A bag loading nozzle to confine a flow of material from upstream feed for downstream discharge into a bag having a spouted entrance. The nozzle comprising an interior wall presenting an inlet and an outlet, located intermediate of the inlet and outlet end and about the interior wall is a shape retaining tube and through which the material is to pass from the feed into the bag. At least one actuable fluid inflatable collar at least substantially about the shape retaining tube is provided such that when actuated to its inflated form(s) it will effect at least a substantial sealing with a fitted suitable bag from within its spouted entrance.

A bag loading nozzle to confine a flow of material from upstream feed for downstream discharge into a bag having a spouted entrance. The nozzle comprising an interior wall presenting an inlet and an outlet, located intermediate of the inlet and outlet end and about the interior wall is a shape retaining tube and through which the material is to pass from the feed into the bag. At least one actuable fluid inflatable collar at least substantially about the shape retaining tube is provided such that when actuated to its inflated form(s) it will effect at least a substantial sealing with a fitted suitable bag from within its spouted entrance.

A flexible funnel positioned at a filling station of a fill machine. The flexible funnel directs a product dispensed at the filling station of the filling machine into a pouch. The flexible funnel having a rigid upper portion and a plurality of fingers. The rigid upper portion includes an open top end and an open bottom end. Each of the plurality of elongated fingers hingedly connected to the upper portion. The rigid upper portion has a regular polygon shape having a plurality of sides, and each of the plurality of fingers is individually articulatable with respect to one of the plurality of sides of the upper rigid portion.

A flexible funnel positioned at a filling station of a fill machine. The flexible funnel directs a product dispensed at the filling station of the filling machine into a pouch. The flexible funnel having a rigid upper portion and a plurality of fingers. The rigid upper portion includes an open top end and an open bottom end. Each of the plurality of elongated fingers hingedly connected to the upper portion. The rigid upper portion has a regular polygon shape having a plurality of sides, and each of the plurality of fingers is individually articulatable with respect to one of the plurality of sides of the upper rigid portion.

A connection device for connecting an outlet opening of a downpipe to an upward-facing inlet opening of a container, comprising a body with a continuous opening from an upper side to an underside of the body, wherein the body is designed in such a way that it is suitable to before being connected by its upper side to the outlet opening of the downpipe via a flexible connection element, in particular via a compensator, in such a way that a connection is created between the outlet opening of the downpipe and the opening of the body. The connection device also comprises a coupling device which is attached to the underside of the body and which is suitable for creating a sealed connection between the opening of the body and the inlet opening of the container when the body rests on an upper side of the container.

A connection device for connecting an outlet opening of a downpipe to an upward-facing inlet opening of a container, comprising a body with a continuous opening from an upper side to an underside of the body, wherein the body is designed in such a way that it is suitable to before being connected by its upper side to the outlet opening of the downpipe via a flexible connection element, in particular via a compensator, in such a way that a connection is created between the outlet opening of the downpipe and the opening of the body. The connection device also comprises a coupling device which is attached to the underside of the body and which is suitable for creating a sealed connection between the opening of the body and the inlet opening of the container when the body rests on an upper side of the container.

A system for discharging product from a bag, the system including: a vibration unit arranged to support the bag and to vibrate so that the product exits an opening of the bag; a conduit having an inlet that is located below the vibration unit to receive the product; a downstream equipment connected to the conduit to receive the product from the conduit; wherein a protective cage is arranged around the inlet of the conduit, the protective cage having an open position to allow access to the inlet, and a closed position to restrict access to the inlet.

A system for discharging product from a bag, the system including: a vibration unit arranged to support the bag and to vibrate so that the product exits an opening of the bag; a conduit having an inlet that is located below the vibration unit to receive the product; a downstream equipment connected to the conduit to receive the product from the conduit; wherein a protective cage is arranged around the inlet of the conduit, the protective cage having an open position to allow access to the inlet, and a closed position to restrict access to the inlet.

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously queueing a plurality of folded household laundry articles in a packing queue are described. A packing system includes a rotating platform configured to rotate a folded laundry article for directional placement in the packing queue, at least one packing queue platform receiving the folded laundry article into a packing queue disposed thereon, and a double ended conveyor. The double ended conveyor includes a retrieving end and a depositing end. The conveyor is configured to be mounted to a gantry for traveling along the length of the queue platform and cantilevering the retrieving end over the rotating platform for retrieving the folded laundry article and the depositing end over the packing queue platform for depositing the folded laundry article onto either a surface of the packing queue platform or another folded laundry article of the plurality of household laundry articles.

Overvarnished aluminum cans which are not usable because of label graphic errors or other reasons are conditioned for reuse by first treating the existing overvarnish to accept an opaque new layer of overvarnish. The opening of the can is engaged with a plug having a pin communicating with a pressurized gas supporting the can on a wheel to supply gas pressure according to the rotational position of the pin. The overvarnished can is pressurized to allow printing an opaque new layer of overvarnish on to the can over the existing overvarnish. The treated can is visually inspected and the internal coating resprayed, and the opaque overvarnish and the internal coating are cured in a final curing oven, the can being then ready for printing of new graphics or sold as a brite, silver or blank can where other graphics can be applied.