Abstract: The present invention embraces printers such as hand-held printers and mobile/portable printer. One exemplary embodiment includes “print as you glide” (PAYG) devices. Such printers may comprise a modular print engine that is removable from the printer and may allow a user to easily access and load the ribbon in the mobile print engine. The modular print engine may comprise a modular print head and an encoder that may determine the movement of the print head relative to a stationary media. When a printer is pressed against the media, the print head's burn line may be resting on the media. When the printer is stationary relative to the media, the encoder may not trigger the printing. Once PAYG is being slid or glided across the media, the encoder may start to rotate and then send a signal to a processor, causing the printer to start printing.

Abstract: There is described a packaging apparatus for forming a plurality of sealed packages-comprising conveyor for advancing a web of packaging material along an advancement path, an isolation chamber, a tube forming device adapted to form a tube from the, in use, advancing web of packaging material, a sealing device adapted to longitudinally seal the tube, a support structure carrying at least the tube forming device, a filling device for continuously filling the tube formed by the tube forming device, a package forming unit adapted to form and seal the packages from the, in use, advancing tube formed by the tube forming device and filled by the filling device. The support structure comprises at least one support column at least indirectly carrying the tube forming device and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube forming device.

Abstract: A package tracking system includes a package room for holding packages intended for delivery to one or more package recipients. One or more optical sensing devices are positioned to capture one or more images of each package brought to the package room and of each person handling that package at the package room. A computing system includes a processor and memory. The processor detects a presence and location of a given package held in the package room based on the one or more images captured by the one or more optical sensing devices and on package identification information relating to the given package. The processor produces a record of transactions involving the given package. The record includes the one or more images of the given package and of each person who handled the given package captured by the one or more optical sensing devices, and when each transaction occurred.

Abstract: A system for storing and packaging pharmaceuticals includes a frame configured to store cassettes that contain pharmaceuticals and a cassette-moving assembly coupled to the frame. The cassette-moving assembly is operable to move relative to the frame to retrieve the cassettes from the frame. The system also includes a dispensing area positioned adjacent the frame to receive the cassettes from the cassette-moving assembly. The dispensing area is operable to selectively open the cassettes. The system further includes packaging equipment in communication with the dispensing area. The packaging equipment includes a feed stock roll for forming pouches. The packaging equipment is operable to fill the pouches with pharmaceuticals that are dispensed from the cassettes in the dispensing area. The system also includes a control system including a processor.

Abstract: A paintball or other gelatin capsule has a printed image applied to its shell before encapsulation using a gelatin ribbon printing machine. The printing machine includes a motor driven cylindrical casting drum, a cylindrical print roll having a pattern formed on and around its outer periphery, said print roll being positioned relative to said casting drum so that said gelatin ribbon is sandwiched in between and in contact with both said casting drum and said print roll and so that the print roll is rotary driven by said casting drum solely through frictional contact with the gelatin ribbon. A rotary ink roller is in contact with the print roll to drives the ink roller solely through frictional contact between said print roll the inking roller. A doctor blade is configured to scrape excess ink from said inking roller. A method of printing on a gelatin capsule is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a medicine packaging device. The medicine packaging device includes: a reader-writer that reads information from an IC tag installed at a supply core of an ink ribbon roll detachably installed to an ink ribbon cassette as well as writes information to the IC tag; a motor control unit that controls a winding motor for rotating a winding core, based on a used length of the ink ribbon which is information read from the IC tag, so that the ink ribbon of the ink ribbon roll runs in a winding direction at a higher speed than a feeding speed of a continuous sheet for packaging; and a written information output unit that outputs information showing the used length of the ink ribbon which has been changed due to use of the ink ribbon, to the reader/writer as information written on the IC tag.

Abstract: There is provided a medicine dispensing system configured such that a medicine dispensing device includes a sub unit having a function to dispense medicine that is connected to a medicine dispensing device that includes a main unit having a function of packing medicines. There is also provided a medicine dispensing device that can be appropriately integrated with such a medicine dispensing system. The medicine dispensing system includes, in some embodiments a main unit, a sub unit and a transfer device connecting the main unit and the sub unit. The medicine dispensing system transfers the medicine dispensed in the sub unit to the main unit by means of a transfer device and dispenses the medicine at a medicine packing part together with the medicine dispensed from a main storage part in the main unit.

