Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling operation of a bag-forming and -filling packing apparatus for supplying unsealed packaged articles (45) to a rotary vacuum packaging machine at regular intervals, in which the rotary vacuum packing machine is subjected to significant variations in loads. A main controller (115) for receiving pulse signals calculates modulation of the pitch of pulses from a main motor (86) of the rotary vacuum packaging machine, and control elements (94, 95, 96, 97) each attached to a corresponding one of all servo motors (20, 30, 40, 76) of the bag-forming and -filling packaging machine individually and simultaneously control the rotation value of each servo motor. This configuration can avoid step-wise control of each servo motor and reduce impacts on a rotary section and a failure rate while maintaining a slow control operation.

Abstract: A filling and packaging machine adapted to vertically seal a film which is continuously fed, by a vertical sealing unit and thereby form the film into a bottomed cylindrical body, laterally seal the cylindrical film by a lateral sealing unit and thereby form a bottom portion of a packaging bag to be obtained, pack an object material into the bottomed cylindrical film from a filling nozzle disposed in the film, and laterally seal while feeding the film the portion of the film which is to form a mouth of the packaging bag by the lateral sealing unit, whereby the material is packaged continuously, the machine including a material supply unit joined to the filling nozzle and adapted to supply the object material, a detector adapted to detect the lateral sealing time of the lateral sealing unit, and a control unit for having the material supplied intermittently by starting a material supplying operation of the material supply unit when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after a lateral sealing signal is ou

Abstract: The present invention tablet filler device system includes a plurality of individually secured cells with a tablet hopper and drum functionally adapted to regulate and orient gravity outflow of tablets, a gravity feed chute connected to and downstream from the hopper to singularly align and feed tablets, and a rotatable starwheel having slots to receive tablets from the feed chute to move tablets to a container filling substation. There is also a tablet inspection mechanism located on the feed chute to discern quality characteristics of tablets moving down the feed chute in accordance with a predetermined standard, and a tablet ejector to eject unacceptable tablets. A stepper drive motor with a counter capability for driving the starwheel in a step fashion for controlled release of tablets is included, and an optional counting verification sensor. The cells are interconnected for computer controlled automatic order filling for a variety of tablet types and container sizes.

Abstract: An assembly for packaging a discontinuously supplied stream of products, comprising a packaging apparatus provided with folding means for folding the longitudinal edges of the continuous packaging web around the products in longitudinal direction to form a tubular packaging sleeve, connecting means and separating means for breaking the tubular packaging sleeve between the products in a transverse direction for forming separated packaged products, wherein the assembly comprises a conveyor chain which is provided with grippers for clamping therein the products to be conveyed, the assembly further comprising an intermediate conveyor built up from a number of mutually aligning conveying sections drivable independently of each other and with variable speed, the intermediate conveyor being provided with a control adapted to drive the various conveying sections of the intermediate conveyor such that the mutual distances between discontinuously supplied products are reduced to a standard distance.

Abstract: The present invention tablet filler device with enhanced quality control features includes a tablet hopper and an agitating drum functionally connected to the hopper and adapted to regulate and orient gravity outflow of tablets. There is a gravity feed chute connected to and downstream from the hopper to singularly align and feed tablets, and a rotatable starwheel having slots to receive tablets individually from the feed chute so as to move tablets to a filling outlet for gravity feed to a container filling station.

Abstract: A unique method and apparatus for inserting an oxygen scavenger into a modified atmosphere package for extending the shelf life of food, especially raw meats. A scavenger feeder feeds a chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers. A separator separates the oxygen scavenger located at an exposed end of the chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers from the chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers. An adhesive applicator applies adhesive to the oxygen scavenger which has been separated from the chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers. A conveyor conveys the separated oxygen scavenger to a position which is adjacent to a film layer which is used to form an outer package of the modified atmosphere package so that the oxygen scavenger is attached to a surface of the film layer by the adhesive. The film layer is subsequently formed into the outer package so that the oxygen scavenger that is attached to the film layer is contained within the outer package.

