Patent Abstract:
An exemplary method of making packages includes advancing a web of connected bags to a position where an opening of the bag is below an engagement device and opening the engagement device. Additionally, the exemplary method includes blowing the opening of the bag to a partially opened configuration, and reverse indexing the web of connected bags so that a portion of the engagement device is disposed inside of the bag and a portion of the engagement device is disposed outside the bag. Subsequently, the exemplary method includes closing the engagement device so that the engagement device engages the bag and moving the engagement device to a position that causes the opening of the bag to have a rectangular shape.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/156,381, entitled PACKAGING MACHINE and filed May 4, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,828, issued Jun. 7, 1966, to Hershey Lerner under the title Flexible Container Strips is directed to so called bags on a roll (here the AutoBag patent). U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,828 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This patent discloses a web of bags interconnected by lines of weakness, preferably in the form of perforations, with each of the bags being open on one face. In use the bags are sequentially fed to a loading station. When at the loading station, each bag is blown open, a product is inserted and thereafter separated from the web and, if desired, the bag is then sealed to form a package. 
         [0003]    These container strips in the form of chains of pre-opened bags are supplied either on a roll as taught in the AutoBag patent or festooned in a carton in the manner taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,029, issued May 6, 1980, to Bernard Lerner et al. under the title Method and Apparatus for Packaging, (herein the Wig-Wag patent). Such container strips have been sold by Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. of Streetsboro, Ohio, the assignee of the present case, under the trademark AutoBag and have enjoyed great commercial success. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    An exemplary method of making packages includes advancing a web of connected bags to a position where an opening of the bag is below an engagement device and opening the engagement device. Additionally, the exemplary method includes blowing the opening of the bag to a partially opened configuration, and reverse indexing the web of connected bags so that a portion of the engagement device is disposed inside of the bag and a portion of the engagement device is disposed outside the bag. Subsequently, the exemplary method includes closing the engagement device so that the engagement device engages the bag and moving the engagement device to a position that causes the opening of the bag to have a rectangular shape. 
         [0005]    Another exemplary method of making packages includes advancing a web of connected bags to a position where an opening of a bag is below a plurality of pairs of grippers and opening each pair of grippers. Additionally, the exemplary method includes blowing the opening of the bag to a partially opened configuration and reverse indexing the web of connected bags so that one gripper of each of the pairs of grippers is disposed inside the bag. Subsequently, the exemplary method includes closing each of the pairs of grippers so that the pairs of grippers engage the bag and moving at least one of the pairs of grippers to a position that causes the opening of the bag to have a rectangular shape. 
         [0006]    An exemplary apparatus for making packages includes an indexing mechanism, a blower, an engagement device, and a sealing member. The indexing mechanism is configured to receive a web of connected bags. The blower is configured to blow air into an opening of a bag. The engagement device has a first pair of grippers, a second pair of grippers, a third pair of grippers, and a fourth pair of grippers. The second pair of grippers are spaced apart from the first pair of grippers, and the third pair and fourth pair of grippers are movable relative to each other. Each of the first, second, third, and fourth pair of grippers are movable to both an open position and a closed position. The sealing member is configured to seal the opening of the bag. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1A  is a front view of an exemplary apparatus for making packages from an elongated web of preformed interconnected bags; 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  is a side view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 1C  is a top view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  is a front view of the apparatus showing the elongated web being advanced through the apparatus; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2B  is a side view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2C  is a top view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  is a front view of the apparatus showing the elongated web opening being positioned below a bag opening arrangement of the apparatus; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  is a side view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3C  is a top view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4A  is a front view of the apparatus showing bag engagement devices moved into position above the elongated web opening; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4B  is a side view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4C  is a top view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5A  is a front view of the apparatus showing the web opening being blown open above the bag engagement devices; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5B  is a side view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5C  is a top view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6A  is a front view of the apparatus showing the web being reverse indexed to position the bag engagement devices inside the web opening; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6B  is a side view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6C  is a top view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7A  is a front view of the apparatus showing bag engagement devices engaging a bag of the web at the opening; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7B  is a side