Item-management systems, apparatus, and methods are described, preferably for management of items such as medicaments. In embodiments, an item-management system comprises a container defining plural cells, a docking station configured to receive the container, sources of visible information to indicate the cell(s) into which an item is to be loaded, and at least one controller operable to control the visible information sources to indicate the cell into which the item is to be received.

In a method and apparatus for producing a small pouch with a predetermined amount of particulate material therein, a predetermined amount of the particulate material is portioned from a bulk supply and compacted into a single discrete caplet. The caplet is the deposited into an open hollow pouch closed at one end thereof, and the open end is then closed with the caplet between the closed ends of the pouch. The caplet in the pouch is then compressed to return it to its particulate form. The particulate material may be granular or shredded tobacco.

A package for containing liquid-exuding product is formed of a single sheet of film that is folded and sealed at certain locations. The package can include an active member, optionally in the form of absorbent, that is heat staked or otherwise attached to a portion of the sheet of film such that the active member is located on an interior surface of a bottom of the folded and sealed package.

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.

Item-management systems, apparatus, and methods are described, preferably for management of items such as medicaments. In embodiments, an item-management system comprises a container defining plural cells, a docking station configured to receive the container, sources of visible information to indicate the cell(s) into which an item is to be loaded, and at least one controller operable to control the visible information sources to indicate the cell into which the item is to be received.

Item-management systems, apparatus, and methods are described, preferably for management of items such as medicaments. In embodiments, an item-management system comprises a container defining plural cells, a docking station configured to receive the container, sources of visible information to indicate the cell(s) into which an item is to be loaded, and at least one controller operable to control the visible information sources to indicate the cell into which the item is to be received.

Apparatus and method for processing open-mouth bags comprising a handling device for exchanging open-mouth bags with a rotary packaging machine. The handling device comprises a rotating device that circulates around a rotation axis of the handling device and is provided with two gripping arms for gripping the open-mouth bags. The two gripping arms are disposed for separate, longitudinal movement transverse to the rotation axis of the rotating device to enable longitudinal movement of the gripping arms relative to the rotating device in addition to the circulating motion around the handling device.

Apparatus and method for processing open-mouth bags comprising a handling device for exchanging open-mouth bags with a rotary packaging machine. The handling device comprises a rotating device that circulates around a rotation axis of the handling device and is provided with two gripping arms for gripping the open-mouth bags. The two gripping arms are disposed for separate, longitudinal movement transverse to the rotation axis of the rotating device to enable longitudinal movement of the gripping arms relative to the rotating device in addition to the circulating motion around the handling device.

Item-management systems, apparatus, and methods are described, preferably for management of items such as medicaments. In embodiments, an item-management system comprises a container defining plural cells, a docking station configured to receive the container, sources of visible information to indicate the cell(s) into which an item is to be loaded, and at least one controller operable to control the visible information sources to indicate the cell into which the item is to be received.

A system and method for manufacturing erosion control filter socks consists of a mass of filtering material, a material supply assembly, an assembly section, and a packaging section. Switchgrass is used as the filtering material. Upon receiving the mass of filtering material, the material supply assembly appropriately transfers the filtering material to the assembly section. The filtering material is loaded into a receiving sock with the use of a sizing funnel in the assembly section to create a filter sock. The density of the filtering material within the filter sock varies. When loading is complete, the packaging section sizes the filter sock accordingly. When sizing the filter sock is complete, the filter sock is wrapped in a plastic cover so that the filter sock can be conveniently transported and installed.