Methods are generally described herein for structuring food for microwave heating. In some examples, food with high dielectric loss factor is dispersed in a matrix of foods with low dielectric loss factors to promote uniform heating and efficient heating. In other examples, microwave susceptors are sandwiched between layers of food and attached to a handle whereby said microwave susceptors can be removed by pulling on the handle after microwave heating.

An apparatus for dispensing a single container for containing foodstuffs includes a housing, a lift subassembly, and a transfer subassembly. The housing at least partially defines an inner area. The lift subassembly is coupled to the housing and disposed at least partially within the inner area. The lift subassembly includes a nest configured to support a plurality of containers disposed in a stack and translate with respect to the housing in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. The transfer subassembly is coupled to the housing and disposed at least partially within the inner area. The transfer subassembly includes a end effector. The end effector is configured to operatively engage a first container of the plurality of containers to remove the first container from the stack and move the first container outside of the inner area.

Control of a wrapping apparatus is facilitated by enabling an operator to input a load containment force requirement and/or a minimum number of layers of packaging material to be applied to a load, with a wrap control system automatically determining wrap force and other parameters required to meet user input requirements and/or parameters to minimize the expertise required of an operator and to provide more consistent and reliable wrapping of loads. In addition, a wrapping apparatus may be controlled to apply at least a minimum number of layers of packaging material to a load throughout a contiguous region thereof.

A system for manufacturing a multi-layer shortcake can be realized by reversing the manufacturing process of the shortcake to normal. The assembly line conveyor system includes a package container having a top opening as a cake mold and a take-out film set as an insole in the package container. The packaged shortcake includes a topping layer of a cake, a first cream layer, a shape retaining sponge block, a second cream layer, and a cake base platform on the insole film and closed with a bottom lid. Preferably, the packaged shortcake contains a cake block between the first cream layer and the second cream layer for supporting the shape of the shortcake.

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.

The invention relates to a tubular bag machine and to a method for operating a tubular bag machine (01) for the continuous production of tubular bags (20), which are filled with a mixture of liquid and solid filling components (29, 30). A formatting device (18), by means of which the bag shape of the tubular bag (20) open at the top seal is formatted, is disposed below the wiper device (16), the formatting device (18) comprising at least two formatting elements (19), which are contacted on the outer side of the film tube (34) and are displaced between an open position and a formatting position. The horizontal distance between the formatting elements (19) is larger in the open position than in the formatting position. The formatting elements (19) are moved to the open position before and/or while filling the tubular bag (20) with filling material (29, 30). The formatting elements (19) are moved to the formatting position while and/or after filling the tubular bag (20) with filling material (29, 30) and before producing the top seam to remove air from the air bubble (32) in the top area of the tubular bag (20) via filling material components (29, 30).

A multiple inspection system and method that inspects packages filled with at least two different medications that are to be consumed by a patient is described. The method includes filling each package with the at least two different medications. A package that is to be inspected is selected by a process control module. A first automated inspection examines the different medications with a first measurement device. A first measurement result is generated. A first automated inspection result is generated by comparing a first expected inspection value with the first measurement result. A second automated inspection having a second measurement device generates a second measurement result. A second automated inspection result is generated by comparing a second expected inspection value with the second measurement result. An analytical module then proceeds to compare the first automated inspection result and the second automated inspection result.

The present disclosure provides a medication package. The medication package may include a first medication stored in a first cavity and a second medication stored in a second cavity. The first medication may be selected, based on a geographical region, from a group of classes of medications. The second medication may be selected, based on the geographical region, from a group of classes of medications, wherein the class of the second medication is different than that of the first medication. The geographical region may be a contiguous region and may be defined by a common attribute.

The technology described herein generally relates to an automated packaging apparatus and system that packages loose particles into a conical container as well as the final folded packages. More specifically, loose plant matter, such as crumbled dried leaves, are supplied to successive paper cones. The apparatus packs the crumbled leaves into the cones, closes the wide top portion of the cone into a precise shape, and then runs a quality control check to ensure that the final filled cone meets preset specifications.

A food products packaging automatic plant can have at least a first food products packaging conveying line having a plurality of first connection areas. The plant further comprises a plurality of operative units. Each operative unit has a movable base able to move at the connecting areas; a processing device placed on the movable base and connectable to the conveying line at the connection areas; a plurality of sensors; and a wireless communication device. The plant further includes a maintenance station of the operative units; a preparation station of the operative units; and a control and managing central unit. The control and managing central unit commands the operative units so that they move from and towards the first food products packaging conveying line and from and towards the operative units maintenance and preparation stations.