate of further processing of the film in subsequent steps on the form, fill and seal packaging machine.

Abstract: A pair of sealing bars for a pouch packaging machine have sealing surfaces which are asymmetrical with respect to one another. The sealing surface on one of the sealing bars is flat and smooth, having linear edges in two perpendicular directions. The sealing surface on the other of the sealing bars is shaped as a portion of a curved cylindrical surface, defined by a linear edge in a first direction and an arcuate edge in a perpendicular direction. The bars are positioned with respect to one another such that the curved sealing surface on the one bar convexly projects toward the flat, planar sealing surface on the other bar. Seals formed with these asymmetrical sealing bars have a sealing bead which is thinner in the center and thickens outwardly toward both ends moving away from the center.

Abstract: A device for the cross-welding and/or cross-cutting of sealable foil material having inserted therein at regular intervals a particularly bulky fill material. Swingably mounted sealing jaws are forcedly guided in closed cam guideways which are an inverted mirror image of one another and located on opposite sides of a plane of symmetry (E) such that they each clamp foil material therebetween at a location whereat no fill material is located and along the plane of symmetry. The sealing jaws then swing out and away from the foil material and travel to the next area which does not contain fill material. Forcedly guided compressing members are arranged to travel in front of the sealing jaws, which compressing members compress the foil material at least over the sealing area determined by the sealing-jaw width. The compressing members are cylindrical, for example in the form of circular rods, rollers, cage bars and the like, preferably spring loaded and are relatively movable with respect to the sealing jaws.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for successively forming foam filled bags or cushions of the type wherein a foamable composition is deposited in a plastic bag. The method and apparatus includes advancing a pair of plastic webs along a substantially horizontal path of travel and through the nip of a pair of drive rollers, while heat sealing the opposing longitudinal side edges of the webs together. Periodically, a predetermined amount of the foamable composition is deposited between the advancing webs from a position offset from the center of the pair of plastic webs and the heat sealing along the side edges is periodically and momentarily interrupted to form side edge openings for the subsequent escapement of gases generated during foaming. The advance of the webs is momentarily terminated, and a heated wire then engages the webs to sever the formed bag, while forming a sealed top edge of the formed bag and a sealed bottom edge for the next succeeding bag.

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: A method and apparatus is disclosed for successively forming foam filled bags or cushions of the type wherein a foamable composition is deposited in a plastic bag. The formed bags are adapted to be placed in containers with articles being packaged, and so that when the foam expands, the bags and resulting foam are conformed to the configuration of the articles. The method and apparatus includes advancing a pair of plastic webs through the nip of a pair of drive rollers, while heat sealing the opposing longitudinal side edges of the webs together. Periodically, a predetermined amount of the foamable composition is deposited between the advancing webs immediately above the nip, and the heat sealing along the side edges is periodically and momentarily interrupted to form side edge openings for the subsequent escapement of gases generated during foaming.

Abstract: A pre-forming technique for web material utilized to make flexible pouches for fluent products comestibles and non-comestibles in form-and fill equipment of well known type characterized by the initial stretching displacement of each web from its normal plane and in a configuration corresponding to the ultimate spout configuration prior to forming of the pouch with the spout therein, thereby preventing undesired blockage of the spout by unintended adherence of the packaging film in the spout zone during sealing operations. The technique is especially desirable in pouches having a unique and complex reversely curved discharge passageway.

Abstract: A medication packaging and dispensing machine has a solid oral medication feeder bowl mounted near the top and a sizing disk in the feeder bowl to receive the medication units such as capsules or tablets from the bowl and deliver them individually to a drop tube through which they descend to a packaging station. Packing strip material stored in two rolls is pulled into the packaging station by a cooperating pair of rotary pull and seal platens which move the strips around the medication units and seal the strips together perimetrically around each unit. A printer prints medication and patient identifying information and prescribed administration date and time information on one of the strips for each unit as the strip is moved toward the packaging station. Gear drive and gear belt drive means and position sensing switch and motor control means coordinate the movement of the disk drive with the movement of the platens and the printer whereby each packaged unit has relevant information printed thereon.

