Abstract: A method of transporting non-volatile bituminous materials from a first location to a second location involves carrying a plurality of irregular bricks formed by the bituminous material in transport chambers carried by vehicles. Bricks are defined by a plurality of non-planar surface, which create gaps between adjacent bricks, and can further include polymer skeletons and other features that help them float. The bricks can travel by land, sea, air, or rail and need not be heated while in transit. Transport chambers have active or preferably passive environmental control systems to circulate cooling air, water, or other substances through the transport chamber and the gaps between adjacent bricks. In a preferred embodiment, ambient air circulates among the bricks during travel by land and ambient water circulates among the bricks during marine travel. The vehicles carrying the transport chambers can be low-emissions or zero-emission vehicles including fuel-cell powered trains and ships.

Abstract: A jet injector that includes a prefilled syringe. The syringe includes a fluid chamber that contains a medicament. The syringe also has an injection-assisting needle, and a plunger is movable within the fluid chamber. A housing is configured for allowing insertion of the needle to a penetration depth. An energy source is configured for biasing the plunger to produce an injecting pressure in the medicament in the fluid chamber of between about 80 and 1000 p.s.i. to jet inject the medicament from the fluid chamber through the needle to an injection site.

Abstract: A process for collation shrink wrapping an object that may include a number of individual product containers, preferably substantially identical product containers. The process may include the steps of (i) obtaining a collation shrink film that may include a multimodal linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), the film being a stretched film that is uniaxially oriented in the machine direction (MD) in a draw ratio of at least 1:3, (ii) wrapping the object in the film, and (iii) heating the object wrapped in the film in order to collation shrink the film around the object.

Abstract: The embodiment of the present invention discloses an automatic beancurd sheet making machine provided with cooling grooves. The automatic beancurd sheet making machine consists of a machine frame, a water tank, a soybean milk groove, a soybean milk circulating pump, cooling grooves, air blow pipes, a beancurd sheet collecting drum and conveyor belts. According to the automatic beancurd sheet making machine disclosed by the embodiment of the present invention, continuous sheet picking can be performed on beancurd sheets formed in the soybean milk groove, a condition that the machine needs to be stopped for sheet forming is avoided, and beancurd sheets can realize natural absorption of residual heat of the soybean milk groove on the conveyor belts like original manual work so as to realize drying by airing. The dried beancurd sheets are cut, and then packed, and automatic continuous operation is realized.

Abstract: A container handling machine having at least one operative unit is disclosed. The container handling machine includes a plunger configured to selectively move along a longitudinal axis and to deform a base of a container from a first swollen configuration to a second inwardly-retracted configuration, and an actuator configured to selectively move the plunger along the longitudinal axis between a first position, in which the plunger is detached from the base of the container, and a second position, in which the plunger deforms the base to the second configuration. The container handling machine further includes a control unit configured to selectively activate the actuator for producing a first stroke of the plunger along the longitudinal axis between the first position and the second position, in order to deform the base of the container.

Abstract: A jet injector that includes a prefilled syringe. The syringe includes a fluid chamber that contains a medicament. The syringe also has an injection-assisting needle, and a plunger is movable within the fluid chamber. A housing is configured for allowing insertion of the needle to a penetration depth. An energy source is configured for biasing the plunger to produce an injecting pressure in the medicament in the fluid chamber of between about 80 and 1000 p.s.i. to jet inject the medicament from the fluid chamber through the needle to an injection site.

Abstract: A jet injector that includes a prefilled syringe. The syringe includes a fluid chamber that contains a medicament. The syringe also has an injection-assisting needle, and a plunger is movable within the fluid chamber. A housing is configured for allowing insertion of the needle to a penetration depth. An energy source is configured for biasing the plunger to produce an injecting pressure in the medicament in the fluid chamber of between about 80 and 1000 p.s.i. to jet inject the medicament from the fluid chamber through the needle to an injection site.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a agave syrup product having a low water content. The agave syrup product retains the physical and palatable properties of untreated agave syrup while having a prolonged shelf-life. It can be advantageously used to sweeten beverages (such as hot beverages) and in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions (such as throat lozenges) and/or confectionary.

