An apparatus for sealing a bag opening includes a retaining member and a slide member adapted to slide into said retaining member. The retaining member includes an elongated opening that extends through at least one open end of the retaining member. A bottom stop is provided at an end of the retaining member that is opposite to the open end of the retaining member. Alternatively, the retaining member includes an elongated opening that extends through both ends of the retaining member and the bottom stop is omitted. The slide member includes at least one protruding portion that protrudes from the retaining member when the slide member is slid into and retained by the retaining member. The slide member abuts the bottom stop of the retaining member when such bottom stop is provided within the retaining member. In cases in which the retaining member is provided with two open ends, the slide member may include two protruding portions that protrude from both open ends of the retaining member.

A bag closure applying unit is provided for attaching a bag closure, for example, a “Kwik Lok” type and/or “Schutte” type of bag closure, to a bag. The bag closure applying unit includes an elongated housing having a first end and a second end, opposite to the first end, and a guiding channel extending between the first end and the second end. The guiding channel is configured for receiving a strip of bag closures. The bag closure applying unit further includes a moving mechanism configured for engaging the strip of bag closures and for moving the strip of bag closures through the guiding channel. The moving mechanism includes two engaging arms for engaging the strip of bag closures. The engaging arms are configured to engage the strip of bag closures at the longitudinal sides thereof.

A device for sealing packages, including a product feed and a packaging feed for a tubular packaging material; and a method for sealing packages. Such devices are used, for example, as tubular bag machines. The packages can be produced by type for improved recyclability while simultaneously maintaining a high load-bearing capacity of the package closures with the aid of a closure element made of the same material as the rest of the package by welding the closure element and the package in the closure region.

A bag closure applying unit is provided for attaching a bag closure, for example, a “Kwik Lok” type and/or “Schutte” type of bag closure, to a bag. The bag closure applying unit includes an elongated housing having a first end and a second end, opposite to the first end, and a guiding channel extending between the first end and the second end. The guiding channel is configured for receiving a strip of bag closures. The bag closure applying unit further includes a moving mechanism configured for engaging the strip of bag closures and for moving the strip of bag closures through the guiding channel. The moving mechanism includes two engaging arms for engaging the strip of bag closures. The engaging arms are configured to engage the strip of bag closures at the longitudinal sides thereof.

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.

A method and apparatus of packing product in a tubular casing is provided. The method includes providing a continuous length of tubular casing, providing an expansion plug within the tubular casing, grasping the casing upstream end with a casing grabber, moving the casing grabber away from the expansion plug towards an outlet end of a product feed conduit, feeding product from the product feed conduit through the casing upstream end into the tubular casing, and cutting the tubular casing downstream of the product to sever an upstream casing segment from the remaining continuous length of tubular casing.

A bag film crimping device has a socket having top and bottom components joined by a bridge. Each socket component has a pair of opposed limbs, and each limb having inwardly directed teeth. A plug fits between the limbs with a friction fit in a movement from proximal to distal, and it has outwardly directed teeth for engagement with the teeth of the socket. A cover slide over the socket to cover a space at a distal end between the limbs when the socket and plug components have been separated after crimping. The cover includes has tines for prising a socket limb from the plug as the cover is pressed distally after it has previously been used to cover exposed edges of film after crimping and the top and bottom components have been separated.

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.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for handling and manipulating packages in automated or semi-automated fashion and packages adapted for the same. The systems may include package-holding devices, package-manipulating devices, and package-detection components for locating packages or portions thereof in a three-dimensional space. The packages may include features that enable automated or semi-automated handling and manipulation thereof, such as different types of opening/closing mechanisms with different geometric structures that allow for holding, shifting, and manipulating the packages and/or portions thereof with the package-manipulating devices. The packages additionally or alternatively may include mechanical fasteners, magnets, and/or spring-biased opening/closing mechanisms for keeping the packages closed prior to manipulation thereof. Such packages and systems may be used in a logistics network to the increase speed, accuracy, and efficiency of processing packages having, at least in part, a non-fixed geometry.

A method and apparatus of packing product in a tubular casing is provided. The method includes providing a continuous length of tubular casing, providing an expansion plug within the tubular casing, grasping the casing upstream end with a casing grabber, moving the casing grabber away from the expansion plug towards an outlet end of a product feed conduit, feeding product from the product feed conduit through the casing upstream end into the tubular casing, and cutting the tubular casing downstream of the product to sever an upstream casing segment from the remaining continuous length of tubular casing.