A plant for packaging capsules comprising a main frame (20) on which is positioned a system for moving capsules (30) to make one or more capsules (12) advance along a first predetermined axial direction (A-A) from an inlet (22) to an outlet (24). The plant comprises a plurality of operating stations (200, 201, 203) for packaging a substance into a plurality of capsules (12), wherein the system for moving capsules (30) comprises a movement device that comprises a pair of sliding profiles (36) that extend along said first predetermined axial direction (A-A) and are connected to the main frame (20), a first movable frame (87, 88, 89) movable in transverse direction with respect to the first predetermined axial direction (A-A), a driving member mounted slidable on an upper movable beam (88) of the first movable frame (87, 88, 89) along said predetermined axial direction (A-A) and positioned between the pair of sliding profiles (36). Said driving member comprises a plurality of drive pins (212) particularly suited to drive a capsule transport support (100) containing said one or more capsules (12).

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a packaging apparatus and method for packaging an article with a tubular film to be pulled over the article. The packaging apparatus has a machine frame on which a film supply apparatus and a film covering apparatus are mounted. The packaging apparatus includes a releasable drive coupling usable to operatively couple a drive with either the film covering apparatus or the film supply apparatus (or a subcomponent of the film supply apparatus). Once coupled, the drive can move the film covering apparatus or the film supply apparatus relative to the frame.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a packaging apparatus and method for packaging an article with a tubular film to be pulled over the article. The packaging apparatus has a machine frame on which a film supply apparatus and a film covering apparatus are mounted. The packaging apparatus includes a releasable drive coupling usable to operatively couple a drive with either the film covering apparatus or the film supply apparatus (or a subcomponent of the film supply apparatus). Once coupled, the drive can move the film covering apparatus or the film supply apparatus relative to the frame.

A twin-tube tubular bag machine having two longitudinal sealing elements for forming two parallel film tubes, two parallel transverse sealing jaws for forming sealed tubular bags, and two filling devices for filling the tubular bags. A dosing device is disposed upstream of each of the filling devices for dosing a prespecified filling quantity of the filling material to be filled into the tubular bags. A transfer element having several transfer containers is provided between the filling devices and the dosing device. The filling material is transferred from the dosing device to the transfer containers in an input station. The transfer containers are transported to a pairing of two dispensing stations along a transfer line, the filling material is transferred from the transport containers to the two filling devices, and the transfer containers are transported back to the input station along a return transfer line.

A twin-tube tubular bag machine having two longitudinal sealing elements for forming two parallel film tubes, two parallel transverse sealing jaws for forming sealed tubular bags, and two filling devices for filling the tubular bags. A dosing device is disposed upstream of each of the filling devices for dosing a prespecified filling quantity of the filling material to be filled into the tubular bags. A transfer element having several transfer containers is provided between the filling devices and the dosing device. The filling material is transferred from the dosing device to the transfer containers in an input station. The transfer containers are transported to a pairing of two dispensing stations along a transfer line, the filling material is transferred from the transport containers to the two filling devices, and the transfer containers are transported back to the input station along a return transfer line.

An apparatus for dispensing and packaging dosed quantities of solid drug portions is provided. The apparatus includes multiple dosing stations, each dosing station having an output opening for dispensing solid drug portions, a collector for collecting dosed quantities of solid drug portions dispensed by the dosing stations and forwarding the dosed quantities of solid drug portions to a packager, and multiple fall ducts configured to guide the solid drug portions from the output openings to the collector, each fall duct having an outlet and a number of inlet openings, the output openings of the dosing stations being aligned with the inlet openings of the fall ducts when a fall duct is positioned adjacent to a column of dosing stations. Each fall duct includes a first part and a second part detachably connected together.

An apparatus for dispensing and packaging dosed quantities of solid drug portions is provided. The apparatus includes multiple dosing stations, each dosing station having an output opening for dispensing solid drug portions, a collector for collecting dosed quantities of solid drug portions dispensed by the dosing stations and forwarding the dosed quantities of solid drug portions to a packager, and multiple fall ducts configured to guide the solid drug portions from the output openings to the collector, each fall duct having an outlet and a number of inlet openings, the output openings of the dosing stations being aligned with the inlet openings of the fall ducts when a fall duct is positioned adjacent to a column of dosing stations. Each fall duct includes a first part and a second part detachably connected together.

Modular apparatus for filling and closing articles, in particular containers, which are randomly fed and transported via a transport system. The apparatus including a filling station; a closing station for closing the filled articles; an extraction system for transporting the filled and closed articles; first pick and place devices for picking up and positioning the articles; second pick and place devices for picking up and positioning the closing elements; a detection system for detecting the position and/or the arrangement of the articles and closing elements; a processing and control unit; grippers configured to hold an article in the filling station, to displace a filled article from the filling station into the closing station, to hold the article in the closing position during application of a closing element, and to displace a filled and closed article from the closing station into a position and/or orientation for extraction on the extraction plane.

System for heat shrink sealing open-topped containers wherein the system includes a housing or enclosure wherein a majority of a bulk roll of film material is accessible when the cover is open. The system preferably includes two opposing rollers that are configured to engage the film and cause it to move to a dispensing position. In a preferred aspect, the system includes a movable sealing unit that accommodates use of the lidding system with open ended containers having various sizes and shapes. In a more preferred aspect, the system includes an indicia generating device operable to label sealed containers and a knife that generates a perforation in the film during sealing operations.

A modular production system including a plurality of production modules connected in a linear series to form a production tunnel, and collectively defining a production channel, and wherein at least one fluid inlet port defined along the production tunnel, said inlet port is in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source, whereby influx of fluid from said fluid source through said fluid inlet port acts to maintain the fluid pressure within the production channel at a higher pressure than the atmospheric pressure outside of the production tunnel; and wherein one of said production modules positioned between said proximal-most and distal-most production modules comprises a depyrogenator and/or sterilization module, comprising a transparent tubular body, and an irradiation source positioned external to said transparent tubular body, said irradiation source capable of heating the internal environment of the depyrogenation and/or sterilization module to a temperature sufficient to depyrogenate or sterilize articles passing therethrough.