A method for wrapping a load with a film, strip, band of extensible material comprises: unwinding a film of extensible material from a reel; making a pleat on the film by means of a pleating system; stretching the film by means of a pair of pre-stretching rollers; welding the pleat by means of at least one of the pre-stretching rollers; wrapping the load with the film provided with the pleat.

A method for wrapping a load with a film, strip, band of extensible material comprises: unwinding a film of extensible material from a reel; making a pleat on the film by means of a pleating system; stretching the film by means of a pair of pre-stretching rollers; welding the pleat by means of at least one of the pre-stretching rollers; wrapping the load with the film provided with the pleat.

A packaging apparatus includes a first holding unit configured to hold a peripheral edge portion of a film on a front side; a second holding unit configured to hold the peripheral edge portion on a rear side; a lifting unit configured to press an article to be packaged to the film; a folding unit configured to fold the peripheral edge portion on the rear side into an underside of the article to be packaged; and an extruding unit configured to extrude the article to be packaged to the front side. The first holding unit moves to decrease tension of the held film after the peripheral edge portion on the rear side starts to be folded into the underside of the article to be packaged before the extruding unit starts to extrude the article to be packaged from the rear side to the front side.

An apparatus for realising a biodegradable packaging of a product for preparation of beverages includes a first feeder group and a second feeder group. The first feeder group is of a first film made of a biodegradable material, in particular a film of polylactic acid (PLA), and a first rotary carousel, configured, together with a series of work stations associated to the first carousel, to realise a pod made of PLA, containing internally thereof a product for preparation of a beverage. The second feeder group is of a second film made of a biodegradable material, in particular a film of Ecoralene, and a second rotary carousel, configured, together with a series of work stations associated to the second carousel, to realise an Ecoralene cladding of the pod to obtain a biodegradable packaging of a product for preparation of a beverage.

An apparatus for realising a biodegradable packaging of a product for preparation of beverages includes a first feeder group and a second feeder group. The first feeder group is of a first film made of a biodegradable material, in particular a film of polylactic acid (PLA), and a first rotary carousel, configured, together with a series of work stations associated to the first carousel, to realise a pod made of PLA, containing internally thereof a product for preparation of a beverage. The second feeder group is of a second film made of a biodegradable material, in particular a film of Ecoralene, and a second rotary carousel, configured, together with a series of work stations associated to the second carousel, to realise an Ecoralene cladding of the pod to obtain a biodegradable packaging of a product for preparation of a beverage.

Methods, apparatuses and systems for sealed dimpled film packages. A vacuum box having apertures, a dimpled bottom film sheet is placed on the base plate and an item to be packaged can be placed on the bottom dimpled film sheet. A top film sheet in a clamp frame is heated to a processing temperature and lowered towards the item and dimpled bottom film sheet. Vacuum suction causes sealing of the clamped top film sheet against the package from the base to the perimeter extending at an angle more than 5 degrees. The top film sheet is pulled down using the vacuum suction into contact with the dimpled film sheet from the base perimeter on the dimpled film sheet outward toward the perimeter of the dimpled film sheet forming a seal.

A method operates a packaging machine for wrapping a packaging film around packaging trays. The method includes: feeding the packaging film to a holding mechanism having two spaced-apart holders that hold the packaging film at two opposite sides; pressing a packaging tray against the packaging film by raising the packaging tray from below; and guiding opposite sides of the packaging film below the packaging tray. The packaging tray is raised by a raising device that raises a lifting platform from a transfer position into a packaging position, the lifting platform receives the packaging tray, and the packaging tray is transported from a loading position to the transfer position by a feed belt. The lifting platform is held in a middle position by the raising device while the feed belt is transporting the packaging tray between the loading position and the transfer position on an intermediate piece.

A method operates a packaging machine for wrapping a packaging film around packaging trays. The method includes: feeding the packaging film to a holding mechanism having two spaced-apart holders that hold the packaging film at two opposite sides; pressing a packaging tray against the packaging film by raising the packaging tray from below; and guiding opposite sides of the packaging film below the packaging tray. The packaging tray is raised by a raising device that raises a lifting platform from a transfer position into a packaging position, the lifting platform receives the packaging tray, and the packaging tray is transported from a loading position to the transfer position by a feed belt. The lifting platform is held in a middle position by the raising device while the feed belt is transporting the packaging tray between the loading position and the transfer position on an intermediate piece.

A collection assembly (10, 10a) for flowable materials includes a central, flexible bag (12, 12a) with a collection skirt (14, 14a) secured to the bag (12, 12a) and extending outwardly from the open top (20, 20a) of the bag (12, 12a). In use, the assembly (10, 10a) is placed at a collection site with the bag (12, 12a) in a collapsed condition and the skirt (14, 14a) is deployed about the bag (12, 12a). Material (36) is then placed on the assembly (10, 10a) over the open top (20, 20a) and, as necessary, the skirt (14, 14a). The skirt is then elevated using marginal gathering apparatus (16, 16a), thereby causing the material (36) to flow into the bag (12, 12a). The skirt (14, 14a) may then be gathered and closed, forming a duffel closure for the assembly (10, 10a).

Novel tools and techniques for heat and pressure treatment are provided. A system for heat and pressure treatment includes a vacuum pump, an enclosure, and an oven. The enclosure may include a body defining an inner volume, wherein the enclosure is configured to enclose at least part of a component within the inner volume, and sustain a vacuum pressure that is less than an ambient atmospheric pressure within the inner volume. The oven may be configured to receive and heat the enclosure. The vacuum pump may evacuate gases from within the inner volume and create the vacuum pressure. Under the vacuum pressure, the body may be configured to make surface contact with a surface of the at least part of the component, and to apply a mechanical pressure against the surface of the at least part of the component.