An ice bagging assembly and related method with a horizontal ice bag cassette, a pair of opposing ice bag ply graspers configured to move an empty ice bag from the horizontal ice bag cassette to a vertical position to receive cubed ice before it is sealed shut and dropped to an ice bag merchandiser. The opposing graspers may be configured as rotating wheels and may have a grasping sensor. The ice bag cassette may be slidably and tiltably supported for easy replacement of horizontal bags. A load sensor, optical or mechanical, may be associated with the ice hopper to sense how much ice has been put in each bag. A pair of angled guides may guide a hopper into a support frame for the system.

An ice bagging assembly and related method with a horizontal ice bag cassette, a pair of opposing ice bag ply graspers configured to move an empty ice bag from the horizontal ice bag cassette to a vertical position to receive cubed ice before it is sealed shut and dropped to an ice bag merchandiser. The opposing graspers may be configured as rotating wheels and may have a grasping sensor. The ice bag cassette may be slidably and tiltably supported for easy replacement of horizontal bags. A load sensor, optical or mechanical, may be associated with the ice hopper to sense how much ice has been put in each bag. A pair of angled guides may guide a hopper into a support frame for the system.

A method for processing pharmaceutical powders, which comprises providing a feeder module including a plurality of feeder units each with a storage hopper, a weighing cell, a conveyer, and a discharge end, connecting the storage hopper to a refilling system with a refilling valve, connecting the refilling valve to a level or weight indicator disposed above the refilling valve, connecting the discharge end to a common receiving container, refilling the storage hopper with a powder intermittently 40 to 80 times per hour, storing data during refilling, transporting powder from the storage hopper with the respective conveyer, and discharging powder from each feeder unit into the common receiving container. During each refilling of the storage hopper, the refilling valve dispenses powder into the storage hopper and, during the step of transporting the powder from the storage hopper, the conveyer is operated according to the data collected during previous refills.

A method for processing pharmaceutical powders, which comprises providing a feeder module including a plurality of feeder units each with a storage hopper, a weighing cell, a conveyer, and a discharge end, connecting the storage hopper to a refilling system with a refilling valve, connecting the refilling valve to a level or weight indicator disposed above the refilling valve, connecting the discharge end to a common receiving container, refilling the storage hopper with a powder intermittently 40 to 80 times per hour, storing data during refilling, transporting powder from the storage hopper with the respective conveyer, and discharging powder from each feeder unit into the common receiving container. During each refilling of the storage hopper, the refilling valve dispenses powder into the storage hopper and, during the step of transporting the powder from the storage hopper, the conveyer is operated according to the data collected during previous refills.

Provided are methods for manufacturing a multi-ingredient beverage filter cartridge comprising the steps of: adding an amount of a first soluble beverage medium to the container having an internal bottom end, sidewall, and an access opening opposite the internal bottom end; leveling at least a portion of a top surface of the added first soluble beverage medium so that such top surface is substantially in the range of 1 mm to 11 mm from the internal bottom end; adhering a filter medium to the sidewall such that the filter medium does not contact the first soluble beverage medium, top surface; adding an amount of a second soluble beverage medium to the container such that the second soluble beverage medium forms a layer on top of the filter medium; and enclosing the container with a sealed lid.

Provided are methods for manufacturing a multi-ingredient beverage filter cartridge comprising the steps of: adding an amount of a first soluble beverage medium to the container having an internal bottom end, sidewall, and an access opening opposite the internal bottom end; leveling at least a portion of a top surface of the added first soluble beverage medium so that such top surface is substantially in the range of 1 mm to 11 mm from the internal bottom end; adhering a filter medium to the sidewall such that the filter medium does not contact the first soluble beverage medium, top surface; adding an amount of a second soluble beverage medium to the container such that the second soluble beverage medium forms a layer on top of the filter medium; and enclosing the container with a sealed lid.

Systems and methods for continuous production of filled capsules. The system includes a continuous blender for receiving and continuously blending ingredients discharged from one or more feeders to form a blended mixture. The system includes a capsule filling machine to receive empty capsules and fill the mixture in them to provide filled capsules. The system includes multiple sensors configured at predefined positions within the system to monitor the attributes associated with the ingredients, mixture, empty capsules, and filled capsules. The system includes a control unit to control the feeders, blender, capsule filling machine and other components of the system to bring the attributes within a predefined range to ensure that the filled capsules are of predefined quality.

Systems and methods for continuous production of filled capsules. The system includes a continuous blender for receiving and continuously blending ingredients discharged from one or more feeders to form a blended mixture. The system includes a capsule filling machine to receive empty capsules and fill the mixture in them to provide filled capsules. The system includes multiple sensors configured at predefined positions within the system to monitor the attributes associated with the ingredients, mixture, empty capsules, and filled capsules. The system includes a control unit to control the feeders, blender, capsule filling machine and other components of the system to bring the attributes within a predefined range to ensure that the filled capsules are of predefined quality.

A device for supporting containers in filling machines for products in powder form includes, a first supporting element, connected to the structure of a filling machine, and a second supporting element designed to support a respective container to be filled. The device further includes actuation elements configured for actuating, with a vibrating motion, the second supporting element with respect to the first supporting element. The second supporting element can rotate with respect to the first supporting element about a substantially vertical rotation axis. The actuation elements further include elements for generating a variable magnetic field, which are integral with one of the supporting elements, and magnetic means, which are integral with the other of the supporting elements and interact with the generator to cause an alternating oscillation, in the two opposite rotation directions, of the second supporting element with respect to the first supporting element, about the rotation axis.

Apparatus (1) and method for packaging flowable materials such as fluids and bulk goods (4) into flexible empty open-mouth bags (3) comprising a stationary part (5) and a movable part (6) wherein the movable part (6) is provided with multiple filling stations (11-18) traveling along. Each filling station (11-18) has a retaining device (20) fastened to the movable part (6). A plurality of handling stations (41-48) are received and distributed at the stationary part (5). A handling station (41) is configured as a takeover station to take over empty open-mouth bags (3) and a handling station (42) is configured for filling a bag (3). One handling station (44) is provided with a weighing unit (7). A bag receiving unit (10) is fastened to each of the retaining devices (20) to receive a bag (3), the bag receiving unit (10) being configured to receive and guide the bag (3). The bag receiving unit (10) at the handling station (44) equipped with a weighing unit (7) can be temporarily decoupled from force transmission to the retaining device (20) to enable separate weighing of the bag receiving unit (10) with the bag (3).