A method for operating a packaging line of a packaging installation, wherein the packaging line includes at least one packaging machine having an infeed conveyor belt, wherein the packaging line further includes at least one transport belt which is disposed upstream of the infeed conveyor belt, wherein the method includes the steps of: i) defining and/or determining a current machine performance of the at least one packaging machine; ii) determining an output request for the at least one transport belt; and iii) defining and setting a transport speed of the at least one transport belt, wherein the transport speed is defined as a function of the determined output request.

A machine for filling a tertiary container with secondary containers is provided. The machine includes a frame and a tray loading station positioned to receive a plurality of streams of the secondary containers. The machine also includes a front gate at an upstream end of the tray loading station, the front gate moveable between a first position, in which the secondary containers are obstructed from passing downstream, and a second position, in which the secondary containers are not obstructed. The machine further includes a back stop proximate a downstream end of the tray loading station, the back stop moveable between a first, upstream position and a second, downstream position. The tray loading station is sized such that when a first row of secondary containers is positioned against the back stop in the first position, a portion of an upstream row of secondary containers is positioned directly above the front gate.

A machine for filling a tertiary container with secondary containers is provided. The machine includes a frame and a tray loading station positioned to receive a plurality of streams of the secondary containers. The machine also includes a front gate at an upstream end of the tray loading station, the front gate moveable between a first position, in which the secondary containers are obstructed from passing downstream, and a second position, in which the secondary containers are not obstructed. The machine further includes a back stop proximate a downstream end of the tray loading station, the back stop moveable between a first, upstream position and a second, downstream position. The tray loading station is sized such that when a first row of secondary containers is positioned against the back stop in the first position, a portion of an upstream row of secondary containers is positioned directly above the front gate.

An assembly for forming bags, having a belt drive for feeding a film at a film speed to a former shoulder to form a tubular film, a set of jaws movable at a jaw speed to engage and seal a tubular film to form a closed bag, and a sensor assembly to provide a volume signal indicative of a volume of the closed bag, wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one of the film speed and the jaw speed in response to the volume signal.

An assembly for forming bags, having a belt drive for feeding a film at a film speed to a former shoulder to form a tubular film, a set of jaws movable at a jaw speed to engage and seal a tubular film to form a closed bag, and a sensor assembly to provide a volume signal indicative of a volume of the closed bag, wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one of the film speed and the jaw speed in response to the volume signal.

A package forming unit comprises plural jaw units, each having at least one respective operative assembly for engaging the tube and for at least partially forming the advancing tube, one respective sealing element for at least partially transversally sealing the tube along a transversal sealing band and a pair of interaction tabs for interacting with the tube. Each jaw unit is controllable as a function of the tube filling level in an operative configuration in which the respective operative assembly, the respective sealing element and the respective pair of interaction tabs are controlled in respective active states while advancing along respective operative portions and a partial operative configuration in which the respective sealing element is controlled in the respective active state and the respective operative assembly and/or the respective pair of interaction tabs is/are controlled in a respective inactive state while, in use, advancing along the respective operative portion.

A package forming unit comprises plural jaw units, each having at least one respective operative assembly for engaging the tube and for at least partially forming the advancing tube, one respective sealing element for at least partially transversally sealing the tube along a transversal sealing band and a pair of interaction tabs for interacting with the tube. Each jaw unit is controllable as a function of the tube filling level in an operative configuration in which the respective operative assembly, the respective sealing element and the respective pair of interaction tabs are controlled in respective active states while advancing along respective operative portions and a partial operative configuration in which the respective sealing element is controlled in the respective active state and the respective operative assembly and/or the respective pair of interaction tabs is/are controlled in a respective inactive state while, in use, advancing along the respective operative portion.

A conveyor capable of detecting a cut line of portion packaging bags, and a medicine inspection support system are provided. The conveyor conveys the portion packaging bags to an inspecting machine, the portion packaging bags being divided one by one with use of a heat seal portion and perforations by a portion packaging machine and being continuously discharged in a longitudinal posture from the portion packaging machine. The conveyor includes a posture changing device configured to change the longitudinal posture of the portion packaging bags to a lateral posture; and a detector configured to detect a cut line of the portion packaging bags.

A weighing and packaging system includes a plurality of weighing machines, a plurality of packaging machines, and a control unit. The plurality of weighing machines are configured to weigh articles supplied thereto. The plurality of packaging machines, each of which forms a weighing and packaging unit with a corresponding weighing machine among the plurality of weighing machines, are configured to receive a supply of the articles weighed and discharged by the corresponding weighing machine, and package the articles supplied thereto. The control unit is configured to, in a case where a problem occurs in at least one of weighing by the weighing machine and packaging by the packaging machine in any of the weighing and packaging units, change processing capacities of the weighing machine and the packaging machine of at least some of the weighing and packaging units other than the weighing and packaging units in which the problem occurs.

A weighing and packaging system includes a plurality of weighing machines, a plurality of packaging machines, and a control unit. The plurality of weighing machines are configured to weigh articles supplied thereto. The plurality of packaging machines, each of which forms a weighing and packaging unit with a corresponding weighing machine among the plurality of weighing machines, are configured to receive a supply of the articles weighed and discharged by the corresponding weighing machine, and package the articles supplied thereto. The control unit is configured to, in a case where a problem occurs in at least one of weighing by the weighing machine and packaging by the packaging machine in any of the weighing and packaging units, change processing capacities of the weighing machine and the packaging machine of at least some of the weighing and packaging units other than the weighing and packaging units in which the problem occurs.