Abstract: In a process and a device for automatically commissioning singular individually packaged products (1), especially a single pill, from a supply station (2) with a plurality of containers, prepackaged, preselected, flat, individually packaged product packs (“blister packs”) of the same type are arranged in stacks in assigned containers in the form of essentially vertical storage shafts (3). A blister pack (4) of a singular individually packaged product (1) to be commissioned is displaced into a lateral dispensing position (E) located outside the stack, and a receiving tray (5) is positioned under it. A dispensing unit (6) assigned to the storage shafts (3) with a dispensing finger (7) is then positioned above the individually packaged product (1) to be commissioned, which is in the dispensing position (E), and the dispensing finger (7) is moved downward toward an abutment (8) to separate the singular individually packaged product from the rest of the blister pack.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for producing packs, in particular cigarette packs. A change in the type of pack makes it necessary for the operators carefully to provide the correct packaging material assigned to the new type of pack. In practice, this change of material often takes place incorrectly. The invention avoid errors when the type of pack is changed in that markings, which are assigned to packaging material of different designs and are provided on the packaging material and/or the carrier thereof, in particular on a core of the reel, and/or the pack, are used to identify the packaging material and to check it for correct assignment in relation to the type of pack which is to be produced.

Abstract: The lower folders (P1, P2) of the packaging machine are driven by a rod and crank system (1, 2) moved by an electric motor (5) with control of speed and phase, regulated by an electronic processor (7) with a corresponding programming and dialogue unit (8). The rod and crank system is designed and arranged in such a way that, when the folders are closed, the rod (1) is aligned with the crank (2), and this position (K) is taken to be the zero position by the said processor and is detected for this purpose by a sensor (6). To drive the folders through a complete cycle of closing and opening, the motor (5) has to execute only one pulse, to transfer the rod and crank system from one to the other of two limit positions (K1, K2), spaced apart from the said zero position by an identical distance which is variable, according to the format of the products to be packaged, by means of the said programming unit (8).

Abstract: There is provided a method for manufacturing and handling a variety of fluid component packaged goods efficiently. A manufacturing/handling instructing data code containing both manufacturing information of the fluid component and handling information of the fluid component packaged goods is indicated on the package to carry out the whole manufacturing and handling steps from first to last by the data code.

Abstract: A drug filling machine has a plurality of feeders containing a plurality of different kinds of drugs. A plurality of drugs are discharged from one or some or the feeders into a vial. A sealing unit is provided for sealing the mouth of the vial with a transparent sheet. The sealing unit includes a sheet presser for pushing the transparent sheet into the mouth of the vial to form a sealing sheet having a tray-shaped section, a cutter for cutting the transparent sheet into a predetermined shape, and a heater for fusing the transparent sheet to the top end of the vial to seal the mouth of the vial.

Abstract: A method and a system 100 is provided for automatically dispensing prescriptions according to a patient's order. The system 100 includes at least one line 105 of machines that can automatically fill a patient's prescription order with countable oral solid drugs and unit of use drugs, under the control of an appropriate control system, within the same machine 105. The apparatus of the invention includes numerous components that are integrated into a singular process. A robotic assembly 140 may be used to manipulate and transport vials, canisters 130, and bins 145 within the system. The robotic assembly 140 may further include a gripper assembly 20. The canister 130 may include means to accelerate a drug during the drug's movement through the canister 130 in order to increase the separation distance between drugs. The canister 130 may also include singulation control for maintaining drugs in a nearly single-file order as the drugs move through the canister 130.

Abstract: A form-fill-seal packaging machine has a pull-down mechanism for advancing an elongated bag-making film, a longitudinal sealer for sealing the film in the longitudinal direction to make a tube and a transverse sealer for sealing the film transversely to form the bottoms and the tops of the bags, and is controlled such that the longitudinal sealer is activated for a specified length of time whenever a ready signal is outputted to the weigher to request a discharge of articles to be packaged but the operations of the pull-down mechanism and the transverse sealer are not started unless a signal is received from the weigher, indicating that it has discharged articles as requested.

