Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for automated custom shipping containers. In one embodiment, an example system may include a depth camera, a first robotic arm configured to grasp objects, a box making machine configured to generate boxes, and a computer system. The computer system may be configured to determine a depth map of a first object and a second object using the depth camera, determine a first dimension of the first object, determine a second dimension of the second object, and determine a first box dimension for a box in which the first object and the second object are to be placed using the first dimension and the second dimension. The computer system may be configured to cause the box making machine to produce the box, and cause the first robotic arm to place the first object and the second object into the box.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reconfigurable device for dispensing/distributing tablets in the blister pockets of a packaging strip subjected to longitudinal movement in a substantially horizontal plane of a packaging machine having a blister-packer, the reconfigurable device having a frame designed to be mounted on the blister-packer, the frame having a front attachment wall preferably arranged vertically, at least one accessory for dispensing/distributing the tablets in the blister pockets of the strip, the accessory being designed to be mounted removably on the frame. The device includes an intermediate interface intended to be attached removably to the frame, against the front attachment wall thereof, in order to support the at least one accessory. The interface includes at least one drive member of a mobile element of the accessory/accessories supported thereby.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a regulating strategy for a special catalytic converter for exhaust-gas aftertreatment. The catalytic converter concept is distinguished in that at least two nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converters are used in the exhaust section of a vehicle. The first, possibly close-coupled unit is followed by one or more nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converters, which are possibly situated in the underbody of the vehicle. The nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converters are then regenerated as a function of the exceedance of nitrogen oxide threshold vales downstream thereof.

Abstract: A vacuum filling assembly for filling the cavities of packaging with objects, as well as a related system and method, are described. The filling assembly has a handle which can be gripped by a user so as to manually operate the filling assembly. The filling assembly also has a manifold which receives suction, such as from a vacuum supply. A valve is used to control the suction applied to the objects, and is operable between a retain and release configuration. The filling assembly also has a plurality of prongs which are in fluid engagement with the manifold so that the objects are retained at the end of the prongs when the valve is in the retain configuration, and so that the objects can be released into the cavities of the packaging when the valve is in the release configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for loading objects having a first degree of hardness onto a tray having a different degree of hardness where sliding contact between the objects and the tray would cause damage. The tray loading is accomplished by engaging and holding objects in a carrier. The carrier carries the objects to a position over the tray and lowers the objects onto the tray surface, avoiding abrasion between the objects and the tray. The carrier includes sensors for verifying the presence of the objects.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for packaging a curable resin composition and a catalyst composition that react with each other when mixed, comprising providing a partitioned tube for receiving the resin composition and the curing agent in separate compartments; delivering a stream of a resin composition into one compartment of the tube; delivering a stream of a curing agent in the other compartment of the tube; advancing the partitioned tube and constricting and sealing the partitioned tube at spaced apart intervals and severing the sealed tube to produce a package partitioning the resin composition from the catalyst composition. Solid particulate is continuously added into the stream of at least one of the catalyst composition and the resin composition and mixing the solid particulate and stream to produce a mixed composition; and the relative amount of solid particulate in the mixed composition is controlled by continuously determining the mass of solid particulate added to the mass of the stream.

Abstract: A device to assist in sorting and organizing any small items and, in particular, vitamins, supplements and prescription medications consisting of a series of folding, hinged panels that fold out to form troughs and transverse dividers that fit into the troughs to form bins. Once the bins are filled, the dividers are sequentially removed to allow the bin contents to be shoved along the trough into a small, resealable plastic bag for convenient storage and transportation. This saves time for people taking several different kinds of pills every day. Each pill bottle is located, opened, closed and stored away only once versus hundreds of times without using this device.

