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 sealing machine having a movable carriage assembly which utilizes a counterbalance and two servo motors is disclosed. The counterbalance allows high throughput operation without excessive mechanical vibration. The use of two servo motors allows independent control of the horizontal movement of the movable carriage assembly and the vertical movement of the jaws. The use of two servo motors also allows adaptation to articles or packages of various dimensions. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is used to detect the position of the package to be sealed, and the movement of the movable carriage assembly and the jaw is altered based on the detected position.

Packaging apparatus for producing encased products from flat-roll stock using an external user interface (i.e., a handle that is external to a housing holding the heat seal assembly that is attached to a horizontally oriented shaft that rotates a first gear in the housing to rotate an aligned second gear in the housing or an electronic control) that is attached to and/or in communication with (directly or indirectly) a heat-seal assembly with a heat-seal contact member, such as a heat-seal band, in the housing to allow a user to adjust a vertical height of the heat-seal assembly while the apparatus is operational and/or without requiring physical access to the interior of the housing.

The sealing device for packages that includes a control unit, a sealing station, an unwinder for a film web, a cutting device provided upstream of the sealing station and used for producing film sections of the film web, a film feed device for feeding the film sections to the sealing station, a conveying device for conveying packages into the sealing station. Preferrably, the packages include food packed in a gas-tight manner. Further, the sealing station may comprise upper and lower sealing elements that are configured for clamping the package and the film section in common between the lower and upper sealing elements and for sealing the film section onto the package. The sealing device may also include the sealing elements being adapted to be synchronously moved along with the continuously moving package during the sealing process.

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.

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.

Packaging apparatus for producing encased products from flat-roll stock using an external user interface (i.e., a handle that is external to a housing holding the heat seal assembly that is attached to a horizontally oriented shaft that rotates a first gear in the housing to rotate an aligned second gear in the housing or an electronic control) that is attached to and/or in communication with (directly or indirectly) a heat-seal assembly with a heat-seal contact member, such as a heat-seal band, in the housing to allow a user to adjust a vertical height of the heat-seal assembly while the apparatus is operational and/or without requiring physical access to the interior of the housing.

A machine for packaging articles includes a frame; a feeder feeding film to a packaging station to wrap articles. A sealing unit includes at least two sealing elements movable relative to each other between a spaced-apart position and a close-together position where the two sealing elements cooperate to seal the film interposed between them. First and second mechanisms having first and second motors move the sealing unit. The second motor is operatively coupled to at least one of the two sealing elements. The first and/or the second mechanisms include at least one articulated arm, respectively. A control unit is operatively connected to the first motor and to the second motor to drive them in proper relationship to move the two sealing elements relative to each other and relative to the frame according to a predetermined law of motion.

The sealing device for packages that includes a control unit, a sealing station, an unwinder for a film web, a cutting device provided upstream of the sealing station and used for producing film sections of the film web, a film feed device for feeding the film sections to the sealing station, a conveying device for conveying packages into the sealing station. Preferrably, the packages include food packed in a gas-tight manner. Further, the sealing station may comprise upper and lower sealing elements that are configured for clamping the package and the film section in common between the lower and upper sealing elements and for sealing the film section onto the package. The sealing device may also include the sealing elements being adapted to be synchronously moved along with the continuously moving package during the sealing process.

A film edge sealing device is disclosed herein which has a groove defining a base. The base of the groove of the edge sealing device is oriented at a skewed angle with respect to a longitudinal direction of the conveyor of the heat sealing machine. Edges of a thermoplastic sheet or two stacked layers of thermoplastic sheets are introduced into the groove of the edge sealing device and placed in contact therewith to both heat and melt the edges of the thermoplastic sheet(s) to form a bead and join the edges thereof to form an edge bead seal.