A plate configured to contact a web includes a first region having a first characteristic and a second region having a second characteristic different than the first characteristic. The plate has a substantially arcuate wall with an inner surface and an outer surface. A plurality of vacuum holes extends between the inner and outer surfaces and are configured to be in fluid communication with a vacuum source. A vacuum region is adapted to contact the first region of the web and a reduced-vacuum region is adapted to receive the second region of the web. The plurality of vacuum holes are configured such that, when attached to the vacuum source, a vacuum pressure at the vacuum region is greater than a pressure at the reduced-vacuum region so that the first region of the web is held against the plate with a greater force than the second region.

A plate configured to contact a web includes a first region having a first characteristic and a second region having a second characteristic different than the first characteristic. The plate has a substantially arcuate wall with an inner surface and an outer surface. A plurality of vacuum holes extends between the inner and outer surfaces and are configured to be in fluid communication with a vacuum source. A vacuum region is adapted to contact the first region of the web and a reduced-vacuum region is adapted to receive the second region of the web. The plurality of vacuum holes are configured such that, when attached to the vacuum source, a vacuum pressure at the vacuum region is greater than a pressure at the reduced-vacuum region so that the first region of the web is held against the plate with a greater force than the second region.

A web conveying device includes a roller portion, a first air passage, a second air passage, and an air current generation portion. The roller portion rotates in contact with a web. The first air passage extends in an axial direction of a rotation shaft of the roller portion inside an outer peripheral portion of the roller portion and communicates with an outside at an end on a side of a first direction parallel to the axial direction. The second air passage extends from the first air passage in a direction that forms an obtuse angle with respect to the first direction and communicates with the outside of the outer peripheral portion. The air current generation portion generates an air current that flows in the first air passage in the first direction.

A web conveying device includes a roller portion, a first air passage, a second air passage, and an air current generation portion. The roller portion rotates in contact with a web. The first air passage extends in an axial direction of a rotation shaft of the roller portion inside an outer peripheral portion of the roller portion and communicates with an outside at an end on a side of a first direction parallel to the axial direction. The second air passage extends from the first air passage in a direction that forms an obtuse angle with respect to the first direction and communicates with the outside of the outer peripheral portion. The air current generation portion generates an air current that flows in the first air passage in the first direction.

A splice mechanism (100) for a packaging assembly (10), the packaging assembly (10) including: a former shoulder (12); a controller (14); a film drive (16) controlled by the controller (14) for feeding a film (112) at a film speed to the former shoulder (12) to form a tubular film (22) moving in a film direction (20); a sealing device (24) to seal the tubular film (22) in a first sealing direction (26), the first sealing direction (26) being parallel to the film direction (20); a set of jaws (28) controlled by the controller (14) and movable at a jaw speed to engage and seal the tubular film (22) in a second sealing direction (30) to form a first seal (32) and a second seal (34) in each bag, thereby forming a closed bag (36), the splice mechanism (100) including: an active film roll (110) from which film (112) is drawn to be fed to the former shoulder (12) by the film drive (16); a second film roll (120) having film (122) for feeding to the former shoulder (12); a film roll holder (130) holding the active film roll (110) and the second film roll (120) such that film (112) from the active film roll (110) extends along a film path (140) to the former shoulder (12) and the second film roll (120) is accessible; a splice roller (150) against which film (122) from the second film roll (120) is placed, the film (122) having a film end (124), the film end (124) having an adhesive (126), the splice roller (150) being movable between a free position, wherein the film path (140) is unimpeded by the splice roller (150), and a splice position, wherein the film path (140) is tangential to the splice roller (150) at a splice point (142) on the film path (140).

A splice mechanism (100) for a packaging assembly (10), the packaging assembly (10) including: a former shoulder (12); a controller (14); a film drive (16) controlled by the controller (14) for feeding a film (112) at a film speed to the former shoulder (12) to form a tubular film (22) moving in a film direction (20); a sealing device (24) to seal the tubular film (22) in a first sealing direction (26), the first sealing direction (26) being parallel to the film direction (20); a set of jaws (28) controlled by the controller (14) and movable at a jaw speed to engage and seal the tubular film (22) in a second sealing direction (30) to form a first seal (32) and a second seal (34) in each bag, thereby forming a closed bag (36), the splice mechanism (100) including: an active film roll (110) from which film (112) is drawn to be fed to the former shoulder (12) by the film drive (16); a second film roll (120) having film (122) for feeding to the former shoulder (12); a film roll holder (130) holding the active film roll (110) and the second film roll (120) such that film (112) from the active film roll (110) extends along a film path (140) to the former shoulder (12) and the second film roll (120) is accessible; a splice roller (150) against which film (122) from the second film roll (120) is placed, the film (122) having a film end (124), the film end (124) having an adhesive (126), the splice roller (150) being movable between a free position, wherein the film path (140) is unimpeded by the splice roller (150), and a splice position, wherein the film path (140) is tangential to the splice roller (150) at a splice point (142) on the film path (140).

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transporting a discrete element. A preferably rotatably driven vacuum commutation zone (or internal vacuum manifold), preferably internal to a preferably independently driven porous vacuum roll or drum is disclosed. The vacuum manifold applies vacuum through pores in the driven porous vacuum roll or puck in order to hold material against an external surface of the vacuum roll or puck. By independently controlling the vacuum commutation zone and the driven porous surface, unique motion profiles of the vacuum commutation zone relative to the driven porous surface can be provided. Micro vacuum commutation port structures are also disclosed.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transporting a discrete element. A preferably rotatably driven vacuum commutation zone (or internal vacuum manifold), preferably internal to a preferably independently driven porous vacuum roll or drum is disclosed. The vacuum manifold applies vacuum through pores in the driven porous vacuum roll or puck in order to hold material against an external surface of the vacuum roll or puck. By independently controlling the vacuum commutation zone and the driven porous surface, unique motion profiles of the vacuum commutation zone relative to the driven porous surface can be provided. Micro vacuum commutation port structures are also disclosed.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transporting a discrete element. A preferably rotatably driven vacuum commutation zone (or internal vacuum manifold), preferably internal to a preferably independently driven porous vacuum roll or drum is disclosed. The vacuum manifold applies vacuum through pores in the driven porous vacuum roll or puck in order to hold material against an external surface of the vacuum roll or puck. By independently controlling the vacuum commutation zone and the driven porous surface, unique motion profiles of the vacuum commutation zone relative to the driven porous surface can be provided. Micro vacuum commutation port structures are also disclosed.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transporting a discrete element. A preferably rotatably driven vacuum commutation zone (or internal vacuum manifold), preferably internal to a preferably independently driven porous vacuum roll or drum is disclosed. The vacuum manifold applies vacuum through pores in the driven porous vacuum roll or puck in order to hold material against an external surface of the vacuum roll or puck. By independently controlling the vacuum commutation zone and the driven porous surface, unique motion profiles of the vacuum commutation zone relative to the driven porous surface can be provided. Micro vacuum commutation port structures are also disclosed.