The invention provides a method of manufacturing packaging comprising the steps of: a) providing a packaging material (2) comprising cartonboard, semi-rigid plastics or other semi-rigid packaging material; b) forming fold lines (8) and/or cuts within the packaging material (2) by subjecting the packaging material (2) to laser (12) or mechanical scoring; c) folding the packaging material (2) along the fold lines (8) and/or cuts and securing in position to form a substantially tubular container (200); and d) forming at least one seal (302, 304) by sealing together at least two opposing regions (122, 124, 126, 128) of a blank (4) to form an at least partially sealed package (300); e) performing at least one of steps b), c) and d) on a horizontal or vertical fill, form and seal apparatus (400).

The invention provides a method of manufacturing packaging comprising the steps of: a) providing a packaging material (2) comprising cartonboard, semi-rigid plastics or other semi-rigid packaging material; b) forming fold lines (8) and/or cuts within the packaging material (2) by subjecting the packaging material (2) to laser (12) or mechanical scoring; c) folding the packaging material (2) along the fold lines (8) and/or cuts and securing in position to form a substantially tubular container (200); and d) forming at least one seal (302, 304) by sealing together at least two opposing regions (122, 124, 126, 128) of a blank (4) to form an at least partially sealed package (300); e) performing at least one of steps b), c) and d) on a horizontal or vertical fill, form and seal apparatus (400).

A modified atmosphere flow-wrap system and method and components thereof are provided for packaging a food product in a reduced oxygen atmosphere in a continuous or partially-continuous process. In one aspect, the flow-wrap system includes a saturation tunnel for saturating the food products with modified gas to reduce an amount of residual oxygen therein. In another aspect, the flow-wrap system includes a flow-wrapping station with a modified gas lance that extends into film webbing used to form the food product packages to insert modified gas into the film webbing and restrict oxygen from entering the food packages.

A modified atmosphere flow-wrap system and method and components thereof are provided for packaging a food product in a reduced oxygen atmosphere in a continuous or partially-continuous process. In one aspect, the flow-wrap system includes a saturation tunnel for saturating the food products with modified gas to reduce an amount of residual oxygen therein. In another aspect, the flow-wrap system includes a flow-wrapping station with a modified gas lance that extends into film webbing used to form the food product packages to insert modified gas into the film webbing and restrict oxygen from entering the food packages.

An aseptic packaging machine includes a web-shaped packaging material feed, a sterilizer-filler nozzle assembly with a form section 40, a product supply duct, a sterilization medium supply duct, and an exhaust duct. One or more pre-sterilization medium supply feeds are connectable to a product inlet connector and a sterilization medium inlet connector. A collector cup 70 is movable relative to the nozzle assembly between an inactive and a docking position. The collector cup delimits one or more interior spaces 71a, 72a designed to, in the docking position, enclose a product outlet portion 4 to collect and/or drain away pre-sterilization media during a pre-sterilization of the nozzle assembly get to flow through and along it, and to also enclose the sterilization medium outlet portion 16 and/or exhaust inlet portion 22 in the docking position inside its one or more interior spaces.

An aseptic packaging machine includes a web-shaped packaging material feed, a sterilizer-filler nozzle assembly with a form section 40, a product supply duct, a sterilization medium supply duct, and an exhaust duct. One or more pre-sterilization medium supply feeds are connectable to a product inlet connector and a sterilization medium inlet connector. A collector cup 70 is movable relative to the nozzle assembly between an inactive and a docking position. The collector cup delimits one or more interior spaces 71a, 72a designed to, in the docking position, enclose a product outlet portion 4 to collect and/or drain away pre-sterilization media during a pre-sterilization of the nozzle assembly get to flow through and along it, and to also enclose the sterilization medium outlet portion 16 and/or exhaust inlet portion 22 in the docking position inside its one or more interior spaces.

A method of manufacturing a modified atmosphere package is provided which comprises the steps of: providing a portion of packaging material; providing a portion of produce; forming, from the portion of packaging material and the portion of produce, a closed package defining a package volume and containing in the package volume the portion of produce and a modified atmosphere. The modified atmosphere is modified with respect to the ambient atmosphere. The method comprises providing the modified atmosphere in the package volume by providing a gas mixture of at least one atmosphere modification gas and pressurised air in the package volume. An associated apparatus is also provided.

Apparatus (10) for producing tubular packages includes a packaging material dispenser (12) and a forming section (20). The forming section (20) comprises a series of package formers (22a-22e) aligned in the machine direction, each defining a packaging material folding channel (24) through which the packaging material passes. The channels (24) of the package formers in the series vary in shape such that as the packaging material passes through the forming section it is gradually folded about a longitudinal axis from a planar configuration into a tubular structure. A series of items (44) to be packaged is conveyed in the machine direction and may be sequentially introduced proximal to the packaging material (14) at a location such that the packaging material is subsequently folded about each item in turn as it continues through the forming section. The apparatus may be a horizontal or vertical form, fill seal type apparatus. The packaging material (14) may be a semi-rigid packaging material such as paperboard, cartonboard, or semi-rigid plastics.

A drug packaging device includes a dispensing portion and a packaging portion. The dispensing portion includes a first dispensing portion including a plurality of drug cassettes and a second dispensing portion configured to receive drugs, which are prepared separately from the drugs stored in the first dispensing portion, and to dispense the drugs. The second dispensing portion includes a first receiving/dispensing portion and a second receiving/dispensing portion. The second receiving/dispensing portion is configured to dispense drugs by the amount required for packaging among a plurality of drugs having been collectively distributed. The first receiving/dispensing portion and the second receiving/dispensing portion are vertically arranged.

Herein described is a system and method for packaging packages (C), comprising the steps of: forming a row of packages (C) advancing, one following the other, along a pre-set advancement direction (A), picking up at least two first packages (C) from the row, superimposing each of said first packages (C) on a respective second package (C) of the row, releasing each of the first packages (C) resting on the respective second package (C), obtaining at least two stacks of packages, each of which comprises at least two mutually superimposed packages (C) and stabilising the stacks of packages (C).