The invention relates to a method for wrapping and sealing a flexible sheet over an insert (10) to produce a pack (100) for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more ingredients; the pack comprising an insert (10) and a container (20) made from the flexible sheet folded to store the one or more ingredients, the flexible sheet being arranged overwrapping and matching the shape of the insert (10) in its entirety except for the part of the insert (10) in direct communication with the inner volume of the container (20); the method comprising the following steps: —holding the insert (10) so that it is substantially perpendicular with respect to the flexible sheet; —moving the insert (10) towards the flexible sheet, until it touches a bottom sealing tool (210); —moving at least two side sealing tools (220, 230) towards the insert (10); —applying by the bottom sealing tool (210) and by the side sealing tools (220, 230) a certain required pressure and temperature to achieve a tight sealing of the flexible sheet over the entirety of the insert (10) except for the part of it in direct communication with the inner volume of the container (20). The invention further relates to a device (200) for wrapping and sealing a flexible sheet over an insert (10) to produce a pack (100) for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more ingredients.

A method for controlling the operating parameters of a sealing unit of the follower type in a product packing machine, wherein the sealing unit comprises a sealing module movable with reciprocating motion along a feed path of a tubular film to be sealed. The method is implemented in accordance with a plurality of operating parameters and comprises the step of setting the value of at least one input operating parameter selectable at least between sealing time and production speed. The method also comprises the step of calculating the values of the remaining, unselected operating parameters as a function of the set value, where one or more of the remaining operating parameters are subject to restrictions connected with the machine architecture. The method also comprises the step of checking that the values calculated are compatible with respective reference ranges and/or with the restrictions.

A packaging machine, comprising a control unit, a plurality of measuring devices and a plurality of working units for different processes. The control unit is functionally connected to the working units and the measuring devices. A work cycle at the packaging machine comprises at least a first functional process and a second functional process at one or at different working units, the second functional process starting later than the first functional process. The control unit may execute an early start for the second functional process of a working unit, when an actual process value of the preceding first functional process of the program sequence of one of the working units has not yet reached the respective target process value. The control unit may control the early start of the second functional process based on an approximation method for predetermining the temporal end of the first functional process.

An assembly to manufacture a roll of prepreg material. The assembly includes a moving system for picking a sheet of prepreg material from a stack of sheets and moving the sheet along a feed path. An alignment system aligns a leading edge of the sheets with a trailing edge of a roll of the prepreg material. A welding system connects the sheet to the roll.

A process for packaging a product arranged on a support comprising unrolling a film, moving the film to a packaging assembly defining at its inside a packaging chamber, progressively moving a number of supports inside the packaging chamber of the packaging assembly, closing the packaging chamber with the film sheets held above the respective support, optionally causing one or both of: a gas withdrawal from the hermetically closed packaging chamber and gas injection of a gas mixture of controlled composition, heat sealing the film to said support, wherein the heat sealing uses one or more heaters having heating surfaces which are heated for discrete and short time periods only. An apparatus for performing the above process is also disclosed.

A system for fusing plastic materials without bonding agents, such as adhesives, etc., is disclosed. A heat press is used to apply heat and pressure to plastic material sandwiched between heat resistant material. A flatbed heat press, a rotary heat press, or other similar type of thermal roller system may be used. Heat is applied to at least one side of the sandwich and may be applied to both sides of the sandwich simultaneously with equal pressure for a given amount of time. Dual thermostats may be used for application of different beat levels on opposite sides of the sandwich. Reinforcement materials, such as mesh or reinforcement fibers, may be integrated within the layers of plastic prior to fusion to enhance the integrity and/or aesthetic qualities of the fused end product. The plastic may be subjected to multiple applications of heat and pressure to optimize the fusion process.

The invention relates to a method for producing strapping. A strapping band (4) is first guided about at least one packaging piece, tightened, and equipped with a closure at band ends (4a, 4b) to be connected in a closure unit (1). Furthermore, at least one sensor (7) connected to a control unit (8) is provided in the closure unit (1). One or more closure parameters are detected by means of the control unit (8) using the sensor (7), and the closure unit (1) is correspondingly actuated. According to the invention, the sensor (7) is designed as a load cell (7) which is let into a compression ram (6a, 6b) of the closure unit (1).

An assembly to connect together first and second sheet members. The assembly includes a pressure device that applies pressure to the sheet members while the sheet members are in an overlapping arrangement and positioned on a support platform. A sensing system that includes one or more thin film pressure sensors detects the positions of the leading and trailing edges. A connection device connects the members together in an overlapping arrangement.

Welding apparatus (10; 30) having a safety feature comprising: two electrodes (11, 12; 21, 22), whereof at least one of said two electrodes is movably arranged in relation to the other electrode. The electrodes are in non-contact with each other and define a gap (13) in which an object (14) provided with an electrically non-conductive surface to be sealed may be inserted. The welding apparatus comprises an actuator (15; 25) configured to move at least one electrode when activated to squeeze the object, a detector (16; 26) configured to determine a clamping force when the inserted object (14) is squeezed between the electrodes, a distance sensor (17; 23) configured to measure the distance between the electrodes. There is also a conductance sensor (24) configured to measure the conductivity of an object located between the electrodes (11, 12; 21,22) when the object (14) is squeezed, and optionally a position sensor (19b) configured to detect the position of the object (14) inserted between the electrodes. The welding apparatus further comprises a processor configured to process the input from at least one of the detector (16; 26), the distance sensor (17; 23) and the conductance sensor (24) to provide an output that indicates if there is a blood bag tube inserted between electrodes, or if it is a foreign object.

The present invention provides an apparatus for producing and putting on gloves capable of producing gloves that fit an individual hand shape and also putting the glove on the hands, and a method for producing and putting on gloves. The apparatus for producing and putting on gloves comprises welding and cutting means which welds and cuts a first elastic film and a second elastic film at a position on the outer side of a contour of a user's hand in a state in which the user's hand is sandwiched between the first elastic film and the second elastic film.