There is described a forming assembly (10b) for forming a plurality of sealed packs (3) starting from a tube (2) of packaging material, comprising first conveying means (15b) movable along a first path (Q) comprising: a first operative branch (Q1), which has a main elongation direction parallel to an advancing direction (A) of the tube (2); and a first return branch (Q2) comprising an initial portion (35b) which is arranged immediately downstream of the operative branch (Q1) and extends transversally to the advancing direction (A); first conveying means (14b, 15b, 14b′) comprise one of a sealing element (22b) or a counter-sealing element (22a); and a first half-shell (21b), which is movable along the operative branch (Q1) between: a first rest position, in which it is detached from the tube (2) or the formed pack (3); and a first operative position, in which it grips the tube (2) or the formed pack (3); the first half-shell (21b) is arranged in the first operative position along a first portion (34b) of the first operative branch (Q1); the first half-shell (21b) is kept in the first operative position along an initial portion (35b), so as to grip and convey the pack (3) in a staggered position with respect to the advancing direction (A); and moves, from the first operative position to the rest position at an end (36b) of the initial portion (35b) opposite to the first portion (34b), so as to discharge the pack (3) in a staggered position with respect to the advancing direction (A).

A method for separating portions of a food mass (3) from a film tube (1), which is continuously advanced along a tube-conveying path (9) at belt-running speed and is filled with the food mass, in particular with processed cheese (3), wherein the film tube filled with the food mass (2) is initially formed into a band of defined thickness by means of a pair of calibrating rollers, and wherein, in order to form separate food portions (3), the food mass is then displaced, by means of a pair of displacement rollers acting upon one another, out of displacement regions (2) extending transversely across the film tube, wherein the displacement rollers are driven by means of a drive, which is controllable in terms of the running thereof, in a manner decoupled from the belt-running speed.

A method for separating portions of a food mass (3) from a film tube (1), which is continuously advanced along a tube-conveying path (9) at belt-running speed and is filled with the food mass, in particular with processed cheese (3), wherein the film tube filled with the food mass (2) is initially formed into a band of defined thickness by means of a pair of calibrating rollers, and wherein, in order to form separate food portions (3), the food mass is then displaced, by means of a pair of displacement rollers acting upon one another, out of displacement regions (2) extending transversely across the film tube, wherein the displacement rollers are driven by means of a drive, which is controllable in terms of the running thereof, in a manner decoupled from the belt-running speed.

A form fill seal apparatus for forming and filling a plurality of bags with a product having a tube formation assembly forming a tubular film, a bag forming assembly configured to form transverse seals and to cut the tubular film to form bags. A product delivery system is provided to deliver product from a positive displacement pump to a product delivery tube. A control system is structurally configured to direct the positive displacement pump to operate in two different modes, a first, continuous operating mode and a second, dosing operating mode. A method of filling is likewise disclosed.

A form fill seal apparatus for forming and filling a plurality of bags with a product having a tube formation assembly forming a tubular film, a bag forming assembly configured to form transverse seals and to cut the tubular film to form bags. A product delivery system is provided to deliver product from a positive displacement pump to a product delivery tube. A control system is structurally configured to direct the positive displacement pump to operate in two different modes, a first, continuous operating mode and a second, dosing operating mode. A method of filling is likewise disclosed.

A packaging unit for producing sealed packages from a tube fed along a first direction and comprising one pair of jaws, which grip the tube along transverse sections, defining respective second directions crosswise to the first direction; sealing means, which seal transverse sections to form sealed packages; separating means for separating packages from the tube along transverse sections and comprising one knife movably supported by one jaw; driving means moving the knife with respect to the jaw along a plane crosswise to the first direction and between a resting position, in which a cutting edge of the knife is spaced from the tube and is aligned with the respective second direction defined by the transverse section to be cut, and an operating position, in which the knife has completely cut the tube at the transverse section; driving means move the cutting edge obliquely with respect to the second direction when said driving means move the knife from the resting position to the operating position; cutting edge contacts the transverse section along a cutting surface parallel to the second direction and increasing as the knife moves from the resting position to the operating position.

A packaging unit for producing sealed packages from a tube fed along a first direction and comprising one pair of jaws, which grip the tube along transverse sections, defining respective second directions crosswise to the first direction; sealing means, which seal transverse sections to form sealed packages; separating means for separating packages from the tube along transverse sections and comprising one knife movably supported by one jaw; driving means moving the knife with respect to the jaw along a plane crosswise to the first direction and between a resting position, in which a cutting edge of the knife is spaced from the tube and is aligned with the respective second direction defined by the transverse section to be cut, and an operating position, in which the knife has completely cut the tube at the transverse section; driving means move the cutting edge obliquely with respect to the second direction when said driving means move the knife from the resting position to the operating position; cutting edge contacts the transverse section along a cutting surface parallel to the second direction and increasing as the knife moves from the resting position to the operating position.

An inductor for transverse sealing a packaging material tube filled with food product comprises a main body comprising first and second sealing surfaces facing the packaging material during a sealing state, a recess in the main body for receiving a knife during a cutting state, and an electric conductor arrangement, in the main body for inducing eddy currents in the packaging material during the sealing state. The first/second sealing surfaces each comprise a top section, an inner sealing section between the recess and the top section, and an outer sealing section between the top section and an outer edge of the inductor. The inner sealing section is inclined towards the recess, and the outer sealing section is inclined towards the outer edge, so that product in the tube is pushed away from a sealing band of the tube as the first/second sealing surfaces are pressed towards the sealing band.

There is described a method for forming a tube (3) of a web (4, 4) of packaging material comprising the steps of advancing the web (4) of packaging material along a web advancement path (P), overlapping a first lateral edge (19) of the web (4, 4′) of packaging material with a second lateral edge (20) of the web (4, 4) of packaging material for obtaining a longitudinal seam portion of the tube (3) and fusing at least an internal outer surface (34) of the first lateral edge (19) and an external outer surface (37) of the second lateral edge (20) with one another for longitudinally sealing the seam portion of the tube (3). The step of fusing comprises at least the substeps of directly heating the external outer surface (37) of the second lateral edge (20) and heating by contact the internal outer surface (34) by establishing contact between the internal outer surface (34) and the directly heated external outer surface (37).

A biodegradable whole leaf pillow tea bag is provided, along with a system and method for manufacturing biodegradable whole leaf pillow tea bags. The method for manufacturing the whole leaf pillow tea bags includes the steps of providing a biodegradable infusion substrate having two opposing edge; creating a sleeve from the biodegradable infusion substrate by infusing the two opposing edges of the substrate together and closing the sleeve at its bottom; placing whole leaf tea in the bottom of the sleeve; vertically feeding the sleeve containing the whole leaf tea into a heat sealing machine that will, at predetermined intervals create heat seals across the sleeve to create pillow bags; cutting the pillow bags from one another across the heat seal. In one example, the biodegradable infusion substrate may contain hemp and/or the whole leaf tea may be infused with CBD oil or other supplements. The same method of manufacturing may be used to create a biodegradable pillow bag containing coffee.