Abstract: A sealing device for a medication packing machine comprises memory means for storing a bag length setting file and a maximum containable medication quantity setting file. The bag length setting file contains, for each of said different bag lengths of said packing bags, a maximum medicament quantity ratio which means a ratio of the maximum quantity of standard medication containable in each packing bag with respective bag length to the maximum quantity of standard medication containable in a standard packing bag. The maximum containable medication quantity setting file contains a maximum quantity of each of other medication containable in said standard bag. A maximum containable medication quantity is read from said maximum containable medication quantity setting file on the basis of the type and quantity of medication for each medication-taking time in prescription data. A sum of containing rate of the medicament in the standard bag is calculated.

Abstract: In a horizontal form-fill-and-seal (FFS) machine, a continuous length of packaging film is folded lengthwise over the consumer products to be packaged. The lateral edges of the packaging film are separately and independently aligned with one another by edge sensing and control devices. A zipper is fed between the aligned lateral edges of the packaging film. The lateral edges are sealed to one another, and the zipper sealed to the folded packaging film, by a pair of sealing sections, each of which includes a pair of parallel sealing devices. Side seals are produced by conventional means, which also separate completed packages from one another.

Abstract: A system for transferring components between packing media, such as tube packing media and tape packing media, is provided. The system includes a first packing media handling system, such as a tube handling system. The system also includes a second packing media handling system, such as a tape packing media system. A component handling system can transfer components from the tubes to the taping system, or from the taping system to the tubes.

Abstract: In a process and an apparatus for introducing individual products into containers for receiving a given number of individual products for filling the containers, by means of a picker line, the individual products and the containers are not advanced with a transportation movement in co-flow relationship, and delivery of the next container to be filled, into the working region of the pickers of the picker line, is controlled in dependence thereon.

Abstract: A system for automatic inspection and ejection of cartons in a packaging machine includes detection elements (20, 22) for determining whether a carton (C) has assumed a predetermined configuration at a predetermined point in its path of travel. Carton ejection elements include rollers (30, 32) which are actuated to eject a carton (C) when the detection elements (20) determine that the carton has not assumed the predetermined configuration at the predetermined point in its path of travel. A synchronous relationship between a flow of cartons (C) and a flow of groups of articles (G) to be packaged is preserved at and as cartons leave the carton inspection and ejection station of a packaging machine.

Abstract: A coupon burster assembly receives a continuous supply of coupons in the form of a web where the forwardmost coupon is attached to the following coupon along a weakened web portion. The burster includes a pair of intermittently rotating feed rollers and a pair of continuously rotating delivery rollers. An activation input receives triggering information from a form-fill-seal packaging machine or from a receiving product sensor. When the activation input receives triggering information, a signal is sent to a clutch-brake to activate the feed rollers. The feed rollers then feed the web into the delivery rollers. When a deactivation sensor located beyond the delivery rollers senses the presence of the forwardmost coupon, a signal is sent to the clutch-brake which stops the rotation of the feed rollers. Because the delivery rollers continue to pull the forwardmost coupon, the two coupons separate along the weakened web portion. The forwardmost coupon can then be delivered to the dispensing location.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling or producing packs made of packaging material, it being the case that folding elements, pressure-exerting elements, push rods, slides etc. act on blanks of the packaging material. In order to convert any possible incorrect positioning of the moveable elements, in particular of the push rods, immediately into an error signal, a folding turret (10) is assigned a stationary monitoring unit (32) which is equipped with mechanical actuating elements, namely contact lugs (29,30,31). In the event of any possible incorrect positioning, one of the contact lugs (29,30,31) is actuated with the effect of a switching movement.

Abstract: A pill dispensing system includes a shelving unit in array form that holds a number of bulk containers, each holding a bulk amount of a pill to be dispensed. A computer controlled robot removes a selected bulk container and places it on a counter that also dispenses pills. The robot has an arm with a free end portion that can grip a bulk container or a single pill bottle to be filled. The robot is computer controlled to retrieve an empty pill bottle, place it on a label printing and applying unit, then place it next to the counter/dispenser to receive the selected number of selected prescription pills, then place the filled, labeled bottle on a conveyor.

Abstract: A turret assembly for use in a container manufacturing apparatus which comprises a rotatable hub, at least one arm extending radially from the rotatable hub and having a medium reception portion thereon for transferring and inserting at least one medium to a location between a first and second portion of container material.

