Patent ID: 6170237
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
A process for packaging elongate products wherein a packaging material is drawn from a supply in a transportation direction and is sealed around the elongate products longitudinally and transversely, comprising the steps of:delivering the packaging material in the form of a partial tube having one open longitudinal side and one closed longitudinal side, and a width between the open longitudinal side and the closed longitudinal side;making a plurality of first transverse seals across the partial tube, starting at the closed longitudinal side and extending less than the width of the partial tube, to form a plurality of transverse pockets in the partial tube;inserting the elongate products into the transverse pockets;making a plurality of second transverse seals, each second transverse seal continuing from respective ones of the first transverse seals to the open longitudinal side to form a transverse sealing seam across the full width of the partial tube; andsealing the open longitudinal side of the partial tube to form a longitudinal sealing seam, thereby forming a plurality of packages.