Apparatus and method for forming pouches

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of ejecting the cut-out waste area clear of the advancing web comprises directing a burst of air at the cut-out waste area during the return stroke of the reciprocating cutter away from the web.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 3 wherein the folding of the web comprises folding the web so as to position said one free longitudinal edge of the web about midway between the other free longitudinal edge and the fold line to form the single ply portion and the two-ply portion of substantially the same width.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 4 wherein the point of piercing the single ply portion of the web is closely adjacent to the two-ply portion, and the severing of the web occurs along two spaced apart cut lines extending along divering paths from the point of piercing and across the single ply portion so that the waste areas thus severed and removed from the single ply portion of the web are generally triangular in shape and extend across substantially the entire width of the single ply portion, and the flaps thus formed are tapered along their length.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 3 wherein the waste areas are severed and removed from the single ply portion of the web by a reciprocating hollow cutter blade, said cutter blade having one end thereof sharpened and positioned for piercing the web at said predetermined point, and said cutter blade having a pair of spaced apart sharpened cutting edges extending from said one sharpened end for severing the web from the point of piercing and along said two spaced apart transversely extending cut lines, and wherein the piercing and severing of the waste area occurs in rapid succession upon each stroke of the reciprocating cutter blade toward the web.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 6 wherein the ejecting of the cut-out waste area following severing comprises directing a burst of air within the hollow cutter blade and on the cut-out waste area during the return stroke of the cutter blade away from the web.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 3 wherein the web of plastic film is heat sealable, and the step of sealing together confronting surface of the two-ply portion of the web along longitudinally spaced apart seal areas comprises contacting the outer surface of the two-ply portion with a heated sealing member in said seal areas for a time sufficient to effect fusion bonding of confronting inner surfaces of the two plies in the seal areas.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 8 wherein the sealing together of confronting surfaces of the two-ply portion of the web includes the additional step of preheating the web in predetermined longitudinally spaced areas corresponding to the seal areas prior to advancement of the web to the heated sealing member to thereby reduce the time required for heated sealing member to effect fusion bonding and to accordingly increase the rate of production of the pouches.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 9 wherein the preheating of the web in predetermined longitudinally spaced areas corresponding to the seal areas comprises contacting the web in said predetermined areas with at least one heated member at a temperature and for a time insufficient to effect fusion bonding but sufficient to preheat the seal areas to an elevated temperature so as to substantially reduce the time required for the heated sealing member to subsequently effect fusion bonding.

Claim 13

Apparatus for cutting a web of plastic film to form successive flaps therein comprising means for advancing the web along a predetermined path in successive incremental advancements of predetermined length, a reciprocating cutter blade positioned adjacent to the advancing web and adapted for severing and removing from the web, generally triangular shaped waste areas extending transversely across the web from one free longitudinal edge thereof, means positioned opposite said cutter blade for supporting portions of the web surrounding the waste area to be removed and having an opening therein of a shape corresponding to the generally triangular shaped waste area for receiving the reciprocating cutter blade therethrough during the cutting stroke. means operating in timed relation with said advancing means for moving the cutter blade toward and into engagment with the web each time the web dwells between successive incremental advancements, said cutter blade having a sharpened point positioned for piercing the web at a predetermined point spaced from the free longitudinal edge thereof and corresponding to one end of the generally triangular shaped waste area to be removed, and a pair of spaced apart cutting edges extending from the sharpened point along a diverging path and being inclined at an angle to the plane of the web for thereafter severing the web from the point of piercing along two diverging cut lines extending across the web to the free longitudinal edge thereof, means operating in timed relation with the cutter blade for grasping the web in said waste area closely adjacent to the free longitudinal edge thereof during severing of the waste area along said cut lines, and for releasing the cut-out waste area upon completion of the severing thereof from the remaining web, and means for ejecting the cut-out waste area clear of the advancing web upon completion of severing thereof from the remaining web.

