A system, apparatus, and method for automatically packaging one or more articles is disclosed. The system, apparatus, and method processes incoming articles having different and/or similar shapes and in random orientations for packaging. The system, apparatus, and method form shipping-ready customized packages, based, at least in part, on data associated with an individual article and gathered by a detecting device as the individual article moves along a first conveyor towards a packaging station of the system. The customized packages are configured to conform to each individual article's shape and size. The packaging preferably is fully recyclable and is made from paper which is expandable to create a cushioning layer around the packaged article.

A method for packaging discrete medicaments in pouches in a packaging device configured to form and fill the pouches in an elongated web, the method comprising the following steps: transporting the elongated web along a web trajectory, printing information on the elongated web related to the discrete medicaments that are fed to the elongated web at the position of the printed information on the elongated web, feeding the discrete medicaments to the elongated web at the position on the elongated web of the related printed information, inspecting the elongated web to determine whether there is a fault related to the elongated web, and in response to a fault being detected, printing a fault indication or a fault symbol on the elongated web, and forming an empty pouch at the position of the fault indication or fault symbol.

The packaging machine includes a wrapping tunnel, adapted to form a tube of plastic film around a group of articles and a feed conveyor, adapted to feed articles to be packaged toward the wrapping tunnel. An elevator is positioned between the feed conveyor and the wrapping tunnel, and is movable vertically from a lower position, to receive articles coming from the feed conveyor, to a higher height, to transfer articles to the wrapping tunnel. A pusher is arranged to push articles to be packaged from the elevator into the wrapping tunnel. An auxiliary conveyor is also provided between the feed conveyor and the elevator. An upender is associated with the auxiliary conveyor, adapted to be arranged selectively in an active position, to co-act with the auxiliary conveyor to upend articles coming from the feed conveyor and transfer them toward the elevator, and in a deactivated position.

A method for packaging discrete medicaments in pouches in a packaging device includes transporting the elongated web along a web trajectory, printing information on the elongated web related, feeding the discrete medicaments to the elongated web, inspecting the elongated web to determine whether there is a fault related to the elongated web, and in response to a fault being detected, printing a fault indication or a fault symbol on the elongated web, and forming an empty pouch at the position of the fault indication or fault symbol.

A method for packaging discrete medicaments in pouches in a packaging device includes transporting the elongated web along a web trajectory, printing information on the elongated web related, feeding the discrete medicaments to the elongated web, inspecting the elongated web to determine whether there is a fault related to the elongated web, and in response to a fault being detected, printing a fault indication or a fault symbol on the elongated web, and forming an empty pouch at the position of the fault indication or fault symbol.

A bag-making and packaging machine includes a film supply unit that supplies film to a bag-making and packaging unit. The film supply unit has a film roll holding unit that rotatably holds a first film roll, a film temporary placement member on which a vicinity of a leading end portion of a first film wound into the first film roll is manually temporarily placed when attaching the first film roll to the film roll holding unit, a leading end portion detection sensor configured to detect that the leading end portion of the first film is positioned in a prescribed position, and a controller configured to control a rotating mechanism to convey the first film along a predetermined conveyance path until the leading end portion detection sensor detects that the leading end portion of the first film is positioned in the prescribed position.

The invention provides a method of manufacturing packaging comprising the steps of: a) providing a packaging material (2) comprising cartonboard, semi-rigid plastics or other semi-rigid packaging material; b) forming fold lines (8) and/or cuts within the packaging material (2) by subjecting the packaging material (2) to laser (12) or mechanical scoring; c) folding the packaging material (2) along the fold lines (8) and/or cuts and securing in position to form a substantially tubular container (200); and d) forming at least one seal (302, 304) by sealing together at least two opposing regions (122, 124, 126, 128) of a blank (4) to form an at least partially sealed package (300); e) performing at least one of steps b), c) and d) on a horizontal or vertical fill, form and seal apparatus (400).

A method for automatic packaging of sanitary articles (A) in at least one first type of package (I) and one second type of package (II) containing, respectively, a first number of articles and a second number of articles, envisages: providing a flow of incoming articles diverting (10) articles from said flow of articles with a ratio between non-deflected articles and deflected articles that is a function of the ratio between the aforesaid first number and the aforesaid second number, generating a main flow of non-deflected articles (A) that may be packaged in the packages of the first type (I) and a derived flow of deflected articles that may be packaged in the packages of the second type (II).

A method for automatic packaging of sanitary articles (A) in at least one first type of package (I) and one second type of package (II) containing, respectively, a first number of articles and a second number of articles, envisages: providing a flow of incoming articles diverting (10) articles from said flow of articles with a ratio between non-deflected articles and deflected articles that is a function of the ratio between the aforesaid first number and the aforesaid second number, generating a main flow of non-deflected articles (A) that may be packaged in the packages of the first type (I) and a derived flow of deflected articles that may be packaged in the packages of the second type (II).

Provided is a wound body formed by winding a long sheet. The wound body is supportable by a support shaft. The support shaft includes a cylindrical outer peripheral part that includes a first projection located at a proximal end and a second projection located at a distal end, and includes an inner peripheral part that includes a first recess part located at the one end and recessing outward in the radial direction and a second recess part located to extend from the one end to the other end and recessing outward in the radial direction. A recessing amount of the second recess part is smaller than that of the first recess part. The support shaft and the core body are integrally rotatable around the central axis by engagement of the first projection with the first recess part in a state where the core body is mounted on the outer periphery of the support shaft. The circumferential position of the first projection around the central axis is aligned with the circumferential position of the first recess part around the central axis by engagement of the second projection with the second recess part when the core body is mounted on the outer periphery of the support shaft.