A formed tray for baking and transporting a food product is provided herein. In some embodiments, the formed tray includes two cavities surrounded by a peripheral flange. In addition, the formed tray also may include a rigid bridge extending between the cavities and recessed below the peripheral flange. The peripheral flange of the formed tray may include beveled corners and two concave sections. A pre-cooked food product may be disposed in the cavities and sealed within the formed tray by a flexible film. Also provided herein is a process for baking and sealing a food product within the formed tray to provide a pre-cooked packaged food product that may be stored and transported.

A packaging assembly including an outer sleeve, a tray, and an insert arranged within the tray. The tray may be arranged within and slidably engage with the outer sleeve. The tray may include a base, a first and second lateral sidewall, and a first and second longitudinal sidewall. The first and second lateral sidewalls each may include a first, a second, and a third portion. The first, second, and third portions are folded to form the first and second lateral sidewalls. The first and second longitudinal sidewalls each may include a first and a second flap. The first and the second flap may be arranged on opposite ends of the first and second longitudinal sidewalls. The first flaps may be arranged between the first and third portions of the first lateral sidewall, and the second flaps may be arranged between the first and third portions of the second lateral sidewall.

A method of arranging articles can comprise moving a first article and a second article along a respective first lane and second lane toward a respective first output end of the first lane and second output end of the second lane, and guiding the first article from the first output end onto a stacking conveyor. The guiding the first article can comprise engaging the first article with first guide features. The method further can comprise moving the first article on the stacking conveyor past the second output end, and forming a stack by guiding the second article from the second output end onto the first article on the stacking conveyor as the stacking conveyor moves the first article past the second output end. The guiding the second article can comprise engaging the second article with second guide features. The method also can comprise moving the stack on the stacking conveyor.

A method for operating a packaging machine including one or more of the method steps advancing a transport chain along a chain deflection pulley, wherein chain clips are arranged on the transport chain and moved during the advancing motion of the transport chain along a run-on contour, to open at least one of the chain clips; introducing a flat material blank into the at least one open chain clip using a feed device or by entraining the flat material blank using a connection to a second material blank preceding the flat material blank, wherein the material blank enters the open chain clip during an advancing motion of the transport chain; closing the chain clip by leaving the run-on contour, to grip and secure the material blank in the chain clip; and transporting the material blank to a work station using the transport chain.

A system for packaging a food product in a container generally includes a conveyance apparatus operable to move trays in a machine direction, a delivery apparatus operable to deposit the food product into cavities of the trays, and a positioning apparatus operable to position covers relative to the trays. The positioning apparatus is configured to position each cover on a respective tray to overlap a flange of the respective tray. The system also comprises an ultrasonic bonding apparatus configured to receive the flange and the cover of each container in the nip between a first bonding module and a second bonding module. At least one of the first bonding module and the second bonding module vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency and delivers ultrasonic energy to at least one of the cover and the flange to seal the container.

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.

A carrier and related methods of use are provided for packaging irregular-shaped products. The carrier has a footing and a vertical support member partially enclosing at least one irregular-shaped product. The vertical support member has: (1) a pair of sidewalls facing one another and having lower tabs joined to opposite ends of the footing, and (2) a rear wall with edges along the junctures with the sidewalls and a lower edge along the juncture with the footing. A wrap encloses the irregular-shaped product(s) and the carrier. The method includes uniformly aligning the irregular-shaped product(s) in the carrier and securing the carrier and product(s) by enclosing them with a wrap.

A rotating cam device for a pick-up head with pick-up members arranged side by side and at a variable distance. The device extends along a horizontal axis an has a first cam and at least a second cam, which extend around the horizontal axis, are suitable to be engaged by tappet elements carried by a first and a second pick-up member, respectively, and at least partly have a sloped or spiral shape for causing a translation of the tappet elements parallel to the horizontal axis in response to a rotation of the first and second cams about the horizontal axis; the second cam is movable in respect to the first cam along the horizontal axis, at least when the device is installed in the pick-up head and rotates around the horizontal axis.

A standardized shipping tray is disclosed for use in an order fulfillment system. The standardized shipping tray includes a bottom panel that includes raised portions that assist to inhibit rolling on an object within along the bottom panel, and at least two flexible side panels that are adapted to fold inward under a force of a wrapping.

A machine for filling a secondary container with a plurality of primary containers is provided. The machine includes a frame, a secondary container filling section coupled to the frame and configured to position the primary containers within the secondary container, and a first rail member coupled to the frame. The first rail member includes a chain, a support rail that extends in a longitudinal direction between a supply source of secondary containers and the secondary container filling section, and at least one longitudinally extending interface surface coupled to the support rail and configured to receive the chain, such that the chain is movable in the longitudinal direction. The first rail member also includes an articulated chain cover secured to, and movable with, the chain, the articulated chain cover defining a support surface on which the secondary containers are conveyable between the supply source and the secondary container filling section.