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.

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.

A method includes separating a portion of a flattened tube of stock packing material to a custom length to form a pouch pre-form and closing a first end of the pouch pre-form leaving a second end of the pouch pre-form open. The method can include placing product into the pouch pre-form and closing the one open end of the pouch pre-form to form a closed pouch containing the product.

A method includes separating a portion of a flattened tube of stock packing material to a custom length to form a pouch pre-form and closing a first end of the pouch pre-form leaving a second end of the pouch pre-form open. The method can include placing product into the pouch pre-form and closing the one open end of the pouch pre-form to form a closed pouch containing the product.

An apparatus for tamping the contents of a container having a bottom surface prone to bending and/or cracking during tamping. The 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 apparatus for tamping the contents of a container having a bottom surface prone to bending and/or cracking during tamping. The 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 movement unit for articles includes a first carousel device having a first transporter member and first gripping heads mounted thereon and provided to move the articles into a single-row configuration. The movement unit further includes a second carousel device to receive the articles from the first carousel device, having a second transporter member and second gripping heads mounted thereon. Each second gripping head is configured to receive the articles from a respective first gripping head and to move the articles into a multi-row configuration.

A movement unit for articles includes a first carousel device having a first transporter member and first gripping heads mounted thereon and provided to move the articles into a single-row configuration. The movement unit further includes a second carousel device to receive the articles from the first carousel device, having a second transporter member and second gripping heads mounted thereon. Each second gripping head is configured to receive the articles from a respective first gripping head and to move the articles into a multi-row configuration.

Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.

A stabilizing upper tray for stabilizing cartridges during automated filling operations includes fill ports matching cartridge support locations in a lower support tray. Each fill port includes a bore, a circular recess to engage the upper rim of a cartridge, and an inwardly tapered needle-engaging surface adapted to be engaged by a fluid injection needle; a counterbore extends between the bore and the circular recess. As the upper tray is lowered over the cartridges, the enlarged recess of each fill port engages a corresponding cartridge and guides it into a vertical orientation within the counterbore. During filling operations, a mis-aligned fluid injection needle engages the inwardly tapered needle-engaging surface of the stabilizing upper tray and is guided through the fill port toward the cartridge. A method is also disclosed to form such a stabilizing upper tray through conversion of a conventional lower support tray.