An apparatus comprising a conveyor with a conveyor belt and a series of stacking towers spaced along the length of the conveyor belt and secured to the conveyor belt. Each of the stacking towers has a chamber adapted for receiving fragile goods. A drive gear is coupled to the conveyor belt for advancing the stacking tower with goods in the chamber to a baler, which is configured to place a mouth of one of the plurality of empty packages over the stacking tower with goods in the chamber. The conveyor is configured so that further advancement of the conveyor belt by the drive gear causes the stacking tower to tilt so that the goods slide into the package and the package slides off the stacking tower, in each case under the force of gravity. Method for packaging fragile goods using stacking towers is provided.

An apparatus comprising a conveyor with a conveyor belt and a series of stacking towers spaced along the length of the conveyor belt and secured to the conveyor belt. Each of the stacking towers has a chamber adapted for receiving fragile goods. A drive gear is coupled to the conveyor belt for advancing the stacking tower with goods in the chamber to a baler, which is configured to place a mouth of one of the plurality of empty packages over the stacking tower with goods in the chamber. The conveyor is configured so that further advancement of the conveyor belt by the drive gear causes the stacking tower to tilt so that the goods slide into the package and the package slides off the stacking tower, in each case under the force of gravity. Method for packaging fragile goods using stacking towers is provided.

A sleeve feeding device includes a core extending along a feed axis and having a hollow interior. One or more slots are in the outer surface of the core extending in first and second directions. A sleeve pusher assembly is located within the hollow interior and has retractable fingers that protrude from the slots in the core, allowing the sleeve pusher assembly to engage a sleeve on the outer surface of the core and feed it along the feed axis in the first direction. When withdrawn in the second direction, the fingers of the sleeve pusher assembly retract within the slots upon encountering the next sleeve. Once clear, the fingers again protrude and the next sleeve is fed along the outer surface of the core.

A sleeve feeding device includes a core extending along a feed axis and having a hollow interior. One or more slots are in the outer surface of the core extending in first and second directions. A sleeve pusher assembly is located within the hollow interior and has retractable fingers that protrude from the slots in the core, allowing the sleeve pusher assembly to engage a sleeve on the outer surface of the core and feed it along the feed axis in the first direction. When withdrawn in the second direction, the fingers of the sleeve pusher assembly retract within the slots upon encountering the next sleeve. Once clear, the fingers again protrude and the next sleeve is fed along the outer surface of the core.

A device (6) for the insertion of flat good units (2, 3, 31) into a transport container (8, 81) includes an insertion module (63) for the insertion of flat good units (2, 3, 31) into a transport container (8, 81), a feed module (61) for feeding fat good units (2, 3, 31) to the insertion modulo (63), and a first identification module (65) for identifying flat good units (2, 3, 31). The feed module (61) includes a horizontal conveying device (613), by which flat good units can be conveyed along a conveying path. The identification module (65) is configured to determine the identity of a flat good unit.

A device (6) for the insertion of flat good units (2, 3, 31) into a transport container (8, 81) includes an insertion module (63) for the insertion of flat good units (2, 3, 31) into a transport container (8, 81), a feed module (61) for feeding fat good units (2, 3, 31) to the insertion modulo (63), and a first identification module (65) for identifying flat good units (2, 3, 31). The feed module (61) includes a horizontal conveying device (613), by which flat good units can be conveyed along a conveying path. The identification module (65) is configured to determine the identity of a flat good unit.

A drug packaging system according to one or more embodiments may include: a first storage area that stores a cassette containing drugs and dispenses the drugs from the stored cassette, a second storage area that stores the cassette to be conveyed to the first storage area, a first conveyor that conveys the cassette within the second storage area, a second conveyor that conveys the cassette from the second storage area to the first storage area, and a packaging unit that package the drugs dispensed from the cassette stored in the first storage area into a package for each dosage unit.

A drug packaging system according to one or more embodiments may include: a first storage area that stores a cassette containing drugs and dispenses the drugs from the stored cassette, a second storage area that stores the cassette to be conveyed to the first storage area, a first conveyor that conveys the cassette within the second storage area, a second conveyor that conveys the cassette from the second storage area to the first storage area, and a packaging unit that package the drugs dispensed from the cassette stored in the first storage area into a package for each dosage unit.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for dispensing solid substances, wherein the apparatus comprises a feeder section with a plurality of feeder units, a collection section with a plurality of hoppers and a dispensing section, wherein the plurality of hoppers are rotatable with respect to the feeder units and a first packing position for dispensing the solid substances to the dispensing section, wherein the apparatus comprises a cleaning device for removing pollutants from the hoppers, wherein the cleaning device comprises a hub and a plurality of ducts forming air connections between the plurality of hoppers and the hub, wherein the cleaning device comprises a first blocking member that is arranged for blocking the air connection between one of the hoppers and the hub when said one hopper is positioned in the first packing position.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for dispensing solid substances, wherein the apparatus comprises a feeder section with a plurality of feeder units, a collection section with a plurality of hoppers and a dispensing section, wherein the plurality of hoppers are rotatable with respect to the feeder units and a first packing position for dispensing the solid substances to the dispensing section, wherein the apparatus comprises a cleaning device for removing pollutants from the hoppers, wherein the cleaning device comprises a hub and a plurality of ducts forming air connections between the plurality of hoppers and the hub, wherein the cleaning device comprises a first blocking member that is arranged for blocking the air connection between one of the hoppers and the hub when said one hopper is positioned in the first packing position.