Abstract: A head for use in forming an article array in a container cavity (“cavity”) by sequential placement of adjacent article rows in the cavity, including a gripper having a frame having a longitudinal axis, the gripper adapted to selectively engage and disengage an article row for permitting placement thereof; and a flexible layer connected to the frame and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and positioned to one side of the gripper. During formation of the article array in the cavity, the flexible layer preventing contact between a most recently positioned article row in the cavity and a corresponding article row being positioned in the cavity, including filling a remaining unfilled portion of the cavity between a penultimate article row and the container for receiving the final article row having a width approximately equal to or less than a width of the final article row.

Abstract: The apparatus (100) for introducing deformable products (B), such as blister packs and informative sheets (F), internally of relative packs (A) comprises first pusher elements (11), mounted on a first looped conveyor organ (1), and first movement means (3), associated to the first conveyor organ (1) for moving the first pusher elements (11), transversally to the advancement direction (V1) thereof, so that they can abut the products (B) and push the products (B) internally of relative packs (A). The apparatus (100) comprises second pusher elements (21) mounted on a second looped conveyor organ (2) which is arranged with respect to the first conveyor organ (1) such that the second pusher elements (21) are arranged above the corresponding first pusher elements (11).

Abstract: The apparatus includes an operating unit, which can be a welding unit for welding a closing film to an edge zone of a containing element or a separating unit for separating containing elements from portions of sheet material. The apparatus includes a control unit programmed to enable the operating unit to selectively process a continuous strip of containing elements or discrete groups of containing elements.

Abstract: A large container loading system and method for a packaging machine includes an infeed conveyor and a transfer flight. An array of pivotable cradle lugs is carried by the transfer flight in synchronized movement with cartons on an adjacent carton flight. Containers are moved into the cradle lugs in an upright orientation and the cradle lugs and containers are reoriented to a substantially horizontal or sideways orientation before being pushed into their cartons by an inserter assembly. A transfer block or a support conveyor may be positioned between each of the cradle lugs and an aligned open container to support a container as it moves between a cradle lug and a carton.

Abstract: An insertion system includes an enclosure supply device, an envelope supply device, an insertion device to insert an enclosure supplied from the enclosure supply device into the envelope supplied from the envelope supply device, a first input unit to input identification data of the enclosure inserted into the envelope in each of multiple insertion setting records, a second input unit to input identification data of the enclosure set in the enclosure container of the enclosure supply device, and a controller to determine whether the identification data of the enclosure to be inserted, input by the first input unit, matches the identification data of the enclosure set in the enclosure container, input by the second input unit, and to control supply of the envelope by the envelope supply device as well as supply of the enclosure by the enclosure supply device based on a result of the determination.

Abstract: A packaging machine is disclosed for packing cartons with beverage cans in two overlying layers. The packaging machine has a selector flight, a can flight, and a carton flight, all synchronously movable. A single infeed assembly directs first groups of cans into selector bays on the selector flight, sweeps them into adjacent can bays, and directs second groups of cans into the same selector bays, all on the same level. The selector flight and the second groups of cans then ramps up to an elevated level, from where the second groups of cans are swept into the adjacent can bays atop the first groups of cans. The thus staged cans are pushed into open cartons on the carton flight.

Abstract: A bread packaging system comprising: a movable member on which a scoop for holding a packaging member to package bread is mounted; a guide member for defining a moving path along which the movable member is moved; a reciprocating motion mechanism having an endless revolving member for reciprocating the movable member along the guide member; and a link member for linking the endless revolving member with the movable member, wherein the bread packaging system is configured to reciprocate the movable member along the guide member by revolving the endless revolving member in one direction.

Abstract: An inline product feeder for a packaging line and related methods are disclosed. In one example, an inline product feeder includes a product input line configured to receive a contiguous supply of products and configured to guide the products in continuous motion along a path of travel. The inline product feeder also includes a packaging line configured to receive separated groups of the products from the product input line. The inline feeder further includes a feeder unit configured to separate groups of products from the contiguous supply of products in the product input line and move the group of products into the packaging line, each of the separated groups of products including a predetermined number of products from the product input line.