Abstract: Machine and method for cartoning articles in containers or boxes, in which the machine has a loading section comprising an article inlet area; a loading area for loading articles into the containers; a configuring device; at least a first robot arranged to load articles from the inlet area and transfer the articles to the configuring device; at least a second robot arranged to pick up articles from the configuring device and transfer them to the loading area, in which the configuring device comprises an array of seats for temporary accommodation of articles, and the array of seats of the configuring device is formed from rows of article-receiving seats having a variable transversal distance; the configuring device operates in a synchronised manner with the first robot and with the second robot varying the relative position between respective rows of seats to provide interface respectively with the first robot and with the second robot.

Abstract: A system for filling medication dose packs with oral-solid medication items comprises storage tray drawers each having storage trays. Each storage tray stores a specific type of oral-solid medication item. The storage tray drawers are displaceable to a drawn position to expose the storage trays thereof. A table supports dose packs having a plurality of receptacles arranged in rows, with each receptacle associated with an intake time and date of a patient prescription file. A dispensing mechanism has fingers for grasping by suction an oral-solid medication item, and degrees of freedom to displace the fingers from any one of the storage trays to the dose pack, to transfer the oral-solid medication items from the storage trays in the drawn position to the receptacles of the dose pack.

Abstract: A packaging machine includes a grouper section having changeable lane sizes and a dual servo grouper that separates product into product sets and allow the product sets to accelerate to the lane chain speed in a controlled manner. The grouper section further includes disappearing lugs that pivot into the lanes via a cam surface provided in the lanes. The product rides upon a raised surface of the cam surface as the lug pushes the product set together down the lane, thus ensuring that no gaps are provided between product set members. A gripper/grid section of the packaging machine includes a bars that travel about a carousel with a gripper head assembly and a grid assembly pair moving up and down the bars as defined by cam surfaces within the gripper/grid section. The grid section is presented below the product set such that the product set is fed through the grid section in a one-way trip into a case. The gripper head assembly cam device and the case feed section both include height adjustment assemblies.

Abstract: The feeder for the controlled transfer of product items into the pockets of a web of sheeting has a base unit, a supply container for holding the product items, and a product conveyor for receiving the product items from the supply container. Further, the feeder has an exchangeable format unit including a sorting plate for receiving the product items from the product conveyor, a filling unit with a number of vertically extending filling tubes for receiving the product items from the sorting plate and with a blocking slide unit with a blocking slide plate for temporarily blocking the guiding channels of the filling tubes. The format unit further has a filling shoe for receiving the product items from the filling unit and for guiding them to the pockets of the web of sheeting. A plurality of drives and the corresponding electrical control components for moving the format unit, the sorting plate, the blocking slide plate and the filling shoe are arranged in the base unit.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making a container (1) comprising two or more compartments, said method including the following steps: a first step of heat sealing (S1) performed between two sheets (111, 112) so as to form the periphery of the container and performed at a temperature such that said seal (S1) is resistant to a predetermined stress, while providing filling orifices (12), a second step of heat sealing (S2) performed to form at least one separation between the compartments (13) and performed at a second temperature lower than said first temperature and such that said seal (S2) is breakable by said stress, a third step of filling said compartments (13). The invention is characterized in that after said first sealing step, the two sealed sheets (111, 112) are arranged in a mold (2, 2?) whose shape they match under the pressure of a gas.

Abstract: A method of preparing a blister card to contain medicaments in accordance with a predetermined prescription, comprises positioning a blister sheet blank having a plurality of blisters onto a support surface of a fixture. Each of the blisters are then at least partially filled with one or more medicaments in accordance with the predetermined prescription. Then, a backing layer blank is positioned over the blister sheet blank to retain the medicaments in the blisters and to prevent contamination. Finally, the blister sheet blank and the backing layer blank are sealed together while positioned on the fixture to form a sealed blister card.

Abstract: The device for delivering bulk material consisting of individual products has a supply container for storing the individual products. A perforated plate is arranged downstream of the product outlet of the supply container on a base stand and serves to receive the individual products from the product outlet and to move them further in a transport direction while removing broken products and dust. A clamping strip is supported and removably fixed in a motion guideway of a motion guideway carrier mounted on the base stand. The motion guideway extends at an angle to a vertical direction. The clamping strip thus removably fixes the perforated plate to the base stand.

