Disclosed is a gripper (1) for beverage cans (20). The gripper (1) comprises at least one gripping device (6) used to grip a particular beverage can (20) from underneath the top seam (5) in a form-fitting manner in the region of a top seam (5), which top seam (5) is formed by a particular beverage can (20). The gripper (1) comprises at least one centering device (30), by which at least one centering device (30) aligns the particular beverage can (20) into a defined alignment, where the at least one gripping device (6) is able to grip a particular beverage can (20) from underneath in a form-fitting manner in the region of its top seam (5).

The invention relates to a method for packaging objects (2) which are included in a plurality of objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group and the shape of which is such that the objects included in the plurality of objects can roll along a surface, characterised in that the objects (2) included in the plurality of objects are deposited onto a solid surface, referred to as the deposition surface (1), of a system (10) for packaging the objects, the deposition surface (1) being substantially horizontal, suitable for receiving the objects included in the plurality of objects and elastically deformable such that the deposition of each object on the deposition surface (1) creates, under the weight of the object concerned, a recess (3) in the deposition surface (1) which tends to wedge the object in the recess (3), then the objects included in the plurality of objects deposited onto the deposition surface (1) and held in a position

The present disclosure relates to a gripper for forming slugs of flat baked products, comprising a longitudinal retainer arranged for individually loading the flat baked products and comprising elongated wall elements extending along a longitudinal direction of the gripper for enclosing the retainer forming a retainer space for retaining the flat baked products a loading element, arranged for displacement of at least a contact surface thereof which is located adjacent a segment of the circumference of a loaded flat baked product near a free end of the retaining space; and wherein the gripper is arranged for displacement of the contact surface of the loading element enabling individually loading the flat baked products for forming the slug in the retainer space, and wherein the gripper is further arranged for rotating the longitudinal retainer over a rotation-axis in a plane parallel to a supporting surface of the conveyer means at the input for bringing the slug from a horizontal vertical orientation into a vertical horizontal orientation, and wherein at least one of the elongated wall elements is arranged for displacement thereof for unloading the vertical horizontally oriented slug into the conveyor means of the packing device.

The present disclosure relates to a gripper for forming slugs of flat baked products, comprising a longitudinal retainer arranged for individually loading the flat baked products and comprising elongated wall elements extending along a longitudinal direction of the gripper for enclosing the retainer forming a retainer space for retaining the flat baked products a loading element, arranged for displacement of at least a contact surface thereof which is located adjacent a segment of the circumference of a loaded flat baked product near a free end of the retaining space; and wherein the gripper is arranged for displacement of the contact surface of the loading element enabling individually loading the flat baked products for forming the slug in the retainer space, and wherein the gripper is further arranged for rotating the longitudinal retainer over a rotation-axis in a plane parallel to a supporting surface of the conveyer means at the input for bringing the slug from a horizontal vertical orientation into a vertical horizontal orientation, and wherein at least one of the elongated wall elements is arranged for displacement thereof for unloading the vertical horizontally oriented slug into the conveyor means of the packing device.

A conveyor system for grouping containers includes a first track including a first plurality of lugs, each lug having a respective gripper coupled thereto configured to drive containers along the first track and a second track configured to move a second plurality of lugs wherein each of the lugs is coupled to a respective gripper configured to receive containers from the first track, and move the containers along the second track wherein the grippers of the second track contact the container while the gripper of the first track contacts the container.

A gripper including a receiving end and a locking end and an absorber coupled to at least one of the ends configured to dampen contact forces imparted on the gripper, wherein the receiving end is shaped to marry a container body.

A head for use in forming an article array in a container cavity (“cavity”) by sequential placement of adjacent article rows in the cavity, including a gripper having a frame having a longitudinal axis, the gripper adapted to selectively engage and disengage an article row for permitting placement thereof; and a flexible layer connected to the frame and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and positioned to one side of the gripper. During formation of the article array in the cavity, the flexible layer preventing contact between a most recently positioned article row in the cavity and a corresponding article row being positioned in the cavity, including filling a remaining unfilled portion of the cavity between a penultimate article row and the container for receiving the final article row having a width approximately equal to or less than a width of the final article row.

A head for use in forming an article array in a container cavity (“cavity”) by sequential placement of adjacent article rows in the cavity, including a gripper having a frame having a longitudinal axis, the gripper adapted to selectively engage and disengage an article row for permitting placement thereof; and a flexible layer connected to the frame and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and positioned to one side of the gripper. During formation of the article array in the cavity, the flexible layer preventing contact between a most recently positioned article row in the cavity and a corresponding article row being positioned in the cavity, including filling a remaining unfilled portion of the cavity between a penultimate article row and the container for receiving the final article row having a width approximately equal to or less than a width of the final article row.

A packaging apparatus (1) and method is provided. The packaging apparatus comprises: a support platform (100) for supporting packaging containers (10) positioned thereon, the support platform comprising a support portion moveable between a first position and a second position; and a belt transport arrangement (800) for transporting packaging containers away from the support platform (100) in a first transport direction (52); the belt transport arrangement (800) comprising a belt arrangement comprising a pair of belts (802a, 802b), the pair of belts defining opposing contacting surfaces for contacting packaging containers. The apparatus is operable between: a first configuration wherein the support portion is in the first position to support one or more packaging containers positioned thereon; and a second configuration wherein the support portion is in the second position and contacting surfaces of the belts engage the one or more packaging containers.

A grouping system for grouping containers including a track oriented in a horizontal plane, a plurality of lugs coupled moveably to the track, and a plurality of grippers, wherein each gripper is coupled to a lug, wherein the grippers are configured to move a stream of containers about the track.