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 cartoner includes an entrance section, a loading section, an exit section, a transport system and a controller. The entrance section is configured for picking carton blanks from a magazine and folding a first side of the carton. The loading section is configured for loading a product into the first-side-folded carton. The exit section is configured for closing the loaded carton. The transport system is configured for transporting the first-side-folded carton from the entrance section to the loading section and the loaded carton from the loading section to the exit section. The controller is arranged for controlling an operation following each carton through the cartoner. The controller is further arranged for adapting, for each carton, a distance between two consecutive carriers of the transport system in dependence to a size of the first-side-folded carton and driving the two consecutive carriers maintaining the distance.

A cartoner includes an entrance section, a loading section, an exit section, a transport system and a controller. The entrance section is configured for picking carton blanks from a magazine and folding a first side of the carton. The loading section is configured for loading a product into the first-side-folded carton. The exit section is configured for closing the loaded carton. The transport system is configured for transporting the first-side-folded carton from the entrance section to the loading section and the loaded carton from the loading section to the exit section. The controller is arranged for controlling an operation following each carton through the cartoner. The controller is further arranged for adapting, for each carton, a distance between two consecutive carriers of the transport system in dependence to a size of the first-side-folded carton and driving the two consecutive carriers maintaining the distance.

A product packaging system comprises a plurality of product sources (2, 4, 6) delivering product to a final collating and packaging line (10). The output from each machine is delivered by separate conveying means (8) delivering the products directly into a collating conveyor (20) which in turn delivers the collated products to a packaging line. The collating conveyor comprising an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of compartments, each compartment receiving from said conveying means products to be packaged. The compartments are configured to enable their sizes to be changed, and the endless conveyor comprises a track arranged in a vertical loop and a plurality of product supporting members mounted for movement along the track, each supporting member being driven along the track and controllable independently of the other supporting members.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for converting a sheet material into packaging templates can include a converting machine that performs conversion functions, such as cutting, creasing, and scoring, on the sheet material. Items to be packed into boxes formed of the packaging templates can be used as the pattern for determining the location of performance of the conversion functions on the sheet material. Accordingly, no intermediate measuring of the items may be required prior to performance of the conversion functions. Instead, longheads can be positioned adjacent to opposing sides of the items and cross heads can be advanced inward to the positioned longheads.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for converting a sheet material into packaging templates can include a converting machine that performs conversion functions, such as cutting, creasing, and scoring, on the sheet material. Items to be packed into boxes formed of the packaging templates can be used as the pattern for determining the location of performance of the conversion functions on the sheet material. Accordingly, no intermediate measuring of the items may be required prior to performance of the conversion functions. Instead, longheads can be positioned adjacent to opposing sides of the items and cross heads can be advanced inward to the positioned longheads.

A sealing machine having a movable carriage assembly which utilizes a counterbalance and two servo motors is disclosed. The counterbalance allows high throughput operation without excessive mechanical vibration. The use of two servo motors allows independent control of the horizontal movement of the movable carriage assembly and the vertical movement of the jaws. The use of two servo motors also allows adaptation to articles or packages of various dimensions. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is used to detect the position of the package to be sealed, and the movement of the movable carriage assembly and the jaw is altered based on the detected position.

The medicament dispensing machine enables to use vials having various sizes and shapes without changing a part in the machine or without performing a special operation. The medicament dispensing machine contains a discharging unit that receives a vial filled with a medicament from a medicament filling means and discharges out of a vial discharging window. The discharging unit contains a vial gripping means having a pair of gripping arms that grip a vial, a body of gripping means having the vial gripping means, a moving means that moves the vial gripping means from the medicament filling means to the vial discharging window, and an orientation changing mechanism that changes the orientation of the body of gripping means. With a coordination of the movement of the body of gripping means toward the vial discharging window, the orientation changing mechanism makes the gripping arms orient to the vial discharging window.

The medicament dispensing machine enables to use vials having various sizes and shapes without changing a part in the machine or without performing a special operation. The medicament dispensing machine contains a discharging unit that receives a vial filled with a medicament from a medicament filling means and discharges out of a vial discharging window. The discharging unit contains a vial gripping means having a pair of gripping arms that grip a vial, a body of gripping means having the vial gripping means, a moving means that moves the vial gripping means from the medicament filling means to the vial discharging window, and an orientation changing mechanism that changes the orientation of the body of gripping means. With a coordination of the movement of the body of gripping means toward the vial discharging window, the orientation changing mechanism makes the gripping arms orient to the vial discharging window.

According to one embodiment, a strapping apparatus includes a setting device, a determination device, a strap band supply device, an acquisition device, a color decision device, and a warning presentation device. The setting device sets a denomination of paper sheets to be strapped. The determination device determines a color of a strap band to strap a bundle of the paper sheets, based on the denomination. The strap band supply device supplies strap bands from a first strap band reel previously stored. The acquisition device acquires an image of the first strap band reel. The color decision device decides a color of the first strap band reel, based on the image. The warning presentation device presents a warning if the color of the first strap band reel is different from the color determined by the determination device.