An apparatus for packaging of loose product includes a loading station, a box forming station and an uploading station. The loading station includes moveable chutes in spaced apart relation. Each chute has an open top, an open upstream end, and an open downstream end. The open top is configured to receive loose product while moving along a first feed path. The box forming station is operable to partially erect boxes in spaced apart relation with first and second open sides and align the first open side of each box with the downstream end of a corresponding chute while moving along a second feed path. The unloading station includes a stationary vacuum head in communication with the second open side of each box. The vacuum head provides a continuous vacuum source along the second feed path operable to move loose product from the chute into the boxes.

A bale bagging apparatus and method are provided. The bale bagging apparatus includes a bale feeding station, a bale chute, a bale bagging station, and a transportation system that transports a bale to be bagged from the bale feeding station through the bale chute and into the bale bagging station. The bale bagging station includes a bag receptacle, a first opening, and a bag retrieval assembly. The bag receptacle is positioned on a side opposite of the first opening from the side of the first opening on which the bale to be bagged is to be transported. The bag retrieval assembly retrieves a bag from the bag receptacle through the first opening. The bag retrieval assembly positions a first end of said bag around at least a portion of the bale chute before the bale to be bagged is transported through the bale chute by the transportation system.

A bale bagging apparatus and method are provided. The bale bagging apparatus includes a bale feeding station, a bale chute, a bale bagging station, and a transportation system that transports a bale to be bagged from the bale feeding station through the bale chute and into the bale bagging station. The bale bagging station includes a bag receptacle, a first opening, and a bag retrieval assembly. The bag receptacle is positioned on a side opposite of the first opening from the side of the first opening on which the bale to be bagged is to be transported. The bag retrieval assembly retrieves a bag from the bag receptacle through the first opening. The bag retrieval assembly positions a first end of said bag around at least a portion of the bale chute before the bale to be bagged is transported through the bale chute by the transportation system.

An automatic loader and packager station inserts and packages sensitive silicone vaginal rings into sealable pouches, wherein the silicone material is malleable, viscous and sticky, making it hard to accurately insert and seal the rings in a medically sealed package. The circular vaginal rings are axially elongated to reduce their width into the loading position, for accurate loading into scalable package pouches, without contamination of exterior openings of the respective package pouches into which the vaginal rings are inserted for sealed distribution. To accommodate malleable, viscous and/or sticky vaginal rings from manufacture to insertion into sealable pouches, the vaginal rings are moved upon a low friction, preferably roller-based conveyor before being loaded into the sealable pouches.

A bread packaging apparatus for packaging bread in a bag, includes a first urging unit that comes into contact with a loaf of bread and conveys the loaf of bread along a conveying path; and a control unit for controlling a speed of the first urging unit. The control unit controls the speed of the first urging unit such that the speed when the first urging unit comes into contact with the loaf of bread is different from the speed when the first urging unit conveys the loaf of bread.

One variation of a system for packaging a foodstuff includes: a ramp; a bag dispenser adjacent the ramp and dispensing a bag into a load position; a paddle pivotable about a hinge arranged above the ramp, comprising a leading edge opposite the hinge and engaging the ramp, and extensible between a retracted setting and an extended setting, the leading edge of the paddle in contact with the ramp in the retracted setting and inserted into the mouth of the bag in the extended setting; an actuator coupled to the paddle and extending the paddle between the retracted setting and the extended setting; and a conveyor advancing the a foodstuff toward the bag dispenser, foodstuff contacting a bottom surface of the paddle and pivoting the paddle about the hinge to separate an upper layer of the bag from a lower layer.

Bread slicer allowing a loaf of bread (2) to be packed in a bag, comprising a loading compartment (1) which is connected to a receiving compartment (6), a pushing member (5) which allows the bread (2) to be pushed in a movement direction of the bread and means for keeping a packing bag (13) open. The slicer comprises an abutment element (19) for reducing the cross-section of the bag (13) at the location of the abutment element (13) so that the portion (21) of the bag with a reduced cross-section forms an abutment for the end of the sliced bread.

Bread slicer allowing a loaf of bread (2) to be packed in a bag, comprising a loading compartment (1) which is connected to a receiving compartment (6), a pushing member (5) which allows the bread (2) to be pushed in a movement direction of the bread and means for keeping a packing bag (13) open. The slicer comprises an abutment element (19) for reducing the cross-section of the bag (13) at the location of the abutment element (13) so that the portion (21) of the bag with a reduced cross-section forms an abutment for the end of the sliced bread.

In the present invention, an insertion object (300) and backing-equipped shrink film packaging (200) are lined up in series along the insertion direction. An introduction guide body (120) comprises: a head part (121) having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the a shrink film (220); and an air-blowing port (122) that blows air from the inside thereof toward the outer surface thereof. There are an insertion preparation means in which the introduction guide body (120) is gradually introduced into the shrink film (220) of the backing-equipped shrink film packaging (200) by the sliding movement of a slider device (130), and the shrink film (220) is inflated by air, and an insertion means in which the insertion object (300) is gradually inserted into the inflated shrink film (220), and the insertion object (300) is pulled or pushed to a prescribed position by the insertion means.

A fastener delivery arrangement includes a cylindrical sleeve member having first and second ends and an elongated relief extending between outer and inner walls and at least partially between the first and second ends of the sleeve member and in communication with the second end of the sleeve member and configured to receive a plurality of fasteners therethrough, a ram member having a circular cross-section and slidably movable within an interior space between a first position where the ram member is removed from covering the relief and a second position where the ram member covers the relief, a feed assembly configured to provide fasteners to the interior space, a cylinder assembly configured to actuate the ram member between the first and second positions, and a fastener receiver configured to receive the fasteners forced from the interior space of the sleeve member.