An article selection and packing system includes at least two article housing stations and a composite article housing station spaced from the at least two article housing stations. A boom extends over the at least two article housing stations and the composite article housing station. A selection and packing assembly extends between the at least two article housing stations and the composite article housing station. The selection and packing assembly includes at least two telescoping shuttles, the at least two telescoping shuttles are movably coupled along the boom. At least two grasping assemblies coupled with the at least two telescoping shuttles, respectively. The at least two grasping assemblies are each configured to withdraw one or more articles from the at least two article housing stations, respectively, and pack the withdrawn one or more articles together at the composite article housing station.

A loading device for loading storage and transport receptacles or trays for plastic receptacles, such as plastic bottles, is disclosed which has a transport system for the trays that can be operated automatically and a transferring device for the plastic receptacles. The transferring device has a multi-gripper for securely grasping a predetermined number of plastic receptacles arranged in the form of a row. A stabilizing system is arranged in a loading station for the trays, which stabilizing system has a first support rack and a second support rack, which are arranged essentially parallel to one another and can be at least partially inserted into a tray that is to be loaded.

A device for repositioning tubes in a tube rack is presented. The device comprises a base; a mount movable relative to the base in a first and second direction; an actuator for moving the mount; grippers coupled to and movable with the mount, each gripper comprising arms with portions for gripping a tube; a biasing element coupled to the mount and to the arms to be movable relative to the mount and to move the portions towards/away from each other; a blocking element coupled to the base to engage the biasing element and to block movement of the biasing element with respect to the mount against a force where the mount is moved in the first direction to move the portions towards each other and to disengage from the biasing element when the mount is moved in the second direction to allow the portions to be moved apart.

A device for repositioning tubes in a tube rack is presented. The device comprises a base; a mount movable relative to the base in a first and second direction; an actuator for moving the mount; grippers coupled to and movable with the mount, each gripper comprising arms with portions for gripping a tube; a biasing element coupled to the mount and to the arms to be movable relative to the mount and to move the portions towards/away from each other; a blocking element coupled to the base to engage the biasing element and to block movement of the biasing element with respect to the mount against a force where the mount is moved in the first direction to move the portions towards each other and to disengage from the biasing element when the mount is moved in the second direction to allow the portions to be moved apart.

A spout holding device for holding a spout part having a communication hole, includes an elastic part capable of elastically deforming in a direction orthogonal to a first direction when compressive force or tensile force is applied to the elastic part in the first direction, wherein the elastic part applies elastic force to the spout part in three or more different directions orthogonal to the first direction to hold the spout part.

A spout holding device for holding a spout part having a communication hole, includes an elastic part capable of elastically deforming in a direction orthogonal to a first direction when compressive force or tensile force is applied to the elastic part in the first direction, wherein the elastic part applies elastic force to the spout part in three or more different directions orthogonal to the first direction to hold the spout part.

A system for forming and moving an article array including a consolidation area having a support surface for receiving and arranging rows of articles to form an article array from an article row delivery device while the consolidation area continuously stabilizingly supports the periphery of the article rows positioned on the support surface as the article rows are arranged to form the article array.

A system for forming and moving an article array including a consolidation area having a support surface for receiving and arranging rows of articles to form an article array from an article row delivery device while the consolidation area continuously stabilizingly supports the periphery of the article rows positioned on the support surface as the article rows are arranged to form the article array.

A system for forming and moving an article array including a consolidation area having a support surface for receiving and arranging rows of articles to form an article array from an article row delivery device while the consolidation area continuously stabilizingly supports the periphery of the article rows positioned on the support surface as the article rows are arranged to form the article array.

An article selection and packing system includes at least two article housing stations and a composite article housing station spaced from the at least two article housing stations. A boom extends over the at least two article housing stations and the composite article housing station. A selection and packing assembly extends between the at least two article housing stations and the composite article housing station. The selection and packing assembly includes at least two telescoping shuttles, the at least two telescoping shuttles are movably coupled along the boom. At least two grasping assemblies coupled with the at least two telescoping shuttles, respectively. The at least two grasping assemblies are each configured to withdraw one or more articles from the at least two article housing stations, respectively, and pack the withdrawn one or more articles together at the composite article housing station.