Abstract: An inner mould tool forming part of a mould to be used during injection moulding of plastic articles, such as plastic tops for liquid food packages, is provided. The inner mould tool comprises an outer surface defining the interior surface of the plastic article to be produced, wherein the longitudinal end of the inner mould tool is provided with a bushing having a planar surface defining the longitudinal end of the inner mould tool and being configured to be in contact with mating outer mould tools during injection moulding. The bushing is provided with side walls extending from the planar surface, said side walls forming part of the outer surface of the inner mould tool.

Abstract: A monitoring device for condition assessment of a packaging machine for producing packages of liquid food comprises a signal interface for connection to a plurality of vibration sensors in the packaging machine. The monitoring device includes logic to: receive measurement signals from the vibration sensors and obtain an event timing signal, MES, indicative of predefined work events of the packaging machine, wherein the respective work event corresponds to a mechanical action by a respective component in the packaging machine when operating to produce the packages. The monitoring device further includes logic to: identify, by use of the MES and in the measurement signals, signal values associated with the respective component, and evaluate the signal values for condition assessment of the respective component. The provision and use of the MES thus facilitates condition assessment of individual components in a packaging machine.

Abstract: A unit for applying opening devices to a web of packaging material at predetermined areas of the web arranged at a non-zero distance from one another along the web; the unit comprises a feeding group configured for feeding the web along an advancing path; at least one first tool, arranged at a first desired position along the path and configured to apply a first opening device to a corresponding first predetermined area arranged at the first desired position; and at least one second tool, arranged at a second desired position along the path and configured to apply a second opening device to a corresponding second predetermined area arranged at the second desired position; and a buffer portion arranged along the path, downstream of the second tool and upstream of the first tool, and configured to include and/or accumulate a web portion having a number of predetermined areas which is an integer multiple of the number of tools of the unit.

Abstract: There is described a linear motor system, comprising: a track, a synchronization device configured to transmit a synchronization signal, at least one movable member coupled to the track and configured to move along the track, the at least one movable member comprising a synchronization sensor, configured to detect the synchronization signal, and a processing unit coupled to the synchronization sensor and configured for adjusting an internal clock as a function of the synchronization signal.

Abstract: A method for combined production of beer and a non-fermented beverage from grain material makes use of a by-product in the beer production to produce the non-fermented beverage and thereby improves resource-efficiency. The method comprises processing the grain material into a mash; separating the mash into a fermentable wort and a retentate; processing a retentate material into a slurry, wherein the retentate material comprises at least a portion of the retentate; separating the slurry into a liquid component and a solid component; processing the liquid component into the non-fermented beverage; processing the fermentable wort into the beer; outputting the non-fermented beverage; and outputting the beer.

Abstract: A filling machine configured to form, fill, and seal individual packages is provided. The filling machine comprises a sterilization station configured to provide a flow of gaseous sterilizing agent towards open ends of ready-to-fill packaging containers passing through said sterilization station. The filling machine comprises at least one clean air supply and at least one baffle plate arranged above the at least one clean air supply, wherein the air supply is configured to direct a stream of clean air towards the ready-to-fill packaging containers. The clean air supply in turn comprises at least one distribution pipe and wherein the distribution pipe extends in a horizontal direction, the horizontal direction being in the direction of the flow of packages through the filling machine.

Abstract: A lid-spout assembly for a package intended to contain a pourable product and having a main body including a designated pour opening through which the pourable product can be poured, in use; the lid-spout assembly including a spout having a pouring outlet fluidly connectable with the designated pour opening; and a lid configured to be coupled to the spout to selectively close and open the pouring outlet; the spout including: a base frame configured to couple the spout to the main body about the designated pour opening and having a first wall configured to face, in use, the inner space of the main body, and a collar carrying the pouring outlet and protruding from the base frame; the base frame including a plurality of recesses obtained on the first wall.

Abstract: A blank configured to be folded into a gable top package that holds a food product and is openable by forming a spout for the package. The blank comprising first and second gable panels, first and second top fin panels and first and second gable fin panels. The first gable fin panel comprises a spout top crease that separates the first gable fin panel into a spout top portion and a spout reinforcement portion that is configured to be folded, along the spout top crease, over the spout top portion, wherein the spout reinforcement portion is arranged with a distance from the respective first and second top fin panels.

