T. W. Kutter, Inc.

Francis P Ventura

Kevin V Roach

M Selim Cetiner

Vincent E Faherty

Form and fill packaging apparatus including a vacuum thermoformer where a first plastic web is formed to provide receptacles for receiving articles, a filling station where articles are placed in the formed receptacles, a sealing station where a second web is placed over the filled receptacles and sealed to portions of the web around the receptacles, first web drive means for driving the first web through the thermoformer, filling station and sealing station, and a feed mechanism for positively feeding the second web to the first web at the sealing station synchronously with driving of the first web.

Form, fill, and seal apparatus

Apparatus for automatically assembling and packaging articles including an assembler at which the articles are assembled and discharged one after another, a form and fill packaging line including a vacuum thermoformer where a plastic web is formed to provide receptacles for receiving the articles, a filling station where articles are placed in the formed receptacles, and a sealer where a sheet seals closed the filled receptacles, a transporting line receiving the articles from the assembler and transporting them to the filling station, the articles being presented in a group at a location spaced from the web at the filling station, and a first transfer mechanism for engaging the articles one group at a time and transferring them to a corresponding group of the receptacles at the filling station. Also disclosed are inspecting articles prior to filling receptacles so as to fill receptacles with only defect-free articles; changing spacing between finished products during transfer from a conveyor to another location; and forming the receptacles by providing a first pressure difference on opposite sides of the plastic web when heated to provide an initial contour with uniform stretching and thereafter providing a second larger pressure difference to force the heated web into the desired shape.

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Upton, MA, United States of America

Francis P Ventura