A vertical bag-making/filling machine (1) comprises: a film-feeding unit (8) which intermittently feeds a film (F) formed into a tubular shape downward; a nozzle (10) supplying contents (X) into the film; a sealing-off unit (17) arranged below a lower end of the nozzle and forming a bag body (Fg) by heat-sealing the film in a transverse direction; a lower shaping unit (30) regulating swelling of the film on the lower side of the sealing-off unit; an upper shaping unit (40) regulating the swelling of the film on the upper side of the sealing-off unit; and a separating unit (25) for separating the bag body (G) fully filled with the contents by cutting the transverse seal (Y1, Y2) formed by the sealing-off unit.

A fin sealer and method to seal a radially outwardly directed fin of a tubular web structure by directing the fin through a nip between a first and a second fin sealing rollers while communicating heat to the fin through at least one of the fin sealing rollers is provided. The fin sealer is configured to maintain a nominal face-to-face relation between an outer annulus of the first fin sealing roller and an outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller with a flexible connection between a hub element of the second fin sealing roller with the outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller.

A form-fill-seal machine is configured to adjust for changes in the thickness of bags within a short time, and is provided with seal jaws, gas removal members, an air cylinder, and a control unit. The seal jaws transverse-seal a cylindrical film in a widthwise direction forming a bag. The gas removal members come into contact against the bag prior to transverse sealing of an upper edge part, discharging a gas upward from the bag. The air cylinder moves the gas removal members, switching the position of the gas removal members between a first position and a second position with respect to the seal jaws. The control unit, in a time slot just prior to the start of a transverse sealing action performed by the seal jaws, changes the timing of switching between the first position and the second position, and adjusts the amount of gas discharged from the bag.

A production method for a pleated film according to the present invention includes an introduction step for moving an elongated film for use as a packaging body and introducing the film into a gap between a pair of pleat-forming plates disposed with a gap therebetween so that respective inner surfaces of the film oppose each other, a fixing step for fixing the film to the pair of pleat-forming plates, and a step for forming a pleat extending in a latitudinal direction of the film by closing the gap between the pair of pleat-forming plates, wherein sealing bars are provided on the pair of pleat-forming plates on opposing surfaces of the pleat-forming plates.

According to one embodiment a packaging method is provided in which a tube is supplied in a forward movement direction. The method includes a folding step in which the tube is acted on in a manner that is transverse to the forward movement direction, folding part of the tube in a folding direction, and a sealing and cutting step after which a tube closed at one end and a package closed and separated from the tube are obtained. During the folding step the tube is held transversely, and a tear is generated in the folding direction between the acted on and held parts of the tube. The tube is sealed on both sides of the tear and cut at the height of the tear. Packaging machines for carrying out the method are also disclosed. Suitable.

A bag making and packaging machine has pull-down belt mechanisms, a transverse sealing mechanism, a rotatable folding member, and a gas blowing mechanism. The folding member, before the transverse sealing mechanism, seals a cylindrical film, pushes against a side portion of the cylindrical film to thereby fold the cylindrical film inward and form a fold in the cylindrical film. The gas blowing mechanism blows a gas onto the fold to thereby inhibit the cylindrical film from sticking to the rotating folding member.

There is described a forming assembly (10a, 10b) for forming a plurality of sealed packs (3) starting from a tube (2) of packaging material, comprising: a track (13a, 13b); a first element (15a, 15b), which is cyclically movable along the track (13a, 13b) and comprises, in turn, one of a sealing element (22b) or a counter-sealing element (22a) adapted to seal the pack (3); and a second element (14a, 14b), which is cyclically movable along the track (13a, 13b) and comprises, in turn, a first half-shell (21a, 21b; 21a, 21b) adapted, in use, contact the tube (2) so as to bound at least part of a respective pack (3) and control the shape of the pack (3) during the formation thereof; the first element (15a, 15b) and the second element (14a, 14b) are self-movable along the track (13a, 13b) independently of one another.

A method for quality control of a packaging system is provided. The method comprises receiving a first record of packaging quality parameter data related to a first packaging quality parameter for a package being assessed, determining a second packaging quality parameter based on said first record, requesting a second record of packaging quality parameter data related to said second packaging quality parameter, and receiving said second record.

The present invention discloses a flat bottom pillow pouch that can stand upright on its bottom transverse seal. The flat bottom pillow bag can be made from the same film as a standard pillow pouch and requires less film than prior art stand up packages. The flat bottom pillow pouch disclosed herein has no gussets.

A method for quality control of a packaging system is provided. The method comprises receiving a record of packaging identification data, wherein the record of packaging identification data being related to a package. Next, identifying and receiving a record of machine data using said record of packaging identification data, wherein said record of machine data being related to a machine set up used when producing said package. Thereafter, identifying a packaging quality parameter to be checked based on said record of machine data, and requesting a record of packaging quality data related to said packaging quality parameter.