Abstract: In the case of a mail-processing machine having a conveying path (1) which contains a circulating conveying chain and conveys onto a handling station (5), easy changeover to a variety of processing tasks and good adaptability to constricted space conditions are achieved in that, by a switchable actuating arrangement, manipulator fingers (19) articulated on a manipulator hand (13), in the handling station (5), can be switched both into the operating position both for the forward stroke of the manipulator hand and for the return stroke of the manipulator hand and into the return position both for the return stroke of the manipulator hand and for the forward stroke of the manipulator hand.

Abstract: An improved wrapping apparatus for an ice-cream sandwich-making machine comprises an oscillating arm and cam which drives a horizontal slider plate connected to a frame, and a pusher unit connected to an air cylinder; an improved paper feeder system, including separate paper and knife drives, air compression springs, and a paper low sensor; and a hinged exit tray.

Abstract: An article packaging machine includes a trailing article pusher assembly for pushing the trailing articles of a packaging production run down infeed conveyer lanes and through workstations of the packaging machine so that the trailing articles can be packaged. The pusher assembly comprises a pusher chain that is flexible in one direction to allow the chain to be coiled upon itself and generally inflexible in the other direction beyond a substantially straight configuration of the chain. A pusher block is attached to a free end of the pusher chain. The pusher chain is normally stowed on a take-up magazine beside its associated infeed lane during a packaging operation. When the trailing articles of a production run approach the workstations of the packaging machine, a gate opens to allow the pusher chain and its pusher block to be extended into the infeed lane behind the last trailing article.

Abstract: A phased split-pitch barrel loader for a packaging machine has a leading loader arm assembly and a trailing loader arm assembly. Each loader arm assembly has a loader arm that carries a loader face on one end and the loader arm is extendable and retractable on guide rails. One loader arm is driven in a downstream direction by a first set of endless chains and the other is driven by a second set of endless chains. One of the endless chains can be advanced or retarded in phase relative to the other to move the loader arms further apart or closer together as they move in the downstream direction. This moves the loader faces further apart or closer together and the loader faces have fingers that interleave when the loader faces are brought together. Thus, a composite loader face having a predetermined area can be formed by moving the loader arm assemblies closer together or farther apart.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for loading a plurality of items into a plurality of containers. The system may include a plurality of pucks, each puck adapted to retain an item. A puck delivery sub-system may include a puck-infeed conveyor to move each of the pucks along an in-feed conveyor path, and a transition apparatus operable to facilitate the transition of the pucks to a continuous puck unloading conveyor. The puck un-loading conveyor may have a releasable engagement mechanism such that when each of the pucks is engaged with said puck unloading conveyor, each of said pucks is fixed in a relative longitudinal position relative to the puck unloading conveyor. An item transfer apparatus may transfer an item from each puck when engaged with the puck un-loading conveyor, to a corresponding container.

Abstract: A device for packing items in a box is provided with a conveyor for supplying items in a conveyance direction, a pushing device comprising a pressure plate, which pressure plate is movable in a horizontal pushing direction extending transversely to the conveyance direction, for moving at least one item onto a flap that is movable from a closed position to an open position and vice versa, a box being positionable below the flap. The device is additionally provided with two guide plates situated on either side of the flap, which guide plates extend transversely to the pressure plate. The device is further provided with a retaining plate extending parallel to the pressure plate and movable in the pushing direction. The device is also provided with a stop situated between the retaining plate and the pushing device, which stop is situated at a distance above the flap that is less than the height of the item, the item and/or the stop being deformable during the movement of the item on the flap.

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: Disclosed is an integrated barrel loader/confiner apparatus useful in a cartoning system for shaping and inserting a product into a carton. The integrated barrel loader/confiner includes an endless confiner cam track and an endless pusher cam track. A confiner element is endlessly driven and cammed by the confiner cam track to align the confiner element with a product to shape the product in a manner suitable for insertion into a carton. A pusher element is endlessly driven and cammed by the pusher cam track to align the pusher element with the thus shaped product and a carton to drive the shaped product into the carton.

