The invention relates to an inflating station for inflating of film bags with a first and a second suction bar arm and with an inflating bar with inflating spouts arranged on it. The first/second suction bar arm is movable with a first/second drive shaft. A servo engine is disposed on the first drive shaft. A drive movement of the first drive shaft is transferred from a first gear wheel to a second gear wheel and from the second gear wheel to the second drive shaft. Further, the invention relates to a method for inflating of film bags with this inflating station with the steps: positioning of the film bags below the inflating station; closing of the suction bar arms and application of a first contact pressure; horizontal displacement of the vacuum cups in a first direction, establishment of the contact with the film bag halves, formation of a negative pressure; horizontal displacement of the vacuum cups in a second direction, therefore opening of the film bags; inserting of the inflating spouts in the film bags; increasing of the contact pressure to a second value and subsequent inflating of the film bags by means of the inserted inflating spouts.

The invention relates to an inflating station for inflating of film bags with a first and a second suction bar arm and with an inflating bar with inflating spouts arranged on it. The first/second suction bar arm is movable with a first/second drive shaft. A servo engine is disposed on the first drive shaft. A drive movement of the first drive shaft is transferred from a first gear wheel to a second gear wheel and from the second gear wheel to the second drive shaft. Further, the invention relates to a method for inflating of film bags with this inflating station with the steps: positioning of the film bags below the inflating station; closing of the suction bar arms and application of a first contact pressure; horizontal displacement of the vacuum cups in a first direction, establishment of the contact with the film bag halves, formation of a negative pressure; horizontal displacement of the vacuum cups in a second direction, therefore opening of the film bags; inserting of the inflating spouts in the film bags; increasing of the contact pressure to a second value and subsequent inflating of the film bags by means of the inserted inflating spouts.

A bagging mechanism for packaging ice into plastic bags is provided. The bagging mechanism includes a roll support for supporting a roll of plastic, a feeding unit for feeding a predetermined length of plastic from the roll of plastic along a feeding path, a sealing unit positioned along the feeding path for sealing the length of plastic across a width thereof to define a bottom and a top of the plastic bag, a breaching unit positioned along the feeding path downstream from the sealing unit for breaching at least one layer of the length of plastic, thus defining an opening at a top of the plastic bag, and a spreading unit positioned downstream from the breaching unit, the spreading unit having a plurality of elongated fingers adapted to extend between layers of the plastic and hold the top of the plastic bag open while it is filled with ice.

Methods of opening and adding expansion materials to containers made from flexible materials. The methods involve forming a partially completed container blank that may have four layers of flexible materials. The partially completed container blank may be opened by separating a portion of the first layer from a portion of the second layer by bending portions of the second, third, and fourth layers toward a first direction; and dosing the partially completed container blank, by adding an expansion material out of a dispenser and into a space disposed between a portion of the first layer and a portion of the second layer.

Methods of opening and adding expansion materials to containers made from flexible materials. The methods involve forming a partially completed container blank that may have four layers of flexible materials. The partially completed container blank may be opened by separating a portion of the first layer from a portion of the second layer by bending portions of the second, third, and fourth layers toward a first direction; and dosing the partially completed container blank, by adding an expansion material out of a dispenser and into a space disposed between a portion of the first layer and a portion of the second layer.

A control device (1) for controlling opening/closing of a valve (16) of a valved container (11), said valve (16) comprising a valve body (17) provided with an orifice (18), a shutter (19) for shutting the orifice (18), the shutter being made at least in part out of a magnetic material, and a return member (20) for returning the shutter (19) of the valve (16) into the closed position of said orifice (18), said device (1) including at least one location (3) for receiving the valve (16) of said container (11), said location (3) comprising a housing (31) into which the valve (16) of the container (11) is suitable for being inserted, and a control system (5) for controlling opening of the valve (16), which system is suitable for being positioned at least in part around said location (3), said control system (5) being configured to hold the shutter (19) of the valve (16) in a position in which the orifice (18) of the valve (16) is open when the valve (16) is in its state in position in said location (3). The control system (5) has at least one permanent magnet (6) suitable for exerting a force of attraction or of repulsion on the shutter (19) in the direction for opening the shutter (19).

An exemplary web of preformed bags includes first and second layers, first and second side, first and second side seals proximate the first and second edges, a plurality of transverse seals extending between the first and second side edges, an opening in the first layer, and a line of separation in the second layer, and first and second cuts in the first and second side seals. The first and second cuts are configured to reduce or eliminate a breaking force necessary to break the first and second side seals when the web is torn along the line of separation.

An exemplary web of preformed bags includes first and second layers, first and second side, first and second side seals proximate the first and second edges, a plurality of transverse seals extending between the first and second side edges, an opening in the first layer, and a line of separation in the second layer, and first and second cuts in the first and second side seals. The first and second cuts are configured to reduce or eliminate a breaking force necessary to break the first and second side seals when the web is torn along the line of separation.

An ice bagger is provided. The ice bagger includes an ice hopper into which ice is disposed from an ice manufacturer. The ice hopper further includes an ice agitator. The ice hopper defines an ice trough positioned beneath the ice hopper. An ice auger is housed inside the ice trough. The ice auger transports ice to an ice delivery chute. A hatch is positioned beneath the ice delivery chute, upon which the bag rests while filling. The ice delivery chute and the hatch define a bag filling area such that, when bags are present in the bag filling area, the bags are positioned to be filled. A scale is positioned on the hatch. The scale weighs the ice being deposited into the bag. When the bag is full, the bag is sealed by a sealer. When the bag is sealed, the hatch opens and the bag of ice is deposited in an bag depository. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

An ice bagger is provided. The ice bagger includes an ice hopper into which ice is disposed from an ice manufacturer. The ice hopper further includes an ice agitator. The ice hopper defines an ice trough positioned beneath the ice hopper. An ice auger is housed inside the ice trough. The ice auger transports ice to an ice delivery chute. A hatch is positioned beneath the ice delivery chute, upon which the bag rests while filling. The ice delivery chute and the hatch define a bag filling area such that, when bags are present in the bag filling area, the bags are positioned to be filled. A scale is positioned on the hatch. The scale weighs the ice being deposited into the bag. When the bag is full, the bag is sealed by a sealer. When the bag is sealed, the hatch opens and the bag of ice is deposited in an bag depository. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.