Packaging apparatus and method

An apparatus for packaging an item, comprising:

• a web supply and drive system for supplying and advancing two web portions of a flexible packaging material such that the web portions are opposing each other at an item-receiving station at which an item to be packaged is placed between the opposing web portions;
• a cut-off device downstream of the item-receiving station, the cut-off device being structured and arranged to sever the web portions along a cut line to separate a package from the remainder of the web portions;
• a height detector for detecting a height dimension of the item being packaged;
• and
• a controller connected to the web supply and drive system, to the height detector, and to the cut-off device, the controller being operable to coordinate operation of the cut-off device and the web supply and drive system so as to automatically cause the cut line to be spaced from an adjacent edge of the item by a variable spacing distance that is a function of a height dimension of the item detected by the height detector.

An apparatus for packaging an item, comprising:

• a pair of opposed rolls forming a nip therebetween;
• a web supply system for supplying a pair of generally parallel opposing web portions of flexible packaging material into the nip so that an item to be packaged when placed between the web portions is passed through the nip along with the web portions, facing surfaces of the web portions having sealing material for sealing the web portions together;
• wherein at least one of the rolls includes a resiliently compliant roll portion that is deformed by the item passing through the nip, the resiliently compliant roll portion tending to return to its undeformed shape thereby exerting pressure on the web portions to closely conform to the item;
• and
• a pair of side seal devices respectively arranged at locations closely adjacent but spaced from opposite sides of the item being packaged and spaced inwardly of the longitudinal edges of the web portions, the side seal devices being operable to seal the web portions together at said locations to form side seals that prevent the item from shifting transversely toward either longitudinal edge of the web portions, wherein each side seal device comprises a pair of opposed contact members to press the web portions together, the contact members comprising balls mounted to roll freely along the web portions.

An apparatus for packaging an item, comprising:

• a pair of opposed rolls forming a nip therebetween;
• a web supply system for supplying a pair of generally parallel opposing web portions of flexible packaging material into the nip so that an item to be packaged when placed between the web portions is passed through the nip along with the web portions, facing surfaces of the web portions having sealing material for sealing the web portions together;
• wherein each of the rolls includes a resiliently compliant roll portion that is deformed by the item passing through the nip, the resiliently compliant roll portion tending to return to its undeformed shape thereby exerting pressure on the web portions to closely conform to the item, each roll having opposite end portions between which the resiliently compliant roll portion is disposed, the opposite end portions of the rolls comprising drive rolls that are substantially less compliant than the resiliently compliant roll portions and that engage opposite longitudinal edge portions of the web portions passing through the nip;
• and
• a drive system coupled with the rolls for rotatably driving the rolls, the opposite end portions of the rolls serving to advance the web portions through the nip.

An apparatus for packaging an item, comprising:

• a pair of opposed rolls forming a nip therebetween;
• a web supply system for supplying a pair of generally parallel opposing web portions of flexible packaging material into the nip so that an item to be packaged when placed between the web portions is passed through the nip along with the web portions, facing surfaces of the web portions having sealing material for sealing the web portions together;
• a pair of side seal devices respectively arranged at locations closely adjacent but spaced from opposite sides of the item being packaged and spaced inwardly of the longitudinal edges of the web portions, the side seal devices being operable to seal the web portions together at said locations to form side seals that prevent the item from shifting transversely toward either longitudinal edge of the web portions;
• and
• motor-driven traversing devices supporting the side seal devices, wherein the traversing devices are operable to move the side seal devices transversely toward and away from the longitudinal edges of the web portions for adjusting transverse positions of said locations at which the web portions are sealed together.