A plurality of pouch containers are continuously manufactured from materials including: a plurality of separate-type tubular film members each including a portion to be formed as a barrel portion; and a single first belt-shaped film member and a single second belt-shaped film member each including a plurality of portions each to be formed as a gusset portion. The step of closing an opening end of each of the separate-type tubular film members supplying the belt-shaped film member to the opening end by conveying the belt-shaped film member in parallel with the separate-type tubular film members at the same speed as a conveyance speed of the separate-type tubular film members, to cause the belt-shaped film member to overlap with an opened joining margin of each of the separate-type tubular film members; and joining the joining margin to a portion of the belt-shaped film member that overlaps with the joining margin.

A plurality of pouch containers are continuously manufactured from materials including: a plurality of separate-type tubular film members each including a portion to be formed as a barrel portion; and a single first belt-shaped film member and a single second belt-shaped film member each including a plurality of portions each to be formed as a gusset portion. The step of closing an opening end of each of the separate-type tubular film members supplying the belt-shaped film member to the opening end by conveying the belt-shaped film member in parallel with the separate-type tubular film members at the same speed as a conveyance speed of the separate-type tubular film members, to cause the belt-shaped film member to overlap with an opened joining margin of each of the separate-type tubular film members; and joining the joining margin to a portion of the belt-shaped film member that overlaps with the joining margin.

A method for manufacturing an intermediate material for a soft packaging container according to the present invention includes: a first overlaying step P1 of laying a second raw film sheet 120 over a first raw film sheet 110; a confining portion forming step P2 of forming a filler confining portion 50 for confining a filler 59, the filler confining portion 50 being constituted by a non-joined region between the first raw film sheet 110 and the second raw sheet 12, by joining a portion of the first raw film sheet 110 and a portion of the second sheet 12 to each other; a folding step P4 of folding the first raw film sheet 110 and the second sheet 12 with the first raw film sheet 110 on an outer side, such that the filler confining portion 50 is present in a state where an inner portion thereof is continuous on two sides that are connected via at least one folding position; an accommodating portion forming step P5 of forming an accommodating portion 60 by joining a plurality of portions including at least one of the first raw film sheet 110 and the second sheet 12; and a cutting step P6 of forming an intermediate material A1 for a soft packaging container by cutting at least the first raw film sheet 110. This configuration makes it possible to more readily and reliably manufacture a soft packaging container that has a filler confining portion in more regions.

A method for manufacturing an intermediate material for a soft packaging container according to the present invention includes: a first overlaying step P1 of laying a second raw film sheet 120 over a first raw film sheet 110; a confining portion forming step P2 of forming a filler confining portion 50 for confining a filler 59, the filler confining portion 50 being constituted by a non-joined region between the first raw film sheet 110 and the second raw sheet 12, by joining a portion of the first raw film sheet 110 and a portion of the second sheet 12 to each other; a folding step P4 of folding the first raw film sheet 110 and the second sheet 12 with the first raw film sheet 110 on an outer side, such that the filler confining portion 50 is present in a state where an inner portion thereof is continuous on two sides that are connected via at least one folding position; an accommodating portion forming step P5 of forming an accommodating portion 60 by joining a plurality of portions including at least one of the first raw film sheet 110 and the second sheet 12; and a cutting step P6 of forming an intermediate material A1 for a soft packaging container by cutting at least the first raw film sheet 110. This configuration makes it possible to more readily and reliably manufacture a soft packaging container that has a filler confining portion in more regions.

A bagmaker interoperable with an item processor is disclosed, the bagmaker being configured to produce bags for packaging items for sterilization, such as medical instruments. The bagmaker may include a controller interoperable with a bag production device, the bag production device including a bag cutter and a heat sealer, such that tubing may be sealed and cut, such that a bag of a specified length is formed. Operation of the bagmaker may include identifying tubing corresponding to a bag width of the bag, advancing tubing to correspond with the length of the bag, sealing at least a first end of the tubing, and then advancing and cutting the tubing; ejecting the bag from the bagmaker and retracting remaining uncut tubing, wherein the retraction and ejection may occur contemporaneously or interchangeably in order.

A bagmaker interoperable with an item processor is disclosed, the bagmaker being configured to produce bags for packaging items for sterilization, such as medical instruments. The bagmaker may include a controller interoperable with a bag production device, the bag production device including a bag cutter and a heat sealer, such that tubing may be sealed and cut, such that a bag of a specified length is formed. Operation of the bagmaker may include identifying tubing corresponding to a bag width of the bag, advancing tubing to correspond with the length of the bag, sealing at least a first end of the tubing, and then advancing and cutting the tubing; ejecting the bag from the bagmaker and retracting remaining uncut tubing, wherein the retraction and ejection may occur contemporaneously or interchangeably in order.

A method for performing a task in registration with a discrete seal in at least one material is described herein. The method involves simultaneously forming a discrete seal and a fiducial/eye mark in the at least one material. The method includes providing a detection device; providing a unit operation mechanism; and performing an operation on the material(s) in registration with the discrete seal. The task performed in registration with the discrete seal is based upon the location of the eye mark that was simultaneously formed with the discrete seal. A method of making flexible containers using cutting to form the outer periphery of the packages is described herein. Also described herein are flexible containers and container blanks made by such a method.

A machine comprising: a flexible band (1) unwinding unit (11), a flexible band (1) folding unit (14), a drive unit (31) for moving the flexible band (1) in a forward movement direction (DA), a welding unit (16) and a laser beam cutting unit (53) for separating each individual flexible package from the flexible band (1) and for providing a fill opening in each flexible package by at least one fill opening cut, the laser beam cutting unit (53) having associated therewith a separator device, movable in a vertical direction and including an insertable separator element (41), interposed between the opposite faces of the folded flexible band (1), in an area adjacent to the fill opening (3), for separating the opposite faces of the flexible band (1) during cutting operations to prevent the fusion thereof.

A machine comprising: a flexible band (1) unwinding unit (11), a flexible band (1) folding unit (14), a drive unit (31) for moving the flexible band (1) in a forward movement direction (DA), a welding unit (16) and a laser beam cutting unit (53) for separating each individual flexible package from the flexible band (1) and for providing a fill opening in each flexible package by at least one fill opening cut, the laser beam cutting unit (53) having associated therewith a separator device, movable in a vertical direction and including an insertable separator element (41), interposed between the opposite faces of the folded flexible band (1), in an area adjacent to the fill opening (3), for separating the opposite faces of the flexible band (1) during cutting operations to prevent the fusion thereof.

A sheet wrapping material including a metal layer (10), for example, aluminium, can be treated by applying a laser-treatment beam (LB1) to the metal layer (10). The metal layer (10) may be included in a multilayer set with a layer of polymeric material (50), by applying to the metal layer (10) coupled with the layer of polymeric material (50) a further laser-treatment beam (LB2), of a different wavelength, may be applied, to obtain also treatment of the polymeric material (50). The treatment may, for example, include cutting, pre-cutting, and perforation.