An inline vending machine for ice and water vending installed within a store wall allowing a user to purchase ice and water without entering the store. A shipping frame for shipping and installation of the insulated wall into the store wall is also disclosed.

[Problem] Providing a packaging method used in a bag-feeding and packaging apparatus, which can realize speed-up of the bag-feeding and packaging apparatus without limitation of movement acceleration due to the spilling or scattering of an article during movement and which can realize a larger amount of packaging in a short time, and the bag-feeding and packaging apparatus implementing the packaging method.

[Overcoming Means] In the packaging method used in a bag-feeding and packaging apparatus P in accordance with the present invention, packaging processes are performed while a packaging bag F is intermittently moved to packaging stations 1 to 9 together with a mover 32, so that an article is packaged, and the packaging stations 1 to 9 include an article (a fluid) filling station 5 where an article filling process of filling the packaging bag with the article is performed. In the article filling station 5, a bag mouth of the packaging bag F is closed before movement to a subsequent packaging station (a steam deaeration/seal part preheating station) 6 after the article filling process has been performed.

An apparatus for packaging containers of devices for pharmaceutical use includes a robotic arm movable from a gripping position, in which it picks up a container previously sealed by at least one protective sheet, to a release position in which it inserts the container into a bag through a suitable opening provided on a side of the bag; wherein the robotic arm is connected to at least one position control camera configured to read coordinates of a midpoint of the opening with respect to a lying plane on which the bag lies and/or an angle of rotation of the bag with respect to an axis perpendicular to the lying plane, so as to ensure the correct positioning and release of the container inside the bag.

An apparatus for packaging containers of devices for pharmaceutical use includes a robotic arm movable from a gripping position, in which it picks up a container previously sealed by at least one protective sheet, to a release position in which it inserts the container into a bag through a suitable opening provided on a side of the bag; wherein the robotic arm is connected to at least one position control camera configured to read coordinates of a midpoint of the opening with respect to a lying plane on which the bag lies and/or an angle of rotation of the bag with respect to an axis perpendicular to the lying plane, so as to ensure the correct positioning and release of the container inside the bag.

A system for alignment of big bags prior to product filling. The system includes a first alignment arrangement configured to rotate an inflated big bag. The first alignment arrangement including a first drive configured to operate a first rotation part, a counter hold, and a displacement arrangement for displacing the first alignment arrangement and/or the counter hold relative to a big bag.

The system may include a sensor arrangement configured to detect a rotational orientation of the inflated big bag and adapted to provide a sensor output based thereon, and a controller configured to receive the sensor output and control the first drive to rotate the inflated big bag based on the sensor output.

A method of alignment of big bags prior to product filling, a computer program configured for executing acts of the method and a computer readable medium for storing the computer program.

A system for alignment of big bags prior to product filling. The system includes a first alignment arrangement configured to rotate an inflated big bag. The first alignment arrangement including a first drive configured to operate a first rotation part, a counter hold, and a displacement arrangement for displacing the first alignment arrangement and/or the counter hold relative to a big bag.

The system may include a sensor arrangement configured to detect a rotational orientation of the inflated big bag and adapted to provide a sensor output based thereon, and a controller configured to receive the sensor output and control the first drive to rotate the inflated big bag based on the sensor output.

A method of alignment of big bags prior to product filling, a computer program configured for executing acts of the method and a computer readable medium for storing the computer program.

An apparatus comprising a conveyor with a conveyor belt and a series of stacking towers spaced along the length of the conveyor belt and secured to the conveyor belt. Each of the stacking towers has a chamber adapted for receiving fragile goods. A drive gear is coupled to the conveyor belt for advancing the stacking tower with goods in the chamber to a baler, which is configured to place a mouth of one of the plurality of empty packages over the stacking tower with goods in the chamber. The conveyor is configured so that further advancement of the conveyor belt by the drive gear causes the stacking tower to tilt so that the goods slide into the package and the package slides off the stacking tower, in each case under the force of gravity. Method for packaging fragile goods using stacking towers is provided.

An apparatus comprising a conveyor with a conveyor belt and a series of stacking towers spaced along the length of the conveyor belt and secured to the conveyor belt. Each of the stacking towers has a chamber adapted for receiving fragile goods. A drive gear is coupled to the conveyor belt for advancing the stacking tower with goods in the chamber to a baler, which is configured to place a mouth of one of the plurality of empty packages over the stacking tower with goods in the chamber. The conveyor is configured so that further advancement of the conveyor belt by the drive gear causes the stacking tower to tilt so that the goods slide into the package and the package slides off the stacking tower, in each case under the force of gravity. Method for packaging fragile goods using stacking towers is provided.

A packaging machine includes an indexing mechanism (210), a base (220), and a clamping arrangement (250). The indexing mechanism moves a web (10) of preformed bags along a path of travel. The base (220) is downstream of the indexing mechanism (210) along the path of travel and supports an engagement member (240) that includes a finger (242) having a beveled end (244). The clamping arrangement (250) supports a gripper (271) that includes a beveled surface (274) and a gripping surface (272). The base (220) further includes an engagement recess (222). The engagement member (240) is positioned within the engagement recess (220) and the beveled end (274) of the gripper (271) is capable of being disposed within the engagement recess. The indexing mechanism is configured to reverse index the web when the beveled end (274) of the gripper (271) is disposed within the engagement recess (222) so that the finger (242) and the gripper (271) are inserted into the top of one of the bags.

A packaging machine includes an indexing mechanism (210), a base (220), and a clamping arrangement (250). The indexing mechanism moves a web (10) of preformed bags along a path of travel. The base (220) is downstream of the indexing mechanism (210) along the path of travel and supports an engagement member (240) that includes a finger (242) having a beveled end (244). The clamping arrangement (250) supports a gripper (271) that includes a beveled surface (274) and a gripping surface (272). The base (220) further includes an engagement recess (222). The engagement member (240) is positioned within the engagement recess (220) and the beveled end (274) of the gripper (271) is capable of being disposed within the engagement recess. The indexing mechanism is configured to reverse index the web when the beveled end (274) of the gripper (271) is disposed within the engagement recess (222) so that the finger (242) and the gripper (271) are inserted into the top of one of the bags.