Patent ID: 8117805

Claim:
A method of forming and filling a flexible package using an in-line process, the method comprising: directing a web of film and a semi-rigid strip in a machine direction; folding the web of film to have a pair of opposing walls with the semi-rigid strip therebetween; attaching the strip to one of the opposing walls; sealing the opposing walls of the web of film together at spaced sealing regions to form pouches between the sealing regions; removing a section of the sealing regions at a lower portion to provide multiple pouches connected at an upper portion; separating the connected pouches from the web of film to provide an individual pouch; filling an interior section of the individual pouch through an opening in the upper portion of the pouch with a flowable material; forming a top sealed region closing the opening in the pouch; and removing a portion of the top sealed region.