The present invention relates to a blowing device (1) for blowing gas through a gas-permeable tubular-shaped packaging material (29). The blowing device comprises at least one gas nozzle (19; 75, 77), adapted to blow gas from an outside of the tubular-shaped packaging material through the tubular-shaped packaging material, and a guiding member (3), which comprises a web passage (5) having a surface (7) adapted to face the tubular-shaped packaging material, such that the web passage surrounds or substantially surrounds the tubular-shaped packaging material. The present invention further relates to a use of the blowing device, to a sealing arrangement (27, 71) for transversely sealing a gas-permeable tubular-shaped packaging material (29) and to an arrangement (37) for manufacturing of pouched products (39), which arrangement comprises such a sealing arrangement. The present invention also relates to a method for transversely sealing a gas-permeable tubular-shaped packaging material and to a method for manu facturing a pouched product, e.g. a portion-packed pouched oral snuff product.

The invention relates to a dosator which comprises a tapered elongate cavity; a stationary plunger disposed within the cavity; a removable mesh screen disposed between the stationary plunger and the bottom of the dosator; a dosator chamber defined between the mesh screen and the bottom of the dosator for receiving powder from a powder source and holding the powder until it is expelled into the capsule; at least one vacuum pump operably linked to the dosator and capable of drawing dry powder into the dosator chamber from a powder source, compacting the powder into a slug of powder having a predetermined bulk density; and at least one source of positive pressure operably linked to the dosator and capable of providing positive pressure to expel the powder slug from the dosator and methods of filling capsules.

The invention relates to a dosator which comprises a tapered elongate cavity; a stationary plunger disposed within the cavity; a removable mesh screen disposed between the stationary plunger and the bottom of the dosator; a dosator chamber defined between the mesh screen and the bottom of the dosator for receiving powder from a powder source and holding the powder until it is expelled into the capsule; at least one vacuum pump operably linked to the dosator and capable of drawing dry powder into the dosator chamber from a powder source, compacting the powder into a slug of powder having a predetermined bulk density; and at least one source of positive pressure operably linked to the dosator and capable of providing positive pressure to expel the powder slug from the dosator and methods of filling capsules.

The abstract of the application is being replaced with a new abstract which meets the requirements of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. No new matter is being added and all changes are fully supported by the application and the application from which it claims priority. A clean copy of the abstract is included with this filing.

The abstract of the application is being replaced with a new abstract which meets the requirements of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. No new matter is being added and all changes are fully supported by the application and the application from which it claims priority. A clean copy of the abstract is included with this filing.

A method of packaging a mattress includes the steps of: placing the mattress into a storage bag; compressing the mattress along a height direction of the mattress; vacuuming the storage bag to shrink the storage bag and the mattress to become platy; rolling up the platy mattress to be in a cylindrical shape by means of an apparatus, wherein the platy mattress is wrapped with a wrapping film while the platy mattress is rolled up, thereby retaining the cylindrical mattress and preventing the cylindrical mattress from expanding; and placing the cylindrical and retained mattress into a packaging box to be packaged. The wrapping film has a certain degree of flexibility, so it will not bring an unrecoverable indentation on the mattress.

A filling station for heat-not-burn (HNB) aerosol-generating capsules may include a filling receptacle, a plurality of carriages, and at least one vacuum source. The filling receptacle defines a first series of vacuum ports. The filling receptacle is configured to receive an aerosol-forming substrate. The plurality of carriages are arranged underneath the filling receptacle. Each of the plurality of carriages define a second series of vacuum ports and, optionally, a third series of vacuum ports. Each of the plurality of carriages are configured to receive and hold capsule casings for filling with the aerosol-forming substrate. The at least one vacuum source is configured to draw a vacuum through the capsule casings such that the aerosol-forming substrate is drawn through the first series of vacuum ports in the filling receptacle and into the capsule casings underneath.

Apparatus and methods of packing leaf tobacco preserve the integrity of tobacco, help retain freshness and moisture content of tobacco, and also help eliminate insect infestation. A method of packing tobacco includes supplying a quantity of tobacco into a plurality of open containers; closing the opening containers; inserting the closed containers within a flexible, non-porous bag having a closeable opening; closing the opening of the bag; and extracting air from the bag so as to create a sub-atmospheric pressure therein. The bag is configured to hold one or more tobacco containers, such as C48 or A48 cartons. In some embodiments the bag may be configured to hold up to six containers, such as C48 or A48 cartons.

Apparatus and methods of packing leaf tobacco preserve the integrity of tobacco, help retain freshness and moisture content of tobacco, and also help eliminate insect infestation. A method of packing tobacco includes supplying a quantity of tobacco into a plurality of open containers; closing the opening containers; inserting the closed containers within a flexible, non-porous bag having a closeable opening; closing the opening of the bag; and extracting air from the bag so as to create a sub-atmospheric pressure therein. The bag is configured to hold one or more tobacco containers, such as C48 or A48 cartons. In some embodiments the bag may be configured to hold up to six containers, such as C48 or A48 cartons.

An apparatus for filling and packing particulate material into elongated containers is provided and improves consistency of the quantity and density (degree of compaction) of particulate material in each container. The apparatus may include a compressed gas assembly for providing a stream of compressed gas for increasing the velocity of flowing particulate material being provided to the containers. The apparatus may include a centrifuge assembly for providing centrifugal force which increases compaction of particulate material in each container. The apparatus may include both a compressed gas assembly and a centrifuge assembly. A method for filling and packing particulate material into elongated containers is provided and involves increasing the compaction of particulate material in each container. Such compaction may be increased by providing a compressed gas to the flow path of a stream of flowing particulate material, or by applying centrifugal force to particulate material disposed in the containers, or both.