An apparatus and methods for producing at extremely high production speeds small pouches filled with tobacco or other granular, powdered or solid content is provided. An endless web substrate, with or without flavor film thereon, is formed into a tubular shape with a longitudinal seam. The tube is cut to individual lengths, and a procession of tubes is crimp-closed at one end, filled and crimp-closed at the other end to complete pouch production. During production, the seams formed at the crimped ends of the pouch are parallel to one another and the longitudinal seam of the pouch is midway between the sides of the pouch and orthogonal to the seams formed at the crimped ends of the pouch.

An apparatus and methods for producing at extremely high production speeds small pouches filled with tobacco or other granular, powdered or solid content is provided. An endless web substrate, with or without flavor film thereon, is formed into a tubular shape with a longitudinal seam. The tube is cut to individual lengths, and a procession of tubes is crimp-closed at one end, filled and crimp-closed at the other end to complete pouch production. During production, the seams formed at the crimped ends of the pouch are parallel to one another and the longitudinal seam of the pouch is midway between the sides of the pouch and orthogonal to the seams formed at the crimped ends of the pouch.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a random case sealer. The case sealer includes a top-head-actuating assembly configured to vary the speed of the top-head assembly when ascending (to make room for the case beneath the top-head assembly) and when descending onto the case (to engage the top surface of the case during sealing). This maximizes the speed of the top-head assembly while limiting overshoot (when ascending) and preventing damage to the case (when descending). In certain embodiments the case sealer includes a tape cartridge configured to limit the forces imparted onto the leading and top surfaces of the case during sealing. These features result in increased throughput as compared to prior art random case sealers without requiring stronger cases or more protective dunnage.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a random case sealer. The case sealer includes a top-head-actuating assembly configured to vary the speed of the top-head assembly when ascending (to make room for the case beneath the top-head assembly) and when descending onto the case (to engage the top surface of the case during sealing). This maximizes the speed of the top-head assembly while limiting overshoot (when ascending) and preventing damage to the case (when descending). In certain embodiments the case sealer includes a tape cartridge configured to limit the forces imparted onto the leading and top surfaces of the case during sealing. These features result in increased throughput as compared to prior art random case sealers without requiring stronger cases or more protective dunnage.

A vertical sealer apparatus includes at least one conveyor for receiving objects to be wrapped in a vertical orientation with films from two film sources and for conveying the objects in a downstream direction from before and after they are wrapped along a conveying path, as well as an over for shrinking the films onto the objects. Methods of vertically sealing objects using such apparatus are also provided.

A vertical sealer apparatus includes at least one conveyor for receiving objects to be wrapped in a vertical orientation with films from two film sources and for conveying the objects in a downstream direction from before and after they are wrapped along a conveying path, as well as an over for shrinking the films onto the objects. Methods of vertically sealing objects using such apparatus are also provided.

The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) and a method for manufacturing a pouched product (201) for oral use. The present invention further relates to a pouched product (201) for oral use. The apparatus comprises a supplying unit (3) for supplying a filling material (5), a holding unit (7) for holding a piece (9) of tubular web of a saliva-permeable packaging material, the piece of tubular web having a predefinable length when provided to the holding unit, a transverse sealing unit (11) for providing the piece of tubular web with transverse seals (13) thereby forming a pouched product, and a separation unit (15) for separating the pouched product from a subsequent pouched product (201′) in or at the transverse seals. The holding unit comprises guiding provisions (17) for guiding the filling material from the supplying unit to be supplied into the piece of tubular web at an end (19) of the holding unit, wherein a length of the holding unit (L.sub.h) is at least 35 cm.

A method for producing a carbon dioxide-containing hydrogel article including (1) to (3). (1) Preparing an article including a hydrogel that contains a water-soluble polymer, a cross-linking agent for the water-soluble polymer, and water, wherein a loss tangent of the hydrogel at 1 Hz in dynamic viscoelasticity measurement is 0.46 or greater. (2) Adjusting a composition of an ambient atmosphere of the article including the hydrogel such that a carbon dioxide gas concentration in the ambient atmosphere becomes 10 vol% or greater, and sealing the article including the hydrogel inside a package. (3) Making cross-linking of the hydrogel proceed until the loss tangent, at 1 Hz in dynamic viscoelasticity measurement, of the hydrogel in the article including the hydrogel becomes less than 0.46, and thereby obtaining a carbon dioxide-containing hydrogel article sealed inside the package.

A method for producing a carbon dioxide-containing hydrogel article including (1) to (3). (1) Preparing an article including a hydrogel that contains a water-soluble polymer, a cross-linking agent for the water-soluble polymer, and water, wherein a loss tangent of the hydrogel at 1 Hz in dynamic viscoelasticity measurement is 0.46 or greater. (2) Adjusting a composition of an ambient atmosphere of the article including the hydrogel such that a carbon dioxide gas concentration in the ambient atmosphere becomes 10 vol% or greater, and sealing the article including the hydrogel inside a package. (3) Making cross-linking of the hydrogel proceed until the loss tangent, at 1 Hz in dynamic viscoelasticity measurement, of the hydrogel in the article including the hydrogel becomes less than 0.46, and thereby obtaining a carbon dioxide-containing hydrogel article sealed inside the package.

The present disclosure is directed to an inflatable-cushion inflation and sealing device. The device includes an inflation assembly configured for insertion between first and second overlapping film plies. The inflation assembly includes a fluid conduit configured to direct a fluid in between the plies to form one or more cushions. The fluid conduit includes a nozzle. The inflation assembly includes a cutting member. The cutting member includes a blade holder with a blade and a blade guard mounted thereon. The blade guard has a safety position in which the blade is covered and a retracted position in which the blade is exposed. Installation of the blade holder onto the inflation assembly automatically positions the blade in the working position with the blade guard retracted. Removing the tray from the inflation assembly automatically positions the blade in the safety position by covering the blade with the blade guard.