The present invention relates to a method of packaging a set of stacked lids, which includes the steps of capturing an empty, flat package (12), comprising an inlet (25), by securing a vacuum terminal (8) in the immediate proximity of the inlet (25) of the package (12) and maintaining this package (12) straight; maintaining the vacuum terminal (8) activated, retaining the package (12), and producing an air jet towards the inlet (25) of the package (12) so as to open the inlet (25) of the package (12); maintaining a vacuum terminal (8) activated, retaining the package (12) and fitting the inlet (25) of the package (12) thus opened in a feed nozzle (5); transferring into the package (12) a set of stacked lids (6), the set of lids (6) passing through the feed nozzle (5) and the inlet (25) of the package (12) to the interior of the package (12).

The present invention also relates to a packaging device for sets of stacked lids.

The invention concerns an apparatus for manufacturing of containers from blanks of a cardboard based material, said apparatus comprising: a container body forming unit configured to form a cylindrical container body from a substantially plane blank of a multilayer material comprising at least a supporting cardboard layer and a weldable layer; a welding unit configured to fasten an end closure to the container body, said welding unit comprising an inductive welding energy generator for melting of the weldable layer; and transporting means configured to transport a flow of body blanks to the container body forming unit, to transport a flow of container bodies from the container body forming unit to the welding unit, and to transport a flow of container bodies provided with end closures from the welding unit. The invention is characterized in that the transporting means comprises: a first movable gripping arrangement configured to grip at least two container bodies and move these container bodies simultaneously to the welding unit; and a transferring and positioning arrangement configured to transfer container bodies from the container body forming unit to the first movable gripping arrangement and to position the container bodies in a controlled manner to ensure that the first movable gripping arrangement can grip the at least two container bodies properly, wherein the welding unit is configured to simultaneously fasten an end closure to each of the at least two container bodies. The invention also concerns a method for operating an apparatus of the above type.

A packing method and unit for folding a blank on a packing machine; a first suction pickup head engages a first panel of the blank inside a store; a second suction pickup head engages a second panel of the blank inside the store; the pickup heads are moved from a withdrawal position at the store to a release position at a packing conveyor, insert the blank inside a pocket on the packing conveyor; and the blank, folded into a ‘U’, is released inside the pocket on the packing conveyor; as the pickup heads are moved from the withdrawal position to the release position, a relative movement between the first pickup head and the second pickup head is produced to fold the blank into a ‘U’ before the blank is inserted into the pocket on the packing conveyor.

A method of supplying pouches intended for containing liquid, viscous, or granular products to a carousel includes the steps of: positioning pouches along a first zone that is part of a first feeding component for feeding the pouches to the carousel; moving the pouches in the first zone as far as the carousel; and picking up the pouches from the first zone via the carousel; The method further includes positioning pouches along a second zone that is part of a second feeding component for feeding the pouches to the carousel. The step of positioning pouches along the second zone occurs in part simultaneously with picking up the pouches from the first zone; moving the pouches located in the second zone as far as the carousel queuing the pouches behind the pouches located in the first zone; and picking up the pouches from the second zone via the carousel.

A method of supplying pouches intended for containing liquid, viscous, or granular products to a carousel includes the steps of: positioning pouches along a first zone that is part of a first feeding component for feeding the pouches to the carousel; moving the pouches in the first zone as far as the carousel; and picking up the pouches from the first zone via the carousel; The method further includes positioning pouches along a second zone that is part of a second feeding component for feeding the pouches to the carousel. The step of positioning pouches along the second zone occurs in part simultaneously with picking up the pouches from the first zone; moving the pouches located in the second zone as far as the carousel queuing the pouches behind the pouches located in the first zone; and picking up the pouches from the second zone via the carousel.

An apparatus for dispensing a single container for containing foodstuffs includes a housing, a lift subassembly, and a transfer subassembly. The housing at least partially defines an inner area. The lift subassembly is coupled to the housing and disposed at least partially within the inner area. The lift subassembly includes a nest configured to support a plurality of containers disposed in a stack and translate with respect to the housing in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. The transfer subassembly is coupled to the housing and disposed at least partially within the inner area. The transfer subassembly includes a end effector. The end effector is configured to operatively engage a first container of the plurality of containers to remove the first container from the stack and move the first container outside of the inner area.

A flexible funnel positioned at a filling station of a fill machine. The flexible funnel directs a product dispensed at the filling station of the filling machine into a pouch. The flexible funnel having a rigid upper portion and a plurality of fingers. The rigid upper portion includes an open top end and an open bottom end. Each of the plurality of elongated fingers hingedly connected to the upper portion. The rigid upper portion has a regular polygon shape having a plurality of sides, and each of the plurality of fingers is individually articulatable with respect to one of the plurality of sides of the upper rigid portion.

The apparatus (1) according to the invention for packing bulk material into a container (2) comprises a provisioning device (3) for the container (2). The container (2) has a filling side with a filling opening arranged therein. The apparatus (1) further comprises a gripping device (4) for gripping of the substantially closed and empty container (2) by the provisioning device (3). The apparatus optionally comprises a conveying device (5) for conveying the container (2) to a packing device (6). The apparatus further optionally comprises a container-opening device (9) for opening the container (2). The gripping device (4) has a detection device (7) for detecting the position of the container on and/or in the provisioning device (3). The apparatus (1) additionally has a positioning device for positioning the container on the basis of said detected position.

The apparatus (1) according to the invention for packing bulk material into a container (2) comprises a provisioning device (3) for the container (2). The container (2) has a filling side with a filling opening arranged therein. The apparatus (1) further comprises a gripping device (4) for gripping of the substantially closed and empty container (2) by the provisioning device (3). The apparatus optionally comprises a conveying device (5) for conveying the container (2) to a packing device (6). The apparatus further optionally comprises a container-opening device (9) for opening the container (2). The gripping device (4) has a detection device (7) for detecting the position of the container on and/or in the provisioning device (3). The apparatus (1) additionally has a positioning device for positioning the container on the basis of said detected position.

An automatic bag loading system includes a transfer arm configured to grab a bag and transfer the bag from a conveyor a bag gripper, which then rotates the bag to a filling station. The system further includes a detection device to detect a location of a leading edge of the bag between the conveyor and the bag gripper.