A method for controlling the processing of varying shipment sets of one or more item(s) in an automated packaging system for packaging said varying shipment sets in custom-sized boxes made from cardboard blanks, said packaging system comprising a plurality of processing stations performing different operations on said shipment sets, said operations including transporting said shipments sets to and through said stations, said method comprising: acquiring information about one or more physical properties of a shipment set or the item(s) forming the shipment set, determining based on said information if the shipment set needs or allows a specific treatment in or on the transport to and through one or more of said processing stations within said packaging system, and configuring said one or more of said processing stations with instructions for said specific treatment of said shipment set.

A method for controlling the processing of varying shipment sets of one or more item(s) in an automated packaging system for packaging said varying shipment sets in custom-sized boxes made from cardboard blanks, said packaging system comprising a plurality of processing stations performing different operations on said shipment sets, said operations including transporting said shipments sets to and through said stations, said method comprising: acquiring information about one or more physical properties of a shipment set or the item(s) forming the shipment set, determining based on said information if the shipment set needs or allows a specific treatment in or on the transport to and through one or more of said processing stations within said packaging system, and configuring said one or more of said processing stations with instructions for said specific treatment of said shipment set.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods to secure a film to a container are provided. An example sealing device utilizes film from a supply of film to seal a lid onto a container. Various sizes of containers are usable with some example sealing devices. Additional features, such as printing on the film and piercing the film for ventilation and/or insertion of a straw are contemplated. One or more markings along the film may be utilized for confirming that an approved film has been loaded into the sealing device. In response, various components or features of the sealing device may be appropriately enabled or disabled. The one or more markings may also be utilized to convey data to the sealing device regarding the installed film, such as for improved operation thereof.

A self-propelled wrapping machine movable around a load, for wrapping the load with a film of plastic material, includes a self-propelled carriage with a guide, a column fixed to the carriage and slidably supporting an unwinding unit of the film, a sensor to detect surfaces and/or external edges of the load in their total extension and along a detection direction and process related signals. The wrapping machine also includes a control unit to receive the signals from the sensor, calculate a peripheral outline of plan maximum overall dimension of the load based on the surfaces and/or external edges detected by the sensor, and process a wrapping path of the wrapping machine around the load based on the peripheral outline so as to avoid collisions with the load. The control unit controls the guide to guide the wrapping machine along the wrapping path.

A self-propelled wrapping machine movable around a load, for wrapping the load with a film of plastic material, includes a self-propelled carriage with a guide, a column fixed to the carriage and slidably supporting an unwinding unit of the film, a sensor to detect surfaces and/or external edges of the load in their total extension and along a detection direction and process related signals. The wrapping machine also includes a control unit to receive the signals from the sensor, calculate a peripheral outline of plan maximum overall dimension of the load based on the surfaces and/or external edges detected by the sensor, and process a wrapping path of the wrapping machine around the load based on the peripheral outline so as to avoid collisions with the load. The control unit controls the guide to guide the wrapping machine along the wrapping path.

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).

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).

Instead of a loading line consisting only consisting of conventional belt conveyors or strap conveyors, the invention uses—in addition to a conventional feed conveyor unit (10)—a large number of vehicles (F) which move independently of one another, freely on a driving surface (3″), and are driven from below the driving surface (3″), which each carry a packaging element (V) such as a tray, which—loaded with a single slice (S) or a portion—very flexibly permit the specific assembly of portions (P), but also the buffering of partial portions.

The buffer possibility can be supplemented by a (known) buffer (17) in the form of a vertical buffer with a vertically movable storage rack (17).

Systems, apparatuses, and methods to secure a film to a container are provided. An example sealing device utilizes film from a supply of film to seal a lid onto a container. Various sizes of containers are usable with some example sealing devices. Additional features, such as printing on the film and piercing the film for ventilation and/or insertion of a straw are contemplated. One or more markings along the film may be utilized for confirming that an approved film has been loaded into the sealing device. In response, various components or features of the sealing device may be appropriately enabled or disabled. The one or more markings may also be utilized to convey data to the sealing device regarding the installed film, such as for improved operation thereof.

An assembly for detection of foreign bodies in a multihead weigher includes an image recorder and a lighting module and an image evaluation module. The multihead weigher includes weighing containers for filling with bulk material, a selection of the bulk material being emptiable into chutes combined in the shape of a funnel upon arrival of a trigger signal. The image recorder records an image series, and the lighting module and the image evaluation module output a signal upon detection of a foreign body in the image series. The image recorder includes one or more cameras for optical capturing of the funnel, the one or more cameras being arranged inside of or above the funnel and being set up to capture one or more sections of an interior surface of the funnel between two horizontal planes.