Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a method and apparatus for a resealable package having an internal zipper seal. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a vertical form, fill, and seal machine that includes a former, a vertical sealer, and a zipper separation blade located between the former and the vertical sealer. The zipper separation blade further comprises a connector and a blade body that defines a zipper gap between an exterior surface of the former and the blade body.

A cooking bag enclosing a food item to be cooked therein is disclosed. The cooking bag may include a foil pouch having a foil pouch interior surface defining a food pocket therein for receiving and storing the food item and isolating the food item from an ambient atmosphere surrounding the foil pouch. A removable printed film sheet may be affixed to a foil pouch exterior surface by a releasable adhesive. The removable printed film sheet may be separable from the foil pouch exterior surface by peeling the releasable adhesive without breaking the foil pouch and exposing the food pocket and the food item to the ambient atmosphere. The food item may then be cooked in the foil pouch on a grill, in an oven, on a stove or with another appropriate heat source.

A cooking bag enclosing a food item to be cooked therein is disclosed. The cooking bag may include a foil pouch having a foil pouch interior surface defining a food pocket therein for receiving and storing the food item and isolating the food item from an ambient atmosphere surrounding the foil pouch. A removable printed film sheet may be affixed to a foil pouch exterior surface by a releasable adhesive. The removable printed film sheet may be separable from the foil pouch exterior surface by peeling the releasable adhesive without breaking the foil pouch and exposing the food pocket and the food item to the ambient atmosphere. The food item may then be cooked in the foil pouch on a grill, in an oven, on a stove or with another appropriate heat source.

There is described a packaging apparatus for forming a plurality of sealed packages comprising a conveyor for advancing a web of packaging material along an advancement path, an isolation chamber, a tube forming device adapted to form a tube from the, in use, advancing web of packaging material, a sealing device adapted to longitudinally seal the tube, a filling device for continuously filling the tube formed by the tube forming device, a package forming unit adapted to form and seal the packages from the, in use, advancing tube formed by the tube forming device and filled by the filling device and a support platform supporting the isolation chamber from a first side of the support platform and carrying the package forming unit from a second side of the support platform opposite to the first side.

An inflatable-cushion inflation and sealing device is provided. The device includes an inflation assembly that inflates with a fluid a cushion cavity disposed between overlapping portions of first and second plies of a film, which plies form a flexible structure. The device also includes a sealing mechanism having a first compression element having a curved surface operable to bend the flexible structure about a bend axis, a second compression element positioned such that the first and second compression elements are operable to receiving the flexible structure at a first pinch area in which the first compression element and the second compression element are positioned against the flexible structure to pinch the flexible structure, and a third compression element configured for receiving the flexible structure at a second pinch area in which the first compression element and the third compression element contact the flexible structure.

An inflatable-cushion inflation and sealing device is provided. The device includes an inflation assembly that inflates with a fluid a cushion cavity disposed between overlapping portions of first and second plies of a film, which plies form a flexible structure. The device also includes a sealing mechanism having a first compression element having a curved surface operable to bend the flexible structure about a bend axis, a second compression element positioned such that the first and second compression elements are operable to receiving the flexible structure at a first pinch area in which the first compression element and the second compression element are positioned against the flexible structure to pinch the flexible structure, and a third compression element configured for receiving the flexible structure at a second pinch area in which the first compression element and the third compression element contact the flexible structure.

An inductor for induction welding of a packaging material having at least one layer of metal foil is disclosed. The inductor comprises a welding surface configured to be arranged opposite the packaging material for heating thereof, and at least one spacing element arranged to protrude from the welding surface in a first direction towards the packaging material, when the packaging material is arranged opposite the welding surface, whereupon the least one spacing element separates the packaging material from the welding surface by an off-set distance. A sealing machine for sealing packaging material and a method of welding a packaging material is also disclosed.

The disclosure relates to a power-transfer unit for a sealing unit of a packaging machine comprising a support, intended to be attached to a sealing unit, a power bar comprising a contact-initiation section, a contact-termination section, and an intermediate section therebetween, the power bar being resiliently suspended in the support and being movable along a first direction being normal to a contact surface of the intermediate section. The power bar is suspended in the support by a first leaf spring.

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).

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).