Abstract: An improved medication organizing system for allowing patients to rapidly and easily prepare hermetically sealed dosage packages to set up their medication regime for a week, month, or longer period of time. The device includes seven hoppers to allow the patient to prepare a set of hermetically sealed medication packages for a given time for each day of the week. After being filled, each package in the set of seven packages is hermetically sealed simultaneously by simply loading the set into a sealing unit and pulling a lever. Sealing of the packages does not require manual manipulation of the individual packages by the user, such as would be required for medication organizers utilizing individual packages with zip-lock seals. The medication organizing system allows patients who lack manual dexterity, such as elderly patients, to easily prepare medication dosages for an extended period of time.

Abstract: There is provided an automated packaging apparatus for depositing a predetermined number of pills into a series of containers. The packaging apparatus includes a plurality of independently rotatable rotary slats. Each rotary slat includes an outer peripheral edge portion and the rotary slats are configured so that the outer peripheral edge portions define a common interior space. Each outer peripheral edge portion also defines an inner surface and a plurality of pill apertures. The pill apertures are configured to receive one of the pills from the common interior space at a first position and transmit the pill outside the rotary slats at a second position. A conveyor is configured to move a plurality of open containers along a predetermined path of travel and position each of the containers adjacent a respective rotary slat to define a delivery path that extends between the second position of the rotary slat and the container. At least one drive motor is in driving engagement for rotating the rotary slats.

Abstract: A device operates at an outlet channel of a feeder, where objects are conveyed, arranged in the same way and in a row one after another, for withdrawing single objects and for regularly spacing out the objects on carriers catching each time the foremost object of the row of objects. A driver moves the carriers through a terminal section of the channel to catch the foremost object. A conveyor conveys the withdrawn objects for directing and spacing out the objects along a conveying direction and for conveying the equidistant objects to a robotized manipulation station.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously transferring articles from a pickup station to a release station using a circular, continuously rotating turret is disclosed which includes a plurality of transfer arms carried in a circular motion wherein pickup heads carried by the transfer arms are converted from the circular motion to a straight-line motion during pick up of the articles to provide a case packing machine having high speed and reliable operation. In accordance with the general aspects of the invention, a first conveyor is disclosed for conveying the articles to a pickup station and a second conveyor is provided for delivering the articles away from a release station. One of the first and second conveyors includes an arcuate conveyor section disposed below a congruent path of the pickup heads. At least one of the pickup and release stations is advantageously located over the arcuate conveyor section whereby high speed operation requiring only a small amount of machine floor space is provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading solder balls into a mold. Solder balls are loaded into a reservoir having multiple exit ports. A removable mold is fitted into the apparatus and the reservoir is passed across the top of the mold while solder balls are fed into cavities in the mold. After the reservoir has advanced across the mold and the mold cavities are filled with solder balls, the reservoir is reset as a roller is simultaneously guided across the mold to seat the solder balls firmly within the mold. Alternatively, the roller may be applied to the solder balls while the reservoir advances across the mold, or both as the the reservoir is advanced and when it is returned to its original position.

Abstract: A system for loading retorts, sterilization systems, and the like. The preferred embodiment of the present system provides both loading and unloading modules, the loading module designed to automatically load fragile containers, in mass and layer by layer into a self-supporting cube array of stacked trays nested in a basket frame. The unloader module automatically unloads the cube array layer by layer after the contents of the cube array are processed in mass. The stack of trays, or batch cube remain as an intact, stacked unit throughout the entire retort process. A hydraulic ram which is associated with each the loader and unloader, lifting the batch cube from the basket frame and indexing the batch cube vertically during the loading/unloading process, respectfully. Each layer in the stack is either loaded or unloaded as that layer is positioned in the home position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously transferring articles from a pickup station to a release station using a circular, continuously rotating turret is disclosed which includes a plurality of transfer arms carried in a circular motion wherein pickup heads carried by the transfer arms are converted from the circular motion to a straight-line motion during pick up of the articles to provide a case packing machine having high speed and reliable operation. In accordance with the general aspects of the invention, a first conveyor is disclosed for conveying the articles to a pickup station and a second conveyor is provided for delivering the articles away from a release station. One of the first and second conveyors includes an arcuate conveyor section disposed below a congruent path of the pickup heads. At least one of the pickup and release stations is advantageously located over the arcuate conveyor section whereby high speed operation requiring only a small amount of machine floor space is provided.