Claim 14

Apparatus for cutting a web of plastic film to form successive flaps therein comprising means for advancing the web along a predetermined path in successive incremental advancements of predetermined length, a reciprocating cutter blade positioned adjacent to the advancing web and adapted for severing and removing from the web, generally triangular shaped waste areas extending transversely across the web from one free longitudinal edge thereof, means positioned opposite said cutter blade for supporting portions of the web surrounding the waste area to be removed and having an opening therein of a shape corresponding to the generally triangular shaped waste area for receiving the reciprocating cutter blade therethrough during the cutting stroke. means operating in timed relation with said advancing means for moving the cutter blade toward and into engagment with the web each time the web dwells between successive incremental advancements, said cutter blade having a sharpened point positioned for piercing the web at a predetermined point spaced from the free longitudinal edge thereof and corresponding to one end of the generally triangular shaped waste area to be removed, and a pair of spaced apart cutting edges extending from the sharpened point along a diverging path and being inclined at an angle to the plane of the web for thereafter severing the web from the point of piercing along two diverging cut lines extending across the web to the free longitudinal edge thereof, means operating in timed relation with the cutter blade for grasping the web in said waste area closely adjacent to the free longitudinal edge thereof during severing of the waste area along said cut lines, and for releasing the cut-out waste area upon completion of the severing thereof from the remaining web, and means for ejecting the cut-out waste area clear of the advancing web upon completion of severing thereof from the remaining web.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said means for ejecting the cut-out waste area clear of the advancing web comprises means positioned between the divergingly arranged cutting edges of the cutter blade for directing a burst of air at the cut-out waste area during the return stroke of the reciprocating cutter blade away from the web.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for moving the cutter blade toward and away from the web comprises pneumatic cylinder means, and wherein said means for directing a burst of air at the cut-out waste area is communicatively interconnected with said pneumatic cylinder for directing toward said cut-out waste area the exhaust air from the return stroke of the pneumatic cylinder.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein means are provided at each end of the pneumatic cylinder for cushioning the movement of the piston thereof at each end of its stroke of travel.

Claim 18

Apparatus for forming successive pouches from a web of plastic film comprising a folding station including means for receiving a web of plastic film from a supply source and folding the web along a longitudinal fold line so as to position one free longitudinal edge of the web between the fold line and the other free longitudinal edge of the web to thereby form a two-ply portion between the fold line and said one free longitudinal edge of the web and a single ply portion adjacent thereto between said one free longitudinal edge of the web and the other free longitudinal edge, means for advancing the web through the folding station and forwardly therefrom along a predetermined path, a sealing station positioned forwardly of the folding station and including means for sealing confronting surfaces of the two-ply portion of the web together along longitudinally spaced apart seal areas extending transversely across the two-ply portion to thereby define a series of successive pouches interconnected by the seal areas as the folded web is advanced through the sealing station, a flap forming station positioned forwardly of the folding station and including means for successively severing and removing from the single ply portion, as the folded web is advanced through the flap forming station, longitudinally spaced transversely extending waste areas of predetermined shape to thereby form the single ply portion into a series of successive flaps adapted for being folded over the pouches formed in the two-ply portion, said severing and removing means including means for supporting the single ply portion of the web surrounding the predetermined shaped waste area to be removed, a reciprocating cutter blade having one end thereof sharpened and positioned for piercing the single ply portion of the web at a predetermined point spaced from the free longitudinal edge of the single ply portion and corresponding to one end of the waste area to be removed and having a pair of spaced apart sharpened cutting edges extending from said one sharpened end and being inclined at an angle to the plane of the web for thereafter severing the single ply portion from the point of piercing along two spaced apart cut lines extending generally transversely across the single ply portion to the free longitudinal edge thereof, means operating in timed relation with said cutter blade for grasping the single ply portion of the web in said waste area closely adjacent the free longitudinal edge during severing of the waste area along said cut lines, and for releasing the cut-out waste area upon completion of severing thereof from the remaining web, and means operating in timed relation with said cutter blade for ejecting the cut-out waste area clear of the advancing web after the piercing and severing operation is completed, and a cut-off station located forwardly of the sealing station and the flap forming station and including means for successively cutting transversely across the folded web and across a medial portion of each seal area to thereby separate the interconnected pouches from one another.

