A packaging machine includes a first supplying unit, a second supplying unit, a placing mechanism, a moving mechanism, a guide member, and a joining mechanism. The first supplying unit supplies a first packaging material. The second supplying unit supplies a second packaging material. The placing mechanism places an object to be packaged on the first packaging material supplied by the first supplying unit. The moving mechanism moves the first packaging material, with the object to be packaged placed on the first packaging material, in a direction along a first axis. The guide member guides the second packaging material onto the object to be packaged. The joining mechanism joins the first packaging material and the second packaging material together. The object to be packaged is packaged using the first packaging material and the second packaging material.

A packaging machine includes a first supplying unit, a second supplying unit, a placing mechanism, a moving mechanism, a guide member, and a joining mechanism. The first supplying unit supplies a first packaging material. The second supplying unit supplies a second packaging material. The placing mechanism places an object to be packaged on the first packaging material supplied by the first supplying unit. The moving mechanism moves the first packaging material, with the object to be packaged placed on the first packaging material, in a direction along a first axis. The guide member guides the second packaging material onto the object to be packaged. The joining mechanism joins the first packaging material and the second packaging material together. The object to be packaged is packaged using the first packaging material and the second packaging material.

A heating unit for heating a continuous web, includes a heating roller rotating about an axis of rotation and having an outer surface comprising a pattern of thermally conductive areas and thermally insulating areas, and at least one induction heater electromagnetically coupled to the thermally conductive areas of the outer surface of the heating roller.

A non-destructive, non-invasive method for inspection of bonding patterns of packages for products, such as patches or medicated patches, involves thermally probing the packages and the bonding patterns and retrieving a thermal response thereof. The inspection is based in the analysis of the thermal response.

An apparatus for heat shrinking packages includes a mover having an active surface configured for receiving one or more packages and for displacing the one or more packages along a predetermined operating path, a heating fluid circuit configured to circulate a heating fluid, a control unit operative on the heating fluid circuit, the control unit being configured to control circulation of the heating fluid in the heating fluid circuit, a chamber having an opening and being configured for receiving the one or more packages positioned on the active surface and for heat shrinking the one or more packages based on circulation of the heating fluid in the heating fluid circuit, and means for forming a liquid curtain arranged at the opening and configured to define a liquid curtain along the opening, the liquid curtain separating an inner volume of the chamber from an ambient atmosphere external to the chamber.

An apparatus for heat shrinking packages includes a mover having an active surface configured for receiving one or more packages and for displacing the one or more packages along a predetermined operating path, a heating fluid circuit configured to circulate a heating fluid, a control unit operative on the heating fluid circuit, the control unit being configured to control circulation of the heating fluid in the heating fluid circuit, a chamber having an opening and being configured for receiving the one or more packages positioned on the active surface and for heat shrinking the one or more packages based on circulation of the heating fluid in the heating fluid circuit, and means for forming a liquid curtain arranged at the opening and configured to define a liquid curtain along the opening, the liquid curtain separating an inner volume of the chamber from an ambient atmosphere external to the chamber.

The method includes providing a body with an upper mounting surface and a lower end, an interior surface of the body defining a cavity, the cavity including a first inlet and a first outlet in the upper mounting surface and the lower end, respectively, the interior surface including a frustoconical inner surface with a first tapered end that is connected to the first outlet. The method further includes first inserting an adjustable member within the cavity, the adjustable member defining a bore with a second inlet and a second outlet, the adjustable member including a frustoconical external surface with a second tapered end that coaxially aligns with the first tapered end, and first connecting a funnel with a projecting land to the body.

The method includes providing a body with an upper mounting surface and a lower end, an interior surface of the body defining a cavity, the cavity including a first inlet and a first outlet in the upper mounting surface and the lower end, respectively, the interior surface including a frustoconical inner surface with a first tapered end that is connected to the first outlet. The method further includes first inserting an adjustable member within the cavity, the adjustable member defining a bore with a second inlet and a second outlet, the adjustable member including a frustoconical external surface with a second tapered end that coaxially aligns with the first tapered end, and first connecting a funnel with a projecting land to the body.

Embodiments include a package for containing and dispensing a product. The package includes first and second layers; a product seal zone where the first layer is joined to the second layer, the product seal zone having an inner perimeter that defines an unsealed pouch area for containing the product and an outer perimeter; and a header zone adjacent to the outer perimeter of the product seal zone. The header zone includes a first tab; a second tab; a first tab-cut in the first layer within an unsealed portion of the header zone; and a second tab-cut in the second layer within the unsealed portion of the header zone. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Embodiments include a package for containing and dispensing a product. The package includes first and second layers; a product seal zone where the first layer is joined to the second layer, the product seal zone having an inner perimeter that defines an unsealed pouch area for containing the product and an outer perimeter; and a header zone adjacent to the outer perimeter of the product seal zone. The header zone includes a first tab; a second tab; a first tab-cut in the first layer within an unsealed portion of the header zone; and a second tab-cut in the second layer within the unsealed portion of the header zone. Other embodiments are also included herein.