# US 8,739,504 B2 · Packaging method and apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,504 B2 - Document ID: US8739504B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/122,174 - Filed: 2009-10-01 - Published: 2011-10-06 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2008-10-07 - Assignees: Cadbury Holdings Limited - Applicants: Jason Willey - Inventors: Jason Willey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739504B2 ## CPC - B26F 1/384: {using rotating drums} - B65B 61/16: Forming suspension apertures in packages - B65B 9/20: the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles - B65B 61/005: {for removing material by cutting} - B26F: PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING (marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; shoemaking A43D; surgery A61B; punching metal B21D; drilling metal B23B; cutting of metal by applying heat locally, e.g. flame cutting, B23K; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; details common to machines for severing B26D; drilling wood B27C; drilling stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; of glass C03B; of leather C14B; of textile materials D06H; for light guides G02B6/25; of tickets G07B) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract A packaging method comprises dispensing a material continuously from a roll, forming a plurality of packages from the material, filling each package with contents and sealing each package once filled. A hanging aperture is created for each package, prior to it being formed into the package, the material having been folded or creased in the area in which the aperture is to be created. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A packaging method comprising: dispensing a material continuously from a roll; forming a plurality of packages from the material by passing material over a forming shoulder to form the material into a tube; filling each package with contents; and sealing each package once filled; and separating each said filled package from said roll; wherein a hanging aperture is created for each package in the material, prior to the material being passed over the forming shoulder. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The packaging method according to claim 1 wherein the hanging aperture is created after the material has been dispensed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The packaging method according to claim 1 wherein the material is at least partially folded or creased in or near to an area in which the aperture is to be created, prior to the creation of the hanging aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The packaging method according to claim 3 wherein the material is at least partially folded or creased so as to form a header region in the package. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The packaging method according to claim 3 wherein the material is at least partially sealed along the fold or crease prior to or after creation of the hanging aperture. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The packaging method according to claim 5 wherein the material comprises plastic, paper, board, metal foil or fabric. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The packaging method according to claim 1 wherein the hanging aperture is constituted by a Euro-slot or by a circular or elongate hole. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The packaging method according to claim 1 wherein the hanging aperture is provided towards the top of the package. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The packaging method according to claim 1 wherein the packages produced are in the form of pillow bags, doy packs, pouches, gusseted bags, strip pouches, block bottom packs or block top packs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The packaging method according to claim 1 wherein the packages are filled from an opening in a side surface. ### Claim 11 A packaging apparatus comprising: a dispenser for dispensing a material continuously from a roll; a forming shoulder for constructing a plurality of packages from the dispensed material; a filling tube for filling each package with contents; a sealing jaws for sealing each package once filled; and a cutting device for separating each package from the roll of material; and wherein an aperture creation means is positioned between said dispenser and said forming shoulder to create a hanging aperture for each package, prior to said material being formed into a package. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The packaging apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the aperture creation means is provided by a rotating wheel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The packaging apparatus according to claim 11 configured as a vertical form fill sealing machine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The packaging apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the aperture creation means is configured to cut or punch the material to form the aperture. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The packaging apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the aperture creation means is configured to apply heat and/or pressure to form the aperture in the material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The packaging apparatus according to claim 11 wherein a folding finger is provided to fold the material prior to the creation of the hanging aperture. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The packaging apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the aperture creation means further provides for sealing the folded material together by heat and/or pressure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The packaging apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the aperture creation means comprises a pair of wheels disposed side by side with their circumferences almost touching; one of the wheels having a cutter of the desired aperture shape projecting from its outer surface; the wheels being configured to rotate in opposite directions such that the roll of material fed between the two wheels will be stamped by the cutter every time the cutter passes before the adjacent wheel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The packaging apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the adjacent wheel includes a recess configured to accommodate the cutter every time the cutter passes before the adjacent wheel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The packaging apparatus according to claim 18 wherein at least one of the wheels is heated. ### Claim 21 (depends on 11) The packaging apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the aperture creation means is configured to create successive hanging apertures at pre-determined spacings along the roll of material so as to provide an appropriate hanging aperture in the desired place on each successive package once formed.