view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7C  is a top view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8A  is a front view of the apparatus showing the engagement devices moving to provide a rectangular bag opening; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8B  is a side view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 8A ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 8C  is a top view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 8A ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 9A  is a front view of the apparatus showing a rectangular product positioned above the rectangular bag opening; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9B  is a side view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 9A ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 9C  is a top view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 9A ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 10A  is a front view of the apparatus showing a rectangular product positioned in the open bag; 
           [0035]      FIG. 10B  is a side view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 10A ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 10C  is a top view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 10A ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 11A  is a front view of the apparatus showing the bag engagement devices moving to close the bag and the bag being sealed by a sealing arrangement of the apparatus; 
           [0038]      FIG. 11B  is a side view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 11A ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 11C  is a top view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 11A ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 12A  is a front view of the apparatus showing reverse indexing of the web to separate the filled and sealed bag from the web; 
           [0041]      FIG. 12B  is a side view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 12A ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 12C  is a top view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 12A ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 13A  is a front view of the apparatus showing releasing the filled and sealed bag from the apparatus; 
           [0044]      FIG. 13B  is a side view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 13A ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 13C  is a top view of the apparatus and elongated web shown in  FIG. 13A ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 14  is a view, partially cut away, of an elongated web of bags; 
           [0047]      FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by lines  15 - 15  in  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 16  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a package; 
           [0049]      FIG. 17  is a view taken along the plane indicated by lines  17 - 17  in  FIG. 16 ; and 
           [0050]      FIGS. 18A-18E  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a sealing assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0051]    The present application relates to an elongated web  16  ( FIGS. 14 and 15 ) of preformed interconnected bags  18 . In an exemplary embodiment, the web  16  has an opening  30  defined in a first ply  20  and a line of separation  32  in a second ply  22 . The webs  16  of preformed interconnected bags  18  can take a wide variety of different forms. In the exemplary embodiments illustrated by  FIGS. 14 and 15 , each preformed bag  18  is defined by first and second plies  20 ,  22  of the web  16 . First and second side edges  24 ,  26  of the web hermetically join the first and second plies. Preformed seals  28  extend between the first and second side edges  24 ,  26 . The opening  30  extends between the first and second side edges  24 ,  26 . The line of separation  32 , such as a line of perforations in the second ply  22  extends between the first and second side edges  24 ,  26 . In one exemplary embodiment, the opening  30  is superposed over the line of perforations  32 . In another exemplary embodiment, the opening  30  and the line of perforations  32  are offset. 
         [0052]    The web  16  of preformed bags  18  illustrated by  FIGS. 14 and 15  is one example of the wide variety of different webs that may be used. Examples of acceptable webs of preformed interconnected bags include, but are not limited to, the webs disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,828 to H. Lerner and U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,824 to B. Lerner et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
         [0053]    The web  16  may be formed of any suitable material. Examples of suitable materials include, but are not limited to, plastic materials, polyethylene, cellophane, vinyl films, pliofilms, cellulose acetate film, polystyrene, polypropylene, and any heat sealable material. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , an exemplary package  12  includes a sealed compartment  36 . The package  12  may have any number of compartments. Product  40  is disposed in the compartment  36 . The illustrated product  40  is a box. However, the package  12  may contain any product. The compartment is defined by the first and second side edges  24 ,  26 , the preformed seal  28 , and a seal  44  that is formed after the product  40  is loaded into the bag. In the example, the seal  44  extends from the first side edge  24  to the second side edge  26  to hermetically seal the compartment  36 . In another embodiment, the dividing seal  28  may not extend all the way from the first side edge to the second side edge or may be intermittent to allow communication between the compartment  44  and external air or the compartment  44  and another optional compartment of the package. The webs  18  of interconnected bags  16  can be made in a wide variety of different ways. 
         [0055]    The webs  18  of interconnected bags  16  can be used in a wide variety of different applications. For example, the webs  18  of interconnected bags  16  can be used in a wide variety of different packaging machines.  FIGS. 1A-1C  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus  10  or packaging machine for making packages  12  from an elongated web  16  of preformed interconnected bags  18 , such as the elongated webs  16  of bags  18  illustrated by  FIGS. 14 and 15 . 
