Packaging apparatuses for loading and sealing products into a web of interconnected bags, and methods of using them, are provided. In one aspect, the packaging apparatus includes an intermittently advancing web conveyor that also indexes vertically to facilitate stacked loading of products into the bags. In another aspect, the packaging apparatus includes a dividing seal station that applies a center seal dividing the bag into separate sealed subcompartments, some of the bag contents being distributed to each compartment, such as one of two trays to each subcompartment. To facilitate distribution of contents and even sealing, the dividing seal station may include a dividing sealer lower support that oscillates vertically to promote settling of contents and gases in the bag before applying a dividing seal.

Packaging apparatuses for loading and sealing products into a web of interconnected bags, and methods of using them, are provided. In one aspect, the packaging apparatus includes an intermittently advancing web conveyor that also indexes vertically to facilitate stacked loading of products into the bags. In another aspect, the packaging apparatus includes a dividing seal station that applies a center seal dividing the bag into separate sealed subcompartments, some of the bag contents being distributed to each compartment, such as one of two trays to each subcompartment. To facilitate distribution of contents and even sealing, the dividing seal station may include a dividing sealer lower support that oscillates vertically to promote settling of contents and gases in the bag before applying a dividing seal.

Packaging apparatuses for loading and sealing products into a web of interconnected bags, and methods of using them, are provided. In one aspect, the packaging apparatus includes an intermittently advancing web conveyor that also indexes vertically to facilitate stacked loading of products into the bags. In another aspect, the packaging apparatus includes a dividing seal station that applies a center seal dividing the bag into separate sealed subcompartments, some of the bag contents being distributed to each compartment, such as one of two trays to each subcompartment. To facilitate distribution of contents and even sealing, the dividing seal station may include a dividing sealer lower support that oscillates vertically to promote settling of contents and gases in the bag before applying a dividing seal.

Packaging apparatuses for loading and sealing products into a web of interconnected bags, and methods of using them, are provided. In one aspect, the packaging apparatus includes an intermittently advancing web conveyor that also indexes vertically to facilitate stacked loading of products into the bags. In another aspect, the packaging apparatus includes a dividing seal station that applies a center seal dividing the bag into separate sealed subcompartments, some of the bag contents being distributed to each compartment, such as one of two trays to each subcompartment. To facilitate distribution of contents and even sealing, the dividing seal station may include a dividing sealer lower support that oscillates vertically to promote settling of contents and gases in the bag before applying a dividing seal.

A transportation method for the intermittent, forward moving transportation of flexible containers suspended in a packaging line, including the use of movable arms on a same plane, between which a container is secured in opposite areas, one of which is a tractor arm and the other a push arm. Between two consecutive stops, the method includes steps of simultaneously moving the tractor arm and push arm forwards at different velocities, in order to deform the container and move the contents to compensate for the forces of inertia. Also disclosed is a device for putting the method into practice, including a number of guides that determine a closed route, upon which at least a first and second adjacent carrying element slide, which may be operated independently or together, in order to be moved along the length of the guides and work together to jointly secure and transport a corresponding container.

A transportation method for the intermittent, forward moving transportation of flexible containers suspended in a packaging line, including the use of movable arms on a same plane, between which a container is secured in opposite areas, one of which is a tractor arm and the other a push arm. Between two consecutive stops, the method includes steps of simultaneously moving the tractor arm and push arm forwards at different velocities, in order to deform the container and move the contents to compensate for the forces of inertia. Also disclosed is a device for putting the method into practice, including a number of guides that determine a closed route, upon which at least a first and second adjacent carrying element slide, which may be operated independently or together, in order to be moved along the length of the guides and work together to jointly secure and transport a corresponding container.

A packaging system employs a cartridge having moveable walls such that the cartridge discharges or inducts one or more items into a cavity of a package, such as a film that is sealed into a pouch or mailer. A bottom wall of the cartridge is retracted relative to an end panel of the cartridge during the induction process.

A method for packaging discrete medicaments in pouches in a packaging device configured to form and fill the pouches in an elongated web, the method comprising the following steps: transporting the elongated web along a web trajectory, printing information on the elongated web related to the discrete medicaments that are fed to the elongated web at the position of the printed information on the elongated web, feeding the discrete medicaments to the elongated web at the position on the elongated web of the related printed information, inspecting the elongated web to determine whether there is a fault related to the elongated web, and in response to a fault being detected, printing a fault indication or a fault symbol on the elongated web, and forming an empty pouch at the position of the fault indication or fault symbol.

A method for packaging discrete medicaments in pouches in a packaging device configured to form and fill the pouches in an elongated web, the method comprising the following steps: transporting the elongated web along a web trajectory, printing information on the elongated web related to the discrete medicaments that are fed to the elongated web at the position of the printed information on the elongated web, feeding the discrete medicaments to the elongated web at the position on the elongated web of the related printed information, inspecting the elongated web to determine whether there is a fault related to the elongated web, and in response to a fault being detected, printing a fault indication or a fault symbol on the elongated web, and forming an empty pouch at the position of the fault indication or fault symbol.

Apparatus for vertically supporting and guiding a web of plastic film horizontally in applications such as in machines that form the plastic film into bags and fill the bags with bulk material. A longitudinally extending gap is provided between proximate edges of first and second plates. The plastic film web is traversed through the gap. A punch mechanism forms protrusions in the web. The protrusions slide atop the plates and prevent the web from falling through the gap as the web traverses through the gap. The protrusions can, for example, be tab cutouts with terminal ends sliding atop the plates and loops formed between slits extending to a crest.