A system and method according to which ice is automatically disposed in respective bags and the bags of ice are distributed and stacked within a temperature-controlled storage unit, such as an ice merchandiser.

For transporting packaging bags (1), e.g. from a production facility to further processing, e.g. for being filled, the packaging bags (1) are connected to at least one flexible strip (13, 14). To this end, the packaging bags (1) are delivered one after another to a loading device where they are supported by their weld-in closures (4) on supporting and guiding means (9) and moved along these supporting and guiding means (9; 10). On the latter, the weld-in closures are connected to the strip (13, 14), e.g. by welding.

An inflating stick and a processing machine are provided. The inflating stick includes a body, a link rod, a cutter, and one or more inflating tubes. A front end of the body includes a guiding segment with a cone structure. A rear end of the body includes a packing segment of which an external diameter is greater than that of the guiding segment. The body includes a gas inlet formed on the packing segment. The body further includes an internal chamber allowing gas to flow into through the gas inlet and gas outlets formed on an outer wall of the body allowing gas to flow out. The link rod and the cutter are disposed in rear of the body. The inflating tube is connected to the gas inlet for supplying gas to the internal chamber, and the gas can flow out from the gas outlets to inflate the gas columns.

There is disclosed a method for packing articles, liquid or loose material in film bags which are conveyed through a filling station in a continuous web of bag items, wherein the bag openings are kept open for reception of articles, after which the bags are closed and separated from the web. In order to increase the filling rate and make the bags cheaper, the bag web is provided with a central support region extending longitudinally of the bag web and connecting bag items that are disposed side by side transversely of the web. The central support region is conveyed on a support rail along the conveyor path through the filling station and formed as an entirely or partially closed channel. The peripheral areas of the bag items at the outermost opposite bag opening edges of two juxtaposed bag items are brought into guiding connection with guide means adapted for retaining and guiding edge areas at opposing bag opening edges along a conveyor path through the filling station. In connection with this passage, the guide means will force the bag opening edges apart for successive opening of the bags in the filling station, and then, after filling the bags, joining the bag opening edges for closing the bags again.

An exemplary web of preformed bags includes first and second layers, first and second side, first and second side seals proximate the first and second edges, a plurality of transverse seals extending between the first and second side edges, an opening in the first layer, and a line of separation in the second layer, and first and second cuts in the first and second side seals. The first and second cuts are configured to reduce or eliminate a breaking force necessary to break the first and second side seals when the web is torn along the line of separation.

There is disclosed a bag web for packing articles in film bags provided as a contiguous web. At an opening edge, the bag web is provided with peripheral strip areas having holes intended for guide connection with guide means that can retain and guide the bags along a conveyor path through a filling station. The bag items will thus be contiguous along an upper edge, which is used for guiding. The bag webs include the film webs forming opposing front and back sides of the bag and additional film pieces disposed between the flat sides of the bag in order thereby to form side or bottom, or both side and bottom, of the bag. By such a bag web is achieved a particularly simple and rapid filling of the type with stand bottom and with folded side edges.

A product bagging assembly and method of manipulating a web material bag that is operable to create a bag opening that is greater than six inches and which is operable without substantially detracting from product throughput associated with use and operation of the product bagging assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the bag opening/closing assembly includes a first actuator and a second actuator that are connected to one another such that a position of one of the actuators can be manipulated by operation of the other actuator. The product bagging assembly can be provided as a kit configured for plug and play operation with previously provided bag and product delivery systems.

A conveyor system pre-inserts a portion of the web into a first belt before the portion is gripped between the first belt and a second belt. In one exemplary embodiment, a pair of lips of a web are inserted into a corresponding first pair of belts and then the pair of lips are secured in the first pair of belts by inserting a second pair of belts into the first pair of belts over the pair of lips.

A system for packaging mass-customized items includes a computer system including a database containing item identification information unique to each item; (2) outer container identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each outer container in a plurality of outer containers; (3) inner pack identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each inner pack in a plurality of inner packs; and (4) inner pack filling apparatus that fills each inner pack with a specific item matched to that inner pack by the item identification information received from the database. Each item is associated with its unique item identification information and is inserted into an inner pack with matching item identification information, and each outer container is presented for loading with one or more inner packs matched to that outer container by the item identification information received from the database.

In an automated machine that forms a vertically positioned and horizontally traversing web of plastic film into bags, the apparatus opens, fills and closes the bags and provides slack in the bag walls to close the bag. The bag upper longitudinal edge portions are separated at a bag opening and closing assembly for thereby opening and filing a bag with material. While the bag is being filled, the bag is supported on a conveyor. The conveyor is raised vertically toward the opening and closing assembly while the bag is being closed for thereby providing slack in the bag walls. The conveyor horizontally conveys the filled bag under while a gripping and pulling assembly pulls the bag longitudinal portions into a heat sealing assembly whereat the bag walls are fused together and sealed closed. The bag is thereafter conveyed away therefrom and the conveyor is again placed in its lower position.