A method for packaging and processing products in a continuously operating production line, including filling individual packaging containers with products in a filling station; dispensing the filled containers to an individualizing device in multiple tracks by a dispensing station, the individualizing device transferring the packaging containers onto a single track of a conveyor; transporting the containers by the conveyor one after another to at least one additional processing station and operating the individualizing device in one of three operating modes, dependent upon the respective situation:

a) a normal mode in which the packaging containers are transferred from the dispensing station onto the single track of the conveyor,
b) an on-stock mode in which the packaging containers are transferred from the dispensing station to a temporary store, and
c) a low-load mode in which the packaging containers are transferred from the temporary store onto the single track of the conveyor.

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 method for processing of glass containers includes: simultaneously subjecting the glass containers to a first processing step; and simultaneously subjecting the glass containers to a second processing step after the first processing step. At least one of before or during at least one of the first processing step or the second processing step an outer container surface of each glass container is contact-free or in contact with a material having a lower hardness than that of the glass container or only in contact with such materials.

A produce packing robot is provided comprising a plurality of heads for picking up items of produce from a plurality of pick-up locations, and moving the items of produce and dropping them off at a plurality of drop-off locations. The plurality of heads move together in a first direction on a common rail. The robot may also comprise a range imaging camera and controller for sensing the location of the drop-off points dynamically.

A produce packing robot is provided comprising a plurality of heads for picking up items of produce from a plurality of pick-up locations, and moving the items of produce and dropping them off at a plurality of drop-off locations. The plurality of heads move together in a first direction on a common rail. The robot may also comprise a range imaging camera and controller for sensing the location of the drop-off points dynamically.

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 food product handling device is provided. The food product handling device can include a movable loading head having a plurality of rails and a vacuum system operatively associated with the head. In addition, a plurality of suction devices carried by the head and configured to pick up and transport a food product as the head is moved can be provided. A plurality of mounting blocks can be slidably coupled to the rails where at least one suction device is coupled to each mounting block. An actuating device can be operatively associated with the mounting blocks such that each mounting block is configured to slide between a first position and a second position.

A food product handling device is provided. The food product handling device can include a movable loading head having a plurality of rails and a vacuum system operatively associated with the head. In addition, a plurality of suction devices carried by the head and configured to pick up and transport a food product as the head is moved can be provided. A plurality of mounting blocks can be slidably coupled to the rails where at least one suction device is coupled to each mounting block. An actuating device can be operatively associated with the mounting blocks such that each mounting block is configured to slide between a first position and a second position.

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.