Claim 19

Apparatus for forming successive pouches from a web of plastic film comprising a folding station including means for receiving a web of plastic film from a supply source and folding the web along a longitudinal fold line so as to position one free longitudinal edge of the web between the fold line and the other free longitudinal edge of the web to thereby form a two-ply portion between the fold line and said one free longitudinal edge of the web and a single ply portion adjacent thereto between said one free longitudinal edge of the web and the other free longitudinal edge, means for advancing the web through the folding station and forwardly therefrom along a predetermined path, a sealing station positioned forwardly of the folding station and including means for sealing confronting surfaces of the two-ply portion of the web together along longitudinally spaced apart seal areas extending transversely across the two-ply portion to thereby define a series of successive pouches interconnected by the seal areas as the folded web is advanced through the sealing station, a flap forming station positioned forwardly of the folding station and including means for successively severing and removing from the single ply portion, as the folded web is advanced through the flap forming station, longitudinally spaced transversely extending waste areas of predetermined shape to thereby form the single ply portion into a series of successive flaps adapted for being folded over the pouches formed in the two-ply portion, said severing and removing means including means for supporting the single ply portion of the web surrounding the predetermined shaped waste area to be removed, a reciprocating cutter blade having one end thereof sharpened and positioned for piercing the single ply portion of the web at a predetermined point spaced from the free longitudinal edge of the single ply portion and corresponding to one end of the waste area to be removed and having a pair of spaced apart sharpened cutting edges extending from said one sharpened end and being inclined at an angle to the plane of the web for thereafter severing the single ply portion from the point of piercing along two spaced apart cut lines extending generally transversely across the single ply portion to the free longitudinal edge thereof, means operating in timed relation with said cutter blade for grasping the single ply portion of the web in said waste area closely adjacent the free longitudinal edge during severing of the waste area along said cut lines, and for releasing the cut-out waste area upon completion of severing thereof from the remaining web, and means operating in timed relation with said cutter blade for ejecting the cut-out waste area clear of the advancing web after the piercing and severing operation is completed, and a cut-off station located forwardly of the sealing station and the flap forming station and including means for successively cutting transversely across the folded web and across a medial portion of each seal area to thereby separate the interconnected pouches from one another.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said one end of the cutter blade is positioned for piercing the single ply portion of the web at a point closely adjacent to the two-ply portion, and said pair of spaced apart sharpened cutting edges extend along diverging paths from said one sharpened end of the cutter blade so that the waste areas thus severed and removed from the single ply portion of the web are generally triangular in shape and extend across substantially the entire width of the single ply portion, and the flaps thus formed are tapered along their length.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said means for ejecting the cut-out waste area clear of the advancing web comprises means for directing a burst of air on the cut-out waste area during the return stroke of the cutter blade away from the web.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the web of plastic film is heat sealable, and said sealing station comprises an elongate heated sealing member mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the advancing web in said seal areas for heating the web to fusion temperature to form heat seals, and at least one elongate preheating member positioned upstream from said sealing member and mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the advancing web in said seal areas for preheating the seal areas prior to advancement to the sealing member to thereby reduce the time required for the heating sealing member to heat the web to fusion temperature, and to thereby increase the rate of production of the pouches.