Abstract: This invention is directed to form openings in the heat shrink film for allowing cooling air to circulate between the articles while maintaining the structural integrity of the heat shrunk film. This is accomplished by slitting the heat shrink film and forming slots between the slitted parts of the film.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for continuously bagging pellets. The pellets can be formed from a tacky and/or polymer-containing formulation. Other embodiments relate to systems for continuously bagging pellets. Still other embodiments related the individual components of the processes and systems for continuously bagging pellets.

Abstract: A labelling machine for applying labels on respective containers is disclosed. The labelling machine is provided with at least one operative unit, adapted to receive a relative container to be labelled and having a support element for supporting a base portion of the container, with a conveyor device for transferring the operative unit from a feeding station of the containers to an outlet station, and with feeding means for providing at least one label to be applied on the container borne by the operative unit The operative unit also comprises an actuator element borne by the conveyor device on the opposite side of the support element with respect to the receiving position of the container.

Abstract: A heat-treatment device for heat treating packaged products that are available in bulk, and to a method of using the device. The device includes: a chamber; a tank for containing a fluid of a density such that the packaged products float when they are poured in bulk into the fluid, the tank presenting an evacuation compartment for evacuating floating products, the evacuation compartment including a hatch that is suitable for being submerged and then opened so as to evacuate a portion of the fluid including the floating products; fluid supply means for filling the tank and for regulating the level of fluid in the tank; submersion means; recovery means; and reception means.

Abstract: On a transport or conveyor section for conveying caps or similar closures (2) for bottles or similar containers, and for treating the closures with a treatment medium, for example with at least one sterilization medium, the at least one treatment medium is used at the same time for conveying the closures along the conveyor or transport section (1, 1a).

Abstract: A method for packaging a frozen food product includes placing a fluid food product into a flexible container, sealing the container and pasteurizing the food product in the sealed container. The method further includes applying a form to at least one surface of the flexible container, the form embossing the container and creating a series of compartments separated by thin segments therebetween, and freezing the product in the container with the form in place.

Abstract: A method for preserving foodstuffs, in which the foodstuffs are heated in the moist state in a container suitable for transport and storage with ventilation openings. The foodstuffs are heated for a defined period by a microwave, for at least such a time as hot steam forms in the container and exits through the ventilation openings. Gas is injected into the container after the heating process for at least partial compensation of the pressure drop in the container.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing kiosk that contains empty beverage containers and fills them with water and other beverages. The beverage containers comply with applicable regulations and standards to be designated “compostable.” The kiosk uses municipal water as the base, purifies the water, and adds constituents to meet the taste of the ultimate consumer. The delivered beverage may be commonly known as bottled water or as a soft drink, such as a cola beverage.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for charging a gas into a gas compartment portion (6) of a bag (1), after a pre-heating step which is performed in stop position (IV) so that the gas compartment portion of the bag is heated by a heated gas-blowing nozzle (27), a preliminary gas injection step for injecting gas into the gas compartment portion is performed by a gas blowing nozzle (28) and a receiving member (29) in stop position (V). Then, a gas filling step is carried out in stop position (VI) by gas injection nozzles (23, 24), and the incision (9) in the gas compartment portion is sealed in stop position (VII). In the following pre-heating step, the front and rear film sheets (7, 8) of the gas compartment portion are softened, and in the preliminary gas injection step, the film sheets are separated and their adhesion is eliminated.

Abstract: In one embodiment of an apparatus and process for packaging foodstuffs or other materials in a rigid container sealed by a flexible cover, a desired quantity of material to be packaged containing or together with some water or other liquid is placed in the container, the flexible cover is secured on the container so as to leave at least one unsealed opening, the container is heated and/or placed in a partial vacuum to bring the liquid above its boiling point to cause or permit vapor generated by the boiling liquid to expel other gases from the container through the unsealed opening, and the container is sealed while gas or vapor is still flowing out of the container through the unsealed opening.

