A method for increasing the dielectric withstand strength in the enclosure E of an electrical apparatus, this method consisting in placing in the enclosure a dielectric material in liquid or solid form, then in bringing this material to a temperature and/or a pressure allowing for its total or partial evaporation in the enclosure. This method includes a device for retaining the abovementioned material in its container during the handling allowing the placement of the container in the enclosure E, and a device for inducing the evaporation of this material at a certain moment after this placement in the enclosure E and for allowing the dispersion of the gases resulting from this evaporation in the enclosure E.

The present invention relates to a packaging machine (1), which unrolls a lower film web (8) from a supply roller (52) and transports it intermittently or continuously along the packaging machine and thereby forms packaging recesses (6) in the lower film web (8) in a forming station (2), after which the packaging recesses are filled with a product (16) to be packaged, wherein an upper film web (14) is subsequently sealed onto the lower film web (8) in a sealing station (15), wherein the upper film web (14) is unrolled from a supply roller (22). Provided downstream of the supply roller is a dancer (20), which has at least one, preferably two rollers (23.1, 23.2), which are provided on a linkage (23.4), which, driven by a rotary drive, rotates about an axis of rotation (23.3) and thereby stores a certain length of film web (8, 14) and/or produces a certain tension in the film web (8, 14).

There is described a packaging apparatus (1) for forming a plurality of sealed packages (2) from a tube (3) of a web of packaging material (4) which is continuously filled with a pourable product. The packaging apparatus comprises an isolation chamber (10) separating an inner environment (11) containing a sterile gas from an outer environment (12). The packaging apparatus further comprises a delimiting element (48) arranged, in use, within the tube (3) and being designed to divide the tube (3), in use, into a first space (49) and a second space (50). The packaging apparatus (1) also comprises a pressurizing device (47) for pressurizing the second space (50) by means of a pressurized sterile gas. The delimiting element (48) is arranged within the isolation chamber (10).

A system and method for reducing the oxygen content in a storage/transportation device. The system includes a flexible bag type enclosure, a source if inert gas, and a source of vacuum. The enclosure has sealable input and output ports. The system has a vent to the atmosphere. In use, the interior enclosure environment is suctioned down, and re-pressurized with an inert gas. Sever suction/infusion cycles may be necessary, with possible recirculation taking place between or during cycles.

A system and method for reducing the oxygen content in a storage/transportation device. The system includes a flexible bag type enclosure, a source if inert gas, and a source of vacuum. The enclosure has sealable input and output ports. The system has a vent to the atmosphere. In use, the interior enclosure environment is suctioned down, and re-pressurized with an inert gas. Sever suction/infusion cycles may be necessary, with possible recirculation taking place between or during cycles.

A system for manufacturing a filled plastic container includes an actuator, a base unit including a heating surface, and a dispensing device or nozzle. The actuator includes a body portion and a holding/securing member configured to hold or secure a portion of the container. In embodiments, the actuator is configured to apply a force or pressure on the container to contact the base unit, the base unit is configured to receive a base portion of the container, the heating surface is configured to convey energy or heat to a portion of the base portion of the container, and the dispensing device or nozzle is configured to introduce an inert gas into the container. Methods for providing a filled plastic container and providing a thin-walled plastic container are also disclosed.

A cooking apparatus includes a dual-chamber container with an inner container for holding a food item to be cooked and an outer container for maintaining contact between a temperature-controlled heat transfer liquid and the inner container while the food is being cooked. The dual-chamber container includes an inlet fluid port and outflow fluid port which may be coupled directly to corresponding fluid port connectors on a temperature control unit, or an intervening fluid coupling assembly may convey heat transfer liquid between the control unit and the dual-chamber container. Some control units are adapted to simultaneously control cooking temperature for more than one dual-chamber container. Some dual-chamber containers have a flexible inner container that is separable from an outer container which may be a rigid container or a flexible container.

A method for the filling of containers with autologous fresh blood components, comprising the following phases of: a) providing an equipment (1) defining a transit channel (3) having at least a first gap (3a) associated with an empty syringe (4) or the like, at least a second gap (3b) associated with a bag (5) or the like containing an autologous fresh blood component and at least a third gap (3c) connected to a plurality of containers (6) to be filled; b) insulating the second gap (3b) from the third gap (3c) and placing in communication the first gap (3a) with the third gap (3c); c) suctioning the air contained in the containers (6) to be filled by means of said syringe (4) so as to define a vacuum inside them; d) insulating the first gap (3a) from the third gap (3c) and placing in communication the latter with the second gap (3b), the containers suctioning the contents of the bag (5) due to the effect of the vacuum defined inside them.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing plastic containers within an open aseptic converter chamber comprising a sanitized environment, a supply line, a sanitizer device, a perforator device, a sealing device, and a conveyer. During operation, the method includes: providing and filling a container with heated or heatable liquid including water; sealing the container with a seal or cap; cooling the container to create a first headspace pressure; enclosing the container within the chamber; creating an opening in the seal or cap within a sanitized environment of the perforator device; increasing the first headspace pressure to a second headspace pressure by introduction of a sanitized fluid; resealing the container within a sanitized environment of the sealing device; and, transporting or conveying the sealed container away from the chamber.

A system for enabling the efficient evacuation of air within a food container. A bellows-enabled lid fits into a respective container in an air-tight relationship. A bellows mechanism having plural resilient members and dual one-way valves provides efficient manual operation and resulting air evacuation from the container interior. A lid-mounted release valve with associated resilient member enables efficient release of vacuum conditions within the container. Plural ornamental configurations of the container with associated bellows-enabled lid are illustrated.