Abstract: A packaging machine under control of an electronic control system is set forth. The packaging machine includes a plurality of servo driven packaging stations that execute the processes required to fill and seal a carton. Each of the packaging stations is driven by one or more servomotors associated therewith. A plurality of servo amplifiers are connected to the servomotors to control the rotational movement of the servomotors thereby to effect control of the motion of the various components associated with each if the packaging stations. The packaging machine further includes at least two programmable devices connected for communication over a common bus. A programmable axis manager (PAM) is connected to control the plurality of servo amplifiers and, thus, the motion profiles of the servomotors and components of the respective processing station. A programmable logic controller (PLC) is connected to receive and transmit input/output signals associated with the plurality of packaging stations.

Abstract: A coupon inserter assembly receives a continuous supply of coupons in the form of a web where the forwardmost coupon is attached to the following coupon along a weakened web portion. The inserter assembly includes a pair of intermittently rotating feed rollers and a pair of continuously rotating delivery rollers. An activation sensor is located at a dispensing location or a conveyor carrying receiving products for receiving coupons. When the activation sensor senses a receiving product, a signal is sent to a clutch-brake to activate the feed rollers. The feed rollers then feed the web into the delivery rollers. When a deactivation sensor located beyond the delivery rollers senses the presence of the forwardmost coupon, a signal is sent to the clutch-brake which stops the rotation of the feed rollers. Because the delivery rollers continue to pull the forwardmost coupon, the two coupons separate along the weakened web portion.

Abstract: A product such as a monitor is transferred by a transferring unit such as a conveyor, stopped at a working position, elevated to a packing position by an elevating unit, packed with packing material, such as with a vinyl cover, buffering materials and a box at the packing position, moved down to its original down position, and transferred to a subsequent process in the fabricating or process line. In addition, a cylinder is used for elevating the product to permit packing the product. A plurality of supporting bars are fixed to an elevating member installed at an end of a cylinder rod of the cylinder. Only the product, such as a monitor, loaded on a transferring member, such as a pallet, is moved up by the engaging operation of the supporting bars. For slidable insertion of the supporting bars, a plurality of insertion holes corresponding to the supporting bars are formed in the transferring member.

Abstract: A product filler head system having an input conveyor with a first drive motor for delivering product items, an index pusher for receiving the product items from the input conveyor, accumulating the product items into groups of a selected size and releasing the groups onto a staging area, the index pusher including a second drive motor, an index lug chain for receiving selected numbers of the groups of product items from the index pusher and displacing the selected number of groups of product along the staging area, the index lug chain including a third drive motor, a ram for displacing the groups of product items from the staging area into a receptacle, the ram including a fourth drive motor, and a selectively programmable computer control for individually actuating the first, second, third and fourth motors such that speeds of the conveyor, index pusher and lug chain are synchronized with respect to each other and with sequencing of the ram, so that changes in the size of the groups of product items and cha

Abstract: A film sleever machine includes a first stepper motor for activating a sleeve delivery device which has a driving shaft and a roller shaft mounted parallelly for feeding a film wearing bag material. A film feeding device which has a film driving wheel and a pressure wheel is activated by a second stepper motor for feeding a roll of film to insert into a plurality of film wearing sleeve of the film wearing bag material. The first stepper motor also activates a film cutter device to cut off the film. The second stepper motor also activates a sleeve cutter device to cut off the film wearing bag material. Accordingly, the film sleever machine can be operated to feed the film, cut the film, feed the sleeves, and cut off the sleeves automatically.

Abstract: A coupon inserter assembly receives a continuous supply of coupons in the form of a web where the forwardmost coupon is attached to the following coupon along a weakened web portion. The inserter assembly includes a pair of intermittently rotating feed rollers and a pair of continuously rotating delivery rollers. An activation sensor is located at a dispensing location or a conveyor carrying receiving products for receiving coupons. When the activation sensor senses a receiving product, a signal is sent to a clutch-brake to activate the feed rollers. The feed rollers then feed the web into the delivery rollers. When a deactivation sensor located beyond the delivery rollers senses the presence of the forwardmost coupon, a signal is sent to the clutch-brake which stops the rotation of the feed rollers. Because the delivery rollers continue to pull the forwardmost coupon, the two coupons separate along the weakened web portion.