Abstract: An ice bagging system is described.

Abstract: A device (31) for injecting an incompressible, pressurized liquid into a container (18) made of a thermoplastic material so as to shape the container (18), includes: a pipe (30) for supplying the liquid, which is to connect a liquid source (40) to the container (18); pumping elements (42) for causing the liquid to flow in the supply pipe (30) toward the container (18) at a first pressure (P1); and compression elements (44) for temporarily raising the pressure of the liquid contained in the container (18) to a second pressure (P2) that is greater than the first pressure (P1), wherein the compression elements (44) are formed by a work chamber (48), whose volume is variable, and which is connected only to the supply pipe (30) between the pumping elements (42) and the container (18).

Abstract: A plastic container comprises an upper portion including a finish adapted to receive a closure, a lower portion including a base, and a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion. The upper portion, the lower portion, and the sidewall define an interior volume for storing liquid contents. The plastic container further comprises a pressure panel located on the container and moveable between an initial position and an activated position. The pressure panel is located in the initial position prior to filling the container, and is moved to the activated position after filling and sealing the container. Moving the pressure panel from the initial position to the activated position reduces the internal volume of the container and creates a positive pressure inside the container. The positive pressure reinforces the sidewall. A method of processing a container is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing mouldable chocolate, the method comprising the steps of placing predetermined amounts of chocolate and glucose syrup in predetermined proportions into a plurality of individual packets and heating and subsequently cooling the packets in accordance with a predetermined thermal profile.

Abstract: A plastic container comprises an upper portion including a finish adapted to receive a closure, a lower portion including a base, and a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion. The upper portion, the lower portion, and the sidewall define an interior volume for storing liquid contents. The plastic container further comprises a pressure panel located on the container and moveable between an initial position and an activated position. The pressure panel is located in the initial position prior to filling the container, and is moved to the activated position after filling and sealing the container. Moving the pressure panel from the initial position to the activated position reduces the internal volume of the container and creates a positive pressure inside the container. The positive pressure reinforces the sidewall. A method of processing a container is also disclosed.

Abstract: An ice bagging assembly and related method with a horizontal ice bag cassette, a pair of opposing ice bag ply graspers configured to move an empty ice bag from the horizontal ice bag cassette to a vertical position to receive cubed ice before it is sealed shut and dropped to an ice bag merchandiser. The opposing graspers may be configured as rotating wheels and may have a grasping sensor. The ice bag cassette may be slidably and tiltably supported for easy replacement of horizontal bags. A load sensor, optical or mechanical, may be associated with the ice hopper to sense how much ice has been put in each bag. A pair of angled guides may guide a hopper into a support frame for the system.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention are directed to improved processes and systems for continuously bagging materials. In particular, the improved processes and systems can be used to bag tacky materials with improved throughput. The systems generally include at least one of a feeding section, mixing section, pelletizing section, transport piping, agglomerate catcher, defluidizing section, drying section, pellet diverter valve, and/or bagging assembly.

Abstract: Devices and a method for releasing gas in a container after closing and sealing to pressurize and/or prevent or counteract buckling thereof, and or provide structural rigidity and strength thereto and or release components. The method introduces a reactive agent into the container after filling and before sealing. The reactive agent is controlled to react to provide a gas and optionally components, which a) provides a positive pressure to prevent or counteract buckling and provide structural rigidity to the container, and b) and or changes the state or characteristics of the headspace and or contents of the closed container. The devices include a closure, a cap and a container. The reactive agent is brought to chemical reaction by moistening, heating, catalyst and the like. The closure includes the reactive agent and is disposed in the container. The external trigger is a device that emits energy that provides heat to the reactive agent to stimulate the chemical reaction.

