Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a product to be packaged to a packaging machine provided with a dosing unit, comprises a lifting arrangement suitable for lifting and moving at least a container of the product in such a way as to connect the container to the dosing unit to transfer thereto the product contained in the container; a method for feeding a product to be packaged to a packaging machine provided with a dosing unit by the apparatus, comprises the steps of introducing a container of product inside the apparatus, fixing the container to a lifting arrangement of the apparatus, moving the container using the lifting arrangement in such a way as to connect it to the dosing unit, transferring the product contained in the container to the dosing unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel installation for providing a product in pasteurized form, said product comprising at least one liquid component and fibrous and/or solid components.

Abstract: The invention provides process for making bar compositions with high level of sugar or sugars (greater than about 25% by wt.) and which can be extruded.

Abstract: This invention describes a cartridge pump and dispensing assembly for applications where cartridges containing liquid reagents are interchanged often. The cartridge pump comprises a reagent reservoir which directly empties into a metering chamber. A valve is at each end of the metering chamber. The two valves are aligned in the same direction so as to allow unidirectional liquid flow. The metering chamber is made of a compressible material, such as flexible tubing, so that when an external compression is applied to the chamber, the liquid contained therein is forcibly expelled. As the compression is removed, the metering chamber resumes its former shape and draws liquid into the chamber from the reagent reservoir. A dispensing assembly with electromechanical actuators for compression of the metering chamber and a means for sensing the amount of liquid contained within the reagent reservoir are also shown.

Abstract: A spill collection device is disclosed, for use with a revolving machine which bags material, the spill collection device comprising material landing means located below the position in the revolving machine where the material is bagged, material collection means operative to collect the excess material which falls onto the material landing means, and material return means operative to return the excess material which falls onto the material landing means to the revolving machine.