Abstract: There is provided a medicine feeding device which can apply uniform tension to wrapping paper wound in a roll state to wrap a medicine. The medicine feeding device comprises a tablet case which stores a medicine, and the wrapping paper wound in the roll state, wraps a medicine discharged from the tablet case in wrapping paper 72, and comprises a tension application mechanism 113 which applies predetermined tension to the continuously pulled-out wrapping paper. This tension application mechanism is constituted to freely move up-and-down, and to apply tension to the pulled-out wrapping paper by its own weight.

Abstract: A printer assembly for a form fill and seal machine prints indicia on the top web. The indicia are spaced apart on the top web.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for printing pattern or indicia onto a gelatin ribbon. It comprises a transfer station with a print roll and a motor-driven casting roll provided for forming a gelatin ribbon. The transfer station is positioned in relation to the casting roll in such a way that the gelatin ribbon is sandwiched between the casting roll and the transfer station; elastic tackiness of a passing gelatin ribbon causes the rotation of the print roll. The apparatus further comprises an adjustment means, wherein the adjustment means are adapted to provide finely-tuned positioning of the transfer station in relation to the casting drum, and balance pressure exerted by the transfer station on the passing gelatin ribbon thus facilitating on optimal printing result.

Abstract: A method and machine for folding sheets of packing material about respective groups of cigarettes to form respective packages, and wherein a web of packing material is first fed through a control station for detecting the position of a reference mark made on the web at a work station upstream from the control station, and is then fed through a cutting station where the web is cut into sheets of packing material, each of which is fed to a packing station where each sheet of packing material is folded about the respective group of cigarettes.

Abstract: There is provided a medicine packaging apparatus, which is capable of rapidly coping with errors occurring during processes.

Abstract: There is provided a medicine feeding device which can apply uniform tension to wrapping paper wound in a roll state to wrap a medicine. The medicine feeding device comprises a tablet case which stores a medicine, and the wrapping paper wound in the roll state, wraps a medicine discharged from the tablet case in wrapping paper 72, and comprises a tension application mechanism 113 which applies predetermined tension to the continuously pulled-out wrapping paper. This tension application mechanism is constituted to freely move up-and-down, and to apply tension to the pulled-out wrapping paper by its own weight.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus includes a conveying unit that conveys a continuous film in a first direction with an article placed on a first portion of the film, and folds back in a second direction opposite to the first direction a second portion of the film ahead of the first portion with respect to the first direction, sealing parts that seal the first portion and the second portion to form a bag body containing the article, and a cutter that cuts the film.

Abstract: There is provided a medicine feeding device which can apply uniform tension to wrapping paper wound in a roll state to wrap a medicine. The medicine feeding device comprises a tablet case which stores a medicine, and the wrapping paper wound in the roll state, wraps a medicine discharged from the tablet case in wrapping paper 72, and comprises a tension application mechanism 113 which applies predetermined tension to the continuously pulled-out wrapping paper. This tension application mechanism is constituted to freely move up-and-down, and to apply tension to the pulled-out wrapping paper by its own weight.

Abstract: A controller that controls a registered mark sensor stores, in a storing unit, a registered mark setting (239) which indicates a setting of the detecting sensitivity of the registered mark sensor in association with a bar code number (231). Upon reception of the bar code number (231) from a bar code reader, the controller reads out the registered mark setting (239) associated with the bar code number (231). Then the controller sets the registered mark sensor to the detecting sensitivity associated with the registered mark setting (239) thus read out.

Abstract: A medicine delivering device permits additional medicine cassettes to be provided at low cost without greatly enlarging the installation space. The medicine delivering device includes a medicine storage and removal unit in which many medicine cassettes each containing a medicine are detachably provided to the outer surface of a drum whose upper and lower ends are rotatable supported by the device body and a medicine packaging unit that packages medicine removed through a collecting hopper from the medicine cassette of the medicine storage and removal unit. There is provided on the side surface of the device body a sub medicine storage and removal unit including: a body; a drawer body provided to be capable of being pulled out from the body and that is detachably provided with a plurality of medicine cassettes each containing the medicine; and a guide that guides the medicine taken out from the medicine cassette to the collecting hopper.

Abstract: A product and method for producing a string of individual sealed, filled packages separated by perforations. A string of separate packages optionally may be enclosed in a cardboard or other container designed to sit in a pantry or other location for dispensing of individual units. Perforations in the packaging film between separate packages provide a tear point to aid in separating one package from the next. There are several advantages to this format including easy placement of the string of packages into a carton for shipping or dispensing, and the ability to hang a string of packages in locations without the need to attach the packages to a backing strip. The perforations between packages facilitate the packaging and transportation of the entire string or bandolier, and facilitate the removal and use of a separate package.

