This disclosure pertains to a forming device used in the formation of a package with a self-mating reclosure, where a single self-mating closure wraps around the periphery of the forming device, and one end of the zipper segment extends into the lap seal of the forming device. Alternatively, one or two ends of the zipper segment could extend into a fin seal. The self-mating reclosure is mounted transversely on the sheet of web or film and includes at least one crushed end proximate to one edge of the sheet of web or film. The self-mating closure may be pre-crushed, prior to attachment to the sheet of web or film, or may be crushed after the sheet of web or film is wrapped around a forming device or similar structure.

A method is disclosed for forming a two-compartment bag. The method comprises draping a sheet of bag forming material around a primary fill pipe and one or more secondary fill pipes, forming multiple compartments by sealing the sheet material around the respective fill pipes, filling the various compartments with material, and sealing the bag. The method comprises forming transverse seals so that a transverse seal area of a secondary compartment at least partially overlaps with a transverse seal area of the first compartment, so that the secondary compartment is fixedly folded against the first compartment. The method permits the volume of the secondary compartments to be varied independent from the volume of the primary compartment. Each compartment may be opened without opening the other compartments. In a preferred embodiment the bag is made of a microwave-compatible material, and at least one of the compartments contains a food material intended for reheating or preparation in a microwave oven.

An exchangeable ultrasonic welding module contains an ultrasonic transducer assembly (4) with a horn (5) and an anvil (7). The module contains a member (1) provided with a guideway (8) in a mating guideway (18) on the frame (10) of a filling tube (14). A locking element (11) secures the member (1) and the frame (10) in a fixed position relative to each other. The member (1) is provided with an element (2) for linear motion of a sliding carriage (3) and an adjustable stop (6) for restricting the carriage movement (3). The ultrasonic transducer assembly (4) is firmly affixed to the carriage (3), whereas the anvil (7) is affixed to the member (1). The frame (10) may contain an adjustable stop (9) for locking the member (1) in a defined position as the member is inserted into the mating guideway (18).

There is described a machine for packaging products in tubular wrappings of thermoplastic material obtained from continuous film unwound from a reel, equipped with a double transverse heat-sealing and intermediate cutting assembly that, with a horizontal translation movement, accompanies the pack that the assembly is closing the trailing end of to be unloaded while it is simultaneously closing the leading end of the tubular wrapper of the future pack that the heat-sealing and cutting assembly, also due to the presence thereon of pressers and counter-pressers, extracts from a tube-forming and longitudinal heat-sealing mandrel and that, by the same assembly, is separated from the pack upstream with a transverse cut.

At the end of its active movement, the transverse heat-sealing and cutting assembly opens and with a horizontal movement in the opposite direction to and at a higher speed than the preceding one returns to the cycle start position, upstream of a new pack already filled and ready to be heat sealed at the trailing end and accompanied to be unloaded, repeating the cycle described. The transverse heat-sealing and cutting assembly is aided by a conveyor that supports and advances the packs being formed and those finished and separated, and that is equipped with a gap with variable geometry, which opens during the active horizontal movement of the same assembly and closes during the reverse horizontal movement of the same assembly.

This disclosure pertains to a forming device used in the formation of a package with a self-mating reclosure, where a single self-mating closure wraps around the periphery of the forming device, and one end of the zipper segment extends into the lap seal of the forming device. Alternatively, one or two ends of the zipper segment could extend into a fin seal. The self-mating reclosure is mounted transversely on the sheet of web or film and includes at least one crushed end proximate to one edge of the sheet of web or film. The self-mating closure may be pre-crushed, prior to attachment to the sheet of web or film, or may be crushed after the sheet of web or film is wrapped around a forming forming device or similar structure.

An exchangeable ultrasonic welding module contains an ultrasonic transducer assembly (4) with a horn (5) and an anvil (7). The module contains a member (1) provided with a guideway (8) in a mating guideway (18) on the frame (10) of a filling tube (14). A locking element (11) secures the member (1) and the frame (10) in a fixed position relative to each other.

The member (1) is provided with an element (2) for linear motion of a sliding carriage (3) and an adjustable stop (6) for restricting the carriage movement (3). The ultrasonic transducer assembly (4) is firmly affixed to the carriage (3), whereas the anvil (7) is affixed to the member (1). The frame (10) may contain an adjustable stop (9) for locking the member (1) in a defined position as the member is inserted into the mating guideway (18).

A method is disclosed for forming a two-compartment bag. The method comprises draping a sheet of bag forming material around a primary fill pipe and one or more secondary fill pipes, forming multiple compartments by sealing the sheet material around the respective fill pipes, filling the various compartments with material, and sealing the bag.

The method comprises forming transverse seals so that a transverse seal area of a secondary compartment at least partially overlaps with a transverse seal area of the first compartment, so that the secondary compartment is fixedly folded against the first compartment.

The method permits the volume of the secondary compartments to be varied independent from the volume of the primary compartment. Each compartment may be opened without opening the other compartments.

In a preferred embodiment the bag is made of a microwave-compatible material, and at least one of the compartments contains a food material intended for reheating or preparation in a microwave oven.