A system for packaging includes a continuous flow wrap machine, a product reader, and a labeling unit. The product reader is configured to sense each product of the series of products transported on the infeed conveyor of the continuous flow wrap machine and to provide detected information for facilitating access to unique product information associated with each sensed product of the series of products. The labeling unit is adapted to apply visual representation of the unique product information to the tube formed in the continuous flow wrap machine while the tube is moving or to the resulting packaged product while the packaged product is moving.

A former provides an insert at the lip of the former to enable packaging material to travel smoothly over the former. The insert lays smoothly on the top surface of the former. The insert is sized approximately one half the width of the packaging material that travels over the insert. The former provides a raised textured surface that enables the packaging material to travel over the former into the aperture. The insert constructed with a smooth top surface is located adjacent at least a portion of the aperture. The insert provides a smooth surface for the packaging material to travel across when entering the aperture.

A horizontal forming device, in particular for horizontal flow pack machines, comprises at least one, in particular roller-free, forming unit, in particular a forming shoulder, and comprises at least one support unit, which are configured for forming a packaging material web into a packaging material tube, wherein the forming unit and the support unit together delimit a guiding gap which the packaging material web can be guided through, the horizontal forming device further comprising at least one compensation unit, which is configured to movably support the forming unit and/or the support unit in such a way that, at least during a forming of the packaging material tube, the forming unit and the support unit are movable relative to each other, in particular in order to enable a compensation movement of the forming unit and/or the support unit relative to each other during a forming of the packaging material tube.

A horizontal forming device, in particular for horizontal flow pack machines, comprises at least one, in particular roller-free, forming unit (12a-12d), in particular a forming shoulder, which is configured for forming a packaging material web (14a), in particular a paper web, into a packaging material tube (16a), the forming unit (12a-12d) comprising at least one folding edge (72a-72d) around which the packaging material web (14a) is deflectable, and comprises at least one form-guiding unit (18a-18d), in particular a further forming shoulder, which is configured for further guiding the packaging material tube (16a) transversely to a run-in direction (20a-20d) of the packaging material web (14a) at the forming unit (12a-12d) while maintaining an, in particular homogeneous, material tension generated by the forming unit (12a-12d), wherein the horizontal forming device comprises at least one support surface (22a), in particular a work plate, on which products (24a) that are to be packaged can be transported, the forming unit (12a-12d) and the form-guiding unit (18a-18d) being arranged on sides (26a-26d, 28a-28d) of the support surface (22a) that face away from each other, wherein the form-guiding unit (18a-18d) comprises at least one form-guiding contour (86a-86d), which is configured to support the guided packaging material tube (16a) in order to implement a maintaining of the homogeneous material tension.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to packaging apparatuses and methods adapted to wrap absorbent paper product in a continuous sheet of film formed into tube shape with an asymmetric opening. A former may include a plurality of forming members, wherein each forming member includes an outer surface connected with an inner surface along an edge. In operation, a continuous sheet of film advances around the edges of the forming members and forms an opening. In addition, opposing longitudinal edges of the continuous sheet are guided into an overlapping arrangement that forms the plastic film into a tube shape that extends downstream from the opening in the machine direction. The opening is symmetrical about a first axis and is asymmetrical about a second axis. Absorbent paper product to be packaged advances in the machine direction through the opening and into the tube.

An automatic packaging machine including a folding assembly of a continuous sheet of packaging material, in particular paper, having a sliding plane for conveying the continuous sheet of packaging material along a conveying direction is disclosed. The sliding plane includes an entrance end for entering the continuous sheet of paper and two opposite sides parallel to the conveying direction. Further, the folding assembly includes a feeding assembly for feeding the continuous sheet of packaging material along a feeding plane which is substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction and defined at the entrance end of the sliding plane. The folding assembly further includes a block associated with at least one of the opposite sides of the sliding plane and a body associated with the block and provided with a cone-sector surface which supports a longitudinal flap during longitudinal creasing and accompanies it during the folding along the longitudinal creasing.

Apparatus (10) for producing tubular packages includes a packaging material dispenser (12) and a forming section (20). The forming section (20) comprises a series of package formers (22a-22e) aligned in the machine direction, each defining a packaging material folding channel (24) through which the packaging material passes. The channels (24) of the package formers in the series vary in shape such that as the packaging material passes through the forming section it is gradually folded about a longitudinal axis from a planar configuration into a tubular structure. A series of items (44) to be packaged is conveyed in the machine direction and may be sequentially introduced proximal to the packaging material (14) at a location such that the packaging material is subsequently folded about each item in turn as it continues through the forming section. The apparatus may be a horizontal or vertical form, fill seal type apparatus. The packaging material (14) may be a semi-rigid packaging material such as paperboard, cartonboard, or semi-rigid plastics.

Provided is a wound body formed by winding a long sheet. The wound body is supportable by a support shaft. The support shaft includes a cylindrical outer peripheral part that includes a first projection located at a proximal end and a second projection located at a distal end, and includes an inner peripheral part that includes a first recess part located at the one end and recessing outward in the radial direction and a second recess part located to extend from the one end to the other end and recessing outward in the radial direction. A recessing amount of the second recess part is smaller than that of the first recess part. The support shaft and the core body are integrally rotatable around the central axis by engagement of the first projection with the first recess part in a state where the core body is mounted on the outer periphery of the support shaft. The circumferential position of the first projection around the central axis is aligned with the circumferential position of the first recess part around the central axis by engagement of the second projection with the second recess part when the core body is mounted on the outer periphery of the support shaft.

Apparatus (10) for producing tubular packages includes a packaging material dispenser (12) and a forming section (20). The forming section (20) comprises a progressive folding region (26a, FIG. 8) having a plurality of discrete, elongate external guide surfaces (50, 52, 54, 56) extending generally in the machine direction (A). The elongate external guide surfaces are spaced apart from one another and configured for contact with an outer surface of the packaging material so as to progressively guide and fold the packaging material about a longitudinal axis from a planar configuration into a tubular structure. The elongate guide surfaces may be arcuate and may be provided by means of guide rods. The apparatus may be a horizontal or vertical form, fill seal type apparatus. The packaging material (14) may be a semi-rigid packaging material such as paperboard, cartonboard, or semi-rigid plastics.

A forming device for reforming a material web into a tube, comprising a shoulder part with a shoulder surface and a prism part with a prism surface, wherein the shoulder surface and the prism surface are connected to one another along a spatial reforming edge, which has at least one reforming edge portion with a slight curvature and at least one reforming edge portion with a strong curvature, wherein in the prism part, at least in the region of a reforming edge portion with a strong curvature, an inner former element with an inner former surface facing the prism surface is arranged in such a manner that between the prism surface and the inner former surface, a gap which runs along the reforming edge is formed, the width of said gap being adjustable.