A jaw assembly (10) that receives a tubular bag material (11) that is transversely sealed and transversely cut by the jaw assembly (10) to form bags 12 of snack food. The tubular bag material (11) is delivered in a downward direction (13). The jaw assembly (10) includes sealing jaws (27, 28), with the jaws (27, 28) operating in pairs to transversely seal the tubular bag material (11). Each of the jaws (27,28) has an end surface (29) that heats and engages the tubular bag material (11), to form the seal therein. Each surface (29) is spaced from its respective rotational axis by a radius (31). Most preferably the radius (31) is less than 85 mm, but greater than 65 mm.

A packet for cigarette industry products, having a casing which, preferably on all sides, surrounds a group of cigarette industry products as the packet content, wherein the casing is formed from a packaging material, and wherein folding tabs of the packaging material are connected to one another by seams. Preferably all seams are formed by crimping folding tabs of the packaging material that bear on one another in the overlap region of those folding tabs that bear on one another. The invention also relates to corresponding devices and methods for producing such packets.

A packet for cigarette industry products, having a casing which, preferably on all sides, surrounds a group of cigarette industry products as the packet content, wherein the casing is formed from a packaging material, and wherein folding tabs of the packaging material are connected to one another by seams. Preferably all seams are formed by crimping folding tabs of the packaging material that bear on one another in the overlap region of those folding tabs that bear on one another. The invention also relates to corresponding devices and methods for producing such packets.

Provided are a method and an apparatus for extruding into a tube and filling the tube at a high speed and simultaneously sealing the tube. Specifically provided is a method for producing a polymer tube, containing a liquid therein and being sealed at constant intervals, the method including an extrusion step of continuously melt-extruding a polymer material through a die into at least one tube, while feeding a liquid into the tube to obtain at least one liquid-containing tube; and sealing step of discontinuously pressing the at least one liquid-containing tube between a pair of pressurizing members at constant intervals to cause pressure-bonding before the tube solidifies, while continuously taking up the extruded tube.

Provided are a method and an apparatus for extruding into a tube and filling the tube at a high speed and simultaneously sealing the tube. Specifically provided is a method for producing a polymer tube, containing a liquid therein and being sealed at constant intervals, the method including an extrusion step of continuously melt-extruding a polymer material through a die into at least one tube, while feeding a liquid into the tube to obtain at least one liquid-containing tube; and sealing step of discontinuously pressing the at least one liquid-containing tube between a pair of pressurizing members at constant intervals to cause pressure-bonding before the tube solidifies, while continuously taking up the extruded tube.

In a method and apparatus for producing a small pouch with a predetermined amount of particulate material therein, a predetermined amount of the particulate material is portioned from a bulk supply and compacted into a single discrete caplet. The caplet is then deposited into an open hollow pouch closed at one end thereof, and the open end is then closed with the caplet between the closed ends of the pouch. The caplet in the pouch is then compressed to return it to its particulate form. The particulate material may be granular or shredded tobacco.

A method, apparatus and program product utilize pressurized fluid flow from a position generally upstream of a free end of a packaging material tail and at an acute angle relative to the side of a load while the free end of the packaging material tail is unsupported and/or utilize pressurized fluid flow in two or more directions and from two or more positions to assist in adhering a packaging material tail to the side of a load at the completion of a wrapping operation.

A method, apparatus and program product utilize pressurized fluid flow from a position generally upstream of a free end of a packaging material tail and at an acute angle relative to the side of a load while the free end of the packaging material tail is unsupported and/or utilize pressurized fluid flow in two or more directions and from two or more positions to assist in adhering a packaging material tail to the side of a load at the completion of a wrapping operation.

A shipping system for shipping planar substrates includes a plurality of planar substrates stacked to form a pack and a plurality of interleaving material including substantially spherical beads positioned between the substrates of the pack and configured to carry a load. Substantially all of the beads have a diameter within 25% of D.sub.max, where D.sub.max is a diameter corresponding to a size of an opening of an upper limit sieve used in the shipping system. Also disclosed are a spacer for use in a shipping system for shipping planar substrates, a wrapped system for shipping planar substrates, a method of wrapping a system for shipping planar substrates, and a powder applicator.

A shipping system for shipping planar substrates includes a plurality of planar substrates stacked to form a pack and a plurality of interleaving material including substantially spherical beads positioned between the substrates of the pack and configured to carry a load. Substantially all of the beads have a diameter within 25% of D.sub.max, where D.sub.max is a diameter corresponding to a size of an opening of an upper limit sieve used in the shipping system. Also disclosed are a spacer for use in a shipping system for shipping planar substrates, a wrapped system for shipping planar substrates, a method of wrapping a system for shipping planar substrates, and a powder applicator.