Abstract: For a form, fill and seal bagging machine a process and apparatus are provided whereby simultaneous with product discharged into the interior of the bag during the filling segment of the form, fill and seal cycle, a gas is also discharged into the interior of the bag to purge the interior of the bag and further, a low pressure area is created within the interior of the bag to remove excess purging gas and/or condensing fluids from the interior of the bag prior to sealing the bag.

Abstract: For use on a form, fill and seal bagging machine a left side bag gripping member and a right side bag gripping member are located in association with a movable component of the bagging machine as, for instance, the head seal. The bag grippers contact and grip the left and right respective sides of a bag and spread these sides apart from one another just prior to formation of a cross seal on the bag by the head seal. This insures that the heat sealable film utilized on the machines is not puckered or pinched by the head seal therefore leading to a defective seal between the front and rear films forming the bag.

Abstract: The manufacture of non-returnable packages for e.g. milk is frequently carried out by the conversion of web-shaped, laminated packing material to a tube, filling of the tube with milk and sealing and forming to filled packing containers of the desired, e.g. parallelepipedic, shape. During the forming, which is done by means of external forming devices, the contents are made use of as an internal mandrel or a holder-up for the forming devices, so that the desired shape can be achieved without creasing or other deformations. The above-mentioned forming principle works less well if the packing containers are not to be completely filled but have a certain air space or headspace. The proportioning of the contents also becomes uncertain and the desired accuracy of volume cannot always be achieved.

Abstract: Wear strips removably installed on the tube forming apparatus of form-fill-seal packaging machines of the type having a tube former and depending tubular fill pipe through which quantities of product are passed and over which a strip of packaging material is pulled by transfer belts to progressively form the material into a depending and upwardly open tubular configuration and subsequently sealed to form product bearing packages. The wear strips comprise a pair of circumferentially spaced rectangular members removably attached to the fill pipe adjacent the transfer belts to receive substantially the full frictional wearing force caused by the transfer belts pressing and moving the packaging material against the fill pipe. The outer surface of the wear strips are configured to substantially reduce the contact surface area and the resulting wearing of the transfer belt and thus reduce the frequency of replacement and repair of the belts.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for packaging sanitary medical sponges which are deformable articles of a shape generally disposed in a flat plane with a stacked array thereof contained between two webs of packaging material, wherein the sponges are formed on a machine, they are delivered in a fixed number of at least two sponges from the machine in a stacked array with the planes of the sponges vertically disposed in a side-by-side relationship. Two webs of the packaging material are converged into a substantially V-shaped vertically disposed reception slot adapted to receive the stacked array of sponges. They are dropped into a reception slot so that the stacked array is substantially wedged therebetween.

Abstract: A device for the step feeding of web material for making bags, in automatic bag-filling machines. The device comprises two opposing feeding members which are made to rotate continuously and are supported by slides running along horizontal guides, in order to move alternatively from an advanced position in which they frictionally feed and move forward a sufficient length of web material to form a bag, to a retracted position.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for helical screw controlled-quantity extrusion of powdered material, such as, for example, moisture-absorbent super fine powders, with automatic filling of hot-melt laminated pouches, at least partially porous, as for use in diaper or other similar applications, and while obviating hazardous release of the powder.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming bags from a packing film and then filling the bags with bulky solid or powdery materials includes a bag-making cylinder which has air-removing grooves in its outer periphery for removing air in the bags when the materials are collectively filled into the bags, thus resulting in a constant and high speed packing operation.

Abstract: A container forming apparatus for packaging machine by which a vertical tube filled with contents is sealed over a required width at a spacing corresponding to the length of one container and is cut at the midportion of the seal width, the apparatus comprising a slide having forming jaws, and a slide lift assembly drivingly movable by a pulse motor.

