Abstract: A packaging machine may include a grouping device comprising a spreading area with a spreading table having a base body and a plurality of support bars adjustable in their transverse spacing, each having at least one row of seats extending in a longitudinal direction, each for one product. The grouping device may also include at least one transverse drive for adjusting the transverse spacing, for producing a single-layer group having an even or uneven number of rows of products, and for inserting the group into an outer package. The plurality of support bars include a plurality of double-row support bars which cannot be moved relative to one another in the transverse direction, and at least two single-row support bars that are movable relative to one another in the transverse direction positioned between two of the double-row support bars.

Abstract: A pneumatic tool includes a drive mechanism configured to drive by an air pressure of compressed air, a head valve having a first chamber configured to reserve compressed air that is supplied from an air source, and configured to drive the drive mechanism, according to a state of the compressed air in the first chamber, a trigger valve configured to actuate the head valve by exhausting the compressed air in the first chamber, and a control valve configured to disable actuation of the trigger valve.

Abstract: Tamping simulators are provided. The tamping simulator includes a powder cylinder; a dosing receptacle; a tamping pin having a first end and a second end, the tamping pin being configured to be moved between a raised position and a lowered position such that the second end is received into the powder cylinder and the dosing receptacle in an instance in which the tamping pin is in the lowered position; a tamping spring operably coupled to the first end of the tamping pin and being configured to relieve compression pressure from the tamping pin; and a compression scale operably coupled to the tamping spring and being configured to indicate an amount of compression pressure absorbed by the tamping spring.

Abstract: A machine for the preparation of medical product includes a device for loading bags of medical product into the machine. The device includes a shaft with the ability to rotate and two or more adaptors for housing injection points of bags of medical product arranged on the shaft. The rotation of the shaft causes the adaptors arranged on the shaft to rotate. Two stops define a position for loading bags by an operator and an operating position of the machine.

Abstract: An opening system including a cutting device for cutting an adhesive tape; a suctioning and lifting device for suctioning a upper panels, which are separated from each other because the adhesive tape is cut by the cutting device; rod members which are elongated to be inserted into gaps, when the gaps are formed between the upper panels and upper edges of side surfaces in the packaging box because the upper panels are spaced apart from the side panels by the suctioning and lifting device; and an opening device which moves the respective rod members while being in contact with lower surfaces of the upper panels such that the upper panels are rotated outward with respect to boundaries between the upper panels and the side panels.

Abstract: A folding device for placing an elastomer thin sleeve on a retainer includes a mandrel, one or more rollers, and a drive system. The mandrel is configured to translate relative to a portion of the folding device. The mandrel is adapted to releasably receive the retainer. The one or more rollers are configured to rotate relative to the mandrel. The rotation of the one or more rollers being configured to fold the sleeve onto the retainer. The drive system is configured to translate the mandrel and turn the one or more rollers.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a firing member movable distally from a home position to effect a first firing motion in the end effector, wherein the firing member is movable proximally toward the home position in a return motion, and a lockout pawl. The firing member has a cam slot, a protrusion, and a retaining pocket. The lockout pawl has a cam feature receivable in the cam slot during the return motion, wherein the cam slot is configured to guide the cam feature and move the lockout pawl toward a locking engagement with the protrusion to prevent a second firing motion of the firing member, and wherein the retaining pocket is configured to receive the cam feature to releasably secure the firing member to the lockout pawl when the firing member is in the home position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for packaging articles (2). Outer packages (3) are moved by a first conveying device (10) and then by a second conveying device (20), which second conveying device (20) is located next to the first conveying device (10). Furthermore, articles (2) are inserted into an outer package (3), while the outer package (3) is located on the first conveyor (10) and/or the second conveyor (20). The outer packages (3) are received on the first conveyor (10) by format parts (5) and, together with their respective format part (5), are transferred to the second conveyor (20). The outer packages (3), which will be continuously arranged on the format parts until then, will be removed from the format parts (5) together with the inserted articles (2). The format parts (5) will then be returned to the first conveyor (10) for renewed seizure of outer packages (3).

Abstract: A manufacturing machine method for the production of a tubular element provided with a filter at one end, includes, an insertion conveyor, which moves at least one pocket along an insertion path; a transfer station, where the pocket receives the tubular element inside the seat; an insertion station, where a filter is inserted into the tubular element housed in the seat; a tubular inserting body, with the shape of a truncated cone, is arranged in the area of the insertion station; an actuator designed to produce a relative movement between the pocket and the inserting body so as to at least partially place the inserting body inside the tubular element housed in the pocket; and a pushing element designed to push the filter along the entire inserting body until it comes out of the inserting body, so as to insert the filter into the tubular element surrounding the inserting body.

Abstract: A drive system is configured to feed a sheet material. The drive system includes a first roller and a second roller. A circumference of the first roller has a first curved profile. A circumference of the second roller has a second curved profile. The first and second rollers are arranged such that, when the sheet material is not located between the first and second rollers, the first curved profile of the first roller contacts the second curved profile of the second roller. The first and second rollers are further arranged such that, when the sheet material is located between the first and second rollers, rotation of at least one of the first and second rollers causes the sheet material to be fed through the drive system.