         [0056]      FIGS. 1A-1C through 13A-13C  schematically illustrate an exemplary of a machine being operated to make packages  12  from an elongated web  16  of preformed interconnected bags  18 . Any apparatus represented by the schematic illustrations of  1 A- 1 C through  13 A- 13 C can be used that performs the functions shown by  FIGS. 1A-1C through 13A-13C . The concepts of the apparatus  10  can be implemented in any of a wide variety of packaging machines. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,468 to H. Lerner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,455 to Gereby et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,625 to Kramer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,676 to B. Lerner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,201 to Cronauer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,317, U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,676, U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,521, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,520 disclose packaging machines that can be modified in accordance with the present invention to make packages from an elongated web of preformed interconnected bags and are all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
         [0057]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1A-1C , the illustrated apparatus  10  includes a supply  50  ( FIG. 2B ) of the elongated web  16  of preformed interconnected bags  18 , an indexing mechanism  52 , an opening arrangement  54 , a sealing arrangement  56 , and a controller (not shown). The supply  50  comprises the elongated web  16  that is rolled or folded to stage a relatively large amount of the web in a relatively small space. The web  16  is routed from the supply  50  along a path of travel P to the indexing mechanism  52 . The indexing mechanism  52  receives the web  16  from the supply and moves the web along the path of travel P. The indexing mechanism  52  may take a wide variety of different forms. For example, any indexing mechanism that can be controlled to index bags of the web to selected positions along the path of travel may be used. In the illustrated example, the indexing mechanism comprises a pair of rollers  60  that form a nip that engages the web  16 . The rollers  60  are selectively driven by a motor (not shown) to index bags of the web to selected positions along the path of travel P. 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A-1C , the opening arrangement  54  is positioned along the path of travel P to open each bag that is to be loaded and sealed. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening arrangement  54  comprises an optional blower  400  and an engagement device  402 . However, the opening arrangement  54  may take a wide variety of different forms. The optional blower  400  can take a wide variety of different forms. In the illustrated embodiment, the blower  400  comprises a plurality of nozzles  210  positioned above the rollers  60  of the indexing mechanism  52 . The illustrated nozzles  210  are oriented downward to blow air downward past the rollers  60  along the path of travel P of the web  18 . 
         [0059]    The engagement device  402  can take a wide variety of different forms. In the illustrated embodiment, the engagement device  402  comprises a first pair of grippers  220  and a second pair of grippers  230 . The first pair of grippers  220  are spaced apart from the second pair of grippers  230  and both are configured to grip the first ply  20  of the bag  16 . In one exemplary embodiment, the spacing S ( FIG. 1A ) between the grippers  220 ,  230  is adjustable. This optional spacing may be automatic and controlled by the controller or the spacing may be manually adjusted. This allows the engagement device to provide openings  800  (See  FIG. 8 ) having different widths. 
         [0060]    The engagement device  402  also includes a third pair of grippers  240  and a fourth pair of grippers  250 . The third pair of grippers  240  and the fourth pair of grippers  250  are moveable relative to one another and are configured to grip the side edges  24 ,  26  of the bag  18 . The third and fourth pairs of grippers  240 ,  250  are omitted from  FIGS. 11B, 12B, and 13B  to more clearly illustrate opening of the first and second pairs of grippers  220 ,  230 . 
         [0061]    The grippers  220  and  230  grip the opening  30  and move to create the rectangular opening  800  as will be described in more detail below. This rectangular opening allows the large items, such as rectangular items, like boxes to be packaged inside the bag  18 . 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A-1C , the controller is in communication with the indexing arrangement  52 , the opening arrangement  54 , and the sealing arrangement  56 . The controller controls the indexing arrangement  52 , the opening arrangement  54 , and the sealing arrangement  56  to convert the preformed bags  18  into packages  12 . A wide variety of controllers can be used and programmed to control the indexing arrangement  52 , the opening arrangement  54 , and the sealing arrangement  56  as described herein. For example, the controller and controller algorithms described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,625 to Kramer can be modified to control the indexing arrangement  52 , the opening arrangement  54 , and the sealing arrangement  56  to form the packages. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A-2C and 3A-3C , the controller controls the indexing mechanism  52  to index the web  16  forward along the path of travel as indicated by arrows P, until the opening  30  of the bag  18  is just below the engagement device  402  in the exemplary embodiment. In alternate embodiments, the opening  30  is indexed to other positions. For example, the opening  30  can be indexed to any position where the blower  400  can blow the opening  30  open or at least partially open. For example, the opening  30  may initially be positioned above the engagement device  402 , be blown open by the blower  400 , and then be moved to the position illustrated by  FIGS. 3A-3C . 
         [0064]    In an exemplary embodiment, the controller controls the engagement device to move the grippers  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250  from a closed position (See  FIGS. 3A-3C ) to an open position (See  FIG. 4A-4C ) once the opening  30  is positioned below the engagement device  402 . Referring to  FIGS. 5A-5C , the controller controls the blower  400  to blow air between the plies  20 ,  22  at the opening  30  of the bag. The air is forced between the plies through the opening  30  to inflate the bag  18 . In an exemplary embodiment, the first ply  20  of the inflated bag  18  is generally aligned with or aligned with a gap  500  (see  FIG. 5B ) between the gripping members of each pair of open gripper  220 ,  230 . In an exemplary embodiment, the edges of the inflated bag  18  are generally aligned with or aligned with a gap  520  (see  FIGS. 5A and 5C ) between the gripping members of each open pair of grippers  240 ,  250 . 
