The invention relates to a seal assembly comprising: a seal for a bulk material container, having a ring-shaped connecting flange with a through opening and a first moving element; and a seal member for selectively sealing or opening the through opening. A container wall of the bulk material container can be attached to the connecting flange. The seal assembly also comprises a docking device having a housing, a second moving element, and a seal actuating device. In order to increase the tightness of the seal, one of the moving elements comprises a peripheral first stripping element, by means of which impurities are stripped from a surface of the connecting flange, in a closing process for sealing the though opening of the connecting flange.

A method for realizing a biodegradable packaging of a product for preparation of beverages, includes providing a first reel of a first film of biodegradable material utilisable for formation of a pod for containing a product for preparation of beverages. The method further includes providing a second reel of a second film of biodegradable material utilisable for formation of a cladding of the pod and obtaining a biodegradable packaging of a product for preparation of beverages.

An apparatus and method for filling a container with fragile fruit involving submerging the container in water to better distribute the fragile fruit within the container. The container may be filled with fragile fruit either before or after being submerged in water. The fragile fruit may be transported using a stream of water or other suitable fluid medium.

An apparatus and method for filling a container with fragile fruit involving submerging the container in water to better distribute the fragile fruit within the container. The container may be filled with fragile fruit either before or after being submerged in water. The fragile fruit may be transported using a stream of water or other suitable fluid medium.

A system including a flume. The flume can include a fluid and be configured to receive crops. The system also can include crop selectors each sized to move the crops individually from the flume into a scale. The system additionally can include the scale. The scale can be configured to weigh the crops while the crops are in the scale. The system further can include a container carrier configured to (i) hold a container that is submerged in the fluid while the crops are dumped from the scale into the container and (ii) lift the container out of the fluid to allow the fluid to drain from the container while the container holds the crops. Other embodiments are described.

A system including a flume. The flume can include a fluid and be configured to receive crops. The system also can include crop selectors each sized to move the crops individually from the flume into a scale. The system additionally can include the scale. The scale can be configured to weigh the crops while the crops are in the scale. The system further can include a container carrier configured to (i) hold a container that is submerged in the fluid while the crops are dumped from the scale into the container and (ii) lift the container out of the fluid to allow the fluid to drain from the container while the container holds the crops. Other embodiments are described.

A shaker table for settling randomly oriented items in a generally rectangular container with sidewalls prone to bulge at lower portions thereof, including a pan with a generally horizontal bottom for supporting the container and an underlying pallet while being shaken, a power drive for shaking the pan, container, and pallet, and side restraints limiting lateral movement of the container during shaking movement.

A compactor device for compacting a product filling in a container, like a packing box, includes a container support allowing shaking and/or vibrating the container when supported on the container support. The support includes compactor roller bars arranged parallel in a direction transverse to a conveying direction and to support the container. Each compactor roller bar has a rotation axis and a circumferential surface to allow moving the container with a product filling supported on the rollers bars up and down at a selected frequency when, in operation, rotating the compactor roller bars of the plurality of compactor roller bars. The compactor device further has a stopper arrangement blocking conveying the container by the compactor roller bars, and a pressing arrangement with a press to press downwards onto the product filling within the container while, in operation, compacting the product by rotating the compactor roller bars.

A compactor device for compacting a product filling in a container, like a packing box, includes a container support allowing shaking and/or vibrating the container when supported on the container support. The support includes compactor roller bars arranged parallel in a direction transverse to a conveying direction and to support the container. Each compactor roller bar has a rotation axis and a circumferential surface to allow moving the container with a product filling supported on the rollers bars up and down at a selected frequency when, in operation, rotating the compactor roller bars of the plurality of compactor roller bars. The compactor device further has a stopper arrangement blocking conveying the container by the compactor roller bars, and a pressing arrangement with a press to press downwards onto the product filling within the container while, in operation, compacting the product by rotating the compactor roller bars.

Machine (1) for filling bags (100) with a granular product comprising a filling station (2). The machine comprises a supporting device (8) for supporting bags (100) below the filling station (2). The supporting device (8) comprises an assembled supporting surface (10) pivoting on a pivot shaft (12), and actuating means (18). The actuating means (18) are a motor the angular position of which is controlled by control means (32). The supporting surface (10) has a first end (14), arranged upstream of said filling station (2) in the forward movement direction of the bags, and a second end (16), arranged downstream of said filling station (2) in the forward movement direction of the bags. The supporting surface (10) can pivot in an alternating manner around said pivot shaft (12) for moving the base of the bag (100) which is located in the filling station (2) in operation during filling. The invention also relates to a method for filling said bag.