Methods and apparatus for high-speed pouch-filling

Abstract

Bandoliers of serially-connected four-seam pouches are received, opened and filled in continuous motion on a rotating parallel land high capacity filler wheel with a tucker finger engaging the bottom seam of each pouch to facilitate the opening process, and where the pouches are held solely by the lands without other pouch engaging or holding clips or other structures.

1 . A method of high-speed pouch filling, comprising:
 receiving a web comprising a plurality of connected pouches, each pouch defined by side seams oriented on parallel vacuum lands of a wheel and a bottom seam connecting two plies of material to form the walls of the pouch, each pouch further including an upper mouth defined by the top edges of both plies of the material;   holding one of the plurality of pouches along the two side seams of that pouch on said lands, such that the side seams are disposed approximately parallel to each other;   engaging the bottom seam of the one pouch to deform the pouch; and   while holding the side seams parallel and engaging the bottom seam, filling the pouch without engaging the pouch except with said vacuum lands.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 exerting an upward force against the bottom seam of the pouch with said engaging step and causing the opening of the upper mouth of the pouch.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein exerting an upward force against the bottom seam comprises contact between the bottom seam and a moveable tucker insufficient to pull the side seams way from said lands. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 blowing air to cause the upper mouth of the pouch to open.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch is exclusively held with at least two of a plurality of parallel vacuum lands. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of vacuum lands are equally spaced along a filler wheel, the adjacent distance between the vacuum lands less than the width of each pouch such that the spacing of the vacuum lands allows each pouch to open. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the web comprising a plurality of pouches is filled at a line speed rate in excess of about 5000 inches per minute. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for high-speed pouch filling, comprising:
 a filler wheel having a vertical axis of rotation;   a web comprising a plurality of pouches, each pouch defined by sealed side seams and a bottom sealed seam connecting two plies of material to form the walls of the pouch, each pouch further including an upper open mouth defined by the top edges of both plies of the material;
 a plurality of vacuum lands circumferentially spaced below the filler wheel and disposed approximately parallel to the vertical axis of rotation, the lands configured to contact the two side seams of each pouch in the web and for holding each pouch with its side seams approximately parallel to each other; and further comprising a plurality of tuckers each disposed between adjacent lands, each tucker operable to move upward to exert a force against the bottom seam of a pouch, held exclusively by and between the adjacent lands, in order to open the pouch. 
   
     
     
         9 . Apparatus for high speed four seam pouch filling wherein such pouches include two side seams and a bottom seam, said apparatus comprising:
 a filler wheel having a vertical axis of rotation;   a plurality of vacuum lands circumferentially spaced below the filler wheel and disposed approximately parallel to the vertical axis of rotation, the lands configured to contact the two side seams of each pouch in the web and for holding each pouch with its side seams approximately parallel to each other; and further comprising a plurality of tuckers each disposed between adjacent lands, each tucker operable to move upward to exert a force against the bottom seam of a pouch, held exclusively by and between the adjacent lands, in order to open the pouch.