A method and apparatus for pleating or otherwise shaping a web are described herein. The method and apparatus may have numerous applications. In some embodiments, the method and apparatus are used in the formation, filling, and sealing of unit dose packages for consumer products. A method and apparatus for forming sealing two moving webs together, which webs have portions that are non-planar are also described herein.

A method and apparatus for pleating or otherwise shaping a web are described herein. The method and apparatus may have numerous applications. In some embodiments, the method and apparatus are used in the formation, filling, and sealing of unit dose packages for consumer products. A method and apparatus for forming sealing two moving webs together, which webs have portions that are non-planar are also described herein.

A method for the production and filling of an application package for a liquid pharmaceutical product. A thermoforming film of thermoplastics laminated together is heated in order to plasticize the film at least in partial areas. Plasticized areas are thermoformed in a mold in order to form a chamber for the liquid pharmaceutical product and a tube-shaped application duct opening into this chamber, with the chamber and duct being enclosed by a non-thermoformed, essentially flat bonding area of the film. The liquid pharmaceutical product is filled into the chamber. The chamber and the application duct are sealed by covering the thermoformed and filled thermoforming film with an essentially flat covering film that is bonded to the bonding area of the thermoforming film enclosing the chamber and the application duct. The thermoforming film is pressed by a forming die during thermoforming into the mold in at least a partial area of the application duct.

A method for the production and filling of an application package for a liquid pharmaceutical product. A thermoforming film of thermoplastics laminated together is heated in order to plasticize the film at least in partial areas. Plasticized areas are thermoformed in a mold in order to form a chamber for the liquid pharmaceutical product and a tube-shaped application duct opening into this chamber, with the chamber and duct being enclosed by a non-thermoformed, essentially flat bonding area of the film. The liquid pharmaceutical product is filled into the chamber. The chamber and the application duct are sealed by covering the thermoformed and filled thermoforming film with an essentially flat covering film that is bonded to the bonding area of the thermoforming film enclosing the chamber and the application duct. The thermoforming film is pressed by a forming die during thermoforming into the mold in at least a partial area of the application duct.

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.

A device for setting up containers along fold lines from flat blanks, having a forming station including a forming tool having a displaceable forming punch, and a backing device for setting up the containers from the blanks, and having a discharging device for carrying away the set-up containers from the forming station. The forming station is designed for folding a circumferential functional edge. The device is designed for turning the set-up containers after the forming station and for pushing the containers over preceding containers for forming a container stack having the container openings thereof facing forward.

A device for setting up containers along fold lines from flat blanks, having a forming station including a forming tool having a displaceable forming punch, and a backing device for setting up the containers from the blanks, and having a discharging device for carrying away the set-up containers from the forming station. The forming station is designed for folding a circumferential functional edge. The device is designed for turning the set-up containers after the forming station and for pushing the containers over preceding containers for forming a container stack having the container openings thereof facing forward.

A system is provided that can automatically calibrate or define a home or initial position of a moveable component of an industrial machine. During the calibration procedure, an actuator may be operated in a low speed and/or low torque mode to drive the component until the component contacts a mechanical stop. This provides a hard-stop of the component's movement while the actuator attempts to further drive the component, which creates a stall condition of the actuator. A control system monitors that actuator's performance characteristics and is configured to identify an anomalous performance characteristic(s) value that corresponds to the actuator's stall condition as a triggering event. When the control system identifies the triggering event, it defines the component's position as a null point and determines a zero point to define an initial operational position of the component as a function of the null point.

A system is provided that can automatically calibrate or define a home or initial position of a moveable component of an industrial machine. During the calibration procedure, an actuator may be operated in a low speed and/or low torque mode to drive the component until the component contacts a mechanical stop. This provides a hard-stop of the component's movement while the actuator attempts to further drive the component, which creates a stall condition of the actuator. A control system monitors that actuator's performance characteristics and is configured to identify an anomalous performance characteristic(s) value that corresponds to the actuator's stall condition as a triggering event. When the control system identifies the triggering event, it defines the component's position as a null point and determines a zero point to define an initial operational position of the component as a function of the null point.

A system for destacking carton blanks comprises a stacking magazine for receiving a stack of carton blanks, the stacking magazine having a retaining system. The system for destacking carton blanks further comprises a first die comprising a first cavity for shaping the carton blanks, and a transport device with at least one first gripping unit for gripping and displacing carton blanks. The transport device is configured to grip a carton blank from the stack, transport the carton blank into the first cavity and form the carton blank by exerting a force.