Abstract: A method and system of fault prediction in a packaging machine is disclosed. The method comprises registering data values associated with the motion of independently movable objects along a track in the packaging machine; determining a distribution of the data values; calculating a measure of central tendency of the data values in the distribution; calculating a quantified measure of a shape of the distribution; associating the measure of central tendency with said quantified measure of the shape as a coupled set of condition parameters; determining a degree of dispersion of a plurality of coupled sets of condition parameters associated with a plurality of motion cycles of the independently movable objects; and comparing the degree of dispersion with a dispersion threshold value, or determining a trend of the degree of dispersion over time, for said fault prediction.

Abstract: An apparatus for digital printing of carton-based packaging material for packages holding liquid food products is provided. The packaging material has a first side adapted to form outer surfaces of the packages and a second side adapted to form inner surfaces of the packages.

Abstract: A packaging material is provided, comprising a core material layer and at least one polymer layer being laminated thereto. The core material layer is provided with at least one area being configured to assist in folding the packaging material into a bottom end corner of a package to be formed, wherein the packaging material comprises a first set of crease lines being designed to form a bottom end of the package, and a second set of crease lines being designed to form a main body of the package. The at least one area comprises an intersection of a plurality of crease lines, each having a triangular cross-section, while a plurality of crease lines of the first set of crease lines, each having a triangular cross-section and having a virtual extension through the intersection, are terminated such that they end at a distance from the intersection.

Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising retrieving captured process data comprising video and/or audio data capturing at least part of the execution of events in a machine, retrieving at least a first signal representing a measurable machine condition responsive to the events executed, wherein a first sequence of said machine control instructions is configured to trigger a respective first set of said events for execution thereof, determining first time stamps of the machine control instructions, aligning the first time stamps with second time stamps determined for at least one of; i) times of execution of said first set of events determined from the captured process data; ii) the first signal and associated measurable machine condition retrieved in response to execution of said first set of events, displaying a representation of the first sequence of machine control instructions, associated with the first time stamps, together with an output representation said second time stamps.

Abstract: A container for pourable food comprises an initially sealed body portion for holding the pourable food and a drink spout for drinking from the container. The proximal end of a base portion of the drink spout is permanently attached to the outer surface of the container, and has an opening to receive pourable food from the body of the container. The distal end of the base portion has an opening for drinking the pourable food from the container. The drink spout comprises a lid portion initially attached to the base portion to seal the opening at the distal end by a breakable sealing portion. The drink spout comprises a connection portion permanently attaching the lid portion to the base portion. The connection portion is a flexure hinge allowing the lid portion to pivot away from the base portion after the breakable sealing portion has been broken.

Abstract: A valve for providing pulses of aseptic air to a web of packaging material is provided. The valve comprises a rotatable valve shaft having an inlet portion with a circular cross-section, wherein the inlet portion is provided with a radial slot being connected to an axial cavity of the valve shaft. The valve further comprises a valve member comprising a curved end being adapted to fit with an exterior surface of the inlet portion of the valve shaft during rotation of the valve shaft, and a fluid channel extending through the valve member such that when the valve shaft is rotated to a position where the radial slot of the inlet portion is aligned with the fluid channel of the valve member, air can flow through the valve via the valve member and the valve shaft.

Abstract: A molding apparatus for molding an opening device onto a packaging material web comprises at least one mold unit couplable to the packaging material web; and an injection device configured to inject molten polymer into the mold unit. The injection device comprises a cavity configured to receive the molten polymer, an inlet configured to allow for introduction of the molten polymer into the cavity, a first outlet configured to allow for an outflow of a first portion of the molten polymer from the cavity, a first valve element configured to selectively open and close the first outlet, a second outlet configured to allow for an outflow of a second portion of the molten polymer from the cavity, a second valve element configured to selectively open and close the second outlet and a pressurizing unit in fluidic connection with the cavity and configured to pressurize the molten polymer within the cavity.

Abstract: A packaging material having a core layer and inside and outside laminate portions is provided. The packaging material comprises a first area to form a first package, and a second area to form a second and adjacent package. The first area and the second area have a transversal sealing area between them, and the core layer is provided with at least one weakening portion at the transversal sealing area.

