A processing section of a packaging machine includes a conveyor configured to be driven by a first drive member, and at least one additional conveyor including at least one tray folding member configured to selectively extend about and ride on the conveyor. The at least one additional conveyor is configured to be driven by a second drive member that is distinct from the first drive member.

A method of processing a plurality of articles through a processing section of a packaging machine includes guiding a plurality of articles supported on a support tray blank onto at least one additional conveyor extending about and riding on a conveyor, folding at least one of a leading edge flap and trailing edge flap of the support tray blank with at least one tray folding member provided on the at least one additional conveyor to form a portion of a support tray, and shifting the support tray along the conveyor.

A method of processing a plurality of articles through a processing section of a packaging machine includes guiding a plurality of articles supported on a support tray blank onto at least one additional conveyor extending about and riding on a conveyor, folding at least one of a leading edge flap and trailing edge flap of the support tray blank with at least one tray folding member provided on the at least one additional conveyor to form a portion of a support tray, and shifting the support tray along the conveyor.

System (10) for automatically packaging items varying in size and number for shipment, comprising a unit (32) for acquiring size information of one or more item(s) to be packaged, an inner packaging material feeding unit (24) for feeding an inner packaging material, an outer packaging material feeding unit (26) for feeding an outer packaging material, a first wrapping station (16) for wrapping said inner packaging material around one or more item(s) to be packaged to create an inner packing surrounding the item(s) in a first direction and a second wrapping station (18) for wrapping said outer packaging material around said inner packing to create an outer packing surrounding the inner packing in a second direction, said second direction being substantially perpendicular to said first direction, wherein the first and the second wrapping stations are adapted to form said inner packing and said outer packing such that the inner and the outer packing form a combined package enclosing the packaged item(s) from all sides.

A packing method for applying a heat-seal overwrap to a package of tobacco articles having an inner container, which houses a group of tobacco articles; an outer container housing the inner container in sliding manner; and a hinged lid, which closes an open top end of the inner container; the packing method including the steps of folding a sheet of heat-seal wrapping material into a tube about the package to form a tubular wrapping; folding two ends of the tubular wrapping to complete the overwrap; stabilizing the overwrap with two transverse heat seals; and, at least when making the transverse heat seals, compressing a front wall of the outer container, so as to move at least part of a top edge of the front wall of the outer container beneath a top wall of the lid.

A packaging unit for packaging (100; 200; 300) articles (1) in boxes (2), comprises: a mandrel (10) for accommodating an article (1) inside it; a movement device (50) for moving said mandrel (10) along a movement trajectory (M); a feed device (30) for feeding a blank (7) towards said mandrel (10) along a feeding trajectory which intersects the movement trajectory (M); a folding device (20) mounted at the movement trajectory (M) for cooperating with said mandrel (10) to fold said blank (7) around the mandrel (10) and to form a box (2). The folding device (20) comprises a folding element (21) for abutting said blank (7) positioned between said mandrel (10) and said folding element (21), and an adjustment device for modifying the position of the folding element (21) and for adjusting the folding of the blank (7) around the mandrel (10).

A cartoner includes an entrance section, a loading section, an exit section, a transport system and a controller. The entrance section is configured for picking carton blanks from a magazine and folding a first side of the carton. The loading section is configured for loading a product into the first-side-folded carton. The exit section is configured for closing the loaded carton. The transport system is configured for transporting the first-side-folded carton from the entrance section to the loading section and the loaded carton from the loading section to the exit section. The controller is arranged for controlling an operation following each carton through the cartoner. The controller is further arranged for adapting, for each carton, a distance between two consecutive carriers of the transport system in dependence to a size of the first-side-folded carton and driving the two consecutive carriers maintaining the distance.

A cartoner includes an entrance section, a loading section, an exit section, a transport system and a controller. The entrance section is configured for picking carton blanks from a magazine and folding a first side of the carton. The loading section is configured for loading a product into the first-side-folded carton. The exit section is configured for closing the loaded carton. The transport system is configured for transporting the first-side-folded carton from the entrance section to the loading section and the loaded carton from the loading section to the exit section. The controller is arranged for controlling an operation following each carton through the cartoner. The controller is further arranged for adapting, for each carton, a distance between two consecutive carriers of the transport system in dependence to a size of the first-side-folded carton and driving the two consecutive carriers maintaining the distance.