A device for packaging elongated items such as firewood pieces is described herein. The device includes: an elevated structure having an upper platform for receiving the elongated items from a separate conveyor; a diverter located on or above the platform for changing the direction of movement of the elongated items; and one or more elevator shafts having open bottoms. The elevator shafts are located adjacent to the platform and configured for receiving the elongated items after contact with the diverter and for holding the elongated items on support structures while a stack of elongated items is formed. The release of the stack of elongated items from the elevator shafts occurs via the open bottoms of the elevator shafts.

A device for packaging elongated items that includes an upper platform for receiving the elongated items from a separate conveyor; a diverter mounted above the platform and two opposed elevator shafts having open bottoms. The elevator shafts are arranged laterally outward from outer edges of the platform and extend downward from the platform and are configured for receiving the elongated items after contact with the diverter and configured for holding the elongated items while a stack of elongated items is formed. The elevator shafts are provided with one or more support structures configured to hold the stack of elongated items as the stack is formed and to release the stack of elongated items from the device after the stack is formed, with the release of the stack of elongated items from the elevator shafts occurring via the open bottoms of the elevator shafts.

A packaging machine for making filter bags with infusion products includes a plurality of processing stations defining a processing path for making filter bags with infusion products and an extraction station situated immediately downstream of the processing path. The extraction station comprises a stacking unit having a guide channel to allow the ordered and continuous feeding of the filter bags and a transfer device for transferring the filter bags coming from the processing path to the stacking unit. The stacking unit includes a connecting element positioned downstream of the processing stations and upstream of the guide channel for receiving as input from the transfer device the filter bags coming from the processing path. The connecting element is connected at the outlet with the guide channel and includes a chute surface having a curved stretch shaped to allow feeding of the filter bags along a feed direction.

A packaging machine for making filter bags with infusion products includes a plurality of processing stations defining a processing path for making filter bags with infusion products and an extraction station situated immediately downstream of the processing path. The extraction station comprises a stacking unit having a guide channel to allow the ordered and continuous feeding of the filter bags and a transfer device for transferring the filter bags coming from the processing path to the stacking unit. The stacking unit includes a connecting element positioned downstream of the processing stations and upstream of the guide channel for receiving as input from the transfer device the filter bags coming from the processing path. The connecting element is connected at the outlet with the guide channel and includes a chute surface having a curved stretch shaped to allow feeding of the filter bags along a feed direction.

Provided is a weighing and packaging system including: a weighing unit which weighs and sequentially discharges articles; a discharge chute through which the articles discharged from the weighing unit pass; a foreign matter detecting unit which detects the foreign matter contained in the article passing through the discharge chute; a memory unit which stores quality information pertaining to the quality of the article based on a detection result of the foreign matter detecting unit; and a control unit which controls the memory unit, in which in a case where the foreign matter is detected by the foreign matter detecting unit with respect to the N.sup.th (N is an integer of 2 or more) article discharged from the weighing unit, the control unit controls the memory unit to forcibly store the quality information of the (N−1).sup.th article discharged from the weighing unit as a poor quality.

A storage container for a storage and dispensing station for drugs or dietary supplement products is provided. The storage container has a separating device including a plurality of channels and a retainer for preventing drugs from slipping into a channel aligned with a dispensing opening. The separating device includes an annular groove and the retainer includes a positioner that engages in the annular groove of the separating device and fixes the retainer vertically. The retainer also includes a retaining section and a holder. The holder secures the retainer against a concurrent rotation with the separating device and aligns the retaining section with the dispensing opening by the holder interacting with a circular cylindrical section of the housing.

A storage container for a storage and dispensing station for drugs or dietary supplement products is provided. The storage container has a separating device including a plurality of channels and a retainer for preventing drugs from slipping into a channel aligned with a dispensing opening. The separating device includes an annular groove and the retainer includes a positioner that engages in the annular groove of the separating device and fixes the retainer vertically. The retainer also includes a retaining section and a holder. The holder secures the retainer against a concurrent rotation with the separating device and aligns the retaining section with the dispensing opening by the holder interacting with a circular cylindrical section of the housing.

A storage container for a storage and dispensing station for drugs or dietary supplement products is provided. The storage container has a separating device including a plurality of channels and a retainer for preventing drugs from slipping into a channel aligned with a dispensing opening. The separating device includes an annular groove and the retainer includes a positioner that engages in the annular groove of the separating device and fixes the retainer vertically. The retainer also includes a retaining section and a holder. The holder secures the retainer against a concurrent rotation with the separating device and aligns the retaining section with the dispensing opening by the holder interacting with a circular cylindrical section of the housing.

A storage container for a storage and dispensing station for drugs or dietary supplement products is provided. The storage container has a separating device including a plurality of channels and a retainer for preventing drugs from slipping into a channel aligned with a dispensing opening. The separating device includes an annular groove and the retainer includes a positioner that engages in the annular groove of the separating device and fixes the retainer vertically. The retainer also includes a retaining section and a holder. The holder secures the retainer against a concurrent rotation with the separating device and aligns the retaining section with the dispensing opening by the holder interacting with a circular cylindrical section of the housing.

A tray for receiving sausages is provided. The tray includes cells which are adapted to substantially match the shape of sausages or other soft materials. The tray may be vacuum sealed to cause a relatively uniform top surface suitable for stacking. The tray may be sealed without pre-freezing the sausages and without causing significant deformation to said sausages upon thawing. The tray may be loaded in an automated manner without the use of robotic arms placing individual sausages into the tray.