The invention relates to a cross seam joining device for a flexible packaging having at least one ultrasonic applicator (13a-13c), which is rotatably mounted on a shaft (13d) and can be rotated about an axis (13e) of the shaft (13d) arranged longitudinally to the cross seam (110, 111). The ultrasonic applicator (13a-13c) is designed to produce and bundle ultrasounds in a frequency range of 0.1 MHz-0.5 MHz, preferably from 0.5 MHz-2 MHz.

A packaging device, particularly for packaging trays containing food products or technical materials in a controlled atmosphere and by means of a film of plastic material, comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamber, which can be fastened by mutually superimposing them and are each provided internally with a plurality of heat-sealing and/or cutting and/or die-cutting elements arranged concentrically, the lower chamber being provided centrally with a plurality of supporting elements for a tray.

An ultrasonic sealing apparatus for paper packages achieves more stable ultrasonic sealing by cooling the horn during ultrasonic sealing which would otherwise be unstable due to heat imparted to a horn by continuous sealing. An end portion of a horn of a casing that includes the horn and a converter, or the horn, a booster and the converter is cooled by supplying air to a frame portion exposed toward an anvil side.

Advanced ultrasonic welding components of Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 8,376,016 are readily incorporated into new form-fill-seal machines, but owners of existing machines utilizing heat-seal stations were unsuccessful at swapping the sealing packages. Retrofit kits to a replace heat sealing stations with an advanced ultrasonic sonotrode and anvil comprise: a housing; a linear rail fixed thereto; first and second bearing carriages being slidable upon the rail; and first and second fluidic muscles. Each of the fluidic muscles is mounted with a first end fixed to a respective housing wall, and a second end fixed to a respective bearing carriage, permitting actuation of each carriage through pressurization/depressurization of the muscles. The advanced anvil and sonotrode may be secured to respective carriages. In-line arrangements of anvil/sonotrode, bearing carriages, the first fluidic and second fluidic muscles provides a narrow profile, permitting side-by-side kit installations for retrofits accomplishing duplex sealing on a horizontal machine.

A packaging device, particularly for packaging trays containing food products or technical materials in a controlled atmosphere and by means of a film of plastic material, comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamber, which can be fastened by mutually superimposing them and are each provided internally with a plurality of heat-sealing and/or cutting and/or die-cutting elements arranged concentrically, the lower chamber being provided centrally with a plurality of supporting elements for a tray.

A machine and method for making bags is described and includes a web traveling from an input section to a rotary drum, to an output section. The rotary drum includes at least one seal bar, having a single sealing zone, and a weakening zone disposed within the single sealing zone. The single sealing zone may be a heated perforator, includes a heating wire. The heating wire may be an NiCr wire stitched into the heater, and be disposed on a cap or on the seal bar. The weakening zone may create a line of weakness that is uniform or varies in intensity. The sealing zone may include temperature zones, cartridge heaters, cooling air, or heated air, or a source of ultrasonic, microwave or radiative energy.

A coated fabric (11), comprising a fabric (12) from polymer tapes (12a, 12b), wherein the fabric (12) is coated with a sealing layer (13), wherein at least a portion of the polymer tapes (12a, 12b) have a breaking tenacity of less than 45 cN/tex, preferably 15 to 40 cN/tex and an elongation at break of more than 30%, preferably of 40 to 90%, and/or wherein the sealing layer (13) is formed from a composition A comprising at least one ethylene/-olefin interpolymer, and wherein the composition has a density from 0.905 to 0.930 g/cc, preferably from 0.910 to 0.930 g/cc (1 cc=1 cm.sup.3), and a melt index (12) from 3 to 20 g/10 min and a bag comprising said fabric; a packaging machine (100) for filling gusseted (220) bags (10, 200) wherein the bag walls (202) of the bags (10, 200) consist of a woven fabric (11) of polymer tapes (12a, 12b) at least in part and wherein each of the ends (203, 204) of the bag wall (202) is provided with a filling mouth (211) for filling, wherein a closing device (125) is provided which is structured such that as the filling mouth (211) is closed a welding temperature of at least 50 Kelvin higher in the region of the gussets (220) than in a center region (223) of the bag wall (202) can be generated.

Apparatus with facing bell members for modified-atmosphere packaging of products contained in trays, comprising at least three circuits: a first circuit and a second circuit (24, 25) which are connected to the main chamber (P) enclosing the internal volume of the trays and open out in different positions (23, 23) of this volume and a third circuit (17) connected to the internal chambers (2, 9) of the bell members (1, 8) and these circuits are intercepted by respective valve means (28, 128, 18, 118) so as to be initially all connected to the vacuum means (21, 121) and then the said first circuit (24) is closed, while the said second circuit (25) is connected to the means (26) for introducing the service gases which, entering into the tray, force the remaining air out so as to occupy a small buffer formed by the said second closed circuit (24, 28). The third circuit (17) is connected via associated valve means (118) to means (22) for gradual pressurization, using also atmospheric air, in order to balance the internal pressurization of the tray with the service gases.

A maple sap line system and method for spin welding provides secure, unobstructed lines for collecting sap by creating a hermetically sealed connection between a lateral line and a mainline. A fitting connects the mainline to the lateral line. The fitting is spin welded to the mainline at a contact interface. The fitting comprises a protruding member that easily melts to create the frictional weld. The fitting has an elongated body comprising barbs that receive the lateral line. The fitting has a channel that enables fluid communication between the mainline and the lateral line. The flanges in the fitting register with a chuck to rotate the fitting against the main line at a high rpm. Molten debris formed in the channel is dislodged by drilling with a collared drill. The drilling provides fluid communication and creates a smooth inner surface in the mainline, and cuts off flanges from the fitting.

This disclosure relates to a machine (1) for sealing containers (91) using a film (95). The machine (1) comprises a first jaw member (21), comprising a plurality of seats (20) for respective containers (91) to be sealed, and a second jaw member (22), facing towards the seats (20) of the first jaw member (21). The first jaw member (21) and the second jaw member (22) are movable one relative to the other between a first condition, in which the two jaw members (21, 22) are separated from each other by an interspace (23) suitable for receiving a film (95), and a second condition, in which the two jaw members (21, 22) are clamped together and, in use, press the film (95) against the containers (91) in the seats (20). The seats (20) are side by side one after another along a longitudinal line (200) extending between a first side (231) and a second side (232) of the interspace (23). The machine also comprises a film feeding device (3) facing towards the first side (231) of the interspace (23), and a positioning apparatus for positioning the film (95) in the interspace (23). The film (95) positioning apparatus comprises a first gripping device (4), which is positioned at the second side (232) of the interspace (23), and a second gripping device (5), that is movable parallel to the longitudinal line (200) between a first position close to the film feeding device (3) and a second position close to the first gripping device (4). The second gripping device (5) in the first position is capable of gripping one edge of the film (95) which projects from the film feeding device (3) and is capable of pulling the gripped film (95) with a movement towards the second position, thereby positioning the film (95) in the interspace (23) at said plurality of seats (20). The first gripping device (4) is capable of gripping the edge of the film (95) positioned by the second gripping device (5). This disclosure relates also to a method for sealing a plurality of containers (91).