A packaging apparatus with an improved pinch roller apparatus, fluid supply apparatus, and/or a sealing apparatus. The pinch roller apparatus (e.g., comprising one or more guide and/or pinch rollers) is used to deliver film material to the fluid supply apparatus (e.g., nozzle and blower apparatus, or the like) that fills one or more chambers of the film material with fluid (e.g., air, gas, or other like fluid), and the film material is then sealed by a sealing apparatus (e.g., using one or more heating elements with an improved temperature sensor configuration) that seals the fluid within the one or more chambers in order to form the inflated article (e.g., inflated packaging material). In particular, the sealing apparatus provides improved sealing through the improved accuracy of the temperature reading in the heating zone, in part, by locating a sensor between a heating element and a protective member that covers the sensor.

The apparatus includes an operating unit, which can be a welding unit for welding a closing film to an edge zone of a containing element or a separating unit for separating containing elements from portions of sheet material. The apparatus includes a control unit programmed to enable the operating unit to selectively process a continuous strip of containing elements or discrete groups of containing elements.

A welding apparatus for use in welding first and second sheets of material together includes a seal die, a platen, a control unit, and a power source adapted to provide energy to the seal die. The seal die is made of a conductive material and is configured to impart thermal-mechanical energy to the first and second sheets of material. The seal die includes a bottom surface configured to contact the first sheet, an inner edge, a chamfer extending between the bottom surface and the inner edge, a first blend radius, and a second blend radius. The first radius extends between the chamfer and the bottom surface, while the second radius extends between the chamfer and the inner edge. The platen is configured to support the second sheet, while the control unit is programmed to cause the seal die to be directed towards the platen.

The invention is directed to a thermoforming packaging machine (1) for producing sealed packages (2) having a planar surface (3) and a shaped recess (4) comprising a sealing station (6) with a lower sealing tool (7) comprising of a first part (8) provided with a first seal seam support (8a) for supporting a first sealed seam (9) at the outer perimeter (10) of the planar surface (3) of the moulded product (2a) and a second part (11) provided with a second support (11a) provided with a seal seam support opening (12). The second support (11a) supports a second sealed seam (12a) on the planar surface (3) of the moulded product (2a) following the perimeter (13) of the shaped recess (4). The first part (8) and the second part (11) are separate parts which are detachable connected.

A biodegradable whole leaf pillow tea bag is provided, along with a system and method for manufacturing biodegradable whole leaf pillow tea bags. The method for manufacturing the whole leaf pillow tea bags includes the steps of providing a biodegradable infusion substrate having two opposing edge; creating a sleeve from the biodegradable infusion substrate by infusing the two opposing edges of the substrate together and closing the sleeve at its bottom; placing whole leaf tea in the bottom of the sleeve; vertically feeding the sleeve containing the whole leaf tea into a heat sealing machine that will, at predetermined intervals create heat seals across the sleeve to create pillow bags; cutting the pillow bags from one another across the heat seal. In one example, the biodegradable infusion substrate may contain hemp and/or the whole leaf tea may be infused with CBD oil or other supplements. The same method of manufacturing may be used to create a biodegradable pillow bag containing coffee.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods to secure a film to a container are provided. An example sealing device utilizes film from a supply of film to seal a lid onto a container. Various sizes of containers are usable with some example sealing devices. Additional features, such as printing on the film and piercing the film for ventilation and/or insertion of a straw are contemplated. One or more markings along the film may be utilized for confirming that an approved film has been loaded into the sealing device. In response, various components or features of the sealing device may be appropriately enabled or disabled. The one or more markings may also be utilized to convey data to the sealing device regarding the installed film, such as for improved operation thereof.

An apparatus to apply a foam seal to a part is provided. The apparatus comprises a receiving device to secure the part, a loading device and a driving device to drive the loading device. The receiving device includes a housing, a first rod coupled to the housing and at least partially disposed in the housing and a resilient member connected between the housing and the first rod at a radial direction. The loading device includes an actuating member and a holding member to hold the foam seal. The driving device is configured to move the loading device between a loading position and an application position and further drive the actuating member and the holding member to rotate around an axis parallel to the first rod. The actuation member contacts the housing while rotating and the foam seal on the holding member contacts the part at the application position.

A method is used for a pair of bonding composite materials that are each provided with a melting material and a heat-resistant material. Each heat-resistant material includes a heat-resistant member and a binder member. The ceramic separators have ceramic layers that face each other and that are bonded. An ultrasonic wave is applied to the composite materials while applying a pressure thereto with a processing member. Also heat is applied to the binder members with a heating member. Here, the heater heats the binder members to a temperature that is greater than or equal to the glass transition temperature of the binder members and less than the melting point of the binder members.

An apparatus and related method of utilizing articulating vacuum plates to manipulate a film or polymeric sheet and form a three dimensional article is provided. The apparatus can be in the form of an articulating vacuum plate system which includes one or more plates or mold parts that are configured to support a sheet, constructed for example, from a polymeric film, in a two dimensional configuration or a three dimensional configuration in a first mode. The apparatus is constructed so that the plates and/or mold parts can articulate or move so as to reconfigure the sheet from a generally planar configuration into a second three dimensional configuration in a second mode for further forming, optionally while the plates and/or mold parts apply vacuum to the sheet while the plates and/or mold parts articulate, so that the plates and/or mold parts bend or otherwise manipulate the configuration and shape of the sheet.

A biodegradable whole leaf pillow tea bag is provided, along with a system and method for manufacturing biodegradable whole leaf pillow tea bags. The method for manufacturing the whole leaf pillow tea bags includes the steps of providing a biodegradable infusion substrate having two opposing edge; creating a sleeve from the biodegradable infusion substrate by infusing the two opposing edges of the substrate together and closing the sleeve at its bottom; placing whole leaf tea in the bottom of the sleeve; vertically feeding the sleeve containing the whole leaf tea into a heat sealing machine that will, at predetermined intervals create heat seals across the sleeve to create pillow bags; cutting the pillow bags from one another across the heat seal. In one example, the biodegradable infusion substrate may contain hemp and/or the whole leaf tea may be infused with CBD oil or other supplements. The same method of manufacturing may be used to create a biodegradable pillow bag containing coffee.