Disclosed is a method used to package article groups in outer packaging and/or to place article groups into outer packagings (22) as well as a correspondingly controllable handling apparatus and/or packaging apparatus (10). In this connection, article groups are transferred by means of a handling device (26) from a staging location (46) to a conveyor line (20) and are placed into the outer packagings (22). The conveyor line (20) in this context serves to successively transport outer packagings (22) provided and prepared for an accommodation of in each instance at least one article group that has been formed from a plurality of articles (14).

At least some of the articles (14) of a particular article group that have been placed into the outer packagings (22) by means of the handling device (26) are directed and/or guided during a placing procedure by means of a centering device (32) assigned to the conveyor line (20) and are moved along with the outer packagings (22), which are being transported there and which are in each instance to be loaded with article groups.

Disclosed is a method used to package article groups in outer packaging and/or to place article groups into outer packagings (22) as well as a correspondingly controllable handling apparatus and/or packaging apparatus (10). In this connection, article groups are transferred by means of a handling device (26) from a staging location (46) to a conveyor line (20) and are placed into the outer packagings (22). The conveyor line (20) in this context serves to successively transport outer packagings (22) provided and prepared for an accommodation of in each instance at least one article group that has been formed from a plurality of articles (14).

At least some of the articles (14) of a particular article group that have been placed into the outer packagings (22) by means of the handling device (26) are directed and/or guided during a placing procedure by means of a centering device (32) assigned to the conveyor line (20) and are moved along with the outer packagings (22), which are being transported there and which are in each instance to be loaded with article groups.

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).

The invention includes an apparatus (01) and a method for handling articles (02). The apparatus (01) includes a first conveyor (03) for supplying articles (02), a second conveyor (04) for supplying outer packagings (05), a third conveyor (06) for discharging filled outer packagings (07), and a placing surface (08) arranged between the second conveyor (04) and the third conveyor (06). The apparatus also includes a device (09) for transferring supplied outer packagings (05) from the second conveyor (04) to the placing surface (08), a device (10) for transferring articles (02) from the first conveyor (03) into outer packagings (05), and a device (11) for transferring filled outer packagings (07) from the placing surface (08) onto the third conveyor (06). The method places articles (02) into outer packagings (05), staged on a placing surface (08), from one or more article flows lined up one after the other uninterruptedly and/or with gaps between them and/or grouped. The outer packagings (05) themselves in turn are supplied independently of the articles (02) in a transport direction (41) and are transferred (91) onto the placing surface (08) individually or groupwise transversely to the transport direction (41). After the articles (02) have been placed in the outer packagings (05), they are transferred (111), in turn individually or groupwise, transversely to the transport direction (41) in order to be subsequently discharged in the direction of the transport direction (41) or opposite to it in parallel to the transport direction (41).

The invention includes an apparatus (01) and a method for handling articles (02). The apparatus (01) includes a first conveyor (03) for supplying articles (02), a second conveyor (04) for supplying outer packagings (05), a third conveyor (06) for discharging filled outer packagings (07), and a placing surface (08) arranged between the second conveyor (04) and the third conveyor (06). The apparatus also includes a device (09) for transferring supplied outer packagings (05) from the second conveyor (04) to the placing surface (08), a device (10) for transferring articles (02) from the first conveyor (03) into outer packagings (05), and a device (11) for transferring filled outer packagings (07) from the placing surface (08) onto the third conveyor (06). The method places articles (02) into outer packagings (05), staged on a placing surface (08), from one or more article flows lined up one after the other uninterruptedly and/or with gaps between them and/or grouped. The outer packagings (05) themselves in turn are supplied independently of the articles (02) in a transport direction (41) and are transferred (91) onto the placing surface (08) individually or groupwise transversely to the transport direction (41). After the articles (02) have been placed in the outer packagings (05), they are transferred (111), in turn individually or groupwise, transversely to the transport direction (41) in order to be subsequently discharged in the direction of the transport direction (41) or opposite to it in parallel to the transport direction (41).

A glass body support assembly that supports a glass container body in an upright position includes a collet body and clamping fingers that clamp onto a necked-down portion of the glass container body. The collet body has a gas purge passageway extending therethrough to deliver pressurized gas to an interior of the glass container body.

A glass body support assembly that supports a glass container body in an upright position includes a collet body and clamping fingers that clamp onto a necked-down portion of the glass container body. The collet body has a gas purge passageway extending therethrough to deliver pressurized gas to an interior of the glass container body.

A method of loading articles in cartons. The method can comprise moving a carton in a generally flat configuration in a downstream direction with a carton opening carousel, at least partially opening the carton while moving the carton with the carton opening carousel, and transferring the carton from the carton opening carousel to a carton loading carousel in a transfer region. The transferring the carton can comprise moving the carton in an upstream direction. The method further can comprise loading a plurality of articles into the carton while moving the carton in a downstream direction with the carton loading carousel.

A method of loading articles in cartons. The method can comprise moving a carton in a generally flat configuration in a downstream direction with a carton opening carousel, at least partially opening the carton while moving the carton with the carton opening carousel, and transferring the carton from the carton opening carousel to a carton loading carousel in a transfer region. The transferring the carton can comprise moving the carton in an upstream direction. The method further can comprise loading a plurality of articles into the carton while moving the carton in a downstream direction with the carton loading carousel.

A method of loading articles in cartons. The method can comprise moving a carton in a generally flat configuration in a downstream direction with a carton opening carousel, at least partially opening the carton while moving the carton with the carton opening carousel, and transferring the carton from the carton opening carousel to a carton loading carousel in a transfer region. The transferring the carton can comprise moving the carton in an upstream direction. The method further can comprise loading a plurality of articles into the carton while moving the carton in a downstream direction with the carton loading carousel.