FORM, FILL, SEAL AND SEPARATE PACKAGING MACHINE FOR RECLOSABLE CONTAINERS

摘要

A form, fill, seal and separate packaging machine for reclosable containers is accomplished by a plurality of stations disposed along a path of travel of a thermoplastic web (12) including a pair of mated, resealable closure strips present on the base web. The machine is intermittent in its operation, with movement of the web through the machine controlled so that the various steps of forming, filling, sealing and separating the reclosable containers are performed during periodic stops of the machine. The machine is further characterized by its use of two pairs of web belts to move the web through the machine. A first pair of web belts (26 and 28) initially receive the folded web stock (12) and partially form and completely fill the containers. The second pair of web belts (82 and 84) overlap with the downstream end of the first pair of belts (26 and 28), but are disposed lower than the first belts. When the filled partially formed containers pass from the first pair of belts (26 and 28) to the second pair of belts (82 and 84), the unsealed free ends (40) are exposed for final sealing and severing.