Abstract:
An apparatus, machine and method for opening a flexible pouch includes a pair of opposed side grippers each holding a side of the pouch. A pair of opposed panel grippers each hold an upper edge of the pouch. The side grippers are displaced inwardly towards each other and the panel grippers are displaced outwardly away from each other to partially open the pouch. A pair of pouch opening fingers are displaceable between a raised position above the pouch and a lowered position within the pouch. The pouch opening fingers are open in the raised position and closed after lowered into the lowered position, to grip the wall of the pouch. The pair of pouch opening fingers move together a predetermined distance in an outboard direction to fully separate the pouch walls.
Abstract:
A flexible funnel positioned at a filling station of a fill machine. The flexible funnel directs a product dispensed at the filling station of the filling machine into a pouch. The flexible funnel having a rigid upper portion and a plurality of fingers. The rigid upper portion includes an open top end and an open bottom end. Each of the plurality of elongated fingers hingedly connected to the upper portion. The rigid upper portion has a regular polygon shape having a plurality of sides, and each of the plurality of fingers is individually articulatable with respect to one of the plurality of sides of the upper rigid portion.
Abstract:
A pouch for holding fluids is provided. The pouch includes a pouch body having a front panel and a back panel. The front panel is formed of a transparent material and includes a second indicia visible from the front of the pouch. The back panel includes a third indicia visible from the back of the pouch. The back panel includes a first indicia disposed one of the layers of the back panel and configured to be visible when the pouch is viewed from the front so as to block out the third indicia from view. A method of manufacturing a pouch is also provided. The method is directed towards facilitating the alignment of a graphical image on one side of the back panel with a graphical image on another side of the back panels in instances where the back panel is formed of multiple layers.
Abstract:
A machine for filling a flexible pouch having a fitment assembly, a gripper and a filler. The fitment assembly having a tap and a fitment mounted to the pouch body. The gripper operable to remove the tap from the fitment, retain the tap during filling operations, and mount the tap back onto the fitment after filling operations. The fitment assembly having a tap operable to be mounted on the fitment in a transport position and a fixed position, wherein in the transport position a first predetermined amount of force is required to remove the tap. In the fixed position, a second predetermined amount of force is required to remove the tap. The second predetermined amount of force is substantially larger than the first predetermined amount of force.
Abstract:
A load smart system for continuously loading preformed pouches into a fill-seal machine is provided. A plurality of pouches are disposed within a pouch delivery device, each of the pouches having an upper edge and an indicia. The fill-seal machine includes a rotating turret having a plurality of radially extending grippers. The rotating turret rotates the plurality of gripper pairs between a loading station, an opening station, a filling station, a sealing station, and an unloading station. A robotic transfer device is positioned between the pouch delivery device and the loading station of the fill-seal machine. The robotic transfer device includes an optical sensor positioned on a gripper member. During operation, the optical sensor scans the indicia to determine the pouch characteristics and a controlling station controls the gripper member to deposits the pouch within the gripper pairs at the loading station a predetermined distance from the upper edge of the pouch.