A pierce and fill connector cap for a vial sealed by an elastomeric septum includes a vial collar and a needle holder. The vial collar body defines a collar aperture to be positioned in overlying registry with the septum of the vial, and the needle holder includes a needle holder body providing a means for holding an elongate needle in registry with the collar aperture. The needle holder body being moveable with respect to said vial collar between a first position spaced from the vial collar and a second position proximate the vial collar, such that a needle held by the needle holder will puncture through the vial septum.

A filling and sealing system is provided for efficiently filling a series of individual vials with therapeutic liquids. In particular embodiments, the system includes a filling zone or station, a sealing zone or station, an unloading zone or station, and electronic controls.

A filling and sealing system is provided for efficiently filling a series of individual vials with therapeutic liquids. In particular embodiments, the system includes a filling zone or station, a sealing zone or station, an unloading zone or station, and electronic controls.

Applicator apparatus can include a circumferential wall and a support arm movably mounted relative to the circumferential wall. The support arm can include a protrusion extending in an axial direction within an interior passage of the circumferential wall. Methods of assembling the apparatus are provided in further embodiments. Methods of introducing an additive are provided in further embodiments. In further embodiments, a mouth fill device can include a circumferential shroud. In some embodiments, a plurality of apertures can be disposed in a circumferential lip circumscribing an end of the circumferential shroud. In further embodiments, a protrusion can be mounted relative to the circumferential shroud. In further embodiments, a collapsible container or a collapsed container can include a first shell, a second shell, and a circumferential bladder that can have a higher axial collapsibility than both the first shell and the second shell.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for filling a container (2) which is open at the top with a pourable product, in particular with coffee powder or milk powder, using a filling head (3) which can be placed on the container (2) in a gas-tight manner and which has a filling channel (30) and a gas channel (32), wherein the container (3) is received in a gas-tight sleeve (6) which at least in a filling position adjoins the filling head (3) and/or the container (2) in a sealing manner in order to provide a gap (62) between the sleeve (6) and a container outer wall, which gap is closed in a gas-tight manner, wherein for a product discharge a reduced pressure up to a first pressure level is produced in the container (2) and in the gap (62), wherein, after the product discharge is finished, a gas supply to the container (2) and to the gap (62) is carried out, wherein, prior to the gas supply for a degassing of the container (2), a reduced pressure up to a second pressure level which is below the first pressure level is produced, and wherein during the gas supply an inert gas is supplied at least to the container (2).

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for filling a container (2) which is open at the top with a pourable product, in particular with coffee powder or milk powder, using a filling head (3) which can be placed on the container (2) in a gas-tight manner and which has a filling channel (30) and a gas channel (32), wherein the container (3) is received in a gas-tight sleeve (6) which at least in a filling position adjoins the filling head (3) and/or the container (2) in a sealing manner in order to provide a gap (62) between the sleeve (6) and a container outer wall, which gap is closed in a gas-tight manner, wherein for a product discharge a reduced pressure up to a first pressure level is produced in the container (2) and in the gap (62), wherein, after the product discharge is finished, a gas supply to the container (2) and to the gap (62) is carried out, wherein, prior to the gas supply for a degassing of the container (2), a reduced pressure up to a second pressure level which is below the first pressure level is produced, and wherein during the gas supply an inert gas is supplied at least to the container (2).

An apparatus for packaging of loose product includes a loading station, a box forming station and an uploading station. The loading station includes moveable chutes in spaced apart relation. Each chute has an open top, an open upstream end, and an open downstream end. The open top is configured to receive loose product while moving along a first feed path. The box forming station is operable to partially erect boxes in spaced apart relation with first and second open sides and align the first open side of each box with the downstream end of a corresponding chute while moving along a second feed path. The unloading station includes a stationary vacuum head in communication with the second open side of each box. The vacuum head provides a continuous vacuum source along the second feed path operable to move loose product from the chute into the boxes.

A packaging machine includes a rotatable apparatus and an ejection system. The rotatable apparatus rotates a plurality of funnels around a first central rotation axis at a first rate of rotation while a plurality of containers move continuously along an arcuate path while remaining axially aligned with separate, respective bottom openings of the plurality of funnels. The ejection system ejects separate pluralities of material articles from a fixed ejection position at a fixed time interval, and the rotatable apparatus receives the separate pluralities of material articles at a fixed material receiving position. The rotatable apparatus directs a same quantity of material articles into each continuously moving container based on rotating around the first central rotation axis such that each separate funnel moves continuously through the material receiving position concurrently with the rotatable apparatus receiving at least one plurality of material articles at the fixed material receiving position.

A packaging machine includes a rotatable apparatus and an ejection system. The rotatable apparatus rotates a plurality of funnels around a first central rotation axis at a first rate of rotation while a plurality of containers move continuously along an arcuate path while remaining axially aligned with separate, respective bottom openings of the plurality of funnels. The ejection system ejects separate pluralities of material articles from a fixed ejection position at a fixed time interval, and the rotatable apparatus receives the separate pluralities of material articles at a fixed material receiving position. The rotatable apparatus directs a same quantity of material articles into each continuously moving container based on rotating around the first central rotation axis such that each separate funnel moves continuously through the material receiving position concurrently with the rotatable apparatus receiving at least one plurality of material articles at the fixed material receiving position.

A cartridge handling machine for vape type cartridges is provided, which may comprise a filling module for filling of cartridge bodies with viscous consumable fluids, particularly oils extracted from hemp and cannabis and compositions thereof. The cartridge handling machine may also comprise a capping module to provide for synchronized filling of the filled cartridges and capping the cartridges with a cap, such as a mouthpiece or other cap device developed for such cartridges. The individual filling and capping modules can be operated independent of each other such that the cartridge handling machine preferably comprises both a filling module and capping module that preferably are integrated together for synchronized operation, although these modules may also be constructed and operated as separate machines for the respective filling and capping of these types of vape cartridges.