Abstract: The invention relates to device, method and packaging facility having a transport section (17) for feeding article arrangements (5) in a transport direction (TR) to a packaging module (18). The transport section (17) comprises a transfer plate (15), on which the articles (2) of the article arrangements (5) are movable in a sliding manner. Located above the transfer plate (15) are pushing devices (16) for moving the articles (2) on the transfer plate (15), with the pushing devices (16) being movable in transport direction (TR) at least in some areas. The transport section (17) furthermore comprises outer guide elements (20) and inner guide elements (21) disposed on the transfer plate (15), with the outer guide elements (20) laterally delimiting the transport section (17) and, with the inner guide elements (21) being readjustable by at least one readjustment mechanism that is disposed at least partly below the transfer plate (15).

Abstract: A device, system, and method for loading empty and formed six-pack bottle carriers into a larger case (i.e. a multi-pack) is provided. The packaging device includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The six-pack carriers are formed by unfolding them in the upper portion. Various components are associated with the upper portion of the packaging device. The case receives a plurality of six-pack carriers therein. The larger cases is formed by unfolding them in the lower portion of the packaging device. Various components are associated with the lower portion of the packaging device. The upper portion and lower portion operate simultaneously to efficiently produce a case have empty six-pack carriers placed therein for later filling with bottles at a downstream destination. The system includes the machine, the cases, the six-pack carriers, and the bottles, operating collectively.

Abstract: Centering devices for carrier packers are provided. Such devices may include two series of flexible tabs, aligned along two parallel shafts. The shafts rotate the flaps in two alternative angular positions. In a lowered angular position, the tabs are introduced partly in the cells of a carrier, to guide bottles towards the centers of the cells. In an angularly raised position, the tabs are rotated away so as not to interfere with the bottle necks once the bottles have been fitted in the cells, so that it is convenient for a conveyor to take away the carrier. Carrier packers including such devices are also provided.

Abstract: A produce filling apparatus includes a bin filling head and a disk arranged under the head. The disk is made up of two plates, each having one or more openings. Plural sensors beneath the disk detect the presence of produce at a predefined vertical distance from the lower plate. A control unit detects the instantaneous position of both overlying rotating plates and determines the speed of rotation of each of the rotating plates in a manner that depends on a pre-coded external signal generated by the sensors and by the instantaneous positions of the rotating plates. The control unit processes the information received and controls the respective angular speed of the plates so that the respective openings are vertically aligned, so as to distribute the produce to those bins in which an absence of underlying produce is sensed.

Abstract: A tablet supply apparatus including a main body having a case accommodating unit at the upper portion thereof, plural tablet cases that are secured in the case accommodating unit and in which tablets are accommodated, a chute through which tablets discharged from each of the tablet cases drop, a hopper that is disposed below the chute and provided in the main body, a filling device for filling tablets received by the hopper into a container, and at least one tablet feeder for freely putting into the hopper tablets whose kinds are other than the kinds of the tablets accommodated in the table cases. The tablet feeder has an opening for putting tablets, a shutter for temporarily trapping the tables put from the opening and a switch for opening the shutter, and is designed so that the put tablets on the shutter are visually recognizable.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a drug-sorting device for dispensing multiple drugs. [Solution] This drug-sorting device is equipped with multiple receiving parts that have an opening and are arranged side-by-side in the longitudinal direction, a conveyor means for conveying drugs into the respective receiving parts, and a first adjustment means for changing the width of the openings. Said first adjustment means is provided with a rail that extends in the longitudinal direction, multiple partitioning parts that partition two adjacent receiving parts and are slidable along the rail, and a rotatable width adjustment drum. On the width adjustment drum, multiple guide grooves are arranged side-by-side at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction and extend so as not to be parallel to each other in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for filling under gravity from a hopper (9), a storage device (2) for articles that has the form of a columnar cavity between opposed side walls with a mass flow of mutually parallel rod-shaped articles descending from the hopper, a cavity-filling device (12) that alternates in use between a closed configuration that blocks a downward flow of the said articles through the device and an open configuration that allows flow of the articles through the device, the device being movable in translation, in alternate upward and downward strokes within the cavity, being in the closed configuration on the downward stroke and in the open configuration on the upward stroke.

