A lidding machine with a conveyor 7 for conveying containers and a set of jaws 11 positioned at opposite sides respectively of the containers. The jaws move towards and each other over the conveyor and upwards away from the conveyor to lift one or more containers 22 off the conveyor and urge each container into contact with a lid 23 supported over the conveyor by a picking head 19 arranged to move on a rotating support 21 to transport lids between a lid magazine 16 and a position where lids and containers can be fitted together.

An applying unit for applying lids to necks of containers may be provided. The applying unit may include a conveying device configured to advance the containers along a path in an advancement direction; a group of applying heads, each applying head configured to screw a lid onto a corresponding neck; and a movement device configured to move the group of applying heads along the advancement direction, so that each applying head may be coupled to a corresponding neck along a portion of the path. The movement device may be configured to act on a common support element configured to support the applying heads of the group, so as to synchronously move the applying heads along the advancement direction.

The present invention describes a method (600, 600a) of forming bitumen bags (605) for packaging bitumen products into blocks or slabs. Each block/slab of bitumen (200,200a,200b,200c) is encapsulated in the bitumen bag, which is composed of a bitumen compound (160). The bitumen compound (160) is made up of about 10-30% by weight of natural bitumen and about 5-25% by weight of a synthetic rubber polymer and copolymers. The bitumen compound (160) is melted with the bitumen content and is fully miscible with the molten bitumen, leaving no residue but enhances the physical properties of the resultant bitumen mixture.

A telescopic cap-supply that supplies caps for closing containers includes a cap passage having a length-adjustable section. Adjustment of a length of the length-adjustable section causes the length-adjustable section to transition between an extended state and a collapsed state. First, second, and third segments form the cap passage. Each of these segments is secured to an adjoining segment in such a manner that two adjoining segments are movable relative to each other.

A device, system, and method are provided for grinding, dispensing, and packaging a granular material into a receptacle to be obtained by a user. The device can include: a user interface; a canister comprising a dispensing mechanism and a grinder; a packaging system configured to physically manipulate and position a receptacle within the device, thereby eliminating the need for manual handling by the user; a receptacle-storage configured to house a plurality of receptacles and from which the packaging system can obtain a receptacle; a capping station configured to apply a covering onto a filled receptacle to prevent spillage and waste; an inventory database to store inventory information; a communication system to facilitate internet connectivity; and a recommendation system to recommend various recipes to the user. The description also discloses a system of interconnected kiosks for automatically grinding, dispensing, and packaging granular materials.

A method for capping vessels containing biological samples is described providing a cap supply with a plurality of caps for the vessels within compartments in a predefined geometrical arrangement. The cap supply is introduced through an interface into a preanalytical system including a housing, and is reversibly docked to a feeder for inserting the cap supply into the preanalytical system and retrieving it therefrom. Subsequently, a cap is retrieved from the supply by a robotic manipulator, and transported to a workstation holding the vessels. A vessel is then capped using the manipulator. The steps from introducing the cap supply into the preanalytical system to capping a vessel are repeated a certain number of times or until all caps of the supply have been retrieved. Finally, the cap supply is retrieved from the preanalytical system. A preanalytical system and a cap supply for capping vessels containing biological samples is also provided.

Method and systems for accumulation are described. In one embodiment, a dispensing station includes a receiving opening, a dispensing opening and a storage area. The dispensing station receives and dispenses a container. A transportable storage system includes multiple partitions disposed on a carrier portion to define multiple carriage sections. The carriage sections are electronically identifiable and selectively hold or eject the container. A bin apparatus for receiving the container includes a movable portion to selectively hold and release the container. A control unit for commanding the bin apparatus to dispense the container to a desired carriage section of the transportable storage system is provided. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.

Method and systems for accumulation are described. In one embodiment, a dispensing station includes a receiving opening, a dispensing opening and a storage area. The dispensing station receives and dispenses a container. A transportable storage system includes multiple partitions disposed on a carrier portion to define multiple carriage sections. The carriage sections are electronically identifiable and selectively hold or eject the container. A bin apparatus for receiving the container includes a movable portion to selectively hold and release the container. A control unit for commanding the bin apparatus to dispense the container to a desired carriage section of the transportable storage system is provided. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.

Assembly for manufacturing a medical bag from a plastic film, with filling means for filling the bag with a liquid through a port of the bag, with closing means for closing the port after filling of the bag, with different stations in which various production process steps are performed, and with a transport unit for transferring the bag being produced along these stations, the assembly being adapted to perform filling of the bag and closing of the bag at a combined filling and closing station.

Automated systems, methods for constructing card multipacks, and a card multipack constructing using the same are provided. An automated system for constructing card multipacks includes: a movable conveyor including a plurality of tooling plates, each configured to receive a height adjusting member; a first carrier placing station configured to place a first carrier portion of a carrier on a tooling plate of the plurality of tooling plates; a first card placing station configured to place a first stored value card on the first carrier portion; a first data capture station configured to read a first card bar code of the first stored value card in-line in the automated system; and a software system adapted to verify the first card bar code with a data file.