Abstract: A packaging method comprises dispensing a material continuously from a roll, forming a plurality of packages from the material, filling each package with contents and sealing each package once filled. A hanging aperture is created for each package, prior to it being formed into the package, the material having been folded or creased in the area in which the aperture is to be created.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are described for manufacturing and/or packaging of multiple items simultaneously, in particular the handling and placement for packaging of the items on an assembly line. In particular, the apparatus and method are for use in changing the center spacing of the simultaneously manufactured items between two locations on the assembly line.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a shock-absorbing packing material inflated with air and to an apparatus for manufacturing the shock-absorbing packing material. As polystyrene plastic typically used for a shock-absorbing material becomes difficult to use because of environmental pollution, a shock-absorbing means that are formed by compiling plastic films or sheets, bonding them using heat or high frequency waves, and then inflating it by injecting air between the films are often used. However, it was difficult to develop an apparatus for manufacturing these shock-absorbing means with substantially high economical efficiency. Accordingly, the invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a shock-absorbing material with economical efficiency, and enhanced productivity without looseness or extension, as the plastic sheet or films rolled on a plurality of rolls are bonded by heat at a constant interval while unrolling them.

Abstract: A vertical bagging machine including a spindle for receiving and supporting a roll of stock material, the spindle defining a spindle axis, wherein the stock material is unwindable as a sheet, a folding plate defining a folding plate plane that is substantially parallel with the spindle axis, the folding plate including a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first and second edges are generally equal in length and connect at a central peak, a spreader chute including a first guide plate and a second guide plate, the second guide plate being generally parallel with and spaced apart from the first guide plate, wherein the first and second guide plates are substantially perpendicular to the folding plate plane, and first and second folding rollers defining a nip therebetween, the first and second folding rollers being generally parallel with the folding plate plane and disposed between the folding plate and the spreader chute, wherein the sheet is moveable over the central peak, through the nip, and over the

Abstract: A packaging laminate includes at least one material layer provided with magnetisable particles. A roller can be configured to apply crease line patterns on the packaging laminate while also applying magnetic fields for magnetising at least some of the magnetisable particles in the packaging laminate. A method of controlling working operations on a packaging laminate in a filling machine involves supplying a packaging laminate to a filling machine, wherein the packaging laminate includes at least one material layer comprising magnetizable particles, with at least some of the magnetizable particles being magnetized particles. The method also involves controlling working operations of the filling machine on the packaging laminate supplied to the filling machine by reading information provided by the magnetized particles.

Abstract: Unit dose packages for transdermal therapeutic systems or film- or sheet-type dosage forms in the form of a peel-open side-sealed bag. The side-sealed bags comprise two packaging material elements arranged one upon the other. At least one consists of a tear-resistant packaging material having a low tear propagation resistance. The two packaging material elements, which are joined together by a continuous sealed seam extending around the packaged good have a tab at one end of said side-sealed bag which projects beyond the sealed margin. The tabs are half as wide as the side-sealed bag and, at the end thereof which faces away from the sealed margin, have a sealed region in which they are joined to each other. At least one of the packaging material elements has a structure for partial tearing of the packaging material in the region of the tab in which the tabs are not sealed to each other. The structure for partial tearing of the packaging material is without contact to the edge of the package.

Abstract: A method and a device for packaging product portions in a wrapper are proposed, wherein at least two webs of a packaging material are aligned parallel, with the longitudinal edges facing each other overlapping, and each transported towards one upwardly open folding shaft, the webs are severed transverse to the overlapping longitudinal edges, creating flat blanks of the wrappers, and the blanks are folded into the folding shaft , creating an upwardly open wrapper, whereupon the product portion is placed in the open wrappers and the upwardly protruding sections of the wrappers are then turned inward while overlapping. The blanks, whose inner edges overlap, are guided in frictional engagement to their folding position above the folding shafts, whereupon the longitudinal edges of the overlapping blanks facing each other are, lifted together , whereupon the blanks are released by releasing the frictional engagement.

