Apparatus and methods of cleaning a sealing head (23) of a capsule filling line, comprising operating an ablation unit (10) to irradiate the sealing head (23) to ablate a residue off the sealing head (23).

A web packaging machine for forming a food product package from a lower web of packaging material and an upper web of packaging material includes a frame, a web transport conveyor extending along the frame and configured to transport the lower web of packaging material along the frame, and a die box pivotally coupled to the frame and configured to form or close the food product package. A lift assembly is pivotally coupled to the frame and configured to assist manual pivoting of the die box relative to the frame.

A rotary device for welding a continuous web comprises a rotary unit rotating about a respective axis and welding units for welding the web mounted, angularly spaced, on the rotary unit. A movement device varies a radial position of the welding units. First and second supporting elements supporting the web are disposed, respectively, upstream and downstream of respective ones of the welding units, to keep the web tensioned when the respective welding unit is at an operating position. The first and second supporting elements are supported by a load-bearing structure connected to the welding units in such a way that a radial movement of the welding units corresponds to a movement of the first and second supporting elements towards and away from the axis.

A web packaging machine for forming a food product package from a lower web of packaging material and an upper web of packaging material includes a frame, a die member supported by the frame and configured to form or close the food product package, and a clamping device comprising a first end that is pivotally coupled to the frame and an opposite, second end that is configured to secure the die member to the frame. The clamping device is pivotable into and between a locked position in which the clamping device clamps the die member to the frame and an unlocked position in which the clamping device is pivoted away from the die member such that the die member can be moved relative to the frame.

An optical wheel assembly for a laser transmission welding apparatus includes a double-convex optical lens having two spherical surfaces that are joined by a polished side surface extending circumferentially around the lens. Each of the two spherical surfaces has a known spherical diameter. The optical lens is disposed between a pair of dish cup holders, each having a spherical concave surface with the known spherical diameter and engaging the spherical surfaces of the lens. Each dish cup holder has an axial projection extending away from a side of the dish cup holder that is opposite the spherical concave surface. The axial projections are received within respective bearings that are mounted within a housing. The bearings allow the dish cup holders and the optical lens to rotate while pressure is being applied to plastic workpieces during laser transmission welding thereof.

The cutting of fibrous material which does not melt easily is effected to avoid the unravelling of cut edges, using ultrasonic or laser beam techniques. The method includes (a) applying a thermoplastic powder material to the cutting region, and (b) applying thermal shock to the localised area, sufficient to destroy the fibres of the material, and melt the powder on either side of the cut, and (c) pressing the cut edges while the fused thermoplastic powder is still soft. Woven or non-woven fabrics have tendency to unravel, after cutting, and normally require a sewn hem. The method of the invention disposes of the sewn hem, and provides a thermo-cutting technique applicable to non-fusible or non-thermoplastic fibres.

A rotary device for welding a continuous web comprises a rotary unit rotating about a respective axis and welding units for welding the web mounted, angularly spaced, on the rotary unit. A movement device varies a radial position of the welding units. First and second supporting elements supporting the web are disposed, respectively, upstream and downstream of respective ones of the welding units, to keep the web tensioned when the respective welding unit is at an operating position. The first and second supporting elements are supported by a load-bearing structure connected to the welding units in such a way that a radial movement of the welding units corresponds to a movement of the first and second supporting elements towards and away from the axis.

A web packaging machine for forming a food product package from a lower web of packaging material and an upper web of packaging material includes a frame, a web transport conveyor extending along the frame and configured to transport the lower web of packaging material along the frame, and a die box pivotally coupled to the frame and configured to form or close the food product package. A lift assembly is pivotally coupled to the frame and configured to assist manual pivoting of the die box relative to the frame.

An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a first bonding module and a second bonding module. The second bonding module is positionable in close proximity to the first bonding module. At least one of the first bonding module and the second bonding module has a face with a width dimension and a circumferential axis and is rotatable about a rotation axis. The face has a plurality of ridges. The ridges are positioned such that at least two adjacent ridges overlap along the circumferential axis.

There is provided a sealing apparatus for forming void-fill packaging which includes a longitudinal guide path along which an edge of a part-sealed plastics film material can pass, a drive means for moving the film material along the guide path, and an air blowing or injecting means for inflating the film material. There is also provided a heating element and a rigid thermally conductive member which is thermally coupled to the heating element, the thermally conductive member having an film-contacting surface for applying thermal energy to seal the film material on the longitudinal guide path.