Abstract: The integrity of a seal in packaging film is monitored during packaging of loose, free flowing product and adaptive control of the packaging method/apparatus is provided in response to the determination made. The pressure being exerted between the sealing jaws upon reaching a closed position and the seal being formed is monitored and analyzed to evaluate the seal integrity in a dedicated microprocessor. An adaptive, real time signal is provided to a CPU/controller to adjust the relative product flow and packaging film movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling and packaging mail items, comprising a transport track which includes an endless conveyor with mail item forwarding projections and a conveyor drive, as well as at least one feeding device with a feeding device drive, which feeding device is arranged above and in-line with the transport track for the purpose of feeding documents, such as for instance supplements, the feeding device comprising a feeding device delivery gap located some distance above a transport surface formed by the transport track, characterized by a document guiding device arranged downstream of the feeding device delivery gap, which document guiding device comprises a first endless conveyor and a second endless conveyor each having a portion of a transport part in mutual abutment and thus forming a document guiding path bounded by a document guiding path infeed gap and a document guiding path delivery gap, with a drive of the first and the second endless conveyor being independent of the feeding device drive, an

Abstract: An automated cushioning producing and filling system includes a cushioning conversion machine which converts stock paper into cut pads of a selected length and transports the pads to a staging location, a pad sensor for sensing the presence of a pad in the staging location, a box transporting system for transporting a box from a remote location to a filling location, a box sensor for sensing the presence of a box in the filling location, a bar code reader for reading a bar code from the box indicative of the packaging requirements of the box when the box sensor has sensed the presence of a box in the filling location, a pad transferring apparatus for transferring a pad from the staging location to the box when the pad sensor has sensed the presence of a pad in the staging area, and a system controller for determining the box packaging requirements from the code read by the bar code reader and instructing the cushioning conversion machine to produce pads in accordance with the packaging requirements for the bo

Abstract: A multiple automatic packing machine packs a material by continuously and repeatedly slitting a wide sheet-like packing material into a predetermined number of packing films fed from a take-up roll, seal-molding each of the packing films into a bag-like configuration by a vertical sealer and a lateral sealer, filling the material to be packed into each of the packing films, withdrawing each of the packing films by lowering the lateral sealer a portion equal to the length of the bag to be formed, raising the lowered lateral sealer back to a location before the lateral sealing by laterally opening the lateral sealer, and cutting a center line portion of the lateral seal of each of the packing films.

Abstract: A compact disc packaging machine is disclosed for packaging trays, compact discs, booklets and inlay cards in a variety of different sized containers. The compact disc machine is compact in size and its primary functions are mechanically driven. Pneumatics are only used on approximately 10 percent of the machine functions. Because the components are within the easy reach of an operator, the compact disc packaging machine is operated without requiring the operator to circle the machine. Feeders and magazines provide supplies of trays, booklets, inlay cards and compact discs to the machine. The compact disc magazine uses multiple spindles to allow one spindle to be active while the other spindle is replaced. A pick-and-place mechanism lifts the inlay cards, booklets, trays and compact discs and positions them in an intermediate centering positions and then into compact disc boxes. Sensors are used to verify the existence and placement of those items in the boxes.

Abstract: A system for processing a carton includes a unit for supplying articles for printing, a unit for printing the contents of articles supplied from the supplying unit so as to be housed within the carton, including the names or quantity of the articles to be housed within the carton, or the printing pattern, a unit for assembling the article to be printed to a carton shape from its developed state, a unit for loading the articles to be housed within the article to be printed assembled in the carton shape by the assembling unit, a transporting unit for interconnecting the unit for supplying the articles for printing, printing unit, assembling unit, and the loading unit; and a production supervising computer controlling the unit for supplying the articles for printing, printing unit, assembling unit, loading unit and the transporting unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a batch of containers to determine if the containers have been filled with product to the proper volume with the apparatus including a conveyor for moving empty containers from a first location to a second location, a filling head for filling a batch of individual containers, a checkweigh platform for receiving a batch of individual empty containers from the conveying line and individually weighing each of the containers in both the empty condition and the filled condition and a robotic arm for transporting the containers to and from the conveying line and within the checkweighing station.

