The paper recyclable heat sealable bag includes a heat sealable water soluble inner layer coating and an article of paper. The heat sealable coating is applied to the article of paper by a printing press. As the printing press applies the heat sealable coating to the article of paper, the paper recyclable heat sealable bag may be wound into a master roll with a plurality of paper recyclable heat sealable bags. The master roll is fed into an automatic packaging system which fills the bags with a product from at least one of a top edge and a side edge of the paper recyclable heat sealable bags. The paper recyclable heat sealable bag has certain perforations to remove the paper recyclable heat sealable bag more easily from the master roll and sealed with a heat sealer.

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.

Provided herein is a system for automated dispensing and packaging of articles. Systems may include: a controller configured to receive an indication of an order to be packaged, where the order includes one or more articles; a packaging station; a web of bags, where the web of bags is fed to the packaging station; a pneumatic table configurable to support a bag disposed at the packaging station; an opening mechanism including a pneumatic nozzle to open the bag disposed at the packaging station; a loading bin configured to be inserted into the open bag and deposit the one or more articles; and a closure apparatus to seal the bag disposed at the packaging station after receiving the one or more articles.

An exemplary method for converting a web of preformed pouches to at least one padded envelope includes moving the web along a path of travel, inserting a first inflation pin into a first inflation channel of a preformed pouch, and inserting a second inflation pin into a second inflation channel of the preformed pouch. In addition, the method includes inflating inflation patterns of each panel of the preformed pouch by providing air through at least one of the first inflation pin and the second inflation pin, such that the preformed pouch is in an inflated position. The method also includes simultaneously sealing the outer skin and each side panel of the preformed pouch to maintain the preformed pouch in the inflated position.

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.

A transportation method for the intermittent, forward moving transportation of flexible containers suspended in a packaging line, including the use of movable arms on a same plane, between which a container is secured in opposite areas, one of which is a tractor arm and the other a push arm. Between two consecutive stops, the method includes steps of simultaneously moving the tractor arm and push arm forwards at different velocities, in order to deform the container and move the contents to compensate for the forces of inertia. Also disclosed is a device for putting the method into practice, including a number of guides that determine a closed route, upon which at least a first and second adjacent carrying element slide, which may be operated independently or together, in order to be moved along the length of the guides and work together to jointly secure and transport a corresponding container.

An ice bagging and dispensing apparatus has at least one ice making machine; an ice hopper for receiving ice from the at least one ice making machine; an ice bagging machine for bagging ice from the ice hopper; an ice bag conveyor for conveying bagged ice from the ice bagging machine to an ice storage chamber, the ice bag conveyor positioned below the ice storage chamber; a carriage for moving and lifting the bag of ice into the ice storage chamber; one or more supports for supporting one or more bags of ice in the ice storage chamber above the ice bag conveyor; and, one or more consumer access doors to the ice storage chamber. This maintains first-in, first out (FIFO) principles.

Described herein are a packaged food product and methods of making and using the packaged food product. In some embodiments, the packaged food product comprises a spouted sachet or packet containing one or more flowable food products, such as ketchup or other condiments.

Device for transporting containers in a packaging line, having a number of guides that determine a closed route including a horizontal stretch and upon which a first and second carrying element slide. The guides are directed on a vertical plane and each carrying element has two arms, each one of which extends to one side of the vertical plane, each arm (5a; 6a) of a carrying element is designed to work alongside the arm arranged on a same side of the vertical plane of the other carrying element adjacent to them, to jointly secure and transport a corresponding container, so as to be secured and transported along the length of the horizontal stretch of the route and at least two containers between each two adjacent carrying elements at the same time, one at each side of the vertical plane.

A rollstock support spool supports rollstock formed from a continuous web of bags of non-uniform thickness along their length. The spool has a hollow core and first and second opposed rims. The hollow core has opposed axial ends, an inner peripheral surface defining a tubular opening configured for mounting over a spindle, and an outer peripheral surface configured to support the rollstock. The rims are located at or near the first and second ends of the core, respectively. A radial spacing between the outer peripheral surface of the core and the outer peripheral surface of each of the rims is greater than a maximum thickness of the rollstock. Also provided are an unwinder assembly incorporating such a rollstock support spool and an automatic bagger incorporating such an unwinder assembly.