A storage station, a process for storing, and a bottle tray (5) configured for receiving a bottle layer (7) are provided. The bottle tray has an upright side wall (12), with an upper tray opening (13) and a tray bottom (15) connected to the side wall (12). The bottle tray (5) has a movable lifting bottom (18) that lies in the loaded state (5) on the tray bottom (15) and which has a plurality of passage openings (16) for a lifting device (34) for a relative lift between the side wall (12) and the lifting bottom (18). The tray bottom (15) has a perforated plate or a plurality of struts (17) located spaced apart and enclosing the passage openings (16). The struts are fastened to the side wall (12). The bottle tray (5) has a bottom centering (19) acting between the tray bottom (15) and the lifting bottom (18).

Disclosed are a method as well as an apparatus used to transfer and place articles (12) into outer packages (16), which are open at the top and which each receive at least one article group (18), which is composed of a plurality of articles (12). In the method, at least one article group (18) is in each instance seized as a group by means of at least one handling device (46) and is placed from above into one of the outer packages (16). An article group (18), which has been seized by the handling device (46), already is compacted or will be compacted during a procedure of being placed into the outer package (16) in terms of the spacings between at least some of the individual articles (12) of the article group (18), and it is subsequently spread out.

A device supports first and second flaps on a box traveling on a conveyor, the conveyor traveling at a speed in a direction. The device includes a cam track having a selected profile. The device includes a drive mechanism, wherein at least a portion of the drive mechanism travels proximate the cam track in the direction at substantially the speed of the conveyor. First and second mounting blocks are pivotally attached to the drive mechanism, including first and second cam followers for engaging the cam track; first and second fingers; and first and second hooks attached to the first and second fingers and configured to engage and hold the first and second flaps on the box. Relative positions of the first and second fingers with respect to the box change as the drive mechanism travels along the cam track.

Packaging apparatus and methods include a plurality of article grippers driven by independently controlled motors in an end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), for picking articles, grouping articles, adjusting group pitch and placing article groups in packages where incoming articles and packages are continuously or intermittently moving and without motion of the entire EOAT in the direction in which articles and packages are picked and moved. Hole healing and incoming product registration apparatus and methods are disclosed.

Packaging apparatus and methods include a plurality of article grippers driven by independently controlled motors in an end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), for picking articles, grouping articles, adjusting group pitch and placing article groups in packages where incoming articles and packages are continuously or intermittently moving and without motion of the entire EOAT in the direction in which articles and packages are picked and moved. Hole healing and incoming product registration apparatus and methods are disclosed.

A carton packing apparatus occupying a small footprint for efficient packing of articles includes a longitudinal frame housing and an article transfer means. The longitudinal frame housing has an article accumulation platform mounted within and in line with the longitudinal direction of the frame housing, wherein articles and cartons are fed transversely relative to the longitudinal direction of the frame housing to an article loading station and a carton receiving station respectively located adjacent opposite ends of the accumulation platform. The article transfer means is movably mounted within the frame housing, the transfer means being movable over an internal pathway substantially in line with the accumulation platform between an article pick up position and article dispensing condition. In an operating condition a predetermined number of articles at the article loading station are transferred to the accumulation platform, and wherein the transfer means transfers a predetermined number of articles on the accumulation platform to the carton receiving station over the internal pathway for filling the carton with the articles.

A carton packing apparatus occupying a small footprint for efficient packing of articles includes a longitudinal frame housing and an article transfer means. The longitudinal frame housing has an article accumulation platform mounted within and in line with the longitudinal direction of the frame housing, wherein articles and cartons are fed transversely relative to the longitudinal direction of the frame housing to an article loading station and a carton receiving station respectively located adjacent opposite ends of the accumulation platform. The article transfer means is movably mounted within the frame housing, the transfer means being movable over an internal pathway substantially in line with the accumulation platform between an article pick up position and article dispensing condition. In an operating condition a predetermined number of articles at the article loading station are transferred to the accumulation platform, and wherein the transfer means transfers a predetermined number of articles on the accumulation platform to the carton receiving station over the internal pathway for filling the carton with the articles.

Provided is a method for labelling first packagings, including at least the following steps: transporting labels to a labelling zone, wherein an adhesive side of the labels is directed upward during the transport; removing the primary packagings to be labelled from a magazine device, wherein the packagings are provided in the magazine device as packaging blanks which are at least in sections flat, and are preferably removed individually from the magazine device; placing the primary packagings onto the labels and adhering the labels to the packagings, wherein the packagings are preferably pressed from above onto the labels; inserting the first labelled packagings into secondary packagings; and introducing several containers into the primary and secondary packagings.

Provided is a method for labelling first packagings, including at least the following steps: transporting labels to a labelling zone, wherein an adhesive side of the labels is directed upward during the transport; removing the primary packagings to be labelled from a magazine device, wherein the packagings are provided in the magazine device as packaging blanks which are at least in sections flat, and are preferably removed individually from the magazine device; placing the primary packagings onto the labels and adhering the labels to the packagings, wherein the packagings are preferably pressed from above onto the labels; inserting the first labelled packagings into secondary packagings; and introducing several containers into the primary and secondary packagings.

Disclosed is a method used to handle outer packages (10) with foldable top flaps (12; 12-v, 12-h, 12-l, 12-r). The handling can be carried out in association with a mechanical removal or introduction of articles (14) out of or into the outer package (10). The method provides the unfolding and/or the holding open of at least one top flap (12; 12-v, 12-h, 12-l, 12-r) in order to at least partly uncover an opening (16) to make accessible an interior space of the outer package (10), as well as providing the application of a tensile force (32) to the at least one top flap (12; 12-v, 12-h, 12-l, 12-r), the tensile force (32) being specified and/or variable over the course of the conveying phase. The invention includes a transport section (20) which carries out the method during the conveyance of outer packages (10).