         [0065]    Referring to  FIGS. 6A-6C , in an exemplary embodiment the controller  58  causes the indexing mechanism  52  to reverse index the web as indicated by arrow  612  while the pairs of grippers  220 ,  230  are open. The blower  400  may optionally be stopped during the reverse indexing. The reverse indexing pulls the first ply  20  of the bag  18  into the gap  500  between the gripping members of each pair of open grippers  220 ,  230 . The reverse indexing also pulls the edges  24 ,  26  of the bag  18  into the gap  520  between the gripping members of each pair of open grippers  240 ,  250 . 
         [0066]    Referring to  FIGS. 7A-7C , in an exemplary embodiment the controller  58  causes the pairs of grippers  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250  to move from the open position to the closed position. The first ply  20  of the bag  18  is gripped between the gripping members of each of the pairs of gripper  220 ,  230 . The edges  24 ,  26  of the bag  18  are gripped between the gripping members of each pair of grippers  240 ,  250 . 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIGS. 8A-8C , each bag  18  is provided with a rectangular opening  800  at a position where the bag is loaded with a product  40 . Referring to  FIGS. 8A-8C , in an exemplary embodiment, the controller controls the engagement device  402  to provide the bag  18  with the rectangular opening  800  for loading. In the illustrated embodiment, the pairs of gripping members  220 ,  230  move the first ply  20  away from the second ply  22  as indicated by arrows  850  (see  FIGS. 8B and 8C ). At the same time, the pairs of gripping members  240 ,  250  move the edges  24 ,  26  toward each other as indicated by arrows  860  (see  FIGS. 8A and 8C ). The movement of the pairs of gripping members  240 ,  250  tears the line of perforations  32  in the second layer  22 . As such, edge portions  852  of the bag  18  are torn away from edge portions  852 ′ of the next bag  18 ′, allowing the rectangular opening  800  to be formed. In one exemplary embodiment, the second ply  22  slides between the pairs of gripping members  240 ,  250  as the pairs of gripping members  240 ,  250  move from the position illustrated by  FIGS. 7A-7C  to the position illustrated by  FIGS. 8A-8C . A center portion  854  of the line of perforations  32  in the second layer  22  of the bag  18  remains in-tact. This leaves the bag  18  connected to the bag  18 ′ while the bag  18  has the rectangular opening  800 . The rectangular opening  800  is at least 6 inches by 6 inches. In certain embodiments, the rectangular opening  800  may be 6 inches by 6 inches, 9 inches by 9 inches, 12 inches by 12 inches, 18 inches by 18 inches, or any combination thereof. 
         [0068]    The pairs of gripping members  220 ,  230  can move the first ply  20  away from the second ply  22  in a wide variety of different ways. In the illustrated embodiment, the pairs of gripping members  220 ,  230  are attached to a bar  68  that is part of the sealing assembly  56 . In this embodiment, the bar  68  moves the attached pairs of gripping members  220 ,  230 . However, the pairs of gripping members  220 ,  230  can be moved by an actuator that is separate from the bar  68 . The pairs of gripping members  240 ,  250  can move the edges  24 ,  26  toward each other in a variety of different ways. In the illustrated embodiment, the pairs of gripping members  240 ,  250  move in a slot  870  in a housing of the apparatus  10 . The pairs of gripping members  240 ,  250  can be driven by a motor, a linear actuator or any other mechanism. 
         [0069]    Referring to  FIGS. 9A-9C and 10A-10C , the bag  18  is maintained with the rectangular opening  800  at the load position and the product  40  is loaded into the bag  18 . The product may be loaded manually or automatically. In the illustrated embodiment, the position where the bag  18  is loaded is also the position where bag  18  is sealed after the rectangular opening  800  is closed. In another embodiment, the position where the bag is loaded is different than the position where the bag is sealed. In this embodiment, the controller causes the indexing mechanism  52  to move the bag  18  to the seal position after the bag is loaded with product  40  and closed. 
