Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for inserting products into trays at a loading station for a tray sealer, where a tray of several trays loaded with product by way of a gripper unit to a target value at the loading station and provided therein on a tray conveyor is pushed directly onto a discharge belt of the loading station by way of a tray pusher formed on the gripper unit. The disclosure furthermore relates to a loading station for a tray sealer.

Abstract: A thermoform packaging machine comprising, as work stations, a forming station for thermoforming troughs in a packaging film, at least one sealing station for sealing the troughs with a cover film, and a cutting station as well as a feeding device for causing a feed of the packaging film. A method for using such a thermoform packaging machine wherein a controller determines for two or more work stations, prior to a process step, which required feed length each of these work stations has, the required feed length indicating the distance by which the packaging film will have to be conveyed for the next process step of the respective work station, before a feed length specification is ascertained from the required feed lengths determined and the feeding device is controlled accordingly.

Abstract: A conveyor belt system for forming a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of products (provided to the conveyor individually or in respective groups) that are intended for an infeed process on a packaging machine. The plurality of products may be oriented in a row transversely to the conveying direction. The conveyor belt system may include a distributing belt module that takes up products from an upstream positioned product provider, a buffer belt module arranged downstream of the distributing belt module and configured to convey in a plurality of tracks extending side by side along the conveying direction a respective plurality of products one after the other, and an orienting belt module that can position the products in at least one row transversely oriented to the conveying direction according to the predetermined arrangement, the orienting belt module being positioned downstream of the buffer belt module in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A conveyor belt system for forming a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of products (provided to the conveyor individually or in respective groups) that are intended for an infeed process on a packaging machine. The plurality of products may be oriented in a row transversely to the conveying direction. The conveyor belt system may include a distributing belt module that takes up products from an upstream positioned product provider, a buffer belt module arranged downstream of the distributing belt module and configured to convey in a plurality of tracks extending side by side along the conveying direction a respective plurality of products one after the other, and an orienting belt module that can position the products in at least one row transversely oriented to the conveying direction according to the predetermined arrangement, the orienting belt module being positioned downstream of the buffer belt module in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A thermoform packaging machine comprising, as work stations, a forming station for thermoforming troughs in a packaging film, at least one sealing station for sealing the troughs with a cover film, and a cutting station as well as a feeding device for causing a feed of the packaging film. A method for using such a thermoform packaging machine wherein a controller determines for two or more work stations, prior to a process step, which required feed length each of these work stations has, the required feed length indicating the distance by which the packaging film will have to be conveyed for the next process step of the respective work station, before a feed length specification is ascertained from the required feed lengths determined and the feeding device is controlled accordingly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a feeding device for transporting products, wherein the products are provided to the feeding device in groups. The feeding device comprises at least one first and one second conveyor belts which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of transport, wherein a first group of products can be transferred from the first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt. According to the invention, the conveyor belts can be accelerated such that a gap between the groups can be reduced to improve the production flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging plant and a method of operating a picker line for feeding products into packaging troughs of a packaging machine, comprising a first feed belt and a second feed belt, the speed of the second feed belt being reduced relative to the speed of the first feed belt so as to buffer the products which have not been gripped by the first picker and allow the last picker to grip all the products and to feed them in.

Abstract: A robot according to the present disclosure includes a support structure and at least three main arms mounted to be movable relative to the support structure, wherein the outer ends facing away from the support structure are movable to different spatial positions relative to the support structure and relative to each other. The robot further comprises connecting elements having the same lengths by means of which the outer end of each main arm can be connected at a defined distance from the outer end of the two adjacent main arms. The present disclosure also provides a method of calibrating a robot.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging plant and a method of operating a picker line for feeding products into packaging troughs of a packaging machine, comprising a first feed belt and a second feed belt, the speed of the second feed belt being reduced relative to the speed of the first feed belt so as to buffer the products which have not been gripped by the first picker and allow the last picker to grip all the products and to feed them in.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device (1) with at least one grouping belt (3) for the transport and/or grouping of packages (5) with a dimensionally stable protruding edge (9) and including means for moving two adjacent packages towards one another and for overlapping the protruding edges (9), whereby the edge (9) of the preceding package comes to rest over the edge (9) of the following package on the grouping belt (3). The disclosure further relates to a method of operating a device (1) of this nature preferably in packaging systems with deep-draw packaging machines or tray sealing machines and to the use of appropriate packages (5) which are then placed into an outer packaging in a space-saving manner. With the above device and method, space saving of the packages (5) in an outer packaging (14) can be achieved in a simple manner.

Abstract: A robot according to the present disclosure includes a support structure and at least three main arms mounted to be movable relative to the support structure, wherein the outer ends facing away from the support structure are movable to different spatial positions relative to the support structure and relative to each other. The robot further comprises connecting elements having the same lengths by means of which the outer end of each main arm can be connected at a defined distance from the outer end of the two adjacent main arms. The present disclosure also provides a method of calibrating a robot.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device (1) with at least one grouping belt (3) for the transport and/or grouping of packages (5) with a dimensionally stable protruding edge (9) and including means for moving two adjacent packages towards one another and for overlapping the protruding edges (9), whereby the edge (9) of the preceding package comes to rest over the edge (9) of the following package on the grouping belt (3). The disclosure further relates to a method of operating a device (1) of this nature preferably in packaging systems with deep-draw packaging machines or tray sealing machines and to the use of appropriate packages (5) which are then placed into an outer packaging in a space-saving manner. With the above device and method, space saving of the packages (5) in an outer packaging (14) can be achieved in a simple manner.