Abstract: An apparatus for inserting individual piece goods (3) into containers (4) has a first conveyor (1) for feeding the individual piece goods (3), and a second conveyor (2) for feeding the containers (4), and at least one picker unit (5). At least one of the at least one picker units (5) inserts a number x of piece goods (3) from the first conveyor (1) into a container (4), the container (4) holding a number N>x of piece goods (3). The apparatus also has at least one separate transfer unit (U) for transferring the final N−x piece goods (3) into the container (4) holding N piece goods (3), at least one of the at least one picker units (5) transferring the N−x piece goods (3) from the first conveyor (1) into the transfer unit (U).

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding piece goods (P) to a tubular-bag packaging station (4) has a feed conveyer (1) for feeding the piece goods (P) and a packaging-material-web conveyer (5) for conveying the packaging-material web (50) to the packaging station (4). A position-detecting unit (2) serves for detecting the piece goods (P) conveyed on the feed conveyer (1). Furthermore, at least one gripping unit (3) is provided for removing the piece goods (P) from the feed conveyer (1) and for depositing the piece goods (P′) directly or indirectly in a predetermined position on the packaging-material web (50), it being possible to convey the piece goods (P′) from the packaging-material web (50) to the packaging station (4).

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an item group in a container, includes a first conveyor carrying the items; a second conveyor; and a plurality of container carriers mounted on the second conveyor. Each container carrier has a support for holding and positioning a container such that a container bottom and a container side wall are oriented obliquely to the advancing direction of the second conveyor. A pickup device lifts an item from the first conveyor, transports it to the second conveyor and deposits it into a container positioned by a container carrier. A control device controls the motions of the pickup device to selectively deposit items in a flat-lying orientation on the container bottom or on the container side wall. After uprighting the containers subsequent to their charging with items, each item is either in a flat-lying orientation or in an edge-wise standing orientation with respect to the container bottom.

Abstract: In an apparatus for packaging piece goods, a piece-goods article of a first type (A) and a plurality of piece goods of a second type (B) are introduced into a common pack. The apparatus has a first conveyor (1), for feeding piece goods of the first type (A), a second conveyor (3), for feeding piece goods of a second type (B), and a packing station (7), for forming a flexible tube (72). It also has at least one feed station (2), from which the piece goods of the second type (B) are deposited by means of the second conveyor (3) such that the piece goods of the second type (B) are located one above the other at least in part and form first groups. In each case one of these first groups is deposited on a piece-goods article of the first type (A) from the second conveyor (3) by conveying means (4, 10), this resulting in the formation of a second group, which is introduced into the flexible tube (72).

Abstract: A packaging foil is continuously withdrawn from a supply. The foil is folded around the products to be packaged. Cut-off lengths of closing profile sections are inserted with a feed unit between the two longitudinal edges of the foil. In a sealing station, the two longitudinal edges of the foil are sealed together and the foil is then sealed onto the closing profile sections. In another sealing station, transverse sealing seams are formed between the free ends of successive closing profile sections and the tube is cut approximately in the center of the transverse seams. A high packaging output is achieved as a result of the continuous withdrawal of the foil.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging containers with a flat item stack, includes a supply conveyor; intermediate containers; and a transporting device carrying the intermediate containers into first and second stations. In the first station an item stack is loaded from the supply conveyor into the intermediate container, and in the second station an item stack is loaded from the intermediate container into a packaging container supported in the second station. A device rotates each intermediate container about an axis perpendicular to the advancing direction of the items on the supply conveyor from a first angular position into a second angular position and then back into the first angular position during travel of the intermediate container from the first station into the second station and back into the first station. A removing device in the second station carries away a filled packaging container.

