Pouch machine for making variably-sized pouches
AssigneeCloud Corporation
InventorsThomas J. Plefka, John Rzeszutko, Joe W. Vinsik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pouch machine continuously forms a series of multi-pitch, multi-product pouches in a continuous web of pouch material by folding the web and then forming spaced side seals to define a pouch closed on three sides with an initially unsealed mouth on top. The pouch is opened to its maximum volume prior to filling by pressurizing the pouch. Pressurization is achieved by introducing a curtain of compressed air under a plate and passing the mouths of the pouches adjacent the plate and thus through the air curtain. First and second plates engage the front and back panels of the pouches to assure correct pressurization of the pouches.
Claims10
In a pouch machine of the type which forms a series of pouches in a continuously moving web of pouch material, the pouches being defined by front and back panels and side seals and a closed bottom, the tops of the front and back panels prior to filling being open to define a mouth, the improvement comprising a first plate having a bottom surface engageable with the back panel and a second plate having a bottom surface engageable with the front panel, prior to filling the pouches, the plates defining at least a portion of a pressure chamber which is in communication with the mouth of the pouches, and a source of pressurized gas supplied to said chamber for opening the pouches to their maximum volume prior to filling by generating an internal pouch pressure high enough to separate substantially all unsealed portions of the front and back panels from one another.
In a pouch machine of the type which forms a series of pouches in a web of pouch material, the pouches being defined by front and back panels joined by side seals and a closed bottom, the tops of the pouches prior to filling being open to define a mouth, an improved method of opening the pouches to their maximum volume prior to filling, comprising the steps of:
- temporarily restricting air flow adjacent both the front and back panels of the pouch by engaging the back panel with bottom surface of a first plate and engaging the front panel with bottom surface of a second plate;
- and
- subjecting the full extent of the mouth of a pouch at one time to a zone of compressed air thereby pressurizing the pouch to an internal pressure high enough to separate substantially all unsealed portions of the front and back panels from one another.
In a pouch machine of the type which forms a series of pouches in a web of pouch material, the pouches being defined by front and back panels joined by side seals and a closed bottom, the tops of the pouches prior to filling being open to define a mouth, an improved method of opening the pouches to their maximum volume prior to filling, comprising the steps of temporarily restricting air flow adjacent both the front and back panels of the pouch by engaging the back panel with bottom surface of a first plate and engaging the front panel with bottom surface of a second plate in the vicinity of the mouth of a pouch and then pressurizing the pouch to an internal pressure high enough to separate substantially all unsealed portions of the front and back panels from one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.