A cyclic packaging process, such as VFFS or HFFS, packages a product with a viscosity of ?100,000 centipoise without leaving substantial air pockets in the package, by utilizing a means (38) for restricting upstream flow of viscous product in the strand of tubing (24). The result is that packages of uniform weight of the viscous product can be made without substantial air pockets therein, and without having to use metal clips. An apparatus (10) for carrying out the process is disclosed.

An assembly and method for handling packaging containers for foodstuffs is disclosed. The assembly and method may include a support plate attachable on a rail for holding packaging containers raised from a sheet of web material, a membrane arranged on the support plate and at least one inlet for receiving fluid intended to inflate the membrane. The assembly may be arranged at a sealing station for the packaging container and the membrane may be configured to be inflated through the fluid inlet in order to press against at least two walls of the packaging container during sealing of the container in order to prevent bulging of the sealed container.

A vertical fill, form and seal (VFFS) apparatus for particulates that facilitates the close-packing (settling) of the particulates such that a smaller package is needed to contain a mass of particulates in a charge to the VFFS apparatus. The former of the VFFS apparatus, and an associated film driver, move up and down synchronously and in a controlled manner. A partially formed bag, below the former, containing particulates is shaken up and down as the former moves up and down, while the packaging film travels downward continuously in the apparatus. The shaking causes the particulates to settle, and to increase in bulk density. This allows use of less packaging, and lowers use of transportation fuel. In an embodiment, an actuator is in mechanical communication with the former (and its associated film driver) to apply a vertical reciprocating force to the former.

Disclosed is a packaging machine that includes a forming tube with an outlet with a given width in a horizontal direction. The machine also includes a transverse actuation assembly downstream of the forming tube, and a compacting assembly downstream of the transverse actuation assembly that is configured to compact the product to be packaged. Means for extracting gas from the film tube is also provided along with a distribution assembly for modifying the distribution of the product. The distribution assembly is downstream of the forming tube and includes a first element and a second element facing each other in the horizontal direction and separated from each other by a separation distance smaller than the width of the outlet of the forming tube.

A method for manufacturing a number of tubular packagings filled with a liquid, particularly a sterile liquid. The method includes providing a tube which is wound onto a first reel and is filled at least partially with the liquid, and unwinding the tube from the first reel and dividing it into a number of tubular segments by means of successive welding operations. The tube is displaceable through a welding device substantially vertically and substantially free of mechanical tension. A temperature prevailing in the welding device can be kept constant during each welding operation by having liquid circulate through the welding device. One or more welding parameters can further be recorded during each welding operation and be stored together with data about the liquid. A system for performing this method.

A packaging machine device includes at least one closure device (10), in particular a sealing device, for producing at least one closure seam (12, 14), in particular a sealing seam, on at least one packaging material (16), and includes a forming device (18) configured to form the packaging material (16), which has been pre-formed into a tubular bag, in a region of the closure seam (12, 14), in particular at least partly before a production of the closure seam (12, 14). The forming device (18) is configured to form the packaging material (16) in the region of the closure seam (12, 14), starting from an inner region (24) of the closure seam (12, 14) in a direction (30, 32) towards at least one outer region (26, 28) of the closure seam (12, 14).

A tubular bag includes a top side and a bottom side running parallel to the top side and further has a first seam running parallel to the top side and to the bottom side. The first seam is produced by bonding, and the tubular bag includes at least two lateral second seams connecting the top side to the bottom side. The second seams are produced by bonding, wherein a flap is formed on and/or in the first seam. Furthermore, a method is provided for producing the tubular bag and a packaging machine is provided for carrying out the method.

A tubular bag includes a top side and a bottom side running parallel to the top side, the tubular bag further having a first seam running along the top side, along the bottom side, or parallel to the top side and to the bottom side. The first seam is produced by bonding. The tubular bag includes at least two lateral second seams connecting the top side to the bottom side. The second seams are produced by bonding. A flap is formed on the outside parallel to the first seam. Furthermore, a method is provided for producing the tubular bag and a packaging machine is provided for carrying out the method.