An apparatus for sealing an open end of a package comprises a first longitudinally extending sealing jaw, bearing mounted on a first eccentric shaft rotatable around a first rotational axis, and a second longitudinally extending sealing jaw, bearing mounted on a second eccentric shaft rotatable around a second rotational axis, the second sealing jaw being parallel with the first sealing jaw. At least one motor drives rotation around the first and second rotational axis in opposite directions, wherein the first and the second sealing jaws oppose each other, and are allowed to oscillate between sealing and open positions by moving towards and away from each other. A first and second transversally extending guiding bar cooperate with the first and second eccentric shaft via guiding pins running in guiding grooves, such that transverse play between the first and the second eccentric shaft and the first and second sealing jaw is allowed.

An anvil for forming a transversal sealing of a sleeve-shaped portion of packaging material holding a liquid product, said anvil comprising a main surface, in operation, facing the tube, and a ridge provided on the main surface, the ridge comprising a first section and a second section, wherein the first section of the ridge is placed below the second section such that, in operation, a stress in the packaging material formed by a hydrostatic pressure formed by the liquid product is shifted from a first part of the sleeve-shaped portion placed above the first section of the ridge to a second part placed above the second section.

A packaging unit for producing sealed packages from a tube fed along a first direction and comprising one pair of jaws, which grip the tube along transverse sections, defining respective second directions crosswise to the first direction; sealing means, which seal transverse sections to form sealed packages; separating means for separating packages from the tube along transverse sections and comprising one knife movably supported by one jaw; driving means moving the knife with respect to the jaw along a plane crosswise to the first direction and between a resting position, in which a cutting edge of the knife is spaced from the tube and is aligned with the respective second direction defined by the transverse section to be cut, and an operating position, in which the knife has completely cut the tube at the transverse section; driving means move the cutting edge obliquely with respect to the second direction when said driving means move the knife from the resting position to the operating position; cutting edge contacts the transverse section along a cutting surface parallel to the second direction and increasing as the knife moves from the resting position to the operating position.

An inductor for transverse sealing a packaging material tube filled with food product comprises a main body comprising first and second sealing surfaces facing the packaging material during a sealing state, a recess in the main body for receiving a knife during a cutting state, and an electric conductor arrangement, in the main body for inducing eddy currents in the packaging material during the sealing state. The first/second sealing surfaces each comprise a top section, an inner sealing section between the recess and the top section, and an outer sealing section between the top section and an outer edge of the inductor. The inner sealing section is inclined towards the recess, and the outer sealing section is inclined towards the outer edge, so that product in the tube is pushed away from a sealing band of the tube as the first/second sealing surfaces are pressed towards the sealing band.

The present disclosure relates to an induction sealing system for heat sealing packaging material for producing sealed packages of pourable food products, said sealing system may include a sealing jaw and a counter-jaw. In some embodiments, the sealing jaw may include at least one inductor device having at least one active surface configured to contact said packaging material; at least one flux-concentrating insert; a supporting body including heat-conducting material, said supporting body housing, said at least one inductor device and said flux-concentrating insert; and an interactive surface configured to press against said packaging material. In some embodiments, the counter-jaw may include at least one pressure pad made of elastomeric material, said at least one pressure pad configured to provide a counter pressure to the sealing jaw, wherein said at least one pressure pad has an arched convex contact area with height in the direction towards the sealing jaw.

A grain-popping machine and associated pod-based popping method is disclosed. The grain-popping is configured to receive a pod. Each pod includes a plurality of cells, with each cell preferably containing a single grain kernel or seed, flavoring, and a cooking medium such as oil or shortening. In a preferred embodiment, the pod is loaded into the grain-popping machine through a slot so that it is held in position adjacent to a heating element. The heating element is activated to begin a popping sequence. When each grain kernel or seed in the pod reaches popping temperature, it absorbs the flavoring in its cell and ejects through the bottom of the pod, which can be weakened to ease ejection, into a bowl positioned in a receiving area of the grain-popping machine. The pod is then removed and disposed of.

A heating unit for heating a continuous web, includes a heating roller rotating about an axis of rotation and having an outer surface comprising a pattern of thermally conductive areas and thermally insulating areas, and at least one induction heater electromagnetically coupled to the thermally conductive areas of the outer surface of the heating roller.

A grain-popping machine and associated pod-based popping method is disclosed. The grain-popping is configured to receive a pod. Each pod includes a plurality of cells, with each cell preferably containing a single grain kernel or seed, flavoring, and a cooking medium such as oil or shortening. In a preferred embodiment, the pod is loaded into the grain-popping machine through a slot so that it is held in position adjacent to a heating element. The heating element is activated to begin a popping sequence. When each grain kernel or seed in the pod reaches popping temperature, it absorbs the flavoring in its cell and ejects through the bottom of the pod, which can be weakened to ease ejection, into a bowl positioned in a receiving area of the grain-popping machine. The pod is then removed and disposed of.

A closure for a pharmaceutical vial. The closure comprises an aluminum foil with an inductively meltable adhesive, an elastic seal, and a cap. The cap has an opening through which a perforating cannula can be inserted.

A reusable container system and method for reducing the use of plastic is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a reusable container includes: a reusable bottle; a lid attachable to the reusable bottle that enables access removing and inserting single-use replaceable sealed bag or pouch; an inner single-use replaceable sealed bag or pouch that holds a liquid, viscous, or gel material inside the reusable bottle; a sprayer or pump attachable to the reusable bottle; and a dip tube with a leading edge that pierces the inner bag upon assembly of the above listed components. The liquid material is accessed for dispensing through the dip tube without contaminating the reusable bottle.