A packaging machine includes a rotatable apparatus and an ejection system. The rotatable apparatus rotates a plurality of funnels around a first central rotation axis at a first rate of rotation while a plurality of containers move continuously along an arcuate path while remaining axially aligned with separate, respective bottom openings of the plurality of funnels. The ejection system ejects separate pluralities of material articles from a fixed ejection position at a fixed time interval, and the rotatable apparatus receives the separate pluralities of material articles at a fixed material receiving position. The rotatable apparatus directs a same quantity of material articles into each continuously moving container based on rotating around the first central rotation axis such that each separate funnel moves continuously through the material receiving position concurrently with the rotatable apparatus receiving at least one plurality of material articles at the fixed material receiving position.

A rotary machine includes a fixed internal body, a rotating external body and a lubrication system to lubricate one or more components of the internal body or external body during rotation. The lubrication system includes: an inlet conduit for a lubricant, formed in the internal body; one or more distribution conduits for the lubricant; a lubricant collection chamber between the external body and the internal body; and an outlet conduit communicating with the collection chamber.

A rotary machine includes a fixed internal body, a rotating external body and a lubrication system to lubricate one or more components of the internal body or external body during rotation. The lubrication system includes: an inlet conduit for a lubricant, formed in the internal body; one or more distribution conduits for the lubricant; a lubricant collection chamber between the external body and the internal body; and an outlet conduit communicating with the collection chamber.

Storage and dispensing stations for a blister machine for separable small piece goods include a storage container having a housing and a separating device having a coupling device with a lower coupling portion and having a holding device with an actuation member. The storage container is releasably arranged on a dispensing station having a rotary drive having a hub seated on a shaft and having an opening member for interaction with the actuation member. The lower coupling portion, the hub, the actuation member, and the opening member are set relative to one another so that when arranging the storage container on the dispensing station prior to an effective interaction between the actuation members and the opening member, an effective interaction occurs between the lower coupling portion and the hub, and the hub is rotatable in the de-energized state. Methods of operating storage and dispensing stations are also provided.

Storage and dispensing stations for a blister machine for separable small piece goods include a storage container having a housing and a separating device having a coupling device with a lower coupling portion and having a holding device with an actuation member. The storage container is releasably arranged on a dispensing station having a rotary drive having a hub seated on a shaft and having an opening member for interaction with the actuation member. The lower coupling portion, the hub, the actuation member, and the opening member are set relative to one another so that when arranging the storage container on the dispensing station prior to an effective interaction between the actuation members and the opening member, an effective interaction occurs between the lower coupling portion and the hub, and the hub is rotatable in the de-energized state. Methods of operating storage and dispensing stations are also provided.

A masking module includes a masking apparatus situated proximate to a path of a container. The masking apparatus is configured to apply a mask to at least a portion of a barcode of the container as the container travels along the path. The masking module also includes a controller in communication with the masking apparatus. The controller is configured to selectively actuate the masking apparatus when the container passes by the masking apparatus along the path.

A masking module includes a masking apparatus situated proximate to a path of a container. The masking apparatus is configured to apply a mask to at least a portion of a barcode of the container as the container travels along the path. The masking module also includes a controller in communication with the masking apparatus. The controller is configured to selectively actuate the masking apparatus when the container passes by the masking apparatus along the path.

Storage and dispensing stations for a blister machine include a storage container with a coupling device having a lower coupling portion and a holding device with an actuation member, and a dispensing station with a rotary drive having a hub disposed in a first opening in a top surface of the dispensing station and an opening member to interact with the actuation member and having a separate second opening in the top surface of the dispensing station disposed adjacent to the first opening. The lower coupling portion, the hub, the actuation member and the opening member provide a first interaction between the lower coupling portion and the hub prior to providing a second interaction between the actuation member and the opening member when arranging the storage container on the dispensing station. Piece good systems and methods of operating piece good systems are also provided.

Storage and dispensing stations for a blister machine include a storage container with a coupling device having a lower coupling portion and a holding device with an actuation member, and a dispensing station with a rotary drive having a hub disposed in a first opening in a top surface of the dispensing station and an opening member to interact with the actuation member and having a separate second opening in the top surface of the dispensing station disposed adjacent to the first opening. The lower coupling portion, the hub, the actuation member and the opening member provide a first interaction between the lower coupling portion and the hub prior to providing a second interaction between the actuation member and the opening member when arranging the storage container on the dispensing station. Piece good systems and methods of operating piece good systems are also provided.

A feeder bowl and preparation system for packaging stick-like objects including a feeder bowl, vee shaped spacing conveyor, and a collator mechanism which permits a robotic pick-up station sufficient time to pick and place the stick-like object. The system simplifies programming the transfer of the objects by presenting a desired amount of product for a specific picker and allowing time to pick and place the object, the system eliminates a feed rate by a robotic process in the system, the system allows for essentially higher feed rate overall due to an oriented pick-up area presentation, and the system provides a sanitary design compatible with a transfer of food products in a food industry.