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 method for filling cells of a heat-formed strip with corresponding articles, the strip being continuously advanced at a predetermined operating speed, comprising: collecting a plurality of articles which are in contact with each other and arranged in parallel rows; adjusting the position occupied by the collected articles in such a way that the articles are arranged in a same spatial arrangement as a same number of empty cells in a longitudinal region of the blister strip to be filled; transferring the articles to a position above the blister strip, the speed of advancement of the articles being gradually synchronized with the speed of advancement of the strip, in a centered position relative to corresponding underlying empty cells of the longitudinal region; releasing the articles into the empty cells of the longitudinal region; repeating these operating stages in order to fill at least a further longitudinal region, which is identical and adjacent to the longitudinal region, in such a way as to complete t

Abstract: A device for picking up articles from a supply station and depositing the articles in corresponding blisters of a blister strip, comprising: at least a group of depression-activated gripping units, each of which units is shaped to a specific format for receiving and retaining a corresponding article having predetermined lie and orientation; connecting organs of the gripping units to an operating head whereby the gripping units are positioned in relation to a positioning of the corresponding blisters afforded in the blister strip; organs for moving the operating head in outward and return runs, respectively between the supply station of the articles and a release station of the articles in the corresponding blisters of the blister strip; enabling organs being activated in phase-relation with the movement organs, for activating the gripping units in the supply station, which gripping units collect a number of articles equal to a number of the gripping units, and for deactivating the gripping units in the releas

Abstract: At least one movable interlocking sidewall structure provides alteration of the physical dimensions for a solid pharmaceutical or nutraceutical temporary storage cavity and/or transmission channel. Preferably a plurality of interlocking sidewall structures are simultaneously adjusted so that an array of cavities and/or transmission channels may have their physical dimensions simultaneously altered by the mechanical action of a drive member. Advantageously the adjustment of the structure provides a more suitable space within which a solid pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product may be temporarily stored or transferred.

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: An apparatus for packaging small identical objects in respective blisters of a package strip has at least two separate but substantially identical plates each formed with an array of pockets. An upper conveyor shifts the plates one behind the other horizontally at an upper level from an upstream loading station where objects are fed to the pockets to a downstream transfer station where the objects are transferred to a package strip. A lower conveyor has a single drive motor for dropping the plates at the transfer station from the upper level to a lower return level, then shifting the lowered plates upstream at the lower level against the travel direction to the loading station, and then shifting the plates back up to the upper level.

Abstract: A packaging machine includes a grouper section having changeable lane sizes and a dual servo grouper that separates product into product sets and allow the product sets to accelerate to the lane chain speed in a controlled manner. The grouper section further includes disappearing lugs that pivot into the lanes via a cam surface provided in the lanes. The product rides upon a raised surface of the cam surface as the lug pushes the product set together down the lane, thus ensuring that no gaps are provided between product set members. A gripper/grid section of the packaging machine includes a bars that travel about a carousel with a gripper head assembly and a grid assembly pair moving up and down the bars as defined by cam surfaces within the gripper/grid section. The grid section is presented below the product set such that the product set is fed through the grid section in a one-way trip into a case. The gripper head assembly cam device and the case feed section both include height adjustment assemblies.

Abstract: A tray to tube manual exchanger is disclosed herein. The manual exchanger includes a tray-fastening module and a bi-axle-rotating module. The tray-fastening module includes a tray-fastening member, a buffer-rail substrate, and a tube-inserting member. The buffer-rail substrate having a plurality of rails is disposed under the tray-fastening member, and the tube-inserting member is disposed at the outlets of the plurality of rails for respectively receiving tubes. The bi-axle-rotating module is pivotally connected to the tray-fastening module. The tray-fastening module clips a tray carrying a plurality of packaged semiconductor devices at a horizontal position, followed by rotating 180 degrees around a second rotating axle of the bi-axle-rotating module, thereby falling the packaged semiconductor devices of each row of the tray onto each rail.