Abstract: The apparatus has two pairs (16, 17) of conveying elements which are arranged laterally spaced from each other. Each pair (16, 17) has two parallel conveying elements (18, 19, 20, 21) arranged one above the other. All of the conveying elements (18 to 21) are guided via a respective driving wheel (22 to 25) and a deflecting wheel (26 to 29). They are, for example, toothed belts from which drivers (34, 35) protrude at a regular, adjustable spacing just over part of their length. A first driving unit (30, 31) drives one of the driving wheels (22, 23) of each pair (16, 17) of conveying elements in synchronism. A second driving unit (32, 33) drives the two other driving wheels (24, 25) in each case in synchronism. A control device is connected to the driving units. The apparatus enables containers to be transported from an input station (4) in groups to a loading station (8), in which they are made ready in a precise position and are filled.

Abstract: Storage apparatus has a carriage which can be displaced along a conveying plane, while deflecting rollers subdivide an endless conveyer into a storage strand and an idle strand. A first deflector deflects the idle strand from the conveying plane into a parallel plane spaced apart therefrom while a second deflector is used to transfer the deflected idle strand into the storage strand. The storage apparatus provides space-saving and high-capacity storage without belt crossovers.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging tubular canisters in a charging direction with a stack of face-to-face oriented flat items, includes a conveyor for supporting and positioning an item stack thereon; a canister holder for supporting and positioning a canister; an arrangement for advancing the item stack in an item feeding direction from the conveyor into the canister positioned by the canister holder; an elongated guide member movable parallel to the feeding direction for introduction into and withdrawal from the canister positioned by the canister holder; a holding plate supported at an end of the guide member and being pivotal into a first position in which it projects into a feed path of the item stack for engaging a leading item of the item stack and into a second position in which it is clear of the feed path; and a drive for moving the guide member parallel to the feeding direction and for rotating the holding plate into the first and second positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for advancing and uniting first and second components into respective single items, includes a first conveyor for supplying the first components in a series; a feeding device for supplying the second components in a series; a second conveyor adjoining the discharge end of the first conveyor; a plurality of first carriers mounted on the second conveyor for receiving a respective first component from the first conveyor at the discharge end thereof; and a plurality of second carriers mounted on the second conveyor for receiving a respective second component from the feeding device. The second carriers are in alignment with the respective first carriers for advancing the respective first components and the respective second components together and in alignment with one another; and a device for uniting a first component with a respective second component during advancement of the first and second components by the second conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging containers includes a first conveyor for advancing items; a second conveyor for continuously advancing containers; a charging device including first and second chutes each having an inlet adjoining the discharge end of the first conveyor and an outlet positioned above the second conveyor. The first and second chutes adjoin one another in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the second conveyor. A drive shifts the charging device and the discharge end of the first conveyor relative to one another for selectively aligning the inlet of the first chute or the inlet of the second chute with the discharge end for selectively introducing items from the first conveyor into the first or second chute. A sensor detects items advanced on the first conveyor. A control device is connected to the sensor and the drive for operating the drive based on the sensor signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a wrapper sleeve includes a first peripheral surface rotating about a first axis and having a generatrix parallel to and at a maximum distance from, the first axis and a radius of curvature smaller throughout the circumferential surface length than the maximum distance. A second peripheral surface rotates about a second axis oriented parallel to the first axis. The first and second peripheral surfaces define a line of contact with the wrapper sleeve therebetween. The first and second surfaces rotate in synchronism and roll on one another effecting sealing of the wrapper sleeve as the wrapper sleeve is advanced. A device displaces the first axis relative to the second axis in a direction transverse to the advancing direction of the wrapper sleeve for effecting displacement of the line of contact in the advancing direction as the first and second surfaces rotate.

Abstract: A suction gripper for lifting, transporting and depositing items, includes a basic suction body having an inner surface; a first opening for coupling the basic suction body to a suction source; and a second opening through which an item is introduced into the basic suction body by suction. An abutment member is positioned within the basic suction body between the first and second openings such that a clearance is defined between the abutment member and the inner surface of the basic suction body for allowing a suction stream to pass from the second opening through the clearance into the first opening. A storage chamber is defined between the inner surface of basic suction body, the second opening and the abutment member for accommodating an item drawn thereinto and held against the abutment member by suction.

