A transfer device, in particular as a robot gripper, for picking up at least one product disposed on a base section of a product carrier and the product carrier from a conveying and/or processing device for the product and/or for the product carrier and for delivering the product together with the product carrier to a device, in particular a packaging machine, arranged downstream, is characterized in that the transfer device has a pivoting device for pivoting a cover section connected to the base section about a kink line extending between the cover section and the base section.

An apparatus for delivering product carriers, in particular L boards, to a conveying line for food products comprises a store for the product carriers and a conveying device for conveying the product carriers, in particular isolated product carriers, along a conveying direction to the conveying line, wherein each product carrier has at least one base section and at least one cover section connected to the base section; and wherein the apparatus comprises a pre-treatment device for the product carriers that is configured to pre-treat the cover section of a product carrier with respect to its base section.

Apparatus and methods for providing samples (e.g., cosmetic samples) with primary product packages (e.g., cosmetic product packages) exterior to the primary product package.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a three-panel lidding device used to seal a food container. Such devices are particularly useful for covering and sealing a plastic food container, eliminating (or diminishing) the need for an outer carton and the clear film membrane that traditionally covers a food container. The lidding device may contain all brand identifiers, product messaging, ingredient list, instructions (e.g., opening and cooking) printed directly on the device. The device may also allow for venting of the food container during cooking and may then be removed for serving. The device may further provide a foot panel that allows the food product container/lidding device to sit upright, enhancing store front and freezer display options.

Plural articles are arranged in a reusable crate. A cardboard blank is selected in accordance with the volume of the arranged articles. The blank has a first and a second longitudinal score line defining a main portion and a first, a second, a third and a fourth lateral portion, the blank also having a first, a second, a third and a fourth incision that subdivide auxiliary portions into first parts and second parts. The blank and the reusable crate are reciprocally positioned, the bottom of the reusable crate then opened to release the articles onto the blank. The first, second, third and fourth lateral portions are folded towards the articles, with the respective first parts and second parts of the auxiliary portions folding one on another to form respective flaps abutting the group of articles.

The invention relates to a packaging machine for packaging products (O) in cartons, wherein the packaging machine has a product feed for feeding products (O) to be packaged in cartons, wherein the products (O) have the length P, wherein the product feed has a stacking apparatus (111) that is embodied to at least stack a first group of products (O), which are positioned next to one another in a row with a length R, vertically above or below a second group of products (O), which are likewise positioned next to one another in a row with a length R, wherein the length R is a multiple of the length P, wherein a product slot (112) is positioned at the end of the product feed, at which product slot stacked rows of products (O) with the length R are collected, wherein a slide (113) with a length S is positioned at the product slot (112), which slide is embodied to slide the stacked rows of products (O) having a length that at least corresponds to the length S in an at least substantially horizontal sliding direction into a carton at a carton packing station, wherein the length S is shorter than the length R by at least one times the length P.

A shipping and dispensing construct for engaging a plurality of product holding containers includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the shipping and dispensing construct and including a front panel, a top panel, at least one central panel, and at least one side panel. The shipping and dispensing construct further includes dispensing features for removal of one or more of the product holding containers, the dispensing features including a plurality of dispensing portions comprising at least a portion of the at least one central panel, the dispensing portions for being removably attached to a respective container of the plurality of product holding containers and being separable from a remainder of the shipping and dispensing construct for allowing access to the respective container of the plurality of product holding containers.

A package that can comprise a shipping and dispensing construct comprising a plurality of panels and dispensing features extending in one or more panels of the plurality of panels. The package further can comprise a plurality of product holding containers that are removably attached to one or more panels of the plurality of panels. The dispenser features can be for forming the package into a plurality of segments, and each segment of the plurality of segments can be for comprising a portion of the shipping and dispensing construct and at least one of the product holding containers of the plurality of product holding containers.

A shipping and dispensing construct for engaging a plurality of product holding containers includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the shipping and dispensing construct and comprising a front panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, at least one side panel, and at least one back panel. The shipping and dispensing construct further includes dispensing features for removal of a group of the plurality of the product holding containers, the dispensing features including a plurality of dispensing portions comprising at least a portion of at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel, the dispensing portions being separable from a remainder of the shipping and dispensing construct for allowing access to a group of the plurality of product holding containers.

A system for automating packaging of varying shipment sets comprises a control unit for receiving from a database stored information on the size and number of items forming a shipment set according to a dispatch order, an information acquiring device for acquiring current information on the items being actually arranged for said shipment set, said information acquiring device being communicatively coupled with said control unit and said control unit being configured to calculate, either based on the information from said database or from the information acquiring device, the dimensions of a custom sized cardboard box for packaging the shipment set, a box forming station for forming said custom sized cardboard box having a bottom wall, four side walls and an open top, a packaging station for packaging the items forming the shipment set into said custom sized cardboard box, and a lid placing station for closing said custom sized cardboard box with an appropriate lid, wherein said control unit is configured for performing a verification using the current information from said information acquiring device and the stored information from said database to verify that the actual shipment set is formed according to the dispatch order.