Abstract: A tablet supply unit (2) of a medicine packing apparatus (1) has a tablet housing section (22c) including tablet housing chambers (21) for respectively housing the tablets for one dose fed from upper end openings thereof. The tablet housing chambers (21) are arranged in a plurality of rows in an anteroposterior direction and a plurality of columns in a lateral direction. A closing cover (25) opens upper end openings (21a) of all of the tablet housing chambers (21) at an open position and closes the upper end openings (21a) in one or more rows of the tablet housing chambers on a rear side among the tablet housing chambers at a closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus that allows a storage bin to be evenly loaded while providing an environment which prevents fruit from colliding into machinery and into each other.

Abstract: There is provided a medicine packing device, which prevents a free end of a bottom plate of a tablet dispensing measure from tilting due to its own weight. A bottom plate 43 is provided at a lower opening of a tablet dispensing measure 42. The bottom plate 43 includes a pin 44 at its base end. A leading end of the bottom plate is a free end. When the tablet dispensing measure 42 reaches corresponding stepped portions 37a to 37d by a movement of a tablet dispensing member 36, an opening protrusion 144b of a fixed plate 37 is fitted to an opening recess 43c of the bottom plate 43 and thus the bottom plate 43 pivots about the pin 44 from a closed position to an open position. If the bottom plate 43 moves to the open position, then tablets in the tablet dispensing measure 42 drop.

Abstract: A container-filling machine for placing discrete articles within at least one container. The container filling machine comprises at least one vibration tray comprising a discrete article receiving end, a discrete article drop-off end and a plurality of channels extending from the discrete article receiving end to the discrete article drop-off end. Each channel includes two discrete article receiving paths at the discrete article receiving end. The two discrete article receiving paths combine into a single discrete article-depositing path in proximity to the discrete article drop-off end. The vibration tray is operative for moving discrete articles from the discrete article-receiving end to the discrete article drop-off end along the plurality of channels. The container filling machine further comprises a plurality of sloped paths for receiving the discrete articles from the discrete article drop-off end of the at least one vibration tray.

Abstract: A feed and sorting device for tablets has a number of vertically extending filling tubes for tablets, and a blocking slide unit for temporarily blocking the guiding channels of the filling tubes. The blocking slide unit includes a base plate with through-openings for the filling tubes and a plurality of blocking fingers designed as integral parts of the base plate and horizontally extending into the through-openings. Each blocking finger is assigned to one of the filling tubes.

Abstract: There is provided a medicine packing device, which prevents a free end of a bottom plate of a tablet dispensing measure from tilting due to its own weight. A bottom plate 43 is provided at a lower opening of a tablet dispensing measure 42. The bottom plate 43 includes a pin 44 at its base end. A leading end of the bottom plate is a free end. When the tablet dispensing measure 42 reaches corresponding stepped portions 37a to 37d by a movement of a tablet dispensing member 36, an opening protrusion 144b of a fixed plate 37 is fitted to an opening recess 43c of the bottom plate 43 and thus the bottom plate 43 pivots about the pin 44 from a closed position to an open position. If the bottom plate 43 moves to the open position, then tablets in the tablet dispensing measure 42 drop.

Abstract: This invention relates to a filling apparatus (2) and a process for intermittently receiving and discharging specific quantities of bulk product, in particular for delivering specific quantities of bulk product from a weighing machine to a packaging machine. The filling apparatus (2) comprises two partial vessels (8, 10), with each partial vessel (8, 10) comprising a feed opening (20, 22) and an outlet opening (26, 28). Furthermore, an outlet element (30) is provided which is movable at least into a first and into a second position. In the first position, the outlet element (30) closes the outlet opening (26) of a first partial vessel (8) and releases the outlet opening (28) of the second partial vessel (10). In the second position, the outlet element (30) closes the outlet opening (28) of the second partial vessel (10) and releases the outlet opening (26) of the first partial vessel (8).

