Abstract: A packing machine and a method of use thereof for packing articles in airbags. The packing machine includes three consecutive stations that can receive airbags in a series of airbags one by one, wherein the article to be packed is placed in the airbag. The first station can receive a new bag containing the article. In the first station, the airbag can be horizontally sealed at the top to close the opening and can then be inflated. In the second station and the third station, the airbag can be vertically sealed and can then be dropped into a conveyor at the end of the third station. An air tube that extends between the first station and the second station can be used to inflate the airbags. Two linear actuators with gripping heads can move the airbags from between stations, and break the leading airbag from the series of airbags.

Abstract: A separator assembly for separating adjacent flexible bags in a filling assembly includes a body defining an opening therethough, a surface defined on the body within the opening, a clamp movable in the opening and configured to selectively contact the surface, a separator blade movable within the opening, a rail, and a rail guide configured to slidably engage with the rod. The separator assembly is movable along the rail. Methods of moving the separator assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) is for use in a cap applicator unit (12). The apparatus (10) comprises a spigot (14) comprising an elongate body (16) and a head (18) connected to one end of the elongate body (16), and an anvil (20) provided with a hole (22) therein, the elongate body (16) of the spigot (14) mounted in the hole (22) of the anvil (20). The size of the hole (22) of the anvil (20) is sufficiently greater than the size of the elongate body (16) of the spigot (14) to permit angular movement of the spigot (14) relative to the anvil (20). The apparatus (10) further comprises at least one tensioning device (24) and (36) arranged to provide a force tensioning the spigot (14) against the anvil (20).

Abstract: A method for performing a task in registration with a discrete seal in at least one material is described herein. The method involves simultaneously forming a discrete seal and a fiducial/eye mark in the at least one material. The method includes providing a detection device; providing a unit operation mechanism; and performing an operation on the material(s) in registration with the discrete seal. The task performed in registration with the discrete seal is based upon the location of the eye mark that was simultaneously formed with the discrete seal. A method of making flexible containers using cutting to form the outer periphery of the packages is described herein. Also described herein are flexible containers and container blanks made by such a method.

Abstract: A method for packaging products in a substantially oxygen free environment. The method includes providing a containment environment with a main chamber formed by main chamber walls, gloves connected to the main chamber walls, an exhaust portion for removing ambient air, an intake portion for introducing inert gas, and selectively sealable access points for providing access into and out of the main chamber. The method includes providing a bulk product dispenser and individual bottles into the main chamber and sealing the main chamber. The method includes purging ambient air from the main chamber through the exhaust portion and filling the containment environment with inert gas. The method includes transferring a product from the bulk product dispenser to each of the individual bottles and sealing the bottles.

Abstract: A feeding unit configured to feed semi-finished sealed packs containing a pourable product to a folding unit adapted to fold the packs so as to obtain folded packages, the feeding unit comprises: a conveyor device having at least one carrying element configured to advance the packs from an inlet region of the feeding unit to an outlet region of the feeding unit; and a feed screw device at the outlet region and configured to receive the packs from the conveyor device, to advance the packs along a braking path and to feed the packs to the folding unit; the feed screw device is configured to decrease the velocity of the packs along the braking path.

Abstract: A driving tool comprises a cylinder extending in an up-down direction and a piston that moves downward within the cylinder due to a compressed gas to drive a driving member. The driving tool further comprises a main body housing that houses the cylinder and a grip extending rearward from a rear surface of the main body housing. The driving tool further comprises an upper chamber that is provided above the cylinder and communicates with the cylinder. The driving tool further comprises an air chamber that extends downward from the upper chamber and that extends only in an area on a right or left side of the main body housing with respect to both an axis center of the cylinder and an axis center of the grip.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a capping device for closing screw caps, comprising a motor and a power train so as to transmit force from the motor to the screw caps by means of the power train. The capping device comprises a control unit configured for dynamically adapting the operation of the motor, making use of a measured actual value of an operating parameter of the motor, a target closing torque and an actual closing torque model.

Abstract: A power tool includes a motor housing, a motor, a handle coupled to the housing, and a vibration damping assembly. The motor is positioned in the motor housing and configured to rotatably drive an output shaft. The vibration damping assembly is positioned between the motor housing and the handle. The vibration damping assembly includes a first coupling portion defined by the motor housing, a second coupling portion defined by the handle, and an elastomeric damper captured between the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion. The first coupling portion includes a boss having a flange and a first groove. The second coupling portion defines an opening and includes first and second ribs extending into the opening and spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the handle. The first and second ribs define a second groove therebetween. The damper occupies the first and second grooves.

Abstract: A device for inserting an aperture in a film wrapping of a goods stack arranged on a pallet, where the film wrapping is a film hood drawn over the goods stack or as a film sleeve surrounding the goods stack is disclosed. A piercing element has a rotatably attached actuation arm. The piercing element exhibits first and second part-regions. The first part-region is mounted rotatably on the actuation arm and the second part-region includes the piercing region. The second part-region is pivotable relative to the first part-region from an original position against a restoring force. A corresponding system and a method for inserting an aperture in a part-region of a film wrapping of a goods stack arranged on a pallet is disclosed, where the film wrapping is configured as a film hood drawn over the goods stack or as a film sleeve surrounding the goods stack.