Abstract: A packing apparatus which includes a feed conveyor adapted to convey articles to a pick up station and a case conveyor adapted to sequentially convey cases, having an open top and a plurality of flaps, to a feed station. Pick up and grid heads are provided and are adapted to pick up successive slugs of the articles at the pick up station and to sequentially deposit the slugs in each of the cases while they are in the release station. A removal conveyor is provided to successively receive the slug filled cases from the release station and pass them onto a case sealing apparatus which is arranged over the removal conveyor and is operative to apply an adhesive to certain of the flaps and to then move the flaps over the open top into a secured closed position.

Abstract: A case packing and case flap separation apparatus is disclosed for packing articles into cases and closing the cases. The cases typically have first and second major and minor flaps interconnected by tab-locks and held in folded positions adjacent vertical ends and sides of the cases. The apparatus includes a conveyor having a radial transport path adapted to transport successive cases through an article insertion section, first and second tab slitting sections, and a case exit section. Tab slitters are associated with the first and second slitting sections adapted to sever the tab-locks so that the major and minor flaps can be separated. First and second flap guides are associated with the first and second slitting section adapted to engage and elevate the separated major flaps away from the vertical walls after the tab-locks have been severed.

Abstract: An improved case packer machine is disclosed, of the type where containers are dropped through grid fingers to an empty case positioned on a lift table. The case packer machine of the present invention includes a flap opener which includes a pair of shoes mounted to an air cylinder. The shoes are extended by the air cylinder to contact and open the leading flap. The lifting table of the present invention is motor driven and controlled to limit the shock loading experienced by the containers as they are positioned within the cases. The lifting table includes a pair spur gears driven by the motor in meshing arrangement with a pair rack gears each mounted to a table and a novel gear guide to maintain proper engagement between the racks and gears and further to provide for backlash adjustment between the gears.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion system and method for transferring a dunnage pad are disclosed. The conversion system includes a cushioning conversion machine and a pad support. The conversion machine produces cushioning dunnage pads and discharges the pads in a predetermined discharge direction. A pad support is movable between a pad receiving position and a pad discharge position. In the pad receiving position, the pad support is oriented relative to the conversion machine to receive thereon dunnage pads discharged from the conversion machine in the discharge direction. In the pad discharge position, the pad support is tilted relative to horizontal for discharge of the dunnage pad from the pad support.

Abstract: Packages of varying dimensions are loaded into a plurality of electrical package tubes. A guide arrangement is provided, which is programmable to receive the electrical packages by automatically configuring to accommodate the varying dimensions of the electrical packages, the configuring being performed without manual intervention, and a receiving arrangement is provided to receive the electrical package tubes and configured to individually align the electrical package tubes with the guide arrangement to receive the electrical packages. Upon application of a feeding force to the electrical packages, the guide arrangement guides the electrical packages into the electrical package tubes.

Abstract: An apparatus for counting and packing solid foods comprising a table device for holding the solid foods to be counted and packed, plural vacuum nozzles, a flexible vacuum pad, and adsorption confirmation sensors. The apparatus also includes an arm holding the vacuum nozzles. The vacuum nozzles are displaceable in horizontally in a right and left direction and in a vertically up and down directions. The vacuum nozzles are configured to adsorb and convey the solid foods from the table to a packing device. A vacuum breaking channel is used to cease adsorption by compressed air.

