A packaging apparatus for small piece goods, the use of the packaging apparatus, and a method for producing a blister tube are provided. The packaging apparatus includes a packaging material guiding device for providing a shaped packaging material web suitable for receiving small piece goods, a longitudinal joining device which is arranged downstream of the packaging material guiding device and a transverse joining device which is arranged downstream of the packaging material guiding device. The transverse joining device joins the shaped packaging material web together at predetermined intervals transversely to the direction of travel to form a transverse joining area. The transverse joining device includes two joiners, a first joiner having a plurality of embossers that are individually movable transversely to the direction of travel and are arranged so that they can be extended from the first joiner and retracted into the first joiner.

A valve application system includes a rotary cutter configured to cut individual valves from a valve string. The valve string is configured to be fed between the rotary cutter and a vacuum transfer tool where the rotary cutter is configured to cut the individual valves from the valve string. The valves are configured to be transferred from the vacuum transfer tool to the ultrasonic anvil. A web is configured to be fed between the ultrasonic anvil and the ultrasonic horn where the valves are ultrasonically sealed to the web.

A valve application system includes a rotary cutter configured to cut individual valves from a valve string. The valve string is configured to be fed between the rotary cutter and a vacuum transfer tool where the rotary cutter is configured to cut the individual valves from the valve string. The valves are configured to be transferred from the vacuum transfer tool to the ultrasonic anvil. A web is configured to be fed between the ultrasonic anvil and the ultrasonic horn where the valves are ultrasonically sealed to the web.

An assembly for producing sealed packaging units (14) from a sheet packaging material, comprises: an advancement device (21) for advancing the sheet packaging material along an advancement direction (F), a longitudinal sealing device for sealing opposite borders of the sheet packaging material along a longitudinal sealing band arranged parallelly to the advancement direction (F), thereby forming a continuous tube (15), a transverse sealing device (29) for sealing the continuous tube (15) transversely to the advancement direction (F), so as to define a sealed packaging unit (14). The transverse sealing device (29) comprises a sealing element (30) and an abutment element (31) that are intended to mutually cooperate during sealing while being located on opposite sides of the continuous tube (15). The sealing element (30) is so configured as to act on a side (27) of the continuous tube (15) on which the longitudinal sealing band is provided.

A monitoring device for condition assessment of a packaging machine for producing packages of liquid food comprises a signal interface for connection to a plurality of vibration sensors in the packaging machine. The monitoring device includes logic to: receive measurement signals from the vibration sensors and obtain an event timing signal, IVIES, indicative of predefined work events of the packaging machine, wherein the respective work event corresponds to a mechanical action by a respective component in the packaging machine when operating to produce the packages. The monitoring device further includes logic to: identify, by use of the IVIES and in the measurement signals, signal values associated with the respective component, and evaluate the signal values for condition assessment of the respective component. The provision and use of the MES thus facilitates condition assessment of individual components in a packaging machine.

Systems and methods for manufacturing and inserting a predetermined number of material-filled pouches into containers are disclosed. A system includes a pouch providing system comprising a plurality of lanes, wherein each one of the plurality of lanes includes a pouch making machine and a hold-back structure. The system also includes a conveyor system structured and arranged to move a plurality of containers into alignment with the plurality of lanes. The system further includes a controller structured and arranged to control the hold-back structure in each one of the plurality of lanes such that the pre-determined pouches are inserted into the plurality of containers when the plurality of containers are aligned with the plurality of lanes.

Systems and methods for manufacturing and inserting a pre-determined number of material-filled pouches into containers are disclosed. A system includes a pouch providing system comprising a plurality of lanes, wherein each one of the plurality of lanes includes a pouch making machine and a hold-back structure. The system also includes a conveyor system structured and arranged to move a plurality of containers into alignment with the plurality of lanes. The system further includes a controller structured and arranged to control the hold-back structure in each one of the plurality of lanes such that the pre-determined pouches are inserted into the plurality of containers when the plurality of containers are aligned with the plurality of lanes.

A unit configured to form a tube for producing sealed packages starting from a sheet of packaging material having opening devices pre-applied thereon, comprises at least one guiding assembly configured to interact with the sheet of packaging material to fold it gradually into a tube shape; the guiding assembly comprises a plurality of folding rollers delimiting a passage for the sheet of packaging material and each having a lateral wall configured to cooperate in contact with the sheet of packaging material to control the folding thereof; the folding rollers comprise at least one folding roller having at least one recess on the lateral wall thereof, the recess defining a slot configured to be engaged by the opening devices.

A transfer element for being arranged between a dosing device and the filling device of a tubular bag machine, the dosing device allowing for the dosing of a prespecified filling quantity of the filling material to be filled into a tubular bag, and the transfer element comprising at least one input station, at least one dispensing station and several transfer containers, and a prespecified filling quantity of a filling material being transferable from the dosing device to the transfer containers in the input station, and the transfer containers being transported to the dispensing station along a transfer line, and the filling material being transferable from the transfer containers to the filling device in the dispensing station, and the transfer containers being transported back to the input station along a return transfer line, the transfer element being controlled by a transfer control system, the transfer control system controlling the transfer process for transferring the filling material from a transfer container to the filling device of the tubular bag machine in the dispensing station a) in accordance with the position of the transfer container relative to the filling device and/or b) in accordance with the speed of the transfer container.

An adjustable forming collar assembly is provided for a form, fill and seal apparatus having a forming tube about which packaging film is positioned for formation and filling of a package. The adjustable forming collar assembly includes a mounting plate positioned to extend laterally on opposite sides of the forming tube. To accommodate filling of packages of differing sizes, first and second forming segments are provided which can be adjustably positioned on the mounting plate. Each of the forming segments is shaped to guide the packaging film from a generally flat configuration to a tubular configuration extending about the forming tube. The forming segments are adjustably positionable on the mounting plate. By this arrangement, the first and second forming segments can be selectively positioned toward and away from to each other on the mounting place, and thus adjustably positioned with respect to the forming tube, to thereby selectively adjust that size of the package being formed and filled. The assembly further includes first and second rib cages which can be adjustably positioned with respect to the forming tube to further accommodate formation and filling of differently sized packages.