A mailer machine including a mailer supply station (e.g., a rotary mailer supply station, a linear mailer supply station, a non-linear mailer supply station, or the like) and a handling station operatively coupled to the mailer supply station. The mailer supply station provides, on a selective basis, mailers having different attributes. The mailer supply station of the mailer machine provides for movement of magazines with respect to a robot in the handling station that may have a distal end secured in a stationary and fixed location. As such, different magazines with dissimilar mailers may be moved to a picking location adjacent the robot, as dissimilar mailers are required. Further, the mailers within the magazines may be moved to a pre-determined pick-up location such that the robot is repeatably picking a mailer from the pre-determine pick-up location.

A mailer machine including a mailer supply station (e.g., a rotary mailer supply station, a linear mailer supply station, a non-linear mailer supply station, or the like) and a handling station operatively coupled to the mailer supply station. The mailer supply station provides, on a selective basis, mailers having different attributes. The mailer supply station of the mailer machine provides for movement of magazines with respect to a robot in the handling station that may have a distal end secured in a stationary and fixed location. As such, different magazines with dissimilar mailers may be moved to a picking location adjacent the robot, as dissimilar mailers are required. Further, the mailers within the magazines may be moved to a pre-determined pick-up location such that the robot is repeatably picking a mailer from the pre-determine pick-up location.

A machine for making filter bags for infusion products includes a first carousel for continuous rotary movement about a first axis and having first operating stations movable therewith, each first operating station configured to operate on a corresponding piece of filter material fed along an angular stretch of the first carousel, to lift two chambers to a position side by side. A second carousel positioned alongside the first carousel and rotating continuously about a second axis parallel to the first axis has a plurality of joining elements positioned along, and continuously movable with, the second carousel. Each joining element is connected to corresponding control devices for actuating, in a synchronized fashion, a succession of movements of the joining element to intercept free ends of erect filter material, positioned on an operating station and joining them, towards one of the two chambers containing a dose of product.

A machine for making filter bags for infusion products includes a first carousel for continuous rotary movement about a first axis and having first operating stations movable therewith, each first operating station configured to operate on a corresponding piece of filter material fed along an angular stretch of the first carousel, to lift two chambers to a position side by side. A second carousel positioned alongside the first carousel and rotating continuously about a second axis parallel to the first axis has a plurality of joining elements positioned along, and continuously movable with, the second carousel. Each joining element is connected to corresponding control devices for actuating, in a synchronized fashion, a succession of movements of the joining element to intercept free ends of erect filter material, positioned on an operating station and joining them, towards one of the two chambers containing a dose of product.

A system and method for closing and sealing a cone filled with a smokable material provides a cone filler control system, a plurality of cone inserts each including a tapered inner wall defining a taper lock area for holding a cone filled with smokable material, and an insert ring provided at a lower end of each cone insert, each of the plurality of cone inserts removably inserted in corresponding cone receptacles residing in a cone carousel, a cone tamper actuator for compacting smokable material in a filled cone, a cone closer system including a gripper actuator for closing the cone top of the filled cone, and a cone sealing drive system including a motor with a drive wheel operated to impart a rotational force on the insert ring of each cone insert to rotate both the cone insert and a filled cone to form a wick seal at the end of the filled cone.

A system and method for closing and sealing a cone filled with a smokable material provides a cone filler control system, a plurality of cone inserts each including a tapered inner wall defining a taper lock area for holding a cone filled with smokable material, and an insert ring provided at a lower end of each cone insert, each of the plurality of cone inserts removably inserted in corresponding cone receptacles residing in a cone carousel, a cone tamper actuator for compacting smokable material in a filled cone, a cone closer system including a gripper actuator for closing the cone top of the filled cone, and a cone sealing drive system including a motor with a drive wheel operated to impart a rotational force on the insert ring of each cone insert to rotate both the cone insert and a filled cone to form a wick seal at the end of the filled cone.

A bagging assembly for bagging bales of fibrous material is disclosed. The bagging assembly incorporates a chute defining a channel for receiving a bale, which is pushed there between by a stuffing assembly. Aspects of the bagging assembly include raising a bale using a bale elevator to a higher elevation position so that the bale could be stuffed by the stuffing assembly and using a bag retrieving mechanism for retrieving a bag from a bag location for use in bagging the bale.

A bagging assembly for bagging bales of fibrous material is disclosed. The bagging assembly incorporates a chute defining a channel for receiving a bale, which is pushed there between by a stuffing assembly. Aspects of the bagging assembly include raising a bale using a bale elevator to a higher elevation position so that the bale could be stuffed by the stuffing assembly and using a bag retrieving mechanism for retrieving a bag from a bag location for use in bagging the bale.

A folding device having a simple structure and capable of efficiently folding an unfilled portion of a bagged culture medium block is provided. The folding device has a bag body, which has at least a bottom portion and a bag mouth, and has a filled portion in the bag body, in which a predetermined amount of culture medium is filled, and the unfilled portion, which is from an upper surface of the filled portion to the bag mouth. The folding device includes an opening mechanism for blowing air from a side of the bag mouth into the bag body to keep the bag mouth open; a folding mechanism having one or more folding jigs for pushing the unfilled portion of the bag body from inside or outside; and a tilting mechanism for tilting the unfilled portion toward the direction approaching to the filled portion.

A folding device having a simple structure and capable of efficiently folding an unfilled portion of a bagged culture medium block is provided. The folding device has a bag body, which has at least a bottom portion and a bag mouth, and has a filled portion in the bag body, in which a predetermined amount of culture medium is filled, and the unfilled portion, which is from an upper surface of the filled portion to the bag mouth. The folding device includes an opening mechanism for blowing air from a side of the bag mouth into the bag body to keep the bag mouth open; a folding mechanism having one or more folding jigs for pushing the unfilled portion of the bag body from inside or outside; and a tilting mechanism for tilting the unfilled portion toward the direction approaching to the filled portion.