Abstract: There is described a method of monitoring a condition of a movable member in a linear motor system, the method comprising: providing a linear motor system comprising a track and at least one movable member coupled to the track and configured to move along the track, the movable member comprising a vibration sensor thereon, positioning the movable member at a monitoring region of the track, applying vibration to the movable member, and detecting a response of the movable member to the vibration by way of the vibration sensor.

Abstract: A packaging material is provided, comprising a core layer and one or more layers of a heat sealable material laminated thereto, and at least one carbon-based layer being configured to form a workpiece of an associated sealing system.

Abstract: A method for forming sealed packages filled with a pourable product comprises at least the steps of forming a tube from a web of packaging material, filling the pourable product into the tube for forming a product column within the tube and directing, during the step of forming and the step of filling, a sterile gas into the product column for forming and/or maintaining a gas cushion within the product column.

Abstract: A sealing device for forming a transversal seal to a tetrahedral packaging container is provided. The sealing device comprises a sealing element and an imprint ruler arranged at a longitudinal distance from the sealing element. The sealing element is configured to provide a top transversal seal to a packaging container while the imprint ruler is configured to provide a transversal imprint to the same packaging container.

Abstract: A packaging machine includes a conveying device for advancing a packaging material web at least to a tube forming station at which the web is formed into a tube and for advancing the tube to a tube forming and sealing device to form and longitudinally seal the tube, a tensioning device to control tension of the web and/or of the tube and a control unit to control operation of the packaging machine. The tensioning device has at least one tensioning assembly having at least first and second drive rollers, a first drive motor connected to the first drive roller to rotate the first drive roller and a second drive motor connected to the second drive roller to rotate the second drive roller. The control unit controls the first and second drive motors such that a free loop of the web expands and/or advances between the first and second drive rollers.

Abstract: A filling machine configured to form, fill, and seal individual packages is provided. The filling machine comprises a disinfection station and a hygienic chamber downstream the disinfection station, which hygienic chamber is configured to reduce the risk for re-contamination of the packages after passing the disinfection station. An inner hygienic zone is formed inside the hygienic chamber, whereby a positive air flow is established from the inner hygienic zone to the hygienic chamber outside the inner hygienic zone.

Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising controlling a packaging machine having independently movable objects along a track, moving object volumes of a leading object and a trailing object along a section of a coordinate system, determine a set of minimum separation distances between the object coordinates of the leading and trailing objects over an interval, associating object coordinates of the trailing object and the corresponding minimum separation distances in a first function, and for a selected object coordinate communicated to a selected movable object, determine the corresponding minimum separation distance from the first function, comparing the minimum separation distance from the first function with a resulting separation between said selected object coordinate and an object coordinate of a movable object closest downstream of the selected movable object.

Abstract: An induction sealing device for heat sealing packaging material for producing sealed packages of pourable food products, the sealing device comprising: an inductor configured to induce a current in the packaging material, the inductor comprising conductor elements; a polymer insert holding the conductor elements; and a supporting body holding the polymer insert; wherein the polymer insert comprises a polymer matrix into which graphene particles are dispersed.

Abstract: A homogenizer for liquid food includes a homogenization device having a gap formed between a seat and a forcer. A pump is configured to provide a pressure for forcing the liquid food through the gap and thereby homogenize the liquid food. The homogenizer includes an accumulator, wherein the pump is connected to the accumulator to accumulate a pressure in the accumulator. A cylinder arrangement is connected to the accumulator and to the homogenization device. The cylinder arrangement includes a piston that is configured to push a volume of the liquid food through the gap. A valve is arranged to release pressure accumulated in the accumulator, such that the released pressure actuates the piston to push the volume of the liquid food through the gap.

Abstract: There is described a drinking straw for a package being filled with a pourable food product. The drinking straw being configured to be at least partially inserted into a package main body of the package. The drinking straw comprises a tubular main body including a coupling portion extending along a central axis; and a sleeve fitted on and surrounding at least the coupling portion of the tubular main body. The sleeve comprises an abutment portion configured to abut onto an inner surface of the package main body after a partial insertion of the drinking straw into the package main body and during a movement of the drinking straw out of the package main body for impeding and/or hindering and/or blocking a removal and a separation of the drinking straw out of and from the package main body. The abutment portion has a frustoconical shape.

Abstract: A method for providing a packaging material is provided. The method comprises feeding a web of packaging material through a packaging material processing unit; determining a target position of the packaging material; and controlling a printing unit to print an RFID antenna at the target position, wherein the material used for printing the RFID antenna is conductive substance. A packaging material is also provided.