The machine (1) for laying sliced food products (2) in containers (3), comprises: a first conveyor (4) able to convey slices (2) or groups of slices (2) along at least one advancement direction and provided with an end portion (40) from which the slices (2) are released; a second conveyor (5) able to convey containers (3) suitable for receiving one or more slices (2) from the end portion (40) of the first conveyor (4), the second conveyor (5) being placed below the first conveyor (4); and a positioning apparatus (45, 46, 47, 81, 82) for regulating the arrangement of the first and the second conveyor (4, 5) with respect to each other.

The machine (1) further comprises a detection apparatus (6) able to determine the arrangement of the slices (2) or of the groups of slices (2) on the first conveyor (4), and a processing unit (7) connected to the positioning and detection apparatuses and configured to control the activation of the positioning apparatus according to detections carried out by the detection apparatus (6).

A gripper device used in a bag filling and packaging machine and moved, while holding a bag, along a predetermined path to change the orientation of the bag, the gripper device including: a movable frame (2) that is moved along the predetermined path in a horizontal plane, a pivot frame (3) that is pivotably supported by the movable frame and has a horizontal pivot axis (O.sub.1), a pair of gripper arms (4, 5) that are pivotably supported by the pivot frame and pivoted, in conjunction with each other, symmetrically in a plane parallel to the pivot axis of the pivot frame, a bag orientation changing mechanism (14) that is installed on the movable frame and pivots the pivot frame at an angle of 90, and a gripper arm pivot mechanism (15) that is installed on the movable frame and pivots the pair of gripper arms.

A processing section of a packaging machine includes a conveyor configured to be driven by a first drive member, and at least one additional conveyor including at least one tray folding member configured to selectively extend about and ride on the conveyor. The at least one additional conveyor is configured to be driven by a second drive member that is distinct from the first drive member.

A method of processing a plurality of articles through a processing section of a packaging machine includes guiding a plurality of articles supported on a support tray blank onto at least one additional conveyor extending about and riding on a conveyor, folding at least one of a leading edge flap and trailing edge flap of the support tray blank with at least one tray folding member provided on the at least one additional conveyor to form a portion of a support tray, and shifting the support tray along the conveyor.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a random case sealer. The case sealer includes a top-head-actuating assembly configured to vary the speed of the top-head assembly when ascending (to make room for the case beneath the top-head assembly) and when descending onto the case (to engage the top surface of the case during sealing). This maximizes the speed of the top-head assembly while limiting overshoot (when ascending) and preventing damage to the case (when descending). In certain embodiments the case sealer includes a tape cartridge configured to limit the forces imparted onto the leading and top surfaces of the case during sealing. These features result in increased throughput as compared to prior art random case sealers without requiring stronger cases or more protective dunnage.

A bag feeding device includes a bag feed conveyor, a bag capture unit, a bag placement section and a bag supply unit. The bag feed conveyor is configured to sequentially convey packaging bags. The bag capture unit is configured to capture the sequentially conveyed packaging bags one by one. The packaging bags captured by the bag capture unit are placed on the bag placement section one by one. The bag placement section is provided with a bag position correction unit. The bag supply unit is configured to hold the packaging bag placed on the bag placement section to supply the packaging bag to a bag holding unit of a packaging machine.

A method for transporting pairs of packs (100) comprising arranging a first pair of packs on a horizontal transport device (50), transporting the first pair of packs in a horizontal direction, arranging a second pair of packs on the horizontal transport device (50), therein, for each of the first pair and the second pair of the pair of packs, spacing a first pack of the pair of packs and a second pack of the pair of packs vertically from each other and further spacing the first pair of packs and the second pair of packs horizontally from each other on the horizontal transport device.

Packaging bag receiving device for a packaging machine for receiving a plurality of packaging bags, comprising: a plurality of holder pairs for each holding a packaging bag, wherein each holder pair comprises a first holder and a second holder arranged at a predetermined distance therefrom, and wherein at least the first holder of a holder pair is displaceable with respect to the second holder of this holder pair; and a distance adjusting device for substantially simultaneously or concurrently adjusting the distances between the holders of each holder pair by displacing at least the first holder relative to the second holder of each holder pair.

A metering machine for filling free-flowing media into cavities of a mould that is to be filled is described. The metering machine has at least one independent metering unit which includes two dispensers, with a respective dedicated drive, and a nozzle unit. The nozzle unit is common to the two dispensers.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a random case sealer. The case sealer includes a top-head-actuating assembly configured to vary the speed of the top-head assembly when ascending (to make room for the case beneath the top-head assembly) and when descending onto the case (to engage the top surface of the case during sealing). This maximizes the speed of the top-head assembly while limiting overshoot (when ascending) and preventing damage to the case (when descending). In certain embodiments the case sealer includes a tape cartridge configured to limit the forces imparted onto the leading and top surfaces of the case during sealing. These features result in increased throughput as compared to prior art random case sealers without requiring stronger cases or more protective dunnage.