An apparatus and method for compacting bulk material in an open container having a compacting device including a poker compactor, the poker compactor having an outer wall and being suitable to be inserted into an open container to cause the outer wall of the poker compactor to contact the bulk material and to degas and compact the bulk material in the open container. The outer wall of the poker compactor is at least partially formed by a gas-permeable, outer suction wall of a suction device and the poker compactor includes a vibration exciter to support degassing the bulk material by way of vibrating motion of the poker compactor generated by the vibration exciter. The vibration exciter is radially surrounded by a tube device and the suction wall surrounds the tube device.

The invention relates to an assembly for storing a plurality of flexible containers (1) with dispensing spouts, the assembly comprising one or more elongated guiding elements (15) configured to carry rows of dispensing spouts, wherein the guiding elements (15) are configured to be maintained in a substantially tubular arrangement while storing the containers in the interior formed by the tubular arrangement. The guiding elements (15) may be straight elements arranged in a parallel manner to form a tube-like arrangement. The guiding elements are also arranged to allow the containers to be attached in such a manner that they are positioned along a generally helical trajectory in the interior of the tubular arrangement.

The invention relates to an assembly for storing a plurality of flexible containers (1) with dispensing spouts, the assembly comprising one or more elongated guiding elements (15) configured to carry rows of dispensing spouts, wherein the guiding elements (15) are configured to be maintained in a substantially tubular arrangement while storing the containers in the interior formed by the tubular arrangement. The guiding elements (15) may be straight elements arranged in a parallel manner to form a tube-like arrangement. The guiding elements are also arranged to allow the containers to be attached in such a manner that they are positioned along a generally helical trajectory in the interior of the tubular arrangement.

A device (10) for optically controlling a face (13) of a blank (12) has a vacuum conveyor (20) capable of transporting the blank (12) along a path of travel (15) and which includes a conveyor belt (22) having an apertured structure of which the conveying path follows the path of travel (15) of the blank (12). A suction device (40) is suitable for pressing the blank (12) against the conveyor belt (14). An inspection device (30) inspects the face (13) of the blank (12) during its conveyance by the vacuum conveyor (20). The inspection device is located on the side opposite the vacuum conveyor (20). The suction device (40) delimits three separate successive suction sections (41, 42, 43) along the path of travel (15), including a central suction section (42) that extends opposite the inspection device (30), an upstream suction section (41) and a downstream suction section (43).

An exemplary web of preformed bags includes first and second layers, first and second side, first and second side seals proximate the first and second edges, a plurality of transverse seals extending between the first and second side edges, an opening in the first layer, and a line of separation in the second layer, and first and second cuts in the first and second side seals. The first and second cuts are configured to reduce or eliminate a breaking force necessary to break the first and second side seals when the web is torn along the line of separation.

A bagging machine may include a supply handling assembly, a bag loading assembly and a controlled, which may control certain operations of the bagging machine. The bag loading assembly may include a bag opening assembly that reciprocates back and forth and which supports movable film grippers. The bagging machine may be provided with one or more sensors operatively positioned to detect whether a film is present between the grippers, such as during an opening sequence, and the controller may be configured to modify the operation (e.g., interrupt or re-start an opening sequence, generate an alert signal, etc.) of the bagging machine based on the data received from the sensor.

An adjustable table assembly for use in a filler assembly includes a table having a top surface configured to receive a flexible container thereon and a clamp disposed on the table and configured to releasably secure the flexible container to the table. The table has an infeed end and an outfeed end opposite the infeed end. The table is movable along a plurality of rails affixed to the filler assembly. The table is movable between a loading position, in which the table is configured to receive the flexible container, and an operating position, in which the table is inside the filler assembly. The movement of the table along the plurality of rails is along a first axis. Filler assemblies and methods of using adjustable table assemblies are also disclosed.

An adjustable table assembly for use in a filler assembly includes a table having a top surface configured to receive a flexible container thereon and a clamp disposed on the table and configured to releasably secure the flexible container to the table. The table has an infeed end and an outfeed end opposite the infeed end. The table is movable along a plurality of rails affixed to the filler assembly. The table is movable between a loading position, in which the table is configured to receive the flexible container, and an operating position, in which the table is inside the filler assembly. The movement of the table along the plurality of rails is along a first axis. Filler assemblies and methods of using adjustable table assemblies are also disclosed.

A system handles the sterilization of thin-body, pouch-type, flexible containers (1) and provides for applying sacrificial closures (200) to the pouches. The system loads the provisional closed pouches to be sterilized on a transport device (300) for collective transport, to perform the sterilization of the transport device (300) carrying the provisional closed pouches. The system separates in a sterile chamber, the sacrificial closures (200) from the pouches, performing filling and applying an inviolable cap (100).

A system for packaging mass-customized items includes a computer system including a database containing item identification information unique to each item; (2) outer container identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each outer container in a plurality of outer containers; (3) inner pack identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each inner pack in a plurality of inner packs; and (4) inner pack filling apparatus that fills each inner pack with a specific item matched to that inner pack by the item identification information received from the database. Each item is associated with its unique item identification information and is inserted into an inner pack with matching item identification information, and each outer container is presented for loading with one or more inner packs matched to that outer container by the item identification information received from the database.