Systems and methods for forming openings in water soluble packet

A system for forming openings in water soluble packets, comprising:

• a rotating drum operatively engaged to a motor for rotating the drum, the drum comprising one or more cavities;
• a base film supply roll which supplies a base film to the drum to cover the one or more cavities;
• a feed hopper which meters an amount of a product into the one or more cavities over the base film;
• a lid film supply roll which supplies a lid film to the drum;
• and
• a laser which forms one or more openings in the base film, the laser positioned proximate to the rotating drum, the laser focused at the one or more cavities;
• wherein each of the one or more cavities includes a vacuum opening that is in fluidic communication with a vacuum passage, and a vacuum assembly of the rotary drum draws air through the vacuum opening and draws or stretches a portion of the base film into the one or more cavities, and wherein the laser is configured to form the one or more openings in the portion of the base film after the base film is drawn or stretched into the one or more cavities to form a receptacle shape in the one or more cavities to receive the product and before the feed hopper meters the amount of product into the base film positioned in the cavities.

A system for making water soluble packets, comprising:

• a packet forming assembly comprising a rotary drum which forms water soluble packets having a base film and a lid film containing a product, wherein the rotary drum includes one or more cavities, wherein a base film supply roll supplies the base film to cover the one or more cavities, wherein a feed hopper meters an amount of the product into the one or more cavities over the base film, wherein a lid film supply roll supplies the lid film, and wherein the lid film is sealed to the base film,
• wherein each of the one or more cavities includes a vacuum opening that is in fluidic communication with a vacuum passage, and a vacuum assembly of the rotary drum draws air through the vacuum opening to draw or stretch a portion of the base film into the one or more cavities and to line the one or more cavities with the portion of the base film;
• and
• a laser which makes one or more openings in the base film of the water soluble packets, the laser directed at the portion of the base film lining the one or more cavities to form a receptacle shape in the one or more cavities to receive the product and before the feed hopper meters the amount of product into the base film positioned in the cavities.

A system for making water soluble packets, comprising:

• a horizontal form, fill and seal machine operatively engaged to a motor for advancing a continuous belt the horizontal form, fill, and seal machine comprising one or more cavities;
• a base film supply roll which supplies a base film to the horizontal form, fill and seal machine to cover the one or more cavities;
• a vacuum assembly, wherein the one or more cavities are in fluidic communication with the vacuum assembly, wherein the one or more cavities include vacuum openings in fluidic communication with the vacuum assembly by a vacuum passage, wherein the vacuum assembly draws or stretches a portion of the base film into the one or more cavities to line the one or more cavities with the portion of the base film;
• a feed hopper which meters an amount of a product into the one or more cavities over the base film;
• a lid film supply roll which supplies a lid film to the horizontal form, fill and seal machine;
• and
• a laser which makes openings in the base film, wherein the laser is positioned proximate to the horizontal form, fill and seal machine between the feed hopper and the base film supply roll, the laser configured to make the openings in the portion of the base film while the portion of the base film lines the one or more cavities to form a receptacle shape in the one or more cavities to receive the product and before the feed hopper meters the amount of product into the base film positioned in the cavities.