An apparatus for heat-sealing a lidding film (2) to a supporting element (3), comprising a movement track (5), which extends between an infeed zone and an outfeed zone, a conveying unit (8) and a heat-sealing device (6) which is fitted along the movement track (5), the device (6) comprising a supporting unit (10) and a closing unit (11) which are movable between a home position in which they are at a distance from each other and an operating position in which they are coupled to clamp, in use, the lidding film (2) and a supporting element (3); wherein the conveying unit (8) is configured to support the supporting element (3) and to move and is associable with the movement track (5) for moving on it; the conveying unit (8) comprising one or more active portions (12) which are configured to support the supporting element (3) from below and to couple to the supporting unit (10) to define with it a clamping unit for clamping the supporting element (3) against the closing unit (11).

A process is provided for heat sealing substrate layers. The process comprising: conveying an upper die having a heating conductor and a lower die having a heating conductor to a sealing region, where a substrate is applied to one or more items; activating a power supply system; monitoring, via the power supply system, a temperature of the heating conductor of the upper die when in the sealing region; monitoring, via the power supply system, a temperature of the heating conductor of the lower die when in the sealing region, wherein the monitoring of the temperature of the heating conductor of the upper die is performed independently of the monitoring of the temperature of the heating conductor of the lower die; supplying power to the upper die based on the temperature of the heating conductor of the upper die; supplying power to the lower die based on the temperature of the heating conductor of the lower die, wherein the power is supplied to the lower die independently of the power being supplied to the upper die.

A method accurately detects biting of a foreign object in a packaging machine. A control apparatus controls a packaging machine that sequentially seals and/or cuts a packaging material transported in a first direction using a rotor. The rotor is arranged to have a tangent to its outer circumference portion in contact with the packaging material extending in the first direction. The rotor is drivable and rotatable by a driver. The control apparatus includes an information obtaining unit that obtains information indicating a rotational position of the rotor and a status value of the driver in predetermined cycles, and a determination unit that determines a presence of an abnormality in a sealed portion of the packaging material using, from the information obtained by the information obtaining unit, a status value of the driver corresponding to a rotational position of the rotor falling within a predetermined range or being a predetermined position.

A tensioning device for a chain driven jaw system in a package filling machine is disclosed. The chain driven jaw system has a fixed cam and a chain as a follower. The tensioning device comprises a chain tensioning element shaped and angled so to receive the chain on an outer surface thereof configured to be directed away from a center of the chain driven jaw system, wherein the chain tensioning element comprises a pivot connection, and wherein the chain tensioning element is configured to be integrated with the fixed cam at the pivot connection such that the chain tensioning element abuts the fixed cam at the pivot connection and can move to tension the chain. A chain driven jaw system and a related method is also disclosed.

A closure module and a method for closing and/or separating filled sausage casings connected via a sausage neck, comprising two stamps movable relative to and towards each other and arranged such that a sausage neck can be placed therebetween, the stamps being capable of clamping the sausage neck in a closed condition, and further comprising a first and a second electrode, through which, in a closed condition of the stamps, a current can flow from the first electrode into the sausage neck and via the sausage neck into the second electrode.

A workstation for a film-processing packaging machine defines a film transport plane in which the packaging film can be transported. In addition, the workstation comprises an electrically operable heating assembly. The latter in turn comprises an electrically conductive planar resistance heating element which in a plane parallel to the film transport plane has dimensions that are greater by a factor of at least 5, preferably at least 10, than in a direction perpendicular to the film transport plane. The resistance heating element is arranged between a heating plate and a clamping plate. The disclosure also relates to a packaging machine with such a workstation and to a method for operating such a workstation.

A system includes a first horn, a first ultrasonic transducer, a second horn, a second ultrasonic transducer, a memory, and a controller. The first horn includes a first part-interfacing surface. The second horn includes a second part-interfacing surface and is positioned relative to the first horn such that a part to be welded can be positioned between the first and second part-interface surfaces. The controller is configured to cause a first ultrasonic energy to be applied through the first horn via the first transducer to cause the first part-interfacing surface to vibrate, cause the first horn to move in a first direction at a first time, cause a second ultrasonic energy to be applied through the second horn via the second transducer to cause the second part-interfacing surface to vibrate, and cause the second horn to move in a second direction at the first time.

Disclosed herein are methods for isolating a composite material from the environment, as well as the isolated composite material. Also disclosed herein are methods for shaping a composite material that include the use of isolated composite materials. For example, disclosed is a method for mechanical thermoforming of a composite material to form a shaped composite material.

A heat seal between a plastic bag and a plastic sheet is used to provide a more secure and reliable seal to define a modified atmosphere for a pallet of perishables. The heat seal reduces atmosphere failures and aids in providing a more consistent atmosphere in the pallet bag system thus reducing the number of pallets that have an out of specification atmosphere. The heat seal may be created with a heating sealing apparatuses that is part of a system used to load and seal a load of containers of perishables onto a pallet. The heat sealing apparatus uses two heated rollers coupled to a rotating arm to contact and heat seal a plastic bag to a plastic seal that enclose a palletized load of perishables that are rotated on a turntable.

A system includes a dip tube, a feed line, and a check valve. The dip tube is inserted through an opening in a source of chemical precursor and into the chemical precursor in the source. A portion of the feed line is located in the dip tube. The feed line passes out of the dip tube. The chemical precursor is capable of flowing out of the source through the feed line in a downstream direction. The check valve is located in the portion of the feed line in the dip tube. The check valve permits the chemical precursor to pass substantially only in the downstream direction. The feed line is coupled to a transfer pump that draws the chemical precursor out of the source through the portion of the feed line in the dip tube.