         [0070]    In an exemplary embodiment, once the product is loaded in the bag  18 , an operator may provide a signal to the controller that indicates that loading is complete or completion of loading may be automatically detected. The apparatus  10  may be configured to allow the operator to provide the completed loading signal to the controller in a wide variety of different ways. For example, the apparatus may have a control foot pedal (not shown) or the sealing arrangement  56  may have a portion that the operator can push on to indicate that loading is complete and it is time to seal the package. Similarly, the apparatus can be configured to automatically detect completed loading and provide the controller with a signal that indicated this fact. For example, the apparatus may include a counter or may weigh the package to detect completed loading. 
         [0071]    Referring to  FIGS. 11A-11C , the signal from the operator or detection of completed loading is communicated to the controller, and causes the engagement device  402  to close the bag. In the illustrated embodiment, the pairs of gripping members  220 ,  230  move the first ply  20  back toward the second ply  22  as indicated by arrows  1150  (see  FIGS. 11B and 11C ). At the same time, the pairs of gripping members  240 ,  250  move the edges  24 ,  26  away from each other as indicated by arrows  1160  to close the bag opening  30  (see  FIG. 11C ). In an exemplary embodiment, the second ply  22  slides through each of the pairs of gripping members  240 ,  250  as the pairs of gripping members  240 ,  250  move from the position illustrated by  FIGS. 10A-10C  to the position illustrated by  FIGS. 11A-11C . In the illustrated embodiment, the center portion  854  of the line of perforations  32  in the second layer  22  of the bag  18  remains in-tact. As such, the closed bag  18  remains connected to the bag  18 ′. 
         [0072]    Still referring to  FIGS. 11A-11C , the bag may be sealed at the position illustrated by  FIGS. 11A-11C  or the engagement device  402  may release the bag and the bag may be indexed to another position for sealing. In one exemplary embodiment, the bag is sealed while the engagement device  402  is holding the bag  18  closed. The sealing arrangement  56  is positioned along the path of travel P to provide the seal  44 . The sealing arrangement  56  may take a wide variety of different forms. For example, any mechanism that applies heat to the web to seal the first and second webs together to form the seal  44  may be implemented. 
         [0073]    In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing arrangement comprises a seal backing bar  68  and a heating element  70  that is selectively moved into and out of engagement. Referring to  FIG. 11B , when the web is in the seal position, the controller controls the sealing arrangement  56  to clamp the web  16  between the seal backing bar  68  and the heating element  70 . In an exemplary embodiment, the seal backing bar  68  comprises a rubber seal backing element  1168 . The seal backing bar  68  may be moved to the clamped position (see  FIG. 11B ) from the unclamped position (See  FIG. 10B ) under a low force, such as a force that is lower than a force that could injure a finger that might be between the rubber seal backing element  1168  and the heating element  70 . In addition, the rubber seal backing element  1168  is not heated. 
         [0074]    In an exemplary embodiment, the heating element  70  is moved to the clamped position (See  FIG. 11B ) from the unclamped position (See  FIG. 10B ) and/or heat is applied by the heating element  70  only after the rubber seal backing element  1168  has been moved to the clamped position. Heat is applied to the web to seal the plies of the web together between the first side edge  24  and the second side edge  26 . The heating element  70  may be continuously on (i.e. always hot when the machine is turned on) or the heating element  70  may be controlled to only apply heat when the bag  18  is clamped and/or a seal signal is provided by the controller. The first and second plies  20 ,  22  are sealed together to form the compartment  36 . 
         [0075]      FIGS. 18A-18E  illustrate and exemplary embodiment of a sealing assembly  56  that comprises a seal backing bar  68  and a heating element  70  that are that is selectively moved into and out of engagement. In the exemplary embodiment, the heating element  70  is moved by an actuator  1800 , such as a pneumatic actuator or a solenoid actuator. The illustrated seal backing bar  68  is moved by a low force actuator  1810  and is held in place by a clamping actuator  1820 . 
         [0076]    The low force actuator  1810  can take a wide variety of different forms. In one exemplary embodiment, the low force actuator  1810  comprises a servomotor  1812 . In the illustrated embodiment, the servomotor  1812  drives a pinion gear  1814  that drives a gear rack  1816 . However, any drive arrangement can be employed. In an exemplary embodiment, the low force actuator applies a low force, such as a force that is lower than a force that could injure a person&#39;s finger that might be between the seal backing bar  68  and a front panel  1850  of the machine. 
