By swinging a collating chute supplied with items, the items are held in a plurality of holding cells formed in a holding array. After all of the holding cells are filled with the items, a diving funnel array is moved downward to a position so as to contact the upper surface of a container. Then, discharge gates of the holding array are opened to discharge the items from the holding cells into a plurality of pockets formed in the container.

A beverage packaging apparatus comprises a Refrigeration Assembly that keeps the beverage cold all the way to the fill head. The Refrigeration Assembly also allows manufacturers to fill off smaller beverage containers like kegs or larger storage tanks. The apparatus includes an integrated Container Loading Chute, and a Container Depalletizer having a scoop to depalletize containers. The Container Depalletizer integrates with the Container Loading Chute to provide for seamless flow for the Fill Head Assemblies and Seaming Assembly. The apparatus includes a unique integrated UV-C Sanitizing Station. The apparatus includes a conveyor with three fill head assemblies automated by smooth pneumatic actuation. Each fill head assembly has an integrated flow meter to provide precise fluid control. The apparatus includes a single pneumatic, rotary rack and pinion actuation that provides highly repeatable sealing of the container in a very small footprint without requiring sophisticated software to control the seaming operation. Finally, the apparatus includes rinse and dry assembly for the container and an innovative, integrated Accumulation Assembly to hold the completed beverage containers or packages.

A packaging unit and method for packaging pharmaceuticals into pouches. The packaging unit includes a dispensing area to receive cassettes that contain pharmaceuticals and packaging equipment in communication with the dispensing area. The packaging unit also includes a control system coupled to the packaging equipment to control operation of the packaging equipment and a chute connecting the dispensing area to the packaging equipment. The chute includes a plurality of tracks, each track corresponding to one of the cassettes supported on the dispensing area. The packaging unit includes a receptacle supported by the packaging equipment between the chute and a feed stock roll. The plurality of tracks converge to direct the pharmaceuticals that are dispensed from the cassettes into the receptacle and the receptacle directs the pharmaceuticals received from the plurality of tracks as a group into the pouches formed by the feed stock roll.

A packaging unit for packaging pharmaceuticals into a pouch includes packaging equipment operable to form the pouch, a track configured to direct the pharmaceuticals toward the packaging equipment, and a receptacle coupled to the track upstream of the packaging equipment to receive the pharmaceuticals from the track. The receptacle includes a plunger. The pouch is formed around the plunger.

A packaging unit for packaging pharmaceuticals into a pouch includes packaging equipment operable to form the pouch, a track configured to direct the pharmaceuticals toward the packaging equipment, and a receptacle coupled to the track upstream of the packaging equipment to receive the pharmaceuticals from the track. The receptacle includes a plunger. The pouch is formed around the plunger.

A container filling assembly that can be used with container filling systems to fill containers during successive filling cycles with the same or different fluid compositions at high rates of speed, with little to no machinery changeover, and/or with little to no fluid waste.

A food processing apparatus used in household kitchens provides the ability to fill pouches or personal containers with food automatically. The apparatus may include a food source container, a motor, and a mechanical displacement pump. The source container typically rests on top of the pump; which is driven by a motor connected to a power source. Food is placed in the source container, which has an opening on the bottom side to allow the food to pass into the pump. The pump moves the food through a discharge port on one side. A single food pouch, or many pouches using optional connectors, is connected to the discharge port of the pump. The apparatus may be used to fill containers with soft foods like yogurt. Typically, harder textured foods like sweet potatoes need to be softened. In at least one embodiment, the need to manually press food, is eliminated.

A unitary dispensing nozzle for co-injecting two or more liquids of different viscosity, solubility and/or miscibility at high filling speed to improve homogeneous mixing of such liquids, while said nozzle is an integral piece free of any movable parts and substantially free of dead space.

A packaging unit and method for packaging pharmaceuticals into pouches. The packaging unit includes a dispensing area to receive cassettes that contain pharmaceuticals and packaging equipment in communication with the dispensing area. The packaging unit also includes a control system coupled to the packaging equipment to control operation of the packaging equipment and a chute connecting the dispensing area to the packaging equipment. The chute includes a plurality of tracks, each track corresponding to one of the cassettes supported on the dispensing area. The packaging unit includes a receptacle supported by the packaging equipment between the chute and a feed stock roll. The plurality of tracks converge to direct the pharmaceuticals that are dispensed from the cassettes into the receptacle and the receptacle directs the pharmaceuticals received from the plurality of tracks as a group into the pouches formed by the feed stock roll.

An apparatus and method to automatically insert a liquid inside components of inhalers, such as cartomizers for electronic cigarettes, includes injection means having a plurality of injectors each having an injection head having a substantially symmetrical conformation with respect to its symmetrical axis. The injection means are configured to cooperate with an empty end part of a component and at least one injection needle is configured to penetrate into an internal cavity of the component and inject the liquid, while said injection head is stationary with respect to said component, arranging itself with the symmetrical axis substantially coincidental with the longitudinal axis of said internal cavity.