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.

A high-speed automated separation apparatus includes a pair of flexible discs, a driver to rotate the flexible discs, a feeder to position a rigid body at a first location between the flexible discs, a spreader and a converger operable upon the flexible discs such that opposing portions of the flexible disc converge upon the positioned rigid body. The rotating flexible discs rotate the rigid body beyond the first location, and content from the rigid body is expelled. The rigid body and the expelled content are then available for reuse.

A high-speed automated separation apparatus includes a pair of flexible discs, a driver to rotate the flexible discs, a feeder to position a rigid body at a first location between the flexible discs, a spreader and a converger operable upon the flexible discs such that opposing portions of the flexible disc converge upon the positioned rigid body. The rotating flexible discs rotate the rigid body beyond the first location, and content from the rigid body is expelled. The rigid body and the expelled content are then available for reuse.

An apparatus and methods for producing at extremely high production speeds small pouches filled with tobacco or other granular, powdered or solid content is provided. An endless web substrate, with or without flavor film thereon, is formed into a tubular shape with a longitudinal seam. The tube is cut to individual lengths, and a procession of tubes is crimp-closed at one end, filled and crimp-closed at the other end to complete pouch production. During production, the seams formed at the crimped ends of the pouch are parallel to one another and the longitudinal seam of the pouch is midway between the sides of the pouch and orthogonal to the seams formed at the crimped ends of the pouch.

An apparatus and methods for producing at extremely high production speeds small pouches filled with tobacco or other granular, powdered or solid content is provided. An endless web substrate, with or without flavor film thereon, is formed into a tubular shape with a longitudinal seam. The tube is cut to individual lengths, and a procession of tubes is crimp-closed at one end, filled and crimp-closed at the other end to complete pouch production. During production, the seams formed at the crimped ends of the pouch are parallel to one another and the longitudinal seam of the pouch is midway between the sides of the pouch and orthogonal to the seams formed at the crimped ends of the pouch.

A machine for making filter bags for infusion products includes a first carousel for continuous rotary movement about a first axis and having first operating stations movable therewith, each first operating station configured to operate on a corresponding piece of filter material fed along an angular stretch of the first carousel, to lift two chambers to a position side by side. A second carousel positioned alongside the first carousel and rotating continuously about a second axis parallel to the first axis has a plurality of joining elements positioned along, and continuously movable with, the second carousel. Each joining element is connected to corresponding control devices for actuating, in a synchronized fashion, a succession of movements of the joining element to intercept free ends of erect filter material, positioned on an operating station and joining them, towards one of the two chambers containing a dose of product.

A filling unit, configured to fill a succession of tubular wrappers of the tobacco industry. The tubular wrappers extend along a main axis of extension and internally define respective containment chambers adapted to contain a filling material of the tobacco industry and have an access opening on at least one of its ends for access to the containment chamber. The unit also includes a filling station configured to insert the filling material into respective containment chambers of the succession of tubular wrappers through a filling end of them and a closing station disposed downstream of the filling station and comprising a plurality of closing means configured to make respective walls which close the filling ends and which are transverse to the respective main axes of extension.

A system and a method of packaging a foodstuff ingredient into discrete quantities facilitate the preparation for baking and cooking. The system includes a bulk quantity of foodstuff ingredient, a plurality of single-use packages, and a recipe with a foodstuff-ingredient requirement. The method begins by filling each single-use package with a corresponding quantity of foodstuff ingredient through an open end of the single-use package. Moreover, a corresponding quantity of foodstuff ingredient is equal to the specific volumetric capacity of each single-use package. The open end of each single-use package is then closed. Each single-use package is labeled with a description of the corresponding quantity of foodstuff ingredient. The open end of a specific single-use package is then reopened, wherein the corresponding quantity of foodstuff for the specific single-use package meets the food-stuff ingredient requirement. The corresponding quantity of foodstuff ingredient is dispensed out of the open end.

A system and a method of packaging a foodstuff ingredient into discrete quantities facilitate the preparation for baking and cooking. The system includes a bulk quantity of foodstuff ingredient, a plurality of single-use packages, and a recipe with a foodstuff-ingredient requirement. The method begins by filling each single-use package with a corresponding quantity of foodstuff ingredient through an open end of the single-use package. Moreover, a corresponding quantity of foodstuff ingredient is equal to the specific volumetric capacity of each single-use package. The open end of each single-use package is then closed. Each single-use package is labeled with a description of the corresponding quantity of foodstuff ingredient. The open end of a specific single-use package is then reopened, wherein the corresponding quantity of foodstuff for the specific single-use package meets the food-stuff ingredient requirement. The corresponding quantity of foodstuff ingredient is dispensed out of the open end.