Abstract: When the articles dropping from above are received inside a hopper, at least a bottom portion of the hopper is allowed to move downwardly with the bottom portion of the hopper being closed. Therefore, the collision speed between the articles and the bottom portion of the hopper is reduced. In addition, by opening the bottom portion of the hopper while moving the bottom portion downwardly, the downward initial speed is added to the articles to be discharged.

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: When the articles dropping from above are received inside a hopper, at least a bottom portion of the hopper is allowed to move downwardly with the bottom portion of the hopper being closed. Therefore, the collision speed between the articles and the bottom portion of the hopper is reduced. In addition, by opening the bottom portion of the hopper while moving the bottom portion downwardly, the downward initial speed is added to the articles to be discharged.

Abstract: A method is provided for loading stacked food product into packages. Open top containers are arranged in rows and movable into a loading station. A shuttle conveyor has a retractable and extendable conveying surface, the conveying surface having an end region extendable to a position arranged above the containers of a row of the containers. A guiding and pushing apparatus is arranged above the row and includes guides that are lowered to capture a row of stacked food products on the conveying surface, and plungers within the guides that lower and press a top of the stacks. When the conveying surface is retracted from beneath the guides and the row of containers, the guides are lowered further, adjacent to the containers, and the plungers are lowered with respect to the guides to push the stacks into the containers.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading containers with bags, wherein the apparatus is provided with a feed conveyor assembly, a loading unit, and a control designed for, each time, forming a layer of bags in the loading unit, which layer has dimensions substantially corresponding to the bottom dimensions of a container to be filled, and wherein the control is designed such that, each time, the loading unit places a wholly formed layer in the container to be filled. In the method, the bags are oriented in a feed conveyor assembly and placed from the feed conveyor assembly onto a bottom of a holder of a loading unit, wherein, subsequently, when the whole bottom of the holder of the loading unit has been filled with bags, this holder is lowered into a container to be filled and the bottom is released when the bottom of the holder is just above the bottom of the container to be filled or a layer of bags present in this container.

Abstract: An insert with an upwardly projecting protuberance proximate one end is inserted into an open container. The open container is conveyed continuously in a downstream direction with a container conveyor with the container opening upwardly. The insert is held above the conveyor at an insertion station by supporting a downstream portion of the insert: the protuberance bearing end of the insert being the upstream end of the insert. A pusher finger is driven downwardly against an upstream portion of the insert at a downstream side of the protuberance in order to push the upstream portion of the insert downwardly into the container. The upstream portion of the insert is pushed against an inside surface of the container with the pusher finger while the container is conveyed underneath the insert. Simultaneously, the support is removed from the downstream portion of the insert.

Abstract: An installation for filling weekly blister packs, i.e. packaging units, with doses of different medicaments corresponding to the weekly requirements of several patients and to be taken by the respective patient in a certain order according to the day of the week and the time of the day, according to a doctor's prescription. The installation is provided with output stations associated with the medicaments, for automatically filling all or selected compartments line-by-line. In order to control the output stations in such a way as to fill the weekly blister pack with the prescribed medicament, an electronic control unit processes information about patients, the information being continuously supplied to the unit in such a way that it is synchronized with the blister pack advancing movements.

Abstract: A device feeds a blister band, moved in a forward direction, with articles, supplied by gravity through a plurality of channels situated above the band. Each channel has a radial unit with radial needles entering the channel to hold a lowermost article. Rotation of the radial unit makes the lowermost article to go resting on a rotating element situated below and provided with arms also entering the channel to receive the article released and drop it into a blister of the blister band.

