Abstract: A method is described for making a pack of smoking products having an ordered group of packets containing smoking products and positioned in contact with each other, wherein the group of packets has a closed lateral surface around a theoretical axis of the group of packets, which delimits two opposite surfaces of the group of packets, each of which surfaces is defined by the set of homologous surfaces of all the packets. The method includes unwinding from a reel at least one adhesive tape and applying it to the closed lateral surface and completely around the latter, to hold the packets of the group together solely by means of the at least one adhesive tape.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a sled and an end effector. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw, an anvil, and a cartridge channel. The staple cartridge includes a proximal end, a distal end, a cartridge body, and staples supported in the cartridge body, wherein the sled is movable to deploy the staples from the cartridge body against tissue captured between the staple cartridge and the anvil. The cartridge channel is configured to removably retain the staple cartridge, wherein a load is required to remove the staple cartridge from the cartridge channel, and wherein the sled is configured to reduce the cartridge removal load.

Abstract: A seaming shaft device for a sealer includes a seaming shaft, a seaming device detachable from the seaming shaft, and a fastening mechanism for fastening the seaming device to the seaming shaft. The fastening mechanism includes a lock and a fastener which can be arranged between the lock and the seaming device. The lock and the seaming device can be moved relative to each other along the seaming axis so that the seaming device can be brought from a locked state to an unlocked state, and the fastener in the locked stat is clamped between the seaming device and the lock such that the seaming device is fixed to the seaming shaft. The fastener can be unclamped by bringing the seaming device from the locked state to the unlocked state so that the seaming device is detachable from the seaming shaft.

Abstract: A shrink-wrapping tunnel heater which comprises a gas heater which heats gas used to heat and shrink a shrink film onto articles, such as packages or packaging units. The heater has at least one porous burner which comprises a porous body or reactor. The porous body or reactor designed to combust fuel therein to produce heat, but without an open flame. Articles are moved through the shrink tunnel and the heated gas heats and shrinks shrinkwrap film onto the articles.

Abstract: A dunnage system may include a converting station including a converter configured for pulling in a stream of sheet material and converting the material into dunnage, and an inlet guide having an inlet surface that is coiled such that first and second ends of the inlet surface are discontinuous with each other to define a gap therebetween, the inlet surface configured to channel the sheet material into the converter. A cutter for a dunnage system may include a blade with first and second phases of serrations that are coextensive over at least a portion of the blade, the first phase providing cutting serrations for cutting the dunnage, and the second phase comprising ledges for focusing the cutting and preventing or reducing bunching of the dunnage towards a side of the blade. A method of converting dunnage may also be provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with a method of forming a seal with a polyethylene based film structure. The polyethylene based film structure has at least one layer formed with an oriented polyethylene having a predetermined melting temperature (Tm). A conductive heat sealing device provides heat to form the seal, where a first sealing bar of the conductive heat sealing device operates at a first operating temperature of at least 10 degrees Celsius (° C.) below the Tm of the oriented polyethylene in the polyethylene based film structure and a second sealing bar of the conductive heat sealing device operates at a second operating temperature of at least 15° C. higher than the operating temperature of the first sealing bar. The seal formed with the polyethylene based film structure retains at least 99 percent of its original surface area prior to forming the seal.

Abstract: A self-propelled wrapping machine movable around a load to wrap the load with a plastic film in a wrapping cycle, comprising a self-propelled carriage; a upright fixed to the carriage and slidably supporting an unwinding unit provided at least with a reel of film; a first gripping unit that is supported by the carriage, and is movable and arranged to hold and unwind an initial flap of film from the unwinding unit in an initial step of the wrapping cycle; and a second gripping unit that is supported by the carriage, and is movable and arranged to position and release an anchoring element on the initial flap of film in the initial step of the wrapping cycle so as to fix the initial flap of film to a supporting plane and to grasp and lift the anchoring element from the supporting plane so as to disengage it from the initial flap of film after at least one turn of the self-propelled wrapping machine around the load wrapping the load with the film supplied by the unwinding unit.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for capping an array of bat pipes. A cap rack is provided with a frame, runners and a matrix of caps. The matrix of caps are aligned respectively over the top open ends of array of bat pipes filled with smokable material. A press tool, having a matrix of pegs and ribs, is aligned over the matrix of caps. Downward pressure of the press tool is applied into the cap rack thereby pressing the matrix of caps into sealed engagement with respective top open ends of the bat pipes. The downward pressure of the ribs of the press tool into the cap rack separates the frame and runners of the cap rack from the matrix of caps leaving the matrix of caps seated in respective top open ends of the bat pipes leaving the array of bat pipes ready for sale, shipping or the like.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a stapling assembly and an anvil configured to selectively couple with the stapling assembly to compress tissue and form staples in the tissue. The stapling assembly includes a housing extending distally along a central axis, a deck member having a plurality of staple openings configured to receive a plurality of staples, and a knife member at least partially disposed within the housing. The deck member includes an exterior perimeter having a first shape and an interior perimeter enclosed by the exterior perimeter and having a second shape different than the first shape. The knife member includes a distal end having a cutting edge that defines an edge plane that intersects the central axis. The cutting edge has a non-circular shape in the edge plane.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly and an end effector. The shaft assembly includes an outer sheath and a staple driving mechanism. The end effector includes a staple deck, an anvil, a first staple driver, and a second staple driver. The staple deck defines a plurality of staple openings in at least one annular array. Each staple opening in the plurality of staple openings houses a staple. The anvil is configured to actuate relative to the staple deck to compress tissue between the staple deck and the anvil. The staple driving mechanism is configured to actuate the first staple driver to fire a first staple of the plurality of staples against the anvil. The staple driving mechanism is further configured to actuate the second staple driver independently of the first staple driver to fire a second staple of the plurality of staples against the anvil.

