A method includes separating a portion of a flattened tube of stock packing material to a custom length to form a pouch pre-form and closing a first end of the pouch pre-form leaving a second end of the pouch pre-form open. The method can include placing product into the pouch pre-form and closing the one open end of the pouch pre-form to form a closed pouch containing the product.

Packages made from flexible material, wherein the packages include one or more self-folds formed by applying activation energy to the flexible material are presented. The packages include a polymeric film, wherein the polymeric film is formed from one type of polymer, and wherein the flexible material defines an enclosed product volume. The packages include a first panel formed from the flexible material and a second panel formed from the flexible material. The packages include a self-fold that has an overall thickness that is about 5% to about 30% greater than a thickness of the flexible material outside of the self-fold. The self-fold has a differential thermal-mechanical set than the flexible material outside of the self-fold, and forms an angle of about 100 degrees to about 170 degrees between the first panel and the second panel.

Packages made from flexible material, wherein the packages include one or more self-folds formed by applying activation energy to the flexible material are presented. The packages include a polymeric film, wherein the polymeric film is formed from one type of polymer, and wherein the flexible material defines an enclosed product volume. The packages include a first panel formed from the flexible material and a second panel formed from the flexible material. The packages include a self-fold that has an overall thickness that is about 5% to about 30% greater than a thickness of the flexible material outside of the self-fold. The self-fold has a differential thermal-mechanical set than the flexible material outside of the self-fold, and forms an angle of about 100 degrees to about 170 degrees between the first panel and the second panel.

A transport mechanism for engaging a pouch in an erect configuration at a first station of a packaging machine and transferring the pouch to a second station of the packaging machine includes a carriage and a grip assembly. The carriage is moveable between the first station and the second station. The grip assembly is coupled to the carriage and is at least partially moveable relative to the carriage between an engaged position for clamping the pouch in the erect configuration within the grip assembly, and a released position.

Systems and methods for a bagger are provided. The bagger includes a support frame including two rails; a movable portion including a seal system and a gripper system, the movable portion attached to the two rails of the support frame; actuators including a first actuator and a second actuator, the first actuator and the second actuator each configured to move the movable portion along a respective rail of the two rails of the support frame, simultaneously; and a roller configured to hold a roll of film, the roller connected to a portion of the support frame that is above the two rails, wherein the gripper system includes at least one body that is configured to grip the film, and the seal system includes a seal bar that is configured to heat seal opposite side faces of the film together so as to form a first end of a bag.

Systems and methods for a bagger are provided. The bagger includes a support frame including two rails; a movable portion including a seal system and a gripper system, the movable portion attached to the two rails of the support frame; actuators including a first actuator and a second actuator, the first actuator and the second actuator each configured to move the movable portion along a respective rail of the two rails of the support frame, simultaneously; and a roller configured to hold a roll of film, the roller connected to a portion of the support frame that is above the two rails, wherein the gripper system includes at least one body that is configured to grip the film, and the seal system includes a seal bar that is configured to heat seal opposite side faces of the film together so as to form a first end of a bag.

A weighing and packaging system includes a plurality of weighing machines, a plurality of packaging machines, and a control unit. The plurality of weighing machines are configured to weigh articles supplied thereto. The plurality of packaging machines, each of which forms a weighing and packaging unit with a corresponding weighing machine among the plurality of weighing machines, are configured to receive a supply of the articles weighed and discharged by the corresponding weighing machine, and package the articles supplied thereto. The control unit is configured to, in a case where a problem occurs in at least one of weighing by the weighing machine and packaging by the packaging machine in any of the weighing and packaging units, change processing capacities of the weighing machine and the packaging machine of at least some of the weighing and packaging units other than the weighing and packaging units in which the problem occurs.

A weighing and packaging system includes a plurality of weighing machines, a plurality of packaging machines, and a control unit. The plurality of weighing machines are configured to weigh articles supplied thereto. The plurality of packaging machines, each of which forms a weighing and packaging unit with a corresponding weighing machine among the plurality of weighing machines, are configured to receive a supply of the articles weighed and discharged by the corresponding weighing machine, and package the articles supplied thereto. The control unit is configured to, in a case where a problem occurs in at least one of weighing by the weighing machine and packaging by the packaging machine in any of the weighing and packaging units, change processing capacities of the weighing machine and the packaging machine of at least some of the weighing and packaging units other than the weighing and packaging units in which the problem occurs.

A method includes separating a portion of a flattened tube of stock packing material to a custom length to form a pouch pre-form and closing a first end of the pouch pre-form leaving a second end of the pouch pre-form open. The method can include placing product into the pouch pre-form and closing the one open end of the pouch pre-form to form a closed pouch containing the product.

A method includes separating a portion of a flattened tube of stock packing material to a custom length to form a pouch pre-form and closing a first end of the pouch pre-form leaving a second end of the pouch pre-form open. The method can include placing product into the pouch pre-form and closing the one open end of the pouch pre-form to form a closed pouch containing the product.