A lid forming device of a cardboard box using a first flap with a slit and a second flap to be extended after being bent into a mountain shape is disclosed. The lid forming device includes first and second folding mechanisms. The fist folding mechanism folds the first flap in a direction of closing the opening. The second folding mechanism bends the second flap into a mountain shape and inserts part of the second flap into the slit of the first flap while extending the second flap. The second folding mechanism includes first and second retaining units. The first retaining unit retains a first face of the second flap located between a free end of the second flap and a bend line set beforehand in the second flap. The second retaining unit retains a second face of the second flap located between an anchored end and the bend line.

An automatic packaging system for continuously and automatically packaging products without interruption using triple circulation systems. The triple circulation systems include an unpackaged product feeding circulation system continuously feeding unpackaged products via circulation, a package feeding circulation system continuously feeding packages via circulation, and a packaged product circulation conveying system continuously transporting packaged products wrapped in the packages via circulation. The automatic packaging system continuously and automatically packages products without interruption, thereby efficiently improving productivity.

A method of filling packaging with pouches of product comprises conveying a plurality of spaced apart chutes along a first feed path. Each chute is loaded with pouches of product at a chute loading station. Erect boxes are conveyed along a second feed path to a chute unloading station wherein the second feed path is substantially parallel to the first feed path at the chute unloading station. The pouches of product are transferred from the chutes into interior spaces of the erect boxes at the chute unloading station as the chutes move along the first feed path and the erect boxes move along the second feed path. The chutes are returned to the chute loading station to be filled with pouches of product.

A system includes a conveyor that transports a carriage carrying a foodstuff along a path. A bag dispenser contains multiple bags and moves a first bag into the path. A paddle includes a hinge at a trailing edge of the paddle. The paddle includes an actuator that moves a leading edge of the paddle relative to the trailing edge between retracted and extended positions. The leading edge of the paddle moves into a mouth of the first bag as the leading edge is moved from the retracted to the extended position. While the paddle is in the extended position, movement of the carriage and the foodstuff underneath the paddle rotates the leading edge of the paddle about the hinge to open the mouth of the first bag such that continued movement of the carriage and the foodstuff moves the foodstuff through the mouth and into the first bag.

This invention relates to an apparatus for packing products in cartons; the apparatus includes a first feed line for feeding cartons, a second feed line for feeding products, a plurality of pushing elements, each of which includes a first carriage configured to run on a first rail defining an active path and a second carriage configured to run on a second rail defining an inactive path; a diverting unit is provided which is configured to divert the pushing elements in transit towards the active path or the inactive path and which includes a first diverting rail and a second diverting rail; also provided are detection means for detecting the presence of the carton and/or of the product and switching means for switching the diverting unit.

A cartoning machine for packaging one or more products in a respective carton includes a product conveyor for conveying the products along an advancement direction, a transport device for transporting the carton along a transport path, an insertion zone wherein the products face an aperture of the carton and are inserted into the carton. The product conveyor includes a first belt on which first edges are mounted and a second belt on which second edges are mounted, each first edge defining with a respective second edge a pair of containment edges of the products. A mutual position of the first belt and of the second belt is adjustable so as to adjust accordingly a distance between the first edges and the second edges to adapt the pair of containment edges to a dimension of the products. The product conveyor further includes a first cam path and a second cam path, each first edge including a first cam follower engaging the first cam path and each second edge including a second cam follower engaging the second cam path, such that the first edges and the second edges are movable transversely to the advancement direction towards the carton at the insertion zone.

Apparatus includes a conveyor and pusher elements, mounted on carriages predisposed slidably on support rods fixed transversely to belts of the conveyor to displace the articles transversely to an advancement direction thereof. Idler rollers are below the carriages. First and second sliding pathways, alternating in sliding the rollers, are of such a shape that when the rollers pass along the first sliding pathway, the carriages maintain a stationary position on the support rods and when the rollers pass along the second sliding pathway, the carriages translate along the support rods so that the pusher elements translate transversely to displace and push the articles transversely. A switching device abuts the rollers and deviates them so that the rollers can be inserted and slide in either the first or the second sliding pathway.

A pushing apparatus (100) for pushing and transferring products, comprising: a pusher element (A), conformed so as to abut a side of a product (P), or a group (P) of products, arranged on a conveyor (C) and which is to be pushed and transferred along a transfer direction (Z) transversal to the conveyor (C); a counter-pusher element (B), conformed and dimensioned so as to be positionable above and facing the product (P), or the group (P) of products, arranged on the conveyor (C) and follow the product (P), or the group of products, during at least a part of the transfer thereof along the transfer direction (Z) that is transversal to the conveyor (C) by means of the pusher element (A). The pushing apparatus (100) comprises a linear driving unit (U) for movement of the pusher element (A) and the counter-pusher element (B).

A conveyor system is provided including a conveyor and a plurality of functional trays that are removably attachable to the conveyor. Each tray includes a plate having first and second dimensions that are orthogonal to each other, and the plate includes a coupler configured to be removably attached to the conveyor with the second dimension of the plate being in parallel with a moving direction of the conveyor. The plurality of functional trays include one or more of an envelope-opening mechanism, an item-pushing mechanism, an envelope-closing mechanism, an item-wrapping mechanism, and a tray-height-adjustment mechanism. For example, the item-pushing mechanism includes a pusher slidably coupled to the plate, and a linear actuator configured to move the pusher relative to the plate along the first dimension so as to push an item off the functional tray.

Apparatus includes a conveyor and pusher elements, mounted on carriages predisposed slidably on support rods fixed transversely to belts of the conveyor to displace the articles transversely to an advancement direction thereof. Idler rollers are below the carriages. First and second sliding pathways, alternating in sliding the rollers, are of such a shape that when the rollers pass along the first sliding pathway, the carriages maintain a stationary position on the support rods and when the rollers pass along the second sliding pathway, the carriages translate along the support rods so that the pusher elements translate transversely to displace and push the articles transversely. A switching device abuts the rollers and deviates them so that the rollers can be inserted and slide in either the first or the second sliding pathway.