A method of packing a temperature sensitive product utilizes a temperature controlled product shipper that includes a phase change material bladder which can be filled with a preconditioned brined-slurry PCM at the point of packaging. The temperature sensitive product is contained within a product box or master case, which is in turn packed inside an insulated liner and an outer box. The PCM bladder fits between the master case and the insulated liner and is filled with the preconditioned flowable PCM at the point of packing just before closing the box for shipment.

A vacuum liquid-filling needle includes a needle shaft (2) and a pressure relief valve (3). The pressure relief valve is disposed within the needle shaft at a first end (21) thereof, and the needle shaft is able to connect at a second end (22) thereof to a pipe for supplying a solution to be filled. The pressure relief valve defines an internal cavity, in which a first slide valve and a second slide valve are disposed so as to be axially spaced apart from each other and both movable relative to the internal cavity. The valve body defines an inflow channel (33), an inflow port (34), an outflow port (35), an outflow channel (37) and exit apertures (38). Each of the inflow channel and the outflow channel is formed by a blind bore, and both the inflow channel and the outflow channel axially extend along the valve body. This vacuum liquid-filling needle can prevent undesired accidental efflux of the solution while providing depressurization and pressure stabilization effects during filling of the solution. Moreover, the solution can be sucked back in a quantitative manner, thus avoiding it from stringing at a dispensing port of the vacuum liquid-filling needle. This makes the filling process more stable, more controllable and suitable for use in precise filling in environments at high vacuum levels. Also disclosed is a pressure relief valve.

A vacuum liquid-filling needle includes a needle shaft (2) and a pressure relief valve (3). The pressure relief valve is disposed within the needle shaft at a first end (21) thereof, and the needle shaft is able to connect at a second end (22) thereof to a pipe for supplying a solution to be filled. The pressure relief valve defines an internal cavity, in which a first slide valve and a second slide valve are disposed so as to be axially spaced apart from each other and both movable relative to the internal cavity. The valve body defines an inflow channel (33), an inflow port (34), an outflow port (35), an outflow channel (37) and exit apertures (38). Each of the inflow channel and the outflow channel is formed by a blind bore, and both the inflow channel and the outflow channel axially extend along the valve body. This vacuum liquid-filling needle can prevent undesired accidental efflux of the solution while providing depressurization and pressure stabilization effects during filling of the solution. Moreover, the solution can be sucked back in a quantitative manner, thus avoiding it from stringing at a dispensing port of the vacuum liquid-filling needle. This makes the filling process more stable, more controllable and suitable for use in precise filling in environments at high vacuum levels. Also disclosed is a pressure relief valve.

A packaging apparatus with an improved pinch roller apparatus, fluid supply apparatus, and/or a sealing apparatus. The pinch roller apparatus (e.g., comprising one or more guide and/or pinch rollers) is used to deliver film material to the fluid supply apparatus (e.g., nozzle and blower apparatus, or the like) that fills one or more chambers of the film material with fluid (e.g., air, gas, or other like fluid), and the film material is then sealed by a sealing apparatus (e.g., using one or more heating elements with an improved temperature sensor configuration) that seals the fluid within the one or more chambers in order to form the inflated article (e.g., inflated packaging material). In particular, the sealing apparatus provides improved sealing through the improved accuracy of the temperature reading in the heating zone, in part, by locating a sensor between a heating element and a protective member that covers the sensor.

A tube filling machine (1) adapted to fill different types of empty tubes (18) simultaneously, where the filling machine (1) comprises a grouping device (11), a transfer device (9), a conveyor (7) and a filling device (2) comprising a plurality of filling nozzles (3, 4, 5, 6), where the grouping device (11) comprises a first supply tray (13) with a first type of tubes, a second supply tray (14) with a second type of tubes, a receiving tray (17) and a pick-up head (12), where the transfer device (9) is adapted to transfer a grouped row of empty tubes (18) from the receiving tray (17) to the conveyor (7), where the grouping device (11) is adapted to place a plurality of groups (21) of empty tubes adjacent each other in the receiving tray (17), where a group (21) comprises a row of the first type of tubes and a row of the second type of tubes, that the transfer device (9) is adapted to transfer a row of grouped empty tubes from the receiving tray (17) to the conveyor (9), and where the filling nozzles (3, 4, 5, 6) are adapted to fill the grouped empty tubes with different content.

A unitary dispensing nozzle for co-injecting two or more liquids of different viscosity, solubility and/or miscibility at high filling speed to improve homogeneous mixing of such liquids, while said nozzle is an integral piece free of any movable parts and substantially free of dead space.

A transport or packaging container accommodating a plurality of supporting structures for closures, for transporting or packaging closures for closing cartridges for use in pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications, in which the transport or packaging container is box-shaped and includes a bottom, which is closed or sealed by a seal, upstanding lower side-walls extending essentially perpendicularly from the bottom, a circumferential supporting step extending horizontally from the upstanding lower side-walls, upper side-walls extending upward from said circumferential supporting step, and a circumferential flange formed at upper ends of the upper side-walls; and the plurality of supporting structures for closures is accommodated inside the transport or packaging container.

A transport or packaging container accommodating a plurality of supporting structures for closures, for transporting or packaging closures for closing cartridges for use in pharmaceutical, medical or cosmetic applications, in which the transport or packaging container is box-shaped and includes a bottom, which is closed or sealed by a seal, upstanding lower side-walls extending essentially perpendicularly from the bottom, a circumferential supporting step extending horizontally from the upstanding lower side-walls, upper side-walls extending upward from said circumferential supporting step, and a circumferential flange formed at upper ends of the upper side-walls; and the plurality of supporting structures for closures is accommodated inside the transport or packaging container.

The invention describes a filling device with a discharge container for filling upwardly open packaging containers with at least one opening flap for opening and closing a discharge opening for the product, the opening flap being moveable along a path between a closed position and an open position by means of a driving element. At least one delay device is provided by means of which the movement of the opening flap may be delayed on a section of the path.

An emptying device for completely emptying at least one silo of at least one rotary packaging system, and rotary packaging system, including at least one silo, at least two filling stations with at least one filling spout each in connection with the silo, and such an emptying device, including a discharge pipe with a take-up opening. The longitudinal extension of the take-up opening is larger than its transverse extension. In the method for completely emptying a silo of a rotary packaging system with two filling stations with one filling spout each and such an emptying device, the packaging system is provided for rotating continuously during emptying.