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.

A fin sealer and method to seal a radially outwardly directed fin of a tubular web structure by directing the fin through a nip between a first and a second fin sealing rollers while communicating heat to the fin through at least one of the fin sealing rollers is provided. The fin sealer is configured to maintain a nominal face-to-face relation between an outer annulus of the first fin sealing roller and an outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller with a flexible connection between a hub element of the second fin sealing roller with the outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller.

The invention relates to a method and to a device for producing packaging units in a bag forming, filling and sealing machine, products (18) combined into an amount of products being transferred from a portion container (17) into a product transfer device (10) for transferring the amount of products to a product filling device (19), the product transfer device having a product carrier (21), which is guided on a movement path, and a product guiding device (22), the product carrier, once the amount of products has been transferred from the portion container into the product guiding device, performing an accelerated movement out of a product pick-up position P1 of the product carrier so as to compress the amount of products between the product pick-up position P1 and a product transfer position P2 for transferring the amount of products into the product filling device.

The invention relates to a method and to a device for producing packaging units in a bag forming, filling and sealing machine, products (18) combined into an amount of products being transferred from a portion container (17) into a product transfer device (10) for transferring the amount of products to a product filling device (19), the product transfer device having a product carrier (21), which is guided on a movement path, and a product guiding device (22), the product carrier, once the amount of products has been transferred from the portion container into the product guiding device, performing an accelerated movement out of a product pick-up position P1 of the product carrier so as to compress the amount of products between the product pick-up position P1 and a product transfer position P2 for transferring the amount of products into the product filling device.

An apparatus for tamping the contents of a container having a bottom surface prone to bending and/or cracking during tamping. The apparatus includes a tamp head for tamping the contents of the container; and a container support assembly structured and arranged to temporarily support the bottom surface of the container during tamping, the container support assembly comprising a support element having a protrusion extending upward from a substantially flat and horizontal upper surface, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the container.

A device for magnetizing a packaging material for food-containing packages is disclosed. The device can include a feeder for feeding a packaging material through the device, the packaging material having a plurality of portions of magnetisable ink. The device can also include a static bar having at least one magnet for magnetizing the portions of ink applied to the packaging material. The device can also include a magnetizable ink applicator for applying the plurality of portions of magnetizable ink to the packaging material. The packaging material can be a non-creased packaging material. A system for producing a packaging material is also disclosed. A method of magnetizing a packaging material for a food-containing package is further disclosed.

A device for magnetizing a packaging material for food-containing packages is disclosed. The device can include a feeder for feeding a packaging material through the device, the packaging material having a plurality of portions of magnetisable ink. The device can also include a static bar having at least one magnet for magnetizing the portions of ink applied to the packaging material. The device can also include a magnetizable ink applicator for applying the plurality of portions of magnetizable ink to the packaging material. The packaging material can be a non-creased packaging material. A system for producing a packaging material is also disclosed. A method of magnetizing a packaging material for a food-containing package is further disclosed.

A method and apparatus for making a structurally resilient package with a desired shape on a vertical form, fill, and seal machine. The method comprises sealing a film to form a back seal; forming a first end seal to form a partially formed first package; flattening a first side of the partially formed first package to form a flat first side; filling the partially formed first package with product; forming a second end seal on the partially formed first package to form a first package from the partially formed first package; flattening the second side of the first package to form a flat second side, wherein the flattening the first side and the flattening the second side occur on a first machine.

An oral tobacco pouch product includes a pouch wrapper formed of a web having a longitudinal integrated fin and lap seal. The pouch wrapper contains a filling material including tobacco material and optional additives. The longitudinal integrated fin and lap seal is formed on a forming collar.

An oral tobacco pouch product includes a pouch wrapper formed of a web having a longitudinal integrated fin and lap seal. The pouch wrapper contains a filling material including tobacco material and optional additives. The longitudinal integrated fin and lap seal is formed on a forming collar.