A head for a horizontal flow wrapper packaging machine for forming a bandolier of product packages. The head includes a rotatable first shaft having a plurality of knife elements each including a blade and first and second upper crimping elements. The head also includes a rotatable second shaft having a plurality of anvil elements. A rotation speed of the second shaft is independent of the rotation speed of the first shaft. Each anvil element includes perforation and cutting surfaces and first and second lower crimping elements. A rotation speed of either the first shaft or second shaft is changed to move either a knife element or an anvil element, respectively, between a perforation position and a cutting position. The first upper and first lower crimping elements and the second upper and second lower crimping elements also mate to crimp the packaging material in either the perforating or cutting positions.

A head for a horizontal flow wrapper packaging machine for forming a bandolier of product packages. The head includes a rotatable first shaft having a plurality of knife elements each including a blade and first and second upper crimping elements. The head also includes a rotatable second shaft having a plurality of anvil elements. A rotation speed of the second shaft is independent of the rotation speed of the first shaft. Each anvil element includes perforation and cutting surfaces and first and second lower crimping elements. A rotation speed of either the first shaft or second shaft is changed to move either a knife element or an anvil element, respectively, between a perforation position and a cutting position. The first upper and first lower crimping elements and the second upper and second lower crimping elements also mate to crimp the packaging material in either the perforating or cutting positions.

A fill-packaging method for plural rows, a fill-packaging machine for plural rows and a fill-packaged body include a wide-width cylindrical body forming process for continuously longitudinal-sealing a plastic film longitudinally unreeled in the longitudinal direction to continuously form a single wide-width cylindrical body, a sealing and cutting process for continuously heat-sealing one or more widthwise positions of the wide-width cylindrical body to form longitudinally border sealed portions and continuously cutting the longitudinally border sealed portions in the longitudinal direction to cut out the wide-width cylindrical body into a plurality of narrow-width cylindrical body rows independently arranged in parallel, and a bag-making process for continuously manufacturing packaged bodies by applying horizontal sealing to each of the narrow-width cylindrical body rows separated and run independently in the longitudinal direction at predetermined intervals while filling a packing material therein.

A fill-packaging method for plural rows, a fill-packaging machine for plural rows and a fill-packaged body include a wide-width cylindrical body forming process for continuously longitudinal-sealing a plastic film longitudinally unreeled in the longitudinal direction to continuously form a single wide-width cylindrical body, a sealing and cutting process for continuously heat-sealing one or more widthwise positions of the wide-width cylindrical body to form longitudinally border sealed portions and continuously cutting the longitudinally border sealed portions in the longitudinal direction to cut out the wide-width cylindrical body into a plurality of narrow-width cylindrical body rows independently arranged in parallel, and a bag-making process for continuously manufacturing packaged bodies by applying horizontal sealing to each of the narrow-width cylindrical body rows separated and run independently in the longitudinal direction at predetermined intervals while filling a packing material therein.

A system for controlling registration on a pouch knife machine of a longitudinally extending bandolier of content containing pouches separated by transverse seal seams moving along a feed path, with each pouch having a measurement reference. The machine includes a knife mechanism, a friction drag mechanism, and a friction drag adjustment mechanism. The system includes an optical reference, an optical image sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine an actual position of the measurement reference relative to an optical reference, determine an alignment input based upon the actual position of the measurement reference relative to the optical reference, determine an alignment difference between a target position and the alignment input, and generate an adjustment command to change the position of the bandolier along the feed path after the alignment difference exceeds the operating range for the target position.

A system for controlling registration on a pouch knife machine of a longitudinally extending bandolier of content containing pouches separated by transverse seal seams moving along a feed path, with each pouch having a measurement reference. The machine includes a knife mechanism, a friction drag mechanism, and a friction drag adjustment mechanism. The system includes an optical reference, an optical image sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine an actual position of the measurement reference relative to an optical reference, determine an alignment input based upon the actual position of the measurement reference relative to the optical reference, determine an alignment difference between a target position and the alignment input, and generate an adjustment command to change the position of the bandolier along the feed path after the alignment difference exceeds the operating range for the target position.

A method includes separating a portion of a flattened tube of stock packing material to a custom length to form a pouch pre-form and closing a first end of the pouch pre-form leaving a second end of the pouch pre-form open. The method can include placing product into the pouch pre-form and closing the one open end of the pouch pre-form to form a closed pouch containing the product.

The film sealing and wrapping machine with a rotary cut and seal jaw is provided. The rotary cut and seal jaw has an internal sliding mechanism which provides for smooth and quiet operation. The rotational speed of the jaw may be varied to increase through put and to provide for a title bag around products. The rotary cut and seal jaw may comprise a seal bar and pressure pad may both be spring loaded to self align the seal bar and pressure pad during the sealing and cutting process. Lastly, a gap defined by a belt disposed upstream and downstream of the seal bar and pressure pad may be mechanically linked to the pressure pad through a control carriage.

The film sealing and wrapping machine with a rotary cut and seal jaw is provided. The rotary cut and seal jaw has an internal sliding mechanism which provides for smooth and quiet operation. The rotational speed of the jaw may be varied to increase through put and to provide for a title bag around products. The rotary cut and seal jaw may comprise a seal bar and pressure pad may both be spring loaded to self align the seal bar and pressure pad during the sealing and cutting process. Lastly, a gap defined by a belt disposed upstream and downstream of the seal bar and pressure pad may be mechanically linked to the pressure pad through a control carriage.

Apparatus and method for separating product containing pouches from a travelling web of adhered films carried on a film support surface includes a rotary blade drum assembly having blade configurations with blade portions arranged to form the entire perimeter edge of the flange of the pouch which rotate in synchronous registration with grooves in the film support surface. In one form, at least one blade portion and associated groove portion are non-linear and other than longitudinal or transverse to the film support surface of the forming drum or travelling web of films. The blade portions may be heated and the rotary blade drum assembly may include insulating guides for the pouches.