The invention relates to a method of operating an apparatus for applying drinking straws to packaging containers. The method comprises the steps of performing a motion cycle of a drive means for bringing at least one drinking straw into a picking position, and adapting said motion cycle such that, at the point when an application device picks the drinking straw at the picking position, the acceleration of the drive means is substantially zero and the velocity of the drive means is kept at a set point velocity. The invention also relates to an apparatus being operated according to the method.

The invention relates to a tying device of a type comprising: a work surface (10) comprising an opening (11) in the shape of a slot; a tying member (103) which can be activated so as to place at least one string (400) around an item (500) which is moving in a transfer direction (A) on a first side of the work surface (10), and to carry a portion of said string (400) to a second side of the work surface (10), forming at least one loop; and a knotting lip (55) capable of closing the loop with a knot on the second side of the work surface (10). The slot extends generally in the transfer direction (A), allowing a portion of the loop to pass through, but keeping the knot on the second side of the work surface (10) over at least a portion of the movement of the item (500).

An automatic machine includes: a central frame; a support rotatably connected to the central frame; handling mechanisms for moving the support; a plurality of carriages supported by the support; each carriage supports a bag vertically; a loading station; a spreading station downstream of the loading station; a filling station downstream of the spreading station; a first heat-sealing station downstream of the filling station; an insertion unit that loads a straw in the bag; a second heat-sealing station. The insertion unit is provided in the first heat-sealing station.

Packaging installation having at least two packaging devices. Each packaging device has an input belt and an output belt. The input belt supplies packagings and the output belt receives packagings which are processed by the packaging device, a conveyor belt arranged between the output belt of a first packaging device and the input belt of a second packaging device, and a central control unit. A constant throughput over the packaging installation is achieved as the central control unit establishes at least the actual speed of the input belts and output belts and the conveyor belt and the central control unit establishes at least the actual packing density of the input belts and output belts and the conveyor belt and the central control unit in accordance with the actual packing density and the actual speeds determines at least desired speeds for the input belts and the output belts and the conveyor belt.

A buffer table of a packaging system includes, at least two infeeds, at least two outfeeds, and a plurality of buffer lines supplied separately from each other, arranged between the infeed and the outfeed. Optimised use of the buffer table is achieved by the infeed supplying the respective package to one of the buffer lines depending on the level of completion of a package and by the outfeed removing the respective package from the respective buffer lines depending on the level of completion of the package.

A method for filling of a beverage packaging includes in-line microwave assisted pasteurizing a beverage, vaporized hydrogen peroxide treating a packaging, vaporized hydrogen peroxide treating a drinking straw, positioning the vaporized hydrogen peroxide treated drinking straw in the vaporized hydrogen peroxide treated packaging, fixing the drinking straw inside the packaging, adjusting a temperature of the pasteurized beverage and cold filling the pasteurized beverage into the packaging with the fixed straw, and sealing the packaging.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for applying drinking straws to packaging containers. A drinking straw carrier is adapted to keep the drinking straw towards the wall of the packaging container while moving along a lengthwise direction of the drinking straw, from an application position to the leaving position. The drinking straw carrier comprises a rotatable roller having an axis of rotation arranged substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the drinking straw, and said roller is adapted to rotate in contact with the drinking straw.

Packaging installation having at least two packaging devices. Each packaging device has an input belt and an output belt. The input belt supplies packagings and the output belt receives packagings which are processed by the packaging device, a conveyor belt arranged between the output belt of a first packaging device and the input belt of a second packaging device, and a central control unit. A constant throughput over the packaging installation is achieved as the central control unit establishes at least the actual speed of the input belts and output belts and the conveyor belt and the central control unit establishes at least the actual packing density of the input belts and output belts and the conveyor belt and the central control unit in accordance with the actual packing density and the actual speeds determines at least desired speeds for the input belts and output belts and the conveyor belt.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for applying drinking straws to packaging containers. A drinking straw carrier is adapted to keep the drinking straw towards the wall of the packaging container while moving along a lengthwise direction of the drinking straw, from an application position to the leaving position. The drinking straw carrier comprises a rotatable roller having an axis of rotation arranged substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the drinking straw, and said roller is adapted to rotate in contact with the drinking straw.

A device for applying an article to a moving object includes an applicator member having a base element and an arm element. The arm element is telescopically coupled to the base element such that the arm element is movable between a retracted state and an extended state. A biasing member biases the arm element towards its extended state and an actuator shaft is pivotably connected to the base element. The actuator shaft is eccentrically arranged and rotatable about a first rotation axis RA1, and a support member is pivotable about a second rotation axis RA2 and slidingly supports a mid-section of the arm element. An applicator head is cyclically movable between a retrieval position and an application position in response to rotation of the eccentrically arranged actuator shaft about the first rotation axis RA1. The arm element can be brought to its retracted state during movement of the applicator head from the retrieval position to the application position and can assume its extended state during movement of the applicator head from the application position to the retrieval position.