Method and means for attaching fitments to a bag or pouch on a packaging machine

Claim 1

Apparatus for forming, filling and sealing a pouch and simultaneously attaching a dispensing fitment thereto comprising a substantially flat strip of heat sealable material of indefinite length, die means for forming a portion of said strip into a hollow tubular member with overlapping edges, filling tube means extending through said die member and having a discharge end located within said tubular member, means for sealing said overlapping edges including a base mounted on said filling tube means adjacent to said discharge, said base being disposed within said tubular member, a rotary sealing unit located exteriorly of said tubular member in a position to cooperate with said base, the overlapping edges of said tubular member passing between said base and said rotary sealing unit so that said overlapping edges are sealed together, first anvil means mounted on said filling tube means diametrically opposite said base and having a surface engaging the inner periphery of said tubular member, means for feeding a hollow fitment means having a heat sealable flange at one end into engagement with said tubular member opposite said first anvil means, an outer heat sealing unit located exteriorly of said tubular member and opposite to said first anvil means, means for moving said outer sealing unit into intimate engagement with the flange of said fitment to urge said flange into sealing engagement with said tubular member against said first anvil means, a cutting and sealing unit located in spaced relationship to the discharge end of said filling tube means, said cutting and sealing unit including a second anvil means on one side of said tubular member and a heating means on the opposite side thereof, means for moving said heating means against said tubular member and said second anvil means to seal the end of said tubular member, said cutting and sealing unit simultaneously sealing the upper end of a completed pouch and the lower end of said tubular member and cutting the pouch from said tubular member, and fluent material being discharged through said filling tube means into said tubular member after the lower end of said member is welded, whereby said strip of heat sealable material is formed into a pouch having fluent material therein and a dispensing fitment mounted thereon.