Product Caught in the Seal

Problem

Product is pressed into the end seal, or the seal fails at the point where product is trapped. The fault may be constant for one product or appear intermittently at speed.

Possible Causes

1. Product pitch does not match the sealing cycle for the current recipe.
2. Product shifts or rotates at the transfer into the wrapping area.
3. Guide settings let product drift out of position before the seal.
4. Feeding timing is out of synchronization with machine motion.
5. Product variation exceeds the tolerance the setup was made for.

What to Check

• STEP 1Verify pitch against the recipe.Compare the actual product spacing with the recipe values for this format.
• STEP 2Observe the transfer at low speed.Watch products enter the wrapping area — shifting, tipping or catching at the transition shows directly.
• STEP 3Check guide settings.Confirm guides match the changeover record and show no wear marks from product contact.
• STEP 4Confirm timing synchronization.Check that infeed timing relative to machine motion matches the documented setup.
• STEP 5Sample the product.Measure incoming product against the specification the setup was made for.

Corrective Actions

• Correct pitch and timing values and store them in the product's verified recipe.
• Re-set guides per the changeover record and lock the positions.
• Replace worn guide contact surfaces — order via the spare parts form with photos.
• When product variation is the cause, involve quality and Path Pack engineering to review the feeding tolerance.