A cyclic packaging process, such as VFFS or HFFS, packages a product with a viscosity of ≥100,000 centipoise without leaving substantial air pockets in the package, by utilizing a means (38) for restricting upstream flow of viscous product in the strand of tubing (24). The result is that packages of uniform weight of the viscous product can be made without substantial air pockets therein, and without having to use metal clips. An apparatus (10) for carrying out the process is disclosed.

An assembly for forming bags, having a belt drive for feeding a film at a film speed to a former shoulder to form a tubular film, a set of jaws movable at a jaw speed to engage and seal a tubular film to form a closed bag, and a sensor assembly to provide a volume signal indicative of a volume of the closed bag, wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one of the film speed and the jaw speed in response to the volume signal.

A method and apparatus for producing product packages comprises operating first and second feedback control loops where product package weight is averaged and used to determine one of two possible adjustments to change the product fill rate and the volume of the product. The feedback loops operate in one of a plurality of index levels. The first feedback loop seeks to improve performance by making adjustments to the fill rate and volume of the product, while incrementally moving to more stable index levels requiring tighter tolerances and package weight averages based on more product packages. The second feedback loop seeks to preserve stability by making its own adjustments to the fill rate and volume of the product if large product package weight fluctuations are sensed. The second feedback loop can move operation to less stable index levels having wider tolerances and package weight averages based on fewer product packages.

A form-fill-seal machine forms a bag by filling and sealing a packing object in a wrapping material. The form-fill-seal machine includes a thickness adjustment unit which adjusts a thickness of the bag and a control unit which controls an operation of the thickness adjustment unit. The control unit acquires thickness information obtained in a rear stage of the form-fill-seal machine and relating to a thickness of the bag and controls the operation of the thickness adjustment unit on the basis of a result obtained by performing statistical processing on the thickness information.

A vertical fill, form and seal (VFFS) apparatus for particulates that facilitates the close-packing (settling) of the particulates such that a smaller package is needed to contain a mass of particulates in a charge to the VFFS apparatus. The former of the VFFS apparatus, and an associated film driver, move up and down synchronously and in a controlled manner. A partially formed bag, below the former, containing particulates is shaken up and down as the former moves up and down, while the packaging film travels downward continuously in the apparatus. The shaking causes the particulates to settle, and to increase in bulk density. This allows use of less packaging, and lowers use of transportation fuel. In an embodiment, an actuator is in mechanical communication with the former (and its associated film driver) to apply a vertical reciprocating force to the former.

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.

Disclosed in an assembly for forming bags, having a belt drive for feeding a film at a film speed to a former shoulder to form a tubular film, a set of jaws movable at a jaw speed to engage and seal a tubular film to form a closed bag, and a sensor assembly to provide a volume signal indicative of a volume of the closed bag, wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one of the film speed and the jaw speed in response to the volume signal.

A bag-making and packaging machine, that makes bags by forming a conveyed film into a cylindrical film and putting product inside the cylindrical film, is disclosed. The bag-making and packaging machine includes a pair of ultrasonic sealing members, a cutting member, and clamps. The pair of ultrasonic sealing members are configured to sandwich the cylindrical film along a direction intersecting a conveyance direction and perform transverse sealing. The cutting member is configured to move between the pair of sealing members and cut transversely sealed portions of bags that have been made. The clamps are provided under the pair of sealing members and the cutting member. The clamps are configured to restrain the bags when the transversely sealed portions are cut.

An assembly and method for handling packaging containers for foodstuffs is disclosed. The assembly and method may include a support plate attachable on a rail for holding packaging containers raised from a sheet of web material, a membrane arranged on the support plate and at least one inlet for receiving fluid intended to inflate the membrane. The assembly may be arranged at a sealing station for the packaging container and the membrane may be configured to be inflated through the fluid inlet in order to press against at least two walls of the packaging container during sealing of the container in order to prevent bulging of the sealed container.

A method and apparatus for producing product packages comprises operating first and second feedback control loops where product package weight is averaged and used to determine one of two possible adjustments to change the product fill rate and the volume of the product. The feedback loops operate in one of a plurality of index levels. The first feedback loop seeks to improve performance by making adjustments to the fill rate and volume of the product, while incrementally moving to more stable index levels requiring tighter tolerances and package weight averages based on more product packages. The second feedback loop seeks to preserve stability by making its own adjustments to the fill rate and volume of the product if large product package weight fluctuations are sensed. The second feedback loop can move operation to less stable index levels having wider tolerances and package weight averages based on fewer product packages.