Method for producing multi-compartment packages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9238537-B2
Application number	US-201313914204-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2013
Priority date	Jun 10, 2013
Publication date	Jan 19, 2016
Grant date	Jan 19, 2016

Abstract

An improved method and apparatus for making a multi-compartment package on a form, fill, and seal machine. Two pairs of heat sealing jaws are provided below a product delivery tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for making a two-compartment package, said method comprising the steps of:
forming a first end seal with a first pair of sealing jaws to form an open ended tube of packaging film;
filling said open ended tube with a predetermined amount of a first product;
forming a middle seal on said open ended tube with a second pair of sealing jaws disposed between the first pair of sealing jaws and a discharge end of a product delivery tube to form a first compartment of length L 2 between said first end seal and said middle seal containing said first product;
filling said open ended tube with a predetermined amount of a second product;
after the step of filling said open ended tube with a predetermined amount of the second product and after the second pair of sealing jaws have disengaged from the packaging film, pulling said open ended tube downward a distance L 1 +L 2 , wherein L 1 +L 2 is an overall length of the two-compartment package; and
forming a second end seal with said first pair of sealing jaws to seal said open ended tube and form a two-compartment package having a second compartment of length L 1 between said second end seal and said middle seal containing said second product.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising cutting said two-compartment package away from said open ended tube.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first product comprises snack chips and wherein said second product comprises salt.

4. The method in claim 1 wherein said first product comprises a food product with a moisture content of less than 4% by weight, and said second product comprises a food product with a moisture content of greater than 5% by weight.

5. The method in claim 1 wherein said first product comprises a food product with a first seasoning, and said second product comprises a food product with a second seasoning which is different than said first seasoning.

6. The method in claim 1 wherein said middle seal is thinner than said first end seal and said second end seal.

7. The method in claim 1 wherein said middle seal comprises a first seal strength, said first end seal comprises a second seal strength, and said second end seal comprises a third seal strength, wherein said first seal strength is lower than said second seal strength and said third seal strength.

Assignees

• Frito Lay North America Inc

Inventors

• Edwards Eduard
• Sagel Joseph Paul

Classifications

• B29C53/50

  using internal forming surfaces, e.g. mandrels · CPC title

• B65D75/44 Primary

  Individual packages cut from webs or tubes · CPC title

• B65B2220/22

  Interconnected packages concurrently produced from the same web, the packages not being separated from one another · CPC title

• B65B9/2028

  Rollers or belts · CPC title

• B65B2220/14

  Adding more than one type of material or article to the same package · CPC title