Abstract: A packaging material dispenser includes a brake arm with a horizontal portion that rests across the width of the peripheral surface of a roll of packaging material and includes a cutting tool arranged on the brake horizontal portion to aid in cutting across the width of the packaging material. The cutting tool is a slider-cutter that rides along a channel along the horizontal portion to enable the slider-cutter to ride within the channel to cut the packaging material. In another approach, the cutting tool is a stationary tear initiator configured to initiate a tear at one edge of the packaging material to facilitate tearing across the rest of the width of the packaging material. The brake arm is rotatably connected to a mast of the dispenser capable of holding at least one roll of packaging material on a support arm and allowing rotation of the roll thereabout.

Abstract: A method of positioning a loaded bag in a vacuum chamber includes loading a bag by placing a product in the bag; placing the bag on an infeed conveyor that is transparent to IR; advancing the bag, on the conveyor, to a sensing apparatus including an infrared camera disposed above the conveyor, and a bank of LED's disposed below the conveyor; interrogating the loaded bag, using the sensing apparatus, with infrared radiation to detect the trailing edge of the product inside the bag; transmitting information acquired from the interrogating step to a PLC; advancing the interrogated loaded bag a distance, based in the information acquired from the interrogating step, to a vacuum chamber including a heat seal assembly; and heat sealing the loaded bag with the heat seal assembly to close the bag mouth.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus including a receptacle, a ram, a film dispensing assembly and first and second elongate members. The receptacle defines a central axis and has a dispensing end with first and second substantially linear and parallel opposed edges that define an axial limit of the dispensing end. The plastic film material forms a film tube about the receptacle. The first and second elongate members are substantially parallel with the first and second edges. In operation, the ram is extended to eject the batch of material through the dispensing end into the film tube. Retracting the ram forms a partial vacuum within the film tube between the batch of material and the ram. The first and second elongate members compressively engage the film tube between the batch of material and the dispensing end and thereby form folded flaps in the film tube. A method of packaging is also disclosed.

Abstract: A distance from a printing section to a heat sealing section of a medicine packaging apparatus is shortened without generating wrinkles on a package sheet. A unfolding guide included in a packaging unit for unfolding and opening a package sheet has a main ridge extending along with the fold of the package sheet, and a pair of unfolding guide surfaces, which are convex curved surfaces stretching from the main ridge and which are symmetrical to each other with respect to the main ridge.

Abstract: In order to package flat objects (1) with the aid of a quasi-endless packaging material web, the packaging material web is placed around a row (4) of the objects (1), in which these objects are conveyed one after the other and in an interspaced manner, whereupon longitudinal seams are made in the packaging material web and transversal seams are made between the objects (1) whereby separating the packaged objects from one another. In contrast to prior art packaging methods during which the row is formed before the packaging material web is fed thereto, the invention provides that the row is directly formed on the packaging material web (2) during which the objects are, by acceleration, separated out from a supply stream (3), in which they are fed while overlapping one another, and directly placed upon or pushed onto the packaging material web (2).

Abstract: An apparatus for constructing sandbags has a movable, floatable platform, and a length of casing disposed in a roll and supported on the platform. The casing has two longitudinal edges and can be unrolled from the roll. There is a hopper for receiving and dispensing a quantity of sand on top of the casing as the casing is unrolled from the roll. The hopper is supported by a crane mounted on the platform, and positioned above the length of casing. There is a device for bringing the longitudinal edges of the casing together after the sand has been deposited, and a stitching machine for stitching the edges of the casing together to form a tube of casing filled with sand. The stitching machine is mounted on the crane above the device for bringing the edges of the casing together. There is a conveyor for conveying the tube away from the stitching machine and off of the platform.

