In-line deformation binding apparatus

A deformation binding apparatus for fabricating a package having an enclosed area formed therein, comprising:

• an axial binding mechanism for deformation binding a sheet material, the axial binding mechanism including first and second rotating elements and a drive actuator for driving at least one of the rotating elements about its rotational axis,
• each of the first and second rotating elements having a rotational axis and a plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth being disposed axially and substantially parallel with respect to the rotational axis, the teeth of the first and second rotating elements disposed to intermesh with each other during a portion of the rotation of the first and second rotating elements, and
• a radial binding mechanism for deformation binding the sheet material, the radial binding mechanism dispensed in-line with the axial binding mechanism along a linear feed path,
• wherein, at times when the sheet material passes along the linear feed path, the axial binding mechanism and the radial binding mechanism bind the sheet material along first and second bind lines, respectively, which are orthogonal to each other thereby forming the package,
• wherein the radial binding mechanism includes first and second rotating discs each having a rotational axis and a plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth being disposed radially with respect to the rotational axis, the teeth of the first and second rotating discs disposed to intermesh with each other, and a drive actuator for driving at least one of the rotating discs, and
• the deformation binding apparatus further comprising a transport baffle to overlap opposed edges of the sheet material to form a substantially tubular-shape and wherein at least one of the rotating discs of the radial deformation binding mechanism is rotationally coupled to a support mandrel, and open end of the tubular sheet material being accepted by the support mandrel for deformation binding the tubular sheet along the overlapped edges thereby forming the second bind line.