An apparatus and method for filling a container with fragile fruit involving submerging the container in water to better distribute the fragile fruit within the container. The container may be filled with fragile fruit either before or after being submerged in water. The fragile fruit may be transported using a stream of water or other suitable fluid medium.

The invention relates to a packaging machine (100) for arranging elements, preferably cartons (K), on pallets (Z), wherein the packaging machine (100) has the following: a palletizing station (180) that has a platform (181) and a Scara robot (182), which is positioned on the platform (181) and which is embodied to move elements, preferably cartons (K), to be stowed on pallets (Z); a pallet feed (190), which is embodied to feed empty pallets (Z) along a path, wherein the platform (181) is embodied in a bridge-like manner and the path extends through under the platform (181) of the palletizing station (180) to a pallet loading station (191).

A system for transferring a first group of components of electronic cigarettes from first to second operating stations includes a flat collecting surface extending from a feeding zone to a releasing zone. A feeding device receives the components and feeds them onto the collecting surface. A first abutment element abuts the first component of the first group. A second abutment element abuts the last component of the first group. A compacting and stabilizing device moves the components closer together and stabilizes their positions. A first movement device moves the first and second abutment elements along the collecting surface to transfer the first group to the releasing zone. A tray faces the releasing zone to receive the first group. A pushing device pushes the components from the releasing zone into the tray. A transferring device transfers the tray with the first group towards the second operating station.

A system including a flume. The flume can include a fluid and be configured to receive crops. The system also can include crop selectors each sized to move the crops individually from the flume into a scale. The system additionally can include the scale. The scale can be configured to weigh the crops while the crops are in the scale. The system further can include a container carrier configured to (i) hold a container that is submerged in the fluid while the crops are dumped from the scale into the container and (ii) lift the container out of the fluid to allow the fluid to drain from the container while the container holds the crops. Other embodiments are described.

The invention relates to a method of handling food products, in which at least one respective product is placed onto a carrier that has a base and a tab pivotable relative to the base about a kink line, the carrier together with the product disposed thereon is fed to a pick-up region that is disposed in a working region of a transfer device, and the carrier together with the product disposed thereon is picked up by the transfer device, is then fed by means of the transfer device to an insertion region of a packaging machine, and is inserted there with a downward movement of the transfer device into a package component, wherein the carrier is moved past a folding contour, which is arranged in the insertion region, during the downward movement and in so doing, on the one hand, the tab is pivoted relative to the base by cooperation with the folding contour and, on the other hand, the carrier is secured against lifting by a holding device of the transfer device that is effective at or in the region of the kink line.

A packaging system for medical containers having a main opening, comprising: a vessel having a shoulder; a tray provided with cavities that is intended for receiving a medical container and rests on the shoulder; a plurality of caps that close the main opening; and a lid that seals the vessel. A method for packaging medical containers, comprises the following steps: providing a vessel; arranging a tray on the shoulder of the vessel; arranging medical containers in the cavities; arranging a cap on the medical containers so as to close the main opening thereof; sealing a lid on an upper edge of the peripheral wall of the vessel; and placing the vessel in at least one sealed bag.

A process for packaging a product. The product is dispensed into a tray by a dispensing system while the tray is moving beneath the dispensing system. The dispensing system includes a hopper that releases products that are funneled in the tray. The dispensing system includes two legs that each rotate about a respective pivot that constrain the product as the product is transported from the hopper into the tray.

A machine for filling a tertiary container with secondary containers is provided. The machine includes a frame and a tray loading station positioned to receive a plurality of streams of the secondary containers. The machine also includes a front gate at an upstream end of the tray loading station, the front gate moveable between a first position, in which the secondary containers are obstructed from passing downstream, and a second position, in which the secondary containers are not obstructed. The machine further includes a back stop proximate a downstream end of the tray loading station, the back stop moveable between a first, upstream position and a second, downstream position. The tray loading station is sized such that when a first row of secondary containers is positioned against the back stop in the first position, a portion of an upstream row of secondary containers is positioned directly above the front gate.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for capping a plurality of bottles enclosed and sealed in a plastic bag. The method comprises disposing the plurality of bottles in a tray in a predetermined array such that caps, disposed in a plate can be displaced for convenient capping in a single step. Ratchet tools are disclosed for facile threading of caps to bottles.

A gripper that comprises a first receiving plate for receiving a first product portion and a second receiving plate for receiving a second product portion, wherein the receiving plates are movable relative to one another. The gripper further including a first movable stop which is movable relative to the first receiving plate, and a second movable stop which is movable relative to the second receiving plate. The gripper is distinguished by the fact that the first stop and second stop are movable relative to one another so as to move the product portions towards one another when the gripper is closed such that the product portions then may be positioned to overlap one another.