An apparatus that forms bundles of glass articles includes a glass article infeed station including an infeed conveyor that continuously transports individual glass articles to a layer separating conveyor. The layer separating conveyor includes a conveyor belt that forms a layer of side-by-side glass articles. A robotic lift assembly is configured to place the layer of side-by-side glass articles together on a layer separation insert. The layer separation insert has side-by-side slots that each receive a single glass article of the layer of side-by-side glass articles.

A packing method and unit to pack articles, includes: moving first seats by a first conveyor and second seats by a second conveyor along first and second paths at first and second moving speeds, respectively; and cyclically transferring an article from a first seat to a second seat in a transfer station. The first seats and second seats each designed to house an article. During normal operation with no rejected articles, the first moving speed is functionally equal to the second moving speed, and the same number of first and second seats pass through the transfer station in a given time interval. Where at least one article is rejected in a first seat, the second moving speed is functionally decreased relative to the first moving speed so that two first seats (one containing the rejected article) passes through the transfer station in the time interval as one second seat.

A packing method and unit to pack articles, includes: moving first seats by a first conveyor and second seats by a second conveyor along first and second paths at first and second moving speeds, respectively; and cyclically transferring an article from a first seat to a second seat in a transfer station. The first seats and second seats each designed to house an article. During normal operation with no rejected articles, the first moving speed is functionally equal to the second moving speed, and the same number of first and second seats pass through the transfer station in a given time interval. Where at least one article is rejected in a first seat, the second moving speed is functionally decreased relative to the first moving speed so that two first seats (one containing the rejected article) passes through the transfer station in the time interval as one second seat.

A tray for receiving sausages is provided. The tray includes cells which are adapted to substantially match the shape of sausages or other soft materials. The tray may be vacuum sealed to cause a relatively uniform top surface suitable for stacking. The tray may be sealed without pre-freezing the sausages and without causing significant deformation to said sausages upon thawing. The tray may be loaded in an automated manner without the use of robotic arms placing individual sausages into the tray.

A tray for receiving sausages is provided. The tray includes cells which are adapted to substantially match the shape of sausages or other soft materials. The tray may be vacuum sealed to cause a relatively uniform top surface suitable for stacking. The tray may be sealed without pre-freezing the sausages and without causing significant deformation to said sausages upon thawing. The tray may be loaded in an automated manner without the use of robotic arms placing individual sausages into the tray.

A system, and associated method, for launching and delivering separated food product in organized groups to a robotized packaging station for the product. The system initiates the delivery via a metered hopper of food product delivering the product to a launch V-belt that aligns the product end to end. A successive singulator belt, positioned adjacent to and receiving product from the launch belt, further organizes the product into a single file alignment. An optional separator belt may follow the singulator belt to create gaps between successive product units. The product is then delivered to a pick belt for product to be provided to the packaging robot. The system product information is from a single (per product delivery line) sensor, enabling intergrated end-to-end control from hopper to robot, and a nearly continuous motion of said pick belt.

A system, and associated method, for launching and delivering separated food product in organized groups to a robotized packaging station for the product. The system initiates the delivery via a metered hopper of food product delivering the product to a launch V-belt that aligns the product end to end. A successive singulator belt, positioned adjacent to and receiving product from the launch belt, further organizes the product into a single file alignment. An optional separator belt may follow the singulator belt to create gaps between successive product units. The product is then delivered to a pick belt for product to be provided to the packaging robot. The system product information is from a single (per product delivery line) sensor, enabling intergrated end-to-end control from hopper to robot, and a nearly continuous motion of said pick belt.

A food article loading system including a shuttle conveyor mounted for reciprocal movement having a first paddle belt for receiving food articles, and upper and lower drives engaging the upper and lower passes of the first paddle belt; a loading head having a second paddle belt for receiving the food articles from the first paddle belt lower pass; a slide gate for receiving groupings of food articles from the loading head; and a control for independently actuating the upper and lower drives to operate at selected speeds, to cause rotation of the first belt and the shuttle conveyor to reciprocate longitudinally to receive and retain a first predetermined number of the food articles, deposit a second predetermined number of the elongate food articles onto the second belt at a selected frequency, and selectively open the slide gate to allow groupings of food articles to fall into receptacles.

A food article loading system including a shuttle conveyor mounted for reciprocal movement having a first paddle belt for receiving food articles, and upper and lower drives engaging the upper and lower passes of the first paddle belt; a loading head having a second paddle belt for receiving the food articles from the first paddle belt lower pass; a slide gate for receiving groupings of food articles from the loading head; and a control for independently actuating the upper and lower drives to operate at selected speeds, to cause rotation of the first belt and the shuttle conveyor to reciprocate longitudinally to receive and retain a first predetermined number of the food articles, deposit a second predetermined number of the elongate food articles onto the second belt at a selected frequency, and selectively open the slide gate to allow groupings of food articles to fall into receptacles.

The invention pertains to a method for manufacturing a tampon packaging (24), comprising the steps of: a) wrapping a strip of heat-sealable film (23) around a holding means (1, 18), whereby a first transversal end (27) of said strip overlaps with a second transversal end (28) of said strip; b) heat sealing said first transversal end (27) to said second transversal end (28), thereby forming a tube of film, and c) removing said tube of film from said holding means, thereby obtaining a tampon packaging, characterized in that said heat sealing step (b) is performed at least partly during a combined movement of said holding means (1, 18) and said strip (23). The invention further pertains to related apparatuses, systems of tampon and tampon packaging and methods for manufacturing a packaged tampon.