Patent ID: 8689529
Filing Date: 2014-04-08
Classification: B65B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A modified-atmosphere packaging apparatus comprising: an in-line bag making section including a side-sealing tool for periodically forming transverse side seals across a two-ply web of film having a distal closed longitudinal edge and a proximal open longitudinal edge, the transverse side seals having a distal end at the closed longitudinal edge and a proximal end proximate to the open longitudinal edge, to form a chain of bags in which each side edge of each bag is defined by one of the side seals, a distal edge of each bag comprises part of the closed longitudinal edge of the web, and an opening of each bag comprises part of the proximal longitudinal strip of the web, and to define a proximal longitudinal strip comprising the portion of the web extending between the open longitudinal edge and the proximal ends of the transverse side seals; a side-cutting tool for forming transverse cuts between the side seals defining the adjacent edges of each adjacent pair of bags, each transverse cut extending from the closed longitudinal edge to a proximal end of the transverse cut located approximately between the proximal ends of the corresponding side seals; a pair of longitudinally oriented, endless, opposed belts configured to grip at least a portion of the proximal longitudinal strip of the web between the opposed belts, to advance the proximal longitudinal strip of the web longitudinally, and to guide the plies of the proximal longitudinal strip around a spreader bracket at a product infeed station, the spreader bracket configured to expand to spread apart the plies of the proximal longitudinal strip at the opening of each bag to form an open mouth; a web conveyor configured to at least substantially support a portion of the web extending from the opposed belts to the closed longitudinal edge in a generally horizontal orientation and to advance said portion of the web longitudinally as the opposed belts advance the proximal longitudinal strip of the web longitudinally; a product infeed boom adapted to insert a load of product through the open mouth of each bag at the product infeed station and to discharge the inserted load of product inside each bag; a fluid transfer station including a snorkel having a fluid flow passage and adapted to be inserted between the opposed belts and into the opening of each bag, a vacuum source adapted to remove fluid from each bag through the snorkel passage, and a fluid source adapted to refill each bag with a replacement fluid through the snorkel passage; a proximal sealing station comprising a proximal sealing tool adapted to form a proximal seal on each bag, the proximal seal overlapping the side seals to form a sealed pouch containing the replacement fluid and a load of product; and a pre-perforation knife adapted to form a diagonal perforation across the proximal longitudinal strip, the diagonal perforation positioned to meet each transverse cut near the proximal end of the transverse cut and to extend at least from the open longitudinal edge of the web to the transverse cut, before the portion of the proximal longitudinal strip to be perforated is fed between the opposed belts.