A machine for producing a container from a preform having a body and a neck defining an inner cylindrical opening. The machine includes a container forming and filling station where the preform is placed in a mold having a molding cavity and a forming liquid is injected into the preform thereby forming and filling the container with a liquid. Prior to forming of the container, an extension device is attached to the neck of the preform thereby forming an assembly. The extension device includes a connection part for attaching to the preform and an extension part defining an inner opening extending in the continuity of the inner opening of the neck of the preform. The extension device remains attached to the neck of the preform at least during the forming and the filling of the container.

An apparatus and method for filling a container with fragile fruit involving submerging the container in water to better distribute the fragile fruit within the container. The container may be filled with fragile fruit either before or after being submerged in water. The fragile fruit may be transported using a stream of water or other suitable fluid medium.

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.

An applicator assembly (100) for closing a sample container (500) with a plug (16) is proposed. The applicator assembly comprises a magazine (102) configured to store a string (10) comprising polymer-based material, an insertion device (104) configured to insert an end piece (12) of the string at least partly into an opening (502) of the sample container (500), and a drive system (106) configured to supply at least a part of the string (10) from the magazine (102) to the insertion device (104). The applicator assembly further comprises a separator (108) configured to separate the end piece (12) from the string, such that the end piece (12) forms a plug (16) closing the sample container (500).

A system including a flume. The flume can include a fluid and be configured to receive crops. The system also can include crop selectors each sized to move the crops individually from the flume into a scale. The system additionally can include the scale. The scale can be configured to weigh the crops while the crops are in the scale. The system further can include a container carrier configured to (i) hold a container that is submerged in the fluid while the crops are dumped from the scale into the container and (ii) lift the container out of the fluid to allow the fluid to drain from the container while the container holds the crops. Other embodiments are described.

A beverage product has a beverage container, a quantity of a beverage in the beverage container, a flexible, compressible plug sealing the beverage container, and a contiguous molded lid having a cylindrical upper portion with a top having a matrix of openings, a cavity in the upper portion below the top, the cavity open to the underside, a shoulder facing downward, and a descending skirt below the shoulder, the descending skirt separated by a plurality of vertical slots into a plurality of flexible tabs having each a lowermost, inwardly facing lip, the contiguous molded lid engaged to the beverage container by the flexible tabs.

A tray for receiving sausages is provided. The tray includes cells which are adapted to substantially match the shape of sausages or other soft materials. The tray may be vacuum sealed to cause a relatively uniform top surface suitable for stacking. The tray may be sealed without pre-freezing the sausages and without causing significant deformation to said sausages upon thawing. The tray may be loaded in an automated manner without the use of robotic arms placing individual sausages into the tray.

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 including a flume. The flume can include a fluid and be configured to receive crops. The system also can include crop selectors each sized to move the crops individually from the flume into a scale. The system additionally can include the scale. The scale can be configured to weigh the crops while the crops are in the scale. The system further can include a container carrier configured to (i) hold a container that is submerged in the fluid while the crops are dumped from the scale into the container and (ii) lift the container out of the fluid to allow the fluid to drain from the container while the container holds the crops. Other embodiments are described.

The aim of the present application is to register a conventional beverage capsule refilling device of the type that comprises a cup bindable to a sealing sheet; and a beverage capsule refilling method, such that it makes it possible to reuse the existing capsules, generally made of plastic, in a simple, quick, clean, reliable and ecological manner.