An apparatus for packaging an object with a tubular film, includes: a main frame, a stretch frame for stretching the tubular film and for applying the tubular film to the object, and a top frame having a feeding device for delivering a tubular film from a film magazine to the stretch frame and having a cutting device to cut the tubular film to a predetermined length. The top frame is moveable at the main frame between a working position and a maintenance position. In the maintenance position the top frame is located outside the work space.

There is described a sealing apparatus for sealing packages filled with a pourable product within a packaging machine. The sealing apparatus having at least one sonotrode comprising at least a sonotrode head and a vibration control unit connected to the sonotrode head and configured to actuate ultrasonic vibrations of the sonotrode head. The vibration control unit comprises one or more piezoelectric transducer devices configured to generate ultrasonic vibrations to be coupled into the sonotrode head and a sensor device configured to measure, in use, one or more time-dependent electrical parameters of each one of the one or more piezoelectric transducer devices.

There is described a sealing apparatus for sealing packages filled with a pourable product within a packaging machine. The sealing apparatus having at least one sonotrode comprising at least a sonotrode head and a vibration control unit connected to the sonotrode head and configured to actuate ultrasonic vibrations of the sonotrode head. The vibration control unit comprises one or more piezoelectric transducer devices configured to generate ultrasonic vibrations to be coupled into the sonotrode head and a sensor device configured to measure, in use, one or more time-dependent electrical parameters of each one of the one or more piezoelectric transducer devices.

A direct-to-consumer heat shrunk bundled product made up of a plurality of paper product rolls each individually packaged by a first package material and arranged relative to one another so as to form a bundle, the bundle being packaged by a second package material, wherein a substantial portion of the inner surface of the second package material is in contact with the first package material of the plurality of paper product rolls and is nonstick relative to the first package material. The bundle includes fused end seals so that the bundle does not include open gussets that might otherwise catch on machinery during sorting and shipping. The packaging material and/or wrapper may include laser energy absorbing material or adhesive.

A direct-to-consumer heat shrunk bundled product made up of a plurality of paper product rolls each individually packaged by a first package material and arranged relative to one another so as to form a bundle, the bundle being packaged by a second package material, wherein a substantial portion of the inner surface of the second package material is in contact with the first package material of the plurality of paper product rolls and is nonstick relative to the first package material. The bundle includes fused end seals so that the bundle does not include open gussets that might otherwise catch on machinery during sorting and shipping. The packaging material and/or wrapper may include laser energy absorbing material or adhesive.

Advanced ultrasonic welding components of Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 8,376,016 are readily incorporated into new form-fill-seal machines, but owners of existing machines utilizing heat-seal stations were unsuccessful at swapping the sealing packages. Retrofit kits to a replace heat sealing stations with an advanced ultrasonic sonotrode and anvil comprise: a housing; a linear rail fixed thereto; first and second bearing carriages being slidable upon the rail; and first and second fluidic muscles. Each of the fluidic muscles is mounted with a first end fixed to a respective housing wall, and a second end fixed to a respective bearing carriage, permitting actuation of each carriage through pressurization/depressurization of the muscles. The advanced anvil and sonotrode may be secured to respective carriages. In-line arrangements of anvil/sonotrode, bearing carriages, the first fluidic and second fluidic muscles provides a narrow profile, permitting side-by-side kit installations for retrofits accomplishing duplex sealing on a horizontal machine.

A method for providing crease lines to a packaging material having a bulk layer is provided. The method comprises arranging the material to be creased between an elastic anvil and a pressing tool having at least one protrusive ridge facing the anvil, and pressing the ridge towards the anvil such that the packaging material will be subject to an imprint, whereby the width of the imprint is continuously increasing as the ridge is pressed against the anvil.

A stick pack having a top sealed portion with a top edge, a horizontal notch parallel with the top edge and passing through the stick pack, and further including a horizontal perforation line parallel with the top edge. The stick pack also has a bottom edge portion with a bottom sealed edge, a longitudinal seal extending from the top sealed edge to the bottom edge; and a spout formed at least partially in the top sealed portion but not extending past the top sealed edge. The stick pack is configured to be folded along its longitudinal axis to fold the notch, and only when the notch is folded can a user easily tear the top sealed edge along the horizontal perforation line to expose the spout.

A stick pack having a top sealed portion with a top edge, a horizontal notch parallel with the top edge and passing through the stick pack, and further including a horizontal perforation line parallel with the top edge. The stick pack also has a bottom edge portion with a bottom sealed edge, a longitudinal seal extending from the top sealed edge to the bottom edge; and a spout formed at least partially in the top sealed portion but not extending past the top sealed edge. The stick pack is configured to be folded along its longitudinal axis to fold the notch, and only when the notch is folded can a user easily tear the top sealed edge along the horizontal perforation line to expose the spout.

A feeding unit for receiving sealed packs from a forming unit arranged to form the packs and feed the packs to a folding unit arranged to fold the packs so as to obtain folded packages comprises a feeding conveyor having at least one carrying element arranged for delivering the packs to the folding unit at an outlet region of the feeding unit, the feeding unit further comprising a braking conveyor arranged for slowing down the packs so that the packs are kept in contact with the at least one carrying element at the outlet region.