Abstract: The supply group of a packing band from reels, with an automatic change of the reel, for an object-packing machine, comprises a supply track (13) along which the packing band runs to the zone of use(45) thereof, means for transversally cutting (14) the band (11) located at a start of the supply track, means (17A) for supporting a first reel (12A) of the band (11A) of slim packing material and means (17B) for supporting a second reel (12B) of band (11B) of slim packing material. The group comprises a first entry track (20A) of the first band (11A) from the first reel (12A) to the supply track (13), a second entrance track (20B) of the second band (11B) from the second reel (12B) to the supply track (13), first means for advancing (21A) for introducing or extracting the front end of the first band (11A) to or from the supply track (13), second means for advancing (21B) for introducing or extracting a front end (HB) of the second band (11B) into or from the supply track (13).

Abstract: A method of forming a reclosable fastener track having a slider. The process provides a reclosable fastener track, forms a slit in the fastener track, attaches a slider to the fastener track, seals the slit in the fastener track after the slider attaches, and creates a first and a second end stop on the track.

Abstract: A device and a method are provided for packaging flat objects into a packaging material web (110). The device includes a conveyor device (30) with an essentially plane conveyor surface (34) which is capable of conveying the flat objects (100) one after the other and distanced to one another in a conveyor direction (F). Moreover, at least one processing tool (10) with a processing-active zone (12) is present. The processing tool (10) is capable of processing the packaging material web (110) in the region between two objects (100) in a processing region (B) of the device (1). Thereby, the packaging material web (110) covers the objects (100) on both sides. The processing tool (10) is movable for processing at least perpendicularly to the conveyor surface (34).

Abstract: A package having two or more compartments that is made from a laminated flexible film is disclosed. The compartments store products having different requirements for in relation to contact of oxygen and other gases from outside the compartments or release of oxygen and other gases generated by the products in the compartments. The laminated film has different OTR or GTR levels in different sections of the film to suit the different requirements for oxygen and other gases of the products in the compartments. A method of manufacturing the package is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for forming a pouch having an evacuated headspace containing a flowable material. The process relates to optimizing both, the evacuation of the headspace in the pouch and the accuracy of the flowable material filled in the pouch. Specifically, the present invention employs a process that includes a multiple-step or a continuous compression of the pouch headspace to accomplish the goals. Also disclosed is a vertical form-fill-seal apparatus for forming a pouch containing a flowable material and having an evacuated headspace.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing electronic or electric products such as flat-panel display devices, for coping with change or variations of dimensions of the products and for curbing damage or fracture on the products and reducing recovery cost for containers, according to one embodiment, comprising; sequentially placing first flat electronic or electric products as to be sandwiched by a resin-sheet band formed of one or pair of band-shaped flat resin sheet and as to be arrayed in a row; forming joined areas by bonding faces of the resin-sheet band as to form receptacles respectively for the first flat electronic or electric products; thus forming a band-shaped package; and then transporting or storing such array of the first flat electronic or electric products in the band-shaped package as to be used for producing second electronic or electric products.

Abstract: A spring mattress is described, including a plurality of strings interconnected side by side. Each string includes a plurality of continuous casings and, enclosed therein, coil springs. Moreover, between at least some of the springs in at least one of the strings a slot is arranged which opens towards the upper or lower side of the mattress. It is preferred for the springs between which the slot is arranged to be separated with an intermediate separation distance, which separation distance exceeds about 10% of the diameter of the largest turn of the adjoining springs. In addition, it is preferred for the casing portions to be arranged at the ends of the spring to be moved towards each other, through the spring, and connected to each other by at least one connecting device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the formation and the filling of bags, applicable to tubular mesh bags closed at their two ends and provided with a handle formed by a plastic strip attaching said ends, comprising the operations of constricting a mesh section of a portion of mesh previously drawn from a storage and attaching it to a section of the strip of a portion of strip previously drawn from its storage, determining at least one securing area between both sections of the mesh and of the first strip, to make a first closed end of the bag to be formed, still empty, and a second end of the immediately previous bag still in formation, already filled; and of transversely cutting both attached sections of the mesh and of the first strip so that the first closed end is gripped by the first strip during the entire following process of filling and formation of said bag, including operations of drawing new portions of mesh and of strip from the corresponding storages and of filling of the bag before

