A flexible, stackable container for storing a quantity of a product may include a sealed package formed from a single sheet of film and retaining the quantity of the product disposed therein, and a lid fitment attached to a first side of the package. The first side of the package may have an outer first surface of the film and outwardly extending first corner seals formed in the film at the edges of the first side and surrounding the first side of the package. The package may also have a second side disposed opposite the first side and outwardly extending second corner seals formed in the film at the edges of the second side and surrounding the second side of the package.

A package delivery apparatus uses an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver a package containing a product to a delivery destination area. The UAV uses GPS signals to guide it to the delivery destination area and an altimeter to determine its height above the delivery destination area. The UAV then adjusts its height to a preferred drop or release height for that package and product and releases the package. An optional camera allows a human operator to view the delivery destination area. An expandable foam package surrounds the product to protect the product from impact and moisture. The package may be streamlined to reduce air resistance and increase the range of the UAV. The package characteristics, such as its thickness, are determined based one or more of the weight and fragile nature of the product, and the drop height.

An order may be received for an apparatus such as a power converter or other power device, where the apparatus may be housed in a packing box. A configuration device may be programmed with information responsive to details of the order and an ID associated with the apparatus. A label or other identifying object may be created or configured (e.g., printed) and attached to the apparatus or may otherwise accompany the apparatus prior to dispatch of the packing box. The label may provide details of operating parameters of the apparatus responsive to the details of the order. Upon receipt and unpacking of the packing box, the configuration device may be connected to the apparatus, thereby to causing the apparatus to become configured.

Flexible enclosure includes a front wall and a back wall that oppose each other and a side wall that joins the front and back walls. The front wall, the back wall, and the side wall are discrete sections. The front wall and the back wall are attached to opposite edges of the side wall. The side wall is configured to have a slit between top and bottom wall portions of the side wall. The flexible enclosure also includes a resealer extending between the front and back walls along the bottom wall portion of the side wall. The bottom wall portion is separable from the top wall portion along the slit. The bottom wall portion is configured to flex outwardly and away from the top wall portion and form a spout of the flexible enclosure. The resealer is configured to close the spout.

A packaging apparatus, in particular for packaging smoking articles, includes a wrapping device for wrapping a barrier film around an item to be packaged, such as a pack of smoking articles; and at least one sealing head having a contact surface for contacting the barrier film wrapped around the item and sealing the barrier film along a seam to form a protective enclosure around the item. The contact surface of the sealing head is at least partially discontinuous to provide a non-sealing region in the sealing head. In this way, the non-sealing region can be positioned to at least partially, and preferably wholly, overlie a frangible part or strip provided in the barrier film.

A bag includes a bag body defining a housing space, an elongated member provided on a first face portion of two face portions forming the bag body, and a tab. The elongated member includes an elongated tearing guide piece, a belt-shaped base provided between a second face portion and the tearing guide piece along a longitudinal direction of the tearing guide piece. The tab has an outer edge defined in the first face portion by a cutting line penetrating through the belt-shaped base and the first face portion. A protector covering the tab is provided on a side of the first face portion provided with the belt-shaped base.

A package label is described. The package label comprises a first ply, a second ply, and a first edge. The second ply comprises a pull tab comprising a first boundary adjacent the first edge, a second boundary opposing the first boundary, and an adhesive deadener area. The second ply also comprises a frangible area adjacent the second boundary and positioned apart from the adhesive deadener area. The frangible area comprises multiple lines of weakness forming a discontinuous series of shapes. Various embodiments of the package label area also described.

A method of applying a sealing strip onto a web of packaging material comprising advancing the web along a web advancement path; applying a first longitudinal portion of the sealing strip onto a longitudinal edge of the web, sealing the first longitudinal portion of the sealing strip onto the longitudinal edge, detecting and/or determining a correct alignment of the sealing strip with respect to the web. The detecting and/or determining of the correct alignment comprises acquiring an image of a second longitudinal portion of the sealing strip and a reference marker of a strip application apparatus, analyzing the acquired image to determine at least a first transversal distance between the reference marker and a longitudinal border of the second longitudinal portion; and evaluating the correct alignment/misalignment as a function of at least the first transversal distance.

A package delivery apparatus uses an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver a package containing a product to a delivery destination area. The UAV uses GPS signals to guide it to the delivery destination area and an altimeter to determine its height above the delivery destination area. The UAV then adjusts its height to a preferred drop or release height for that package and product and releases the package. An optional camera allows a human operator to view the delivery destination area. An expandable foam package surrounds the product to protect the product from impact and moisture. The package may be streamlined to reduce air resistance and increase the range of the UAV. The package characteristics, such as its thickness, are determined based one or more of the weight and fragile nature of the product, and the drop height.

A bag includes a bag body defining a housing space, an elongated member provided on a first face portion of two face portions forming the bag body, and a tab. The elongated member includes an elongated tearing guide piece, a belt-shaped base provided between a second face portion and the tearing guide piece along a longitudinal direction of the tearing guide piece. The tab has an outer edge defined in the first face portion by a cutting line penetrating through the belt-shaped base and the first face portion. A protector covering the tab is provided on a side of the first face portion provided with the belt-shaped base.