The invention describes a filling device with a discharge container for filling upwardly open packaging containers with at least one opening flap for opening and closing a discharge opening for the product, the opening flap being moveable along a path between a closed position and an open position by means of a driving element. At least one delay device is provided by means of which the movement of the opening flap may be delayed on a section of the path.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a packaging machine for packaging articles, apparatus for a packaging machine and to a method of packaging articles. The packaging machine comprises an article manipulation apparatus. The article manipulation apparatus comprises a first conveyor for conveying packages. The packages each comprises a carton having at least one displaceable article disposed therein. An article orientation device comprises a tool head movable synchronously in a downstream direction with the first conveyor. The tool head has at least one article gripper for engaging with a displaceable article in the carton. The at least one article gripper is rotatably mounted to the tool head. An article displacement device comprises at least one article displacement tool. The article displacement tool is receivable in an opening in a carton to engage and displace the displaceable article such that it protrudes through a second opening in said carton.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a packaging machine for packaging articles, apparatus for a packaging machine and to a method of packaging articles. The packaging machine comprises an article manipulation apparatus. The article manipulation apparatus comprises a first conveyor for conveying packages. The packages each comprises a carton having at least one displaceable article disposed therein. An article orientation device comprises a tool head movable synchronously in a downstream direction with the first conveyor. The tool head has at least one article gripper for engaging with a displaceable article in the carton. The at least one article gripper is rotatably mounted to the tool head. An article displacement device comprises at least one article displacement tool. The article displacement tool is receivable in an opening in a carton to engage and displace the displaceable article such that it protrudes through a second opening in said carton.

An adapter is configured to hold a flip-top vial. The vial includes a body and a lid. The body of the vial has a base and a sidewall extending therefrom. The body defines an interior including a product space configured for housing at least one product and having an opening leading to the interior. The lid is configured to be attached to the sidewall by a hinge. The adapter includes a receiving portion having an opening configured to receive the body, and a base portion extending from the receiving portion. The base portion has a shelf portion proximate the opening. The shelf portion is configured to engage the lid of the vial when the lid is in a predetermined opened position in order to maintain the lid in the predetermined opened position with respect to the body.

An adapter is configured to hold a flip-top vial. The vial includes a body and a lid. The body of the vial has a base and a sidewall extending therefrom. The body defines an interior including a product space configured for housing at least one product and having an opening leading to the interior. The lid is configured to be attached to the sidewall by a hinge. The adapter includes a receiving portion having an opening configured to receive the body, and a base portion extending from the receiving portion. The base portion has a shelf portion proximate the opening. The shelf portion is configured to engage the lid of the vial when the lid is in a predetermined opened position in order to maintain the lid in the predetermined opened position with respect to the body.

A machine for packaging articles (15, 15′) with a conveyor designed to feed a preformed carton (14) in a feed direction, the said machine comprising means (11) for placing an article to be packaged on the said carton and mobile article holding means (18, 19), which hold the article during placement, limiting the speed of the article to that of the carton, the said machine being characterised by the fact that the said placement means comprise a conveyor belt (11) for placement with at least one curved section (12), designed to convey the article along a curvilinear route, and an alignment station (34) designed to place the article on the said placement conveyor belt in a position that ensures the article is placed from the placement conveyor belt onto the carton in a suitable position, the said alignment means comprising a mobile undercarriage (35) which moves transversely to the article feed direction and a conveyor belt 37) on top of the undercarriage, which is designed to feed the article, while on the mobile undercarriage, in the article feed direction.

A machine for packaging articles (15, 15′) with a conveyor designed to feed a preformed carton (14) in a feed direction, the said machine comprising means (11) for placing an article to be packaged on the said carton and mobile article holding means (18, 19), which hold the article during placement, limiting the speed of the article to that of the carton, the said machine being characterised by the fact that the said placement means comprise a conveyor belt (11) for placement with at least one curved section (12), designed to convey the article along a curvilinear route, and an alignment station (34) designed to place the article on the said placement conveyor belt in a position that ensures the article is placed from the placement conveyor belt onto the carton in a suitable position, the said alignment means comprising a mobile undercarriage (35) which moves transversely to the article feed direction and a conveyor belt 37) on top of the undercarriage, which is designed to feed the article, while on the mobile undercarriage, in the article feed direction.

One embodiment provides a pharmaceutical counting device (160, 800) including a base portion (810) and a counting tray (830) provided on the base portion (810). The counting tray (830) is tilted about a first axis to empty medications into a first package and tiled above a second axis to empty medications into a second package. The pharmaceutical counting device (160, 800) also includes a camera system (950) to capture images of the counting tray (830), the packages, and a label on the packages. The pharmaceutical counting device (160, 800) verifies whether a correct number and type of medications are received on the counting tray (830).

A vibrating device (14) ensures the ordered rearrangement of folding boxes (3) in a receptacle (2) for an evacuation conveyor (8), provided with driving elements (12) whose vertices define a horizontal transport plane (S2). The device comprises: a movable support (15) able to support a receptacle (2) loaded with folding boxes (3), the support (15) having a contact surface (S1) designed to be in contact with the receptacle (2), and at least one controllable actuator (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) comprising a displaceable end connected to the support (15) and able to displace the support (15) between: a retracted position in which the contact surface (S1) is positioned beneath the horizontal transport plane (S2), allowing a contact between the receptacle (2) and the driving elements (12), and a deployed position in which the contact surface (S1) is positioned above the horizontal transport plane (S2), preventing the contact between the receptacle (2) and the driving elements (12),
the actuator (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) being likewise designed to cause the support (15) to vibrate about the deployed position in order to reorder the disposition of the folding boxes (3) contained in the receptacle (2).

A vibrating device (14) ensures the ordered rearrangement of folding boxes (3) in a receptacle (2) for an evacuation conveyor (8), provided with driving elements (12) whose vertices define a horizontal transport plane (S2). The device comprises: a movable support (15) able to support a receptacle (2) loaded with folding boxes (3), the support (15) having a contact surface (S1) designed to be in contact with the receptacle (2), and at least one controllable actuator (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) comprising a displaceable end connected to the support (15) and able to displace the support (15) between: a retracted position in which the contact surface (S1) is positioned beneath the horizontal transport plane (S2), allowing a contact between the receptacle (2) and the driving elements (12), and a deployed position in which the contact surface (S1) is positioned above the horizontal transport plane (S2), preventing the contact between the receptacle (2) and the driving elements (12),
the actuator (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) being likewise designed to cause the support (15) to vibrate about the deployed position in order to reorder the disposition of the folding boxes (3) contained in the receptacle (2).