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.

An example packaging line to pack profiles having a U-shaped or a C-shaped cross-section includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor to transfer profiles. The first conveyor and the second conveyor are spaced from and parallel to each other. The example includes a head block to move upward and downward. The first conveyor and the second conveyor transfer profiles to an area beneath the head block. The example includes a rotor, carried by the head block, to couple to a first profile transferred by the first and second conveyors with a concave side of the first profile facing upwards. The rotor rotates the first profile such that the concave side of the first profile is facing downwards over a second profile, where a concave side of the second profile is facing upward, and the rotor releases the first profile to insert the first profile into the second profile.

A product packaging system comprises a plurality of product sources (2, 4, 6) delivering product to a final collating and packaging line (10). The output from each machine is delivered by separate conveying means (8) delivering the products directly into a collating conveyor (20) which in turn delivers the collated products to a packaging line. The collating conveyor comprising an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of compartments, each compartment receiving from said conveying means products to be packaged. The compartments are configured to enable their sizes to be changed, and the endless conveyor comprises a track arranged in a vertical loop and a plurality of product supporting members mounted for movement along the track, each supporting member being driven along the track and controllable independently of the other supporting members.

The invention concerns an apparatus for automatic application of lids to containers, said apparatus comprising a rotatable device unit comprising a plurality of circumferentially distributed lid holding members, a lid feeding unit, a glue application unit and a lid application unit. The lid holding members can be directed to each of the units simultaneously by rotating the rotatable device unit. The rotatable device unit further comprises an item application unit configured to fit an individual additional item onto the lid before the lid is attached to the container. The item application unit comprises an item supply unit and at least one movable gripping device configured to grip an individual additional item from the item supply unit and fit the individual additional item onto the lid. The invention also concerns a method for automatic application of lids to containers.

An automated packaging station is capable of being used to package objects. The automated packaging station includes a supply of web material, a surface (202), an aperture (206) therein, and a closing system. The automated packaging station is configured to form the web material into a pouch. The aperture (206) is configured such that an object can be inserted therethrough. The automated packaging station is configured to bias open the pouch beneath the surface such that the object inserted through the aperture falls into the pouch. The closing system is configured to close the pouch to form a package around the object in response to the object being inserted through the aperture. The object is capable of being shipped to a recipient in the package.

A system for automating packaging of varying shipment sets comprises a control unit for receiving from a database stored information on the size and number of items forming a shipment set according to a dispatch order, an information acquiring device for acquiring current information on the items being actually arranged for said shipment set, said information acquiring device being communicatively coupled with said control unit and said control unit being configured to calculate, either based on the information from said database or from the information acquiring device, the dimensions of a custom sized cardboard box for packaging the shipment set, a box forming station for forming said custom sized cardboard box having a bottom wall, four side walls and an open top, a packaging station for packaging the items forming the shipment set into said custom sized cardboard box, and a lid placing station for closing said custom sized cardboard box with an appropriate lid, wherein said control unit is configured for performing a verification using the current information from said information acquiring device and the stored information from said database to verify that the actual shipment set is formed according to the dispatch order.

An apparatus for dispensing lids has at least one magazine lane including an entrance end, an exit end, and a longitudinal length defined therebetween. The at least one magazine lane further includes a plurality of side guides along the longitudinal length for guiding the lids therebetween and a pair of rollers for carrying the lids thereon. The apparatus further has a throat plate at or near the exit end, the throat plate including an opening. At least one of the throat plate, the side guides, or the rollers is adaptable so as to accommodate different sizes and/or shapes of lids.

A cyclic packaging system for packaging product groups in folded boxes includes a supply device for supplying the product groups, a store for providing a plurality of folded box blanks, and a packing device for packaging the product groups in associated folded boxes, the packing device being arranged on the side of the supply device facing the store. The packaging system further comprises an additional packing device for packing product groups in folded boxes, the additional packing device being arranged on the side of the supply device facing away from the one packing device. Irrespective of whether the two packing devices are loaded with product groups from the same supply device, the two stores of the packing devices can be arranged on the same side of the packaging systems.

An apparatus for making a multiplicity of packages including a feeding station, a separation station which is arranged downstream of the feeding station, a single feeding track which carries at least one multiplicity of multiple sheets from the feeding station to the separation station, at least two exit tracks which are arranged downstream of the separation station. Each multiple sheet of the multiplicity of multiple sheets includes at least two portions of sheet lying on a same geometric plane. Each portion of sheet is a single sheet of the package in a flat configuration. Each package of the multiplicity of packages includes at least one product and the single sheet of the package adapted to pass from a flat configuration to a configuration coupled with the at least one product.

A plant for processing capsules for preparing beverages includes at least one rail along which a plurality of processing stations is arranged for the capsules, in each of which on each capsule preset processing is performed, in which conveying elements, each of which conveys a capsule, are movable along the rail, each conveying element being movable along the rail independently of the other conveying elements. A method for processing capsules for preparing beverages, in a processing plant for processing capsules for beverages including at least one rail along which a plurality of processing stations is arranged for the capsules, in each of which on each capsule preset processing is performed, wherein conveying elements, each of which conveys a capsule, are movable along the rail the movement speed of each conveying element is adjustable independently of the movement speed of the other conveying elements and the gap between two adjacent conveying elements, during the motion of the conveying elements, can be adjusted independently of the gap between other conveying elements that are adjacent to one another.