Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tray sealing machine and, in addition, to a method for gently picking-up trays and for gently depositing sealed packages.

Abstract: A method and system for wrapping meat in containers is provided. The method and system provide a modified atmosphere, other than that which exists as standard air, to a container such that a final sealed product contains an internal volume or atmosphere of modified gas. In-line processing features dispense the desired modified gas such that minimal interruption is provided in an automated or partially automated packing operation.

Abstract: The application relates to a twin lane tray sealer (100) comprising a pair of conveyors aligned with respective lanes for conveying trays to a heat sealing tool (6) and a pair of transfer mechanisms (66) each for transferring a known plurality of trays together and at a known separation from the respective conveyors to the heat sealing tool wherein the heat sealing tool (6) comprises a plurality of individually operable heaters (61a, 61b), each aligned with a respective tray in the tool in use. Control means is utilized to determine if a tray is missing from a group of trays transferred by the transfer mechanism. If a tray is determined as missing the control means is configured to not activate the heater aligned with the position of the determined missing tray in the tool.

Abstract: The present application relates to tray sealing apparatus (100) comprising a heat sealing tool (6), a pair of laterally spaced transfer mechanisms (66) for transferring trays to and away from the heat sealing tool along corresponding laterally spaced tray feed lanes, film supply apparatus for supplying respective heat sealable films to the sealing tool one in alignment with each tray feed lane. The sealing tool comprises a pair of lower support members (61a, 61b), each aligned with a respective one of the tray feed lanes and on to which one or more trays can be transferred. The tray sealing apparatus further comprises a common upper plate (65) having heaters aligned respectively in use with each tray on the lower support members; and means for selectively moving the lower support members towards the upper plate so as to bring the tray(s) on that lower support member into contact with the corresponding film, whereby the upper plate heat seals the film to the tray(s).

Abstract: A working station for a packaging machine for sealing a package and quickly cutting a top film and a method for operating such a working station. The working station may include a sealing tool upper part, a sealing tool lower part, a sealing frame, a movable cutting tool having a blade for cutting a top film, and at least one energy storage device in operable engagement with the cutting tool and the sealing frame. The at least one energy storage device may be configured for accumulating potential energy upon a relative movement of the sealing frame with respect to the cutting tool. The working station may further include a holding mechanism that is operable to hold the cutting tool to a portion of the working station that is stationary with respect to the cutting tool and the sealing frame.

Abstract: A sealing device for sealing trays, the sealing device having a sealing-tool lower part and a sealing-tool upper part. The sealing-tool lower part includes a tray holder. The sealing-tool upper part includes a sealing plate and a cutting knife The tray holder includes a cutting channel into which the cutting knife can dip or, in other words, that may receive the cutting knife, when cutting a film lid for the tray from the film web, the film lid being sealed on the tray.

Abstract: A container sealing apparatus 10 comprises an electrically conductive linearly displaceable cutting member 14 operable to cut a portion 18 of sealing material from a web 16 and an independently linearly displaceable transfer member 42 comprising an electrically insulating material and extendible relative to the cutting member 14 to transfer the cut portion 18 of sealing material to an open top of a container 12 to be sealed. An induction coil 52 produces an induction field 54 for heating the cut portion 18 of sealing material, either directly or indirectly, by induction heating to seal the cut portion 18 of sealing material to the open top of the container 12. The linearly displaceable transfer member 42 holds the cut portion 18 of sealing material against the open top of the container 12 during induction heating.

Abstract: A sorbent canister having a hollow body and porous end caps fused to opposite ends of the hollow body includes beveled surfaces at the fused sites to aid in the dispensing of the canisters into product packaging.

Abstract: A sorbent canister having a hollow body and porous end caps fused to opposite ends of the hollow body includes beveled surfaces at the fused sites to aid in the dispensing of the canisters into product packaging.

Abstract: Method for sealing a tear-off foil (16) onto a packaging element (12) including a sealing step in which the packaging element (12) is conveyed in a direction of transport (A) and, by a sealing stroke crosswise to the direction of transport (A), is moved towards a stamp tool (28) carrying foil (16), and is pressed against foil (16), with foil (16) and packaging element (12) being sealed together under the influence of heat, and in which the sealing step is preceded by a heating step in which packaging element (12) is heated by non-contact arrangement to at least the temperature required for subsequent sealing, and in that during the sealing step, stamp tool (28) is moved towards packaging element (12) by a feed stroke executed counter to the sealing stroke.

Abstract: Tooling for a tray-sealing machine is coated with an electroless metal release coating. The coating is applied over the surface of the severing knives and/or clamp of the tooling that is utilized with the tray-sealing machine that comes into contact with a lidding material film used by the machine and penetrates into the surface of the tooling to be integrally formed in the tooling. The coating prevents any of the lidding material film used in forming a cover on the tray from adhering to the knives or the clamp during operation of the machine.

Abstract: A packaging device is provided which prevents trays accommodating packaged items from being broken due to the tension in a film acting from above. The sealing base and the sealer perform a box motion by the combination of the back and forth movement of the general frame, and the upward and downward movement of the sealing base and the sealer, and the film is welded onto the flange of the tray while in movement. In this case, by setting the upper limit of the sealing base to the lower surface of the flange of the tray, it is possible for the deck plate to receive the tension of the film acting on the tray through the packaged item.

