A high-speed automated separation apparatus includes a pair of flexible discs, a driver to rotate the flexible discs, a feeder to position a rigid body at a first location between the flexible discs, a spreader and a converger operable upon the flexible discs such that opposing portions of the flexible disc converge upon the positioned rigid body. The rotating flexible discs rotate the rigid body beyond the first location, and content from the rigid body is expelled. The rigid body and the expelled content are then available for reuse.

A displacement device for a handling device, having an articulation mechanism on which the handling device is accommodated, wherein the handling device is displaceable by the articulation mechanism between a first position and a second position. A pre-loading device is in operative connection with the articulation mechanism and/or the handling device to intercept the weight of the articulation mechanism and/or the handling device during displacement of the handling device between the first position and the second position. In a method for displacement of a handling device by such a displacement device, the pre-loading device unloads the weight of the handling device during displacement between the first position and the second position so that a continuous and reduced application of force moves the handling device. A packing machine for filling product like bulk materials into bags includes a filling module with a filling nozzle, a displacement device and a handling device.

A filling machine for filling open-mouth bags with bulk material wherein the open-mouth bag is at least temporarily received in a container with a cleaning apparatus, and a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a tubular inner wall of the container e.g. from particles of bulk material, the cleaning apparatus including a cleaning device that is movable in the container in a longitudinal direction. The cleaning device has a laminate of a multitude of layers. The layers extend transverse to the longitudinal direction and the laminate includes two end layers having one end face each. One end layer is configured as a top layer with a top surface and one end layer, as a bottom layer with a bottom surface. The laminate is configured with a plurality of outwardly oriented fluid outlet ports for directing a fluid flow toward the tubular inner wall of the container.

A filling machine for filling open-mouth bags with bulk material wherein the open-mouth bag is at least temporarily received in a container with a cleaning apparatus, and a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a tubular inner wall of the container e.g. from particles of bulk material, the cleaning apparatus including a cleaning device that is movable in the container in a longitudinal direction. The cleaning device has a laminate of a multitude of layers. The layers extend transverse to the longitudinal direction and the laminate includes two end layers having one end face each. One end layer is configured as a top layer with a top surface and one end layer, as a bottom layer with a bottom surface. The laminate is configured with a plurality of outwardly oriented fluid outlet ports for directing a fluid flow toward the tubular inner wall of the container.

A capsule or container is provided having optimized recycling attributes. The capsule is provided for use in a machine for preparing a consumable product from capsules. The capsule includes a body that defines an interior space with an opening. A cover is disposed over the opening. A filter is disposed in the interior space to define a chamber between the filter and the cover. The body, filter and cover are preferably formed of the same substantially pure polymer material. Ingredients are disposed in the interior space for preparing a desired product. A hinge is provided to tether the cover to the body. The cover is attached with a peelable seal to the body so that cover may be peeled away from the body while remaining tethered at the hinge.

A capsule or container is provided having optimized recycling attributes. The capsule is provided for use in a machine for preparing a consumable product from capsules. The capsule includes a body that defines an interior space with an opening. A cover is disposed over the opening. A filter is disposed in the interior space to define a chamber between the filter and the cover. The body, filter and cover are preferably formed of the same substantially pure polymer material. Ingredients are disposed in the interior space for preparing a desired product. A hinge is provided to tether the cover to the body. The cover is attached with a peelable seal to the body so that cover may be peeled away from the body while remaining tethered at the hinge.

A fluid distribution system includes single use distributor manifolds each having a distributor manifold inlet and a plurality of distributor manifold outlets in fluid communication with the distributor manifold inlet. A set of single use filler manifolds can be sequentially connected to a respective one of the outlets of a single use distributor manifold immediately upstream of the connection point of the set of single use filler manifolds. In embodiments, an upstream distributor manifold can be used to feed fluid to a set of intermediary distributor manifolds where the set of intermediary distributor manifolds corresponds to the number of outlets of the upstream distributor manifold.

A fluid distribution system includes single use distributor manifolds each having a distributor manifold inlet and a plurality of distributor manifold outlets in fluid communication with the distributor manifold inlet. A set of single use filler manifolds can be sequentially connected to a respective one of the outlets of a single use distributor manifold immediately upstream of the connection point of the set of single use filler manifolds. In embodiments, an upstream distributor manifold can be used to feed fluid to a set of intermediary distributor manifolds where the set of intermediary distributor manifolds corresponds to the number of outlets of the upstream distributor manifold.

A valve for providing pulses of aseptic air to a web of packaging material is provided. The valve comprises a rotatable valve shaft having an inlet portion with a circular cross-section, wherein the inlet portion is provided with a radial slot being connected to an axial cavity of the valve shaft. The valve further comprises a valve member comprising a curved end being adapted to fit with an exterior surface of the inlet portion of the valve shaft during rotation of the valve shaft, and a fluid channel extending through the valve member such that when the valve shaft is rotated to a position where the radial slot of the inlet portion is aligned with the fluid channel of the valve member, air can flow through the valve via the valve member and the valve shaft.

A valve for providing pulses of aseptic air to a web of packaging material is provided. The valve comprises a rotatable valve shaft having an inlet portion with a circular cross-section, wherein the inlet portion is provided with a radial slot being connected to an axial cavity of the valve shaft. The valve further comprises a valve member comprising a curved end being adapted to fit with an exterior surface of the inlet portion of the valve shaft during rotation of the valve shaft, and a fluid channel extending through the valve member such that when the valve shaft is rotated to a position where the radial slot of the inlet portion is aligned with the fluid channel of the valve member, air can flow through the valve via the valve member and the valve shaft.