By swinging a collating chute supplied with items, the items are held in a plurality of holding cells formed in a holding array. After all of the holding cells are filled with the items, a diving funnel array is moved downward to a position so as to contact the upper surface of a container. Then, discharge gates of the holding array are opened to discharge the items from the holding cells into a plurality of pockets formed in the container.

A beverage packaging apparatus comprises a Refrigeration Assembly that keeps the beverage cold all the way to the fill head. The Refrigeration Assembly also allows manufacturers to fill off smaller beverage containers like kegs or larger storage tanks. The apparatus includes an integrated Container Loading Chute, and a Container Depalletizer having a scoop to depalletize containers. The Container Depalletizer integrates with the Container Loading Chute to provide for seamless flow for the Fill Head Assemblies and Seaming Assembly. The apparatus includes a unique integrated UV-C Sanitizing Station. The apparatus includes a conveyor with three fill head assemblies automated by smooth pneumatic actuation. Each fill head assembly has an integrated flow meter to provide precise fluid control. The apparatus includes a single pneumatic, rotary rack and pinion actuation that provides highly repeatable sealing of the container in a very small footprint without requiring sophisticated software to control the seaming operation. Finally, the apparatus includes rinse and dry assembly for the container and an innovative, integrated Accumulation Assembly to hold the completed beverage containers or packages.

A beverage packaging apparatus comprises a Refrigeration Assembly that keeps the beverage cold all the way to the fill head. The Refrigeration Assembly also allows manufacturers to fill off smaller beverage containers like kegs or larger storage tanks. The apparatus includes an integrated Container Loading Chute, and a Container Depalletizer having a scoop to depalletize containers. The Container Depalletizer integrates with the Container Loading Chute to provide for seamless flow for the Fill Head Assemblies and Seaming Assembly. The apparatus includes a unique integrated UV-C Sanitizing Station. The apparatus includes a conveyor with three fill head assemblies automated by smooth pneumatic actuation. Each fill head assembly has an integrated flow meter to provide precise fluid control. The apparatus includes a single pneumatic, rotary rack and pinion actuation that provides highly repeatable sealing of the container in a very small footprint without requiring sophisticated software to control the seaming operation. Finally, the apparatus includes rinse and dry assembly for the container and an innovative, integrated Accumulation Assembly to hold the completed beverage containers or packages.

A packaging unit and method for packaging pharmaceuticals into pouches. The packaging unit includes a dispensing area to receive cassettes that contain pharmaceuticals and packaging equipment in communication with the dispensing area. The packaging unit also includes a control system coupled to the packaging equipment to control operation of the packaging equipment and a chute connecting the dispensing area to the packaging equipment. The chute includes a plurality of tracks, each track corresponding to one of the cassettes supported on the dispensing area. The packaging unit includes a receptacle supported by the packaging equipment between the chute and a feed stock roll. The plurality of tracks converge to direct the pharmaceuticals that are dispensed from the cassettes into the receptacle and the receptacle directs the pharmaceuticals received from the plurality of tracks as a group into the pouches formed by the feed stock roll.

Provided are a method and an apparatus for extruding into a tube and filling the tube at a high speed and simultaneously sealing the tube. Specifically provided is a method for producing a polymer tube, containing a liquid therein and being sealed at constant intervals, the method including an extrusion step of continuously melt-extruding a polymer material through a die into at least one tube, while feeding a liquid into the tube to obtain at least one liquid-containing tube; and sealing step of discontinuously pressing the at least one liquid-containing tube between a pair of pressurizing members at constant intervals to cause pressure-bonding before the tube solidifies, while continuously taking up the extruded tube.

An outpouring assembly, comprising an outpouring plate, wherein the outpouring plate is provided with a liquid outlet through hole, a paste discharge pipe is disposed in the liquid outlet through hole, the paste discharge pipe moves up and down in the liquid outlet through hole, and when a lower end of the paste discharge pipe extends out of the liquid outlet through hole, the paste discharge pipe is in a liquid outpouring state. A beneficial effect of the present invention is as follows: Because a liquid such as the color paste or water has surface tension, the color paste adheres to a surface of an outlet, outpouring precision of the outpouring assembly is affected. A paste discharge pipe is disposed in the liquid outlet through hole, so that a quantity of color pastes adhered to a paste discharge outlet of the paste discharge pipe can be effectively reduced.

A blister assembly comprises at least one collapsible blister adapted, as it is collapsed, to eject a liquid contained therein. The blister assembly comprises a first layer (130) having at least one blister chamber (150) and a second layer (131) sealed to the first layer at least around a periphery of the at least one blister chamber such that a liquid is contained between the first layer and the second layer. The seal between the first and second layers comprises a first planar portion having a first peel strength and a second planar portion having a second peel strength, wherein the first peel strength is greater than the second peel strength, such that when pressure is applied to the blister, the second portion of the seal breaks to release the liquid contained within the chamber into the liquid inlet. The blister assembly further comprises at least one discontinuity (142) formed in the first and second layers in the region of the first portion of the seal, such that a shear force is required to delaminate the first and second layers in that region.

A vertical packaging machine that includes a forming tube having an inner passage section and retaining means associated with the forming tube. The retaining means includes a retaining device configured to be displaced between a blocking position (P1) in which it at least partially blocks the inner passage section of the forming tube, and a release position (P2) in which it does not block said inner passage section of the forming tube. While in the blocking position (P1), the retaining device is arranged at a fixed specific height and is configured to prevent a product from passing through the inner passage section of the forming tube. Upon transitioning to the release position (P2), the retaining device is withdrawn from the path to be followed by the product.

A flow control system (1) for filling a bag (100) with a granular product, comprising an acceleration conduit (2) with a metering side (4) where there is arranged a metering device (6) and a filling side (10) for the bag (100). A control device (14) with movable control blades (16) and a first sensor (S1) is provided at an intermediate point (22) of the conduit (2). A second sensor (S2) is provided on the filling side (10). The control device (14) and sensors (S1, S2) are functionally associated with one another such that the blades (16) of said control device (14) move among one position of said plurality of positions depending on if said first and second sensors (S1, S2) detect an accumulation of granular product on said filling side (10) which may delay the filling of said bag (100). The invention also relates to a machine and a filling method.

A recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container is entirely constructed from organic fiber materials in such a manner that the container is curbside recyclable without separation of component materials. The container includes a corrugated cardboard outer box having a bottom wall, a plurality of sidewalls and a top wall, a corrugated cardboard inner liner assembly comprising a corrugated cardboard inner box having a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls, and a corrugated cardboard lid assembly. The outer box, inner liner assembly and lid assembly cooperate to create a plurality of thermally insulated cavities which are filled and uniformly packed with predetermined volumes of loose-fill cellulose (organic fiber) insulation to create a predetermined insulating value. The container provides a fully insulated six-sided product cavity to receive a temperature-controlled product. A portion of the product cavity may be filled with a PCM or other thermal media to provide a consistent temperature profile.