Intermittent and continuous motion high speed pouch form-fill-seal apparatus and method of manufacture

Abstract

A high speed, flexible pouch form-fill-seal machine includes a form line having a plurality of pouch forming stations that conducts an operation to form a body of the pouch. An intermittent transport means transports the laminate material between each of the pouch forming stations, and stops at each station so that the corresponding pouch forming operation can be performed. The machine includes a fill-seal line having a plurality of pouch fill-seal stations arranged sequentially along the fill-seal line that conducts an operation to open, fill and seal the flexible pouch. A continuous transport means transfers the pouch between the plurality of pouch fill-seal stations, and the continuous transport means moves continuously between the each of the pouch fill-seal stations so that the corresponding pouch fill-seal operation can be performed. A transfer means transfers the formed flexible pouch from the fill line to the fill-seal line.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 833,740 filed on Jul. 27, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for forming, filling and sealing a flexible pouch for packaging a product and, more specifically, to an intermittent and continuous motion, high speed form-fill-seal machine for packaging a product in a flexible pouch, and a method of manufacturing the same.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0003]Various types of disposable, portable containers are known in the art for storing a fluid or dry product, such as a liquid, granular material, powder or the like. Examples of containers include a cup, a metal can, a plastic bottle, a glass bottle or a flexible pouch. Consumers prefer the convenience of flexible pouches over other types of containers due to their shape, size, shelf life and storage adaptability. M...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]One advantage of the present invention is that an improved high speed form-fill-seal pouch making apparatus for a filled flexible pouch is provided using an integrated machine with intermittent motion between forming stations and continuous motion between fill-seal stations. Another advantage of the present invention is that the fill-seal machine can be cleaned independent of the form machine. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the flexible pouch is more cost effective to manufacture due to increased line speed, resulting in an increased number of pouches that can be simultaneously formed, filled and sealed. A further advantage of the present invention is that the sealed flexible pouch can be automatically transferred to another automated line, such as a line for packing a container, or for a secondary process. Stilt a further advantage of the present invention is that the formed flexible pouch is transferred to the fill-seal side of the machine using a transfer means, such as a robot. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Problems solved by technology

While the above-described form-fill-seal machine works well for producing a completed flexible pouch, the line speed and resultant rate of finished pouch production is limited.

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