Abstract: A plant for manufacturing and packaging tubes feeds the tubes via a conveyor belt to a packaging station, where they are packaged to form larger units. The foil strip is a dual or multiple-strip, cut by at least one partitioning blade into individual webs respectively welded in parallel planes to form endless tubes and cut by transverse cutters. The tubular bodies are assembled into a larger transfer group and jointly transferred to a turn table including a corresponding number of mandrels. The turn table conveys them jointly and stepwise to stations for fitting the shoulder portion with a threaded neck and the closure cap. The finished tubes are deposited on a discharge belt and fed to control regions for checking. Flawless tubes are received by the discharge belt and fed continuously to a tray.

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 packaging system utilizes two sides of a loading carousel, which reduces both the height and footprint of the packaging system. Mass and inertia are also reduced, allowing higher operational speeds. The loading carousel receives opened cartons on a first side and lowers them over product groups on a second side.

Abstract: A method for dispensing a desired number of oriented tablets from a bulk source into a well within a reagent container by moving the tablets by vibration into a number of parallel loading chutes and transfer chutes and displacing the desired number of tablets into a drop chute aligned over the well.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a blister band moved in a forward direction, with a number of interconnected walls defining a bottom closed by the blister band set in motion, to define a chamber. At least two units are arranged in series and separated by a plate, and operate in the chamber. An article supply leads to each unit of the chamber for feeding articles onto the blister band in motion, while a brush works near the plate and near a fore wall in counter-rotation with respect to the forward direction of the blister band to reject possible articles not entered into the blisters of the band or placed in the blisters in double.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading small objects into respective blisters of a foil web has a plurality of substantially identical fill plates each having an array of receptacles corresponding to the blisters of an area of the foil. A conveyor moves the fill plates one after another in a transport direction at an upper level from a fill station remote from the web to a transfer station close to the web, then lowers them to a lower level, then returns them in an opposite return direction from the transfer station to the fill station, and finally raises them in the transfer station to the upper level. At the fill station the receptacles of the plates are filled with the small objects. At the transfer station the small objects are taken out of the receptacles of the plates and put into the blisters of the web.

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: An apparatus for regulating the flow of articles from an infeed stream at an infeed end of a packaging machine which apparatus comprises a plurality of article feed lanes for supplying a row of articles converging at a predetermined position, each feed lane having a regulator to control article flow, one of said regulators providing a reference position by which the relative positions of the articles may be controlled such that as the lanes converge one row of articles is offset from the or each other rows of articles.

Abstract: A method of loading a tray with at least one layer of items includes forming a plurality items into a group of items, moving the first group in a first generally horizontal direction so that the items are received through a top opening of the tray to form a layer of items that at least partially covers the upper surface of said base. The method also includes moving the tray loaded with the group of items in a generally vertical direction. The vertical direction may be downward. The tray may then be moved again in a horizontal direction. Also a system is provided to perform the aforesaid method.

Abstract: An automated solid pharmaceutical product packaging machine includes a plurality of temporary storage members for receiving a plurality of solid pharmaceutical products in a plurality of cavities. The use of the temporary storage cavities enables the machine to process several prescriptions simultaneously. Advantageously, at least one of the temporary storage members is capable of being automatically displaced in a vertical direction in order to increase the capacity of the overall filling system for processing a greater number of solid pharmaceutical products while minimizing the overall footprint of the device.

Abstract: Apparatus for packaging a plurality of objects, the apparatus including (i) a vacuum chamber housing which defines an opening sized and configured to receive, and be placed in a substantially sealed relationship with, a planar member having a bottom surface and a top surface, which top surface in turn defines an array of recesses, each of the recesses being sized and configured to receive one of the objects, and which planar member further defines a plurality of fluid passageways extending through the planar member, each of the plurality of fluid passageways opening in a respective one of the recesses defined by the planar member and extending completely through the planar member to a passageway opening in the bottom surface of the planar member, (ii) a support member pivotally attached to the vacuum chamber and sized and configured to receive a sheet which forms an array of blister-like chambers for receiving at least a portion of the plurality of objects, and (iii) a switch configured for operative connecti

