A high throughput, efficient, and simplified unloading and packaging systems and methods for large-scale production of pharmaceutical units (104) using additive manufacturing. The systems and methods may unload, inspect, package, and trace pharmaceutical units, produced by an additive manufacturing system (900), that are not damaged or deformed. The unloading and packaging system can include one or more unloading and packaging devices (100). The unloading and packaging device can include a modular configuration having modules. Individual modules to be arranged in any relative order, at any location, and with any number in the unloading and packaging device. The flexibility of the modular configuration allows one or more modules to be removed or added at any given time due to, e.g., expansion, downsizing, module repair, module upgrades, etc. High throughput can be achieved by operating unloading and packaging devices independently.

A structure for supporting and transporting a plurality of pieces in operations of assembling/disassembling and/or change of configuration in a manufacturing line includes at least one support surface; a plurality of areas defined on the at least one support surface, each of the areas includes a respective piece of the plurality of pieces or being configured to house a respective piece of the plurality of pieces; and a plurality of warning devices selectively actuatable automatically, each warning device being associated to a respective area of the plurality of areas.

An apparatus serves to provide individual products of a plurality of orders at a packing station of an overhead conveyor installation in an order-related manner. The apparatus has a conveyor track with a conveyor system for conveying the individual products in a suspended manner, an unloading station for unloading the individual products, a feed opening for feeding the individual products, and a discharge opening connected to said feed opening in a conveying manner, the discharge opening being configured to provide individual products of a first order at the packing station, and a parking area for parking individual products of a second order at the packing station.

An operating station for a machine for filling and capping cartridges for electronic cigarettes is arranged along a feeding path of a conveying fine of the machine and includes: an operating device having operative positions for operating on the cartridges arranged in series along a direction parallel to the feeding path; and a device for transferring cartridges, which includes a first and second series of pick-up members, each having a number of pick-up members corresponding to the number of operative positions, and which is actuatable according to a movement of rotation about a vertical axis, for selectively interchanging positions of the series of pick-up members, between a loading/unloading position at the conveying line, wherein the pick-up members pick up or release the cartridges and a working position at the operative positions of the operating device, wherein the pick-up members pick up or release the cartridges from/into the operative positions.

A robotic pack station is disclosed. The robotic pack station automates the transfer of items from a tote or bin to a shipping container such as a box in a warehouse, storage or sales facility. The robotic pack station includes system and method components, and includes a work cell with a robotic arm, machine vision or sensing system, a conveyor and pack platform. Imaging of the contents of the tote with a scan tunnel and connectivity with a sorter device allows for the operation of multiple robotic pack stations, each with a specialized function such as a small box line, a medium box line, and the like.

A poly bubble bag filling machine, seal head, bag magazine, and a carton are described. The filling machine includes the bag magazine which is configured to hold and advance a plurality of pre-formed poly bubble bags as they are retrieved for filling. The carton provides simple handling and replacement of bags in the magazine and enables operation of the magazine while the carton is in place. A bag-transfer carriage transfers bags from the magazine to the seal head. The seal head includes suction bars configured to enable application and retention of a sufficient suction force to sides of the bag to open and retain the bag during filling. Sealing bars are positioned near the suction bars and are operable to seal the bag closed via application of heat.

A method for operating a first food machine and a second food machine, where a data set required to operate the first food machine is stored in a first storage unit of the first food machine, and the data set required to operate the first food machine is additionally stored in a second storage unit of the second food machine.

A packaging line implemented for packaging a pre-filled syringe is disclosed having a NSD mounting station, a PFS delivery arrangement adapted to automatically deliver a pre-filled syringe to the NSD mounting station, and a NSD delivery arrangement adapted to automatically deliver a needle safety device to the NSD mounting station. The NSD mounting station is arranged to automatically assemble the needle safety device to the pre-filled syringe. A NSD visual inspection station is adapted to automatically identify a pre-filled syringe with an unfit needle safety device and to automatically eliminate the identified pre-filled syringe from the packaging line. A re-insertion station is further provided to receive a pre-filled syringe with a needle safety device and to automatically feed the received pre-filled syringe, preferably from a rejected secondary packaging, back into the packaging line, after the NSD mounting station and before the NSD visual inspection station.

A high-speed automated separation apparatus includes a pair of flexible discs, a driver to rotate the flexible discs, a feeder to position a rigid body at a first location between the flexible discs, a spreader and a converger operable upon the flexible discs such that opposing portions of the flexible disc converge upon the positioned rigid body. The rotating flexible discs rotate the rigid body beyond the first location, and content from the rigid body is expelled. The rigid body and the expelled content are then available for reuse.

An apparatus for making a multiplicity of packages including a feeding station, a separation station which is arranged downstream of the feeding station, a single feeding track which carries at least one multiplicity of multiple sheets from the feeding station to the separation station, at least two exit tracks which are arranged downstream of the separation station. Each multiple sheet of the multiplicity of multiple sheets includes at least two portions of sheet lying on a same geometric plane. Each portion of sheet is a single sheet of the package in a flat configuration. Each package of the multiplicity of packages includes at least one product and the single sheet of the package adapted to pass from a flat configuration to a configuration coupled with the at least one product.