A packaging system for high flexibility and speed box-last packaging comprises one or more dimensional scanning sensors that are configured to scan a group of one or more target products that are to be boxed and gather dimension information describing physical dimensions of the group of one or more target products. The system also comprises one or more packaging-production machines that are configured to generate custom-made packaging templates that conform to a pre-determined set of packaging template types. Additionally, the system comprises a packaging template buffer that comprises physically divided sections that contain multiple packaging templates selected from the pre-determined set of packaging template types that are generated by the one or more packaging-production machines. Each of the packaging templates are organized within the physically divided section based upon packaging template type.

A method, apparatus and program product perform automatic load profiling to optimize a wrapping operation performed with a stretch wrapping machine. Automatic load profiling may be performed, for example, to determine a density parameter for a load that is indicative of load stability such that one or more control parameters may be configured for a wrapping operation based upon the density parameter. Automatic load profiling may also be performed, for example, to detect a load with a nonstandard top layer, e.g., a load with a top or slip sheet, a load with an easily deformable top layer, a load with a ragged top surface topography and/or a load with an inboard portion, such that a top layer containment operation may be activated during wrapping to optimize containment for the load.

A method, apparatus and program product perform automatic load profiling to optimize a wrapping operation performed with a stretch wrapping machine. Automatic load profiling may be performed, for example, to determine a density parameter for a load that is indicative of load stability such that one or more control parameters may be configured for a wrapping operation based upon the density parameter. Automatic load profiling may also be performed, for example, to detect a load with a nonstandard top layer, e.g., a load with a top or slip sheet, a load with an easily deformable top layer, a load with a ragged top surface topography and/or a load with an inboard portion, such that a top layer containment operation may be activated during wrapping to optimize containment for the load.

A self-propelled wrapping machine movable around a load to wrap the load with a plastic film in a wrapping cycle, comprising a self-propelled carriage; a upright fixed to the carriage and slidably supporting an unwinding unit provided at least with a reel of film; a first gripping unit that is supported by the carriage, and is movable and arranged to hold and unwind an initial flap of film from the unwinding unit in an initial step of the wrapping cycle; and a second gripping unit that is supported by the carriage, and is movable and arranged to position and release an anchoring element on the initial flap of film in the initial step of the wrapping cycle so as to fix the initial flap of film to a supporting plane and to grasp and lift the anchoring element from the supporting plane so as to disengage it from the initial flap of film after at least one turn of the self-propelled wrapping machine around the load wrapping the load with the film supplied by the unwinding unit.

A self-propelled wrapping machine movable around a load to wrap the load with a plastic film in a wrapping cycle, comprising a self-propelled carriage; a upright fixed to the carriage and slidably supporting an unwinding unit provided at least with a reel of film; a first gripping unit that is supported by the carriage, and is movable and arranged to hold and unwind an initial flap of film from the unwinding unit in an initial step of the wrapping cycle; and a second gripping unit that is supported by the carriage, and is movable and arranged to position and release an anchoring element on the initial flap of film in the initial step of the wrapping cycle so as to fix the initial flap of film to a supporting plane and to grasp and lift the anchoring element from the supporting plane so as to disengage it from the initial flap of film after at least one turn of the self-propelled wrapping machine around the load wrapping the load with the film supplied by the unwinding unit.

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.

Customized boxes for packaging one or more items therein can have item placement indicia printed, applied, or projected thereon. The boxes can include a plurality of side wall panels and a plurality of flaps extending from the plurality of sidewall panels. The plurality of flaps can be configured to form top and bottom surfaces of the customized boxes. The item placement indicia can be printed, applied, or projected on an interior surface of one or more of the side wall panels. The item placement indicia represent desired placements for the one or more items to be packaged in the customized boxes.

A box packing apparatus includes a transport unit configured to transport a group of articles arranged in a state in which at least some of the articles overlap with each other to a predetermined position, a holding unit configured to hold a cardboard box having an opening with long sides and short sides, and a transfer unit configured to transfer the group of articles from the predetermined position into the cardboard box. The holding unit can hold the cardboard box in a first posture in which the long side is located downward and the opening is directed laterally. The transfer unit transfers the group of articles in a state in which rows of the group of articles are arranged in a row along the long side of the cardboard box.

Various aspects of the subject disclosure relate to a compounder system having a cartridge that includes controllable fluid pathways. One or more rotary piston pump/valves may be used to move fluid and/or gasses through the various fluid pathways of the cartridge. For example, the cartridge may include a dedicated rotary piston pump/valve for each process that moves fluid and/or gas through the cartridge. When turning, the rotary piston pump/valve acts as a pump to move the fluid or gas, and when the rotary piston pump/valve stops turning, it effectively acts as a shutoff valve, preventing any fluid flow. Magnetic couplers for the cartridge may be provided on a pump head of the compounder system.

A unit dose container production system (10) is disclosed where a unit dose container (130) is evacuated and thereafter loaded with a radioactive fluid while remaining at a single location. In this regard, the production system (10) uses a first conveyor (12) to sequentially load unit dose containers (130) into an empty container receptacle (24) of a second conveyor (20) at a first location (90). The second conveyor (20) may be operated to dispose a container receptacle (24) at each of the first location (90), a second location (100), and a third location (110). A unit dose container (130) at the second location (100) is evacuated and thereafter loaded with a radioactive fluid, and is thereafter moved to a third location (110) by the second conveyor (20). The unit dose container (130) is removed from the second conveyor (20) at the third location (110), and thereafter the radioactivity content of a unit dose container (130) may be determined, such as at an ionization chamber or the like.