Abstract: A system and method of loading a product into a carton includes loading the product into a carrier and then extending the carrier into the carton. The product is then restrained within the carton as the carrier is removed from the carton. The carrier may include a static carrier having a fixed volume or a dynamic carrier having moveable sidewalls.

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: A device (10) for introducing goods to be packed (1, 3) into a packaging container (5) comprises transport devices (11, 15) for the packaging container (5) and the goods to be packed (1, 3). The goods to be packed (1, 3) are compressed by means of pressure elements (25), in order to be introduced into the packaging container (5). The pressure element (25) is guided on a carrier element (32) in a displaceable manner, in order to avoid damage caused by the occurrence of an excess load. Due to the mobility on the carrier element (32), only very small masses are displaced in the event of an excess load, such that the excess load protection device reacts in a reliable manner, and the device (10) has a relatively simple construction.

Abstract: A system and process for packaging sheet materials is disclosed. In particular, the system and process of the present invention is configured to receive clips of a sheet material and to load the clips into a dispenser. During the process, the clips can be folded and loaded into vertical buckets that are positioned over a stream of moving dispensers. A vertical pushing device then pushes the clip from the vertical buckets down into the dispensers. In this manner, the dispensers are loaded from the top. Since the dispensers are loaded from the top, the system is capable of placing clips of a material into dispensers having a complex configuration, such as dispensers having curved side walls.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for filling food product drafts into packages. A supply of open top containers are arranged in rows and carried by an elongated web of film and are movable by the web into a fill station. A shuttle conveyor has a retractable and extendable conveying surface, the conveying surface arranged above the fill station and having an end region extendable to a position arranged to deposit food product drafts into the containers of the first row by circulation of the conveying surface. The conveying surface is retractable, or extendable, to reposition the end to a position arranged to deposit food product drafts carried on the conveying surface into the containers of the second row and each subsequent row. A tamping apparatus is carried by the conveyor to retract or extend with the conveying surface end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for introducing goods to be packed into a packaging container, especially into folding boxes. The device comprises transport devices for the packaging container and the goods to be packed. The goods to be packed are compressed by means of pressure elements, in order to be introduced into the packaging container. The pressure element is guided on a carrier element in a displaceable manner, in order to avoid damage caused by the occurrence of an excess load. Due to the mobility on the carrier element, only very small masses are displaced in the event of an excess load, such that the excess load protection device reacts in a reliable manner, and the device has a relatively simple construction.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically delivering placed and oriented pieces of meat to a netter for wrapping and netting is described, in which the placement and orientation of the meat pieces remains unchanged from initial placement until final wrapping and netting. The apparatus is a conveyor having a series of compartments in which the meat is placed and oriented. The conveyor is situated below the level of the breech of the feed tube to the netter, so that a compartment carried on said conveyor will be precisely aligned with the opening to the feed tube. A ram pushes the meat pieces out of the compartment and into the feed tube, without changing the placement or orientation of the meat pieces relative to each other. The netter wraps the meat pieces in a collagen film and encases the wrapped meat in a net for further processing.

Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns includes a vacuum turntable. A first transfer apparatus moves groups of wrapped bakery products onto the vacuum turntable and a second transfer apparatus moves assembled patterns of wrapped bakery products from the vacuum turntable into bakery trays. A bakery tray loading system receives unfilled bakery trays and sequentially delivers unfilled bakery trays to a bakery tray loading station adjacent to the vacuum turntable. A conveyor assembly within the bakery tray loading station supports the bakery tray while being filled and thereafter conveys the loaded bakery tray onto an out-feed conveyor for further processing.