Abstract: A packaging laminate includes at least one material layer provided with magnetisable particles. A roller can be configured to apply crease line patterns on the packaging laminate while also applying magnetic fields for magnetising at least some of the magnetisable particles in the packaging laminate. A method of controlling working operations on a packaging laminate in a filling machine involves supplying a packaging laminate to a filling machine, wherein the packaging laminate includes at least one material layer comprising magnetizable particles, with at least some of the magnetizable particles being magnetized particles. The method also involves controlling working operations of the filling machine on the packaging laminate supplied to the filling machine by reading information provided by the magnetized particles.

Abstract: A resilient backing member for use in cooperation with an impulse heating element comprises a resilient body having a longitudinal shoulder surface and a longitudinal intermittent raised edge protruding from the shoulder surface. The resilient backing member is for use in cooperation with an impulse heating element for sealing layers of thermoplastic film together and for either forming a sealed portion on the film, a rupturable portion on the film or severing the film. Accordingly, the resilient backing member can be used on a pouch filling machine to produce a string of sealed pouches connected by a rupturable portion or a sealed portion, and filled with flowable material without the use of a separate cutting blade.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus for real-time alignment of packaging surfaces can include two or more sensors for detecting the positioning of carton surfaces and a servo system. The servo system can include a servo motor and a controller. The servo system records the positioning of the carton surfaces and calculates a difference in position. The controller compares the calculated value with a predetermined value and if necessary, the servo motor turns a correction wheel to align the carton surfaces.

Abstract: A method for producing a biodegradable bag and for packing a food, such as a snack food, which is required to have an oxygen barrier property and a water vapor barrier property. The biodegradable bag can be produced at a high speed by a bag making and packaging machine, which can be degraded by naturally occurring microorganisms in soil or water finally to a non-hazardous degradation product, which can be biorecycled, and which is not accumulated in nature. The biodegradable bag for packing a food comprises a laminated film obtainable by laminating in the following order: a sealant layer comprising a biodegradable polymer; a barrier layer having an oxygen barrier property and a water vapor barrier property; and a barrier layer-supporting substrate layer comprising a biodegradable polymer, the laminated film being heat-sealed in order for the sealant layer to be inside.

Abstract: A bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus manufactures a bag by sealing a packaging material formed in a tubular shape and at the same time fills the bag with articles to be packaged. The bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus includes a conveyance mechanism, a squeezing mechanism and a conveyance adjusting unit. The conveyance mechanism is configured and arranged to convey the packaging material in a conveying direction. The squeezing mechanism includes a squeezing unit configured and arranged to sandwich the packaging material and to perform a squeezing motion so as to move the articles to be packaged to the downstream side in the conveying direction. The conveyance adjusting unit configured and arranged to move the packaging material towards the upstream side in the conveying direction during the squeezing motion of the squeezing unit.

Abstract: To orient groups of products to be packaged in a plastic film the groups (G) are wrapped in lengths of film and fed between two series of opposite conveyor belts (211, 212). Each series of belts comprises several parallel belts controlled at proportionally variable speeds to cause the group (G) to rotate through approximately 90° about an axis orthogonal to the direction of feed.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a method of manufacturing containers such as shipping, display and display ready packaging, for example, and resulting containers and associated preassemblies and blanks are provided, which, when utilized, result in preassemblies that are more easily and quickly assembled into fully assembled containers.

Abstract: Method for the packaging of articles with a plastic film which is based on the use of a packaging machine equipped with transverse welding devices arranged along a longitudinal direction where the method involves the steps of (a) positioning the articles on a conveyor belt with pushers activated by a motor; (b) distancing the articles from one another to provide a constant space or pitch; (c) feeding the plastic film, in the direction of the conveyor belt; (d) longitudinally welding the film in the direction articles on the conveyor belt; (e) activating the motor group situated downstream with respect to the welding device to weld and separate the film in the space between articles; and (f) activating the motor group of the welding device situated upstream with respect to another welding device to weld and separate the film in the space between the articles.