Abstract: A system for loading a plurality of items in series into a receptacle held in an item holding device, comprises a plurality of item holding devices each adapted for holding an item receptacle adapted to hold a plurality of items. A holding devices moving apparatus such as a conveyor, moves the plurality of item holding devices through an item loading station with the item receptacles being oriented at a first angle to the horozinal. An item delivery apparatus delivers a plurality of items separately in series at an item orientation that is at a second angle to the item receptacles. The item delivery apparatus may include a metering device comprising a wheel member having a plurality of generally radially extending, generally equally spaced finger members, with all adjacent finger members being configured at a distance there between proximate end portions of said adjacent finger members. The radial position of the fingers, and thus the distance between end portions, is adjustable.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the controlled depositing of pliable items in a package are hereby proposed. In this process, the items are conveyed to the packing zone on a conveyor belt. The items are captured on the conveyor belt and moved to the edge of the conveyor belt using a gripper on a rotating gripper arm, the axis of rotation of which runs perpendicular to the conveyor belt. From there, the items are pushed onto a plate with the aid of the gripper and conveyed to a position above their intended position in the package. As soon as the position above the package has been reached, the plate is pulled back, thereby enabling the item to fall into the package located underneath. A packaging conveyor system is used to convey the packages to the packing zone and transport them further once an item has been deposited in order to allow the next item to be deposited.

Abstract: In a machine for filling box-like containers with articles arranged side by side and vertically, a station (1) forms a row (11) of articles (10), overlapped at least partially. An article feeding apparatus (2), functionally interposed between the outlet section of the forming station (1) and a filling station (3), operates between a rest configuration (I) and a work configuration (A). When in the work configuration, the apparatus transfers the articles (10) from the outlet section into a box-like container (4), placed in the filling station (3), and directs the articles in a vertical orientation, to define a prefixed filling condition of the first container (4). A conveyor (5) supports the series of box-like containers and is operated, in step relation with the speed of feeding of the articles (10), fed by the articles feeding apparatus (2), so as to move the box-like containers in a container feeding direction (G).

Abstract: An automated packaging apparatus and associated method are provided for depositing pills into a container. A cylindrical rotary slat is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and defines a plurality of pill apertures for receiving pills deposited into an interior space of the cylinder, at a first angular position of the rotary slat. A negative pressure system applies a negative pressure the pill apertures for retaining the pills therein, as the rotary slat rotates from the first to a second angular position. A removal system interacts with the pill apertures, as the respective pill aperture is at the second angular position, to remove the pill therefrom through a radially outward portion of the rotary slat. A collection system, adjacent to the radially outward portion of the rotary slat about the second angular position, is configured to direct each pill removed from each respective pill aperture toward a container for deposition therein.

Abstract: A device one version of which comprises a planar member having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface defines an array of recesses configured for substantial alignment with an array of blister-like chambers in a sheet to receive a plurality of objects. All of the recesses defined by the planar member are substantially uniform in size and each recess is sized and configured so that substantially all of at least one of the objects may fit in a respective recess. The planar member also defines a plurality of fluid passageways, each passageway opening respectively into one of the recesses defined by the top surface of the planar member, at least a portion of each fluid passageway being more narrow in cross-section than its respective recess to retain the object in its respective recess. Related vacuum apparatus employing the device is described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for placing patterns of product holders, more in particular placing stacks of layers of the holders, into boxes or crates, using a supporting band, cords or strips, whereby the use of complex gripper heads is avoided. Thus, a considerably cheaper packing process is obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for loading stacked food product into packages. Open top containers are arranged in rows and movable into a loading station. A shuttle conveyor has a retractable and extendable conveying surface, the conveying surface having an end region extendable to a position arranged above the containers of a row of the containers. A guiding and pushing apparatus is arranged above the row and includes guides that are lowered to capture a row of stacked food products on the conveying surface, and plungers within the guides that lower and press a top of the stacks. When the conveying surface is retracted from beneath the guides and the row of containers, the guides are lowered further, adjacent to the containers, and the plungers are lowered with respect to the guides to push the stacks into the containers.

Abstract: Pairs of first and second rolls are supported for rotation in a roll frame located below a pan for receiving pharmaceutical products loaded as bulk material, each first roll having a plurality of axially successive non-cylindrical sections separated from respective non-cylindrical sections of a respective second roll by a gap, the first and second rolls of each pair being rotated in opposite directions so that surfaces of the rolls facing the gap move upwards. An isolating block having a matrix array of isolating channels is positioned below the rolls for receiving pharmaceutical products from respective gaps and for distributing these products to respective individual wells of a blister pack in a single machine cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing container assemblies having a cup-shaped insert disposed within a container. A container conveyor conveys a series of open containers along a lower horizontal path, the container conveyor bringing each container in turn to a stop at an insertion station. A generally vertical inserter chute is disposed above the insertion station for conducting a generally cup-shaped insert through the inserter and out the lower end into a container positioned at the insertion station. An insert conveyor disposed above the inserter conveys a series of inserts along an upper horizontal path, each insert on the insert conveyor having an open end and an opposite closed end and being in an inverted orientation such that the open end of the insert faces downward. A lead one of the inserts being conveyed on the insert conveyor tips over and falls into the inserter in an upright orientation.