Abstract: An opening device configured to be applied to packaging for pourable products comprises: a pouring spout defining a pouring opening through which to pour, in use, the pourable product; a cap configured to engage and disengage the pouring spout to respectively close and open the pouring opening; a closing element closing and/or sealing the pouring opening, formed in one piece with the pouring spout and connected to the pouring spout by a breakable connecting portion configured to break during first opening of the opening device; the closing element comprising a protruding portion extending through the pouring opening and connected to the cap; and tamper-evidence device fitted to the pouring spout and initially connected to the cap by at least one breakable connecting bridge configured to break during first opening of the opening device; wherein the cap is hinged to the tamper-evidence device thereby being permanently tethered to the pouring spout.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sealing device including a sonotrode for sealing a packaging material, including a piezoelectric transducer to generate ultrasonic acoustic vibrations for the sealing, a housing, a power circuit connected to the piezoelectric transducer. The power circuit is enclosed in the housing, and an absorbent arranged in the housing to absorb moisture in an atmosphere therein to lower humidity. A method of controlling humidity in an ultrasonic sealing device is also described.

Abstract: A package forming unit comprises plural jaw units, each having at least one respective operative assembly for engaging the tube and for at least partially forming the advancing tube, one respective sealing element for at least partially transversally sealing the tube along a transversal sealing band and a pair of interaction tabs for interacting with the tube. Each jaw unit is controllable as a function of the tube filling level in an operative configuration in which the respective operative assembly, the respective sealing element and the respective pair of interaction tabs are controlled in respective active states while advancing along respective operative portions and a partial operative configuration in which the respective sealing element is controlled in the respective active state and the respective operative assembly and/or the respective pair of interaction tabs is/are controlled in a respective inactive state while, in use, advancing along the respective operative portion.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a foam-formed cellulosic fibre-material comprising coarse cellulosic fibres a cellulose reinforcement fraction. Furthermore, the invention relates to a foam-formed cellulosic fibre-material, a cellulose bulk sheet for a packaging material and a laminated packaging material comprising the foam-formed cellulosic fibre-material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a new low density foam-formed cellulose material comprising dialcohol-modified celllulose, and to bulk sheets, layers, laminates or moulded articles comprising such material. Furthermore, the invention relates to a laminated packaging material comprising a layer or sheet comprising the low density cellulose material as well as to packaging containers comprising the laminated packaging material. In particular, the invention relates to packaging containers intended for liquid or semi-liquid food packaging, comprising the laminated packaging material.

Abstract: A device for magnetizing a packaging material for food-containing packages is disclosed. The device can include a feeder for feeding a packaging material through the device, the packaging material having a plurality of portions of magnetisable ink. The device can also include a static bar having at least one magnet for magnetizing the portions of ink applied to the packaging material. The device can also include a magnetizable ink applicator for applying the plurality of portions of magnetizable ink to the packaging material. The packaging material can be a non-creased packaging material. A system for producing a packaging material is also disclosed. A method of magnetizing a packaging material for a food-containing package is further disclosed.

Abstract: A method is described of filling and/or sealing a packaging container. The packaging container can include a packaging laminate and having a top portion and a lower portion including one or more side walls and an open base. The method can include: supporting the packaging container with the open base uppermost on a support with an upstanding portion, wherein the support engages the top portion of the packaging container and engages part of the one or more side walls via the upstanding portion of the support; and filling the packaging container via its open base and/or sealing the open base of the packaging container, wherein the support ensures dimensional stability of the packaging container during the filling and/or sealing step. A related apparatus, support and packaging container are also described.

Abstract: Unique codes for marking packages for liquid food are generated with a header portion (40) containing non-encrypted code-definition data ([E], [G]) that represents the code structure and/or the code generation methodology, and a payload portion (41) containing encrypted payload data ([EP]). The encryption ensures that the code is sufficiently scrambled to make guessing and fraudulent code generation difficult. The payload data, before encryption, may be defined to be unique in each code, thereby also rendering the code unique. The payload data, before encryption, may also be structured so as to enable efficient search for the code in a database. When read from a package, the code may be processed by extracting the code-definition data ([E], [G]), identifying the payload portion (41), extracting the encrypted payload data ([EP]), re-creating the payload data by decryption, and searching the database for the code based on the payload data or one or more subsets thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing a liquid and a substance, including a housing with a liquid inlet and a substance inlet to a mixing chamber, an outlet for a mixture of liquid and substance, and a flow restrictor arranged in the housing, between the liquid inlet and the mixing chamber. The flow restrictor is controllable to switch between a first position providing a first through flow area configured to create a Venturi effect such that a flow of the liquid draws the substance into the mixing chamber, and a second position providing a second through flow area that is larger than the first through flow area to thereby decrease a pressure drop caused by the flow restrictor.