Abstract: In order to achieve reliable packing of stacked items (18) into tubular bags (16) by a vertical tubular bag machine (1) with a filling station (7) above a filling pipe (6), it is proposed that the filling station (7) is intended for delivering in each case a stack (37) of groups of items (23) placed one on top of the other, each group of items (23) being formed by at least two partially overlapping items (18).

Abstract: In order to allow stacks (137) of groups of items (123) placed one on top of the other, in particular comprising coffee pods, to be packed in tubular bags (16) by means of a vertical tubular bag machine (1), it is proposed either to adapt a filling pipe (6) to the horizontal dimensions of the groups of items (23) or to provide it with an insert (125) in order to stabilize the stack during its falling movement in the filling pipe (6). The insert (125) is similarly adapted to the geometry of the items in order to stabilize them during their fall in the filling pipe (6).

Abstract: In order to introduce stacks of horizontally aligned flat, preferably disk-shaped, groups of items (23) formed by one or more items (18) into tubular bags (16) by means of a vertical tubular bag machine (1), it is proposed that a vertical filling pipe (6) is adapted with respect to its cross section to the horizontal dimensions of the group of items (23), the width (19) and the depth (20) of the filling pipe (6) being made to match the width (21) and the depth (22) of a group of items (23) and the group of items (23) being placed above the filling pipe (6) in such a way that a first equal spacing (26) in the direction of the width (19) and similarly a second equal spacing (27) in the direction of the depth (20) of the filling pipe (6) is provided on opposite sides of the group of items (23), in each case between an outer edge (24) of the group of items (23) and the inner surface (25) of the filling pipe (6), that these spacings (26, 27) do not all have the value zero, that the filling pipe (6) has a cross sec