The invention relates to a discharge control device, comprising a hopper (1) receiving a metered product amount where it is deposited, discharge control elements (3) movable between a closed position and an open position by a driving mechanism, and a fill tube (2) connecting the discharge control device with a fill nozzle of the form-fill-seal machine whereby a bag is filled with product, wherein the driving mechanism of the discharge control elements (3) comprise a motor (7) driving the movement of one of the discharge control elements (3), and a synchronizing connecting rod (9) synchronizing the movement of the discharge control element (3) driven by the motor (7) with the other discharge control element (3). The invention allows filling bags reliably and more quickly.

The present application deals with a grid flap, comprising a multiplicity of vertical and horizontal grid struts, a frame which surrounds the grid struts, wherein a vertical and a horizontal grid strut respectively overlap in a crossing point, characterized in that the crossing points of the grid struts are made of one piece. As the grid is self-supporting because of its topology (made of one piece) and the overlapping of two grid struts can be avoided, double areas or cavities can be avoided, which contributes to a hygienic design of the grid flap.

A filler head apparatus 20 for hygienically filling and emptying containers 22 through a fitment 24 incorporated with the container 22 includes a cylindrical outer housing 30 for receiving a hollow bore inner cylinder 32 which is actuated to simultaneously reciprocate and rotate about a central axis 33 within the outer housing. A transfer tube assembly 34 is mounted to the inner cylinder 32 to travel with the inner cylinder between an extended position engaged with the fitment 24 and a retracted position disengage from the fitment. When the transfer tube assembly is engaged with the fitment, flowable content or product may be transferred to or from the container 22. A fitment cap assembly 36 is also mounted to the inner cylinder 22 to travel with the inner cylinder to remove the cap 38 of the fitment 24 prior to either filling or emptying the container 22, and then to retract to a standby position while the container is filled/emptied, and thereafter replacing the fitment cap after filling/emptying has been completed.

A circular distribution apparatus for distributing loose products has a top portion (17) with an inlet (19) positioned centrally relative to a vertical central axis, a base portion (7) comprising an annular horizontal floor (11); a plurality of openable and closable outlets (23) provided in the annular floor (11); a side wall (9) surrounding entirely the annular floor (11); a central elevation (13) disposed between the annular floor (11) and the inlet (19); and a vibrator (51) configured to vibrate the base portion (7) so that products received on the base portion (7) circulate around the elevation (13) on the annular floor (11). The top portion (17); the elevation (13); the annular floor (11); and the side wall (9) provide a housing (3) comprising a distribution chamber (5), where at least the elevation (13), the annular floor (11) and the side wall (9) are provided integrally.

An automated packing system, which may include a transfer station is described. In an example implementation, system may include an item-consolidation area that receives items, a carton receiving area that receives a carton, and a structure that holds the item-consolidation area vertically higher than the carton-receiving area. The system may also include a passage between the item-consolidation area and the carton-receiving area. The passage that may allow the items to pass from the item-consolidation area and the carton in the carton-receiving area. The system may include an actuation mechanism that controls movement of the items between the item-consolidation area and the carton-receiving area.

The invention relates to a device comprising a filling unit for filling containers with a product. The invention furthermore relates to a system comprising such a device and to a harvesting machine provided with such a system. Lastly, the invention relates to a method for filling containers with a product by means of a filling unit.

A product output device for a product supply system, in which a first product supply device and a second product supply device provide product amounts in a first collecting container and a second collecting container. Both collecting containers are provided with respective first closure flaps and second closure flaps. As soon as the collecting containers are positioned above the product receiving device, the closure flaps can open in order to drop the product into the product receiving device. The collecting container, comprising the first collecting container and the second collecting container, can be pivoted to an output position of the first collecting container, or to a output position of the second collecting container. Herein, the pivoting movement to the respectively different output positions begins before the first closure flaps have closed.

Methods and systems for packaging a plurality of objects are disclosed. The system includes a base tray having a first end and a second end, an object reservoir positioned at the first end, a dispensing guide positioned at the second end, and a column guide disposed between the reservoir and the dispensing guide. The column guide is configured to convey objects from the reservoir to the dispensing guide using gravitational forces via a plurality of longitudinally extending guiding columns. A tilt tray having a front edge and a back edge is positioned above the column guide. The tilt tray has a front edge and a back edge, and is anchored to pivot between a forward-engaged position and a backward-engaged position. When the tilt tray is in the backward-engaged position, the back edge is positioned to prevent object movement along the column guide, while the front edge is positioned to allow object movement along the column guide and into the dispensing guide. When the tilt tray is in the forward-engaged position, the front edge is positioned to prevent object movement along the column guide and into the dispensing guide, while the back edge is positioned to allow objects to pass underneath the back edge. The system is sized and configured for packaging golf balls in interchangeable object containers.

An apparatus (100) for counting and unloading pharmaceutical articles, comprising: an accumulation chamber (60), for receiving pharmaceutical articles falling from the descent channels (40) and having an unloading mouth (63) for unloading the pharmaceutical articles, and a closing element (65) of the unloading mouth (63) movable between a first closed position (01) of the unloading mouth (63) and a second open position (02) for opening the unloading mouth (63) and for enabling the unloading of the pharmaceutical articles. The closing element (65) is configured and conformed in such a way as to comprise a first abutment surface (R1) and a second abutment surface (R2) which are arranged at an angle to one another, in such a way that with the closing element (65) positioned in the first closed position (01), the first abutment surface (R1) is arranged in the accumulation chamber (60) inclined and with a first angle with respect to a first internal wall (61) of the accumulation chamber (60) defining a first accumulation volume (V1) for a first group of pharmaceutical articles between the first abutment surface (R1) and the first internal wall (61), and the second abutment surface (R2) is arranged in the accumulation chamber (60) inclined and with a second angle with respect to a second internal wall (62) of the accumulation chamber (60), defining a second accumulation volume (V2) for a second group of pharmaceutical articles between the second abutment surface (R2) and the second internal wall (62).

A medicine dispensing apparatus gives a sense of stable operation of discharge of excessive medicines when used with general-purpose medicine feeders. A temporary reserving structure is provided at the lower end portion of a medicine guide structure configured to guide medicines discharged from a general-purpose medicine feeder of a non-cassette, fixed container portion type so as to fall down, the temporary reserving structure being operable to temporarily reserve the medicines and cause the medicines to collectively fall down. When it is detected that an excessive medicine has been discharged from the medicine feeder, packing operation is temporarily stopped and the temporary reserving structure is caused to reserve the medicines, and an operation to draw out medicine feeder mount portions is allowed, and thereafter resumption of the packing operation is allowed when it is detected that the medicine feeder mount portions are drawn out and pushed back.