Abstract: A robot for handling products in a three-dimensional space is described. The robot comprises a base (1) on which three arms (9) are pivotably supported to pivote around three pivote axes (3) arranged in a common axes plane (4). The three axes form a triangle with three corners. Each arm is mounted on a shaft (2) of a servo motor (6). All motors (6) are connected to a controller (8). Three connecting linkages (19) connect the free ends of the arms (9) to a carrier (22) which is movable in space in all three linear dimensions and prevented from rotation around all three rotative dimensions. A telescopic fourth linkage (43) connects a gripper (30) rotatably supported on the carrier (22) by two joints (42, 46) with a fourth serve motor (48) fixed to the base (1). In the axes plane (4) the base has an opening (52) through which the fourth linkage (43) extends. The upper joint (46) of the fourth linkage (43) is on an opposite side of the axes plane (4) than the carrier (22).

Abstract: The apparatus comprises an incoming conveyor and a revolving device, in which grippers (9) circulate at a regular first spacing (T1) over a closed circulating path (10). The grippers (9) can be individually switched between a first state, in which they take hold of the products (2) and carry them along, into a second state, in which they release the products from the grippers. At a transfer point (11) the grippers (9) pass above the incoming conveyor (1). They are switched at the transfer point (11) into the first state, in which they each take hold of a product and carry it along. A store (16) has carriers (19) which circulate at a regular second spacing (T2) in a closed, second circulating path (15). The second circulating path (15) runs over a buffer region (20) parallel to the first circulating path (11). Within the buffer region (20) the grippers (9) can be switched into their second state. The circulating speed of the grippers (9) is greater than the circulating speed of the carriers (9).

Abstract: An apparatus for charging containers with groups of flat, stacked items, includes a first conveying device including an item group carrying arrangement for advancing spaced groups of items in a flat-lying, stacked state; a second conveying device for placing empty containers underneath the item group carrying arrangement in a container charging station; a first charging device for releasing item groups in the container charging station from the item group carrying arrangement means into a container in a flat-lying, stacked state; and a second charging device for taking item groups in the container charging station from the item group carrying arrangement and for releasing the item groups into a container in an edge-wise standing, stacked state.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a group of stacked, edge-wise standing flat items into a container includes a support for engaging opposite ends of the group; an arrangement for adjusting the support to the group length; a first holding unit; a second holding unit; and a drive for moving the first and second holding units in a first path along which one of the first and second holding units holds and lowers the group and for moving the first and second holding units in a second path along which one of the first and second holding units releases the group for allowing the group to fall and the other of the first and second holding units guides and pushes the group at an upper portion thereof downwardly into the container. The second path adjoins the first path and is situated thereunder.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing films together along a path includes a sealing shoe and a counter shoe defining a clearance through which the films pass. The sealing shoe includes an elongated optical energy source having a length dimension oriented generally parallel to the sealing path; a reflector for focussing light emitted by the energy source; a window transparent to the light and having an outer surface adapted to be oriented toward the counter shoe for sealing the films by the light; and a firing arrangement for activating the energy source. The window and the counter shoe are urged toward one another.

Abstract: A multilayer synthetic packaging film includes an at least partially transparent carrier layer having opposite first and second faces and a light-absorbing absorption layer applied to the first face of the carrier layer and having a maximum thickness of 10 micron.

Abstract: An apparatus for longitudinally welding and severing superposed thermoplastic films forming a packaging hose includes first and second feed rollers each having an outer periphery contacting one another for advancing the films passing therebetween; a drive for rotating at least one of the feed rollers; a circular heating disk mounted in the first feed roller coaxially therewith and having an outer diameter greater than the peripheral diameter of the first feed roller; and a circumferential groove provided in the second feed roller in alignment with the heating disk. Peripheral portions of the heating disk project into the circumferential groove of the second feed roller.