Packaging (1) for clock hands (2) with a pipe (4) and a body (5), including a pallet (10) for receiving, holding, storing and carrying hands (2) having the same height, including bores (11) for receiving the pipes (4) according to a constant pitch, adjacent to recesses (12) for housing the hand bodies (5) resting on an upper surface (13), each pallet (10) including a position index device (20), and a spacer (15) for cooperating such that it bears against a lower surface (14) of another pallet (10) and extending, from the upper surface (13), over a height which exceeds that of the hand bodies (5), each pallet (10) having a transverse bearing surface (130) for receiving the bearing surfaces (3) of the hands (2), and, parallel thereto, oblong pieces (131), the width whereof is adapted for the insertion of robotic grippers or tweezers for loading/unloading hands.

Packaging (1) for clock hands (2) with a pipe (4) and a body (5), including a pallet (10) for receiving, holding, storing and carrying hands (2) having the same height, including bores (11) for receiving the pipes (4) according to a constant pitch, adjacent to recesses (12) for housing the hand bodies (5) resting on an upper surface (13), each pallet (10) including a position index device (20), and a spacer (15) for cooperating such that it bears against a lower surface (14) of another pallet (10) and extending, from the upper surface (13), over a height which exceeds that of the hand bodies (5), each pallet (10) having a transverse bearing surface (130) for receiving the bearing surfaces (3) of the hands (2), and, parallel thereto, oblong pieces (131), the width whereof is adapted for the insertion of robotic grippers or tweezers for loading/unloading hands.

A void fill system may be used to scan a carton before, during, or after pre-fill material is dispensed into the carton, one or more products are packaged into the carton, and/or when void fill material is dispensed to the carton having the one or more products. The void fill system may include one or more sensors, which may be used identify the carton and/or identify the carton volume. The one or more sensors may also be used to identify the current carton volume (e.g., of the products, fill material, etc.). The information captured by the void fill system may be used to determine a proposed packaging recipe (e.g., suggest a carton, void fill, product configuration, etc.) based on supplier or customer preferences, product information, shipping information, or the like, to provide a notification with recommendations regarding the packaging process, and/or to automatically dispense void fill material.

Several embodiments of turntable systems for loaded pallets are disclosed. In some embodiments, a first ramp leads up to the turntable and a second ramp leads down from the turntable on the opposite side. In other embodiments, at least two turntables are positioned adjacent one another, optionally with a bridge surface connecting them so that a pallet lift can be driven from one turntable to the other to place one pallet on one turntable and another pallet on the other turntable according to a method disclosed herein. A validation system without a turntable includes a plurality of cameras about a periphery of a platform weight sensor.

Several embodiments of turntable systems for loaded pallets are disclosed. In some embodiments, a first ramp leads up to the turntable and a second ramp leads down from the turntable on the opposite side. In other embodiments, at least two turntables are positioned adjacent one another, optionally with a bridge surface connecting them so that a pallet lift can be driven from one turntable to the other to place one pallet on one turntable and another pallet on the other turntable according to a method disclosed herein. A validation system without a turntable includes a plurality of cameras about a periphery of a platform weight sensor.

An article processing apparatus includes: a configuration determination unit configured to determine a configuration of at least one transport unit including articles, and stacked article groups each including a pallet, and at least one of the articles placed on the pallet, wherein the at least one of the articles is placed on the pallet in a manner that allows a pallet of another article group to be placed thereon, excluding uppermost one of the stacked article groups; a palletizing mechanism configured to place the at least one of the articles on the pallet so as to form each of the article groups included in the transport unit whose configuration is determined by the configuration determination unit; and a stacking mechanism configured to stack the article groups formed by the palletizing mechanism so as to form the transport unit determined by the configuration determination unit.

An article processing apparatus includes: a configuration determination unit configured to determine a configuration of at least one transport unit including articles, and stacked article groups each including a pallet, and at least one of the articles placed on the pallet, wherein the at least one of the articles is placed on the pallet in a manner that allows a pallet of another article group to be placed thereon, excluding uppermost one of the stacked article groups; a palletizing mechanism configured to place the at least one of the articles on the pallet so as to form each of the article groups included in the transport unit whose configuration is determined by the configuration determination unit; and a stacking mechanism configured to stack the article groups formed by the palletizing mechanism so as to form the transport unit determined by the configuration determination unit.

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously packing folded laundry articles into a container are described. A packing system includes a refillable cartridge, a queue conveyor having one or more folded laundry articles and stacks of folded laundry articles disposed thereon, at least one retractable conveyor loading end between the refillable cartridge and the queue conveyor for loading the folded laundry articles into the refillable cartridge, a driven lifter for selectively raising and lowering the into and out of the container, and a controller in operative configuration with processors and drives of all of the foregoing and one or more sensors detecting a fill height of the refillable cartridge. The refillable cartridge includes a removable receiving surface that moves from a closed position to an open position during loading of the folded laundry by the retractable conveyor and unloading of the folded laundry into the container.

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously packing folded laundry articles into a container are described. A packing system includes a refillable cartridge, a queue conveyor having one or more folded laundry articles and stacks of folded laundry articles disposed thereon, at least one retractable conveyor loading end between the refillable cartridge and the queue conveyor for loading the folded laundry articles into the refillable cartridge, a driven lifter for selectively raising and lowering the into and out of the container, and a controller in operative configuration with processors and drives of all of the foregoing and one or more sensors detecting a fill height of the refillable cartridge. The refillable cartridge includes a removable receiving surface that moves from a closed position to an open position during loading of the folded laundry by the retractable conveyor and unloading of the folded laundry into the container.

A dimensioning tool for a packing machine is provided. The dimensioning tool is configured to allow insertion of an item into the packing machine when the item satisfies one or more criteria. The dimensioning tool includes a first gauge and a second gauge separate from the first gauge. The first gauge is configured to restrict a first set of dimensions of the item that can be inserted into the packing machine, according to the one or more criteria. The second gauge is configured to restrict a second set of dimensions of the item that can be inserted into the packing machine, according to the one or more criteria.