Abstract: A sealed single-dose break-open package (1) having: a first sheet (2) of semirigid plastic material; a second sheet (3) of flexible plastic material superimposed on and sealed to the first sheet (2) of semirigid plastic material to define a sealed pocket (4) containing a dose of a product (5); and an incision (6) formed in the first sheet (2) of semirigid plastic material to guide controlled breakage of the first sheet (2) along the incision (6) and form an outlet opening for the product (5) through the first sheet (2); the incision (6) varies in depth lengthwise to break the first sheet (2) gradually along the incision (6).

Abstract: A method for packaging flat articles, whereby the flat articles (1), when in a transport flow (3), are covered on both sides by a packaging material (2a, 2b) and a welding beam (11) establishes cross-connections between subsequent articles (1) in an upper area (2a) and a lower area (2b) of the packaging material. Welding beams (11) are provided with at least one resilient hold-down element (12a, 12b) each which brings the packaging material (2a, 2b) to be processed into a defined position. The hold-down element (12a, 12b) compresses the packaging material (2a, 2b) before the welding beam contacts the packaging material (2a, 2b) and executes a processing operation such as welding or pressing. The transport flow, in the area of processing, is transported by means of a support belt which exerts a force countering the forces exerted by the hold-down elements (12a, 12b) and the welding beam (11).

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and an apparatus for making a medium-filled packing of two superposed heat-sealable elongated webs of plastic film (3) which are thermally sealed in longitudinal and transverse directions of the film webs for forming packings (11), and where the formed packings are filled by medium and closed. The film webs (3) are passed between a pair of rollers (6) which are pressed against each other, retaining the film webs therebetween. Thermal sealing across part of the width of the film webs is performed so that unbroken longitudinal areas (9) without any thermal sealing appear in the longitudinal direction of the film webs (3). The medium is filled into the packing before closing it for the formation of the medium-filled packing.

Abstract: (EN) The invention relates to a forming, filling and sealing machine (2) for producing bags (1) from semifinished products (5) and for filling and closing the same, said machines comprising a plurality of processing stations (4, 7, 9, 12). At least two processing stations (4, 7, 9, 12) of at least one first group (3) are successively, largely linearly, arranged in the horizontal plane (x, z) in the transport direction (z) of the bags (1). The bags (1) or semifinished products (5) can be transported between the processing stations (4, 7, 9, 12) by transport means which generally comprise grip means (10, 11, 21, 22). The invention is characterised in that at least one second group (20) of at least one processing station is not linearly arranged behind the first group (3) in the horizontal plane (x, z) in the processing direction (z) of the bags (1).

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for bagging material into a film. The film has at least two overlapping sheets and at least one open edge. The apparatus a pair of spaced apart carriages and a pair of clamp assemblies movably mounted to a respective carriage. The clamp assemblies are pivotally movable relative to the respective carriage and vertically moveable along the length of the respective carriage. The clamp assemblies engage the film and open the film by separating the overlapping sheets. The clamp assemblies are moved downwardly along the length of the respective carriages so as to provide for the opened film to progressively bag material positioned thereunder. The clamp assembly includes a clamp having a pair of clamping members which are configured to grip a portion of the overlapping sheets for separation thereof. A method for bagging material into a film is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for separating products, such as napkins or rolls of paper, encased in a tube of continuously moving thermoplastic wrapping material into product units is disclosed. At predetermined intervals spaced products are fed into the tube at wrapper length intervals, and the tube is thermally cut at wrapper intervals to form individually girth wrapped articles.

