Apparatuses and methods for tamping the contents of a container are disclosed. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a tamp head for tamping the contents of the container; and a container support assembly structured and arranged to temporarily support the bottom surface of the container during tamping, the container support assembly comprising a support element having a protrusion extending upward from a substantially flat and horizontal upper surface, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the container.

An ice bagger is provided. The ice bagger includes an ice hopper into which ice is disposed from an ice manufacturer. The ice hopper further includes an ice agitator. The ice hopper defines an ice trough positioned beneath the ice hopper. An ice auger is housed inside the ice trough. The ice auger transports ice to an ice delivery chute. A hatch is positioned beneath the ice delivery chute, upon which the bag rests while filling. The ice delivery chute and the hatch define a bag filling area such that, when bags are present in the bag filling area, the bags are positioned to be filled. A scale is positioned on the hatch. The scale weighs the ice being deposited into the bag. When the bag is full, the bag is sealed by a sealer. When the bag is sealed, the hatch opens and the bag of ice is deposited in an bag depository. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

An ice bagger is provided. The ice bagger includes an ice hopper into which ice is disposed from an ice manufacturer. The ice hopper further includes an ice agitator. The ice hopper defines an ice trough positioned beneath the ice hopper. An ice auger is housed inside the ice trough. The ice auger transports ice to an ice delivery chute. A hatch is positioned beneath the ice delivery chute, upon which the bag rests while filling. The ice delivery chute and the hatch define a bag filling area such that, when bags are present in the bag filling area, the bags are positioned to be filled. A scale is positioned on the hatch. The scale weighs the ice being deposited into the bag. When the bag is full, the bag is sealed by a sealer. When the bag is sealed, the hatch opens and the bag of ice is deposited in an bag depository. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Systems and methods for manufacturing and inserting a predetermined number of material-filled pouches into containers are disclosed. A system includes a pouch providing system comprising a plurality of lanes, wherein each one of the plurality of lanes includes a pouch making machine and a hold-back structure. The system also includes a conveyor system structured and arranged to move a plurality of containers into alignment with the plurality of lanes. The system further includes a controller structured and arranged to control the hold-back structure in each one of the plurality of lanes such that the pre-determined pouches are inserted into the plurality of containers when the plurality of containers are aligned with the plurality of lanes.

Systems and methods for manufacturing and inserting a pre-determined number of material-filled pouches into containers are disclosed. A system includes a pouch providing system comprising a plurality of lanes, wherein each one of the plurality of lanes includes a pouch making machine and a hold-back structure. The system also includes a conveyor system structured and arranged to move a plurality of containers into alignment with the plurality of lanes. The system further includes a controller structured and arranged to control the hold-back structure in each one of the plurality of lanes such that the pre-determined pouches are inserted into the plurality of containers when the plurality of containers are aligned with the plurality of lanes.

Apparatuses and methods for tamping the contents of a container are disclosed. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a tamp head for tamping the contents of the container; and a container support assembly structured and arranged to temporarily support the bottom surface of the container during tamping, the container support assembly comprising a support element having a protrusion extending upward from a substantially flat and horizontal upper surface, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the container.

A method for operating a packaging machine having at least one electric drive motor, the drive motor driving at least one functional unit of the packaging machine in a program-controlled manner when producing packaging using the following steps: (a) loading a parameter set into the control of the packaging machine, the parameter set containing at least one load parameter which limits the torque or the current consumption of the drive motor to a maximum when producing packaging; (b) operating the packaging machine for producing packaging, the maximally occurring actual value of the torque mustered at the drive motor or the current consumed by the drive motor being measured during operation; (c) determining a new load parameter as a function of the maximum actual value; (d) saving the new load parameter in a parameter set allocated to the packaging to be produced.

A variable height fill station for filling containers with ready mixed compositions, includes a hopper, a dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the hopper, an inner tube having a first inner end, and an opposite second inner end, an outer tube having a first outer end telescopingly receiving the second inner end of the inner tube, and an opposite second outer end, a support frame supporting the second outer end, and providing an actuator mounting point, and a linear actuator connected at a work end to the second inner end, and at an opposite end to the support frame, so that linear reciprocation of the actuator moves the inner tube relative to the outer tube, thus adjusting an operational height of the dispensing nozzle.

The invention relates to a dispensing device (40) for being disposed in the forming tube (42) of a tubular bag machine (01) for the portioned dispensation of a flowable, in particular powdery, product (46), having at least one screw conveyor (43) discharging the product (46), said screw conveyor (43) protruding into a screw tube (41) with its longitudinal axis and being able to be rotationally driven by a drive, and having a flow barrier (45) fastened at the lower end of the screw tube (41), the amount of the product (46), which trickles down when the screw conveyor (43) is stopped, being able to be reduced by the flow barrier (45), at least one first receiving contour being provided at the flow barrier (45), and at least one second receiving contour being provided at the lower end of the screw tube (41), and a locking bolt being able to be inserted into and/or pushed through the first receiving contour and second receiving contour when disposing the flow barrier (45) at the lower end of the screw tube (41) in order to fixate the flow barrier (45) between the locking bolt and the two receiving contours at the lower end of the screw tube (41) in a form-fit manner.

The invention relates to a dispensing device (40) for being disposed in the forming tube (42) of a tubular bag machine (01) for the portioned dispensation of a flowable, in particular powdery, product (46), having at least one screw conveyor (43) discharging the product (46), said screw conveyor (43) protruding into a screw tube (41) with its longitudinal axis and being able to be rotationally driven by a drive, and having a flow barrier (45) fastened at the lower end of the screw tube (41), the amount of the product (46), which trickles down when the screw conveyor (43) is stopped, being able to be reduced by the flow barrier (45), at least one first receiving contour being provided at the flow barrier (45), and at least one second receiving contour being provided at the lower end of the screw tube (41), and a locking bolt being able to be inserted into and/or pushed through the first receiving contour and second receiving contour when disposing the flow barrier (45) at the lower end of the screw tube (41) in order to fixate the flow barrier (45) between the locking bolt and the two receiving contours at the lower end of the screw tube (41) in a form-fit manner.