Abstract: A carousel bagger including a plurality of troughs each having sides fixed to a rotatable table with a pivotable bottom wall pivoted from a lower product-receiving position to a higher product-dumping position in response to actuation by a linkage running on a cam track as the table rotates. The bottom wall has two longitudinal sections with an obtuse angle therebetween which tends to cause the product to travel in a single file to thereby avoid bridging. The trough dumps product through combined chute and bag-clamping members having sides with outwardly flared upper portions which also tends to avoid bridging.

Abstract: A adjustable shuttle stop apparatus for use in controlling feeding of material to a machining operation on a machine tool, such as a band saw. The apparatus comprises a feed conveyor, a band saw adjacent to the feed conveyor, a shuttle vise movably disposed on the feed conveyor, and an adjustable stop on the feed conveyor for adjusting a distance between the stop and the shuttle vise and for stopping the shuttle vise at the cutting position. The adjustable stop compensates for undesired movement of the shuttle vise caused by clamping the workpiece such that the distance between the stop and the shuttle vise remains substantially constant. This allows for a consistent cut length of the workpiece on subsequent cutting cycles. Different embodiments of the adjustable stop are disclosed along with a method of use of the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a facility and method for filling product receptacles (1), especially cartons, with a predetermined amount of products (2), especially flexible bag packaging, which are individually fed at regular or irregular intervals and assembled to form a group of products (11) and which are subsequently fed to an available product receptacle (1). The products (2) in the group of products (11) can be selectively placed on or under the preceding product. The group of products (11) can be selectively fed to the product receptacles (1) vertically or horizontally.

Abstract: A drug packaging system including a bag supply unit (A) for printing injection drug information on bags and feeding the bags, a drug feed unit (B) for putting drugs specified the doctors' orders into each of the bags (206) received from the bag supply unit (A), and a packaging unit for putting the bags (206) into a bucket (209). The packaging unit includes a bed (230) for supporting bags, a mouth-opening means (231, 232) for opening the mouth of the bag on the bed, and a chute (233) through which drugs are fed into the bag on the bed through the bag mouth. The bed (230) is pivotable between a position for putting drugs into the bag and a position for dispensing the bag.

Abstract: An improved case packer machine is disclosed, of the type where containers are dropped through grid fingers to an empty case positioned on a lift table. The case packer machine of the present invention includes a flap opener which includes a pair of shoes mounted to an air cylinder. The shoes are extended by the air cylinder to contact and open the leading flap. The lifting table of the present invention is motor driven and controlled to limit the shock loading experienced by the containers as they are positioned within the cases. The lifting table includes a pair spur gears driven by the motor in meshing arrangement with a pair rack gears each mounted to a table and a novel gear guide to maintain proper engagement between the racks and gears and further to provide for backlash adjustment between the gears.

Abstract: Plant for packaging comprising, a packaging and bagging rolls of paper, includes a packaging machine (12) designed to produce packs of rolls with a pre-set sequence and a bagging machine (12) and to arrange them according to a plurality of layers, each of which is made up of one or more rows of packs, and to insert said layers into a partially formed bag which is closed after the layers have been inserted. Set between the packaging machine (12) and the bagging machine (16) is a conveying assembly (14) which operates in a cadenced way together with the packaging machine (12) and the bagging machine (16).

