There is described a packaging apparatus for forming a plurality of sealed packages from a tube of a web of packaging material which is continuously filled with a pourable product. The packaging apparatus comprises a delimiting element arranged, in use, within the tube and being designed to divide the tube, in use, in a first space and a second space. The packaging apparatus also comprises a pressurizing device for pressurizing the second space by a sterile gas withdrawn from the inner environment of an isolation chamber within which the tube is formed. Furthermore, the delimiting element is also designed to allow, in use, a leakage flow of sterile gas from the second space into the first space.

A system and a method for packaging compacted powders are provided, wherein the system comprises a first tube (TC), wherein a screw conveyor (C) is positioned inside the first tube (TC) which is configured so as to rotate around an axis (ac) inside the first tube (TC) in order to convey the powders towards an outlet (UT) of the first tube (TC); the system (100) comprises a rotatable terminal (TI, TIC) in the proximity of the output (UT); the rotatable terminal (TI, TIC) comprises in its inside cutting means (F) which are configured so as to cut the compacted powders leaving the first tube (TC) when the rotatable terminal (TI) rotates, wherein the rotatable terminal (TI, TIC) is positioned so as to contact the end of the first tube (TC) which defines the output (UT).

A method for forming sealed partially-filled packages filled with a pourable product comprises at least forming a tube from a web of packaging material, filling the pourable product into the tube for forming a product column within the tube, directing a sterile gas into the product column for forming and/or maintaining a gas cushion within the product column, and forming and transversally sealing the tube, for obtaining the packages containing the pourable product and a gas space formed from a defined volume of the sterile gas originating from the gas cushion.

A bagmaking and packaging device includes a transverse sealing unit, a first tube member, and a gas flow path member. The first tube member is disposed above the transverse sealing unit and extends in an up and down direction. The first tube member allows a packaging material to become wrapped around it to thereby form the packaging material into a tubular shape. At least part of the gas flow path member is disposed inside the first tube member. The gas flow path member delivers nitrogen into the packaging material formed into the tubular shape. The first tube member includes a cutout portion that extends in the up and down direction. The cutout portion is formed so that the nitrogen can move between a space between the packaging material formed into the tubular shape and the first tube member and the inside space of the first tube member.

The present invention relates to a device in a filling machine, said filling machine comprising a filling pipe for supplying liquid food to the tube of packaging material, a pipe for supplying pressurized sterile air to the tube of packaging material, and a gasket for sealing against the tube of packaging material and any pipes inside the tube, for creating an overpressure in the tube. The device further comprises a first pressure gauge for measuring a first pressure inside the pipe at a location upstream from the tube, a device for determining an air mass flow in the pipe, and a control unit for receiving the measured parameters, where the control unit is adapted to calculate the pressure in the tube based on the air mass flow and the first pressure, according to a first pre-established relationship. The invention also relates to a method being implemented by the device.

This invention relates generally to the distribution of a flushing gas during a packaging process. More specifically, the invention relates to a system and method for cooling and distributing a flushing gas during such a process that utilizes the gas' lower temperature and increased density to both maintain the flushing gases' placement within a packaging container and displace any undesirable gases there-from.

A vertical packaging machine for packaging products in a modified atmosphere. According to one embodiment, the vertical packaging machine includes a hopper through which the products to be packaged are introduced, a hollow forming element arranged downstream of the hopper, at least the hopper and the forming element forming a supply conduit through which the product to be packaged falls. The vertical packaging machine also includes an injection device configured for injecting a gaseous fluid into the supply conduit. A gas supply source is communicated with the inside of the supply conduit, the gas supplied to the supply conduit being suitable for packaging products in a modified atmosphere. A supply unit communicates the gas source with the inside of the supply conduit.

A syringe propellable by a propellant that boils at a predetermined temperature, the syringe comprising a barrel having an outlet at a front end, a stopper axially moveable in the barrel, and a third chamber for containing propellant. The stopper defines and separates a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber being axially forwards of the stopper and being configured for containing a medicament, and the second chamber being axially rearwards of the stopper and being configured to receive propellant for acting on the stopper to move the stopper axially forwardly in the barrel to expel medicament through the outlet upon actuation of the syringe. The syringe is configured such that, in use, upon actuation of the syringe, liquid propellant is released from the third chamber and boils outside of the third chamber at or above the predetermined temperature to provide an increasing vapor pressure in the second chamber that causes the stopper to move axially forwardly and begin to expel medicament from the first chamber through the outlet. During forward axial movement of the stopper in the barrel, propellant vents away from the second chamber through a vent hole.

A former assembly for forming and fabricating bags from flexible sheet material is provided. The former assembly can include a base plate having an aperture that extends from a first surface to a second surface thereof. A bracing post can be attached to the base plate on the first surface proximate the aperture. An annular space can be formed between the tube and the base plate. The annular space can be sized for the passage of the flexible sheet material.

A vertical packaging machine for packaging products is provided that includes a forming element with an upper mouth and a hopper upstream of the forming element. At least the hopper and the forming element form a conduit through which the product falls. A flow generator includes an injection device for injecting a gaseous fluid through a distributor for directing the fluid to the conduit. The distributer has an inlet mouth for receiving the gaseous fluid and an outlet mouth with an area smaller than the area of the inlet mouth. The injection device is controlled by a control device that is configured to cause the injection device to perform an injection for each product to be packaged in one and the same package, the start and end of which depend on the position of the product with respect to the upper mouth and the outlet mouth.