Vertical form, fill, and seal system for hot fill liquids

Abstract

A vertical form, fill, and seal packaging system may comprise a source of flexible thermoplastic packaging material, a tubular folder, a product dispenser of the tubular folder, and a side sealer. The source of flexible packaging material in an elongated thin flat strip of material may comprise successive flat package blanks as integral longitudinally contiguous sections. The tubular folder may be adapted to receive a strip material and progressively forms in passage to a depending and upwardly open tubular configuration, with opposite longitudinal edge portions of the material being progressively juxtaposed in a passage so as to extend in vertical and parallel directions. The product dispenser of the tubular folder for discharging measured quantities of materials may be through a fill tube extending downward into an interior of the depending tube of packaging material through an upwardly open end. The side sealer may be used for sealing the juxtaposed vertically extending longitudinal edge portions of the tube. A method of making packages may comprise the steps of folding a single sheet of thermoplastic film into a tube; sealing an open vertical end or side around a filing tube; tucking gussets; sealing bottom; and filing an opened cavity of package with a hot material at 160° F. or greater.

1 . A method of making packages comprising:
 folding a single sheet of thermoplastic film into a tube;   sealing an open vertical end or side around a filing tube;   tucking gussets;   sealing substantially flat bottom of the package; and   filing an open cavity of the package with a hot material at 160° F. or greater.   
     
     
         2 . The method of making packages of  claim 1 , further comprising sealing an upper horizontal portion of the package. 
     
     
         3 . The method of making packages of  claim 1 , further comprising lowering the package down to one lower level position. 
     
     
         4 . The method of making packages of  claim 1 , further comprising cutting between the packages. 
     
     
         5 . The method of making packages of  claim 1 , further comprising transferring the package to a bottom forming section wherein:
 bottom corners of the package are gripped folded under and sealed so that they remain folded under; and   seam is perpendicular to vertical seam or at a 45 or 90 degree angle which form a general flat bottom.   
     
     
         6 . The method of making packages of  claim 1 , further comprising transferring the package to a bottom forming section wherein:
 bottom corners of the package are gripped folded under and sealed so that they remain folded under; and seam is perpendicular to vertical seam or at a 45 or 90 degree angle which form a seating surface enabling the package to set upright.   
     
     
         7 . The method of making packages of  claim 1 , further comprising using a single layer polymer that is selected from a group consisting of a highly orientated polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon or other high barrier polymers or copolymers, that provide gas, moisture barrier properties. 
     
     
         8 . The method of making packages of  claim 1 , further comprising adding a threaded access component onto the package. 
     
     
         9 . The method of making packages of  claim 1 , further comprising adding fitting onto the package. 
     
     
         10 . The method of making packages of  claim 1 , further comprising screwing a cap onto the package.