Abstract: An apparatus for swinging a last hopper of an automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system having a tablet cassette and a deck, includes a last hopper, a shutter controller, and a last hopper swinging device. The last hopper, for collecting one or more tablets falling from the tablet cassette, has a top opening, a bottom orifice, and a shutter provided at the bottom orifice. The shutter controller is provided for opening the shutter to release the tablets collected in the last hopper. The last hopper swinging device is provided for swinging the last hopper in order for the tablets in the last hopper to be aligned in a predetermined direction. The tablets aligned by the last hopper swinging device drop into a wrapping paper in the predetermined direction to be packaged.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semi-automatic medicine packaging machine with cassette lock unit that improves packaging efficiency and speed by supplying an automatic supply unit and prevents an unauthorized person from supplement and outflow of tablets by fixing tablet cassettes arrayed in the automatic supply unit as a whole. The semi-automatic medicine packaging machine including a medication feed outlet that feeds and discharges medications into a hopper, a sealing unit that seals medications in the hopper by medication envelope(s), a printing unit that prints data on medication envelope(s), a controller that controls the overall apparatus, and a button operation unit that inputs a user's operation into the controller includes an upper shelf; cassette stands; an automatic supply unit including a plurality of tablet cassettes established on the upper part of the cassette stands; and a cassette lock unit that prevents separation of the tablet cassettes from the cassette stands.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic medicine packing machine for packing a variety of medicines dose by dose continuously. According to one embodiment, there is provided an automatic medicine packing machine for packing a variety of medicines dose by dose continuously, including: a plurality of cassette units in which the variety of medicines are accommodated; a hopper for collecting the medicines discharged from the cassette units; a packing unit for packing the medicines collected by the hopper; and a shutter assembly mounted on the hopper to temporarily suspend the medicines discharged from the cassette units, wherein the shutter assembly includes a frame detachably mounted to an upper end of the hopper; an openable/closable shutter unit arranged and mounted on the frame; a driving means for driving the shutter unit to be opened and closed; and an interlocking unit for transferring a driving force of the driving means to the shutter unit to interlock the shutter unit.

Abstract: A blistering machine (M1) for producing blister packs (B1) has a production line including, arranged in a series: at least one thermoforming station (101) of a first continuous band (102) of thermoformable material, in order to define a blister band (102) with blisters containing products (104); a station (105) for feeding the products (104) and filling the blister band (102) with the products; a feeding station (106) of a second band (107), feeding continuously the second band (107) over the blister band (102) to form a blister pack band (NB1); a closing station (108), where the first blister band (102) is sealed by the second band (107) to obtain a blister pack; a station (200) for processing the blister pack band (NB1); and a cutting station (R1), in which the blister pack band is cut into respective blister packs (B1) filled with the products (104). The production line extends, at least beginning from the products feeding station (105), along a continuous feeding path (A1), substantially horizontal.

Abstract: A standup bag for granular products or the like and a method of manufacturing the bag. The standup bag is manufactured from an extruded heat scalable material and includes both an integral handle and a perforation to facilitate opening and pouring out the contents of the bag.

Abstract: A package paper thermal printer of a tablet packing machine for printing information about prescription medicines on package paper by a thermal print head and a ribbon tape, so that the information is very easily printed and the patient can easily recognize the information.

Abstract: A double-bag package, and method for manufacturing same, constructed by modification to existing vertical form and fill packaging machines and perforation knives. In a preferred embodiment, the invention involves producing a double-bag package from a single sheet of packaging film by feeding a roll of film having graphics printed sideways rather than vertically into a vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine and using a novel perforating/cutting knife to alternately cut and perforate transverse seals. The perforating/cutting knife has teeth in the shape of oblique triangular pyramids, with each tooth having three cutting edges. The perforating/cutting knife produces self-correcting T-shaped perforation patterns capable of capturing and redirecting errant tears for fail-safe directional separation.

Abstract: A continuous strip bag feeder and loader that includes an integrated printer assembly for printing information on each individual bag of the continuous strip. The printer assembly is mounted to a support frame and receives a continuous strip of bags from a feed assembly. The printer assembly includes a print head that prints the desired information on each individual bag of the continuous strip. The printer assembly is positioned relative to the loading assembly such that after each individual bag is printed, the bag is immediately loaded with a product at the loading assembly. Thus, no printed bags are positioned between the loading assembly and the printer assembly, thereby assuring each bag is loaded with a product prior to the printing of another bag.