Abstract: A device for filling a container with a plurality of objects standing substantially upright on a floor portion of the container includes: a depositing cavity temporarily created and maintained in the container for receiving one of the plurality of objects; a first moveable planar restraining member having a first anterior surface facing the depositing cavity and a first posterior surface, the first posterior surface restraining a previously deposited object against movement; and a second moveable planar restraining member having a second anterior surface facing the depositing cavity and a second posterior surface. The first and second restraining members are operationally arranged to be removably insertable into and between the opposing side walls of the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation for hydraulically filling crates (1) with floating objects such as fruits, comprising a tank (2) for receiving at least one crate (1), a device (3) for loading/unloading a crate/crates into/from the tank (2) and at least one supply channel (13) of a hydraulic flow transporting the floating objects. At least one bypass branch from at least one supply channel (13) is provided at the entrance and in the upper portion of the tank (2), so as to divide the supply delivery to form the filling delivery and a bypass delivery, these two deliveries being supplied to the intake of a double-acting pump (26) serving as a filling pump and a supply pump.

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: 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 compact form-fill-seal machine capable of the high speed production, collation and loading into cartons of a variety of small dispensing packages with instant opening features including fault lines in the lower containment formation. It can make a variety of formations in the upper cover member as well as fault lines. It also produces simple cups and tubs. The machine operates at extremely high efficiency with practically every known thermoformable plastic film.

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: An apparatus for delivering substantially spherical products into a substantially rectangular container having an open top. The apparatus is provided with a delivery element arranged to be movable up and down relative to the container. The container is movable in a horizontal direction relative to the delivery element. The delivery element includes at least one endless conveyor which is provided with supporting elements which define a number of supporting surfaces extending in horizontal direction. An intermediate conveyor is arranged upstream of the delivery element. The intermediate conveyor is aligned with the delivery element and is arranged for row-by-row transfer of the products to the delivery element. A vibrating feeder is arranged upstream of the intermediate conveyor. The vibrating feeder has a discharge side aligned with an infeed side of the intermediate conveyor.

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 method and apparatus for providing a shipping container for holding an object has a base for receiving the article is described. A plurality of corner posts is affixed to the base. Each post has a first end affixed to a portion of the base and a second, opposed end in a spaced apart relationship to the base. A flexible material is positioned over the base and corner posts. The flexible material is capable of being removed from the base and corner posts without being torn or destroyed. The object is positioned in a shipping container by positioning the object on the base and positioning the posts adjacent corners of the object. The base with the corner posts affixed thereto is placed in a flexible material having an open end and a closed end. A removable top is secured to the corner posts.

Abstract: This machine can automatically load packages of various sizes and shapes into containers in a variety of pack patterns. The machine has a package infeed system that transfers the package to a package locating system that locates the package at a stationary package placement location. A package placement vertical drive picks up the package from the stationary package placement location and can rotate the package about a vertical axis as well as lowering the package into the container and releasing it at the proper location. The package placement vertical drive grips the package by vacuum. It includes a quick attach and detach vacuum head which enables the rapid change-over of the system. The machine includes a case conveyor that moves the container along the longitudinal axis of the machine as well as to the left or right in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the machine.