Abstract: A packaging device for a pill packaging apparatus is provided, the packaging device cooperating with a plurality of pill receptacles, defined by a web and conveyed by a conveyor under the packaging device in a packaging direction, to manipulate pills deposited in the receptacles into a laid-down position. A first wiper device extends across the web, non-perpendicularly to the packaging direction, to engage pills protruding from the receptacles. A second wiper device downstream of the first wiper device extends across the web, substantially perpendicularly to the packaging direction, to engage any pills still protruding from the receptacles following engagement with the first wiper device. The first and second wiper devices oscillate substantially transversely to the packaging direction so as to vibrate laterally with respect to the web.

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: 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 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 machine for palletizing elements having a head, a shank and a tip. An auger has a first portion having a variable pitch and a second portion having a constant pitch. A plurality of the elements are directed onto the auger and retained on the auger. A transfer arm moves the plurality of elements from the auger and introduces the plurality of elements to a tray having rows of holes therein. Several embodiments are disclosed.

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: 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 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 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 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: A case loading machine and method of operation is described for positioning at least two flexible bags, having an unstable product therein, in a case and in side-by-side contact with one another. A case engaging and displacement mechanism is positionable inside a case from an open top end of the case whereby to divide the case into compartments of predetermined size. The mechanism holds the case at a loading position with one of the compartments aligned at a bag receiving position. A bag engaging and transfer mechanism engages one of the bags from a bag filling position and transfers it into the aligned compartment. The bag engaging and transfer mechanism is provided with a compression compartment to compress the flexible bag and displace the unstable product therein whereby the bag is sized to enter into the aligned compartment. The case is then displaced to align another compartment at the loading position to receive a further bag.

Abstract: A device for insertion of products into a packaging container in a packaging machine comprises an insertion plunger which is guided along a certain path parallel to the product and a cover element which can be pre-positioned above the product by a first displacement control and which can be lowered onto the products via a second displacement control. The insertion plunger and the cover element can exercise an insertion motion to insert the products into the container. In order to guarantee a precise seating of the cover element and to facilitate a simple reconfiguration to differing product formats, the second displacement control comprises a substantially vertical control surface as well as an element engaging the control surface for horizontal displacement thereby, wherein the horizontal adjustment displacement of the element can be transformed by a transformation device into the vertical lowering motion of the cover element.

Abstract: An assembly for handling and packaging pharmaceutical dosage forms includes an infeed structure, a laning structure, and a plenum structure extending from the infeed structure to the laning structure. The infeed, laning and plenum structures guide dosage forms as they are carried in a downstream direction by a surface movable with downstream direction. A guide portion guides the dosage forms into the laning structure to avoid jamming of tablets. A form handling device receives dosage forms and transports the dosage forms to a packaging device. A timed controller and dump gate operate so that debris is carried out of the assembly. The assembly is particularly useful for fragile dosage forms. A packaging device having a bottom plate with floatably supported blocks is provided for sealing dosage forms into packages.

Abstract: A coin packaging device has a table, to which a mass of coins of identical denomination may be supplied, and a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder being arranged to receive coins one by one through an open end, thereby stacking a predetermined number of coins thus received into a pile of coins. Furthermore, the device has means for distributing the coins across the table. The table is provided with a plurality of openings large enough for allowing the coins to pass therethrough. The open end of each respective cylinder is arranged to receive coins from a respective one of the openings in the table.

Abstract: A packaging system for non-rigid materials includes various embodiments. In one embodiment the blocks of material are separated from each other by a partially wrapped liner with a partition extending between the blocks. In another embodiment pairs of blocks are partially wrapped with a liner and separated from each other by a distance which permits additional blocks to be inserted in an alternating manner in the spacing in between the blocks. In a third embodiment the cells are created by a support which is of generally inverted T-shape with each block being placed in an individual cell.