Abstract: A cordless, hand-held power tool, such as a hammer drill/driver, a drill/driver, an impact driver, an impact wrench, etc., that includes a brushless direct current (“BLDC”) motor. Each of the hand-held power tool includes a removable and rechargeable battery pack, electronics, and a BLDC motor that have been designed and balanced to produce a high-performance-capable (e.g., high-power, high-current, high-torque) hand-held power tool. The hand-held power tool is capable of delivering high instantaneous (i.e., short duration) current to the BLDC motor for short-duration high power operation and high continuous (i.e., long duration) current to the BLDC motor for long duration high power operation. Additionally, the short and long duration power is capable of being provided in a smaller (in size) and lighter (in weight).

Abstract: A punching machine includes a punch blade and a support for supporting a spout. The punching machine further includes a drive mechanism. When the punch blade and the spout supported by the support face each other in a direction perpendicular to a web with the web interposed between the punch blade and the spout, the drive mechanism moves one of the punch blade or the support towards the other in the vertical direction to punch a hole in the web using the punch blade and the spout.

Abstract: A rotary hammer includes a motor, a spindle coupled to the motor for receiving torque from the motor, a piston at least partially received within the spindle for reciprocation therein, a striker received within the spindle for reciprocation in response to reciprocation of the piston, and an anvil received within the spindle and positioned between the striker and the tool bit. The anvil is configured to impart axial impacts to the tool bit in response to reciprocation of the striker. The rotary hammer also includes a retainer received within the spindle for selectively securing the striker in an idle position in which it is inhibited from reciprocating within the spindle. The retainer includes a detent member configured to engage the striker to secure the striker in the idle position, and a tensing element configured to bias the detent member radially inward toward engagement with the striker.

Abstract: A device for packaging elongated items that includes an upper platform for receiving the elongated items from a separate conveyor; a diverter mounted above the platform and two opposed elevator shafts having open bottoms. The elevator shafts are arranged laterally outward from outer edges of the platform and extend downward from the platform and are configured for receiving the elongated items after contact with the diverter and configured for holding the elongated items while a stack of elongated items is formed. The elevator shafts are provided with one or more support structures configured to hold the stack of elongated items as the stack is formed and to release the stack of elongated items from the device after the stack is formed, with the release of the stack of elongated items from the elevator shafts occurring via the open bottoms of the elevator shafts.

Abstract: A stack of products such as pouches are formed in a product bucket, pushed into a stack guide bucket and from there into a carton. A stack tamp descends over the stack, engages and confines it downwardly during stack pushing from product bucket and through stack guide bucket into a carton. Multiple product buckets, stack guide buckets and cartons move downstream during cartoning, and are respectively aligned in a cartoning station. Reciprocal containment blades hold the stack in respective cartons prior to flap closing.

Abstract: An articulation tool includes proximal and distal links, an elongated shaft therebetween, and first and second locks. Movement of the proximal link about proximal first and second axes causes corresponding movement of the distal link about distal first and second axes. The first and second locks have unlocked configurations in which the proximal and distal links are movable with respect to the elongated shaft about the first axes, or the second axes, respectively, and locked configurations in which the proximal and distal links are held in a fixed orientation with respect to the elongated shaft about the first axes, or the second axes, respectively. Rotation of the elongated shaft while the first and second locks are in the locked configuration and the proximal and distal links are angled with respect to the elongated shaft causes the proximal and distal links to rotate about respective longitudinal axes.

Abstract: The present invention is a method featuring containers for consumable products which have removable sample compartments to facilitate reuse, product returns post-trial, and product resale. The sample compartments are filled with the same product as the main compartment so that consumers may sample the product without damaging a tamper-proof seal on the main compartment. The used sample container may be refilled or replaced with a new sample container. Use of these containers may reduce waste by preserving the product in the main container in a sealed condition. Use of these containers may also minimize the return expense of products sold online by giving the consumer a chance to try the product and return the main container if they are unsatisfied, ultimately reducing the overall the cost per product and reducing the waste of both product and container or container materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cartoning apparatus (1) of items comprising: a die-cut magazine (125), in which a plurality of die-cuts (5) are stored for packaging the items, and a die-cut (170) pick-up and manipulating machine, configured to pick up the die-cuts (5) from the die-cut (125) magazine and manipulate them so as to open each die-cut (5). Where the die-cut (170) pick-up and manipulating machine comprises a robotic arm (180) on which a die-cut (175) gripping and manipulating module is installed, configured to grip one die-cut (5) at a time directly from the pick-up area (135) of the die-cut (125) magazine and manipulate it in order to open it.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a switch assembly and a power tool. The switch assembly includes a housing which extends along the longitudinal axis, a main control switch which is housed within the housing, a locking switch which is slidably connected with the housing and can move between a locking position and a releasing position, and a start switch which is rotably connected with the housing by a pivot. The locking switch is in contact with the start switch when the locking switch is in the locking position, and the start switch is in a locked state. The locking switch is disengaged from the start switch when the locking switch is in the releasing position, and the start switch is in a released state.

Abstract: Provided herein is a system for automated dispensing and packaging of articles. Systems may include: a controller configured to receive an indication of an order to be packaged, where the order includes one or more articles; a packaging station; a web of bags, where the web of bags is fed to the packaging station; a pneumatic table configurable to support a bag disposed at the packaging station; an opening mechanism including a pneumatic nozzle to open the bag disposed at the packaging station; a loading bin configured to be inserted into the open bag and deposit the one or more articles; and a closure apparatus to seal the bag disposed at the packaging station after receiving the one or more articles.