An enhanced apparatus (10) for filling bags containing products, in particular fruit and vegetable products, arranged in first bags (16) having dimensions smaller than second bags filled with said first bags and comprising a feeding station (12) which feeds first bags (16) to a second bag filling station (18) which fills second bags with the first bags (16), a meshed material feeding station (20) to form bands of second bags, a closing and cutting station (22) which closes and cuts second bags filled with the first bags, said filling station (18) being an intermediate station between said meshed material feeding station (20) and said closing and cutting station (22), the apparatus comprising automatic sorting and selection means, integrated in the filling station (18), which automatically sort and select the first bags (16) fed by the feeding station (12) to transportation means suitable for moving said first bags (16), after being sorted, towards collection/accumulation means comprising unloading means providing for a centered downloading of said first bags into second bags.

A method of collating packages that includes receiving a plurality of packages in a main channel of a collation module, conveying the packages in the main channel along parallel grooves having a first portion arranged perpendicularly to the main channel, and conveying the packages in the main channel along a second portion of the parallel grooves angled towards a first side of the collation module, where each package passes through first and second portions of a single groove.

A method of collating packages that includes receiving a plurality of packages in a main channel of a collation module, conveying the packages in the main channel along parallel grooves having a first portion arranged perpendicularly to the main channel, and conveying the packages in the main channel along a second portion of the parallel grooves angled towards a first side of the collation module, where each package passes through first and second portions of a single groove.

A filling machine for filling containers with fruit or vegetables products includes a transportation system for step-by-step conveying the containers to be filled along a horizontal predetermined direction; a primary plain belt conveyor system for products fed parallel to the horizontal direction and adapted to generate a main bulk filling of the containers; a secondary belt conveyor system for single products fed parallel to the horizontal direction and adapted to cooperate simultaneously with the primary belt conveyor system so as to complete the entire final filling of the containers; a motion system applied to both the principal and the secondary belt conveyor systems for a reciprocating motion of the primary and secondary belt conveyor systems in a direction parallel to the horizontal direction; and at least one weighing station for constant weighing the containers during filling.

A filling machine for filling containers with fruit or vegetables products includes a transportation system for step-by-step conveying the containers to be filled along a horizontal predetermined direction; a primary plain belt conveyor system for products fed parallel to the horizontal direction and adapted to generate a main bulk filling of the containers; a secondary belt conveyor system for single products fed parallel to the horizontal direction and adapted to cooperate simultaneously with the primary belt conveyor system so as to complete the entire final filling of the containers; a motion system applied to both the principal and the secondary belt conveyor systems for a reciprocating motion of the primary and secondary belt conveyor systems in a direction parallel to the horizontal direction; and at least one weighing station for constant weighing the containers during filling.

Disclosed are systems and methods for a dispensing cabinet incorporating an image based counting system that includes one or more imaging devices (e.g., one or more color cameras) to capture images of one or more items (e.g., pills, capsules, pharmaceutical units, items for medical use, etc.). Control circuitry of the image based counting system is configured to determine one or more properties of the one or more items based on the images. The dispensing cabinet includes a cabinet housing comprising one or more containers to hold the one or more items, which may employ mounting hardware to releasably secure the image based counting system to the cabinet housing.

Disclosed are systems and methods for a dispensing cabinet incorporating an image based counting system that includes one or more imaging devices (e.g., one or more color cameras) to capture images of one or more items (e.g., pills, capsules, pharmaceutical units, items for medical use, etc.). Control circuitry of the image based counting system is configured to determine one or more properties of the one or more items based on the images. The dispensing cabinet includes a cabinet housing comprising one or more containers to hold the one or more items, which may employ mounting hardware to releasably secure the image based counting system to the cabinet housing.

A device, system, and method for loading empty and formed six-pack bottle carriers into a larger case (i.e. a multi-pack) is provided. The packaging device includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The six-pack carriers are formed by unfolding them in the upper portion. Various components are associated with the upper portion of the packaging device. The case receives a plurality of six-pack carriers therein. The larger cases is formed by unfolding them in the lower portion of the packaging device. Various components are associated with the lower portion of the packaging device. The upper portion and lower portion operate simultaneously to efficiently produce a case have empty six-pack carriers placed therein for later filling with bottles at a downstream destination. The system includes the machine, the cases, the six-pack carriers, and the bottles, operating collectively.

An apparatus for bundling containers includes a linear conveyor, a guide element, conveying elements, and application elements, each of which applies adhesive to a portion of a container surface, The conveying elements are driven and controllable to travel along the conveyor and to circulate along the guide element. Each conveying element has a container guide that rotates relative to the conveying element. The guide element has a feed strand with central, transition, and end sections that merge into each other. The central section is further from the central axis than the end section. The distance from end section to central axis is such that containers circulating on the end section are brought into contact with adhesive on a surface of an adjacent container.

An apparatus for bundling containers includes a linear conveyor, a guide element, conveying elements, and application elements, each of which applies adhesive to a portion of a container surface, The conveying elements are driven and controllable to travel along the conveyor and to circulate along the guide element. Each conveying element has a container guide that rotates relative to the conveying element. The guide element has a feed strand with central, transition, and end sections that merge into each other. The central section is further from the central axis than the end section. The distance from end section to central axis is such that containers circulating on the end section are brought into contact with adhesive on a surface of an adjacent container.