Abstract: A bagger feeds shingled open-ended bags to a workstation. Each bag is printed with information, typically date and product source information. The print area on each underlying bag is located by flipping up a trailing portion of an overlying bag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing filled gelatin capsules created from strips (4) of gelatin ribbon. The strips are led to an encapsulation station (6) where they are enclosed around the fill that is delivered thereto. Means are provided for controlling the lateral alignment of the strip in its path to the encapsulation station (6) preferably, such means comprises a pivotal guide bar assembly (52).

Abstract: A machine for producing so-called strip packs includes: a station for feeding products to a packaging group, situated in cascade, which places and seals each of the products in relative heat-welded pockets, arranged on a continuous band; an operating station, situated in cascade with respect to the packaging group, equipped with: means for printing and/or applying codified data and/or information on each pocket; feeling detecting means for verifying the presence of corresponding products inside each pocket; pre-cutting groups for transversal precutting of the continuous band; cutting groups for longitudinal and transversal cutting of the continuous band; a compensation magazine, interposed between the packaging group and the operating station, and aimed at allowing, at least partial, accumulation of the continuous band. The continuous band is moved stepwise.

Abstract: A machine for forming individual packages from a web of preopened and interconnected bags one at a time is disclosed. A web is fed along a path of travel from a supply to a load station. A pair of nip rolls are positioned along the path near the load station. A printer is positioned along the path between the supply and the nip rolls. A nip roll drive is provided for rotating the nip rolls selectively and one at a time at a printing rate for the feed of the web when the printer is operating and at a faster feed rate for positioning a bag at the load station when the printer is not operating. A supply station tensioner is provided for tensioning a web along the path such that the printer when operating prints a section of a tensioned web.

Abstract: A continuous strip bag feeder and loader that includes an integrated printer assembly for printing information on each individual bag of the continuous strip. The printer assembly is mounted to a support frame and receives a continuous strip of bags from a feed assembly. The printer assembly includes a print head that prints the desired information on each individual bag of the continuous strip. The printer assembly is positioned relative to the loading assembly such that after each individual bag is printed, the bag is immediately loaded with a product at the loading assembly. Thus, no printed bags are positioned between the loading assembly and the printer assembly, thereby assuring each bag is loaded with a product prior to the printing of another bag.

Abstract: A banknote handling machine having an infeed part for receiving banknotes deposited by a customer from outside the machine and for identifying the customer, a detector unit for checking the validity of the deposited banknotes, a printing unit for printing information relating to the deposited banknotes and the customer, and a packaging unit for encasing and sealing banknotes suspected of being false in transparent packaging material. Transportation of suspect banknotes to the packaging and printing operations is controlled by a process unit such that customer information and information relating to the suspect banknotes is printed on an inner surface of the transparent packaging material, in mirror-image, in conjunction with operation of the packaging unit to encase and seal the suspect banknotes so that, upon completion, the printed information is properly readable from the outside of the package.

Abstract: A banknote handling apparatus including a first unit for receiving banknotes deposited from outside the machine, a second unit for checking validity, quality and denomination of the deposited banknotes, and a third unit for bundling and packaging checked banknotes using a packaging device that has a roll carrying transparent packaging material for encasing banknotes in a closed package so that unnoticeable resealing of a banknote package that has been sealed in the apparatus and then broken open is difficult to achieve. A printing device is located above and close to the roll for printing information relating to the content of the banknote package with each bundling/encasing function in mirror image on an inner side of the transparent packaging material taken from the roll so that the content information is durably printed thereon and readable right-way-up from outside the closed package.

Abstract: A machine for forming individual packages from a web of preopened and interconnected bags one at a time is disclosed. A web is fed along a path of travel from a supply to a load station. A pair of nip rolls are positioned along the path near the load station. A printer is positioned along the path between the supply and the nip rolls. A nip roll drive is provided for rotating the nip rolls selectively and one at a time at a printing rate for the feed of the web when the printer is operating and at a faster feed rate for positioning a bag at the load station when the printer is not operating. A supply station tensioner is provided for tensioning a web along the path such that the printer when operating prints a section of a tensioned web.

Abstract: A method for printing indicia on bags interconnected in a continuous web. A bagging machine has a printer and a plurality of tensioning rollers, at least one of which is driven by a roller motor. The web is moved from an initial bagging machine station through a print station and to a load station in which goods are placed in the bags. A perforation sensor featuring a spring biased hemispherical tip indicates to a bagging machine controller that a perforation is present. First roller motor control signals are received from a printer controller comprising a frequency modulated first motor speed signal and a first motor enable signal. The first roller motor control signals are transmitted to the roller motor to cause it to drive the roller to move bags through the print station.

