An apparatus for packaging containers of devices for pharmaceutical use includes a robotic arm movable from a gripping position, in which it picks up a container previously sealed by at least one protective sheet, to a release position in which it inserts the container into a bag through a suitable opening provided on a side of the bag; wherein the robotic arm is connected to at least one position control camera configured to read coordinates of a midpoint of the opening with respect to a lying plane on which the bag lies and/or an angle of rotation of the bag with respect to an axis perpendicular to the lying plane, so as to ensure the correct positioning and release of the container inside the bag.

A bag forming apparatus for forming a flat bottom of a bag includes a base, opposing sidewalls that extend upright relative to the base, and a top that is operably coupled to an upper portion of each of the sidewalls. The top has an intermediate pivot axis between the sidewalls that enables the top to pivot about the pivot axis between a collapsed state and an expanded state. In the collapsed state, the upper portions of the respective sidewalls are closer together and the top extends upright relative to the base to form a tip for insertion into an opening of the bag. In the expanded state, the upper portions of the respective sidewalls are spaced further apart and the top extends horizontally relative to the base to form a platform for forming the flat bottom of the bag.

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.

There is provided a system for packaging objects on a conveyor using a hose-shaped stretch foil. More specifically, the invention provides a system, wherein the hose-shaped stretch foil can be wrapped around the objects in a horizontal manner.

A system for packaging mass-customized items includes a computer system including a database containing item identification information unique to each item; (2) outer container identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each outer container in a plurality of outer containers; (3) inner pack identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each inner pack in a plurality of inner packs; and (4) inner pack filling apparatus that fills each inner pack with a specific item matched to that inner pack by the item identification information received from the database. Each item is associated with its unique item identification information and is inserted into an inner pack with matching item identification information, and each outer container is presented for loading with one or more inner packs matched to that outer container by the item identification information received from the database.

A system for packaging mass-customized items includes a computer system including a database containing item identification information unique to each item; (2) outer container identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each outer container in a plurality of outer containers; (3) inner pack identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each inner pack in a plurality of inner packs; and (4) inner pack filling apparatus that fills each inner pack with a specific item matched to that inner pack by the item identification information received from the database. Each item is associated with its unique item identification information and is inserted into an inner pack with matching item identification information, and each outer container is presented for loading with one or more inner packs matched to that outer container by the item identification information received from the database.

A bread packaging apparatus for packaging bread in a bag, includes a first urging unit that comes into contact with a loaf of bread and conveys the loaf of bread along a conveying path; and a control unit for controlling a speed of the first urging unit. The control unit controls the speed of the first urging unit such that the speed when the first urging unit comes into contact with the loaf of bread is different from the speed when the first urging unit conveys the loaf of bread.

One variation of a system for packaging a foodstuff includes: a ramp; a bag dispenser adjacent the ramp and dispensing a bag into a load position; a paddle pivotable about a hinge arranged above the ramp, comprising a leading edge opposite the hinge and engaging the ramp, and extensible between a retracted setting and an extended setting, the leading edge of the paddle in contact with the ramp in the retracted setting and inserted into the mouth of the bag in the extended setting; an actuator coupled to the paddle and extending the paddle between the retracted setting and the extended setting; and a conveyor advancing the a foodstuff toward the bag dispenser, foodstuff contacting a bottom surface of the paddle and pivoting the paddle about the hinge to separate an upper layer of the bag from a lower layer.

One variation of a system for packaging a foodstuff includes: a ramp; a bag dispenser adjacent the ramp and dispensing a bag into a load position; a paddle pivotable about a hinge arranged above the ramp, comprising a leading edge opposite the hinge and engaging the ramp, and extensible between a retracted setting and an extended setting, the leading edge of the paddle in contact with the ramp in the retracted setting and inserted into the mouth of the bag in the extended setting; an actuator coupled to the paddle and extending the paddle between the retracted setting and the extended setting; and a conveyor advancing the a foodstuff toward the bag dispenser, foodstuff contacting a bottom surface of the paddle and pivoting the paddle about the hinge to separate an upper layer of the bag from a lower layer.

A system for packaging mass-customized items includes a computer system including a database containing item identification information unique to each item; (2) outer container identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each outer container in a plurality of outer containers; (3) inner pack identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each inner pack in a plurality of inner packs; and (4) inner pack filling apparatus that fills each inner pack with a specific item matched to that inner pack by the item identification information received from the database. Each item is associated with its unique item identification information and is inserted into an inner pack with matching item identification information, and each outer container is presented for loading with one or more inner packs matched to that outer container by the item identification information received from the database.