Abstract: In one embodiment, a system has a carousel that has a guiderail that forms a loop that has a loading position and an unloading position. The carousel also has a plurality of buckets, each having an upper end and a lower end. The lower end includes at least one bottom wall that is moveable between (i) a transporting configuration where the at least one bottom wall substantially closes the lower end of the bucket and (ii) a discharge configuration where the at least one bottom wall is moved so as to define an opening in the lower end of the bucket. The buckets are supported by the guiderail such that the buckets can be driven from the loading position towards the unloading position in the transporting configuration. The buckets can be transitioned to the discharge configuration so as to unload inventory items at the unloading position into a packaging material.

Abstract: A packaging system employs a cartridge having moveable walls such that the cartridge discharges or inducts one or more items into a cavity of a package, such as a film that is sealed into a pouch or mailer. A bottom wall of the cartridge is retracted relative to an end panel of the cartridge during the induction process.

Abstract: A metering system for handling product through a packaging operation comprising: a mechanism for transporting individual product units in discrete lanes to a staging area ahead of a subsequent processing operation; a stop for restraining the flow of product before it enters the subsequent processing operation; a mechanism for detecting when a predetermined quantity of product has accumulated in each lane of the staging area against the stop; and a mechanism for restraining by individual lane further quantities of product before they enter the staging area.

Abstract: A combination sealing and cutting device comprising: an elongated anvil having an elongated slot therein; an elongated blade having a longitudinal aperture therein; a heating element in the longitudinal aperture; and an actuator mechanism for driving the blade toward and into the elongated slot to accomplish simultaneous sealing and cutting of overlying polymer films. According to various preferred embodiments, the combination sealing and cutting device further includes a pair of parallel flanges extending along both edges of the blade that serve to retain the blade; and film retaining beads along the longitudinal edges of the parallel flanges that serve to retain the plastic films being cut and sealed against the outer edges of the elongated slot.

Abstract: An adjustable lane guide system comprising: 1) first and second generally parallel and spaced apart support bars; 2) a plurality of lane guides generally perpendicular to the support bars; and 3) a plurality of adjustable attachment mechanisms joining the lane guides to the first and second support bars. Each of the adjustable attachment mechanisms comprises a bearing block that engages the support bars; a pair of opposing wings on either side of the bearing block also engaging the support bars and each having first and second ends, the first ends hingeably attached to the bearing block and the second ends flared by a spring located between the pair of opposed wings such that pressure applied to each of the second ends causes the wings to be drawn toward each other against the pressure of the spring thereby allowing the adjustment mechanisms to move laterally along the support bar so that the distance between adjacent lane guides can be changed along the first and second support bars.

Abstract: A splicing device comprising: an elongated anvil having an elongated slot therein; an elongated splicing head having a pair of spaced apart tips extending therefrom and having a longitudinal aperture therein; a heating element in the longitudinal aperture; and an actuator mechanism for driving one of the tips toward and into the elongated slot to weld two overlying polymer films together and the other of the tips into cutting contact with a polymeric film from a spent roll of film. According to various preferred embodiments, the splicing device further includes a pair of retaining members on either side of the anvil that serve to retain films to be spliced in taut contact with the anvil during splicing, and a turret section for rotating full and spent rolls of polymeric film into position for continued operation and reloading.