A shipping system for shipping planar substrates includes a plurality of planar substrates stacked to form a pack and a plurality of interleaving material including substantially spherical beads positioned between the substrates of the pack and configured to carry a load. Substantially all of the beads have a diameter within 25% of D.sub.max, where D.sub.max is a diameter corresponding to a size of an opening of an upper limit sieve used in the shipping system. Also disclosed are a spacer for use in a shipping system for shipping planar substrates, a wrapped system for shipping planar substrates, a method of wrapping a system for shipping planar substrates, and a powder applicator.

A shipping system for shipping planar substrates includes a plurality of planar substrates stacked to form a pack and a plurality of interleaving material including substantially spherical beads positioned between the substrates of the pack and configured to carry a load. Substantially all of the beads have a diameter within 25% of D.sub.max, where D.sub.max is a diameter corresponding to a size of an opening of an upper limit sieve used in the shipping system. Also disclosed are a spacer for use in a shipping system for shipping planar substrates, a wrapped system for shipping planar substrates, a method of wrapping a system for shipping planar substrates, and a powder applicator.

A system for evacuating and sealing containers filled with product, for example, food product, includes an enclosed, sealed housing wherein the pressure level and the atmospheric content can be controlled. A vacuum shroud is positioned in registry with a container entrance opening in the housing, the shroud connectible to a vacuum source and to a source of replaceable gas to replace the ambient air to be removed from the container. The shroud is advanceable to seal the container entrance opening and is retractable from the container entrance opening. A container transport system inserts the container through the housing entrance opening and into the shroud. Thereupon, a sealing system seals the housing from the ambient after the container has been inserted into the shroud. After the air in the container has been replaced with an inert gas and then the shroud retracted, a closure subsystem applies a cover to the evacuated container. Thereafter, an out feed subsystem removes the closed container from the housing while maintaining the atmospheric content and pressure level within the housing.

A system for evacuating and sealing containers filled with product, for example, food product, includes an enclosed, sealed housing wherein the pressure level and the atmospheric content can be controlled. A vacuum shroud is positioned in registry with a container entrance opening in the housing, the shroud connectible to a vacuum source and to a source of replaceable gas to replace the ambient air to be removed from the container. The shroud is advanceable to seal the container entrance opening and is retractable from the container entrance opening. A container transport system inserts the container through the housing entrance opening and into the shroud. Thereupon, a sealing system seals the housing from the ambient after the container has been inserted into the shroud. After the air in the container has been replaced with an inert gas and then the shroud retracted, a closure subsystem applies a cover to the evacuated container. Thereafter, an out feed subsystem removes the closed container from the housing while maintaining the atmospheric content and pressure level within the housing.

The present disclosure is directed to a compression belt for inflation and sealing devices. The device may include an inflation assembly, a heating assembly, and a drive mechanism. The inflation assembly may direct fluid between first and second overlapping plies of a flexible web material to inflate chambers between the plies. The heating assembly may be operable to heat the first and second plies of the web material to create a longitudinal heat seal that seals the fluid in the inflated chambers. The drive mechanism may drive the web material in a downstream direction. The drive mechanism may tension the web material against the heating assembly. The drive mechanism may include a first belt including a high grip material on a surface that contacts the web material to grip the web material during heating by the heating assembly.

The present disclosure is directed to a compression belt for inflation and sealing devices. The device may include an inflation assembly, a heating assembly, and a drive mechanism. The inflation assembly may direct fluid between first and second overlapping plies of a flexible web material to inflate chambers between the plies. The heating assembly may be operable to heat the first and second plies of the web material to create a longitudinal heat seal that seals the fluid in the inflated chambers. The drive mechanism may drive the web material in a downstream direction. The drive mechanism may tension the web material against the heating assembly. The drive mechanism may include a first belt including a high grip material on a surface that contacts the web material to grip the web material during heating by the heating assembly.

This invention relates generally to the packaging and preservation of granular products. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for flushing undesirable residual gases from a flow of granular product during a packaging of the product, the displacement of the undesirable gases from the product preserving the product's freshness.

This invention relates generally to the packaging and preservation of granular products. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for flushing undesirable residual gases from a flow of granular product during a packaging of the product, the displacement of the undesirable gases from the product preserving the product's freshness.

A method and device for preserving wine or other oxygen sensitive items is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method involves injecting at least 0.15 gram of an inert gas to a closed container comprising wine and oxygen. In some embodiments, the device has a housing, a pressure indicator, a pressure sensor, and a one-way valve. The housing is configured to seal an opening of a wine bottle. The housing has a closure side configured to be in communication with an interior of the wine bottle. The housing has an input channel extending through the housing. The pressure sensor is within the housing and is in communication with the closure side. The one-way valve is in the input channel. The pressure sensor is configured to move the pressure indicator to an indicating position when a predetermined amount of pressure is reached at the sensor.

A method and device for preserving wine or other oxygen sensitive items is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method involves injecting at least 0.15 gram of an inert gas to a closed container comprising wine and oxygen. In some embodiments, the device has a housing, a pressure indicator, a pressure sensor, and a one-way valve. The housing is configured to seal an opening of a wine bottle. The housing has a closure side configured to be in communication with an interior of the wine bottle. The housing has an input channel extending through the housing. The pressure sensor is within the housing and is in communication with the closure side. The one-way valve is in the input channel. The pressure sensor is configured to move the pressure indicator to an indicating position when a predetermined amount of pressure is reached at the sensor.