A column of cups guided by their rims in elongated slots is spaced into desired cup pitch by one or more linear stars from which the cups can be transferred for packaging. The linear stars have lugs engaging and spacing the cups. In another aspect of the invention, cups are manipulated into patterns for final grouping and packaging and by a plurality of cup orienting pickers engaging, inverting and re-orienting the cups. In one final packaged cup group of two or more layers, alternating cups in each layer are inverted and a top lid of a cup in an upper layer is disposed on a top lid of a cup in a bottom layer, while a bottom of a cup in an upper layer is disposed on a bottom of a cup in a lower layer, and in an alternating pattern.

A packaging device includes a conveyance mechanism, a guide portion and a control portion. The control portion is configured to cause a first section of a film to be bonded to a base, cause the conveyance mechanism to convey the base toward a downstream side in a conveyance direction, move the guide portion along a movement path, cause the conveyance mechanism to convey the base toward the upstream side, cause a second section of the film to be bonded to the base, and cause the film to be moved in an opposite direction to a feeding direction at any time during a period after the first section is bonded to the base and before the second section is bonded to the base, the feeding direction being a direction in which the film is fed out when the base is conveyed.

A packaging device includes a conveyance mechanism, a guide portion and a control portion. The control portion is configured to cause a first section of a film to be bonded to a base, cause the conveyance mechanism to convey the base toward a downstream side in a conveyance direction, move the guide portion along a movement path, cause the conveyance mechanism to convey the base toward the upstream side, cause a second section of the film to be bonded to the base, and cause the film to be moved in an opposite direction to a feeding direction at any time during a period after the first section is bonded to the base and before the second section is bonded to the base, the feeding direction being a direction in which the film is fed out when the base is conveyed.

A method of preparing wood for packing comprises: loading wood lengthwise into a conveyor system; conveying the wood pieces one-by-one onto a loading hatch in a predetermined orientation; when a wood piece is fully on the loading hatch, opening the loading hatch and dropping the wood piece in the predetermined orientation into a measuring compartment; repeating the conveying and dropping process so that multiple wood pieces are stacked in the same orientation in the measuring compartment; and, when a required amount of stacked wood is within the measuring compartment, dropping the stacked wood pieces into a packing area.

A method of preparing wood for packing comprises: loading wood lengthwise into a conveyor system; conveying the wood pieces one-by-one onto a loading hatch in a predetermined orientation; when a wood piece is fully on the loading hatch, opening the loading hatch and dropping the wood piece in the predetermined orientation into a measuring compartment; repeating the conveying and dropping process so that multiple wood pieces are stacked in the same orientation in the measuring compartment; and, when a required amount of stacked wood is within the measuring compartment, dropping the stacked wood pieces into a packing area.

A packaging system having a packaging machine and a feeding device for the packaging machine. Packaging elements for receiving products in a predetermined format can be supplied to the packaging machine for a packaging process running thereon. The packaging machine may comprise a machine frame, at least one work station attached to the machine frame; a transport device that comprises a grouping unit for receiving packaging elements supplied by the feeding device to the packaging machine; and/or a transfer unit for transporting packaging elements received thereon to the work station. The grouping unit and the transfer unit can be brought together by way of a relative motion so that the packaging elements positioned on the grouping unit can be received by way of the transfer unit. The transfer unit may be capable of gripping the packaging elements. A method for producing a packaging as described above is also provided.

A packaging system having a packaging machine and a feeding device for the packaging machine. Packaging elements for receiving products in a predetermined format can be supplied to the packaging machine for a packaging process running thereon. The packaging machine may comprise a machine frame, at least one work station attached to the machine frame; a transport device that comprises a grouping unit for receiving packaging elements supplied by the feeding device to the packaging machine; and/or a transfer unit for transporting packaging elements received thereon to the work station. The grouping unit and the transfer unit can be brought together by way of a relative motion so that the packaging elements positioned on the grouping unit can be received by way of the transfer unit. The transfer unit may be capable of gripping the packaging elements. A method for producing a packaging as described above is also provided.

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.

In a packaging system including a packaging machine and at least one component provided in addition to the packaging machine, the packaging system includes a display and a computer unit. The system is configured to display a performance graphic on the display. The computer unit includes a fault analysis section that is configured to detect a stop or output deficit of the packaging system and, when a stop or an output deficit is detected, to determine, from a list of error sources stored in a memory, an error source causing the stop or output deficit so that the determined error source is shown on the display.

In a packaging system including a packaging machine and at least one component provided in addition to the packaging machine, the packaging system includes a display and a computer unit. The system is configured to display a performance graphic on the display. The computer unit includes a fault analysis section that is configured to detect a stop or output deficit of the packaging system and, when a stop or an output deficit is detected, to determine, from a list of error sources stored in a memory, an error source causing the stop or output deficit so that the determined error source is shown on the display.