Abstract: In a system for stepless feeding of articles (2) such as tablets, pills, capsules and the like, to blisters (41) of a blister band (4), moved in direction (M), placement means (3) are located between an article storage magazine (1) and the blister band (4) running thereunder. An outer cylindrical mantle (33) of the placement means is rotated by a brushless motor (5), in a direction (N) that is in accordance with the band motion direction (M). The mantle (33) features depressions (31) which receive articles from the magazine (1), and is rotated in phase relation with the movement of the band (4), so that in every moment, the position of the depressions (31) is in register with the position of the blisters (41) in the band (4).

Abstract: A redundant automated cushioning producing and dispensing system includes a plurality of spaced cushioning conversion machines which convert stock paper into pads of a selected length, each cushioning conversion machine including a controller for controlling operation of the machine and communicating with another machine, a pad dispenser, and a sensor for determining when the amount of stock paper is less than a predetermined amount, a conveyor extending between the plurality of cushioning conversion machines for conveying a container into which a pad is to be dispensed, and at least one container sensor for providing information to at least one controller from which the controller can determine whether a pad has been dispensed into a container whereby the controllers cooperate to selectively switch operation of the cushioning conversion machine from an active state to an inactive state in accordance with information received from the stock supply sensors.

Abstract: In an automated prescription dispensing and packing system, empty prescription bottles are labeled and loaded in assigned locations in carriers. Pills are automatically dispensed into the prescription bottles in the carriers. Ranks of carriers containing filled prescription bottles are assembled at stations where the bottles are unloaded and packed into shipping containers with literature printed by the system. Multiple bottles of an order are automatically packed in the same shipping container.

Abstract: In packaging equipment suitable for packaging tableted products of a delicate nature, such as tablets of soap, each tablet is directed into a box by one of a succession of push-rods set in motion synchronously with a first feed line conveying boxes, and a second feed line conveying the products. The advancing push-rods pass initially through a diverter capable of movement between a first position and a second position, and are made as a result to follow a first guide, and a second guide respectively. The diverter is timed to alternate between the first and the second positions with the passage of each push-rod, and can be locked for a predetermined duration in the second position.

Abstract: A bandolier (20) of serially connected premium items (18) are fed by a vacuum conveyor (26) to a rotary cutter (14), with the bandolier (20) being sandwiched against the vacuum conveyor (26) by an overhead conveyor (32). The shaft (40) of the rotary cutter (14) is rotated by a servo-motor (42) such that its blade (46) engages the bandolier (20) with a linear speed which cuts the initial item (18) from the bandolier (20) and pushes and accelerates the cut item (18) into a carton (52) moving in a carton path (53). The linear speed of the bandolier (20) in the feed path (27) is tied to the linear speed of the cartons (52) in the carton path (53) while rotation of the shaft (40) is controlled by an optical sensor (38) which senses movement of the bandolier (20) by the vacuum conveyor (26).

Abstract: A servomotor driven machine under control of a control system which compensates for the slip and other errors associated with indirectly driving a movable component of the machine with a servomotor is set forth. The control system includes a servomotor that is connected through an intermediate drive mechanism to drive the movable component from a start position to an end position. A sensing system is disposed on the apparatus for generating an output signal indicative of at least one motion characteristic of the movable component. A controller drives the servomotor in accordance with a predetermined motion profile. The predetermined motion profile defines the motion characteristics of the movable component as the movable component moves from the start position to the end position within a predetermined time frame.

Abstract: A method of bringing together and joining cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective cards, comprises the steps of: providing the card; detecting the identification mark of the card; associating a print job number with the card; reading a data base by means of the identification mark; printing on the card carrier data read from the data base as well as the print job number; detecting the print job number of the card carrier prior to joining the card carrier to the card; determining whether the print job number of the card, which is about to be joined to the card carrier, corresponds to the print job number detected in the preceding step; and, provided that the print job number of the card and that of the card carrier correspond, bringing together and joining the card and the card carrier.

