A filling machine for filling a receptacle with a plurality of items includes a first item drop path having an outlet end, a second item drop path having an outlet end, the second item drop path distinct from the first item drop path and a gating system for selectively accumulating and releasing items. The gating system includes: a single gate mechanism configured for selectively and independently controlling both (i) whether items can exit the outlet end of the first item drop path and (ii) whether items can exit the outlet end of the second item drop path.

A filling machine for filling a receptacle with a plurality of items includes a first item drop path having an outlet end, a second item drop path having an outlet end, the second item drop path distinct from the first item drop path and a gating system for selectively accumulating and releasing items. The gating system includes: a single gate mechanism configured for selectively and independently controlling both (i) whether items can exit the outlet end of the first item drop path and (ii) whether items can exit the outlet end of the second item drop path.

Disclosed is an automatic sealant production line, including a sealant preparation apparatus and a packaging apparatus. The sealant preparation apparatus includes a material storage device, a liquid storage device, a material sending device, a lateral material feeding device, a first-order screw unit, a first liquid feeding device, a heat exchanger, a second-order screw unit, a pigment feeding device, a cooler and a buffer tank device. The packaging apparatus includes a filling device and a packaging device.

A rotary filling machine for filling containers with bridgeable dry materials includes a turret supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced drop buckets and a plurality of funnel assemblies located under the drop buckets. A stationary slide plate is located vertically between the funnel assemblies and the drop buckets. When viewed in a direction of turret rotation, the slide plate has an upstream end, a downstream end, and inner and outer edges. A portion of the slide plate is tapered progressively in diameter toward its downstream end such that flow paths from the bottoms of the drop buckets to the inlet openings of the funnel assemblies increase progressively in diameter with the taper of the slide plate. Also provided is a funnel assembly and drop buckets provided with one more partitions that hinder the “snow-plowing of particles” along the edge of the associated fill opening in machine's fill plate rather than the sweeping of those particles into the fill opening.

A rotary filling machine for filling containers with bridgeable dry materials includes a turret supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced drop buckets and a plurality of funnel assemblies located under the drop buckets. A stationary slide plate is located vertically between the funnel assemblies and the drop buckets. When viewed in a direction of turret rotation, the slide plate has an upstream end, a downstream end, and inner and outer edges. A portion of the slide plate is tapered progressively in diameter toward its downstream end such that flow paths from the bottoms of the drop buckets to the inlet openings of the funnel assemblies increase progressively in diameter with the taper of the slide plate. Also provided is a funnel assembly and drop buckets provided with one more partitions that hinder the “snow-plowing of particles” along the edge of the associated fill opening in machine's fill plate rather than the sweeping of those particles into the fill opening.

The method includes providing a body with an upper mounting surface and a lower end, an interior surface of the body defining a cavity, the cavity including a first inlet and a first outlet in the upper mounting surface and the lower end, respectively, the interior surface including a frustoconical inner surface with a first tapered end that is connected to the first outlet. The method further includes first inserting an adjustable member within the cavity, the adjustable member defining a bore with a second inlet and a second outlet, the adjustable member including a frustoconical external surface with a second tapered end that coaxially aligns with the first tapered end, and first connecting a funnel with a projecting land to the body.

The method includes providing a body with an upper mounting surface and a lower end, an interior surface of the body defining a cavity, the cavity including a first inlet and a first outlet in the upper mounting surface and the lower end, respectively, the interior surface including a frustoconical inner surface with a first tapered end that is connected to the first outlet. The method further includes first inserting an adjustable member within the cavity, the adjustable member defining a bore with a second inlet and a second outlet, the adjustable member including a frustoconical external surface with a second tapered end that coaxially aligns with the first tapered end, and first connecting a funnel with a projecting land to the body.

An item packing system (100) configured to sort and/or pack vine fruit such as bunches of grapes into containers is disclosed herein. The system comprises a first robotic arm (110) comprising at least one first end effector (120) for cutting vine fruit, a second robotic arm (114) comprising at least one second end effector (122) for holding and manipulating a vine fruit for packing into a container, at least one camera (155) for providing image data of the vine fruit, and a controller configured to receive the image data of the vine fruit and to make a determination of the weight of the vine fruit based on the received image data. The controller is configured to control the at least one first end effector of the first robotic arm to cut the vine fruit based on the determined weight of the vine fruit, and the controller is configured to control the at least one second end effector of the second robotic arm to hold and manipulate the cut vine fruit into a container (142).

An item packing system (100) configured to sort and/or pack vine fruit such as bunches of grapes into containers is disclosed herein. The system comprises a first robotic arm (110) comprising at least one first end effector (120) for cutting vine fruit, a second robotic arm (114) comprising at least one second end effector (122) for holding and manipulating a vine fruit for packing into a container, at least one camera (155) for providing image data of the vine fruit, and a controller configured to receive the image data of the vine fruit and to make a determination of the weight of the vine fruit based on the received image data. The controller is configured to control the at least one first end effector of the first robotic arm to cut the vine fruit based on the determined weight of the vine fruit, and the controller is configured to control the at least one second end effector of the second robotic arm to hold and manipulate the cut vine fruit into a container (142).

The invention relates to an arrangement for packing drug portions into dispensing packages. A dispensing machine includes a plurality of storing and metering stations having a plurality of drug portions, a packing device that receives the drug portions dispensed by the storing and metering stations and places them into dispensing packages, and a control device. Each storing and metering station includes a stationary part fixed to a frame, a removable part containing a refillable reservoir and has an information memory for storing an identifier of the removable part. A reading device for reading the information memory is functionally assigned to the stationary part. Each information memory contains a memory location for a filling code. Every time the reservoir has been refilled, the filling code is changed at the charging station so that the refilling can be detected by the control device when the information memory is read by the reading device after the removable part has been placed back onto the stationary part of the same or a different storing and metering station.