Abstract: A simplification of the drive for an inserting station for envelope-filling machines is achieved by a carrier on which inserting fingers for inserting material for envelopes into opened envelopes held ready next to a base plate are articulated having the form of a carriage which is horizontally displaceable, transversely in relation to the conveying direction of an enclosure-collating path charging the base plate with enclosures or sets of enclosures, on pushing-guiding paths freely spanning the base plate, the carriage being coupled by means of a link connected to it in an articulated manner to a rocking lever, which is fastened on a rocking shaft which is mounted on the machine frame at a specific distance above the base plate and the carriage, is parallel to the conveying direction of the enclosure-collating path and forms in particular part of a rocking drive shaft, on which the gripping arms of the enclosure and discharge stations lined up along the enclosure-collating path are fastened.

Abstract: A product packaging system for receiving a series of products from one or more product transport lines. The products are loaded into a series of carriers and transported through a downstream inserter unit. Inserter assemblies moving in timed relation with the movement of the carriers through the inserter unit engage and urge the products out carriers and into a carton for packaging.

Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns includes a vacuum turntable comprising a perforated plate which is driven by a belt extending around the periphery of the vacuum turntable and actuated by a motor. A first transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves groups of wrapped bakery products onto the vacuum turntable and which retracts to facilitate the formation of a subsequent group of wrapped bakery products as a previous group is being transferred to the vacuum turntable. A second transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves assembled patterns of wrapped bakery products from the vacuum turntable into bakery trays and which is retractable to facilitate the assembly of a subsequent pattern of wrapped bakery products as a previous pattern is being transferred to a bakery tray.

Abstract: In a device for transferring articles in a controlled configuration from a feeding line to a receiving line, an oscillating arm having suction grippers picks up the articles, arranged in a first configuration, at an inlet station and transfer the articles up to an outlet station. The oscillating arm and grippers release the articles at the outlet station in a second configuration. A plurality of collecting compartments receive the articles in the second configuration. During transferring, guiding cams cooperate with the grippers for changing uniformly the distance between the articles from the first configuration to the second configuration. Pushers convey then the articles in the collecting compartments into seats made in the receiving line.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for filling food product drafts into packages. A supply of open top containers are arranged in rows and carried by an elongated web of film and are movable by the web into a fill station. A shuttle conveyor has a retractable and extendable conveying surface, the conveying surface arranged above the fill station and having an end region extendable to a position arranged to deposit food product drafts into the containers of the first row by circulation of the conveying surface. The conveying surface is retractable, or extendable, to reposition the end to a position arranged to deposit food product drafts carried on the conveying surface into the containers of the second row and each subsequent row. A tamping apparatus is carried by the conveyor to retract or extend with the conveying surface end.

Abstract: A method of loading medical devices into medical device packages utilizing an apparatus including a pusher plate, a retaining member, a transfer member and a package support member, the retaining member and the transfer member each includes a plurality of grooves for receiving and retaining the medical devices and the package support member includes a plurality of recesses for receiving and retaining the medical device packages, wherein the medical device packages are loaded into the package support member recesses, the medical devices are loaded into the retaining member grooves, every other medical devices are transferred from the retaining member to the transfer member by the pusher plate, the transfer member is urged into alignment with the package support member, the pusher plate inserts the medical devices in the transfer member into the packages in the package support member and the packages are removed from the apparatus for further processing.

Abstract: The invention comprises a packet placing system for use with an automated packaging machine. Preferably, the system is used to include packets with products being automatically packaged, such as various bread products. The system may comprise various magazine orientations and arrangements for holding packets, a packet placer, and a gluing system. Preferably, the packet placer includes a vacuum system configured to pick a packet from the magazine. Glue is applied to a face of the packet, which is then placed on the outside of the wrapper of the packaged product. The system may be used in conjunction with a packet insertion mechanism in order to both insert a packet inside the wrapper and removably affix a packet to the outside of the wrapper. The invention also comprises methods of using the system.

Abstract: A product packaging system for receiving a series of products from one or more product transport lines. The products are loaded into a series of carriers and transported through a downstream inserter unit. Inserter assemblies moving in timed relation with the movement of the carriers through the inserter unit engage and urge the products out carriers and into a carton for packaging.

