Method and Apparatus for Packaging a Collective Product, and Such Packaged Product

Abstract

System, hardware, and methods for agitating a package pre-form containing a charge of product elements thus to provide for product settling in the package pre-form before forming the final transverse seal. The product is caused to settle in the package pre-form by apply a plurality of rapid jerk-type acceleration forces to the packaging material, thus to cause rapid longitudinal and/or lateral acceleration in the packaging material.

1 . A method of making a sealed package containing a charge of compound product, the method comprising:
 forming a tubular package pre-form by steps that include wrapping flexible packaging material around a forming tube, sealing edge portions of the packaging material together to form a longitudinal seal, and sealing other portions of the packaging material together to form a first transverse end seal;   advancing the flexible packaging material along and past the forming tube using a pulling apparatus adapted to engage and pull the flexible packaging material;   loading the charge of compound product into the tubular package pre-form through the forming tube; and   agitating the tubular package pre-form using the pulling apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agitating comprises advancing the flexible packaging material in a series of jerks using the pulling apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pulling apparatus advances the flexible packaging material in a uni-directional manner. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pulling apparatus comprises a pull belt. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agitating begins before the loading ends. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agitating is carried out over an agitation period and the loading is carried out over a loading period, and wherein the agitation period at least partially overlaps the loading period. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the agitation period substantially completely overlaps the loading period. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agitating is carried out over an agitation period and the loading is carried out over a loading period, and wherein the agitation period does not overlap the loading period. 
     
     
         9 . A sealed package containing a charge of compound product, made using the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A method of making a sealed package containing a charge of compound product, the method comprising:
 forming a tubular package pre-form by steps that include wrapping flexible packaging material around a forming tube, sealing edge portions of the packaging material together to form a longitudinal seal, and sealing other portions of the packaging material together to form a first transverse end seal;   advancing the flexible packaging material along and past the forming tube using a pulling apparatus adapted to engage and pull the flexible packaging material; and   loading the charge of compound product into the tubular package pre-form through the forming tube;   wherein the advancing comprises agitating the tubular package pre-form using the pulling apparatus, the agitating adapted to settle the compound product in the tubular package pre-form.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the agitating comprises advancing the flexible packaging material in a series of jerks using the pulling apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pulling apparatus advances the flexible packaging material in a uni-directional manner. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pulling apparatus comprises a pull belt. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the agitating begins before the loading ends. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the agitating is carried out over an agitation period and the loading is carried out over a loading period, and wherein the agitation period at least partially overlaps the loading period. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the agitation period substantially completely overlaps the loading period. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the agitating is carried out over an agitation period and the loading is carried out over a loading period, and wherein the agitation period does not overlap the loading period. 
     
     
         18 . A sealed package containing a charge of compound product, made using the method of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         19 . A vertical form fill and seal (VFFS) machine, comprising:
 an unwind station for receiving a roll of flexible packaging material;   a forming tube around which the flexible packaging material can be wrapped;   a pulling apparatus adapted to engage and pull the flexible packaging material along and past the forming tube;   one or more seal stations, disposed proximate the forming tube, at which edge portions of the flexible packaging material are sealed together to form longitudinal seals, and other portions of the flexible packaging material are sealed together to form transverse end seals, thereby to form a series of tubular package pre-forms from the flexible packaging material;   a drop station from which a charge of compound product can be dropped into a given one of the tubular package pre-forms through the forming tube; and   a controller coupled to at least the pulling apparatus, the one or more seal stations, and the drop station;   wherein the controller is configured to agitate the tubular package pre-form using the pulling apparatus to promote settling of the compound product in the given tubular package pre-form.   
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 19 , wherein the pulling apparatus comprises a pull belt, and wherein the controller is configured to agitate the tubular package pre-form by operating the pull belt according to a series of short jerks.