A feeder bowl and preparation system for packaging stick-like objects including a feeder bowl, vee shaped spacing conveyor, and a collator mechanism which permits a robotic pick-up station sufficient time to pick and place the stick-like object. The system simplifies programming the transfer of the objects by presenting a desired amount of product for a specific picker and allowing time to pick and place the object, the system eliminates a feed rate by a robotic process in the system, the system allows for essentially higher feed rate overall due to an oriented pick-up area presentation, and the system provides a sanitary design compatible with a transfer of food products in a food industry.

A feeder bowl and preparation system for packaging stick-like objects including a feeder bowl, vee shaped spacing conveyor, and a collator mechanism which permits a robotic pick-up station sufficient time to pick and place the stick-like object. The system simplifies programming the transfer of the objects by presenting a desired amount of product for a specific picker and allowing time to pick and place the object, the system eliminates a feed rate by a robotic process in the system, the system allows for essentially higher feed rate overall due to an oriented pick-up area presentation, and the system provides a sanitary design compatible with a transfer of food products in a food industry.

A rotary machine includes a fixed internal body, a rotating external body and a lubrication system to lubricate one or more components of the internal body or external body during rotation. The lubrication system includes: an inlet conduit for a lubricant, formed in the internal body; one or more distribution conduits for the lubricant; a lubricant collection chamber between the external body and the internal body; and an outlet conduit communicating with the collection chamber.

A rotary machine includes a fixed internal body, a rotating external body and a lubrication system to lubricate one or more components of the internal body or external body during rotation. The lubrication system includes: an inlet conduit for a lubricant, formed in the internal body; one or more distribution conduits for the lubricant; a lubricant collection chamber between the external body and the internal body; and an outlet conduit communicating with the collection chamber.

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 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 packaging system includes a first transfer station to receive a plurality of products thereon, a staging station comprising a track and a plurality of shuttle members configured to move along a path defined by the track, and a second transfer station comprising a robotic arm coupled to a plurality of gripping members. The plurality of gripping members can be configured to pick up the plurality of products from one or more of the plurality of shuttle members.

A packaging system includes a first transfer station to receive a plurality of products thereon, a staging station comprising a track and a plurality of shuttle members configured to move along a path defined by the track, and a second transfer station comprising a robotic arm coupled to a plurality of gripping members. The plurality of gripping members can be configured to pick up the plurality of products from one or more of the plurality of shuttle members.

Storage and dispensing stations for a blister machine for separable small piece goods include a storage container having a housing and a separating device having a coupling device with a lower coupling portion and having a holding device with an actuation member. The storage container is releasably arranged on a dispensing station having a rotary drive having a hub seated on a shaft and having an opening member for interaction with the actuation member. The lower coupling portion, the hub, the actuation member, and the opening member are set relative to one another so that when arranging the storage container on the dispensing station prior to an effective interaction between the actuation members and the opening member, an effective interaction occurs between the lower coupling portion and the hub, and the hub is rotatable in the de-energized state. Methods of operating storage and dispensing stations are also provided.

Storage and dispensing stations for a blister machine for separable small piece goods include a storage container having a housing and a separating device having a coupling device with a lower coupling portion and having a holding device with an actuation member. The storage container is releasably arranged on a dispensing station having a rotary drive having a hub seated on a shaft and having an opening member for interaction with the actuation member. The lower coupling portion, the hub, the actuation member, and the opening member are set relative to one another so that when arranging the storage container on the dispensing station prior to an effective interaction between the actuation members and the opening member, an effective interaction occurs between the lower coupling portion and the hub, and the hub is rotatable in the de-energized state. Methods of operating storage and dispensing stations are also provided.