Heat shrink apparatuses and devices can heat shrink selected portions of containers made from heat shrinkable plastic film. The apparatuses and devices selectively heat shrink a main portion of the container where a product is housed, or a terminal portion of the same container. A packaging line including one or more of the heat shrink apparatuses and devices.

It is described a package (1) comprising a plastic bag (2) delimiting a seat (3) sealingly housing a product (P): the plastic bag (2) has plastic film walls (4) and at least one sealing band (5) connecting together opposed wall portions (4a) of the plastic film walls at a connecting zone (6) of the plastic bag; a tab (10) is coupled with the connecting zone (6) of the plastic bag: the tab (10) includes an easy opening feature (11) at one or more of its perimeter edges. A process of making packages (1) of the above type is also described.

It is described a package (1) comprising a plastic bag (2) delimiting a seat (3) sealingly housing a product (P): the plastic bag (2) has plastic film walls (4) and at least one sealing band (5) connecting together opposed wall portions (4a) of the plastic film walls at a connecting zone (6) of the plastic bag; a tab (10) is coupled with the connecting zone (6) of the plastic bag: the tab (10) includes an easy opening feature (11) at one or more of its perimeter edges. A process of making packages (1) of the above type is also described.

A production machine for the production of collapsible pouches having a fitment. The machine has a fitment sealing station with an impulse sealing device comprising a first jaw and a second jaw and with an actuator device configured to move the first and second jaws relative to one another between an opened position and a clamped position, as well as a cooling device configured to cool each of the first and second jaws. The fitment sealing station is configured to perform an impulse sealing cycle.

Packages made from flexible material, wherein the packages include one or more self-folds formed by applying activation energy to the flexible material.

A form, fill and seal machine for making a reclosable package with a reclosable fastener includes a reclosable fastener handling assembly, a forming tube, a vertical seal assembly and a sealing jaw assembly. The handling assembly includes a flattening device, a reclosable fastener feed device and a slack sensor. A form, fill and seal machine alternatively includes a forming tube, a vertical seal assembly disposed adjacent the forming tube, wherein the vertical seal assembly is configured to continuously seal the film tube, and a tear notch applicator positioned downstream of the vertical seal assembly and configured to apply a slit to the continuously moving film tube. The tear notch applicator is positionally fixed in the machine direction. Methods for continuously forming a reclosable package are also provided.

A form, fill and seal machine for making a reclosable package with a reclosable fastener includes a reclosable fastener handling assembly, a forming tube, a vertical seal assembly and a sealing jaw assembly. The handling assembly includes a flattening device, a reclosable fastener feed device and a slack sensor. A form, fill and seal machine alternatively includes a forming tube, a vertical seal assembly disposed adjacent the forming tube, wherein the vertical seal assembly is configured to continuously seal the film tube, and a tear notch applicator positioned downstream of the vertical seal assembly and configured to apply a slit to the continuously moving film tube. The tear notch applicator is positionally fixed in the machine direction. Methods for continuously forming a reclosable package are also provided.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for handling and manipulating packages in automated or semi-automated fashion and packages adapted for the same. The systems may include package-holding devices, package-manipulating devices, and package-detection components for locating packages or portions thereof in a three-dimensional space. The packages may include features that enable automated or semi-automated handling and manipulation thereof, such as different types of opening/closing mechanisms with different geometric structures that allow for holding, shifting, and manipulating the packages and/or portions thereof with the package-manipulating devices. The packages additionally or alternatively may include mechanical fasteners, magnets, and/or spring-biased opening/closing mechanisms for keeping the packages closed prior to manipulation thereof. Such packages and systems may be used in a logistics network to the increase speed, accuracy, and efficiency of processing packages having, at least in part, a non-fixed geometry.

A packaging machine for packaging a product in bags comprises a forming station for making bags from a plastic sheet that includes folding assembly for folding the sheet and obtaining two superimposed flaps, pulling assembly for unwinding the sheet and moving the two flaps on a vertical movement plane along a vertical first advancement direction, welding assembly and cutting devices for making on the flaps bags that are arranged side by side to form bag rows parallel to each other and orthogonal to the first advancement direction; a filling and closing station comprising a dosing station for dosing a product in the bags and a welding station for welding and closing the bags; and a movement system provided with gripping devices mobile and configured to move the bag rows along a second advancement direction from the forming station to the dosing station and the welding station.

A packaging machine for packaging a product in bags comprises a forming station for making bags from a plastic sheet that includes folding assembly for folding the sheet and obtaining two superimposed flaps, pulling assembly for unwinding the sheet and moving the two flaps on a vertical movement plane along a vertical first advancement direction, welding assembly and cutting devices for making on the flaps bags that are arranged side by side to form bag rows parallel to each other and orthogonal to the first advancement direction; a filling and closing station comprising a dosing station for dosing a product in the bags and a welding station for welding and closing the bags; and a movement system provided with gripping devices mobile and configured to move the bag rows along a second advancement direction from the forming station to the dosing station and the welding station.