Baxter International Inc.

David Frankenberger

Dale R Severs

Michael Kemp

Richard Williams

Sungwook Yang

An apparatus (31) and a method are disclosed for performing an operation upon multiple webs (51,53), including the feeding of multiple webs (51,53), the provision of a carrier (65) for assisting in moving the webs (51,53) along a predetermined path (83), the performance of an operation (69) upon the webs, the insertion of a carrier (65) between the webs (51,53), and the provision of a sealing device (71) for sealing the webs together to form a sealed portion (75) to cooperate with the carrier (65) for assisting in moving the webs (51,53). The carriers (65) are mounted on a conveyor (83) and each carrier (65) pushes against the sealed portion (75) to pull the webs (51,53), and the packages (41) formed therefrom in the direction of conveyor travel. The preferred carrier (65) has a shaped head on the end of a flat plastic blade. The shaped head may have an opening (81) therein of a smaller size than the sealer (188) inserted into the opening such that the fused plastic may extrude outwardly to abut the edge (79) of the carrier defining the opening.

Multi-web carrier

An apparatus (31) and a method are disclosed for temporarily separating multiple webs (51,53) while performing an operation (123,125,133) thereon, including the feeding of multiple webs (51,53), the provision of a retractable web separator (68) for temporarily separating the webs, the performance of an operation (123,125,133)) upon the webs, the provision of a gripping device (65) for gripping the webs and assisting in moving the webs (51,53) along a predetermined path (83), and the provision of a sealing device (71) for sealing the webs together to form a package seal (73). The retractable separators (68) are mounted on a conveyor (83) and each separator (68) in turn temporarily separates the webs (51,53), for insertion of a port (45), fitting or the like, whereupon the separator (68) may be retracted and the port (45) may be sealed into the packages (41) being manufactured. The preferred separator (68) has a shaped head (170) on the end of a reciprocating shaft (158). The head (170) may be enlarged and may have a tapered end (171) for insertion between the webs (51,53).

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Mountain Home, AR, United States of America

David Frankenberger