A product bagging assembly and method of manipulating a web material bag that is operable to create a bag opening that is greater than six inches and which is operable without substantially detracting from product throughput associated with use and operation of the product bagging assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the bag opening/dosing assembly includes a first actuator and a second actuator that are connected to one another such that a position of one of the actuators can be manipulated by operation of the other actuator. The product bagging assembly can be provided as a kit configured for plug and play operation with previously provided bag and product delivery systems.

A product bagging assembly and method of manipulating a web material bag that is operable to create a bag opening that is greater than six inches and which is operable without substantially detracting from product throughput associated with use and operation of the product bagging assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the bag opening/dosing assembly includes a first actuator and a second actuator that are connected to one another such that a position of one of the actuators can be manipulated by operation of the other actuator. The product bagging assembly can be provided as a kit configured for plug and play operation with previously provided bag and product delivery systems.

A filling machine for filling flexible pouch type packages that includes a transport unit arranged for intermittent, edgewise advancement of the packages from an upstream station to a downstream station. The transport unit is movable in a reciprocating manner between a first end position and a second end position, and includes a first gripping member arranged to retrieve packages from the upstream station and delivered to the filling station, a second gripping member arranged to retrieve packages from the filling station and delivered to the downstream station and a suction cup member arranged for opening the filling channel of the packages retrieved by the first gripping member. The suction cup member includes, for each package retrieved by the first gripping member, a pair of oppositely arranged suction cups movably arranged in order to engage and separate side wall sections defining the filling channel of the associated package.

A filling machine for filling flexible pouch type packages that includes a transport unit arranged for intermittent, edgewise advancement of the packages from an upstream station to a downstream station. The transport unit is movable in a reciprocating manner between a first end position and a second end position, and includes a first gripping member arranged to retrieve packages from the upstream station and delivered to the filling station, a second gripping member arranged to retrieve packages from the filling station and delivered to the downstream station and a suction cup member arranged for opening the filling channel of the packages retrieved by the first gripping member. The suction cup member includes, for each package retrieved by the first gripping member, a pair of oppositely arranged suction cups movably arranged in order to engage and separate side wall sections defining the filling channel of the associated package.

Providing a rotary packaging machine which can improve production efficiency and mass productivity, which can be rendered smaller-sized with the result of reduction in a footprint and which can cause various devices and apparatuses arranged at each packaging station to function in a stable manner. The rotary packaging machine P in accordance with the invention has four grip pairs intermittently moved to each packaging station simultaneously, and all the grip pairs include grips configured to be located on a circumference L of an imaginary circle that is concentric with a disk-shaped rotating body.

Providing a rotary packaging machine which can improve production efficiency and mass productivity, which can be rendered smaller-sized with the result of reduction in a footprint and which can cause various devices and apparatuses arranged at each packaging station to function in a stable manner. The rotary packaging machine P in accordance with the invention has four grip pairs intermittently moved to each packaging station simultaneously, and all the grip pairs include grips configured to be located on a circumference L of an imaginary circle that is concentric with a disk-shaped rotating body.

Provided herein is a system for automated dispensing and packaging of articles. Systems may include: a controller configured to receive an indication of an order to be packaged, where the order includes one or more articles; a packaging station; a web of bags, where the web of bags is fed to the packaging station; a pneumatic table configurable to support a bag disposed at the packaging station; an opening mechanism including a pneumatic nozzle to open the bag disposed at the packaging station; a loading bin configured to be inserted into the open bag and deposit the one or more articles; and a closure apparatus to seal the bag disposed at the packaging station after receiving the one or more articles.

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.

An apparatus for use in the packaging industry comprises a first member for collecting a tubular box in a flattened configuration from a store positions the tubular box in a lowered position, retaining the box with first suction means at a first wall of the box. A second member, a third member and a fourth member are provided for movement of a fifth member which, when activated in rotation, abuts and retains, via second suction means a second wall of the tubular box, causing it to rotate with respect to the first wall, to open out the tubular box. A sixth member is included, with third suction means which is moved by a system to abut and retain the box in the opened-out configuration and transfer it, following the disengagement of the first member and of the fifth member, at a receiving station.

A system and method are disclosed for forming a container from a generally flat re-configurable blank. A first portion of an outward facing surface of a blank support device is positioned proximate a first portion of a blank while the blank is in a first orientation. While the first portion of the blank is maintained in the first orientation, a second portion of said blank is rotated from the first orientation, around a second portion of the outward facing surface of the blank support device to form a blank that has a generally tubular configuration. The system and method may provide that during the rotating of said second portion of said blank, the blank is engaged on a surface side which forms an inner surface of the generally tubular configuration. Also disclosed is a system and method that includes retaining a reconfigurable blank in a holding apparatus; applying adhesive to a surface of the blank while said blank is retained in the holding apparatus.