A bag stocker that holds a plurality of bags to be supplied to a bag supply device, includes: a body portion provided to be movable; a plurality of bag accommodating units supported by the body portion; and a holding member which is provided in each of the plurality of bag accommodating units and supports a bag bundle including two or more bags, wherein each of the plurality of bag accommodating units is supported by the body portion to be movable in the body portion between an accommodating position and a withdrawing position where each of the plurality of bag accommodating units protrudes in comparison with each of the plurality of bag accommodating units arranged at the accommodating position.

An apparatus includes a product metering device, first and second container preparation systems, and a controller. The product metering device is configured to dispense a product. The first and second container preparation systems are configured to dispense first and second containers, respectively, for receiving the product from the product metering device. The first and second container preparation systems include first and second severed container material transporting devices, respectively, operable to transport the first and second containers, respectively, from the first and second container preparation systems, respectively, to the product metering device. The controller simultaneously controls (i) one of the first container preparation system and the second container preparation system to prepare one of the first container and the second container, and (ii) the product metering device to dispense the product into the other of the first container and the second container.

A process for making a consumer goods product, where the consumer goods product has a container and at least one water-soluble unit dose article housed within the container, and where the process has a step of storing the water-soluble unit dose article on an intermediate line.

The present invention relates to a packaging assembly and a method of packaging differently sized products, such as fresh meat cuts. The packaging assembly can include at least one thermoform packaging machine having at least two forming stations. The thermoform packaging machine can also include a control unit configured for providing, during operation and in a manner that is automatically adaptable in response to the supplied products, formats with a first or a second number of troughs for placing the respective products thereinto.

A machine for forming and filling box-like bodies of different types having a magazine for sheets to be subjected to forming, at least one handling element for at least one sheet at a time, and a conveyor belt for products, clustered in bundles constituted by at least one product each. The machine includes a station for picking up and delivering shaped sheets, in which the magazine accommodates aligned and juxtaposed sheets and at least one handling element having an end bracket provided with at least one grip element and at least one assembly with arms which are articulated with respect to the bracket and are independently movable with respect to a fixed-frame.

A weigh-in-motion scale system for a linear synchronous motor conveyor and a method for weighing objects on a linear synchronous motor conveyor are described herein. In one embodiment, the weigh-in-motion scale system includes a support structure for supporting the following: a weigh cell, a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track, a vehicle for transporting an object, and an object; and a weigh cell on the support structure on which a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track rests directly or indirectly. In one embodiment, the method includes transporting a vehicle with an object thereon along a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track; and at a weighing station while the vehicle with the object thereon is being transported, weighing the section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track, vehicle, and object to determine the weight of the object.

A system for automatic packaging of shoes can include a first subsystem that can determine shoe type information from a shoe or pair of shoes to be packaged, a second subsystem that can automatically package the shoe, or pair of shoes, in a packaging container, and a third subsystem that can dynamically control the automatic packaging based at least in part on the determined shoe type information.

An automated method and system for stacking and loading wrapped or unwrapped facemasks into a carton in a facemask production line includes conveying individual wrapped facemasks in a continuous stream to a stacking location. At the stacking location, the facemasks are deposited into a vertical accumulator such that the facemasks are stacked in the accumulator. Upon reaching a predetermined fill level of facemasks in the accumulator, a bottom retainer in the accumulator is opened such that the stacked facemasks drop into a carton placed below the accumulator. Upon opening the bottom retainer, a mid-level retainer is actuated in the accumulator that captures facemasks that continue to be deposited into the accumulator at an intermediate height above the bottom retainer. The bottom retainer is closed after the stacked facemasks drop into the carton, and the mid-level retainer is then opened such that the facemasks captured by the mid-level retainer drop onto the bottom retainer.

A system for assembling and filling two groups of electronic cigarettes, includes first and second working stations for assembly/inspection operations on a first group of electronic cigarettes and disposed upstream and downstream of a first conveying path, respectively. Third and fourth working stations perform assembly/inspection operations on a second group of electronic cigarettes and are disposed upstream and downstream of a second conveying path, respectively. A single filling station receives the first group at a first loading zone and the second group at a second loading zone to fill the first group and the second group with a filling product; and releases the first group of filled electronic cigarettes at a first unloading zone and the second group of filled electronic cigarettes at a second unloading zone towards the second working station and towards the fourth working station, respectively.

A method of aseptically distributing fluid to a plurality of vessels includes securing the plurality of vessels relative to a hub and flowing fluid through an input tube into a plenum of the hub such that a substantially equal amount of fluid flows from the plenum into each of the vessels simultaneously. The vessels are positioned in the same plane relative to one another with each vessel having an inflow conduit extending from the hub to the vessel such that an arc segment is formed between the hub and the vessel.