Abstract: A packing method and system are disclosed which system includes a first platform having a product support surface for supporting a product and a second platform for supporting a box into which the product is to be packed. After a box is received on and secured to the second platform, the second platform is rotated so that the open top of the box faces the first platform and moved toward the first platform until the box substantially surrounds the product on the product support surface. The first and second platforms are then rotated simultaneously so that the product is transferred from the product support to the box, and the full box is discharged to a discharge conveyor.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method and a device for stacking and packing groups of infusion bags, especially for making tea, whereby in continuous production infusion bags arranged one after another in a series in a strand are separated, their speed of movement is reduced and they are put in a position suitable for making a stack, whereby the infusion bags are arranged one after another in such a way that they at least partly overlap in their subsequent direction of movement.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously transferring articles from a pickup station to a release station using a circular, continuously rotating turret is disclosed which includes a plurality of transfer arms carried in a circular motion wherein pickup heads carried by the transfer arms are converted from the circular motion to a straight-line motion during pick up of the articles to provide a case packing machine having high speed and reliable operation. In accordance with the general aspects of the invention, a first conveyor is disclosed for conveying the articles to a pickup station and a second conveyor is provided for delivering the articles away from a release station. One of the first and second conveyors includes an arcuate conveyor section disposed below a congruent path of the pickup heads. At least one of the pickup and release stations is advantageously located over the arcuate conveyor section whereby high speed operation requiring only a small amount of machine floor space is provided.

Abstract: A modular sliding door grid including a sliding door mounted on a low profile frame. The sliding door is actuated by at least one pivot bar, connected at one end to the sliding door and at the other end to a mechanical linkage. Actuation of a frame bar in a forward direction urges the mechanical linkage in a forward direction and causes the pivot bar to move around a center-point such that the sliding door moves in a backward direction. The backward movement of the sliding door removes support for a case load positioned on the sliding door so that the case load drops.

Abstract: This patent relates to a machine that automatically assembles, inspects, and packages disposable prophylaxis angles. The machine includes a movable table including a plurality of fixtures on which angle components are assembled and the assembled angles are inspected. The movable table is surrounded by a number of stations, each of which performs a different operation of the assembly and inspection procedure. Feeders automatically supply the angle components to their respective stations for assembly. Angles that are incorrectly assembled are automatically rejected. Properly assembled angles are automatically sealed in individual bags. Individually bagged angles are counted into batches by the machine and automatically sealed into cartons.

Abstract: A device (100) for feeding articles (2) to a blister band (3) moving below and having at least one row of blisters (3a) made therein for receiving corresponding articles (2). The row of blisters is parallel to the blister band forward direction (W). The device (100) has a grid (G) situated over the blister band (3), with at least one longitudinal channel (9), facing the longitudinal row of blisters (3a). A station (101) is provided for feeding the articles (2) to the grid (G), while oscillating means (10,20) generate a relative oscillating motion between the grid (G) and the corresponding blister band (3), to facilitate stabile introduction of the articles (2) into the corresponding blisters (3a) present along said longitudinal channel (9).

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting surgical needles in needle parks. The apparatus has a frame, a needle block slidably mounted to the frame, a shuttle member slidably mounted to the frame, and a pick-up head. The needle block has a plurality of guide members spaced apart to receive at least one surgical needle and at least one needle park. The apparatus is used in a method of automatically loading surgical needles into the needle parks of surgical suture packages.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting and packaging articles includes: a pair of distributing conveyors which are respectively translated and convey articles; a pair of primary accommodating mechanisms each adapted to accommodate in a row articles distributed and released from each of the distributing conveyors; a pair of standby accommodating mechanisms each adapted to accommodate by types of groups of transferred articles in one or more groups those groups of articles which are each transferred collectively from each of the primary accommodating mechanisms; a pair of transferring mechanisms each adapted to receive the group of articles from each of the standby accommodating mechanisms; and a common filling mechanism for filling the groups of articles received from each of the transferring mechanisms into a predetermined container.

Abstract: A pick-up member for use with an apparatus for transporting a container from a pick-up station to a deposit station. The pick-up member being substantially formed of plastic and includes a bell-shaped head having a longitudinal bore for receiving containers and transverse bores intersecting the longitudinal bore and causing transverse movement engaging members for engaging with the containers. A control mechanism is provided to control the position of the engaging members.

