A processing line for packaging coils has a first conveyor, a sortation table, a pallet loader for placing a pallet on the sortation table, a coil discharge apparatus to move a coil from a discharge of the first conveyor to the sortation table, and a control. The control is configured to control: (i) the sortation table to move to an open position adjacent the pallet loader; (ii) the pallet loader to place a pallet at the open position of the sortation table; (iii) the sortation table to move such that the pallet occupied position is adjacent the discharge of the first conveyor; (iv) the coil discharge apparatus to move a coil from the discharge of the first conveyor on to the pallet; and (v) the sortation table to move such that the pallet occupied position is away from the discharge of the first conveyor. A similar method is provided.

A processing line for packaging coils has a first conveyor, a sortation table, a pallet loader for placing a pallet on the sortation table, a coil discharge apparatus to move a coil from a discharge of the first conveyor to the sortation table, and a control. The control is configured to control: (i) the sortation table to move to an open position adjacent the pallet loader; (ii) the pallet loader to place a pallet at the open position of the sortation table; (iii) the sortation table to move such that the pallet occupied position is adjacent the discharge of the first conveyor; (iv) the coil discharge apparatus to move a coil from the discharge of the first conveyor on to the pallet; and (v) the sortation table to move such that the pallet occupied position is away from the discharge of the first conveyor. A similar method is provided.

An article feeder assembly having a pocketed separator and a discharge tube configured to deliver articles to the pocketed separator. Some embodiments include an initial feeder assembly in overlying relation with a track extending from the initial feeder assembly to the discharge tube. Articles are oriented in end-to-end orientation in the initial feeder assembly and delivered to the pocketed separator in vertical end-to-end orientation. As pocketed separator rotates with respect to discharge tube, vertical retention members pass through a tunnel in the discharge tube and rotate articles out of the discharge tube. The discharged articles are secured in pockets delineated by the retention members. Some embodiments use one or more cam mechanisms to properly orient the discharged articles as the pocketed separator rotates. Properly oriented articles are then delivered to an advancing mechanism, such as a conveyor system.

A conveyor system for containers including a conveyor module configured to convey and meter a stream of containers, including a first star wheel configured to move a plurality of first containers along a first travel path, wherein the first containers each have a first geometric center, and wherein the first travel path is defined by the geometric center of the first containers, and a second star wheel configured to move a plurality of second containers along a second travel path, wherein the second containers each have a second geometric center, and wherein the second travel path is defined by the geometric center of the second containers.

A loading system (e.g., in a warehouse or other item-fulfillment environment) can include a rotary hub that supports one or more chambers. In a first orientation of the rotary hub, one of the chambers may be in a first position aligned for item receipt (e.g., through an open top of the chamber by feeding from a conveyor belt or other feeding system). The rotary hub can rotate to a second orientation in which the chamber is in a second position aligned for item discharge (e.g., through an open end of the chamber and into a receiving zone of a packaging machine or other system).

A loading system (e.g., in a warehouse or other item-fulfillment environment) can include a rotary hub that supports one or more chambers. In a first orientation of the rotary hub, one of the chambers may be in a first position aligned for item receipt (e.g., through an open top of the chamber by feeding from a conveyor belt or other feeding system). The rotary hub can rotate to a second orientation in which the chamber is in a second position aligned for item discharge (e.g., through an open end of the chamber and into a receiving zone of a packaging machine or other system).

The present invention relates to a device for making a pouch received in a wrapping, comprising a pouch making device which is adapted to produce a pouch containing brewable material in a water-permeable wrapping, and comprising a sealing station with two sealing jaws movable relative to each other for sealing the pouch in a wrapping formed by a wrapping material. This device is characterized in that it comprises a pouch handling device for removing the finished pouch from the pouch making device and a wrapping material handling device for handling the wrapping material during the U-shaped wrapping of the wrapping material, wherein the handling device and the wrapping material handling device are adapted such that the pouch held by the pouch handling device and the wrapping material held by the wrapping material handling device are introduced into the sealing station.

A medicine packing apparatus is provided. The medicine packing apparatus includes: a rotation hopper provided with a plurality of partition spaces, transferring a medicine from a medicine dispenser to any one of the plurality of partition spaces through at least one injection part, and transferring the medicine to the discharge part; an inspector photographing the transferred medicine to inspect the medicine; a controller determining whether the medicine inspected by the inspector matches a medicine of a prescription; and a re-injection part disposed in a partition space between an injection part having a shortest medicine transfer distance to the discharge part on the basis of a rotation direction of the rotation hopper and the discharge part.

A medicine packing apparatus is provided. The medicine packing apparatus includes: a rotation hopper provided with a plurality of partition spaces, transferring a medicine from a medicine dispenser to any one of the plurality of partition spaces through at least one injection part, and transferring the medicine to the discharge part; an inspector photographing the transferred medicine to inspect the medicine; a controller determining whether the medicine inspected by the inspector matches a medicine of a prescription; and a re-injection part disposed in a partition space between an injection part having a shortest medicine transfer distance to the discharge part on the basis of a rotation direction of the rotation hopper and the discharge part.

A device and a process for feeding articles to be packaged with a packaging apparatus are presented. The articles are transported on a first conveying line and can be arranged according to a desired pattern, which is repeated on a second conveying line from which the articles will be picked up in a subsequent station. For this purpose, at least one transfer device is provided for transferring the articles from the first conveying line to the second conveying line, with a self-moving transfer arm and a respective gripping device to pick up the articles. The gripping device has a plurality of gripping elements which are movable between a first configuration, in which the gripping elements are aligned with each other to grip the articles from the first conveying line, and a second configuration, in which at least two of the gripping elements are staggered with respect to each other, to lay the articles according to a predetermined pattern.