A heating and sealing head (1) for packaging machines (M.sub.1; M.sub.2; M.sub.3) of products in trays (V), comprising a fixed support group (2) provided with first actuation means (3) electrically connected to a pneumatic system (4) for delivering compressed air, and a mobile application group (5) mechanically coupled to the fixed support group (2) by means of first fixing means and comprising heating means (6) electrically connected to an electric current generator (7), preferably alternating, which activates the heating means (6) to produce heat useful for sealing a closing and packaging film to one or more trays for containing products when the trays themselves are arranged under the heating and sealing head (1) in a packaging machine (M.sub.1; M.sub.2; M.sub.3). In particular, the heating means (6) comprise an electromagnetic inductor body (8) which produces the heat due to the effect of the parasitic electric currents induced by a magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic inductor body (8) when crossed or affected by the electric current.

A system for assembling a container and closure comprising an expanding collet which has a plurality of pivoting collet segments, each configured to simultaneously pivot radially outward about a pivot point and comprising. The collet comprises a lip that is engagable with the rim of the open end of the container and an angled tip positioned radially inward from the lip and shaped to press a countersink portion of the closure against an interior wall of the container as the collet segments pivot radially outward. As the container and the chuck are brought together, the rim engages with the lips of the collet segments and causes the angled tips of the collet segments to pivot outward toward the interior wall of the container, thereby pushing the countersink portion of the closure against the interior wall of the container.

A system for assembling a container and closure comprising an expanding collet which has a plurality of pivoting collet segments, each configured to simultaneously pivot radially outward about a pivot point and comprising. The collet comprises a lip that is engagable with the rim of the open end of the container and an angled tip positioned radially inward from the lip and shaped to press a countersink portion of the closure against an interior wall of the container as the collet segments pivot radially outward. As the container and the chuck are brought together, the rim engages with the lips of the collet segments and causes the angled tips of the collet segments to pivot outward toward the interior wall of the container, thereby pushing the countersink portion of the closure against the interior wall of the container.

A grain-popping machine and associated pod-based popping method is disclosed. The grain-popping is configured to receive a pod. Each pod includes a plurality of cells, with each cell preferably containing a single grain kernel or seed, flavoring, and a cooking medium such as oil or shortening. In a preferred embodiment, the pod is loaded into the grain-popping machine through a slot so that it is held in position adjacent to a heating element. The heating element is activated to begin a popping sequence. When each grain kernel or seed in the pod reaches popping temperature, it absorbs the flavoring in its cell and ejects through the bottom of the pod, which can be weakened to ease ejection, into a bowl positioned in a receiving area of the grain-popping machine. The pod is then removed and disposed of.

The invention relates to a pressure unit (1) for sealing a package (2) for a food product, comprising a conveyor (3) for transporting the package (2) through the pressure unit (1) in a travelling direction (d), a first rotatable pressure roller (11) and a first rotatable anvil roller (21). The first pressure roller (11) is arranged opposite to the first anvil roller (21) to form a first nip (4) for receiving and rotationally engage with a portion (5) of the package, and arranged downstream of the first pressure roller (11) and the first anvil roller (21) in the travelling direction, a second rotatable pressure roller (12) and a second rotatable anvil roller (22). The second pressure roller (12) is arranged opposite to the second anvil roller (22) to form a second nip (6) for receiving and rotationally engage with the portion (5) of the package. The first anvil roller (21) and the second anvil roller (22), respectively, has a smooth rim surface (25). The first pressure roller (11) comprises a first bulge (15) extending annularly around its rim surface (18), the second pressure roller (12) comprises a second bulge (16) extending annularly around its rim surface (19), and the first bulge (15) is offset in relation to the second bulge (16) in an axial direction (7) of said first pressure roller (11) and the second pressure roller (12).

A method is described for making a retort container having one or two metal ends. A heat-sealable material is present on one or both of the container side wall and the/each metal end. The/each metal end is seamed onto the container body, and the resulting container assembly is conveyed on a conveyor adjacent to an induction sealing head and then adjacent to a cooling device. A pressure belt engages the upper end of the container assembly to keep the metal end from coming off the container body during the induction heating and cooling processes.

A method for quality control of a packaging system is provided. The method comprises receiving a first record of packaging quality parameter data related to a first packaging quality parameter for a package being assessed, determining a second packaging quality parameter based on said first record, requesting a second record of packaging quality parameter data related to said second packaging quality parameter, and receiving said second record.

A method is described for making a retort container having one or two metal ends. A heat-sealable material is present on one or both of the container side wall and the/each metal end. The/each metal end is seamed onto the container body, and the resulting container assembly is conveyed on a conveyor adjacent to an induction sealing head and then adjacent to a cooling device. A pressure belt engages the upper end of the container assembly to keep the metal end from coming off the container body during the induction heating and cooling processes.

The present invention relates to an induction sealing device for heat sealing of packaging material. The sealing device comprises a conductor partly encapsulated in a supporting body for cooperation with the packaging material during sealing. The coil conductor has a reduced cross sectional area at at least one position along the coil conductor so as to concentrate the magnetic flux induced by the coil conductor at the at least one position. The invention also relates to a method of heat sealing a packaging material using the induction sealing device.

Disclosed embodiments relate to an induction sealing device for heat sealing packaging material for producing sealed packages of pourable food products. In some embodiments, the sealing device includes: an inductor device which interacts with said packaging material by means of at least one active surface; a flux-concentrating insert; and a supporting body made of heat-conducting material and housing said inductor device and said flux-concentrating insert, wherein said flux concentrating insert is made by a magnetic compound of a polymer and soft magnetic particles; and said flux concentrating insert interacts with said packaging material via at least one interactive surface.