Abstract: A caser is disclosed for packing filled containers in empty cases. The caser includes a conveyor belt that carries filled containers to the caser for loading and a pusher assembly for pushing the containers onto the loading tables wherein the containers are gravity fed into cases positioned below the loading tables. The loading tables preferably retract linearly to allow the containers to drop into the cases. A pair of bottle guides pivot to grip the containers while the loading tables retract.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging tubular canisters in a charging direction with a stack of face-to-face oriented flat items, includes a conveyor for supporting and positioning an item stack thereon; a canister holder for supporting and positioning a canister; an arrangement for advancing the item stack in an item feeding direction from the conveyor into the canister positioned by the canister holder; an elongated guide member movable parallel to the feeding direction for introduction into and withdrawal from the canister positioned by the canister holder; a holding plate supported at an end of the guide member and being pivotal into a first position in which it projects into a feed path of the item stack for engaging a leading item of the item stack and into a second position in which it is clear of the feed path; and a drive for moving the guide member parallel to the feeding direction and for rotating the holding plate into the first and second positions.

Abstract: Conveyor assembly for packagings, comprising a substantially horizontally conveying conveyor. Situated near the delivery end of the conveyor is a bearing plate, which when the pack moves onto it moves further substantially at the same speed as the conveyor into an accommodation in which the pack has to be placed. When the pack is entirely clear of the conveyor, the bearing plate is moved back so fast that the pack, through its inertia and through its speed of displacement, does not move back and comes to a standstill, so that it is subsequently received in the accommodation.

Abstract: A continuous motion apparatus for depacking and packing articles in cases which includes a carriage which carries a plurality of transfer arms; a plurality of article pick-up heads carried by the transfer arms for picking up a group of the articles at a pick-up station to transfer the articles to a release station. In a case packing configuration of the invention, a slug metering section includes a slug feeder continuously receiving articles from an infeed conveyor. A revolving pin bar mechanism is carried in the slug metering section having a plurality of revolving pin bar assemblies to assist in forming the articles into successive groups or slugs of articles. The pin bar assemblies include spaced upstanding pins which are received in crevices between rear articles in a first slug and front articles in a second slug of articles to separate the articles for processing.

Abstract: A method of handling an object using a robot end effector. The method includes providing a robot having an end effector supporting a pair of carriages, providing a pair of fingers for each carriage, moving the end effector over an object, grasping an object with the fingers, moving the object with the end effector to a container, and depositing the object by counter-rotating the pairs of fingers. One or both of the carriages is movable toward the other carriage to engage objects on a conveyor system with the fingers. The robot moves the end effector between the conveyor system and shipping containers for shipping the objects. Because the pairs of fingers counter-rotate, the friction forces between each finger and the tray is offset by the friction forces between the other finger in the pair and the tray. The improved handling method thereby maintains objects substantially in the desired stacking orientation within the shipping container. Preferably, an actuator is provided for each finger.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for handling an ophthalmic lens in a manufacturing line where lenses are presented for picking and transport to a respective lens receptacle. The problem of lens fly-away is prevented by a cover which releasably couples to the lens picking means and is deposited over the lens receptacle immediately following release of the lens into the secondary receptacle and withdrawal of the lens picking means.

Abstract: The present invention provides a packaging apparatus for gripping, lifting, and then moving a plurality of individual products from a first location to a second location. The apparatus includes first and second plates and a plurality of individual grippers that are each selectively actuated to grip a single product and to release the product at a preselected time. Each gripper includes a plurality of slots extending upwardly from the base of each gripper, thereby providing a plurality of gripper fingers. Each gripper extends through an appropriately configured hole in the second plate into a fixed engagement with the first plate. The second plate is movably mounted to the first plate such that it can be moved relatively thereto. The holes in the second plate are sized to engage the gripper fingers when moved apart from the first plate.

Abstract: The packaging machine includes: a plurality of lane guides, the plurality of lane guides being spaced apart to form a plurality of lanes; a moveable conveyor belt having a first end and second end, the first end located beneath one of the plurality of lanes, the movable conveyor belt delivers the product to each of the plurality of lanes; a support device located at the plurality of lanes; and a shifting assembly attached to the plurality of lane guides. The method for packaging a case with a product includes: conveying a first plurality of the product to a first lane; supporting the first plurality of the product within the first lane; conveying a second plurality of the product to a second lane; shifting the first lane and the second lane in a first direction; and dropping the first plurality of the products into the case.

