Abstract:
An apparatus makes packages from a web of bags includes an indexing mechanism, an opening arrangement, engagement devices, and a sealing arrangement. The indexing mechanism moves the web. The opening arrangement opens a bag to form an opening so that a product can be placed into the bag. The engagement devices engage the bag and close the opening. Each engagement device includes a base, a first link, a second link, a sliding pivot, and a finger. The first link is pivotably connected to the base, and the second link is pivotably connected to the first link. The sliding pivot pivots with respect to the base and allows the second link to slide through the sliding pivot member. The finger is connected to the second link. The engagement devices pull a first and second sides of the bag in opposite directions. The sealing arrangement seals the opening of the bag.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a sealing device (1, 101, 201) for sealing a packaging material (7, 107) enclosing a filling material (29) to provide portion-packed oral pouched snuff products (43). The sealing device comprises an anvil (3, 103, 203) with a first operation surface (11, 111, 211) and a sonotrode (5, 105, 205) with a second operation surface (13, 113), the anvil and the sonotrode being arranged to allow passage of the packaging material therebetween, the second operation surface being located opposite the first operation surface during operation of the sealing device. The first and second operation surfaces are arranged to weld a first portion (7a, 107a) of the packaging material to a second portion (7b, 107b) of the packaging material. At least one of the first or second operation surfaces comprises a first welding surface (11a, 111a) defining a first extension plane and a second welding surface (11b, 111b) defining a second extension plane, which has a different orientation than the first extension plane. The first and second welding surfaces are partly delimited by a cutting edge (15, 115, 215) having an extension direction along the first and second welding surfaces, such that the cutting edge separates the first welding surface from the second welding surface. The present invention further relates to an arrangement (19) for manufacturing of portion-packed oral pouched snuff products, which arrangement comprises such a sealing device. The present invention also relates to a method for portion-packing of an oral pouched snuff product.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for making pouches providing a continuous web; folding the web to provide confronting side surfaces joined along a bottom edge; forming a vertical seal between the confronting side surfaces, thereby providing a series of adjacent pockets having opposite side walls with each pocket having an unsealed opening along a top edge; filling the pockets through the unsealed opening with material; sealing the unsealed opening. In the inventive method, which facilitates handling of the continuous web forming the pouches, the web is perforated by a perforation between a leading length piece of the web adapted to form a leading pocket and a trailing length piece of the web adapted to form a trailing pocket, and the distance between a trailing edge of the leading length piece and a leading edge of a trailing length piece is increased for tearing the leading and the trailing lengths pieces apart at the perforation.
Abstract:
A conveyor system pre-inserts a portion of the web into a first belt before the portion is gripped between the first belt and a second belt. In one exemplary embodiment, a pair of lips of a web are inserted into a corresponding first pair of belts and then the pair of lips are secured in the first pair of belts by inserting a second pair of belts into the first pair of belts over the pair of lips.
Abstract:
A bag loading and sealing system and method in which a continuous web of bags is continuously moved along a line. The web of bags is slit open to expose the interior of the bags and the bags of the web are separated from each other by a rod engaging perforated lines of separation between the bags. The open tops of the bags define a pair of flaps, each of which is gripped by a gripping chain, the paths of which diverge to form a mouth at the top of the bag. Material is deposited into the bag through the mouth and the gripper chains then converge to close the bag. The bags are transferred to gripper belts, with the top edge of the bag being slit off between the belts and the bags being transported through a hot air sealer where the remaining portions of the top of the bags are melted and fused together. A spool-type take-up winder is provided to retrieve the portion of the bags trimmed from the tops thereof.
Abstract:
A separating apparatus is described for separating interconnected cushions by breaking weakening lines provided between these cushions. To this end, the apparatus includes at least one circulating element and a conveyor for carrying the interconnected cushions along the circulating element. The circulating element is arranged for engaging the interconnected cushions at least once during a circulating movement of the circulating element, in order to carry one of these cushions along over a part of the circulating movement at a carrying speed which is higher than a conveying speed of the conveyor. An apparatus is described for manufacturing cushions by filling chambers formed in film material with a gas and then sealing them.
Abstract:
Methods for forming packages from a web of preformed bags. In one exemplary method of forming packages from a web of preformed bags, a first bag is held open with air. A product is loaded into the first bag that is held open with air. An opening of the first bag is sealed. A next bag is indexed such that an opening of the next bag is proximate to an engagement member. The web is engaged with the engagement member to pre-open the next bag. The web is disengaged by the engagement member. The next bag is opened with air for loading.
Abstract:
A heat tunnel for applying heated air to articles enclosed in shrink-wrap film includes at least one air supply unit; a conveyor; and a heat shroud spaced from the conveyor. The air supply unit includes a source of heated air, a fan, a heated air plenum, air ducts, and a return air plenum. Multiple air supply units can be provided along the conveyor to create a heat tunnel of desired length.
Abstract:
Wrapping material is supplied to the folding stations of a packaging machine, such as a cigarette packer, by a method that includes a step of dividing a continuous strip of multilayer material into single leaves, and a step of feeding the leaves to a wrapping unit; the step of dividing the continuous strip into leaves combines a first stage in which a partial cut is made in the strip by means of a laser device, leaving at least one layer of the multilayer strip intact, and a second stage in which a single leaf is detached by means of a tear device, separating along a score line created by the partial cutting step.
Abstract:
Upstream and downstream grippers clamp to one or more seal zones on a bandolier of packaged premiums, such that the downstream gripper(s) and upstream clipper(a) are on opposite sides of a wakened separation line. The upstream and downstream gripper(s) are independently displaced by motive devices in a downstream direction. Further displacement of the downstream gripper(s) relative to the upstream gripper(s) causes the separation line to tear, thus separating an end premium package from the rest of the bandolier. In one embodiment, the grippers clamp to the seal zones at locations offset from the bandolier axis and to one side thereof, thus causing a gradual tearing along the separation line and easier, less stressful separation.