Abstract: A packaging method and apparatus wherein each product is packaged by capturing the product in flexible packaging material. The packing apparatus includes a product detector for detecting the presence or absence of a product to be packaged. The detection of the product may cause the advancement of packaging material and the product through a nipping station to form a package. The failure to detect a product may cause the advancement of the packaging material to stop and conserve packaging material until a product is detected. The product detector may be a color sensor trained to detect a color of the first web, a luminescence sensor trained to detect a luminance of the first web, or a light-sensitive sensor trained to detect a difference in light passing through the first web. Also, a luminescence additive may be joined with the lower web to provide a distinct luminance.

Abstract: In order to package flat objects (1) with the aid of a quasi-endless packaging material web, the packaging material web is placed around a row (4) of the objects (1), in which these objects are conveyed one after the other and in an interspaced manner, whereupon longitudinal seams are made in the packaging material web and transversal seams are made between the objects (1) whereby separating the packaged objects from one another. The invention provides that the row is directly formed on the packaging material web (2) during which the objects are, by acceleration, separated out from a supply stream (3), in which they are fed while overlapping one another, and directly placed upon or pushed onto the packaging material web (2). Forming the row (4) directly on the packaging material web (2) eliminates additional conveying steps thereby shortening the entire required conveyor lines and rendering stabilizing means for stabilizing the objects (1) during conveyance unnecessary.

Abstract: A sealed tampon package and continuous process for making the package. Heat seals, preferably hermetic longitudinal and cross seals, are preferably peelable. The tampon is sealed under sufficient negative pressure to snugly retain the tampon in place without crushing or misshaping the tampon, yet without bursting the package under normal external pressures realized during storage. The tampon package will remain sealed during normal wear and tear, yet is easily opened when desired by peeling the seals.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for enclosing bales of materials with at least four substantially rectilinear sides in flexible sheet material tubes having one open end into which the bales are inserted leaving the tube open end projecting loosely beyond the end of the bale utilizing structure temporarily placed inside the tube open end tending to resist inward movement of said tube such that the tube end may be formed into pleats at the four corners of the end of the bale and structure external of the tube cooperating to form and fold the pleats against the bale end surface where they are affixed.

Abstract: A package for the delivery of products of various sizes and shapes to customers, and apparatus and a method of producing the package are disclosed, wherein a sealing and a cutting process is employed to produce a customized shipping package from a first and a second web of material. The package is readily adaptable to be reused by the customer to return the product to the original source.

Abstract: One aspect provides a carrier tape configured to transport semiconductor packages having a semiconductor package thickness. The carrier tape includes a film having a film thickness extending between a first major surface and a second major surface that is less than the semiconductor package thickness. The film is structured to define at least a first structure and a second structure extending between the first and second major surfaces, the first and second structure(s) each having a structure height that is at least equal to the semiconductor package thickness. A hole is punched entirely through the film thickness to define a pocket positioned between the first and second structures, the pocket having a depth equal to the structure height.

Abstract: A packing material is made of a thin plastic bag with compressible beads inside, and with the pressure inside the bag being sufficiently less than the ambient pressure outside the bag to keep the beads in a non-free-flowing state, the packing material being generally flat, with a generally constant cross-sectional thickness and having at least one trough of lesser cross-sectional thickness to serve as a bend line.

Abstract: A bag forming and packaging machine for packaging a product using a roll of packaging material including a recording medium that readably records packaging related information. The bag forming and packaging machine includes a non-contact reading device that reads the packaging related information electromagnetically recorded in the recording medium in a non-contact fashion through a resonance phenomenon of radio waves; and a bag forming and packaging unit that produces a bag using the packaging material of the roll and packages the product in the bag based on the packaging related information read by the reading device.

Abstract: An invention for forming, filling, and sealing a flexible recloseable container. Both vertical and horizontal methods for placing product within the container are disclosed. The invention includes guiding a web of film which has interlocking fastener strips sealed to the web. A slider for locking and unlocking the fastener strips is placed in the correct orientation, spread apart at a pair of inner feet, and inserted over the fastener strips. The slider is positioned to close a substantial portion of the strips, and then an end stop, docking station, and corner seal are formed against a sealing plate. The slider is then repositioned, and a tamper evident seal may be placed over the fastener strips.

