A growing trend: narrow, long bags, slightly larger than a chocolate bar, known as tube packs. Small and convenient, ideal as a snack between meals - now an increasingly important part of everyday life for everyone. And also the so-called "100 calories packs", small portions for restricted calorie intake. More and more food producers are following this trend. As a result, an increasing number of products, such as jelly babies, nuts, dried fruits, various cereals, are being offered in these kinds of packs.
This design presents a challenge to packaging technology. Due to the small diameter of the format tube, blockages (congestion) at high speeds are commonplace. As a result, such packaging systems are often not very productive.
To be able to pre-format the product, the diameter of the timing hopper corresponds to the diameter of the format tube of the tubular bag machine. A special mechanism on the timing hopper opens the flaps, while increasing the diameter of the timing hopper frame. This enables the pre-formatted product to be transferred quickly and reliably into the tubular bag machine. This permits nominal filling weights of up to 100 g at an output of up to 110 weighings/min.
