A labeling machine for producing respective multipacks, the multipacks comprising a group of products secured together by a label. The labeling machine includes a conveyor that comprises a conveyor module for forming a group of products from a plurality of individual products and for providing the group of products to a labeling process to produce a multipack of products. The labeling machine includes at least one labeler. The conveyor module comprises at least two conveying units which each conveying unit comprising at least one carrier. The movement of the conveying units may be individually controllable allowing two carriers on different conveying units to cooperate as a fixing unit. A method of producing respective multipacks, which each comprise a group of products, using the labeling machine is also provided.

A packing method of packing articles into a packing box comprises pre-grouping articles on a pre grouping surface provided by a pre grouping conveyor belt of a pre grouping conveyor, and providing the articles from the pre-grouping surface of the pre-grouping conveyor belt into the packing box. This is done consecutively by providing one of a cassette box and the packing box at a discharging end of the pre-grouping conveyer; moving downwards said one of the cassette box and the packing box while driving the pre grouping conveyor belt such that the pre-grouped articles on the pre-grouping conveyer-belt moves towards the discharging end of the pre-grouping conveyor and the opening of said one of the cassette box and the packing box, and that the articles of the pre-grouped articles are discharged from the pre-grouping conveyor belt into said one of the cassette box and the packing box and onto one another; and, in case the articles of the pre-grouped articles are provided into the cassette box, providing the articles from the cassette box into the packing box.

A packing method of packing articles into a packing box comprises pre-grouping articles on a pre grouping surface provided by a pre grouping conveyor belt of a pre grouping conveyor, and providing the articles from the pre-grouping surface of the pre-grouping conveyor belt into the packing box. This is done consecutively by providing one of a cassette box and the packing box at a discharging end of the pre-grouping conveyer; moving downwards said one of the cassette box and the packing box while driving the pre grouping conveyor belt such that the pre-grouped articles on the pre-grouping conveyer-belt moves towards the discharging end of the pre-grouping conveyor and the opening of said one of the cassette box and the packing box, and that the articles of the pre-grouped articles are discharged from the pre-grouping conveyor belt into said one of the cassette box and the packing box and onto one another; and, in case the articles of the pre-grouped articles are provided into the cassette box, providing the articles from the cassette box into the packing box.

A method for forming aggregates of food pieces by arranging a plurality of food pieces such that the food pieces at least partially overlap one another is provided. The method automatically changes the number of food pieces forming each aggregate and a pitch at which the food pieces are arranged so as to limit the weights of the aggregates within a predetermined permissible range and to form each aggregate such that the total length of the aggregate is a preset length. The method also automatically changes the number of food pieces forming each aggregate and the pitch at which the food pieces are arranged according to the length of the food piece in the arrangement direction.

A stacking apparatus for preparing food portions comprises at least one product support movable between a feed position and a depositing position, wherein, in the feed position of the product support, a part portion of the food portion to be prepared can be conveyed along a conveying direction onto a support surface of the product support, and wherein the stacking apparatus is configured to place the part portion conveyed onto the product support beneath the product support by moving the product support into the depositing position, in particular to stack the part portion conveyed onto the product support on a previously placed part portion. In the product support, at least one pneumatic channel is furthermore formed that can be connected to a device for generating a pressure difference and that has at least one orifice into the support surface.

Systems and processes for packing complementary articles of footwear into a container are disclosed. The processes can include utilizing a reusable packing sheet positioned underneath complementary articles of footwear to transfer the complementary articles of footwear into a container. The processes can also include removing the reusable packing sheet from underneath the complementary articles of footwear while the complementary articles of footwear remain positioned in the container. Additional processes can include aligning and sizing complementary articles of footwear for packing in a container.

Systems and processes for packing complementary articles of footwear into a container are disclosed. The processes can include utilizing a reusable packing sheet positioned underneath complementary articles of footwear to transfer the complementary articles of footwear into a container. The processes can also include removing the reusable packing sheet from underneath the complementary articles of footwear while the complementary articles of footwear remain positioned in the container. Additional processes can include aligning and sizing complementary articles of footwear for packing in a container.

A method for automatically boxing ice cream type products allows, via an apparatus with simple mechanical configuration, a sequence of boxing steps to be performed, keeping constant the number of products boxed from one boxing sequence to another, in consideration of possible variations, from one boxing sequence to another, in the spatial distribution of absences of product on the transport system, operating between the apparatus for production of the products and the boxing unit, with the boxing unit being configured, for each boxing sequence, for picking up the products and transferring them into at least one box. The apparatus is configured to automatically perform the method.

The invention includes a method used to place article groups into outer packagings (22) packaging apparatus (10). Article groups are transferred by a handling device (26) from a staging location (46) to a conveyor line (20) and are placed into the outer packagings (22). The conveyor line (20) serves to successively transport outer packagings (22). At least some of the articles (14) of a particular article group are directed and/or guided during a placing procedure by a centering device (32) assigned to the conveyor line (20) and moved along with the outer packagings (22), which are being transported on the conveyor line (20) and which are to be loaded with article groups.

Converting line for paper rolls, including at least one converting apparatus adapted to convert paper plies, wound in parent reels, into rolls, a packing machine that in turn includes—a carrier conveyor, on which the rolls coming from the converting apparatus are arranged, —at least one side area at the side of the carrier conveyor, where the rolls are packed, —at least one robot adapted to take the rolls from the at least one conveyor belt and to put them in the at least one side area.