Abstract: The bag making apparatus may have a bonding means for making bonded seams between webs of thermoplastic material. The bonding means includes first, second, and optionally third, sets of cooperating rotary or reciprocating, bonding members for making transverse and longitudinal seams. The apparatus includes seaming interrupting means which cooperates with one of the bonding means. The bonding means and interrupting means are arranged to cooperate together to form bags from the webs of thermoplastic material so that each bag has a sealed or sealable compartment for containing or containing a material for mixing, a pocket for measuring, and having a mouth opening between the interrupted seams, and a frangible barrier between the compartment and the pocket.

Abstract: In packing machines of the type which manufacture packing containers with liquid contents a filling pipe with a valve arrangement situated at the outlet end is frequently used. The valve arrangement that is described comprises a movable valve element which is manoeuvred with the help of pressure variations in the filling pipe. The movable valve element is cup-shaped and is adapted so that it is lifted through excess pressure in the filling pipe from a fixed seat so that an annular discharge opening results.

Abstract: An apparatus for making sealed packages from two superposed, sealable flexible wrapper sheets, has first and second convex support rings which are radially adjacent for guiding respective first and second wrapper sheets towards one another. First and second sealing discs are supported coaxially with the respective support rings at opposite sides thereof. The sealing discs form sealing disc pairs for longitudinally pressing and sealing together the wrapper sheets along opposite edge zones thereof to form longitudinal seams. There are further provided deflecting rollers situated upstream of the respective support rings for defining loop-around paths for the wrapper sheets on the respective support rings. Each support ring carries a shaping element for shaping the wrapper sheets immediately upstream of the sealing discs. The apparatus also has a sealing station for providing a transverse cutter for severing the sealed sheets into predetermined lengths whereby packages of defined dimensions are obtained.

Abstract: A packing machine for making filled and sealed bags from superposed wrapper sheets, has a pair of cooperating sealing rollers for providing longitudinal seams on the superposed wrapper sheets passed therebetween; a mechanism for rotating unidirectionally the sealing rollers in first and second consecutive steps for providing the longitudinal seams in two consecutive length portions, each corresponding to one-half of the predetermined length; a pair of cooperating sealing shoes movable towards and away from one another for assuming, respectively, a sealing position to provide a transverse seam on the superposed wrapper sheets and an idling position; and a mechanism for moving the sealing shoes, while in the sealing position, codirectionally with the travelling direction of the wrapper sheets during a period in which one of the two steps is performed and for moving the sealing shoes, while in the idling position, against the travelling direction during a period in which the other of the two steps is performed.

Abstract: A discharge device for a bag-making, filling and packing apparatus which consists of a bag-making cylinder around which packing film is wound for making a bag and through which commodity article is filled in the bag after the bag is feeded to the lower position consists of magnets for opening and closing movable covers which are provided at the discharge end of the bag-making cylinder. The magnets can be permanent magnets which are movable toward and away from the covers or electromagnets which are stationarily mounted adjacent the covers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the processing of a material web to convert the same to individual packing containers filled with contents. Flexible packing containers for milk or other beverages are manufactured from tubular material which is filled with contents, formed and divided to packing containers with the help of alternately working forming and sealing jaws which are given a reciprocating movement in the longitudinal direction of the tube and in the transverse direction of the tube. In accordance with the invention the jaws are guided and driven by guiding and driving rods which run parallel with the material tube and to which different reciprocating movements are imparted.

Abstract: A butter-like product is recirculated from a mixing bowl (10) by a recirculating pump (14) until its viscosity is adjusted to the equivalent of 16,000 to 18,000 centipoise at 75.degree. F. The viscosity adjusted butter is pumped through an aerator (22) to a closed holding tank (40). A positive displacement pump (42) recirculates the viscosity adjusted butter from the holding tank, through a recirculating feed line (44) at a preselected pressure, and back to the holding tank. A plurality of packaging machines (C) each include a metering pump (60) which pumps metered amounts of the butter from the recirculating feed line through at least one filling nozzle (62). Sheets of heat-sealable plastic material from rolls (64, 66) are heat sealed (70, 72, 74, 76) into squeeze packets surrounding the metered volumes of butter. A conveyor (100) conveys the filled squeeze packets to a fluid cooling hood (104) in which the squeeze packets are bathed in a cooling fluid, e.g.