Abstract: The current invention relates to a method and a device for tensioning bands. In particular, as soon as a predetermined tension level has been reached, the tensioning motor and tensioning means of the device are automatically actuated in a reverse direction.

Abstract: A vial accumulator for use in a high volume pharmacy facility includes: a feed plate having an aperture; a vial staging unit mounted to the feed plate, the vial staging unit comprising at least one receiving compartment; a gate movably mounted to the feed plate, the gate movable relative to the feed plate between a blocking position, wherein the gate prevents a vial from exiting one of the receiving compartments, and a dispensing position, in which the gate allows passage of a vial in one of the receiving compartments through the aperture in the feed plate; and a controller operatively associated with the vial staging unit and the gate.

Abstract: A gripper, an apparatus, and a method for assembling kits of sanitary products in an automated fashion are disclosed. The sanitary products are pre-loaded into containers including a plurality of independent housings for the sanitary products, each of the housings being configured to allow loading of a sanitary product therein and withdrawal of the sanitary product therefrom independently of the other housings, and the kit is assembled in batches on the gripper, and released by the latter into a package.

Abstract: A box packing apparatus includes a transport unit configured to transport a group of articles arranged in a state in which at least some of the articles overlap with each other to a predetermined position, a holding unit configured to hold a cardboard box having an opening with long sides and short sides, and a transfer unit configured to transfer the group of articles from the predetermined position into the cardboard box. The holding unit can hold the cardboard box in a first posture in which the long side is located downward and the opening is directed laterally. The transfer unit transfers the group of articles in a state in which rows of the group of articles are arranged in a row along the long side of the cardboard box.

Abstract: A method for producing packages holding liquid food products from a web of packaging material, wherein the web comprises a number of blanks placed after one another, wherein each blank corresponds to one package, the method comprising receiving a reel holding the web of packaging material, capturing reel data from a tag attached to the reel, transferring the reel data to a printing information database, receiving printing information data (PID) related to the reel data from the printing information database, printing decors on each of the blanks of the web of packaging material based on information provided via the PID, transferring the reel data to a packaging machine information database receiving packaging machine information data (PMID) related to the reel data from the packaging machine information database, and forming the packages from the décor provided web in a packaging machine based on information provided via the PMID.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing pouches containing a cohesionless material, including feed means for feeding the cohesionless material to a pick-up station, a transfer drum by which the material is picked up at the pick-up station and transferred to a release station, delivery means operating at the release station and by which portions of the material are delivered from the transfer drum through a duct toward a wrapping station at which the portions are sealed in pouches, and a mixer located at the pick-up station for performing a mixing action on the material at the pick-up station before the material is picked up by the transfer drum.

Abstract: A monolithic break-seal includes a membrane that separates an outer ring from an inner ring. The inner ring is bonded to a vacuum cell and the outer ring is bonded to a vacuum interface. To protect against unintentional breakage of the membrane, a surface of the outer ring not bonded to the vacuum interface contacts the vacuum cell. An external vacuum system evacuates the vacuum cell through an aperture of the break-seal. Once a target vacuum level is reached for the vacuum cell, a cap is bonded to the inner ring, blocking the aperture and hermetically sealing the vacuum cell. The membrane is broken so that the hermetically sealed vacuum cell can be separated from the vacuum interface to which the outer ring remains bonded.

Abstract: A system includes a gantry having an end-of-arm tool (EOAT). The gantry can include a first linear actuator that is configured to axially move the EOAT along a first axis and second linear actuator that is configured to axially move the EOAT along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The system can further include at least one input conveyor. Each input conveyor can have a plurality of pucks that are each configured to receive a prescription container and carry the prescription container to the gantry. The system can further include at least one output conveyor that is configured to receive the prescription container from the gantry. The gantry can be configured to move the prescription containers from the plurality of pucks to the output conveyor(s).

Abstract: A method of building and operating a land-based drilling rig with a high-capacity mast include providing a platform collapsed on a substructure over a proposed well drilling location and building the high-capacity mast in a horizontal condition by attaching a lower portion of the high-capacity mast to the platform. The high-capacity mast having an opening formed therein sized to accommodate four Range 2 pipes or three Range 3 pipes. The high-capacity mast may be raised from the horizontal condition to a vertical condition by pushing the side of the high-capacity mast to pivot the high-capacity mast about a pivot point on the platform. The platform may be raised from a collapsed condition to a raised condition over the substructure. Some implementations include dual racking boards on the high-capacity mast.

Abstract: A device and method for preparing a fully granular cigarette/filter rod, and a prepared fully granular cigarette/filter rod are disclosed. In certain embodiments, negative pressure is used to adhere granular material onto a mesh-type conveyor belt. The granular material is preliminarily formed into fully granular cigarette/filter rod material by means of a pre-forming apparatus; the fully granular cigarette/filter rod material, traveling with the mesh-type conveyor belt, enters into a forming cavity, and undergoes heating and humidifying treatment, and a continuous solid porous substance is formed; the continuous solid porous substance is moved into the cooling/drying cavity, drying and cooling treatment are performed under the action of negative pressure, and a fully granular cigarette/filter rod with strong adhesion, porosity, permeability, and appropriate moisture is obtained.