A system for manufacturing tamper evident packaging, for example a bag with a tamper evident seal, includes a noncontact sealing device, a manufacturing conveyor, and in some implementations, a tensioning device and a closure device. The manufacturing conveyor conveys the bag to opposing pairs of in-feed belts of the non-contact sealing device, wherein the belts hold opposing sides of the bag together and a laser with an outlet positioned between a first pair of the belts spot welds the bag along a specified line to fuse the opposing sides of the bag together proximate an opening of the bag. In implementations including the tensioning device and the closure device, the tensioning device draws the opposing sides of the bag together prior to the bag entering the noncontact sealing device, and the closure device applies a removably coupleable closure to the bag after the bag exits the non-contact sealing device.

The present invention is directed to a method of forming a bottom-gusseted package, wherein each package includes an inwardly-extending, pleat-like gusset at the bottom of the package. To permit heat-sealing formation of each package, the sleeve from which each gusset is formed comprises a lamination of two differing polymeric materials, a sealant layer and a non-sealant layer, so that only an exterior surface of each sleeve, at which the sealant layer is positioned, exhibits the desired heat-sealing characteristics. To facilitate package formation, the sleeves from which the bottom gussets are formed are maintained in a closed or sealed configuration during package formation by providing a heat-sealed bond at the edge of each sleeve. In one embodiment, portions of the non-sealant layer are vaporized to provide sealable surface regions of the sealant layer. In an alternative embodiment, a lamination of the sealant and non-sealant layers is formed such that the sealant layer extends laterally beyond the non-sealant layer, to thereby provide sealable surface regions of the sealant layer.

The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a pipe liner for lining the inside of a pipe, for example a water or sewerage pipe requiring repair. The pipe liner is mainly formed of a fabric sleeve, or a plurality of fabric sleeves, and comprises a fluid-proof barrier coating on the inside surface of the pipe liner. The method involves arranging a strip of carrier material comprising a liquid sealant inside the fabric sleeve of the pipe liner and in registration with two opposing side edges of the sheet of fabric, facing an inner barrier coating of the fabric sleeve. The method can advantageously provide such a pipe liner with an inner barrier coating without everting the pipe liner after manufacture. The present invention may also provide a way of avoiding internal cross-welding of said pipe liners and a method for testing the integrity of the barrier coating of said pipe liners. The present invention also provides an apparatus for carrying out these methods.

Device for forming a tube, for example a packaging tube, from a sheet (3), said device comprising at least one welding rod (2), means for welding and pressurizing the welded zone (7-9) and means (4-6) for driving the sheet (3) along the rod (2). The device also comprises means (10-12, 14) that reduce the friction between the welding rod (2) and the sheet (3).

An energy apparatus can be configured for providing energy to an item being transferred over a rotatable drum. The energy apparatus can include a first energy mechanism configured to be fixedly coupled to the rotatable drum and rotate with the rotatable drum. The energy apparatus can also include a second energy mechanism configured to rotate around a circumference of the rotatable drum. The energy apparatus can additionally include a translation system coupled to the second energy mechanism and configured to move the second energy mechanism to an end position that allows the second energy mechanism and the first energy mechanism to provide energy to the item while there is no relative motion between the first energy mechanism and the second energy mechanism. Methods of providing energy to an item utilizing an energy apparatus are also disclosed.

One or more implementations of a multi-layer film include a first layer non-continuously bonded to a second pigmented layer. The multi-layer film includes an unexpected appearance differing from the appearance of the pigmented layer. In one or more embodiments, the multi-layer film includes a metallic appearance despite the pigmented layer being devoid of metallic pigment. The multi-layer film also includes areas that are visually distinct from areas of the film with the unexpected appearance. The visually-distinct areas comprise areas in which the first layer non-continuously is in intimate contact with the second pigmented layer. The visually-distinct areas have the appearance of the pigmented layer or another appearance. One or more implementations also include methods of making multi-layer films and bags with an unexpected appearance and visually-distinct areas.

A joining apparatus includes a fusing mechanism part that joins two thermoplastic sheet-like materials by fusing, a sticking mechanism part that sticks an adhesive tape along a joined portion of the sheet-like materials, a workbench having a placement surface on which the fusing mechanism part and the sticking mechanism part are disposed side by side, the placement surface allowing the sheet-like materials in an unfolded state to be placed thereon, and a guide that allows an end portion to be joined of one of the sheet-like materials and an end portion to be joined of the other sheet-like material to overlap each other while aligned along a plane intersecting the placement surface, each of the end portions to be joined of the sheet-like materials being placed on the placement surface, and to feed the overlapping end portions to be joined. The fusing mechanism part fuses and joins the end portions.

The present invention enables the achievement of a laminate of heat-resistant polymer films, which does not use a bonding material having inferior heat resistance. According to the present invention, a polyvalent amine compound serving as a reactive compound is applied to heat-resistant polymer films such as PET, PEN or PI films, and the resulting polymer films are superposed upon each other and subsequently subjected to a heat treatment under predetermined conditions, thereby obtaining a laminate of heat-resistant polymer films. Since the thus-obtained laminate does not use a bonding material, the heat resistance is not decreased and the film properties before lamination are not deteriorated. Since the process for obtaining this laminate has excellent productivity, this laminate is useful as a low-cost thick heat-resistant polymer film or sheet of high performance.

A process for continuous welding of a sheet of plastic material for manufacturing flexible packages, comprising a step of positioning the sheet relative to the welding device, putting ends of the sheet into contact, forming a weld by heating, pressing and cooling the ends of the sheet that are in contact, acquiring a primary temporal signal with a sensor, the primary temporal signal proportional to a thickness of the weld, transforming the primary temporal signal into a primary frequency signal and defining a low-frequency spectrum, a medium-frequency spectrum, and a high-frequency spectrum from the primary frequency signal, reconstructing a secondary low-frequency signal from the low-frequency spectrum, and determining the thickness of the weld based on the secondary low-frequency signal.

A method and apparatus for constructing a tubular assembly 40 comprising an inner portion (24) and a further portion (23) surrounding the inner portion. The inner portion (24) comprises reinforcement (37) and the further portion (23) being formed from a strip (50) of material comprising two opposed longitudinal marginal side portions (53). The apparatus comprises an assembly station (220) comprising a wall (253). The apparatus comprises means for advancing the inner portion (21) along a first path (231) extending passed the wall (253), and means for advancing the strip (50) along a second path (232) and causing the strip to encircle the wall (253) and thereby wrap about and surround the inner portion (21). The apparatus further comprises means (321) for introducing resinous binder into the reinforcement (37) as the strip (50) is being wrapped about the inner portion (21).