A rotary filling machine for filling containers with bridgeable dry materials includes a turret supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced drop buckets and a plurality of funnel assemblies located under the drop buckets. A stationary slide plate is located vertically between the funnel assemblies and the drop buckets. When viewed in a direction of turret rotation, the slide plate has an upstream end, a downstream end, and inner and outer edges. A portion of the slide plate is tapered progressively in diameter toward its downstream end such that flow paths from the bottoms of the drop buckets to the inlet openings of the funnel assemblies increase progressively in diameter with the taper of the slide plate. Also provided is a funnel assembly and drop buckets provided with one more partitions that hinder the “snow-plowing of particles” along the edge of the associated fill opening in machine's fill plate rather than the sweeping of those particles into the fill opening.

Apparatuses and methods for tamping the contents of a container are disclosed. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a tamp head for tamping the contents of the container; and a container support assembly structured and arranged to temporarily support the bottom surface of the container during tamping, the container support assembly comprising a support element having a protrusion extending upward from a substantially flat and horizontal upper surface, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the container.

Apparatuses and methods for tamping the contents of a container are disclosed. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a tamp head for tamping the contents of the container; and a container support assembly structured and arranged to temporarily support the bottom surface of the container during tamping, the container support assembly comprising a support element having a protrusion extending upward from a substantially flat and horizontal upper surface, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the container.

Embodiments described herein relate to articles and methods for forming liquid surface films on the interior surfaces of containers for holding one or more products comprising one or more Bingham plastic materials. Bingham plastic materials behave as a solid under no or low shear stress, and behave as viscous liquids when an applied shear stress exceeds a yield stress. In some embodiments, a container for containing a product includes an interior surface and a liquid disposed on the interior surface. Before introduction of a product into a container, the liquid may be surrounded by air. The liquid-air interface in contact with the interior surface makes a contact angle, θ.sub.os(a), with respect to the interior surface of the container, of about 0°. After a product has been introduced to the container, the liquid is at least partially covered by the product. The liquid-product interface in contact with the interior surface, makes a contact angle, θ.sub.os(p), with respect to the interior surface, of less about 60°. The subscript “o” denotes the liquid, subscript “s” denotes the interior surface, subscript “a” denotes air, and subscript “p” denotes a product. In some embodiments, the contact angle θ.sub.os(p) can be less than about 50°, less than about 40°, or less than about 30°.

Embodiments described herein relate to articles and methods for forming liquid surface films on the interior surfaces of containers for holding one or more products comprising one or more Bingham plastic materials. Bingham plastic materials behave as a solid under no or low shear stress, and behave as viscous liquids when an applied shear stress exceeds a yield stress. In some embodiments, a container for containing a product includes an interior surface and a liquid disposed on the interior surface. Before introduction of a product into a container, the liquid may be surrounded by air. The liquid-air interface in contact with the interior surface makes a contact angle, θ.sub.os(a), with respect to the interior surface of the container, of about 0°. After a product has been introduced to the container, the liquid is at least partially covered by the product. The liquid-product interface in contact with the interior surface, makes a contact angle, θ.sub.os(p), with respect to the interior surface, of less about 60°. The subscript “o” denotes the liquid, subscript “s” denotes the interior surface, subscript “a” denotes air, and subscript “p” denotes a product. In some embodiments, the contact angle θ.sub.os(p) can be less than about 50°, less than about 40°, or less than about 30°.

An aerosol generating article includes a substantially cylindrical cup containing a plant-based aerosol generating material and at least one inductively heatable susceptor element (26). The cup includes an open end and a bottom wall. The cup has a self-supporting moulded form and includes a flange at the open end and a closure attached to the flange. The closure and/or bottom wall is porous or includes one or more openings.

The present disclosure is related to articles (e.g., containers, battery packs, etc.) including a lithium material (e.g., one or more lithium-containing batteries) housed therein. The articles include sulfur hexafluoride located within an interior compartment of the article to provide an inert atmosphere within the interior compartment. The present disclosure is also related to methods of inerting such articles (e.g., containers, battery packs, etc.) with sulfur hexafluoride. Additionally, the present disclosure is related to conveyed (e.g., pumped, blown, etc.) looped cooling apparatuses and systems.

The present disclosure is related to articles (e.g., containers, battery packs, etc.) including a lithium material (e.g., one or more lithium-containing batteries) housed therein. The articles include sulfur hexafluoride located within an interior compartment of the article to provide an inert atmosphere within the interior compartment. The present disclosure is also related to methods of inerting such articles (e.g., containers, battery packs, etc.) with sulfur hexafluoride. Additionally, the present disclosure is related to conveyed (e.g., pumped, blown, etc.) looped cooling apparatuses and systems.

A package that may be employed to store a tobacco-containing material is provided. The package may include a container including a body portion and a cover configured to engage the body portion. The body portion may define an internal space therein configured to receive a product. An internal surface of one or both of the body portion and the cover may include a wood liner. The wood liner may be a wood veneer.

A package that may be employed to store a tobacco-containing material is provided. The package may include a container including a body portion and a cover configured to engage the body portion. The body portion may define an internal space therein configured to receive a product. An internal surface of one or both of the body portion and the cover may include a wood liner. The wood liner may be a wood veneer.