A method of feeding rod-shaped consumer goods to a packing apparatus is provided, including providing a plurality of rod-shaped consumer goods to an upstream end of a stacking channel, and feeding the plurality of rod-shaped consumer goods along the stacking channel to a downstream end of the stacking channel. The upstream end of the stacking channel is higher than the downstream end in the vertical direction, and at least a portion of the stacking channel extends at an angle of between about 25 degrees and about 75 degrees with respect to the vertical direction. The method further includes receiving the plurality of rod-shaped consumer goods into a hopper from the downstream end of the stacking channel, and distributing the plurality of rod-shaped consumer goods from the hopper into a packing apparatus.

A method of feeding rod-shaped consumer goods to a packing apparatus is provided, including providing a plurality of rod-shaped consumer goods to an upstream end of a stacking channel, and feeding the plurality of rod-shaped consumer goods along the stacking channel to a downstream end of the stacking channel. The upstream end of the stacking channel is higher than the downstream end in the vertical direction, and at least a portion of the stacking channel extends at an angle of between about 25 degrees and about 75 degrees with respect to the vertical direction. The method further includes receiving the plurality of rod-shaped consumer goods into a hopper from the downstream end of the stacking channel, and distributing the plurality of rod-shaped consumer goods from the hopper into a packing apparatus.

A component supply device includes a storage section, a mounting section, and a component support section. The storage section stores multiple components. The storage section is mounted to the mounting section. The storage section is attachable and detachable in relation to the mounting section. The component support section supports, in a scattered state, multiple components which are discharged from an opening of the storage section which is in a state of being mounted to the mounting section.

A loading device for loading a container with packages, comprising a transport channel for transport of the packages in the direction of the container. The transport channel has an upper inlet to supply packages into the transport channel and a lower outlet to supply packages into the container. At least one upper, and at least one lower, finger position each with at least one finger element are provided in the transport channel. The at least one of the finger elements of the upper and lower finger positions in each case have at least two flexible flank elements extending from one end to the opposing end of the finger element. In each case, the at least two flexible flank elements are flexibly connected via a plurality of webs. The finger elements in each case may be adjusted from at least one curved position into at least one extended position and back.

A conveyor chute is suitable for use as a store for goods, such as packages and pieces of luggage. The conveyor chute has at least one sliding section with an inclined sliding surface with a direction of fall along the sliding surface as well as a sliding width. The sliding section has a width adjusting mechanism which allows the goods to be distributed across at least part of the sliding width and which thus allows the conveyor chute to be used in an improved manner for storing the goods.

A pharmaceutical filling system for a high volume pharmacy is described. The system can include a manual pick/pack device and method. The system may include a rotation assembly, a left door and a right door, both positioned below the rotation assembly, a left divider positioned below the left door, and a right divider positioned below the right door, and a left gathering table positioned below the left divider, and a right gathering table positioned below the right divider. The system may also include a control device in electronic communication with the rotation assembly, the doors and the dividers for control of same.

Disclosed is a tablet discharge chute including: a channel unit having a main channel into which tablets are inserted and a plurality of discharge channels communicating with the main channel, the discharge channels separating and discharging the tablets; a separation part being coupled to a shaft between the main channel and the discharge channels, the separation part having first and second separation plates that are coupled at a predetermined angle therebetween on the shaft to face the discharge channels; and an actuator being coupled to the shaft and rotating the separation part at a preset angle, wherein when the shaft rotates, the first separation plate lifts the tablets being discharged from the main channel to close a first discharge channel of the discharge channels, and the second separation plate opens a second discharge channel of the discharge channels to guide the lifted tablets to the opened second discharge channel.

An apparatus for receiving and detecting a bottle having a chute configured for receiving the bottle therein, a first sensor disposed to detect the bottle at a first position within the chute, a second sensor disposed to detect the bottle at a second position within the chute, and a third sensor disposed to detect the bottle at a third position within the chute, and an indicator in communication with the sensors to provide indication that a bottle was received. A method carried out by the apparatus is also provided.

System for the collection and transport of fruits, from slopes or slopes of hills or the like, is conformed with a tubular body (1) of PVC, which is anchored to the slope of the hill (2) being detachable, light and portable, characterized in that the straight tubular body (1) is provided with openings (3) each a certain number of meters, so as to introduce into said openings (3), containers with fruit (4), which are provided with projections (5), said openings are arranged so as to correspond to the rows of fruit trees; at the lower end of said tubular body (1), a further corrugated tubular retention body (7) of containers (4) and arranged in a curved, non-collapsible manner is fitted by means of a quick coupling system (6), which makes it possible to reduce the speed of the fruit containers (4), those that go inside the tubular body (1) transporting the fruit inside.

System for the collection and transport of fruits, from slopes or slopes of hills or the like, is conformed with a tubular body (1) of PVC, which is anchored to the slope of the hill (2) being detachable, light and portable, characterized in that the straight tubular body (1) is provided with openings (3) each a certain number of meters, so as to introduce into said openings (3), containers with fruit (4), which are provided with projections (5), said openings are arranged so as to correspond to the rows of fruit trees; at the lower end of said tubular body (1), a further corrugated tubular retention body (7) of containers (4) and arranged in a curved, non-collapsible manner is fitted by means of a quick coupling system (6), which makes it possible to reduce the speed of the fruit containers (4), those that go inside the tubular body (1) transporting the fruit inside.