A method of applying a sealing strip onto a web of packaging material comprising advancing the web along a web advancement path; applying a first longitudinal portion of the sealing strip onto a longitudinal edge of the web, sealing the first longitudinal portion of the sealing strip onto the longitudinal edge, detecting and/or determining a correct alignment of the sealing strip with respect to the web. The detecting and/or determining of the correct alignment comprises acquiring an image of a second longitudinal portion of the sealing strip and a reference marker of a strip application apparatus, analyzing the acquired image to determine at least a first transversal distance between the reference marker and a longitudinal border of the second longitudinal portion; and evaluating the correct alignment/misalignment as a function of at least the first transversal distance.

The machine for packaging groups of products in a wrapping sheet, includes a device for spreading a wrapping sheet and a handling device, adapted to reciprocally move a group of products to be packaged and the wrapping sheet, so as to wrap the wrapping sheet around the group of products as a result of the reciprocal movement between the wrapping sheet and group of products. The machine further includes temporary support members adapted to support flaps of the wrapping sheet protruding with respect to the group of products during a step of reciprocal movement between the group of products to be packaged and the wrapping sheet.

The machine for packaging groups of products in a wrapping sheet, includes a device for spreading a wrapping sheet and a handling device, adapted to reciprocally move a group of products to be packaged and the wrapping sheet, so as to wrap the wrapping sheet around the group of products as a result of the reciprocal movement between the wrapping sheet and group of products. The machine further includes temporary support members adapted to support flaps of the wrapping sheet protruding with respect to the group of products during a step of reciprocal movement between the group of products to be packaged and the wrapping sheet.

A strap feeding device includes first driving and driven rollers, second driving and driven rollers, an actuating unit, and a detecting unit. The actuating unit can move the second driving roller between a released position, where the second driven roller is spaced apart from the second driving roller, and a contact, where the second driven roller contacts the second driving roller and is co-rotatable with the second driving roller to clamp and move a strap. The control device controls rotation of the first and second driving rollers to feed and return the strap, detects rotation of the first driven roller, and controls the actuating unit to move the second driven roller to the contact and released positions.

Methods, apparatuses and systems for sealed dimpled film packages. A vacuum box having apertures, a dimpled bottom film sheet is placed on the base plate and an item to be packaged can be placed on the bottom dimpled film sheet. A top film sheet in a clamp frame is heated to a processing temperature and lowered towards the item and dimpled bottom film sheet. Vacuum suction causes sealing of the clamped top film sheet against the package from the base to the perimeter extending at an angle more than 5 degrees. The top film sheet is pulled down using the vacuum suction into contact with the dimpled film sheet from the base perimeter on the dimpled film sheet outward toward the perimeter of the dimpled film sheet forming a seal.

The present invention provides a food packaging machine comprising a packaging material supply module, a food supply module, a filling module. The food packaging machine further comprises a hardware data processor operably connected to the packaging material supply module, operably connected to the food supply module, so operable to create a food data transaction, and operably connected to a network data processing system. The hardware data processor is operable to send the food data transaction to the network data processing system for the data transaction to be appended to a packaged food production data hash tree. The present invention further provides a system for packaging food comprising a plurality of food packaging machines as well as methods for tracking food data transactions in a food packaging machine and in a system for packaging food.

The present invention provides a food packaging machine comprising a packaging material supply module, a food supply module, a filling module. The food packaging machine further comprises a hardware data processor operably connected to the packaging material supply module, operably connected to the food supply module, so operable to create a food data transaction, and operably connected to a network data processing system. The hardware data processor is operable to send the food data transaction to the network data processing system for the data transaction to be appended to a packaged food production data hash tree. The present invention further provides a system for packaging food comprising a plurality of food packaging machines as well as methods for tracking food data transactions in a food packaging machine and in a system for packaging food.

Disclosed in an assembly for forming bags, having a belt drive for feeding a film at a film speed to a former shoulder to form a tubular film, a set of jaws movable at a jaw speed to engage and seal a tubular film to form a closed bag, and a sensor assembly to provide a volume signal indicative of a volume of the closed bag, wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one of the film speed and the jaw speed in response to the volume signal.

A strap feeding device includes first driving and driven rollers, second driving and driven rollers, an actuating unit, and a detecting unit. The actuating unit can move the second driving roller between a released position, where the second driven roller is spaced apart from the second driving roller, and a contact, where the second driven roller contacts the second driving roller and is co-rotatable with the second driving roller to clamp and move a strap. The control device controls rotation of the first and second driving rollers to feed and return the strap, detects rotation of the first driven roller, and controls the actuating unit to move the second driven roller to the contact and released positions.

A method of applying a sealing strip onto a web of packaging material comprising advancing the web along a web advancement path; applying a first longitudinal portion of the sealing strip onto a longitudinal edge of the web, sealing the first longitudinal portion of the sealing strip onto the longitudinal edge, detecting and/or determining a correct alignment of the sealing strip with respect to the web. The detecting and/or determining of the correct alignment comprises acquiring an image of a second longitudinal portion of the sealing strip and a reference marker of a strip application apparatus, analyzing the acquired image to determine at least a first transversal distance between the reference marker and a longitudinal border of the second longitudinal portion; and evaluating the correct alignment/misalignment as a function of at least the first transversal distance.