Apparatus and method for filling bulk materials into open-mouth bags, including the following steps: a) an open-mouth bag is appended from beneath to a filling spout of a filling station by way of an at least partially upwardly motion, so that the bottom end of the open-mouth bag is freely suspended; b) the filling process is started and bulk material is introduced into the open-mouth bag so that the freely suspended bottom end of the open-mouth bag unfolds; and c) the filling spout is lowered, so that the unfolded bottom end of the open-mouth bag is supported.

A compacting device and method is provided for compacting bulk material in an open package, the compacting device including a poker compactor accommodated on a carrier device. The poker compactor includes a gas-permeable outer wall connected with a suction duct. The poker compactor is suitable to be inserted into an open package for the poker compactor to come into contact with the bulk material to degas and compact the bulk material in the open package. The poker compactor has a longitudinal axis around which it is pivotally accommodated.

A packaging machine and method for filling bulk materials into packages with a rotatable machine frame and a plurality of circumferentially arranged filling spouts. During frame rotation, bulk materials are filled into packages. A machine silo is configured at the machine frame which has a storage volume for storing a quantity of bulk materials for filling a plurality of packages. Bulk materials are filled into the attributed packages from the silo through the filling spout. The machine silo is connected with a material supply with a controllable closing member for feeding bulk materials to the machine silo. A controller controls the closing member of the material supply dependent on the fill level to reduce the height of fall of the bulk materials being fed into the silo, or to avoid a free fall of the bulk materials during the feeding of bulk materials into the machine silo.

Apparatus and method of manufacturing open-mouth bags (2), comprising a storage device (3) with a supply (4) of bag film (5), a control device (60) for controlling, a conveying device (6) for conveying the bag film (5) and/or the bag body (16) along a conveying path (7), a welding device (8) with welding means (9, 10) for making a bottom seam (11) in the bag film and a cutting device (12) with a cutting means (13, 14) for separating a predetermined film length (15) of the bag film (5) to form the bag body (16) of an open-mouth bag (2). The control device (60) controls the conveying device (6) so as to cause a relative motion of the bag body (16) and the bag film (5) and a distance (37) between the bag body (16) and the bag film (5) is generated prior to making the bottom seam (11). The control device (60) controls the conveying device (6) and the welding means (9, 10) so that while welding the bottom seam (11) the welding means (9, 10) extend at least up to the bottom end (23) of the bag body (16).

A water bottle filling system includes a water collection vessel, a water storage reservoir having an inlet valve and an outlet valve, an air pump connected to the water storage reservoir, a coupling downstream from the outlet valve and a refillable water bottle connected to the coupling. A method for collecting, cleaning and dispensing potable water into a refillable water bottle is also provided.

A compacting device and method is provided for compacting bulk material in an open package, the compacting device including a poker compactor accommodated on a carrier device. The poker compactor includes a gas-permeable outer wall connected with a suction duct. The poker compactor is suitable to be inserted into an open package for the poker compactor to come into contact with the bulk material to degas and compact the bulk material in the open package. The poker compactor has a longitudinal axis around which it is pivotally accommodated.

A method for compacting a slug of product and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes collecting weighed product in an intermediate settling device to form a compact slug of product. The device can comprise a single settling chamber or can comprise multiple settling chambers which are axially rotatable. The slug can be compacted by jostling and/or vibrating the settling device. Thereafter, the product is discharged to a packaging apparatus. Because the product in the final package is denser, a smaller package can be utilized reducing manufacturing and shipping costs.

A method for compacting a slug of product and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes collecting weighed product in an intermediate settling device to form a compact slug of product. The device can comprise a single settling chamber or can comprise multiple settling chambers which are axially rotatable. The slug can be compacted by jostling and/or vibrating the settling device. Thereafter, the product is discharged to a packaging apparatus. Because the product in the final package is denser, a smaller package can be utilized reducing manufacturing and shipping costs.

A method of filling a storage vessel with a fuel gas at a fuel dispenser. In various embodiments, the method includes providing a fuel dispenser comprising a housing defining a fluid flow path therein, the fluid flow path operatively connected with a source of the fuel gas. The fuel dispenser includes a control valve disposed along the fluid flow path and a controller in operative electronic communication therewith. The method also includes actuating the control valve to provide a predetermined difference between the pressure of the fuel gas upstream of the control valve and the pressure of the fuel gas downstream of the control valve. The predetermined difference is selected such that the temperature of the fuel gas is reduced to a predetermined temperature after passing through the control valve. The method also includes dispensing the fuel gas into the storage vessel, the fuel gas having first mass flow rate.

The present invention provides a particle packing apparatus which can pack uniformly particles of catalyst, etc. without breaking the particles. The particle packing apparatus for packing particles into a vessel, comprises: a base held at a fixed position with respect to the vessel; a distributor which is rotational symmetrical to a central axis extended vertically and distributes the particles; a bearing fixed to the base and holding the distributor rotatably; a particle supplying unit fixed to the base, being rotational symmetrical to the central axis, having a bottom opening being smaller than an inner diameter of the bearing and supplying the particles to the distributor through the bottom opening; and a motor rotating the distributor.