The present invention allows a beverage manufacturer to package variety packs of beverages while it is filling various beverages. The improved system that carries out the method includes an onsite accumulator that eliminates the long-standing practice of packaging variety packs at a separate location from where the beverages are packed.

A weigh-in-motion scale system for a linear synchronous motor conveyor and a method for weighing objects on a linear synchronous motor conveyor are described herein. In one embodiment, the weigh-in-motion scale system includes a support structure for supporting the following: a weigh cell, a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track, a vehicle for transporting an object, and an object; and a weigh cell on the support structure on which a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track rests directly or indirectly. In one embodiment, the method includes transporting a vehicle with an object thereon along a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track; and at a weighing station while the vehicle with the object thereon is being transported, weighing the section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track, vehicle, and object to determine the weight of the object.

A modular packaging facility has independent packaging units configured to receive one or more product loaded supports. The upper tool and the lower tool of each unit are relatively movable the one with respect to the other between at least a first position, allowing placement of the supports in the respective seats of the lower tool, and a second position, allowing coupling of a film portion of said film to said one or more product loaded supports received by the lower tool. Each unit has a vacuum arrangement and/or a controlled atmosphere arrangement and is configured to execute a packaging cycle wherein gas is removed and/or injected via holes in the supports and/or via nozzles placed between the support and the respective film portion. The process and the infrastructure may be used to contemporaneously process and pack supports of different types.

The invention relates to an output unit for a provision individually per track of sheet material for placing beneath products fed on two or multiple tracks, in particular beneath food portions, said output unit comprising a draw-in device that is configured to draw in individually per track a respective one material web of the sheet material per track and that in particular has at least one driven draw-in shaft and at least one draw-in pressure unit; a separation device that is configured to separate the sheet material from the material webs; and an ejection device that is configured to discharge sheet material on two or multiple tracks and that comprises a driven ejection roller and an ejection counter-unit that forms an ejection gap for the sheet material together with the ejection roller, wherein the ejection roller is jointly associated with at least two tracks.

A packaging plant of groups of absorbent sanitary articles able to create various types of customized packages in relation to the needs of consumers, automatically and without interruptions in the production of absorbent sanitary articles. The present invention also relates to a method for managing a packaging plant. The present invention also relates to a transport apparatus for absorbent sanitary articles, as well as to a method for transporting absorbent sanitary articles.

The invention relates to a method for packaging objects (2) which are included in a plurality of objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group and the shape of which is such that the objects included in the plurality of objects can roll along a surface, characterised in that the objects (2) included in the plurality of objects are deposited onto a solid surface, referred to as the deposition surface (1), of a system (10) for packaging the objects, the deposition surface (1) being substantially horizontal, suitable for receiving the objects included in the plurality of objects and elastically deformable such that the deposition of each object on the deposition surface (1) creates, under the weight of the object concerned, a recess (3) in the deposition surface (1) which tends to wedge the object in the recess (3), then the objects included in the plurality of objects deposited onto the deposition surface (1) and held in a position

Provided are a method and an apparatus for extruding into a tube and filling the tube at a high speed and simultaneously sealing the tube. Specifically provided is a method for producing a polymer tube, containing a liquid therein and being sealed at constant intervals, the method including an extrusion step of continuously melt-extruding a polymer material through a die into at least one tube, while feeding a liquid into the tube to obtain at least one liquid-containing tube; and sealing step of discontinuously pressing the at least one liquid-containing tube between a pair of pressurizing members at constant intervals to cause pressure-bonding before the tube solidifies, while continuously taking up the extruded tube.

A tray for receiving sausages is provided. The tray includes cells which are adapted to substantially match the shape of sausages or other soft materials. The tray may be vacuum sealed to cause a relatively uniform top surface suitable for stacking. The tray may be sealed without pre-freezing the sausages and without causing significant deformation to said sausages upon thawing. The tray may be loaded in an automated manner without the use of robotic arms placing individual sausages into the tray.

Apparatuses and methods for tamping the contents of a container are disclosed. An embodiment of an 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 unit for the control or management of articles includes a plant including an operating line including an upstream section for making the articles, including a log saw for cutting rolls off elongate logs, a packaging section including a packing section where the articles or rolls are packed, and a bagging section where the packs are placed in bags and/or a palletizing section where the packs or bags are placed on pallets. A conveying section transports products between the upstream section and the packaging section and/or between one packaging section and another downstream. A process controller controls the functioning of the plant sections. The unit includes a device for detecting and/or lighting a face of the product or pack and which is adapted to produce different images of the face, to exhibit different states of reflection of the light that is incident upon the face.