Abstract: A product dispenser includes an outer housing and a shell disposed within the outer housing. The shell defines a product dispensing chamber, wherein the product dispensing chamber is climate controlled, for receiving a product, portioning the product, storing the portioned product, and dispensing the portioned product upon a dispense command. The product receptacles are stored in a dispense buffer disposed within the product dispensing chamber, and then are dispensed into an airlock for retrieval by a customer. The product dispenser further recognizes demands to keep the dispense buffer slots filled, and demands to dispense a filled product receptacle. The product dispenser may seal the product receptacles to ensure a sanitary product. The product dispenser may further include a vend interface unit to interact with a controller and consumers, whereby the consumer are able to place a demand on the vend interface unit, and await a dispensed filled product receptacle.

Abstract: A method for packing bitumen in a continuous process is disclosed. To pack the bitumen, a tray having one or more bitumen-receiving cavities is prepared. The cavity of the tray is coated with polymer film and bituminous film consecutively. Following that, the bitumen, in liquid form, is filled into the coated cavity. Additional layer of bituminous and polymer film are then consecutively laid over the bitumen-filled cavity, encapsulating the bitumen thereto. A system to form such bitumen package is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A plastic container comprises an upper portion including a finish defining an opening into the container, a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface, a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the sidewall defining a longitudinal axis, and at least one substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the lower portion. The pressure panel is movable between an outwardly-inclined position and an inwardly-inclined position to compensate for a change of pressure inside the container. The standing surface defines a standing plane, and the entire pressure panel is located between the standing plane and the upper portion of the container when the pressure panel is in the outwardly-inclined position.

Abstract: To provide a thermoplastic resin container that contains food or drink subjected to a retort processing for which completion of the retort processing can be confirmed and supervised with simple means without the need of an expensive member or facility, not only whether the temperature of the retort processing is reached but also whether the retort processing is performed as specified can be confirmed, and the consumer also can easily confirm completion of the retort processing of the product. The container is produced by two-stage stretch blow molding of a preform made of a thermoplastic resin in such a manner a part that is not stretched or is insufficiently stretched is formed at a part of the container, and the part that is not stretched or is insufficiently stretched is whitened to form a retort processing completion confirming part by heating in the retort processing after a content is packed and sealed in the container.

Abstract: A system and method of transporting wine includes packaging bottles of wine in an insulated container having a cold pack. The containers are transported in an insulated carrier from a winery or warehouse to an intermediate location, such as a warehouse or overnight carrier, and then transported to the intended recipient, such as a residence, a wine wholesaler, or a wine retailer, by uninsulated overnight carrier. The thermal properties of the container are chosen to keep the wine below a target temperature even if the overnight carrier is unsuccessful in delivering the wine on a first try.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers, in particular bottles, has at least one transport device for transporting the containers, at least one filling device for filling the containers and a tempering device for tempering a bottom area of the container. The tempering device is located at least at times at least partially in or below the bottom area of the transported containers and the filling device is arranged at least at times at least partially in or above a mouth area of the transported containers. The tempering device is mounted on the apparatus in such a way that tempering during or after filling becomes possible.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a plastic container, including a thin-walled container, includes an actuator and a base unit. The actuator may include a body portion and a holding/securing member configured to hold or secure a portion of a container. The base unit includes a heating surface and may optionally include an insert. In an embodiment, the actuator may be configured to apply a force or pressure on a container to contact the base unit, the base unit may be configured to receive a base portion of the container, and the heating surface may be configured to convey energy or heat to a portion of the base portion of said container. Embodiments of a method for providing a plastic container are also disclosed.

Abstract: Process of hot-filling a plastic container comprising a side wall connected to a neck and to a base, with a liquid or viscous product; process consisting in at least filling the container with a product at high temperature, hermetically sealing the container, cooling the container and its contents; process characterized in that a plastic container is used for which the linear thermal expansion coefficient of the side wall is greater than 0.00014 m/(m.K) and in that the container is allowed to expand and shrink at least as much as its contents.

