A food product handling device includes a movable loading head having a plurality of coupling rails, a vacuum system operatively associated with the loading head, a plurality of suction devices carried by the loading head and configured to pick up and transport a food product, a plurality of mounting blocks slidably coupled to each other by the coupling rails, and an actuating device operatively associated with the mounting blocks for sliding each of the mounting blocks between a first position and a second position. Each of the suction devices is selectively coupled to the vacuum system. At least one of the suction devices coupled to each of the mounting blocks. The actuating device includes an actuating cylinder configured to displace the mounting blocks between the first position and a second position.

A box-packing system having a first conveyor, a first robot that applies suction, holds, and transports a package, and a control device. The package includes soft packaging material, and is conveyed by the first conveyor. The control device operates the first robot to move the package to a box-packing preparation area. The first robot has a suction part applying suction the package from above, an arm that moves the suction part in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and a servomotor. The servomotor drives the arm so that the suction part can apply suction to the package at a predetermined vertical location. An acquisition part of the control device acquires thickness information of the package. The determination part determines the predetermined height location based the thickness information. The command generation part drives the servomotor in response to the predetermined height location determined by the determination part.

A box-packing system having a first conveyor, a first robot that applies suction, holds, and transports a package, and a control device. The package includes soft packaging material, and is conveyed by the first conveyor. The control device operates the first robot to move the package to a box-packing preparation area. The first robot has a suction part applying suction the package from above, an arm that moves the suction part in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and a servomotor. The servomotor drives the arm so that the suction part can apply suction to the package at a predetermined vertical location. An acquisition part of the control device acquires thickness information of the package. The determination part determines the predetermined height location based the thickness information. The command generation part drives the servomotor in response to the predetermined height location determined by the determination part.

The invention relates to a packaging device (1) and method for fitting an external package (3) with a dividing element (2) and for filling a divided external package (3) with articles (4). The packaging device (1) comprises a first supply station (70) for external packages (3) that are open on one side, a second supply station (60) for expanded and/or unfolded dividing elements (2), a placement device (6) for placing the expanded and/or unfolded dividing element (2) into the external package (3), at least one holding device (9) that holds and/or stabilizes the expanded and/or unfolded dividing element (2) inside the external package (3) prior to the articles (3) being placed therein, and an article feed station (11) for placing the articles (4) into an external package (3) that is divided by the dividing element (2).

The invention relates to a packaging device (1) and method for fitting an external package (3) with a dividing element (2) and for filling a divided external package (3) with articles (4). The packaging device (1) comprises a first supply station (70) for external packages (3) that are open on one side, a second supply station (60) for expanded and/or unfolded dividing elements (2), a placement device (6) for placing the expanded and/or unfolded dividing element (2) into the external package (3), at least one holding device (9) that holds and/or stabilizes the expanded and/or unfolded dividing element (2) inside the external package (3) prior to the articles (3) being placed therein, and an article feed station (11) for placing the articles (4) into an external package (3) that is divided by the dividing element (2).

A pharmaceutical container processor for processing pharmaceutical containers includes a set of container operation stations along which a set of container operations occur. The set of container operation stations includes a storage station where pharmaceutical containers are stored; a first identification station where pharmaceutical containers are each identified; a labeling station where a label is applied to pharmaceutical containers; a second identification station where pharmaceutical containers are each identified after the label is applied; and an outlet station where pharmaceutical containers are moved to after said pharmaceutical containers are identified at the second identification station. First and second container transporters move each pharmaceutical container through the set of container operation stations. Each pharmaceutical container is transferred from the first container transporter to the second container transporter along the set of container operation stations.

The invention relates to a robotic method for loading cases on a packaging line from cases contained in a closed parallelepiped container and wherein it is proceeded with the loading of the packaging line, after opening of the container (Ca) by: /d/ insertion of a first jaw (30) of the clamp between the first face (F1) of the container and the first case (Et1) of the row of cases and, insertion of a second jaw (31) of the clamp between the last case (Etd) of the row of cases and the second face (F2) of the container, and approach of the jaws until seizing up the row of cases, /e/ piloting of the robotic arm so as to extract the row of cases from the container grasped by the motor-driven clamp (3) and load the packaging line (Lg) with the row of cases.

The invention relates to a robotic method for loading cases on a packaging line from cases contained in a closed parallelepiped container and wherein it is proceeded with the loading of the packaging line, after opening of the container (Ca) by: /d/ insertion of a first jaw (30) of the clamp between the first face (F1) of the container and the first case (Et1) of the row of cases and, insertion of a second jaw (31) of the clamp between the last case (Etd) of the row of cases and the second face (F2) of the container, and approach of the jaws until seizing up the row of cases, /e/ piloting of the robotic arm so as to extract the row of cases from the container grasped by the motor-driven clamp (3) and load the packaging line (Lg) with the row of cases.

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.