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: A packaging machine having multiple modules each performing a separate function in a packaging sequence. The modules are building blocks that are assembled to define a packaging machine. An infeed conveyor/lane divider module, a blank magazine and infeed tray module, a collation and synchronization module, a gluing and closing module, a turning module, a stacking module, a film cutting module, a film wrapping module and a heat shrink module are selectively assembled in various combinations to define machines that pack articles into trays, wrap the articles with heat shrink film, turn the packages, stack the packages for multi-tier packages, or any combination of these functions. The modules each have an independent conveyor driven by an onboard servo drive. The servo drives are coordinated to provide controlled flow of articles from module to module. The servo drives are all connected to and controlled by a supervisory computer such that no mechanical connection between modules is required.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for transferring inside bags quantities of product shaped and dosed in a cake-forming machine for tuna fish and similar. Said device comprises a container (1) provided with at least one internal cylindrical cavity (2) having an axis parallel to that of the container (1) that can be closed at the bottom by a shutter (3), as well as an above standing pusher (5) provided with at least one piston (6) having a cylindrical head (7) with diameter slightly lower than that of the cavity (2) of container (1), said piston being suitable for going through said cavity (2) and pushing the content thereof downwards until it is emptied.

Abstract: A device for use in boxing pliable objects having a footprint into boxes. The boxing device includes a trapdoor unit, a box conveying unit, a tamping unit, and a control unit. The trapdoor unit has coplanar sliding trays that are adapted to be rapidly and simultaneously moved apart from a horizontal closed position, wherein the trays are close together with each, to a horizontal opened position, wherein the trays are slid apart by a distance sufficiently large to pass the footprint of the plurality of objects and permit the objects to fall therethrough in a flat manner into open boxes below. The box conveying unit moves empty open boxes to a position underneath the trapdoor unit. The tamping unit has tamping plates which tamps the objects into the box, and the control unit which controls the operation of the trapdoor unit, the box conveying unit, and the tamping unit.

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: A form-fill-seal packaging machine has a halting device above its transverse sealer below a cylindrical chute through which articles to be packaged are dropped cyclically in batches. A film is bent into a tubular form and pulled down around the chute to the transverse sealer. The halting device serves to squeeze the film such that the free-falling articles are temporarily halted before reaching the transverse sealer such that the articles can pass through the transverse sealer in a more compactly bunched batches. This makes it less likely for any of the articles to be caught between sealing devices of the transverse sealer and the work efficiency of the packaging machine can be improved.

Abstract: A system for dispensing and packaging wire ties directly from a wire tie forming machine. While the prior art contemplates dispensing wire ties along first and second flexible strings or wires to form a coil of ties having the first and second strings or wires passing through first and second eyelets, respectively, formed in the ties, the present invention teaches first and second, rigid rods emanating from the first and second tying anvils on the tie forming machine, which rods are configured to slide each formed tie away from the tie forming machine, wherein the ties are counted via electric eye or the like and selectively dispensed into a package via computer controlled actuator. Bagging a quantity of the ties in this fashion provides an automated, dependable, economical system for packaging the specified quantity of ties, and is particularly useful for smaller lots of ties, for example, 500 ties or less.

Abstract: A automated packaging system that can simultaneously process a single case or a plurality of cases and can be adjusted to accommodate packages and cases of various sizes. Individual packages, are fed to the packaging system on the package conveyor. The packages are recognized by the system when they energize an electric eye which causes the package to be stopped and elevated below a pick and place mechanism. A plurality of cases are stopped and then positioned longitudinally, by stops carried by a first chain, on the case conveyor at locations aligned with the packages that have been stopped and elevated over the package conveyor. The pick and place head is lowered and picks up the packages with vacuum heads. The pick and place heads can be rotated to thus change the attitude of the package. The pick and place mechanism is then moved laterally over the case conveyor and the packages are lowered into the open cases.

Abstract: Packing apparatus on a conveyor line for use in filling cartons with compressible articles comprises first and second tamping pistons (4,6) operating in sequence in a chamber (2) to successively compress the articles and drive them through a chute (2a) into a carton (C). A planar shutter (32) is provided at the bottom of the chute (2a) to close it between carton-filling operations. The chute and carton are separated by only the shutter so as to minimize the gap between them and also to facilitate the extension of the driving piston (6) into the container to pack the articles more firmly therein. The shutter rotates on a vertical axis offset from the chute with its lower face contacting the cartons and moves generally in the direction of advance of the carton along the conveyor line.