The invention relates to a cartoning apparatus (1) of items comprising: a sorting machine (100), which is configured to arrange the items into clusters, and a die-cut magazine (125), in which a plurality of die-cuts (5) are stored for packaging the clusters of items. Where the die-cut magazine is flanked in plan to the sorting machine and is spaced therefrom so that between the die-cut magazine (125) and the sorting machine there is a passage gap (126) with a width greater than 50 cm in at least a stretch of the passage gap.

The invention relates to a packaging apparatus (1) for combining a plurality of articles (8) an outer package (6) formed from a cardboard blank (3). The packaging apparatus (1) comprises a magazine (2) for cardboard blanks (3), the cardboard blanks (3) being stacked and lying on top of one another within the magazine (2), a removal apparatus (4) for the cardboard blanks (3), and a handling device (5). The removal apparatus (4) is vertically and horizontally movable and comprises at least one suction tool (9) for withdrawing a cardboard blank (3) from the magazine (2). The suction tool (9) arranged pivotally movable within the removal apparatus (4) or on the removal apparatus (4) for executing a compensation movement and aligning the withdrawn cardboard blank (3) in a horizontal plane. The invention also concerns the removal apparatus (4) (3) and a method for withdrawing cardboard blanks (3).

An item packaging system can position and prepare a package for receiving one or more items. The package can be received by the system in a storage orientation and stored in a storage container. A picking assembly can be positioned above the storage container in a picking orientation and pick and rotate the package to a loading orientation. A gripper can grip the package in the loading orientation and transport the package to a loading station for loading the one or more items into the interior of the shipping receptacle.

An item packaging system can position and prepare a package for receiving one or more items. The package can be received by the system in a storage orientation and stored in a storage container. A picking assembly can be positioned above the storage container in a picking orientation and pick and rotate the package to a loading orientation. A gripper can grip the package in the loading orientation and transport the package to a loading station for loading the one or more items into the interior of the shipping receptacle.

For the purpose of erecting and filling a folding box which has closure flaps on two opposite sides, the folding box is removed from a store and erected such that the closure flaps are arranged on its upper side and its underside. The lower closure flaps are folded over and the underside of the folding box is thus closed, whereupon products are introduced into the folding box. Then, the upper closure flaps are folded over, as a result of which the upper side of the folding box is closed. Thereafter, both the upper closure flaps and the lower closure flaps are fixed in their closed position in a downstream fixing apparatus.

For the purpose of erecting and filling a folding box which has closure flaps on two opposite sides, the folding box is removed from a store and erected such that the closure flaps are arranged on its upper side and its underside. The lower closure flaps are folded over and the underside of the folding box is thus closed, whereupon products are introduced into the folding box. Then, the upper closure flaps are folded over, as a result of which the upper side of the folding box is closed. Thereafter, both the upper closure flaps and the lower closure flaps are fixed in their closed position in a downstream fixing apparatus.

A filling machine for filling flexible pouch type packages that includes a transport unit arranged for intermittent, edgewise advancement of the packages from an upstream station to a downstream station. The transport unit is movable in a reciprocating manner between a first end position and a second end position, and includes a first gripping member arranged to retrieve packages from the upstream station and delivered to the filling station, a second gripping member arranged to retrieve packages from the filling station and delivered to the downstream station and a suction cup member arranged for opening the filling channel of the packages retrieved by the first gripping member. The suction cup member includes, for each package retrieved by the first gripping member, a pair of oppositely arranged suction cups movably arranged in order to engage and separate side wall sections defining the filling channel of the associated package.

A filling machine for filling flexible pouch type packages that includes a transport unit arranged for intermittent, edgewise advancement of the packages from an upstream station to a downstream station. The transport unit is movable in a reciprocating manner between a first end position and a second end position, and includes a first gripping member arranged to retrieve packages from the upstream station and delivered to the filling station, a second gripping member arranged to retrieve packages from the filling station and delivered to the downstream station and a suction cup member arranged for opening the filling channel of the packages retrieved by the first gripping member. The suction cup member includes, for each package retrieved by the first gripping member, a pair of oppositely arranged suction cups movably arranged in order to engage and separate side wall sections defining the filling channel of the associated package.

The invention relates to a device for feeding film bags to a filling machine, comprising a magazine having a plurality of parallel magazine shafts for providing the film bags and comprising film-bag holders, which can be positioned below the magazine shafts, for holding and transporting the film bags, wherein a transfer arm is associated with each magazine shaft, said transfer arm being provided for grasping a film bag in the magazine shaft and transferring the grasped film bag to the film-bag holder arranged below the magazine shaft. The invention further relates to a method for feeding film bags to a filling machine by means of the device, comprising the following steps: providing film bags in magazine shafts of a magazine, positioning film-bag holders for holding and transporting the film bags below the magazine shafts, grasping the film bags in the magazine shafts by means of transfer arms, and transferring the grasped film bags to the film-bag holders by means of the transfer arms.

The invention relates to a device for feeding film bags to a filling machine, comprising a magazine having a plurality of parallel magazine shafts for providing the film bags and comprising film-bag holders, which can be positioned below the magazine shafts, for holding and transporting the film bags, wherein a transfer arm is associated with each magazine shaft, said transfer arm being provided for grasping a film bag in the magazine shaft and transferring the grasped film bag to the film-bag holder arranged below the magazine shaft. The invention further relates to a method for feeding film bags to a filling machine by means of the device, comprising the following steps: providing film bags in magazine shafts of a magazine, positioning film-bag holders for holding and transporting the film bags below the magazine shafts, grasping the film bags in the magazine shafts by means of transfer arms, and transferring the grasped film bags to the film-bag holders by means of the transfer arms.