A cleaner assembly for an apparatus for making pouch products includes a cleaner roller and a poker roller. The cleaner roller may counter rotate with a rotatable drum of the apparatus, in contact with an upper surface of a first elastic layer on the rotatable drum, and at a greater tangential speed than at least one surface of an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum or an upper surface of the first elastic layer. The poker roller includes projections that are each configured to extend into one or more divots of the rotatable drum. The poker roller may counter rotate with the rotatable drum and at a same tangential speed as the at least one surface such that the projections extend into and out of separate, respective divots of the rotatable drum based on the counter rotation of the poker roller and the rotatable drum.

A method of making a pack for food comprising the following steps. Forming a tray by providing a tray laminate comprising a fibrous web (21) bonded to a web of a gas barrier film (20) comprising a multi-layer laminate comprising a heat sealable layer and a gas barrier layer. Vacuum and/or thermoforming the laminate to create a tray with an upstanding rim. Filling the tray with a food product (F). Providing a web of lid film (13), the lid film (13) being a gas barrier film comprising a multi-layer laminate comprising a heat sealable layer and a gas barrier layer. Heat sealing the lid film (13) to the gas barrier film of the tray around the periphery of the tray to create a hermetic seal between the two barrier films. Severing the pack from the webs of material.

A cleaner assembly for an apparatus for making pouch products includes a cleaner roller and a poker roller. The cleaner roller may counter rotate with a rotatable drum of the apparatus, in contact with an upper surface of a first elastic layer on the rotatable drum, and at a greater tangential speed than at least one surface of an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum or an upper surface of the first elastic layer. The poker roller includes projections that are each configured to extend into one or more divots of the rotatable drum. The poker roller may counter rotate with the rotatable drum and at a same tangential speed as the at least one surface such that the projections extend into and out of separate, respective divots of the rotatable drum based on the counter rotation of the poker roller and the rotatable drum.

A cleaner assembly for an apparatus for making pouch products includes a cleaner roller and a poker roller. The cleaner roller may counter rotate with a rotatable drum of the apparatus, in contact with an upper surface of a first elastic layer on the rotatable drum, and at a greater tangential speed than at least one surface of an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum or an upper surface of the first elastic layer. The poker roller includes projections that are each configured to extend into one or more divots of the rotatable drum. The poker roller may counter rotate with the rotatable drum and at a same tangential speed as the at least one surface such that the projections extend into and out of separate, respective divots of the rotatable drum based on the counter rotation of the poker roller and the rotatable drum.

A method of packaging a product includes heating a film of plastic material to a forming temperature until it is thermoformable. At least one of the heated film and at least one product to be packaged are moved in relation to each other until the at least one product deforms the heated film and forms at least one pocket in the heated film that at least partially encapsulates the at least one product. The deformed film with the at least one product at least partially encapsulated in the at least one pocket is then cured.

A process for forming a pre-form for a moulded pulp fibre product involves providing a porous mould that has one or more pre-form mould portions that each have an outer surface corresponding to a surface of the pre-form. Pulp fibre slurry is discharged from an outlet; each pre-form mould portion is coated with discharged pulp fibre slurry by moving the porous mould relative to the outlet. Thus, a slurry deposit for the pre-form is formed on the outer surfaces of the pre-form mould portions. Fluid from the slurry deposit is extracted through the porous mould to form the pre-form.

A process for forming a pre-form for a moulded pulp fibre product involves providing a porous mould that has one or more pre-form mould portions that each have an outer surface corresponding to a surface of the pre-form. Pulp fibre slurry is discharged from an outlet; each pre-form mould portion is coated with discharged pulp fibre slurry by moving the porous mould relative to the outlet. Thus, a slurry deposit for the pre-form is formed on the outer surfaces of the pre-form mould portions. Fluid from the slurry deposit is extracted through the porous mould to form the pre-form.

Process for packaging sticky substances in the molten state, in which the sticky substance is cast in a tray-mold lined be-forehand with a film of non-sticky plastic material and compatible in the fluid state with the sticky substance, including, among other, the phase of lining the internal walls of the tray-molds with a first thin and easily formable film of the non-sticky plastic material, causing it to perfectly adhere to the walls of the mold by connecting the lower external part of the molds connection to a vacuum source, in which the degree of vacuum during the opening transient of the connection is modulated.

Process for packaging sticky substances in the molten state, in which the sticky substance is cast in a tray-mold lined be-forehand with a film of non-sticky plastic material and compatible in the fluid state with the sticky substance, including, among other, the phase of lining the internal walls of the tray-molds with a first thin and easily formable film of the non-sticky plastic material, causing it to perfectly adhere to the walls of the mold by connecting the lower external part of the molds connection to a vacuum source, in which the degree of vacuum during the opening transient of the connection is modulated.

The present invention relates to a thermoform packaging machine as well as to a method for producing a skin pack, comprising the steps of preforming a skin film prior to a sealing station and subjecting it to a further forming step in the sealing station, so that the skin film can wrap around a product protruding far beyond a packaging trough.