Abstract: An ice bagging system and method according to which ice is automatically disposed in respective bags provided from a first source of bags, and ice is automatically disposed in respective bags provided from a second source of bags.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for producing a content filling bottle including a bottom part that is inverted between a concave shape and a convex shape to prevent a body part from being subjected to reduced pressure deformation, the method and device being capable of efficiently producing a sanitary and high-quality content filling bottle. Contents are filled into an empty bottle 1 with an inversion part 11 projecting outwardly from the body part. A cap 6 is fitted onto an opening of the bottle 1 to seal the bottle 1. An auxiliary tool 27 is then installed on the bottom part 5 of the bottle 1. Then, the bottom part of the bottle 1 with the auxiliary tool 27 installed thereon is supported via the auxiliary tool 27. The downwardly projecting inversion part 11 is pressed up so as to be inverted and recessed inwardly into the bottle 1. Subsequently, with the opening of the bottle 1 gripped, the auxiliary tool 27 is separated from the bottle 1.

Abstract: An ice bagging assembly and related method with a horizontal ice bag cassette, a pair of opposing ice bag ply graspers configured to move an empty ice bag from the horizontal ice bag cassette to a vertical position to receive cubed ice before it is sealed shut and dropped to an ice bag merchandiser. The opposing graspers may be configured as rotating wheels and may have a grasping sensor. The ice bag cassette may be slidably and tiltably supported for easy replacement of horizontal bags. A load sensor, optical or mechanical, may be associated with the ice hopper to sense how much ice has been put in each bag. A pair of angled guides may guide a hopper into a support frame for the system.

Abstract: An ice machine in which an icemaker sits atop the ice machine and makes ice that is processed by the ice machine to deliver on demand ice in bags to a paying customer. The customer places payment into the money acceptor and pushes a button indicating a demand to purchase an open bag of ice or a container of ice water provided by the ice water dispenser.

Abstract: The invention provides a transportable bottling plant integrated into a container. The container has a separation wall dividing the container into a bottling room and a technical room. A preform feeder, a bottle blowing unit, a filling and closing unit and first and second transferring devices are mounted in the bottling room. A power generator, an air compressor and an air conditioning unit are mounted in the technical room. The preform feeder comprises a recipient for receiving plastic bottle preforms and an ordering unit for ordering the preforms and feeding them towards the bottle blowing unit. The first transferring device is provided for transferring the preforms from the preform feeder to the bottle blowing unit. The bottle blowing unit comprises a heater for heating the preforms and a blow-molder for blow-molding the preforms into bottles. The second transferring device is provided for transferring the bottles from the bottle blowing unit to the filling and closing unit.

Abstract: A target collection device may include a collection container having an opening through which a target material is collected into the collection container, and a temperature adjuster configured to adjust a temperature of the collection container to a temperature that is equal to or higher than a melting point of the target material. The target collection device may be part of an extreme ultraviolet light generation apparatus. Methods of target collection are also provided.

Abstract: An ice distribution system and method according to which ice-filled bags are distributed within a unit such as, for example, an ice merchandiser.

Abstract: A sterile filling machine and related method are provided for sterile filling a container with a substance. The container includes a resealable stopper or portion and a chamber for receiving the substance therein. The sealed, empty containers are subjected to radiation capable of penetrating through the resealable portion and chamber for sterilizing the container. The previously sterilized containers are then transported through another sterilizing chamber, such as an e-beam chamber, to sterilize the penetrable surface. A filling member is moved into engagement with the resealable portion to pierce the sterilized penetrable surface of the resealable portion and inject the substance through the filling member and into the chamber of the container. Energy is then transmitted onto the stopper to hermetically re-seal the penetration in the resealable portion.

