A time-pressure-filling system for filling liquid drug product into containers is disclosed. The time-pressure-filling system has a storage vessel for storing the liquid drug product and a surge vessel. The surge vessel is configured for single use and is at least partially made of a rigid plastic material. A supply line feeds the liquid drug product from the storage vessel into the surge vessel in a pressurized fashion. A pressure control line is provided for applying a control pressure to the surge vessel, a dispenser is provided for dispensing the liquid drug product into the containers, and a dispensing line connects the surge vessel to the dispenser. A pressure sensor determines pressure in the dispensing line and a valve controls flow of the liquid drug product through the dispensing line. A surge vessel for use in the time-pressure-filling system and a time-pressure-filling method are also disclosed.

A system and method for closing and sealing a cone is provided. One embodiment extends a first closing head in a first downward slant onto an open top of the cone filled with the smokable material to form a first fold on the top of the cone; extends a sealing head downward onto the first fold; extends a second closing head in a second downward slant onto the open top of the cone to form a second fold on the top of the cone; extends the sealing head downward onto the first fold and the second fold; extends a third closing head in a third downward slant onto the open top of the cone to form a third fold on the top of the cone; and extends the sealing head downward onto the first fold, the second fold, and the third fold.

A system and method for closing and sealing a cone is provided. One embodiment extends a first closing head in a first downward slant onto an open top of the cone filled with the smokable material to form a first fold on the top of the cone; extends a sealing head downward onto the first fold; extends a second closing head in a second downward slant onto the open top of the cone to form a second fold on the top of the cone; extends the sealing head downward onto the first fold and the second fold; extends a third closing head in a third downward slant onto the open top of the cone to form a third fold on the top of the cone; and extends the sealing head downward onto the first fold, the second fold, and the third fold.

The disclosure relates to a metering apparatus for free-flowing material and to a method for operating such a metering apparatus. The metering apparatus has a metering duct having a closed cross section and further has a rotary drive (M). The metering duct is wound in the form of a screw with a vertical longitudinal axis. The free-flowing material is fed to the metering duct. The metering duct is set via the rotary drive (M) in an oscillating rotary motion about its longitudinal axis with individual rotary strokes, wherein, with each rotary stroke, a partial quantity of the free-flowing material falls out of a lower discharge opening of the metering duct.

A system and method for adding smokable material into cone is provided. One embodiment receives input at a user input device from a user that specifies an amount of the smokable material that is to be dispensed by the auger load system into an empty cone; determines, at a cone filler control system, a determined duration based on the user specified amount of smokable material received in at user input device; communicates a control signal from the cone filler control system; and operates an auger drive motor to rotate an auger for the determined duration in response to the control signal so that a helical screw blade of the auger dispenses the user specified amount of smokable material out from a lower portion of a hopper containing the smokable material into an empty cone.

A system and method for adding smokable material into cone is provided. One embodiment receives input at a user input device from a user that specifies an amount of the smokable material that is to be dispensed by the auger load system into an empty cone; determines, at a cone filler control system, a determined duration based on the user specified amount of smokable material received in at user input device; communicates a control signal from the cone filler control system; and operates an auger drive motor to rotate an auger for the determined duration in response to the control signal so that a helical screw blade of the auger dispenses the user specified amount of smokable material out from a lower portion of a hopper containing the smokable material into an empty cone.

A system and method for dispensing cones comprises a cone filler control system; a cone stack feed tube that receives a cone stack; a roller drive motor; a roller coupled to the roller drive motor and that is located below the cone stack feed tube outlet, wherein the roller is rotated for a predefined duration by the roller drive motor when the roller drive motor is actuated by the cone filler control system; and a cone chute located below the roller and above a cone receptacle, wherein the roller rotates to draw the leading cone out from the cone stack feed tube outlet and into the cone chute inlet in response to actuation of the roller drive motor, and wherein the leading cone travels through the cone chute into the cone receptacle after the leading cone has entered into the cone chute.

A system and method for dispensing cones comprises a cone filler control system; a cone stack feed tube that receives a cone stack; a roller drive motor; a roller coupled to the roller drive motor and that is located below the cone stack feed tube outlet, wherein the roller is rotated for a predefined duration by the roller drive motor when the roller drive motor is actuated by the cone filler control system; and a cone chute located below the roller and above a cone receptacle, wherein the roller rotates to draw the leading cone out from the cone stack feed tube outlet and into the cone chute inlet in response to actuation of the roller drive motor, and wherein the leading cone travels through the cone chute into the cone receptacle after the leading cone has entered into the cone chute.

The disclosure relates to a metering apparatus for free-flowing material and to a method for operating such a metering apparatus. The metering apparatus has a metering duct having a closed cross section and further has a rotary drive (M). The metering duct is wound in the form of a screw with a vertical longitudinal axis. The free-flowing material is fed to the metering duct. The metering duct is set via the rotary drive (M) in an oscillating rotary motion about its longitudinal axis with individual rotary strokes, wherein, with each rotary stroke, a partial quantity of the free-flowing material falls out of a lower discharge opening of the metering duct.

A system and a method for packaging compacted powders are provided, wherein the system comprises a first tube (TC), wherein a screw conveyor (C) is positioned inside the first tube (TC) which is configured so as to rotate around an axis (ac) inside the first tube (TC) in order to convey the powders towards an outlet (UT) of the first tube (TC); the system (100) comprises a rotatable terminal (TI, TIC) in the proximity of the output (UT); the rotatable terminal (TI, TIC) comprises in its inside cutting means (F) which are configured so as to cut the compacted powders leaving the first tube (TC) when the rotatable terminal (TI) rotates, wherein the rotatable terminal (TI, TIC) is positioned so as to contact the end of the first tube (TC) which defines the output (UT).