Methods of opening and adding expansion materials to containers made from flexible materials. The methods involve forming a partially completed container blank that may have four layers of flexible materials. The partially completed container blank may be opened by separating a portion of the first layer from a portion of the second layer by bending portions of the second, third, and fourth layers toward a first direction; and dosing the partially completed container blank, by adding an expansion material out of a dispenser and into a space disposed between a portion of the first layer and a portion of the second layer.

In methods of making disposable, flexible containers for fluent products, methods of sealing the flexible containers when such containers include expansion materials, are disclosed. The methods include forming a partially completed container blank that has layers of flexible materials. The layered structure includes a first space for a fluent product, and a second space for an expansion material. The methods of sealing the flexible containers include adding an expansion material into the second space and pressing parts of at least some of the layers together to close off the second space.

In a method of making disposable, flexible containers for fluent products, methods of opening the flexible containers are disclosed, including methods of opening multi-layer structures to enable filling of fluent product(s). The methods may include opening a partially complete container blank made of three or more layers by separating a portion of one layer from a portion of another layer by bending portions of all of the layers outward toward a first direction; and then bending portions of at some of the layers outward toward a second direction that is within 20 degrees of opposite to the first direction.

A food product gathering and dispensing system is disclosed. The food product is generally a flat disc shaped article dispensed onto a consumable strip of food product conveyer material. The food product is fed to single, or series related, spools that wind up the consumable conveyer material and food product into a removable roll. The roll is placed into a dispenser pack, optionally subject to further environmental treatment, and refrigeration. The pack is then installed within a refrigerated dispenser system where the food product and consumable material are collectively unwound and separated, as the food product is fed into a processing system, i.e., a cooking device. The consumable conveyer material is collected and separately discarded.

A method for realising a cardboard blank for boxing articles comprising: arranging a first support having first and second scoring tools; a second support having third and fourth scoring tools; detecting and memorising the dimensions of articles; adjusting the distance between the first and the second scoring tool so the first and score lines are parallel to the advancement direction (D); moving the first support (5) so that third and fourth score lines are oblique to the advancement direction (D); moving the first and second scoring tools so they realise a fifth score line (18) which is transversal to the advancement direction (D); moving the second support so that sixth and seventh score lines are oblique to the advancement direction (D); moving the third and the fourth scoring tool so they realise an eighth score line which is transversal to the advancement direction (D).

Described herein is a package (10) for a foodstuff product, in particular a confectionery product, comprising a wrapping sheet (2) wrapped around said product (P) so as to enclose it within a cavity (C) delimited by said sheet and so as to remain adherent to the outer surface of said product (P). The package is characterized in that it envisages a sealing portion (4), which is folded adherent to the portion of the sheet that defines the inner cavity (C) and which is provided with a point (6) of facilitated opening.

A food package and related methods of food package formation with a form-fill-seal machine utilizing both a non-forming shrinkable lidding film and a thermoforming film. The thermoforming film, in either rigid or semi-rigid forms, can be formed into a base having a pocket or cavity for storing food items. The non-forming shrinkable lidding film can be attached to a perimeter and/or flange of the base for sealing and enclosing the food items. The food package provides an economical packaging solution that avoids compromising appearance and/or packaging performance.

An apparatus that includes a support for one or more products. The one or more products have a wrapping thereabout, and a cutter is coupled to the support and moveable relative to the support for forming a window in the wrapping to allow access for placing one or more labels on the one or more products.

A process of packaging a product (P) comprising driving at least the precursor body in a machine direction along the operating path, forming into it one or more longitudinal rows of adjacent tray-shaped elements (8), loading one or more of said products (P) into a respective cavity of said tray-shaped elements; forming a through opening at the corner regions of the tray-elements; tightly fixing a plastic film (11) to close the top opening of said tray-shaped elements (8); transversely separating the closed tray-shaped elements forming closed trays. An apparatus (1) for performing the above process is also disclosed.

A cutting tool is provided. The cutting tool includes a first member and a second member that are configured to be disposed on opposite sides of the free end of the cable tie. At least one of the first and second members is articulable toward the other. The first member includes a curved blade that is curved along at least a portion of the curved blade along a transverse direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by the free end of the cable tie. The second member has an opposed surface. Urging the curved blade toward and into contact with the opposed surface removes an end portion of the free end of the cable tie, with a remaining portion of the free end of the cable tie curved along at least a portion of the remaining portion of the free end along the transverse direction.