Systems, methods, and apparatuses for treating and sealing perishable products in bulk bins and large bulk open top packaging are included. A modified atmosphere of industrial gas (i.e., nitrogen) and product specific treatments are injected within the contents of the liner bag or bin enclosure at the conclusion of the cooling cycle, in conjunction with or just after as the liner bag or open top bin enclosure is sealed. The methods and apparatuses provide alternative processes that can be applied manually or automated to seal of the bin liner bag or bin enclosure and then independently or in conjunction with cooling provide for the controlled and contained injection of modified atmosphere industrial gas treatments (i.e., nitrogen), sanitizer, and/or other functional substances to protect, preserve, or enhance the quality of the perishable product.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for treating and sealing perishable products in bulk bins and large bulk open top packaging are included. A modified atmosphere of industrial gas (i.e., nitrogen) and product specific treatments are injected within the contents of the liner bag or bin enclosure at the conclusion of the cooling cycle, in conjunction with or just after as the liner bag or open top bin enclosure is sealed. The methods and apparatuses provide alternative processes that can be applied manually or automated to seal of the bin liner bag or bin enclosure and then independently or in conjunction with cooling provide for the controlled and contained injection of modified atmosphere industrial gas treatments (i.e., nitrogen), sanitizer, and/or other functional substances to protect, preserve, or enhance the quality of the perishable product.

A heat sealable bag may have overlapping layers of a multi-layer film. The inner adjacent layers of the multi-layer film may comprise a sealant layer that allows an open edge of the bag to be heat sealed by temperatures lower than 255 F for a 6-second dwell time, thereby providing safer operation and potentially allowing thinner plastics to be used, with reduced risk of burn-through. The sealant may include a polyolefin plastomer such as an ethylene alpha-olefin resin.

A heat sealable bag may have overlapping layers of a multi-layer film. The inner adjacent layers of the multi-layer film may comprise a sealant layer that allows an open edge of the bag to be heat sealed by temperatures lower than 255 F for a 6-second dwell time, thereby providing safer operation and potentially allowing thinner plastics to be used, with reduced risk of burn-through. The sealant may include a polyolefin plastomer such as an ethylene alpha-olefin resin.

A thermoform packaging machine comprising a forming station, a sealing station, and a cutting station for separating sealed packaging troughs from one another. The cutting station may comprise at least one cutting unit which is adapted to be positioned within the cutting station at different positions in the production direction. The cutting station may comprise a support that supports bottoms of the sealed packaging troughs conveyed into the cutting station for the purpose of separation from below. The support may comprise a plurality of support elements arranged in a horizontal bearing plane and which form a gap at a position in the support at which a cutting operation takes place according to the position of the cutting unit. The gap may be repositioned by moving the support elements to different positions to position the gap to accommodate a different position of the cutting unit within the cutting station.

A thermoform packaging machine comprising a forming station, a sealing station, and a cutting station for separating sealed packaging troughs from one another. The cutting station may comprise at least one cutting unit which is adapted to be positioned within the cutting station at different positions in the production direction. The cutting station may comprise a support that supports bottoms of the sealed packaging troughs conveyed into the cutting station for the purpose of separation from below. The support may comprise a plurality of support elements arranged in a horizontal bearing plane and which form a gap at a position in the support at which a cutting operation takes place according to the position of the cutting unit. The gap may be repositioned by moving the support elements to different positions to position the gap to accommodate a different position of the cutting unit within the cutting station.

An apparatus for producing packaging, in particular composite packaging for liquid foodstuffs, having a cross-sectional area that decreases in the pour-out direction in the gable region. The packaging is composed of a sleeve having a gable region having a plurality of gable faces and a pouring element. The apparatus has at least one rotatable mandrel wheel having a plurality of mandrels for holding the sleeves. Additionally, a method for producing such packaging and a gable press for use with the aforementioned apparatus. In order to allow easier and more cost-effective production, it is proposed that the apparatus has a gable press, assigned to a single mandrel wheel position, for folding the gable region, for connecting all the gable faces of the gable region of the sleeve to the pouring element and for sealing the protruding ears in the same mandrel wheel position.

An apparatus for producing packaging, in particular composite packaging for liquid foodstuffs, having a cross-sectional area that decreases in the pour-out direction in the gable region. The packaging is composed of a sleeve having a gable region having a plurality of gable faces and a pouring element. The apparatus has at least one rotatable mandrel wheel having a plurality of mandrels for holding the sleeves. Additionally, a method for producing such packaging and a gable press for use with the aforementioned apparatus. In order to allow easier and more cost-effective production, it is proposed that the apparatus has a gable press, assigned to a single mandrel wheel position, for folding the gable region, for connecting all the gable faces of the gable region of the sleeve to the pouring element and for sealing the protruding ears in the same mandrel wheel position.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods to secure a film to a container are provided. An example sealing device utilizes film from a supply of film to seal a lid onto a container. Various sizes of containers are usable with some example sealing devices. Additional features, such as printing on the film and piercing the film for ventilation and/or insertion of a straw are contemplated. One or more markings along the film may be utilized for confirming that an approved film has been loaded into the sealing device. In response, various components or features of the sealing device may be appropriately enabled or disabled. The one or more markings may also be utilized to convey data to the sealing device regarding the installed film, such as for improved operation thereof.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods to secure a film to a container are provided. An example sealing device utilizes film from a supply of film to seal a lid onto a container. Various sizes of containers are usable with some example sealing devices. Additional features, such as printing on the film and piercing the film for ventilation and/or insertion of a straw are contemplated. One or more markings along the film may be utilized for confirming that an approved film has been loaded into the sealing device. In response, various components or features of the sealing device may be appropriately enabled or disabled. The one or more markings may also be utilized to convey data to the sealing device regarding the installed film, such as for improved operation thereof.