초록 ▼

Method of and apparatus for forming filling and sealing packages in which flexible packaging material is formed into tubing, the tubing is fed downwardly and transversely heat sealed at package length intervals by closing a pair of sealing members, the seal area is cut to form a top seal of the pack

Method of and apparatus for forming filling and sealing packages in which flexible packaging material is formed into tubing, the tubing is fed downwardly and transversely heat sealed at package length intervals by closing a pair of sealing members, the seal area is cut to form a top seal of the package being completed and a bottom seal for the next package to be formed, a quantity of product with which the packages are to be filled is delivered into the lower end of the tubing to provide a fill for each package, the tubing is pinched closed, after the delivery of each fill, above and below the level of the next seal to be made, the pinches are maintained as the sealing members are opened, following the formation of the aforementioned top and bottom seals, to keep product for the next fill from dropping down on the bottom seal, and to hold the package being completed from dropping away, and air is blown on the top and bottom seals to cool them while the pinches are maintained. The movement of the upper and lower pinch members between their open and closed positions are independent of the movement of the sealing members between their open and close positions so that the timing of the opening and closing of the pinch members relative to the opening and closing of the sealing members may be varied.

대표청구항 ▼

The method of forming, filling and sealing packages comprising: forming flexible packaging material into tubing, the tubing extending downwardly; feeding the tubing downwardly and heat sealing it to form transverse seals spaced at package length intervals, the seals being formed by a pair of sealing

The method of forming, filling and sealing packages comprising: forming flexible packaging material into tubing, the tubing extending downwardly; feeding the tubing downwardly and heat sealing it to form transverse seals spaced at package length intervals, the seals being formed by a pair of sealing members movable relative to one another between a fully open position and a closed position in sealing engagement with the tubing; and delivering a quantity of product with which the packages are to be filled into the tubing to provide a fill for each package; wherein the improvement comprises: providing a pair of upper pinch members extending transversely of the tubing generally parallel to the sealing members above the sealing members, the tubing extending down between the upper pinch members, the upper pinch members being movable relatively to one another, and relatively to the sealing members, between an open position and a closed position in engagement with and pinching the tubing closed above the level of the sealing members; providing a pair of lower pinch members extending transversely of the tubing generally parallel to the sealing members below the sealing members, the tubing extending down between the lower pinch members, the lower pinch members being movable relatively to one another, and relatively to the sealing members, between an open position and a closed position in engagement with and pinching the tubing closed below the level of the sealing members; closing the upper and lower pinch members to pinch the tubing closed above and below the sealing members after the tubing has been fed downwardly each package length interval and following completion of the delivery of the fill for the next package to be formed, the top pinch members serving to keep product for the next fill from dropping down in the tubing onto the next seal and the lower pinch members serving to hold the package being completed; closing the sealing members and maintaining them closed an interval of time sufficient to form the next seal; cutting through the tubing at the seal while the sealing members are closed and thereby forming a top seal for the package being completed and a bottom seal for the next package to be formed; opening the sealing members; maintaining the upper and lower pinch members closed above and below the sealing members as the sealing members open; while so maintaining the upper and lower pinch members closed, blowing air on the top and bottom seals thereby to cool the seals; the movement of the upper and lower pinch members between their open and closed positions being independent of the movement of the sealing members between their open and closed positions so that timing of the opening and closing of the upper and lower pinch members relative to the opening and closing of the sealing members may be varied; and varying the timing of the opening and closing of the upper and lower pinch members relative to the opening and closing of the sealing members according to the interval of time necessary to form and/or cool said top and bottom seals.