摘要 |
<p>Method of and apparatus for forming, filling and sealing packages in which flexible packaging material is formed into tubing (5), the tubing (T) is fed downwardly and transversely heat sealed at package length (L) intervals by closing a pair of sealing members (17), the seal area is cut to form a top seal (S2) of the package being completed and a bottom seal (S1) for the next package to be formed, a quantity of product with which the packages are to be filled is delivered into the lower end of the tubing to provide a fill for each package, the tubing (T) is pinched closed, after the delivery of each fill, above and below the level of the next seal (S) to be made, the pinches are maintained as the sealing members are opened, following the formation of the aforementioned top (S2) and bottom (S1) seals, to keep product for the next fill from dropping down on the bottom seal (S1) and to hold the package being completed from dropping away, and air is blown on the top (S2) and bottom (S1) seals to cool them while the pinches are maintained. The movement of the upper (75) and lower (77) pinch members between their open and closed positions are independent of the movement of the sealing members (17) between their open and closed positions so that the timing of the opening and closing of the pinch members (75,77) relative to the opening and closing of the sealing members (17) may be varied. <IMAGE></p> |