Abstract: A packing system for articles. According to one embodiment of the invention, a receiving and dropping assembly comprising one or more doors that are displaceable between a holding configuration and a dropping configuration. The doors define a receptacle while in the holding configuration. The receptacle receives and holds an article, which is received by a leading edge of the article being guided by guide surfaces in the doors. The doors drop the article being held while in the dropping configuration. An output conveyor line receives the articles dropped by the receiving and dropping assembly. A controller controls the dropping and conveyance of the articles to convey the dropped articles along the output conveyor line in predetermined arrays. A pick-and-place robot system picks up the articles or arrays of articles from the output conveyor line and places the picked up articles in receptacles.

Abstract: A device in which a set of capsules previously filled with a specific amount is positioned in a set of cavities arranged in plates, the plates assuming two positions, one for receiving the capsules in correspondence with a capsule-filling device, and the other for unloading these, the second operation being performed with the plates in an extended position in respect of the device frame, and the plates have two parts, an upper one which houses the capsules and a lower one which retains these. In the unloading position the lower plates align with the upper ones, thus allowing the capsules to drop through to arrange the gelatine capsules in blister packs.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding items of pharmaceutical product to pockets in a continuously travelling web for the production of blister packs has a plurality of product delivery chutes mounted on a moving carriage having delivery gates for releasing product from the delivery chutes. The carriage cycles the delivery chutes from a stationary position under stationary metering chutes, where product is transferred into the delivery chutes, accelerating and lowering them into alignment with pockets in the travelling web, where product is released, and raising and returning the delivery chutes to the stationary position to repeat the cycle.

Abstract: A system for the automated insertion of documents into envelopes. The system includes a plurality of individual document feeding devices that feed individual documents from an assembled stack onto a moving document conveyor. Each of the document feeding devices includes a suction device that pulls the lowermost document into contact with a discharge nip formed between a pair of opposed rotating belts. After being deposited onto the document conveyor, each of the documents enters into a pusher assembly in which each of the documents is accelerated and pushed into an open envelope positioned adjacent to the discharge end of the document conveyor. The stack of opened envelopes is fed by the combination of an envelope feeding device and an envelope conveyor section. The envelope feeding device receives a stack of closed envelopes and feeds and opens each envelope before it is stacked adjacent to the discharge of the document conveyor.

Abstract: A solid preparation filling apparatus for filling solid preparations such as tablets into a container and avoiding mixture with any other preparation. Each type of solid preparation is to be ejected from its respective tablet case, and the upper end inlet of a holding cell is associated with the discharge port of a hopper that receives the ejected solid preparation from the tablet case by rotating and moving the holding cells to adjust their positions so that the solid preparation falling from a tablet case is accommodated in a predetermined holding cell. When filling the solid preparation in a container, the holding cell is rotated and moved so that its outlet is matched with a chute and the holding cell shutter is opened. The holding cell and the shutter constitute a holding unit, and a plurality of holding units are mounted on the rotating plate which rotates under the hopper.

Abstract: A tagging apparatus for placing tags into a container includes a support surface for holding at least one container, a tag insert assembly frame, a tag holder, and a tag handler mounted to the tag insert assembly frame. The tag handler includes an arm and a guide. The arm is configured for reciprocal movement between a first position in which the arm is positioned for grabbing a tag from the tag holder and a second position in which the arm is positioned for inserting the tag into a container supported on the support surface. The guide provides lateral support to the arm when the arm is moved between its first and second positions and, further, defines a path of movement for the arm between its first and second positions. The tagging apparatus also includes a driver for moving the arm between its first and second positions.

