A method of making a container (2, 30) having a separable inner lining (6) and outer shell (4) comprises the steps of: forming an outer shell; pre-forming a flexible lining, at least a part of the lining conforming to a complete internal shape of the shell; inserting the preformed lining into the shell so that a first part of the lining is within the shell and a second part of the lining protrudes from the opening of the shell; adhering the first part to an internal surface (8) of the shell; conforming the second part to an external surface of the shell; and attaching to the lining around said rim a sealing layer covering the opening, and the adhesion between the lining and the internal surface of the shell being such that the lining is peelable from the shell while remaining intact.

An adjustable pouch machine comprises a vertical sealer module forms transverse seals between two piles of a pouch web to partially define a plurality of pouches. Rollers selectively tension and relax the web on the vertically oriented wheel, allowing them to drop away from heated lands on emergency and cycle stops. A filler wheel has a plurality of adjustable gripper units mounted directly thereon for transporting independent separate pouches cut from the pouch web. An adjustable knife is selectively provided with changeable knife hub sets to handle a variety of pouch sizes where a filler wheel alternately first fills and seals pouches in a train. Gear linkage accommodates variation in distance between hubs of different sets. Various embodiments, apparatus and methods are described.

An adjustable pouch machine comprises a vertical sealer module forms transverse seals between two plies of a pouch web to partially define a plurality of pouches. Rollers selectively tension and relax the web on the vertically oriented wheel, allowing them to drop away from heated lands on emergency and cycle stops. A filler wheel has a plurality of adjustable gripper units mounted directly thereon for transporting independent separate pouches cut from the pouch web. An adjustable knife is selectively provided with changeable knife hub sets to handle a variety of pouch sizes where a filler wheel alternately first fills and seals pouches in a train. Gear linkage accommodates variation in distance between hubs of different sets. Various embodiments, apparatus and methods are described.

An apparatus for feeding tubular blanks to a packaging machine includes a collecting group (10) provided with a first gripping member (11), suitable to grip single flat-folded tubular blanks (2) at a first face, and an opening group (20) provided with a second gripping member (21), suitable to grip the blanks (2) at a second face. The collecting group (10) includes a drive mechanism (12, 15) provided with a first arm (12) tilting under control of motor members (5), and with a second arm (15), carrying the first gripping member (11), which is mounted tilting on the first arm (12), and which is axially slidable for imparting to the first gripping means (11) an alternated rototranslation motion. The opening group (20) includes support a structure (22) of the second gripping means (21) pivoted on said second arm (15) of the collecting group (10) and constrained to a pulling means (25).

Example methods and apparatus for opening and shaping a box blank of a packing box are described. In one example method, a box blank is taken out in a way that a box body I is fixedly sucked, and then is moved to a box blank shaping station. A box body II of the box blank is fixed at the box blank shaping station. After the box body II is fixed, the box body I is moved relative to the box body II, and the box blank is opened and shaped after the box body I is moved to a predetermined position.

Example methods and apparatus for opening and shaping a box blank of a packing box are described. In one example method, a box blank is taken out in a way that a box body I is fixedly sucked, and then is moved to a box blank shaping station. A box body II of the box blank is fixed at the box blank shaping station. After the box body II is fixed, the box body I is moved relative to the box body II, and the box blank is opened and shaped after the box body I is moved to a predetermined position.

A method for packaging products in boxes comprises the steps of: a) providing a plurality of boxes in a folded configuration, b) collecting one box in the folded configuration and modifying the configuration thereof so as to bring it into an open configuration which is suitable for containing said products, c) verifying the conformity of the box in the open configuration with at least one predetermined quality parameter, and d) if the box in the open configuration complies with the quality parameter, introducing the products into the box, otherwise e) if the box in the open configuration does not comply with the quality parameter, returning the box to the folded configuration.