A robotic case packer is provided. The packer includes a case conveying apparatus, a case set up station, a case loading station, downstream of the case set up station, and a loaded case closure station, downstream of the case loading station, the case conveying apparatus receiving and conveying a case blank for case set up, case loading and loaded case closure operations, a process flow path as to case operations delimited by the case conveying apparatus. The case set up station, characterized by a case set up robot operable in a process flow path direction, secures a case blank from a source of case blanks and transfers the blank to the case conveying apparatus. The case loading station, characterized by a case loading robot operable across the process flow path direction, transfers an article group for case loading into a set up case conveyed by the case conveying apparatus. The case closure station, characterized by a loaded case closure robot operable in the process flow path direction, effectuates a compressed sealed closure of a loaded case conveyed by the case conveying apparatus.

The present invention relates to a method and a device of managing a set (42) of lids, stacked and inserted in a packaging, including the steps of pressing said set (42) and displacing it, with a transport device (1), keeping the lids in the packaging; pressing a second portion (44) of the set (42) with a handle (23); moving the handle (23) so as to take at least a part of the second portion (44) towards the first portion (43); displacing the handle (23) so as to place the second portion (44) against the first portion (43); immobilizing the second portion (44) against the first portion (43) with an immobilizing device (9); opening the handle (23) and moving it away from the set (42). The invention also relates to a system for producing palletized sets of lids.

A box packing device includes a push-in mechanism, a retention mechanism, a guide, and a control unit. The push-in mechanism pushes, into a box that is in a state in which an opening thereof faces sideways, the article through the opening. The retention mechanism retains the box that is in a state in which the opening faces sideways and lowers the box after the article have been pushed into the box by the push-in mechanism. The guide opposes the opening and is configured to prevent the article from falling out from the opening of the box that has been lowered by the retention mechanism. The control unit temporarily increases the distance between the box and the guide after the article have been pushed into the box by the push-in mechanism.

A method and a device for filling containers with products, in which the products are successively conveyed horizontally to a filling installation in which the products, while being combined to form individual product groups, are grouped, and an offered-up container, which is conveyed horizontally to the filling installation, is filled in a single track with one or a plurality of product groups, wherein the filled containers subsequently are in particular horizontally transported away. The method includes conveying the products in multiple tracks to the filling installation, grouping the products to form product groups, feeding the product groups in multiple tracks to a common revolving vertical conveyor of the filling installation, conveying the product groups to an ejection position from which the product groups are conveyed onward in a single track to an offered-up container, and filling the offered-up container with at least one of the product groups.

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 sheet storing apparatus, includes: an inlet section configured to take in sheets from outside of the apparatus into the apparatus; a storing unit configured to mount a storage bag in a storing area of the storage unit; and a recognition unit configured to count the number of sheets to be stored in the storage bag mounted in the storing area of the storing unit, in which the storing unit includes: a holding section configured to hold the storage bag mounted in the storing area of the storing unit; a support section configured to support the sheets stored in the storage bag from below via the storage bag; a drive section configured to move up and down the support section between an initial position and a final position; and a control section configured to control the drive section, based on the number of sheets counted by the recognition unit.

A box packing apparatus includes a transport unit configured to transport a group of articles arranged in a state in which at least some of the articles overlap with each other to a predetermined position, a holding unit configured to hold a cardboard box having an opening with long sides and short sides, and a transfer unit configured to transfer the group of articles from the predetermined position into the cardboard box. The holding unit can hold the cardboard box in a first posture in which the long side is located downward and the opening is directed laterally. The transfer unit transfers the group of articles in a state in which rows of the group of articles are arranged in a row along the long side of the cardboard box.

A method and a device for filling containers with products, in which the products are successively conveyed horizontally to a filling installation in which the products, while being combined to form individual product groups, are grouped, and an offered-up container, which is conveyed horizontally to the filling installation, is filled in a single track with one or a plurality of product groups, wherein the filled containers subsequently are in particular horizontally transported away. The method includes conveying the products in multiple tracks to the filling installation, grouping the products to form product groups, feeding the product groups in multiple tracks to a common revolving vertical conveyor of the filling installation, conveying the product groups to an ejection position from which the product groups are conveyed onward in a single track to an offered-up container, and filling the offered-up container with at least one of the product groups.

A cardboard box erector that folds four flaps provided on edges of an opening of a cardboard box so as to surround the opening is disclosed. The four flaps include a locking flap folded last among the four flaps. The cardboard box erector includes a folding unit configured to fold each of the four flaps in a predetermined order to close the opening, and a pushing unit configured to perform an action to push the locking flap inside the cardboard box and pull the locking flap back. The pushing unit has a suction unit configured to such and hold the locking flap.

Systems and processes for packing complementary articles of footwear into a container are disclosed. The processes can include utilizing a reusable packing sheet positioned underneath complementary articles of footwear to transfer the complementary articles of footwear into a container. The processes can also include removing the reusable packing sheet from underneath the complementary articles of footwear while the complementary articles of footwear remain positioned in the container. Additional processes can include aligning and sizing complementary articles of footwear for packing in a container.