Patent ID: 7673438

Claim:
A method of forming, filling, and sealing a flexible pouch for packaging a product said method comprising the steps of: forming a flexible pouch having a pair of side walls each with an upper edge having a portion in contact with each other; forming a guide pocket in the flexible pouch having a first crease on one of the pair of side walls and an opposed second crease on the other of the pair of side walls, wherein the first crease and second crease each project outwardly and extend longitudinally from the upper edge; separating the pair of side walls by directing a stream of pressurized gas into the guide pocket to forcibly open the upper edge of the pouch; filling the pouch with the product through the opened upper edge of the pouch; and closing the opened upper edge of the pouch by sealing the upper edge transversely through the guide pocket, wherein the first crease and second crease are eliminated as the upper edge of the pouch is sealed.