In an example embodiment, a doser assembly includes a hopper assembly configured to receive plant material, a bracket assembly connected to the hopper assembly, and a roller in a hopper opening defined by the hopper assembly extending through the hopper assembly. An interior surface of the hopper assembly may define the hopper opening. The bracket assembly may include a shaft extending across a portion of the hopper opening. The roller may be in the portion of the hopper opening of the hopper assembly and may extend between a first part and a second part of the interior surface of the hopper assembly. The roller may be connected to the shaft and may be configured to rotate with rotation of the shaft.

A device for the metered filling of a container with a filling material includes a receiving unit for receiving a container and at least one material store as a storage container for the filling material. A defined quantity of the filling material is able to be removed from the at least one material store and transferred into the container by a filling unit. The filling unit includes at least one metering chamber which is displaceably mounted so that the metering chamber is present alternately in a first position and in a second position. In its first position the metering chamber is in contact with the material store so that filling material is able to be filled into the metering chamber from the material store. In its second position the metering chamber is arranged above the container so that the filling material located in the metering chamber is able to be emptied into the container. The container may, in particular, be a drinking straw.

A machine to manufacture cartridges for electronic cigarettes comprising a casing made of plastic material inside which a quantity of powdered tobacco is contained; the machine is provided with a drum which receives an orderly mass of empty casings, and feeds them to a filling station in which a quantity of powdered tobacco is inserted into each empty casing and a filling unit which is arranged in correspondence to the filling station for feeding a quantity of powdered tobacco inside each empty casing from above; the filling unit is provided with a first hopper for the collection of powdered tobacco and a plurality of discs among which a first disc defining a bottom wall of the first hopper; wherein, between the first disc and a second disc a plurality of compartments is defined, each designed to contain the quantity of powdered tobacco to be inserted into a respective casing from above; and wherein the first disc and the second disc are mobile relative to one another, so as to vary the volume of the compartments and the quantity of powdered tobacco contained inside them.

A packaging machine forms, fills and seals a mixing pouch that includes a first compartment containing a liquid ingredient and a second compartment containing a light powdered ingredient with a breakable seal, preferably formed by an adhesive heat seal, between the two compartments to separate the two ingredients. The machine creates a breakable seal that can be ruptured to form a common interior cavity and allow the mixing of the two ingredients to create a mixed product. One end of the mixing pouch can be formed with a dispenser through which the mixed product is discharged for use. The mixing pouch is a flexible plastic member formed from two opposing plastic sheets, sealed through heat dies and supplied with powdered and liquid components before being completed. The operation of the machine is automated and powered through pneumatic cylinders. Alternatively, the compartments could be filled with different liquid components.

A machine to manufacture cartridges for electronic cigarettes comprising a casing made of plastic material; the manufacturing machine comprises a drum rotating at a predetermined pitch around its own vertical rotation axis, which receives an orderly mass of empty casings from a feeding conveyor, in correspondence to a collecting station, and feeds them through a succession of processing stations; in which, the first drum is provided with a plurality of peripheral seats, each designed to receive a respective casing and which are divided into groups comprising the same number of seats arranged substantially in line so as to form, in plan view, a polygon on the surface of the first drum; in which the casings of the seats of a same group are simultaneously subjected to the processes in correspondence to the succession of processing stations.

A filling station for heat-not-burn (HNB) aerosol-generating capsules may include a filling receptacle, a plurality of carriages, and at least one vacuum source. The filling receptacle defines a first series of vacuum ports. The filling receptacle is configured to receive an aerosol-forming substrate. The plurality of carriages are arranged underneath the filling receptacle. Each of the plurality of carriages define a second series of vacuum ports and, optionally, a third series of vacuum ports. Each of the plurality of carriages are configured to receive and hold capsule casings for filling with the aerosol-forming substrate. The at least one vacuum source is configured to draw a vacuum through the capsule casings such that the aerosol-forming substrate is drawn through the first series of vacuum ports in the filling receptacle and into the capsule casings underneath.

Described is a unit for filling containing elements (2) of single-use capsules (3) with a dose (33) of product for extraction or infusion beverages, comprising: a line (4) for transporting containing elements (2); a station (SR) for filling the containing elements (2) with a dose (33) of product which comprises: at least a first containing seat (S1) designed to receive a dose (33) of product; a substation (ST1) for forming the dose (33) provided with a device (6) for releasing a predetermined quantity of product defining the dose (33) inside the first containing seat (S1), the release device (6) comprising a hopper (38) and at least one rotary element (40a) having a helical profile which extends between a first end and a second end, configured to rotate about a respective axis (X4) of rotation; a drive and control unit (15) configured to drive the rotary element (40a) according to a speed of rotation variable as a function of an angular position of the first end of the rotary unit (40a).

A filling unit for filling containing elements (2) of single-use capsules (3) with a dose (33) of product for extraction or infusion beverages, comprising:a line (4) for transporting the containing elements (2);a station (SR) for filling the containing elements (2) with a dose (33) of product comprising at least a first containing seat (S1) designed to receive a dose (33) of product; a substation (ST1) for forming the dose (33) inside the first containing seat (S1) equipped with a device (6) for releasing a predetermined quantity of product defining the dose (33) inside the first containing seat (S1), the release device (6) comprising: a hopper (38) for feeding product; at least one rotary element (40a; 40b) having a plurality of blades (60A, 60B, 60C, 60D, 60E, 60F); and a filling chamber (61) positioned below the rotary element (40a; 40b), the rotary element (40a; 40b) being configured to create a feeding flow of product from the feed hopper (38) towards the filling chamber (61).

A method of filling packaging with pouches of product comprises conveying a plurality of spaced apart chutes along a first feed path. Each chute is loaded with pouches of product at a chute loading station. Erect boxes are conveyed along a second feed path to a chute unloading station wherein the second feed path is substantially parallel to the first feed path at the chute unloading station. The pouches of product are transferred from the chutes into interior spaces of the erect boxes at the chute unloading station as the chutes move along the first feed path and the erect boxes move along the second feed path. The chutes are returned to the chute loading station to be filled with pouches of product.

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.