         [0077]    The clamping actuator  1820  can take a wide variety of different forms. In one exemplary embodiment, the clamping actuator  1820  is a pneumatic actuator or a solenoid actuator. Any type of actuator can be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the clamping actuator  1820  includes a latch member  1822  for selectively coupling the clamping actuator  1820  to the low force actuator  1810  and decoupling the clamping actuator  1820  from the low force actuator  1810 . 
         [0078]      FIG. 18A  illustrates the sealing assembly  56  in an open or load position, In the open or load position, the low force actuator  1810  positions the seal backing bar  68  in a spaced apart relationship to a front panel  1850  of the machine  10 . In this position, the actuator  1800  positions the heating element  70  in a recessed relationship with respect to the front panel  1850 . This prevents a user from inadvertently touching the heating element. Arrow  1860  in  FIG. 18B  illustrates the low force actuator  1810  moving the seal backing bar  68  to an engaged or sealing position. Arrow  1870  in  FIG. 18C  illustrates the latch member  1822  of the clamping actuator  1820  moving to a coupling position. Arrow  1880  in  FIG. 18D  illustrates the clamping actuator  1820  coupling to the low force actuator  1810 , to hold the low force actuator  1810  in the clamping position. 
         [0079]    Arrow  1890  in  FIG. 18E  illustrates the heating element  70  moved by the actuator  1800  to a clamped or seal position. In an exemplary embodiment, the heating element  70  is moved to the clamped position and/or heat is applied by the heating element  70  only after the optional rubber seal backing element  1168  has been moved to the clamped position. The coupled clamping actuator  1820  and low force actuator  1810  prevent the actuator and heating element  70  from pushing the seal backing bar  68  away. That is, the coupled clamping actuator  1820  and low force actuator  1810  can oppose a much larger force applied by the actuator  1800  than the low force actuator  1810  alone. Since, the clamping actuator  1820  is not coupled to the low force actuator  1810  until the seal backing bar is in position, or substantially in position, there is no risk that a user&#39;s fingers can be pinched by the forces applied by the actuator  1800  and clamping actuator  1820 . The only force that could be applied to a user&#39;s fingers is the force applied by the low force actuator  1810 , which is lower than a force that could possibly injure a finger. In the illustrated embodiment, the seal backing bar  68  comprises the rubber seal backing element  1168 , which is not heated. Heat is applied to the web to seal the plies of the web together. In one exemplary embodiment, the web  16  is reverse indexed while the bag  18  is clamped between the seal backing bar  68  and heating element  70  to separate the bag  18  from the rest of the web. The operations illustrated by  FIGS. 18A-18E  are performed in reverse order to release the bag. 
         [0080]    Referring to  FIGS. 12A-12C , the engagement device  402  releases the bag. This release may be after the seal is formed or while the seal is being formed. This release may be before (see  FIG. 12B ) or after (see  FIG. 13B ) the seal backing bar  68  and a heating element  70  move apart from one another. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller causes the engagement device  402  to release the bag by causing the grippers  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250  to move from the closed position ( FIGS. 11A-11C ) to the closed position ( FIGS. 12A-12C ). 
         [0081]    Still referring to  FIGS. 12A-12C , the controller controls the indexing mechanism  52  to separate the formed package  12  from the web  16 . The second ply  22  is broken along the remaining middle portion  854  (the middle portion  854  is already broken off in the illustration of  FIGS. 12A-12C ) of the line of separation  32  to separate the package  12  from the elongated web  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, the controller controls the indexing arrangement  52  to pull the web  16  away from the bag  18  as indicated by arrows  74  while the bag is clamped by the sealing arrangement  56  in an exemplary embodiment. 
         [0082]    Referring to  FIGS. 13A-13C , the controller controls the sealing arrangement  56  to release the formed package  12  after the filled bag  18  is separated from the next, unfilled bag  18 ′. In the illustrated embodiment, the formed package  12  is released by moving the seal backing bar  68  away from the heating element  70 . 
         [0083]    Referring again to  FIGS. 3A-3C , the controller  58  indexes the web  16  with the opening  30  of the next bag  18  to the load position and the cycle begins again. The controller may repeat the method as required to produce as many packages are needed from the web. 
         [0084]    It should be understood that the embodiments discussed above are representative of aspects of the invention and are provided as examples and not an exhaustive description of implementations of an aspect of the invention. 
         [0085]    While various aspects of the invention are described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects may be realized in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects and features of the invention, such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, devices, software, hardware, control logic and so on may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the aspects, concepts or features of the invention into additional embodiments within the scope of the present invention even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the invention may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present invention however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1