Abstract: A packaging machine under control of an electronic control system is set forth. The packaging machine includes a plurality of servo driven packaging stations that execute the processes required to fill and seal a carton. Each of the packaging stations is driven by one or more servomotors associated therewith. A plurality of servo amplifiers are connected to the servomotors to control the rotational movement of the servomotors thereby to effect control of the motion of the various components associated with each if the packaging stations. The packaging machine further includes at least two programmable devices connected for communication over a common bus. A programmable axis manager (PAM) is connected to control the plurality of servo amplifiers and, thus, the motion profiles of the servomotors and components of the respective processing station. A programmable logic controller (PLC) is connected to receive and transmit input/output signals associated with the plurality of packaging stations.

Abstract: A bag neck tying device for tying a ribbon about gathered material. The bag neck tying device includes a bag gathering mechanism for moving a bag neck into engagement with a bag stop lever controlled by an electric brake. The bag neck tying device further includes a needle assembly for wrapping the ribbon around the gathered neck of the bag, a twister hook assembly for twisting the ribbon of tie material and a ribbon holder-shear assembly for cutting and holding the end of the ribbon. The gathering, needle, twister and holder-shear assemblies are controlled by bi-directional, brush type DC servomotors driven by full wave rectified solid state DC motor controllers in a closed loop control system which incorporates a software driven microcontroller for delivering reference input signals to the motor controllers for initiating and controlling pre-assigned functions of the motors driving the various tier assemblies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for continuously supplying product to a machine for intermittently performing work on at least one product. The apparatus comprises a loading conveyor, a continuous drive motor operably coupled to the loading conveyor for moving the loading conveyor at a substantially constant loading speed, a transfer conveyor positioned adjacent the loading conveyor and adapted to receive product therefrom, a low speed drive for moving the transfer conveyor at a predetermined low speed to receive product from the loading conveyor, a high speed drive for moving the transfer conveyor at a high second speed relatively greater than the low speed to the machine, and a controller for operating the low speed and high speed drives in sequence so that the low speed drive is activated to receive product from the loading conveyor at low speed, and the high speed drive is activated to transfer the product to the machine at high speed.

Abstract: A medicine packing apparatus includes medicine storage shelves for storing a large number of medicine containers having medicines contained therein, and a comparatively small number of medicine feeders on each of which one of the large number of medicine containers is set for feeding medicine in a quantity conforming to a prescription. Store location memory means and set location memory means are provided which respectively memorize data on the store location of each individual medicine in the storage shelves and data on set location of the medicine in the feeders. If a medicine container corresponding to a prescription is not present in the set location, a search is made in the storage shelves, and then the searched location of the medicine is indicated accordingly. When a medicine container taken out from the storage shelves is set on one of the feeders, an identification device provided on the medicine container is read by a reader, and data on the set location is stored into a set location memory.

Abstract: A packaging system has a conveyor, a coil of a web of box material, and a box-making unit adjacent the coil for pulling the box-material web from its coil, printing on the box-material web, cutting the printed box-material web into individual carton blanks, forming the blanks into individual upwardly open boxes, and depositing the boxes on the conveyor. A coil of label material is provided adjacent a label-making unit that pulls the label-material web from the coil, prints on the label-material web, cuts the printed label-material coil into individual labels, applies the labels to objects secured from a source of the objects, and loads respective pluralities of the labeled objects into respective ones of the open boxes on the conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the mutual repositioning of products (4), which products are fed at a specific speed and with a specific distance in between, and the mutual position of the products (4) being changed by means of speed influencing means (2, 3), while for the mutual repositioning of products (4) consisting of several layers, for adjusting the mutual position of graphic products in a packing apparatus, a speed influencing means (2, 3) is brought into engagement with the product both at the top side and at the bottom side of the product (4), which two speed influencing means (2, 3) are always driven at the same speed relative to each other.

Abstract: A packaging arrangement for packaging products such as contact lenses in packages such as blister packs. The packaging arrangement includes an intermittently indexed, linearly driven endless conveyor which includes a plurality of identical support pallets, equally spaced apart along the endless conveyor. Each support pallet is designed to support and align an array of individual package bases. The arrangement is such that each support pallet with an array of individual package bases thereon is sequentially stopped at a plurality of spaced work stations along the endless conveyor.