Method and apparatus for continuously forming sealed pouches while linked together

A top seal forming apparatus for a continuously moving continuous web of filled open topped linked pouches formed of heat sealable material, the apparatus comprising:

• means for moving said continuous web along a downwardly, arcuately shaped path;
• a first set of nip rollers positioned at an upper portion of the downwardly, arcuately shaped path, the first set of nip rollers adapted for operatively engaging an upper portion of the continuous web;
• a web heating unit positioned downstream from the first set of nip rollers adjacent to the downwardly, arcuately shaped path for heating the upper portion of the continuous web;
• and
• a second set of nip rollers positioned at a lower portion of the downwardly, arcuately shaped path downstream from said web heating unit for pulling said continuous web and pinching the upper portions of the continuous web to form a top seal to enclose each of the linked pouches.

Method of packaging powder material comprising the steps of:

• continuously feeding a V-shaped web of heat sealable packaging material to a first forming station;
• forming longitudinally spaced upright seals at the first forming station to provide longitudinally spaced upwardly opening pouches, thereafter consecutively filling the pouches on the V-shaped web with powder material at a filling station using a first set of powered nip rollers to pull the V-shaped web from the filling station;
• pulling the linked filled pouches with a second set of powered nip rollers operating at a speed slightly greater than the first pair of powered nip rollers through a downwardly curving path to lengthen a width of upper ends of each filled pouch while dragging the filled pouch along a curved pouch support surface engaged with a bottom end of each pouch, closing the open ends of the filled pouches, heat sealing an upper open end of each filled pouch to form a continuous linked strip of powder filled sealed packages;
• and
• successively severing each leading powder filled sealed package from the continuous linked strip of powder filled sealed packages to free the sealed powder filled packages from the strip.

In an apparatus for packaging powder material from a continuously moving V-strip of heat sealable packaging material having linked filled heat sealed pouches drawn by a first set of nip rollers operating at a preselected speed, the improvement comprising:

• a top sealer mechanism including a heat sealer device for forming top seals on the linked filled heat sealed pouches;
• a first curved support surface underlying the top sealer mechanism;
• a second set of nip rollers rotating at a speed greater than said first set of nip rollers positioned relative to said heat sealer device to close upper ends of the linked filled heat sealed pouches while dragging in supported relation on the first curved support surface;
• and
• the heat sealer device being positioned to the upper ends of the linked filled heat sealed pouches as the pouches travel a downwardly curved path along said curved support surface.

Method of continuously forming, filling and sealing packages of powder material with a continuous web of heat sealable film material, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing the web of heat sealable film material;
• folding the web to provide confronting sides joined along a bottom edge;
• forming longitudinally spaced vertical seals to form pouches having an open top;
• filling the pouches;
• sealing the filled pouches to enclose the filled pouches by:
• maintaining each of the filled pouches in a loose configuration prior to moving the continuous web along a downwardly, arcuately shaped path;
• supporting a bottom portion of the filled pouches with during a substantial portion of the downwardly, arcuately shaped path;
• heating a top portion of the confronting sides of each of the filled pouches as the web moves along a central portion of the downwardly, arcuately shaped path;
• and sealing the top portion of the confronting sides of each of filled pouches at a lower portion of the downwardly, arcuately shaped path by pressing the heated top portions of the confronting sides together;
• and
• successively severing each leading sealed pouch from the web to form a separate sealed package of powder material.

A packaging apparatus for powder material comprising:

• means for feeding a continuous web of heat sealable film material having confronting sides joined along a bottom edge;
• means for forming longitudinally spaced vertical seals to form pouches having an open top;
• a filling station for filling the pouches;
• a curved pouch support surface for supporting bottom portions of the filled pouches each in an undisturbed position as the pouches are moved along a downwardly, arcuately shaped path for sealing upper open ends of the pouches;
• a first set of nip rollers positioned at an upper portion of the downwardly, arcuately shaped path, the first set of nip rollers adapted for operatively engaging an upper portion of the web;
• a web heating unit positioned downstream from the first set of nip rollers adjacent to the downwardly, arcuately shaped path for heating the upper portion of the web;
• and
• a second set of nip rollers positioned at a lower portion of the downwardly, arcuately shaped path downstream from said web heating unit for pulling said continuous web and pinching the upper portions of the continuous web to form a top seal;
• and
• means for severing each leading sealed pouch from the web to form a separate sealed package of powder material.

Method of continuously forming a top seal on a continuous web of linked pouches having an open top and material filled therewithin each linked pouch, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the continuous web to maintain linked pouches having a reduced width;
• moving the continuous web along a downwardly, arcuately shaped path to increase the width of an upper portion of the linked pouches;
• providing an upper set of nip rollers at an upper portion of the downwardly, arcuately shaped path to operatively engage the continuous web;
• heating a top seal portion of each of the linked pouches as the continuous web moves at a decreased downward angle along a central portion of the downwardly, arcuately shaped path;
• and
• sealing the top seal portion of each of linked pouches with a lower set of nip rollers positioned at a lower portion of the downwardly, arcuately shaped path while simultaneously moving the continuous web at an increased downward angle to cause the open top of each linked pouch to close preparatory to sealing.

Method of continuously forming a top seal on a continuous web of linked pouches having an open top and material filled therewithin each linked pouch, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the continuous web to maintain linked pouches having a reduced width by controlling web tension prior to and through the top sealer moving the continuous web along a downwardly, arcuately shaped path to increase the width of an upper portion of the linked pouches:
• providing an upper set of nip rollers at an upper portion of the downwardly, arcuately shaped path to operatively engage the continuous web;
• heating a top seal portion of each of the linked pouches as the continuous web moves along a central portion of the downwardly, arcuately shaped path;
• and
• sealing the top seal portion of each of linked pouches with a lower set of nip rollers positioned at a lower portion of the downwardly, arcuately shaped path while simultaneously moving the continuous web at an increased downward angle to cause the open top of each linked pouch to close preparatory to sealing.