Abstract: In an apparatus for feeding articles to a transferring line leading to a container filling machine, a conveyor moves a plurality of articles to an inlet section of the apparatus, where a plate moves vertically from the inlet section to an outlet section of the apparatus, where the articles are to be released. A plurality of collecting magazines are placed at the outlet section for receiving and piling the articles and then a pusher moves the articles situated in a pile in each collecting magazine to a related box of a box transferring line.

Abstract: Apparatus for collating and cartonning product units comprising: product infeed means adapted to dispense a succession of discrete product units; one or more servo-trains, the or each servo-train comprising a plurality of buckets in which each bucket is adapted to receive a predetermined number of product units from the product infeed means to form a product group; first conveying means for conveying said one or more servo-trains between a loading station juxtaposed said product infeed means and a dispensing station; cartonning means comprising second conveying means adapted for transporting a succession of cartons juxtaposed said dispensing station; driving means associated with said first conveying means; controlling means for controlling operation of the driving means such that when a servo-train is positioned at the loading station, said servo-train is moved intermittently in synchronisation with the product infeed means for collating product units into the buckets, and after loading of the servo-train is

Abstract: A system and method of loading a product into a carton includes loading the product into a carrier and then extending the carrier into the carton. The product is then restrained within the carton as the carrier is removed from the carton. The carrier may include a static carrier having a fixed volume or a dynamic carrier having moveable sidewalls.

Abstract: A method of transferring wrappings, wherein each wrapping is defined by a sheet of wrapping material and has at least one flat wall, provides for feeding a wrapping along a curved path by means of a pocket of a conveyor; for guiding the wrapping along the curved path by means of a guide contacting the wrapping; and for moving a plate of the guide with respect to the pocket, so that a flat face of the plate is maintained contacting the entire flat wall of the wrapping along a portion of the curved path.

Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns includes a vacuum turntable comprising a perforated plate which is driven by a belt extending around the periphery of the vacuum turntable and actuated by a motor. A first transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves groups of wrapped bakery products onto the vacuum turntable and which retracts to facilitate the formation of a subsequent group of wrapped bakery products as a previous group is being transferred to the vacuum turntable. A second transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves assembled patterns of wrapped bakery products from the vacuum turntable into bakery trays and which is retractable to the facilitate the assembly of a subsequent pattern of wrapped bakery products as a previous pattern is being transferred to a bakery tray.

Abstract: A carton filling apparatus has a primary conveyor section 1 for transporting cartons 2 along the length of the apparatus, and a secondary conveyor section 3 for conveying objects 4 intended to be inserted into the cartons in parallel with the cartons. Each object 4 is aligned with an open mouth of a carton 2. A pushing mechanism incorporates an overhead gantry arm 5 arranged above the conveyors to be moved along the conveyors in the longitudinal direction. A pusher bar 8 is arranged to be moved along the gantry arm over the conveyors. Pushers 9 act upon the objects in such a way as to move the objects into the cartons as the cartons and objects are moved along synchronously on the conveyors.

Abstract: A carton filling device incorporates a conveyor 1 for moving cartons 3 and objects 2 to be located in the cartons simultaneously down a track with the objects respectively facing opposite to open ends of the cartons located at one side of the conveyor, A control arm 5 is situated in a start position at the other side of the conveyor and carries pushers for engaging the objects 2 and pushing them towards and into the open ends of the cartons 3. A control mechanism is adapted to move the control arm 5 not only across the conveyor 1, but also down the conveyor at the same speed of movement as the conveyor and to return the control arm 5 back to the start position once the objects have been inserted into the cartons.

