Disclosed is a method for packaging articles (2). Hereby, outer packages (3) are moved by a first conveying device (10). Temporally following this, the outer packages (3) are moved by a second conveying device (20), which second conveying device (20) is located next to the first conveying device (10). Furthermore, articles (2) are inserted into a respective outer package (3), while the respective outer package (3) is located on the first conveyor (10) and/or while the respective outer package (3) is located on the second conveyor (20).

It is intended, that the outer packages (3) are received on the first conveyor (10) by format parts (5) and, together with their respective format part (5), are transferred to the second conveyor (20) located next to the first conveyor (10).

Furthermore, it is provided that the outer packages (3), which will be continuously arranged on the format parts until then, will be removed from the format parts (5) together with the inserted articles (2) and the format parts (5) will then be returned to the first conveyor (10) for renewed seizure of outer packages (3).

A bag supply system supplies a packaging bag to a storing position where a sandwich is stored, the bag supply system which includes an opening forming device configured to form an opening at a bag opening of the packaging bag, and a bag opening device configured to grip each of a first side edge portion and a second side edge portion of the opening in an opening direction, the opening direction being a direction in which the opening is opened, and open the bag opening by widening the opening in the opening direction.

There is disclosed a bag having a tubular body with a top open end and a bottom closed end. The tubular body has a larger open diameter at the top open end. The tubular body narrows into a narrower open diameter adjacent to a bottom closed end. The tubular body in a flattened two-fold condition has a pair of side edges extending from a top edge to a bottom edge. The top edge delimits the top open end. The bottom edge delimits the bottom closed end. The pair of side edges are generally parallel to one another in a first portion adjacent to the top edge.

A packaging machine includes a series of stations or assemblies, including a carton feeding system and a product conveyor that receives a series of articles or products at a first, upstream or intake end of the packaging machine. The products generally can be grouped into a series of products, such as for forming six-packs, four-packs or other package configurations, and will be wrapped by or loaded into a series of carton blanks, after which the loaded cartons will be moved through a discharge station. The discharge station meters the loaded cartons or packages for discharge from the packaging machine.

The present disclosure relates to a discharge system for discharging a plurality of containers from a tubular storage assembly having a plurality of interconnected elongated guiding elements, wherein the interconnected elongated guiding elements are configured to be maintained in a tubular arrangement. The discharge system may have a tubular storage assembly support configured to support the tubular storage assembly, and a discharge device configured to receive the containers from the tubular storage assembly in the receiving portion and to move the removed containers from the receiving portion towards the discharge portion. The receiving portion of the discharge device includes a docking ring configured to engage the free ends of respective elongated guiding elements and to position the engaged elongated guiding elements into the predetermined target tubular arrangement.

The present disclosure relates to a discharge system for discharging a plurality of containers from a tubular storage assembly having a plurality of interconnected elongated guiding elements, wherein the interconnected elongated guiding elements are configured to be maintained in a tubular arrangement. The discharge system may have a tubular storage assembly support configured to support the tubular storage assembly, and a discharge device configured to receive the containers from the tubular storage assembly in the receiving portion and to move the removed containers from the receiving portion towards the discharge portion. The receiving portion of the discharge device includes a docking ring configured to engage the free ends of respective elongated guiding elements and to position the engaged elongated guiding elements into the predetermined target tubular arrangement.

A packaging machine includes a series of stations or assemblies for packaging a series of products. A carton feeding system and a product conveyor that receives a series of articles or products are provided at a first, upstream or intake end of the packaging machine. The carton feeding system feeds carton blanks into registration with products, which generally can be grouped to form 4, 6, 8 packs, etc. Thereafter, the product groups, with the carton blanks applied thereto, will be moved through one or more downstream folding and wrapping or packaging assemblies or stations of the packaging machine.

A method and system are disclosed for forming a can from a re-configurable blank. A blank is also disclosed that may be a paper based blank and may be of multi-layer construction. The method may comprise: (a) supporting the blank in a first orientation; (b) positioning a first portion of an outward facing surface of a blank support device proximate a first portion of the blank while the blank is in the first orientation; (c) while the first portion of the blank is in the first orientation, rotating a second portion of the blank around a second portion of the outward facing surface of the blank support device; and (d) rotating a third portion of the blank from the first orientation, around a third portion of the outward facing surface of the blank support device. A generally tubular side wall may thus be formed for a can.

A packaging machine hopper is provided for holding a stack of packaging articles with each article in a generally horizontal orientation. The hopper comprises a support for holding at least part of the stack at an angle to vertical.

An apparatus for dispensing a single box for containing foodstuffs includes a housing, a lift subassembly, and a transfer subassembly. The housing at least partially defines an inner area. The lift subassembly is coupled to the housing and disposed at least partially within the inner area. The lift subassembly includes a nest configured to support a plurality of boxes disposed in a stack and translate with respect to the housing in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. The transfer subassembly is coupled to the housing and disposed at least partially within the inner area. The transfer subassembly includes a vacuum suction cup. The vacuum suction cup is configured to operatively engage a first box of the plurality of boxes to remove the first box from the stack and pivot the first box about a rotational axis to a surface outside of the inner area.