A wrap removal device includes (a) an engagement surface configured to receive a container having an outer wrapping and (b) one or more delivery elements disposed on or in the engagement surface. The one or more delivery elements are configured to generate energy that one or more of melts, cuts, or weakens the outer wrapping along a path without melting, cutting, or modifying the container. The wrap removal device can quickly remove the outer wrapping without damage to the container.

A carton for containing at least one article. The carton comprises at least one panel that can form an interior of the carton. The carton comprises at least one protection feature for protecting the articles from breakage. The article protection feature can comprise at least one feature in end flaps of the carton. The article protection feature can comprise an article protection flap foldably connected to the at least one panel. The article protection flap can be moveable between a first position and a second position wherein the article protection flap is folded relative to the at least one panel.

A device (1) for evacuating gas from a package (50) in a packaging apparatus, the package (50) having an open end (55), the open end (55) having a terminal portion (54), a non-terminal portion (52), and an intermediate portion (53) located between the terminal portion (54) and the non-terminal portion (52) of the open end (55), the device (1) comprising a vacuum chamber (10) having an elongated opening (14) extending along a longitudinal axis of the vacuum chamber (10), an evacuation means configured for providing the vacuum chamber (10) with an internal vacuum pressure that is lower than an ambient pressure outside the vacuum chamber (10), means for moving (30) a package (50) relative to the vacuum chamber (10), and a control unit (60) programmed for controlling the means for moving (30) to relatively move a package (50) to be evacuated with respect to the vacuum chamber (10), the package (50) and the means for moving (30) each being arranged with respect to the vacuum chamber (10) so that a main movement direction (40) of packages (50) placed on the means for moving (30) and the longitudinal axis of the vacuum chamber (10) are substantially parallel to one another, the package (50) to be evacuated being positioned so that, during the relative movement of the package (50) with respect to the vacuum chamber (10), a terminal portion (54) of the open end (55) of the package (50) relatively moves within the vacuum chamber (10) and a non-terminal portion (52) of the open end (55) relatively moves outside the vacuum chamber (10), an intermediate portion (53) of the open end (55) passing through and relatively moving along the opening (14), and activating the evacuation means to provide the vacuum chamber (10) with the internal vacuum pressure. A packaging process using the gas evacuation device and a packaging apparatus including the device are also disclosed.

An apparatus and method for packaging individual medication doses in blister bags includes a plurality of storage and dispensing stations, at least one guide and collection arrangement for picking up the medication doses and passing them on, or conducting them, to a packaging station, the packaging station forming a strand of connected blister bags from packaging material. Also included is a labeling and printing station for applying data to the packaging material, an optical detection device that optically detects characteristics of the individual blister bags of the strand, an evaluation device that compares the characteristics detected for an individual blister bag with reference characteristics, and a storage station that stores the strand of the blister bags in an ordered manner.

A packaging apparatus for small piece goods, the use of the packaging apparatus, and a method for producing a blister tube are provided. The packaging apparatus includes a packaging material guiding device for providing a shaped packaging material web suitable for receiving small piece goods, a longitudinal joining device which is arranged downstream of the packaging material guiding device and a transverse joining device which is arranged downstream of the packaging material guiding device. The transverse joining device joins the shaped packaging material web together at predetermined intervals transversely to the direction of travel to form a transverse joining area. The transverse joining device includes two joiners, a first joiner having a plurality of embossers that are individually movable transversely to the direction of travel and are arranged so that they can be extended from the first joiner and retracted into the first joiner.

The present disclosure is related to a device for aligning a number of packages including at least one bottom belt. In some embodiments, the at least one bottom belt may include a first end portion for receiving packages and a second end portion for exiting packages. In some embodiments, said at least one bottom belt may include a laterally declined portion facing a support surface arranged along a side of the at least one bottom belt, whereby in use, packages conveyed by the at least one bottom belt move laterally towards the support surface for alignment thereto due to the laterally declined portion and by means of gravity.

The present disclosure is related to a device for aligning a number of packages including at least one bottom belt. In some embodiments, the at least one bottom belt may include a first end portion for receiving packages and a second end portion for exiting packages. In some embodiments, said at least one bottom belt may include a laterally declined portion facing a support surface arranged along a side of the at least one bottom belt, whereby in use, packages conveyed by the at least one bottom belt move laterally towards the support surface for alignment thereto due to the laterally declined portion and by means of gravity.

Embodiments include a package for containing and dispensing a product. The package includes first and second layers; a product seal zone where the first layer is joined to the second layer, the product seal zone having an inner perimeter that defines an unsealed pouch area for containing the product and an outer perimeter; and a header zone adjacent to the outer perimeter of the product seal zone. The header zone includes a first tab; a second tab; a first tab-cut in the first layer within an unsealed portion of the header zone; and a second tab-cut in the second layer within the unsealed portion of the header zone. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Methods and apparatus for unitizing groups of individual packages into pallet loads, stabilizing the loads and facilitating general movement of the pallets, including the loading and unloading of pallets into and out of transport vehicles, includes wrapping the loads with stretchable crepe paper, rather than conventional plastic wrap material. Crepe paper can be produced and recycled with less environmental impact than plastic wrap. These methods involve a new use for crepe paper, and a new use for conventional plastic-wrapping equipment.

A container includes a first blank and a second blank. The first blank includes a plurality of panels foldably connected to one another and erected about an interior space, and a plurality of top flaps foldably connected to the plurality of panels to enclose a top end of the interior space. The second blank includes a bottom panel affixed to the first blank opposite the top flaps to enclose a bottom end of the interior space. The first blank includes a line of weakness pattern configured to allow a user to break the top flaps from a closed configuration enclosing the interior space to an open configuration allowing access to the interior space.