Abstract: A guide device for loading a solid matter into a bag including: an upper hopper which performs a reciprocating swinging motion along the conveying direction of the bag and about a supporting shaft located in the center of the upper portion of the upper hoppers, and a lower hopper which is positioned beneath the upper hopper and performs a reciprocating horizontal motion along the conveying direction of the bags and also moved toward and away from the upper hopper. The upper hopper's swing motion and the lower hopper's horizontal motion along the conveying direction of the bag are made in synchronization with the movement of the bag, and the lower hopper is lowered so that its lower opening is inserted into the mouth of the bag.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a group of stacked, edge-wise standing flat items into a container includes a support for engaging opposite ends of the group; an arrangement for adjusting the support to the group length; a first holding unit; a second holding unit; and a drive for moving the first and second holding units in a first path along which one of the first and second holding units holds and lowers the group and for moving the first and second holding units in a second path along which one of the first and second holding units releases the group for allowing the group to fall and the other of the first and second holding units guides and pushes the group at an upper portion thereof downwardly into the container. The second path adjoins the first path and is situated thereunder.

Abstract: A tag placement apparatus useful for placing a tag or label into communication with a container. The tag placement apparatus includes at least one tagging head having a linear slot in which a cam portion of a tag placement arm assembly reciprocally travels in response to a cylinder stroke to which it is attached. The tagging apparatus further includes an encoder for translating the roller rotation of a conveyor assembly into belt position and travel which in turn regulates the speed in which the reciprocal movement of the tag placement arm operates during use.

Abstract: A directing unit 2, which directs bags P arranged in one line of feed rollers 23 to two lines in a packing system for packing the bags P conveyed in one line from a previous process, includes eccentric pulleys 25, a belt 26, and a bag holding plate 28d. The belt 26 applies a force containing a component in the horizontal direction to the bags P in a direction crosses the conveyance direction thereof. The bag holding plate 28d is disposed above the feed rollers 23 and controls a lift of the bag P so that the bag P is not lifted more than a predetermined height when the force is applied to the bag P by the belt 26.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneously loading a plurality of small items such as small items into the wells of a multiple well microtiter plate which includes a small item loading unit and a small item insertion device. The small item loading device includes a top plate having a plurality of openings positioned to register with the microtiter plate wells and a closure unit to close the openings on one side of the top plate. The small item insertion device includes a base mounting a plurality of plunger pins which each register with a well in the microtiter plate. A movable deck unit is mounted in spaced relationship above the base and is provided with apertures, each of which receives a plunger pin. The small item loading device rests on the deck unit and the closure unit opens the openings therein to drop small items into the apertures over the pins. The deck unit is moved toward the base to cause the pins to enter the wells of a microtiter plate and seat the small items.

Abstract: For handling elongate and flat workpieces flowing in a manufacturing line, two arrangements are disclosed, one being an arrangement including a workpiece posture changing device which changes the posture of each workpiece at the time when the workpiece is transmitted from a first conveyer to a second conveyer, and the other being an arrangement for bundling the workpiece flowing in the manufacturing line.

Abstract: The product transfer mechanisms of this invention increases the performance of automatic packaging machines by deflecting product as it falls from a transfer container into a box with a slide, thus reducing damaging effects of free-falling product collisions and enabling simple, efficient maintenance and sanitizing of surfaces contacting the deflected product. The improved product transfer mechanism has a transfer container composed of a lightweight, transparent material enabling a visual inspection of the product as it travels through the product transfer mechanism while reducing the weight of component parts of the product transfer mechanism.

Abstract: A metering device has a filling material container with a metering disk. Metering bores for products such as microtablets are disposed in the metering disk. Underneath the metering disk in a transfer region, there is a capsule filling shaft which is disposed in line with prepared capsule bottoms. The invention proposes supporting the filling material container so that it can rotate on an axis which is disposed inclined in relation to the vertical. This permits the microcapsules to be easily dispensed into the metering bores, permits the microtablets to be handled in a manner that is gentle on the product, and permits a high performance of the metering device.