Abstract: Described are a machine and a method for forming containers from blanks, including a plurality of shaping hoppers, an endless conveyor which defines a feed path and on which the hoppers are mounted in succession and a plurality of pushing elements which are movable in such a way as to follow the respective shaping hoppers along at least a stretch of the feed path and which have a to-and-fro operating movement towards and away from the respective hopper along a direction transverse, preferably perpendicular, to the feed path. The machine also includes folding means disposed along the feed path downstream of the pushing elements and configured to produce, respectively, a top closure and/or a bottom closure of the tubular blank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for vacuum stoppering a medical container. The device includes a main body defining an internal volume that has a variable pressure chamber configured to be connected to a vacuum pump. A stopper holder system is arranged in communication with the variable pressure chamber and is configured to receive and hold a stopper aligned with the direction of travel of a piston rod. A piston rod is moveable inside the internal volume of the main body along a longitudinal axis between a proximal rest position and a distal operative position wherein the piston rod pushes the stopper into the medical container. A container holder system provided in the main body, is arranged distally relative to the stopper holder system and in communication with the variable pressure chamber.

Abstract: Gas-operated fixing tool including a working chamber, a piston mounted slideably in the working chamber and comprising a driving rod of which a first longitudinal end is configured to drive a fixing element and of which a second longitudinal end is connected to a head which separates the working chamber into a first portion and into a second portion which is traversed by the rod, and at least one combustion chamber in which a mixture of air and fuel is intended to be burnt in order that combustion gases generate a rise in pressure that causes a movement of the piston in the working chamber, wherein the at least one combustion chamber is in fluid communication with the second portion in such a way that the rise in pressure causes the movement and the return of the piston into a rest position ready for firing a fixing element.

Abstract: Device for emptying flexible bags containing fluids, comprising traction means and draining means, the draining means being physically connected to the traction means by means of positioning means such that they are rotatably movable around the traction means and the traction means and the draining means being arranged and mutually enabled to stretch a flexible bag from the traction means and simultaneously to pass and circulate the bag through the draining means.

Abstract: A unit for over-wrapping filter bags includes a carousel rotating about a first axis with first and second grippers along a closed circular trajectory. A forming station for forming single sheets of over-wrapping material is arranged near the trajectory and includes a feeding device for feeding the sheets in a U-shape, synchronized with the first grippers. A first drum transports formed bags, rotates about a second axis and has grippers receiving the bags from a preceding station and releasing the bags from the first grippers with the U-shaped sheets in synchronization. A closing station includes a sealing gripper movable from a first position near the carousel, for picking the bag with the sheet the first gripper, to a second away position for closing the sheet and, lastly, to a third position near the carousel, for release of the enclosed bag to the second gripper.

Abstract: A power tool comprises an adjustable auxiliary handle assembly that facilities safe use of the tool by the operator while allowing convenient carry and storage of the tool when not in use. The adjustable auxiliary handle assembly comprises an indexing mechanism that includes an angled connector, a slidable latching mechanism and a handle base. The indexing mechanism allows a longitudinal handle to rotate and be locked in a position convenient and comfortable to the operator. The indexing mechanism is adjustable and can be operated with one hand (e.g., one-handed operation). The latching mechanism holds the auxiliary handle position in place while allowing the power tool to be used in high-torque/high load applications.

Abstract: A gassing device for gassing a container includes a rotatable gassing rotor with a container receptacle for receiving the container and a feeding area for feeding a gas via a feed opening. The container receptacle includes a gassing nozzle flow-connected to the feed opening via a channel for gassing the container, and a stationary gas supply with a stationary supply opening arranged on the feeding area such that the supply opening can be flow-connected to the feed opening. The gassing rotor can be supplied with the gas from the gas supply in the operating state by moving the feed opening to the stationary supply opening by rotating the gassing rotor. The feeding area is connected without contact to the gas supply in the form of a labyrinth seal, so that the gassing rotor is rotatable relative to the gas supply in the operating state.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing and packaging a special-shaped cigarette includes the following steps: designing inner packaging case paper capable of being folded into a special-shaped cigarette accommodating cavity; folding the inner packaging case paper to form the special-shaped cigarette accommodating cavity; filling an interior of the special-shaped cigarette accommodating cavity with an ordinary cigarette; and shelving for a certain period of time, so that a cross section of the ordinary cigarette changes from a circle to a special shape, and the ordinary cigarette is accommodated in the special-shaped cigarette accommodating cavity. A diameter of an inscribed circle of the special-shaped cigarette accommodating cavity is less than a diameter of the ordinary cigarette, and a material of the inner packaging case paper is a paperboard or a food grade PVC sheet.

Abstract: An electrically driven orthopedic impactor may include an adapter for interfacing between the orthopedic impactor and a surgical implement. The adapter may have a first surface that transmits a forward impact energy and a second surface that transmits a reverse impact energy. The adapter can connect to the surgical implement and to the orthopedic impactor without the use of external tools. The adapter may connect to the orthopedic impactor via a pushing motion and may disconnect from the orthopedic impactor via a reciprocal sleeve. A sensor can communicate a spatial orientation of the adapter with respect to at least one reference point that is not located on the adapter or the orthopedic impactor. A communication device may transmit information to the orthopedic impactor related to frequency or impact energy settings based on a type of surgical implement attached to the adapter.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for eliminating oxygen in the filling of a flexible bag with a beverage utilizing sources of inert gas, vacuum, and beverage. A filling head regulates the injection of inert gas and applies a vacuum to the flexible bag the bag spout. The bag spout is separately rinsed of oxygen prior to recapping the same on the flexible bag.