The present invention relates to machines and apparatuses for manufacturing and filling containers, specifically to machines and apparatus for transporting flexible pouches between manufacturing and filling stations with the ability to open and close the flexible pouch. The apparatus includes a movable base with a pair of side arms. Each of the side arms is movable between a first position and a second position. A center arm is attached to the base. The center arm is disposed between the pair of side arms. A gripping mechanism is disposed at an end portion of each of the side arms and the center arm. The pouches are moved between production stations by movement of the base. The present disclosure also includes a method for opening, closing, and moving a flexible pouch between one or more production stations.

The invention relates to a supply device for the supply of filled sacks to a palletizing device, comprising a main supply belt for the supply of a first row of filled sacks on a sliding area of the palletizing device, wherein beneath the main supply belt at least one secondary feed belt is assembled for the supply of another row of filled sacks on the sliding area beneath a first row of filled sacks.

A palletizing device for a piling of layers from at least two rows of filled sacks to a sack stacking comprising a sliding device with a sliding area for the formation of a layer of filled sacks and a supply device with at least a conveyor belt for the supply of filled sacks in a feed position on the sliding area, wherein the sliding device comprises a sliding table beneath the sliding area and a slider for sliding of the filled sacks from a sliding position on the sliding area on the sliding table, wherein the conveyor belt is performed in a way that a supply distance between a feed position and the sliding position is smaller than a sliding distance between the sliding position and a frame of the sliding device at the supply edge of the conveyor belt.

A conveying system employs independently controlled flights. The flights are controlled separately from a conveying surface using a linear transport system. The linear transport system allow the position of the flights to be controlled based on a parameter, such as the length of a conveyed object. The flights are pivotally mounted to a mover of the linear transport system and can pivot relative to the conveying surface to allow the flights to fit in a space between an end of carryway and a receptacle.

A robotically-operated gripping device is provided and includes a frame assembly, a vacuum device, a clamping device, and a robotic arm. The vacuum device is connected to the frame assembly and configured to selectively attach to and position at least a portion of an object. The clamping device is connected to the frame assembly and provided for selectively clamping the object attached to the vacuum device. The robotic arm is connected to the frame assembly and provided for selectively positioning the vacuum device and the gripping device.

An apparatus for supplying spout attachment bags including a first transfer device for transferring a spout attachment bag in a horizontal orientation, a positioning device for receiving and horizontally positioning the spout attachment bag transferred from the first transfer device, a second transfer device for transferring upward the spout attachment bag positioned by the positioning device and changing the spout attachment bag from the horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation so that the spout attachment opening faces upward and is horizontal, and a detection device. The position of the spout attachment opening on the positioning device is detected by the detection device and is compared to a preset reference position, so that any amount of deviation between the two positions is corrected, thus keeping the height positions of the spout attachment openings of the spout attachment bags changed to a vertical orientation steady.

An order fulfillment system and method includes storing a plurality of inventory items in a warehouse and a plurality of customer orders in a data base, wherein the inventory items make up the customer orders. Some of the orders being a single item order having only one inventory item assigned to that order and other of the orders being multiple item orders having multiple inventory items assigned to that order. Inventory items withdrawn from the warehouse are identified with an identifier and the identity of each withdrawn inventory item applied to the data base and matched item with a customer order. Inventory items are combined together that make up an order with a sortation system. The sortation system has an induct subsystem and the induction subsystem has an input. Inventory items are transported from the warehouse to the induction subsystem input with a transportation system. Inventory items assigned to multiple-item orders are forwarded to the sortation system with the induct subsystem responsive to the data base. Inventory items assigned to single item orders are forwarded to a packing station bypassing the sortation system responsive to the data base.

A transport apparatus including a rotary transport mechanism (5), which rotationally transports multiple equidistantly installed article holding members (gripper pairs (4)) in one direction along an annular trackway having a pair of parallel portions, and a reciprocating drive mechanism (6), which causes the entire rotary transport mechanism (5) to reciprocate a predetermined distance along the parallel portions. The article holding members are moved at a velocity of travel that is a combination of velocity of the reciprocating motion and velocity of the rotary transport. The velocity of the rotary transport and the velocity of the reciprocating motion are controlled by a control unit (9). The article holding members travel along the parallel portions on both sides (Lanes A and B) in an intermittent manner, each time covering a distance that is an integral multiple of the installation spacing p of the article holding members.

An unloading station for a conveyor facility includes an overhead conveyor system including a conveyor rail deviating from the horizontal in an inclined section, a conveyor drive, and a plurality of overhead adapters for conveying along the conveyor rail via the conveyor drive. The station further includes a plurality of conveying containers, each container of which is conveyable in a suspended manner on one of the overhead adapters and includes an operable opener with which an underside of the conveying container is openable. The station also includes an opening unit for opening the conveying container. The opening unit is arranged along the inclined section at an opening position. A goods discharge surface is arranged below the conveyor rail for discharging goods discharged from the conveying containers. The goods discharge surface slopes downwards relative to the horizontal at the opening position.

A method and a rotating and conveying device for conveying and changing an orientation of a piece product. The method comprises feeding the product onto a product support of the conveying and rotating unit in a predetermined first orientation; changing the orientation from the first orientation to a second orientation by a first driver of the conveying and rotating unit, which first driver is moved in a predetermined conveying direction by the first driver abutting against the product eccentrically with respect to a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and thereby introducing a rotational impulse; and conveying the product in the second orientation in the conveying direction by a second driver, which is moved in the conveying direction, abutting against the product at at least two points lying on opposite sides, with respect to a center of the product, in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.