A process of making a water soluble pouch including the steps of providing a first mold, providing a water soluble first web carried on the first mold, forming the water soluble web into a compartment by applying a first pressure difference across the water soluble first web at a first maximum temperature and subsequently applying a second pressure difference across the water soluble first web, wherein the second pressure difference is greater than or equal to the first pressure difference.

A process of making a water soluble pouch including the steps of providing a first mold, providing a water soluble first web carried on the first mold, forming the water soluble web into a compartment by applying a first pressure difference across the water soluble first web at a first maximum temperature and subsequently applying a second pressure difference across the water soluble first web, wherein the second pressure difference is greater than or equal to the first pressure difference.

An inflatable web is disclosed. The web includes first and second film plies sealed together via a plurality of generally transverse seals to define a first and second inflatable chambers and an inflation region. The chambers are inflatable with a fluid and operable to contain the fluid. The sealed plies have a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. The web defines a separation region extending at least partially transversely across the web between the first and second inflatable chambers and is configured to facilitate separation thereof. The separation region includes a tear propagation line extending transversely across at least a portion of the web with an end of the tear propagation line terminating proximal to the first longitudinal edge of the web. The separation region includes a tear initiation feature including edges spaced apart from one another longitudinally to form a permanent opening in the web.

An inflatable web is disclosed. The web includes first and second film plies sealed together via a plurality of generally transverse seals to define a first and second inflatable chambers and an inflation region. The chambers are inflatable with a fluid and operable to contain the fluid. The sealed plies have a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. The web defines a separation region extending at least partially transversely across the web between the first and second inflatable chambers and is configured to facilitate separation thereof. The separation region includes a tear propagation line extending transversely across at least a portion of the web with an end of the tear propagation line terminating proximal to the first longitudinal edge of the web. The separation region includes a tear initiation feature including edges spaced apart from one another longitudinally to form a permanent opening in the web.

An inflatable web is disclosed. The web includes a first and second film ply sealed together. The transverse seals define first and second inflatable chambers. The web defines a separation region extending at least partially between the first and second inflatable chambers in a substantially transverse direction across the web and configured to facilitate separation of the first and second inflatable chambers. The separation region includes a tear initiation feature that facilitates tearing of the web to separate the inflatable chambers. The separation region includes a tear propagation line including a first plurality of perforations perforation is separated from an adjacent perforation by a land having a first transverse length. A tear initiation feature includes a second plurality of perforations, each perforation separated from an adjacent perforation by a land having a second transverse length, where the first transverse length is longer than the second transverse length.

An inflatable web is disclosed. The web includes a first and second film ply sealed together. The transverse seals define first and second inflatable chambers. The web defines a separation region extending at least partially between the first and second inflatable chambers in a substantially transverse direction across the web and configured to facilitate separation of the first and second inflatable chambers. The separation region includes a tear initiation feature that facilitates tearing of the web to separate the inflatable chambers. The separation region includes a tear propagation line including a first plurality of perforations perforation is separated from an adjacent perforation by a land having a first transverse length. A tear initiation feature includes a second plurality of perforations, each perforation separated from an adjacent perforation by a land having a second transverse length, where the first transverse length is longer than the second transverse length.

A blister packaging machine includes: a pocket portion forming unit that forms a pocket portion having a bottom portion and a side portion, in a belt-like container film, and adjusts balance between a thickness of the bottom portion and a thickness of the side portion; an illumination device that is disposed on a downstream side of the pocket portion forming unit, and irradiates the pocket portion with an electromagnetic radiation; an imaging device that is disposed on a side opposite to the illumination device across the container film, and obtains transmitted image data based on the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the pocket portion; a side portion state detector that detects a state of the thickness of the side portion based on the transmitted image data; and a controller that controls an operation of the pocket portion forming unit.

A blister packaging machine includes: a pocket portion forming unit that forms a pocket portion having a bottom portion and a side portion, in a belt-like container film, and adjusts balance between a thickness of the bottom portion and a thickness of the side portion; an illumination device that is disposed on a downstream side of the pocket portion forming unit, and irradiates the pocket portion with an electromagnetic radiation; an imaging device that is disposed on a side opposite to the illumination device across the container film, and obtains transmitted image data based on the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the pocket portion; a side portion state detector that detects a state of the thickness of the side portion based on the transmitted image data; and a controller that controls an operation of the pocket portion forming unit.

A working station for a packaging machine, wherein the working station has a lifting unit having a pressure source and a lifting actuator connected to the pressure source. The lifting actuator comprises a hose comprising a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface, and a seal having a seal cap engaging the outer surface. The seal further comprises an insert engaging the inner surface. Furthermore, the seal clamps a clamping portion of the wall of the hose between the insert and the seal cap in a fluidtight, preferably gastight, manner.

According to one embodiment a packaging machine and method for packaging a product is provided in which a cover film is arranged on the product and on a base film which supports the product and is narrower than the cover film; the superimposed films are moved in a first direction to a joining station where both films are attached to one another; and the attached films are moved in the first direction to a cutting station where the films are cut transversely and where the areas of the cover film projecting from the base film are cut longitudinally. The movement of the films is caused by acting on the cover film.