Abstract: The invention comprises an insert delivery system for use with an automated packaging machine. Preferably, the system is used to include coupons and the like with products being automatically packaged, such as sliced loaf bread. The system may comprise an insert delivery tray, card conveyor, or carousel and magazine combination, a feeder mechanism, and an insert placer configured to select an insert from the tray, conveyor, or magazine. Preferably, the insert placer includes a vacuum system and moves linearly. Additionally, the feeder mechanism may be positioned either perpendicularly, or parallel, to the scoop assembly, so as to feed an insert onto the scoop assembly at various points along the path of the scoop. The invention also comprises methods of using the system.

Abstract: A pattern former for assembling wrapped bakery products into predetermined patterns includes a vacuum turntable comprising a perforated plate which is driven by a belt extending around the periphery of the vacuum turntable and actuated by a motor. A first transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves groups of wrapped bakery products onto the vacuum turntable and which retracts to facilitate the formation of a subsequent group of wrapped bakery products as a previous group is being transferred to the vacuum turntable. A second transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves assembled patterns of wrapped bakery products from the vacuum turntable into bakery trays and which is retractable to facilitate the assembly of a subsequent pattern of wrapped bakery products as a previous pattern is being transferred to a bakery tray.

Abstract: In an apparatus for handling sheet-like articles, in particular in an envelope-filling station, in which a carrier (9) provided with push-in fingers (11) is moved back and forth by means of an actuating arrangement (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32) in order for articles which are conveyed up by means of a conveying path (2) to be received from the conveying path and handled in the conveying direction, improved adaptation of the handling speed of the push-in fingers (11) to the conveying speed of the conveying path (2) is achieved in that a drive mechanism (21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32) of the actuating arrangement contains a crank drive, on the crankshaft (28) of which there is fastened an elliptical two-belt pulley (29) which is coupled, via a toothed belt (31) to a continuously driven, round belt pulley (32).

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: A machine for conveying and moving into position tubes (124), the machine including a chute (42) with a vertical feed station for said tubes, conveyor belts (12) and a motor (31) for moving said conveyor belts, characterized in that said conveyor belts have two areas, namely an area (121) for loading said tubes and an area (122) for positioning said tubes, and a longitudinal recess co-operating with pressing means (44) for inserting said tubes into said positioning area during longitudinal movement of said belts under said chute (42).

Abstract: A system and method of loading a product into a carton includes loading the product into a carrier and then extending the carrier into the carton. The product is then restrained within the carton as the carrier is removed from the carton. The carrier may include a static carrier having a fixed volume or a dynamic carrier having moveable sidewalls.

Abstract: A cartoner has an intermediate transfer disposed between each article infeed area and an adjacent bucket conveyor to transfer separate rows of select article count into buckets on the adjacent bucket conveyor. The intermediate transfer runs only the length necessary to feed rows into a bucket for one tier or group of articles. Row selecting and forming devices on, or extending from, buckets or bucket walls are eliminated. A sheet feeder feeds partitions over the upstream end of a group receiving bucket conveyor for deposit on a lower group of articles on which an upper group is to be formed.

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: The invention comprises an insert delivery system for use with an automated packaging machine. Preferably, the system is used to include coupons and the like with products being automatically packaged, such as sliced loaf bread. The system may comprise an insert delivery tray or card conveyor, a feeder mechanism, and an insert placer configured to select an insert from the tray or conveyor. Preferably, the delivery placer includes an arm having a holder which comprises a vacuum system. Additionally, the feeder mechanism may be used to feed an insert onto a scoop assembly at various points along the path of the scoop. In certain embodiments of the invention, the insert has multiple folds to allow it to be folded around the product prior to packaging. The invention also comprises methods of using the system.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for inserting blister packs (1) into collapsible cardboard boxes (2) has an inserter (40) and a covering tab (58). During a stationary phase of a first conveyor device (15) that supplies the blister packs (1), the inserter (40) and covering tab (58) transfer the blister packs (1) into the collapsible cardboard box (2) supplied by a second conveyor device (11). In order to be able to execute a format change without replacement of the inserter (40) or adaptation of the covering tab (58), the invention proposes driving the inserter (40) and the covering tab (58) by means of servomotors (32 to 34).