The present disclosure is directed to an inflatable-cushion inflation and sealing device. The device includes an inflation assembly configured for insertion between first and second overlapping film plies. The inflation assembly includes a fluid conduit configured to direct a fluid in between the plies to form one or more cushions. The fluid conduit includes a nozzle. The inflation assembly includes a cutting member. The cutting member includes a blade holder with a blade and a blade guard mounted thereon. The blade guard has a safety position in which the blade is covered and a retracted position in which the blade is exposed. Installation of the blade holder onto the inflation assembly automatically positions the blade in the working position with the blade guard retracted. Removing the tray from the inflation assembly automatically positions the blade in the safety position by covering the blade with the blade guard.

A system, apparatus, and method for automatically packaging one or more articles is disclosed. The system, apparatus, and method processes incoming articles having different and/or similar shapes and in random orientations for packaging. The system, apparatus, and method form shipping-ready customized packages, based, at least in part, on data associated with an individual article and gathered by a detecting device as the individual article moves along a first conveyor towards a packaging station of the system. The customized packages are configured to conform to each individual article's shape and size. The packaging preferably is fully recyclable and is made from paper which is expandable to create a cushioning layer around the packaged article.

A system, apparatus, and method for automatically packaging one or more articles is disclosed. The system, apparatus, and method processes incoming articles having different and/or similar shapes and in random orientations for packaging. The system, apparatus, and method form shipping-ready customized packages, based, at least in part, on data associated with an individual article and gathered by a detecting device as the individual article moves along a first conveyor towards a packaging station of the system. The customized packages are configured to conform to each individual article's shape and size. The packaging preferably is fully recyclable and is made from paper which is expandable to create a cushioning layer around the packaged article.

A packing strap length cutting device includes a main body and a control device. The main body has a first frame and a second frame. A strap pulling unit, a calculation unit and a sensing unit are electrically connected to the control device. The strap pulling unit is connected to a strap connecting unit. Thereby, a packing strap can be automatically pulled out a predetermined length through the strap pulling unit, and then the strap cutting unit is driven by a driving member of the strap pulling unit to cut the packing strap in the predetermined length, assisting a user in completing the cutting operation quickly.

An apparatus is configured to make containers from sheet material. The apparatus includes a supply station for supplying a film having at least one folded portion having three or more film flaps folded and superimposed with respect to each other; a welding station configured to receive the film. The welding station comprises a welding head configured for welding the folded portion of the film and forming a container defining a housing compartment; the welding head comprises a heater made of electrically conductive material whose electrical resistivity, at least in a predetermined temperature range, decreases upon the increase of the temperature of the same electrically conductive material.

An apparatus is configured to make containers from sheet material. The apparatus includes a supply station for supplying a film having at least one folded portion having three or more film flaps folded and superimposed with respect to each other; a welding station configured to receive the film. The welding station comprises a welding head configured for welding the folded portion of the film and forming a container defining a housing compartment; the welding head comprises a heater made of electrically conductive material whose electrical resistivity, at least in a predetermined temperature range, decreases upon the increase of the temperature of the same electrically conductive material.

A thermoforming packaging machine includes a forming station for thermoforming troughs in a film web, a filling path for filling products into the troughs, a sealing station for sealing the troughs, a chain guide for guiding a transport chain for the film web, a transverse cutting device for cutting the film web in a direction transverse to the transport direction, a longitudinal cutting device for cutting the film web in the transport direction, and a control device for controlling processes running on the thermoforming packaging machine. The transverse cutting device comprises a film punch, an adjustment drive which can be controlled by the control device for closing and opening the film punch, and a detection unit which is connected to the control device and which has at least one sensor which is configured to detect, per processing cycle, a force progression occurring at the film punch during opening and closing.

An apparatus for realising a biodegradable packaging of a product for preparation of beverages includes a first feeder group and a second feeder group. The first feeder group is of a first film made of a biodegradable material, in particular a film of polylactic acid (PLA), and a first rotary carousel, configured, together with a series of work stations associated to the first carousel, to realise a pod made of PLA, containing internally thereof a product for preparation of a beverage. The second feeder group is of a second film made of a biodegradable material, in particular a film of Ecoralene, and a second rotary carousel, configured, together with a series of work stations associated to the second carousel, to realise an Ecoralene cladding of the pod to obtain a biodegradable packaging of a product for preparation of a beverage.

An apparatus for realising a biodegradable packaging of a product for preparation of beverages includes a first feeder group and a second feeder group. The first feeder group is of a first film made of a biodegradable material, in particular a film of polylactic acid (PLA), and a first rotary carousel, configured, together with a series of work stations associated to the first carousel, to realise a pod made of PLA, containing internally thereof a product for preparation of a beverage. The second feeder group is of a second film made of a biodegradable material, in particular a film of Ecoralene, and a second rotary carousel, configured, together with a series of work stations associated to the second carousel, to realise an Ecoralene cladding of the pod to obtain a biodegradable packaging of a product for preparation of a beverage.

An improved paperboard pouch comprising a multilayer substrate and a method of making the same is provided. The multilayer paperboard pouch comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein one of the surfaces is defined as a food contact surface. In the depicted embodiment, the properties of the polymer layer are chosen to provide adequate mechanical and barrier protection to the paper-based pouch formed on the conventional pouch-forming equipment. A method of manufacturing a multilayer paperboard pouch using conventional bag-making equipment (“CBME”) running at normal production speed for making standard plastic pouches is also provided. First, a paper is extrusion-coated and then the CBME is configured with a feeder for feeding an extrusion-coated paper intermittently for a length along a feeding path; a cutter disposed at a position predetermined for cutting one of the layers of the coated paper and forming a first side gusset, a second side gusset and a bottom gusset portions and for folding each of a first side gusset, a second side gusset and a bottom gusset portions into halves along a center line extending longitudinally thereof; and a sealer for sealing the layers of the polymer with the layers of the bottom gusset portion and the layers of the first and second gusset portions, respectively to form the finished multilayer paperboard pouch ready for sale and distribution to various retailers. It is to be noted that in the depicted embodiment various closure constructions and mechanism can be used for heat sealing the finished pouches.