A machine for packaging soft products, including a conveyor defining a ring-shaped path having an active linear lower branch facing a feed plane and a non-active linear upper branch Each of a plurality of carriages supports a tooth, projecting towards the feed plane during the passage on the lower branch. A transfer device moves one group of products at a time, with a corresponding sheet of wrapping material folded around the group, towards the feed plane and to a receiving compartment defined by a first and a second tooth, along a second direction transversal to a first direction. Along the lower linear branch there are a number of teeth equal to the number of groups positioned or arrived on the feed plane. Each tooth is configured to define simultaneously a pushing tooth and a tooth containment when the tooth is interposed between two groups along the feed plane.

The invention includes a method and apparatus to transfer and place articles (12) into outer packages (16), which are open at the top and which each receive at least one article group (18) composed of a plurality of articles (12). In the method, at least one article group (18) is seized by at least one handling device (46) and is placed from above into one of the outer packages (16). An article group (18), which has been seized by the handling device (46), already is compacted or will be compacted during placement of the article group into the outer package (16) by reducing the spacings between at least some of the individual articles (12) of the article group (18). The article group may also be subsequently spread out.

A method of designing a package configured to securely accommodate one of two or more differently shaped objects. The method comprises: establishing a predetermined orientation for each of the two or more differently shaped objects relative to common axes; identifying dimensionally common points of the two or more differently shaped objects; and developing a design for a package configured to constrain the two or more differently shaped objects at the identified dimensionally common points.

A carton assembly machine for cartons (17) for packing articles (15, 15′), comprising means for feeding an unassembled carton in a feed direction, the said carton having a plurality of side flaps or panels (18, 19) whose folds are essentially parallel to the said feed direction folded onto a central portion (25) of the carton, the said machine further comprising a movable element (26) designed to move between a first position away from the route of the carton and a second position in which the said element is designed to be Inserted underneath, at an edge (27) of at least one of said side flaps or panels (19), so that the latter is raised with respect to the said central portion, in particular, in cooperation with the carton feeding.

Techniques for improving packaging systems are described. In an example, a computer system receives item data from a workstation. The item data includes a description of an item. The computer system also receives fit parameters. The fit parameters adjust the fit of items within packaging. The workstation is configured to facilitate packaging of the item. Based at least in part on an input to a packaging decision system, the computer system generates a package decision indicating a package type associated with the packaging of the item. The input is based at least in part on the item data. The packaging decision system is trained based at least in part on packaging data associated with historical item orders. The computer system sends the package decision to the workstation.

A machine for dispensing an aerosol precursor composition for use with aerosol delivery devices. The machine may include a plurality of sources of dispensable, liquid aerosol precursor components. The plurality of sources may differ in the liquid aerosol precursor components being dispensable therefrom. The machine may include a user interface configured to allow a user to select an amount of the liquid aerosol precursor components for dispensing. The machine may also include a dispenser for dispensing the aerosol precursor components in response to the selection made on the user interface.

A method of preparing a packaging box (50) wherein late stage customization (20) is provided on the inside of the packaging box. Late stage customization is provided on a folded packaging box. Late stage customization is provided by an imaging technique selected from laser marking, laser engraving, thermal printing and inkjet printing. The packaging box includes an image-receiving layer adapted to the imaging-technique.

A structure for supporting and transporting a plurality of pieces in operations of assembling/disassembling and/or change of configuration in a manufacturing line includes at least one support surface; a plurality of areas defined on the at least one support surface, each of the areas includes a respective piece of the plurality of pieces or being configured to house a respective piece of the plurality of pieces; and a plurality of warning devices selectively actuatable automatically, each warning device being associated to a respective area of the plurality of areas.

A cartoner infeed bucket includes a bottom wall, a first end wall extending upward from the bottom wall and a second end wall extending upward from the bottom wall and spaced apart from the first end wall to define an item carrying space, the second end wall running substantially parallel to the first end wall. The second end wall is mounted for adjustable movement along the bottom wall so as to vary a spacing between the first end wall and the second end wall and/or the first end wall is mounted for pivotable movement relative to the bottom wall.

A width-adjustable packaging bag shaper, a bag maker, a packaging machine, and a method. The packaging machine including the bag maker, a traction device and a heat sealing device are respectively arranged above the bag maker, and a width adjustment device adjusts the distances between different sub bottom plates in a front bottom plate and a rear bottom plate by using a leadscrew and slide block mechanism, and then adjusts the width of a bottom plate. The leadscrew and slide block mechanism is used as the width adjustment device of the automatic width-adjustable noodle packaging bag shaper system, and four bottom plates are respectively fixed to the width adjustment device, so the leadscrew and slide block mechanism in operation is accurate in range of adjustment, is suitable for various widths of packaging bags, and has very important significance for the three-dimensional shaping effect of the packaging bags.