Abstract: A system for heat-shrinking a film onto an open-topped container is provided, including at least one reflective cup having a reflective interior surface, and at least one radiant energy source. The reflective cup and the radiant energy source may be rotationally mounted. The interior surface of the reflective cup has at least an elliptical portion and a parabolic portion.

Abstract: A sealing and packaging device in which, simultaneously when a sealing base frame lifted upwards from a lower region towards a flange on the perimeter edge of a tray mounted on a desk plate makes contact with the flange, a touching base provided on a frame of the sealing base frame makes contact with the lower surface of the deck plate, and the tray is pushed upwards towards a cover film by means of the deck plate and sealing base frame, the cover film being welded to the flange of the tray. By means of the upward movement of the tray caused by the sealing base frame and deck plate, breaking of the tray is prevented by the deck plate on which the tray is mounted, even when the tensile pressure of the film or the reaction of urethane rubber members act respectively on the packaged item in the tray.

Abstract: A container sealing device includes a platform slidable and movable in and out of a casing and having an opening for receiving a container to be sealed. A lever and a support device are slidably attached to the platform, and movable up and down relative to the platform, to support the container. The platform includes a peripheral bulge having a peripheral channel to form an inner peripheral wall which may support an outer flange of the container, and an outer peripheral wall having an orifice for supplying a food preserving agent to the container, and an aperture for vacuuming the container. The support device may be adjusted relative to the lever, to support containers of different heights or depths.

Abstract: A system for heat-shrinking a film onto an open-topped container is provided, including at least one reflective cup having a reflective interior surface, and at least one radiant energy source. The reflective cup and the radiant energy source may be rotationally mounted. The interior surface of the reflective cup has as least an elliptical portion and a parabolic portion.

Abstract: The present invention heat-seals a cover film onto a tray accommodating an item to be packaged, without creating wrinkles in the film. In the present invention, respective touch bars provided at equidistant intervals on chains respectively and continuously move trays accommodating items to be packaged, and a frame to which sealers of the same outline as the trays are fixed moves back and forth at the same speed, in the same direction as the trays. A crank below the frame moving back and forth raises a sealing base frame upwards when the frame advances, the trays are pushed against the sealers positioned above the same, via the moving film, and the film is welded to the open edge of the trays. The movement of the sealing base frame is a box motion, and the efficiency of the sealing operation is increased.

Abstract: The present invention heat-seals a cover film onto a tray accommodating an item to be packaged, without creating wrinkles in the film. In the present invention, respective touch bars provided at equidistant intervals on chains respectively and continuously move trays accommodating items to be packaged, and a frame to which sealers of the same outline as the trays are fixed moves back and forth at the same speed, in the same direction as the trays. A crank below the frame moving back and forth raises a sealing base frame upwards when the frame advances, the trays are pushed against the sealers positioned above the same, via the moving film, and the film is welded to the open edge of the trays. The movement of the sealing base frame is a box motion, and the efficiency of the sealing operation is increased.

Abstract: The invention provide an apparatus that can seal with film an article placed on a tray without having to change tooling for each shape and size of tray. Packaging apparatus 1 covers opening o with film Fm and thermally welds film Fm to flange f. Tray T is provided with flange f and opening o surrounded by flange f on its upper face. The apparatus is provided with roller 3 and roller swivel mechanism 8. Roller 3 can touch against film Fm on a portion of flange f. The touched surface of roller 3 is at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane. Roller swivel mechanism 8 moves roller 3 in a swiveling manner.

Abstract: The method and the installation of the invention enable re-entrant receptacles to be thermoformed, filled, and closed, the rim of each receptacle having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of its body. Prior to thermoforming a row of receptacles, preliminary cuts separated by attachment points are made in a transverse stripe of the strip of the thermoplastic strip that is to be used for thermoforming in a subsequent cycle, and for each receptacle that is to be thermoformed, the cuts define practically the entire final periphery of the rim of said receptacle, the attachment points being broken when the receptacles are separated in a subsequent cycle after the filled receptacles have been closed.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for cutting out a row of capsules from a capsule strip and for fixing them on a transverse row of filled receptacles advancing stepwise in an installation for filling receptacles.

Abstract: A drug filling machine has a plurality of feeders containing a plurality of different kinds of drugs. A plurality of drugs are discharged from one or some or the feeders into a vial. A sealing unit is provided for sealing the mouth of the vial with a transparent sheet. The sealing unit includes a sheet presser for pushing the transparent sheet into the mouth of the vial to form a sealing sheet having a tray-shaped section, a cutter for cutting the transparent sheet into a predetermined shape, and a heater for fusing the transparent sheet to the top end of the vial to seal the mouth of the vial.

Abstract: A method for packaging meat involves the steps of evacuating air entrained in the meat or between the meat and tray at a station prior to the packaging covering station. When a rotary conveyor is used, this may involve an additional station. However, parallel processing allows low oxygen contents to be achieved inside packages containing food products, which naturally include entrained air, without unduly extending processing time.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus includes a frame structure including a base and an actuator support extending upward from the base, a container support including a container receiver, and a heater platen suspended from the actuator support above the container support. The heater platen is shiftable between a load/unload position wherein a container can be loaded into and unloaded from within the container receiver and an associated lid can be positioned over the container, and a sealing position wherein the heater platen presses the container and the lid on the container support. The sealing apparatus also includes an actuator that includes a support structure pivotally attached to the frame and supporting the heater platen, and an L-shaped handle having a first end, second end and a pivot point located between the first end and the second end.