A process for packaging a product arranged on a support comprising unrolling a film, moving the film to a packaging assembly defining at its inside a packaging chamber, progressively moving a number of supports inside the packaging chamber of the packaging assembly, closing the packaging chamber with the film sheets held above the respective support, optionally causing one or both of: a gas withdrawal from the hermetically closed packaging chamber and gas injection of a gas mixture of controlled composition, heat sealing the film to said support, wherein the heat sealing uses one or more heaters having heating surfaces which are heated for discrete and short time periods only. An apparatus for performing the above process is also disclosed.

An electric heating device includes a control portion adapted to control electric energy supplied to a heater, based on a before-heating temperature, which is a temperature of at least one of an object, the heater and a heat dissipation portion before the heater generates heat, the control portion is adapted to calculate the temperature of the object, based on the before-heating temperature and the electric energy supplied to the heater.

The invention relates to a sealing body, where heat-producing elements of a heating element are contacted from the rear side thereof. Other aspects relate to a sealing body where the site of the heat production and the site of the heat dissipation (i.e. the point of action) are as close to each other as possible. Other aspects relate to a sealing body comprising a heat element with a built-in temperature sensor. Other aspects relate to a sealing body with a defined sealing contour. Other aspects relate to a sealing body having a three-dimensionally structured contact surface. Other aspects relate to a sealing body with a circular, annular, or strip-type heat element. Other aspects relate to a sealing body with built-in electronic circuits. Other aspects relate to a sealing body that can cool the heating element as required. Other aspects relate to a sealing body that can suck up the material to be welded.

The present invention relates to a package seal control system (300), comprising a control unit (308), and data recording means (306) adapted to be communicatively connected to the control unit, wherein said data recording means (306) is adapted to monitor a longitudinal seal (302) extending in a direction conforming to a direction of flow of a packaging material (e.g. Tetra Pak) in a packaging and filling machine (100). The present invention further relates to its use and method for monitoring and optionally controlling the longitudinal seal (302) of a package material in a packaging and filling machine (100).

A heat sealing apparatus includes: a first sealing unit and a second sealing unit which are provided to be capable of being opened and closed and perform a heat sealing process of a bag while nipping the bag in a state where the first sealing unit and the second sealing unit are arranged in a closed position with the bag positioned between the first sealing unit and the second sealing unit; and a heat shield member including a heat reflector which is provided to cover at least a part of the first sealing unit and the second sealing unit arranged in the closed position, at a position away from the first sealing unit and the second sealing unit.

A method for producing a package comprising a formed part having at least one product cavity, and a lidding film covering the at least one product cavity, comprises the steps of: (a) defining a seam; (b) dividing the seam into a plurality of sections; (c) determining a pull-off force for pulling the lidding film from the formed part at least for a first section; and (d) sealing the lidding film to the formed part by means of a sealing device, wherein at least one first sealing temperature is selected for the first section based on the pull-off force determined according to step (c).

A method for producing and inspecting a package comprising at least one product cavity of a formed part sealed by a lidding film comprises the steps of: (a) sealing the lidding film to the formed part along a seam by means of a sealing device, which comprises a sealing contour with a plurality of segments; (b) detecting, by means of the sealing device, a parameter characteristic of the sealing quality of the seam in each segment; and (c) detecting a problem with the sealing according to step (a) based on the parameter detected according to step (b) in each segment.

A vacuum sealer includes: a housing comprising a vacuum chamber therein; a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber; a sealing mechanism adjacent a periphery of the vacuum chamber; a valve positioned and configured to releasably seal the vacuum chamber, the valve movable between a first position, in which the valve forms a seal with the sealing chamber, and a second position, in which the valve does not form a seal with the sealing chamber; and a controller operatively connected with the vacuum pump, the sealing mechanism, and the valve. The controller is configured to move the valve from the first position to the second position during sealing.

A packaging machine comprising a control unit, a plurality of measuring devices and a plurality of working units for different process. The control unit is functionally connected to the working units and to the measuring devices. The measuring devices may detect actual process values at the respective working units and forwarding these values to the control unit for monitoring the respective working units. The control unit may create a specific program sequence for each of the individual working units and/or a program sequence coordinated with respect to the working units, by comparing the actual process values from the respective measuring devices with associated target process values from a memory. The individual working units may function according to this program sequence, depending on the actual process values detected at these working units, and/or the working units are coordinated with one another based on the actual process values.

Packaging apparatus comprises two counter-rotatable sealing dies for pressing together two tissue webs to produce pockets for containing a substance for preparing beverages and to seal around said pockets, and two heating drums for heating the sealing dies and each being positioned inside a respective sealing die, wherein a first heating zone of each heating drum comprises a first plurality of circumferentially distributed infrared heating elements, and a second heating zone of each heating drum comprises a second plurality of circumferentially distributed infrared heating elements.