Abstract: Method and system for handling a plurality of hot-filled and capped containers having temporary deformations or distortions caused by vacuums induced therein. The deformations are confined or directed to a particular portion of the container. Annular hoop rings can be provided to confine the temporary deformations to a smooth sidewall portion of the container between the annular hoop rings. Alternatively, one or more supplemental vacuum panels can be provided to confine or direct the temporary deformation thereto. The annular hoop rings and the one or more supplemental vacuum panels can provide for substantially stable touch points for the container. The containers are conveyed with temporary deformations such that substantially stable contact points of each container are in contact with corresponding substantially stable contact points of other containers. After the conveying, a moveable element it a bottom end of each container is activated substantially permanently to remove the vacuum.

Abstract: A container can have a body with an integrally formed base attached to the body. The base includes a concave annular wall extending from the container sidewall to a standing surface, and an inner wall extending from the standing surface to a substantially flat inner annular wall. The inner annular wall is recessed in the base and is substantially perpendicular to the container sidewall. The inner annular wall includes a centrally located dimple. The dimple includes a plurality of spaced apart and radially extending indented ribs. One or more of the ribs extend radially into a brace that tapers to meet the inner annular wall.

Abstract: A capsule pressure control assembly for regulating or controlling the internal pressure of filled capsules, whereby instances of capsule elongation are reduced or eliminated, thus resulting in an increased yield rate of acceptable filled capsules.

Abstract: A hot filling system for a liquid, with heat recovery, and a corresponding method, wherein prior to heating and filling the liquid is first preheated in a heat exchanger. A portion of the heated liquid to be filled is again cooled in a recooler and recirculated. The return line of the recooler is here connected to the supply line of the heat exchanger so as to transfer heat energy from the recooler to the heat exchanger. This reduces energy losses in comparison with known systems.

Abstract: Ice bagging assemblies comprising an ice bag merchandiser, an ice bag diverter positionable between first and second positions to drop ice bags into different first and second regions within the ice bag merchandiser. Methods of stacking ice bags in an ice bag merchandiser comprising receiving an ice bag in an ice bag diverter and dropping the ice bag to a first region of the ice bag merchandiser when the ice bag diverter is in a first position and dropping the ice bag to a second region of the ice bag merchandiser when the ice bag diverter is in a second position.

Abstract: A method of packing and, for purposes of extending its shelf-life, heat treating a food product in a packaging container of paper or paperboard. The packaging container is first filled wholly or at least partly with foam containing a non-oxidizing gas, such as nitrogen, whereafter the wholly or partly filled packaging container is filled with the pertinent food product. After this filling, the packaging container is, where necessary, filled with additional foam to ensure the headspace above the product level in the packaging container is entirely filled with foam when the packaging container is closed and sealed by thermosealing. The closed packaging container filled with product and foam is thereafter subjected to the heat treatment for purposes of extending its shelf-life at a treatment temperature of at least 115° C.

Abstract: A cargo shipping system is provided with a steam dispersion system, a cargo carrier and a shipping container. The steam dispersion system may include a manifold and a plurality of steam diffusers for expelling steam into the shipping container in order to heat the entire surface area of the cargo carrier substantially, instantaneously and completely in order to heat a liquid cargo within the cargo carrier. Methods of making and using the steam dispersion system are also provided.

Abstract: Method and system for handling a plurality of hot-filled and capped containers having temporary deformations or distortions caused by vacuums induced therein. The deformations are confined or directed to a particular portion of the container. Annular hoop rings can be provided to confine the temporary deformations to a smooth sidewall portion of the container between the annular hoop rings. Alternatively, one or more supplemental vacuum panels can be provided to confine or direct the temporary deformation thereto. The annular hoop rings and the one or more supplemental vacuum panels can provide for substantially stable touch points for the container. The containers are conveyed with temporary deformations such that substantially stable contact points of each container are in contact with corresponding substantially stable contact points of other containers. After the conveying, a moveable element it a bottom end of each container is activated substantially permanently to remove the vacuum.