A container body decorator (10) has a controller (300) with a software stored in a memory. A plurality of ink-jet printing heads (108) is in communication with the controller (300). A segmented image transfer blanket (116) has a circumferential configuration with an inner surface opposite a printing surface. A printing site (124) is located along the segmented image transfer blanket (116). A container body handling module (200) delivers container bodies to the printing site (124).

Packages used to deliver items or other payloads via a drone may be customized and 3D printed to house the payload. The package may be customized to minimize the size and/or weight needed to house the payload. The customized packages may include one or more attachment mechanisms adapted to engage with or otherwise be coupled to the drone for delivery. Multiple individual customized packages can be secured together into a composite package for delivery by drone. The customized package may be designed to be aerodynamic given the shape of the payload and the flight characteristics of the drone. The drone itself may be the package, with the payload housed within a portion of the drone. The package and/or a portion of the drone (e.g., fuselage, wing, body, frame, etc.) may be printed at least partially in, on, or around an item or package to be transported by the drone.

A method (400) for producing packages (112) holding liquid food products from a web (102) of packaging material, wherein the web (102) comprises a number of blanks (300) placed after one another, wherein each blank corresponds to one package, the method comprising receiving (402) a reel (204) holding the web (102) of packaging material, capturing (402) reel data (210) from a tag (206) attached to the reel (204), transferring (404) the reel data (210) to a printing information database (218), receiving (406) printing information data (PID) (220) related to the reel data (210) from the printing information database (218), printing (408) décors on each of the blanks (300) of the web (102) of packaging material based on information provided via the PID (220) such that a décor provided web (246) is formed, transferring (410) the reel data (210) to a packaging machine information database (224), receiving (412) packaging machine information data (PMID) (226) related to the reel data (210) from the packaging machine information database (224), and forming (414) the packages (112) from the decor provided web (246) in a packaging machine (100) based on information provided via the PMID (226).

An inline packaging machine for automatically accommodating and filling different sized containers, such as pouches, to reduce changeover time and thereby improve operating efficiency of the machine. The machine includes stations disposed longitudinally along a center line of the machine, including a first carrier track opposing a second carrier track with respect to the center line. A first clamp is disposed on the first carrier track and at least a second clamp is disposed on the second carrier track wherein the clamps are configured to releasably secure first-sized pouches for filling. The pouches are advanced inline from a setup station through an opening station to a filling station for filling with contents. The filled pouches are then advanced to a sealing and discharging station. A control system automatically adjusts the distance between the corresponding clamps to accommodate second-sized and/or third-sized pouches for inline processing and filling.

A tape closure system is shown and described herein. The tape closure system includes a first tape component having a pressure sensitive adhesive and a second tape component having a pressure sensitive adhesive, where at least one of the pressure sensitive adhesives has a modified surface to reduce the tack of the surface such that when the first and second pressure adhesives are brought into contact with one another they may sufficiently adhere to one another to form a seal but are still separable from one another and able to be repeatedly opened and sealed. Such a tape may be manufactured through high speed manufacturing processes and wound into large master rolls. In the roll configuration, the modified surface contacts the backside of the liner and experiences compressive forces in the roll. Due to the compressive forces, a part of the modified surface may get pushed into the PSA, thereby affecting the properties of the modified adhesive. An embodiment of this invention provides an embossed liner with spacers that nest the modified adhesive surface when it is self-wound, thereby preventing the deterioration of the adhesive properties. An embodiment of the invention is a method by which the adhesive-based closure system can be applied on to a flexible packaging material on a Form Fill Seal packaging machine in one of three ways: (1) In a form of a tape from a spool. (2) In a form of an adhesive dispensed directly on to flexible packaging material. (3) In form of a tape dispensed from a roll of pressure sensitive adhesive roll. Another embodiment of the invention is a double sided tape with the detack layer on both sides. An embodiment of the present invention can also be used for temporary closure with no damage done to the underlying system.

Provided herein is a system for automated dispensing and packaging of articles. Systems may include: a controller configured to receive an indication of an order to be packaged, where the order includes one or more articles; a packaging station; a web of bags, where the web of bags is fed to the packaging station; a pneumatic table configurable to support a bag disposed at the packaging station; an opening mechanism including a pneumatic nozzle to open the bag disposed at the packaging station; a loading bin configured to be inserted into the open bag and deposit the one or more articles; and a closure apparatus to seal the bag disposed at the packaging station after receiving the one or more articles.

A bagmaking and packaging apparatus includes a film supply unit that conveys a film, a printing unit, a speed detector, and a control unit. The printing unit applies laser light to the film to print the film. The speed detector acquires data relating to the conveyance speed of the film. The control unit links the operation of the printing unit when printing the film to the conveyance speed of the film based on the data from the speed detector.

A bagmaking and packaging machine packages articles with a film. The bagmaking and packaging machine includes a laser printing device and a receiving member. The laser printing device prints on a printed surface of the film. The receiving member is disposed so as to oppose a non-printed surface on the opposite side of the printed surface of the film. The receiving member has a reflection suppressing surface. The reflection suppressing surface suppresses regular reflection of laser light emitted by the laser printing device.

A process of producing hydrogen water includes the steps of: cooling water to a temperature where hydrogens atoms of the water molecule expand a space between the hydrogen atoms and contacting the cooled water with hydrogen gas wherein hydrogen atoms of the hydrogen gas are positioned in the space of the expanded hydrogen atoms of the water molecule and then heating the water trapping the hydrogen atoms of the hydrogen gas in the space wherein the hydrogen water has a hydrogen content of from 3 to 10 parts per million. The hydrogen water may be filled into pouches with hydrogen water in the pouch having a hydrogen content of from 1.7 to 4 parts per million.

A printing system for providing a printed image (30) to a web (1) of packaging material (3) is provided. The printing system comprises a detecting unit (130) configured to detect a feature (10) on the packaging material (3), a control unit (120) configured to determine a first position of the detected feature (10), and a printing unit (110) having a plurality of printing nozzles (112). The control unit (120) is further configured to: determine a second position of an image (30) to be printed, the second position being determined based on the first position, determine at least one printing nozzle (112) based on the second position, and to activate the at least one printing nozzle (112) in order to print an image (30) onto the packaging material (3) at the second position.