An apparatus includes a product metering device, first and second container preparation systems, and a controller. The product metering device is configured to dispense a product. The first and second container preparation systems are configured to dispense first and second containers, respectively, for receiving the product from the product metering device. The first and second container preparation systems include first and second severed container material transporting devices, respectively, operable to transport the first and second containers, respectively, from the first and second container preparation systems, respectively, to the product metering device. The controller simultaneously controls (i) one of the first container preparation system and the second container preparation system to prepare one of the first container and the second container, and (ii) the product metering device to dispense the product into the other of the first container and the second container.

The disclosure is directed to automatic wrapping machines and in particular the disclosure is directed to a machine for wrapping soft enrobed food items with discrete wrapping sheets.

A filling machine for filling a receptacle with a plurality of items includes a first item drop path having an outlet end, a second item drop path having an outlet end, the second item drop path distinct from the first item drop path and a gating system for selectively accumulating and releasing items. The gating system includes: a single gate mechanism configured for selectively and independently controlling both (i) whether items can exit the outlet end of the first item drop path and (ii) whether items can exit the outlet end of the second item drop path.

A method of preparing a packaging laminate includes conveying a mesh of paper material having perforations against a rigid edge causing, at substantially each perforation, a mesh portion at the leading side to have an average elevation lower than that of a mesh portion on the trailing side of the perforation. The method includes expanding the perforations into cells separated from one another by legs interconnected by nodes defined in the mesh Top and bottom surfaces of the legs and nodes are reoriented from an initial orientation substantially parallel with a direction of conveyance of the mesh to an expanded orientation oblique to the direction of conveyance, such that, in the expanded orientation, the top surfaces of the nodes are substantially parallel with each other. The method includes attaching an outer liner to at least some of the bottom surfaces so as to form the packaging laminate.

An apparatus includes a product metering device, first and second container preparation systems, and a controller. The product metering device is configured to dispense a product. The first and second container preparation systems are configured to dispense first and second containers, respectively, for receiving the product from the product metering device. The first and second container preparation systems include first and second severed container material transporting devices, respectively, operable to transport the first and second containers, respectively, from the first and second container preparation systems, respectively, to the product metering device. The controller simultaneously controls (i) one of the first container preparation system and the second container preparation system to prepare one of the first container and the second container, and (ii) the product metering device to dispense the product into the other of the first container and the second container.

An apparatus includes a product metering device, first and second container preparation systems, and a controller. The product metering device is configured to dispense a product. The first and second container preparation systems are configured to dispense first and second containers, respectively, for receiving the product from the product metering device. The first and second container preparation systems include first and second severed container material transporting devices, respectively, operable to transport the first and second containers, respectively, from the first and second container preparation systems, respectively, to the product metering device. The controller simultaneously controls (i) one of the first container preparation system and the second container preparation system to prepare one of the first container and the second container, and (ii) the product metering device to dispense the product into the other of the first container and the second container.

An ammunition packaging apparatus and system is reconfigurable to package a select caliber of ammunition by changing a set of components to those associated with the selected caliber of ammunition and selecting the corresponding operating procedure. An ammunition collating and packaging apparatus can be quickly reconfigured from packaging a first caliber of ammunition to packaging a second caliber of ammunition by quickly replacing a define set of components and modifying operationally timings to correspond to the selected caliber.

The medicine dispensing system includes a plurality of storage containers for storing medical pills. The system also includes a hopper, a top and a bottom pre-fill tray, and a packing plate that are placed underneath each other respectively. Both the top and bottom pre-fill trays include a plurality of X-direction and Y-direction pointers. The system also includes a control module that uses feedback logic to align the top pre-fill tray with the bottom pre-fill tray using the X and Y direction pointers. In operation, the medicine dispensing system controls dispensing and navigation of pills from the storage container through the hopper, into the top pre-fill tray, into the bottom pre-fill tray, into the packing plate, and ultimately into a desired slot in the pill pack. The top and bottom pre-fill trays provide for separated compartmentalization of pills. This allows the medical pill dispensing system to parallel process and dispense pills designated for multiple pill packs at the same time without having to wait till the completion of any one pill pack. The separated compartmentalization ensures pills designated for one pill pack are not mixed with pills designated for another pill pack.

A package comprising includes a base film, at least one closing film, and at least one product interposed between the base film and the closing film. The closing film is hermetically fixed to the base film at a sealing band with the product housed in a packaging seat defined between the closing film and the base film. Also described is a process for making the package described above.

An automatic packager including a cartridge and a cartridge mechanism is provided. The cartridge for the automatic packager includes a reservoir for storing a plurality of medications and a wheel including a bottom portion placed in the reservoir. The cartridge also includes a scooping member provided on the wheel to rotate with the wheel and singulate a medication from the reservoir. The cartridge mechanism for the automatic packager includes a platform configured to receive a medication from a cartridge and a camera system. The cartridge mechanism also includes an electronic processor coupled to the camera system configured to dispense the medication from the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is delivered to the platform and return the medication to the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is not delivered to the platform.