An apparatus for vacuumizing and sealing a package includes a plurality of platens and vacuum chambers, each chamber adapted to mate with a dedicated one of the platens; a conveying system for conveying the platens and chambers along a generally angular path having a single axis of rotation; an automated loading assembly having a linear component and configured to load a package onto each of the platens; an automated unloading assembly having a linear portion and configured to unload a vacuumized, sealed package from each loaded platen onto an outfeed conveyor; and a vacuumizing/sealing system configured to cause relative movement of each chamber/platen pair, along a portion of the angular path, to form therebetween an air-tight enclosure accommodating the package and effect vacuumization and sealing of the package.

An energy apparatus can be configured for providing energy to an item being transferred over a rotatable drum. The energy apparatus can include a first energy mechanism configured to be fixedly coupled to the rotatable drum and rotate with the rotatable drum. The energy apparatus can also include a second energy mechanism configured to rotate around a circumference of the rotatable drum. The energy apparatus can additionally include a translation system coupled to the second energy mechanism and configured to move the second energy mechanism to an end position that allows the second energy mechanism and the first energy mechanism to provide energy to the item while there is no relative motion between the first energy mechanism and the second energy mechanism. Methods of providing energy to an item utilizing an energy apparatus are also disclosed.

A method and apparatus are represented and described for applying dispensing elements, fixed by means of a gripping device of an applicator and having a flange and a screw cap, onto packages, in particular cardboard/plastic composite packages for dispensable products, wherein each dispensing element is supplied to the gripping device in an aligned position, gripped by gripper jaws of a gripper of the gripping device and is applied by said gripping device by means of its flange onto a package and pressed on there. In order, in the case of the application, to achieve individual pressing of the dispensing elements adapted to the situation even on uneven gable surfaces of the packages with a uniformly distributed force in a single pressing operation, the method according to the invention provides the following steps: gripping a dispensing element by closing the gripper jaws, lowering each gripping device with gripped dispensing element onto a package transported therebelow into an application position, pressing the flange of the dispensing element onto the package by means of a pressing head for a predetermined time, wherein the pressing head is freely movable in the spatial environment by a predefined angle range and can be adapted to the respective form of the package gable in the case of pressing and in that the middle point of the intended adhesive surface remains immovable and raising each gripping device to receive a newly-supplied dispensing element.

Energy mechanism assemblies and methods of operating such assemblies are described. One method of providing energy to an item may comprise positioning an item proximate an energy mechanism assembly comprising a first and second energy mechanism and a translation system configured to move the second mechanism along between a first position and a second position along a first axis and a second axis, positioning the item between the first and second mechanisms, moving the second mechanism from the first position to the second position, moving the second mechanism along the second axis for a first length while the second mechanism is in contact with the item; and providing energy to the item at least while the second mechanism contacts the item.

A method and apparatus are represented and described for gripping and holding dispensing elements, having a flange and a screw cap, for subsequent application onto packages, wherein the dispensing elements are linearly supplied to the apparatus in an aligned position and wherein each dispensing element is gripped individually by gripper jaws of a gripping device and is applied by means of its flange onto a package. In order that an applicator with smaller structural height can, even in the case of higher speeds, also reliably provide packages comprising an oblique gable with a dispensing elements, the following steps are provided: raising each gripping device into a start position above the supplied dispensing elements, lowering each gripping device with opened gripper jaws from their highest position to a dispensing element provided therebelow, wherein the transport speed of the gripping device and the transport belt are synchronised, pulling a dispensing element with opened gripper jaws to a flat delivery region, gripping a dispensing element by closing the gripper jaws, lowering each gripping device with gripped dispensing element to a package transported therebelow in an application position, pressing the dispensing element onto the package for a predefined time, and releasing the applied dispensing element and raising each gripping device to receive a newly-supplied dispensing element.

Embodiments herein include a system for joining components. The system can include a rotating base platform, a plurality of receptacles mounted to the base platform, and a rotating sonotrode platform. A plurality of sonotrodes are mounted to the sonotrode platform. Each sonotrode can correspond to a receptacle. Each sonotrode can move in a reciprocating motion between a release position distant from a corresponding receptacle and a compressing position proximal to the corresponding receptacle. The compressing position occurs at a first angular position of the sonotrode platform. Each sonotrode is energized at the compressing position.

The present invention relates to a simplified device and a process-technically simplified and also more rapidly applicable method for transporting readily cut and filled hose pieces within a machine for producing pouches filled with brewable material. The device according to the invention has a transport wheel which has several supports distributed over its circumference, each holding a pouch which are pivotally mounted on the transport wheel. In the method according to the invention, a hose piece for forming a pouch with at least one chamber between a head and a bottom is inserted in the radial direction into a support of the transport wheel. In a removal station the pouch is removed radially from the transport wheel with the bottom leading.

The present invention relates to a device for making a pouch received in a wrapping, comprising a pouch making device which is adapted to produce a pouch containing brewable material in a water-permeable wrapping, and comprising a sealing station with two sealing jaws movable relative to each other for sealing the pouch in a wrapping formed by a wrapping material. This device is characterized in that it comprises a pouch handling device for removing the finished pouch from the pouch making device and a wrapping material handling device for handling the wrapping material during the U-shaped wrapping of the wrapping material, wherein the handling device and the wrapping material handling device are adapted such that the pouch held by the pouch handling device and the wrapping material held by the wrapping material handling device are introduced into the sealing station.

The present invention describes a method and a machine for the formation of a capsule (100) for producing beverages in which the capsule (100) comprises a pleated capsule body (101) and a reinforcing element (102). The method comprises the following steps: a step of forming the pleated capsule body (101) of the capsule (100) in a first station (110); a step of supplying the reinforcing element (102) in a second station (111) different from the first station (110); a step of transporting the pleated capsule body (101) from the first station (110) to the second station (111); a step of insertion in the second station of the pleated capsule body (101) in the reinforcing element (102); a step of coupling between the pleated capsule body (101) and the reinforcing element (102) in the second station (111).

A dosing device for dosing plastic material, comprising an extrusion head that has a dispensing opening commonly called a die and a punch extending into the dispensing opening, coaxially thereto, for continuously extruding a plastic material in the form of a tubular or annular body, and a cutter for separating a dose of said plastic material in the form of a tubular or annular section. The cutter includes at least two elements having at least one cutting edge extending on either side of the dispensing opening and secured to a driver for symmetrically moving the at least two elements in relation to a longitudinal axis of the extruded tubular body until the tubular body is severed by said at least two elements in order to form a dose.