Abstract: The apparatus for producing pouch packages in pairs has two tube shaping devices disposed beside one another and two crosswise closure devices. To prevent having to stop both tubular pouch shaping devices at the same time in the event of an interruption or malfunction, or when changing a roll of packaging material, the crosswise closure devices are disposed on separate carriers. The carriers which are movable up and down individually can be coupled with a reciprocating element, which is moved incrementally up and down by a drive mechanism.

Abstract: The invention provides a container preferably made from sheet plastics comprising a bag containing a tubular valve member, the bag being sealed with a seam at each end, the top seal having an opening therein for entry of an access tube into the valve member, and the valve member having a sealing seam which facilitates piercing of the access tube through the valve member into the bag. A second bag may be provided within the first bag.The invention includes a machine for making the containers continuously from sheets of material.

Abstract: An adjustable drive mechanism for reciprocating a pair of sealing jaws in a packaging apparatus and controlling the stroke length includes a drive belt operatively connected to move the carriage and jaws in the up and down direction. A movable pulley assembly interconnects the drive belt ends and is attached to a working arm oscillated by a linkage arrangement. The linkage arrangement includes a rocker oscillated with a crank and connecting rod. A control link pivotally connected to the rocker completes the linkage and deflects to allow raising of the working arm and driving the sealing jaws on a downward draw stroke. The upper end of the control link constitutes an adjustable pivot to vary the degree of movement imparted by the working arm to the drive belt. The adjustable pivot is carried by an annular adjustment ring mounted within an annular guide groove of a mounting plate.

Abstract: A continuous packaging machine is comprised of two opposed pairs of conveyors arranged to define an elongated passage having a rectangular cross section for the passage of a hollow packaging tube. The four belts are synchronized and run in the same direction. A plurality of first forming devices and a plurality of complementary sealing and crimping devices are alternately disposed on a first pair of opposed conveyors and a plurality of second forming devices and a plurality of shaping plates are alternately disposed on a second pair of opposed conveyors. As the tube is fed downwardly through the passage, the tube is crimped and sealed, the first and second forming devices and the shaping plates engage the tube while it is being filled to define a rectilinear prismatic package and the tube is then crimped and sealed by the next pair of devices to define a closed filled package. Cutters may be provided with the sealing devices to separate the closed packages.

Abstract: Apparatus for making cushioning material for packaging materials is disclosed and includes means for driving webs of heat sealable material in face-to-face relationship, distending the webs by a stream of air or the like, transversely sealing and severing the distended webs to provide discrete capsules which are yieldable and capable of cushioning objects of commerce.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous manufacture of packing containers comprising an outer rigid casing and an inner baglike container. The inner container is manufactured by arranging first seals in pairs at equal distances, substantially in transverse direction of the web, whereupon mandrels are introduced into the web which has been provided with seals. Opening devices are applied to the web with the help of the mandrels as backing. After the mandrels have been withdrawn the free edges of the web are sealed to one another and the contents are introduced into the tube formed. The tube is sealed in its transverse direction along narrow sealing regions to form filled and closed containers which are separated from one another and are introduced into a rigid casing.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging a substance in closed bags formed from two continuous ribbons of a thin fragile material in which the ribbons are sealed to each other as they pass downwardly between first and second pairs of horizontal nipping rollers. A bag open at the top is produced from a portion of the ribbons by sealing and is filled with a predetermined amount of the substance to be packaged. The top of the bag is subsequently sealed to close the bag after the ribbons have advanced downwardly a predetermined distance. These operations take place sequentially on successive portions of the ribbons as they advance toward the second pair of nipping rollers, forming a series of sealed bags. At least one of the first pair of nipping rollers has a generally smooth annular concave portion extending between the end portions thereof, while at least one of the second pair of nipping rollers has a generally cylindrical portion of reduced diameter extending between its end portions.