Abstract: Described herein is a shuttle device for producing wrappers of sheet material (F) containing a product (P) with at least one fantail-twisted end obtained by twisting said sheet material (F). The shuttle (10) comprises a first part (112a, 112b) for receiving the product (P) located in the precursor of wrapper and at least one second part (212a, 212b; 312a, 312b) that grips on a respective part of precursor of wrapper (F). The first part (112a, 112b) and the second part (212a, 212b; 312a, 312b) of the shuttle (10) are able to turn with respect to one another about a given axis (X10) so as to produce at least one fantail-twisted end as a result of the twisting action imparted on the precursor of wrapper (F) following upon the relative movement of rotation about the aforesaid given axis (X10).

Abstract: A method of making tetrahedron packages having substantially uniform tear zones is disclosed. The method includes printing a first image at a first location of a sheet material and a second image at a second location of the sheet material, such that the first image is oriented 180° from and longitudinally arranged with respect to the second image. A tube is formed from the sheet material. The tube runs through a package forming machine to form a first tetrahedron package including the first image and a second tetrahedron package including the second image from the tube. The first tetrahedron package and the second tetrahedron package are connected by a seal zone. Substantially uniform tear zones are formed in the seal zone using a laser or a knife. The substantially uniform tear zones are at the same location with respect to a side edge of the first and second tetrahedron packages.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automated handling of stents using tape and reel, tray or cassette processing equipment is provided to reduce stent and coating damage during production, storage and distribution, and to allow high volume processing. In the tape reel-based system, stents are fed into an automated tape assembly device for orientation and then fed between a carrier and cover tape. The tape assembly is gathered onto a reel and loaded into a receiver wherein stent-bearing tape is fed into an automated tape separator, and stents removed from the tape assembly are automatically mounted onto holders, which pass the stents through a coater. In the tray- or cassette-based system, the tape reel-based storage and feeding elements are replaced with tray- or cassette-based elements. Once coated, automated equipment removes the holders from the coated stents, and forwarded to alternative destinations, including storage or automated stent expansion balloon installation and crimping.

Abstract: A method of making tetrahedron packages having substantially uniform tear zones is disclosed. The method includes printing a first image at a first location of a sheet material and a second image at a second location of the sheet material, such that the first image is oriented 180° from and longitudinally arranged with respect to the second image. A tube is formed from the sheet material. The tube runs through a package forming machine to form a first tetrahedron package including the first image and a second tetrahedron package including the second image from the tube. The first tetrahedron package and the second tetrahedron package are connected by a seal zone. Substantially uniform tear zones are formed in the seal zone using a laser or a knife. The substantially uniform tear zones are at the same location with respect to a side edge of the first and second tetrahedron packages.

Abstract: A method for the packaging of editorial products (11) in plastic film comprising the phases of unwinding a plastic film (12) from a bobbin (13) and feeding it in a longitudinal direction (F), applying preprinted self-adhesive labels (16) to the film (12) transversally with respect to the longitudinal direction (F) and distanced between each other by a pre-established length greater than the length of the editorial products (11), positioning the editorial products (11) on the film (12) in the space between two subsequent labels (16), folding the plastic film (12) over the editorial products (11), welding the plastic film (12) longitudinally and transversally with a first transversal welding line (22) to form two containment areas (100a, 100b) of the label (16) and editorial product (11) respectively, and also with a second transversal welding line (23) forming a head of a finished packaging (100, 100?) separated by the second transversal welding.

Abstract: Described is a disposable luffah. During manufacturing of the luffah, a water-soluble pouch is positioned within, or attached to, the luffah. The water-soluble pouch may contain a liquid or powered cleansing and/or moisturizing agent. During use the pouch breaks down upon contact with water such that the contained cleansing and/or moisturizing agent is released.