A method for operating a tubular bag machine with a drive control system and multiple electronic drive units controlled independently of each other for driving functional elements of the packing machine in a cycle time-synchronous manner through predefined motion sequences, one drive unit being a transverse sealing unit with a drive motor driving two transverse sealing jaws for transversely sealing a film tube, and at least conversion functions for converting the drive torque and the position of the drive motor into the sealing force between the transverse sealing jaws being stored or calculated in the drive control system, the method including determining the operating temperature of the transverse sealing jaws, selecting or calculating a conversion function as a function of the operating temperature, using the temperature-dependent conversion function in calculating the drive torque of the drive motor required to reach a desired target sealing force between the transverse sealing jaws.

An anvil for transversally sealing a tube having a longitudinal seam portion can include a first elongate contact surface and a second elongate contact surface. In some embodiments, the first elongate contact surface includes a first groove and the second elongate contact surface includes a second groove, each one of the first groove and the second groove being adapted to receive, in use, a respective section of the longitudinal seam portion of the tube. The first elongate contact surface can include a first seam interaction portion positioned within the first groove and having a first surface profile. The second elongate contact surface can include a second seam interaction portion positioned within the second groove and having a second surface profile. In some embodiments, the first surface profile differs from the second surface profile.

A vertical form fill and seal apparatus, for packaging particulates, includes a package sealing assembly that has opposed sealing jaws operatively coupled to each other by mechanical connection at a common pivot point. A first jaw actuator is mechanically coupled to the opposed sealing jaws to pivot the jaws in a controlled manner about the common pivot point. A second actuator is mechanically coupled to the package sealing assembly and is configured to impart controlled reciprocating motion to the package sealing assembly. A controller is configured to control the first actuator and to control the second actuator thereby causing the jaws to describe a preset locus of travel, allowing flexibility of type of bag being made without change-out of jaws. The packaging film may move continuously, or may optionally be controlled to move intermittently through the VFFS.

Various device embodiments perform a sealing operation on a moving web, and comprise, among other things a plate assembly with an air cylinder assembly. The air cylinder assembly comprises a mount, a back plate, at least one air cylinder positioned between the mount and the back plate. The first plate assembly further includes a linear servo motor for linearly moving the air cylinder assembly with respect to the first base, and a first tooling plate with a sealing surface area. The first tooling plate coupled to the back plate.

The present disclosure relates to a method for producing an oral pouched snuff product comprising a filling material (29, 10) and a saliva-permeable pouch (43) enclosing the filling material (29, 10), the product (29, 10) having a moisture content of at most 20% by weight, in particular at most 10% by weight, based on total weight of the product (29, 10), the saliva-permeable pouch (43) having one or more seals (45, 46), and said filling material (29, 10) comprising at least 20% by weight, based on dry weight of the filling material (29, 10), of at least one ingredient having a melting temperature below 180 C., the method comprising ultrasonically welding and cutting an advancing web (32) of packaging material (7) to which the filling material (29, 10) has been supplied. The present disclosure also provides an oral pouched snuff product which is obtainable by this method.

A system includes a film processing module, a processor, and memory. The processor and memory are in communication with the film processing module. The processor is configured to dynamically coordinate movement of the film processing module relative to a moving web of film and to perform a function on the web of film with the film processing module.

An anvil for transversally sealing a tube having a longitudinal seam portion can include a first elongate contact surface and a second elongate contact surface. In some embodiments, the first elongate contact surface includes a first groove and the second elongate contact surface includes a second groove, each one of the first groove and the second groove being adapted to receive, in use, a respective section of the longitudinal seam portion of the tube. The first elongate contact surface can include a first seam interaction portion positioned within the first groove and having a first surface profile. The second elongate contact surface can include a second seam interaction portion positioned within the second groove and having a second surface profile. In some embodiments, the first surface profile differs from the second surface profile.

A method for monitoring a tubular bag machine having a drive control system and independently controlled electronic drive units controlled by a drive control system for driving functional elements of the packing machine in a cycle time-synchronous manner in predefined motion sequences, one drive unit being a transverse sealing unit with a drive motor and two transverse sealing jaws for transversely sealing a film tube, and the drive motor torque measured using a drive controller, and the drive motor position measured using a position sensor, the method including moving the film tube into the sealing zone between the transverse sealing jaws, closing the jaws according to a predefined target torque stored in the drive control system, measuring the actual position of the drive motor upon reaching the target torque, and comparing the measured position to a target position stored in the drive control system associated with the predefined target torque.

Various device embodiments perform a sealing operation on a moving web, and comprise, among other things a plate assembly with an air cylinder assembly. The air cylinder assembly comprises a mount, a back plate, at least one air cylinder positioned between the mount and the back plate. The first plate assembly further includes a linear servo motor for linearly moving the air cylinder assembly with respect to the first base, and a first tooling plate with a sealing surface area. The first tooling plate coupled to the back plate.

The present disclosure relates to a method for producing an oral pouched snuff product comprising a filling material (29, 10) and a saliva-permeable pouch (43) enclosing the filling material (29, 10), the product (29, 10) having a moisture content of at most 20% by weight, in particular at most 10% by weight, based on total weight of the product (29, 10), the saliva-permeable pouch (43) having one or more seals (45, 46), and said filling material (29, 10) comprising at least 20% by weight, based on dry weight of the filling material (29, 10), of at least one ingredient having a melting temperature below 180 C., the method comprising ultrasonically welding and cutting an advancing web (32) of packaging material (7) to which the filling material (29, 10) has been supplied. The present disclosure also provides an oral pouched snuff product which is obtainable by this method.