Abstract: A packaging sealer printer employing a bag sealing mechanism in a printer assembly. The sealer printer transports a web of bags past a printing head and to a filling station and sealer assembly. The bags are sequentially indexed during the transporting operation. At the printing head, information regarding the content and/or recipient of the bag is printed on the bag. The same information is displayed on a video screen when the bag is indexed to the filling station and sealer assembly for filling by the operator. The bag is then sealed by a pressure bar pinching the bag against a spring plate and heater bar. A transfer printing tape is interposed between printing head and the bag to be printed. A low voltage sensing finger rides upon the web of bags and is operative to sense the presence of uniformly positioned apertures along the web of bags to assure and maintain proper registration of the bags with the printing head and filling and sealing stations during operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for packaging contact lenses. The apparatus includes a plurality of discrete inspection lens carriers and a plurality of contact lens containers. The carriers are movable within the apparatus. A single one of the containers is mounted on a single one of the carriers. The apparatus, in another embodiment, includes a plurality of lens carriers, a plurality of lifts, a plurality of contact lens containers and either a plurality of platens or a plurality of mandrels. One of the containers is mounted on a respective one of the carriers. Each of the platens or each of the mandrels is individually supported by one of the lifts. The lifts apply pressure, within a predetermined range, to each of the containers. The apparatus, in another embodiment, includes a plurality of contact lens containers. A heated mandrel is disposed above the plurality of containers.

Abstract: A system to form, fill and seal (FFS) flexible bags including the steps of a total printing of the film as lit winds off the supply reel; a dry cleaning; a gimballed aligning for the folding of the printed and washed film; a hot-bar welding of the folded film; a valve welding controlled by an algorithm;humidification treatment of the valve cavity; a shaping of the bags by hot tools also controlled by an algorithm; and a high precision dosage of the filling liquid.

Abstract: A package and a process is provided for packaging a perishable product and providing a tamperproof visible date code on the resultant package. The process includes the steps of providing form, fill and seal package making process equipment; and providing to that equipment a supply of plastic film in strip form having opposed first and second lateral edges and a thermally sealable side. A date code is printed adjacent to the first edge on the sealable side. The film is then conveyed through a folding device to cause the printed date code to be overlaid by the opposite or second lateral edge of the plastic film. The lateral edges of the film are then thermally sealed together with the second edge overlying the imprinted area thereby forming a tube. The tube is then formed into a series of individual packages which are filled with the perishable product.

Abstract: A method for printing packaging parts which constitute a part of a continuous web of foil 1, in that the individual packaging parts 2 lie at a distance from each other and are in connection with each other via the foil, whereby the continuous web of foil with the packaging parts is fed forward to a printing section B, where the printing of the packaging parts 2 is effected with print-pads 10, and each printing cycle comprises a packaging part or several packaging parts lying parallel and at the side of each other with a distance between them, and the position of the parts being sensed at an entrance to the printing station, a controller receiving a signal from the position sensor and calculating an amount of movement for precisely positioning the packaging parts for printing, and controlling a drive for the foil web to assure that the packaging parts are moved to the calculated position for printing.

Abstract: A hopper opening and closing apparatus for an automatic tablet dispensing system is disclosed. The hopper opening and closing apparatus includes a door hingedly connected to a discharge hopper for swing down to open and swing up to close the release port, wherein the tablets released from the tablets dropping unit are temporarily gathered in the tablet release hopper when the release door is closed. The door is formed to cover a release port provided through a lower portion of a discharge hopper. The hopper apparatus further includes a door control, which includes a horizontal opening bar engaged at the release port, a rotation shaft driven by a motor which simultaneously drives a heat assembly, a cam carried on said rotation shaft, an opening lever making an angular movement by said cam, and an opening link engaged to the opening bar and linked from the opening lever, whereby the tablets gathered in said discharge hopper are simultaneously dropped into a target packaging paper.

Abstract: Packaging machine for the production of packs having at least one wrapping consisting of packaging material, the wrapping being provided with a changeable print, in particular a code. A printing mechanism (11) having printing tools (25, 26) serves for applying printing characters or codes to packaging material. These printing tools must be capable of being actuated at short time intervals in order to adapt the code. For this purpose, a printing roller (14) receiving the printing tools (25, 26) can be moved out of a working position into an adjusting position.