Claim 23

Apparatus for forming successive pouches from a web of heat sealable plastic film comprising a folding station including means for receiving a web of plastic film from a supply source and folding the web along a longitudinal fold line so as to position one free longitudinal edge of the web approximately midway between the fold line and the other free longitudinal edge of the web to thereby form a two-ply portion and a single ply portion of substantially equal width adjacent thereto, means for advancing the web through the folding station and forwardly therefrom along a predetermined path in successive incremental advancements of accurately predetermined length, a sealing station positioned forwardly of the folding station and including an elongate heated sealing member mounted for reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with said web for forming an elongate heat seal area extending transversely across the two-ply portion of the web, and means operating in timed relation with said advancing means for moving said sealing member into engagement with the web each time the web dwell in the sealing station between successive incremental advancements, said sealing station thereby forming a series of longitudinally spaced apart seal areas extending transversely across the two-ply portion of the web to thereby define a series of succesive pouches interconnected by the seal areas, a flap forming station positioned forwardly of the folding station for forming the single ply portion of the web into a series of successive tapered flaps adapted for being folded over the two-ply portion, said flap forming station including a reciprocating cutter blade, means operating in timed relation with said advancing means for moving said cutter blade toward and into engagement with said web each time the web dwells in the flap forming station between successive advancements for thereby severing and removing from the single ply portion a generally triangular shaped waste area extending transversely across substantially the entire width of the single ply portion, and means positioned opposite said cutter blade for supporting portions of the web surrounding the waste area to be removed and having an opening therein of a shape corresponding to the generally triangular shaped waste area for receiving the reciprocating cutter blade therethrough during the cutting stroke, said cutter blade having a sharpened point for piercing the single ply portion of the web at a predetermined point spaced from the free longitudinal edge of the single ply portion and corresponding to one end of the triangular shaped waste area to be removed, and a pair of spaced apart cutting edges extending from the sharpened point along a diverging path and being inclined at an angle to the plane of the web for thereafter severing the single ply portion from the point of piercing along two diverging cut lines extending across the single ply portion to the free longitudinal edge thereof, said flap forming station also including means operating in timed relation with the cutter blade for grasping the single ply portion of the web in said waste area closely adjacent the free longitudinal edge during severing of the waste area along said cut lines, and for releasing the cut-out waste area upon completion of severing thereof from the remaining web, and means for ejecting the cut-out waste area clear of the advancing web upon completion of severing thereof from the remaining web, and a cut-off station located forwardly of the sealing station and the flap forming station and including a reciprocating cutter blade operating in timed relation with said advancing means for successively cutting transversely across the folded web and across a medial portion of each seal area each time the web dwells in the cut-off station between successive advancements to thereby separate the interconnected pouches from one another.

Claim 24

Apparatus for forming successive pouches from a web of heat sealable plastic film comprising a folding station including means for receiving a web of plastic film from a supply source and folding the web along a longitudinal fold line so as to position one free longitudinal edge of the web approximately midway between the fold line and the other free longitudinal edge of the web to thereby form a two-ply portion and a single ply portion of substantially equal width adjacent thereto, means for advancing the web through the folding station and forwardly therefrom along a predetermined path in successive incremental advancements of accurately predetermined length, a sealing station positioned forwardly of the folding station and including an elongate heated sealing member mounted for reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with said web for forming an elongate heat seal area extending transversely across the two-ply portion of the web, and means operating in timed relation with said advancing means for moving said sealing member into engagement with the web each time the web dwell in the sealing station between successive incremental advancements, said sealing station thereby forming a series of longitudinally spaced apart seal areas extending transversely across the two-ply portion of the web to thereby define a series of succesive pouches interconnected by the seal areas, a flap forming station positioned forwardly of the folding station for forming the single ply portion of the web into a series of successive tapered flaps adapted for being folded over the two-ply portion, said flap forming station including a reciprocating cutter blade, means operating in timed relation with said advancing means for moving said cutter blade toward and into engagement with said web each time the web dwells in the flap forming station between successive advancements for thereby severing and removing from the single ply portion a generally triangular shaped waste area extending transversely across substantially the entire width of the single ply portion, and means positioned opposite said cutter blade for supporting portions of the web surrounding the waste area to be removed and having an opening therein of a shape corresponding to the generally triangular shaped waste area for receiving the reciprocating cutter blade therethrough during the cutting stroke, said cutter blade having a sharpened point for piercing the single ply portion of the web at a predetermined point spaced from the free longitudinal edge of the single ply portion and corresponding to one end of the triangular shaped waste area to be removed, and a pair of spaced apart cutting edges extending from the sharpened point along a diverging path and being inclined at an angle to the plane of the web for thereafter severing the single ply portion from the point of piercing along two diverging cut lines extending across the single ply portion to the free longitudinal edge thereof, said flap forming station also including means operating in timed relation with the cutter blade for grasping the single ply portion of the web in said waste area closely adjacent the free longitudinal edge during severing of the waste area along said cut lines, and for releasing the cut-out waste area upon completion of severing thereof from the remaining web, and means for ejecting the cut-out waste area clear of the advancing web upon completion of severing thereof from the remaining web, and a cut-off station located forwardly of the sealing station and the flap forming station and including a reciprocating cutter blade operating in timed relation with said advancing means for successively cutting transversely across the folded web and across a medial portion of each seal area each time the web dwells in the cut-off station between successive advancements to thereby separate the interconnected pouches from one another.