Packaging apparatus

A packaging apparatus comprising:

• a support platform for supporting packaging containers positioned thereon, the support platform comprising a support portion moveable between a first position and a second position;
• and
• a belt transport arrangement for transporting packaging containers away from the support platform in a first transport direction;
• the belt transport arrangement comprising a belt arrangement comprising a pair of belts, the pair of belts defining opposing contacting surfaces for contacting packaging containers,
• the apparatus being operable between:
• a first configuration wherein the support portion is in the first position to support one or more packaging containers positioned thereon;
• and
• a second configuration wherein the support portion is in the second position and contacting surfaces of the belts engage the one or more packaging containers;
• wherein the belt transport arrangement comprises:
• (i) a first belt region for contacting packaging containers for transporting packaging containers away from the support platform;
• and
• (ii) a second belt region, downstream of the first belt region, for transporting packaging containers away from the first belt region;
• and wherein:
• (i) the first belt region comprises a first pair of belts, the first pair of belts defining opposing contacting surfaces for contacting packaging containers and having an adjustable separation;
• and
• (ii) the second belt region comprises a second pair of belts, the second pair of belts defining opposing contacting surfaces for contacting packaging containers and having an adjustable separation.

A packaging apparatus comprising:

• a support platform for supporting packaging containers positioned thereon, the support platform comprising a support portion moveable between a first position and a second position;
• and
• a belt transport arrangement for transporting packaging containers away from the support platform in a first transport direction;
• the belt transport arrangement comprising a belt arrangement comprising a pair of belts, the pair of belts defining opposing contacting surfaces for contacting packaging containers,
• the apparatus being operable between:
• a first configuration wherein the support portion is in the first position to support one or more packaging containers positioned thereon;
• and
• a second configuration wherein the support portion is in the second position and contacting surfaces of the belts engage the one or more packaging containers;
• and
• wherein:
• the support platform comprises a plurality of support portions, each support portion being moveable between a first position and a second position,
• the packaging apparatus being operable between:
• a first configuration wherein the support portions are in the first position to support one or more packaging containers positioned thereon;
• and
• a second configuration wherein the support portions are in the second position and contacting surfaces of the belts engage the one or more packaging containers.

A packaging apparatus comprising:

• a support platform for supporting packaging containers positioned thereon, the support platform comprising a support portion moveable between a first position and a second position;
• and
• a belt transport arrangement for transporting packaging containers away from the support platform in a first transport direction;
• the belt transport arrangement comprising a belt arrangement comprising a pair of belts, the pair of belts defining opposing contacting surfaces for contacting packaging containers,
• the apparatus being operable between:
• a first configuration wherein the support portion is in the first position to support one or more packaging containers positioned thereon;
• and
• a second configuration wherein the support portion is in the second position and contacting surfaces of the belts engage the one or more packaging containers;
• and
• wherein the belt transport arrangement is configured to transport containers from the support platform as a batch maintaining the spacing between them.

A packaging apparatus comprising:

• a support platform for supporting packaging containers positioned thereon, the support platform comprising a support portion moveable between a first position and a second position;
• and
• a belt transport arrangement for transporting packaging containers away from the support platform in a first transport direction;
• the belt transport arrangement comprising a belt arrangement comprising a pair of belts, the pair of belts defining opposing contacting surfaces for contacting packaging containers,
• the apparatus being operable between:
• a first configuration wherein the support portion is in the first position to support one or more packaging containers positioned thereon;
• and
• a second configuration wherein the support portion is in the second position and contacting surfaces of the belts engage the one or more packaging containers;
• and
• wherein the belt transport arrangement is adjustable to adjust a draft angle of the contacting surfaces of the belts.

A packaging apparatus comprising:

• a support platform for supporting packaging containers positioned thereon, the support platform comprising a support portion moveable between a first position and a second position;
• and
• a belt transport arrangement for transporting packaging containers away from the support platform in a first transport direction;
• the belt transport arrangement comprising a belt arrangement comprising a pair of belts, the pair of belts defining opposing contacting surfaces for contacting packaging containers,
• the apparatus being operable between:
• a first configuration wherein the support portion is in the first position to support one or more packaging containers positioned thereon;
• and
• a second configuration wherein the support portion is in the second position and contacting surfaces of the belts engage the one or more packaging containers;
• and
• a packaging container positioning apparatus for positioning packaging containers on the support platform,
• the packaging container positioning apparatus comprising:
• one or more rails that each form a path for conveying devices;
• a plurality of individually controllable conveying devices comprising at least a first conveying device and a second conveying device, each conveying device mounted on a rail for moving along the path;
• a control system configured to control the conveying devices,
• wherein the control system is configured to control each conveying device to:
• engage a packaging container, move along the path in a first conveying direction, and release the packaging container, to position the packaging container on the support platform.

A method of packaging using a packaging apparatus which includes:

• a support platform for supporting packaging containers positioned thereon, the support platform comprising a support portion moveable between a first position and a second position;
• and
• a belt transport arrangement for transporting packaging containers away from the support platform in a first transport direction;
• the belt transport arrangement comprising a belt arrangement comprising a pair of belts, the pair of belts defining opposing contacting surfaces for contacting packaging containers,
• the apparatus being operable between:
• a first configuration wherein the support portion is in the first position to support one or more packaging containers positioned thereon;
• and
• a second configuration wherein the support portion is in the second position and contacting surfaces of the belts engage the one or more packaging containers, the method comprising:
• bringing packaging containers into contact with the contacting surfaces of the belts;
• and
• transporting the packaging containers away from the support platform in the first transport direction, wherein the method comprises packaging containers being conveyed onto the support platform one by one and being transported from the support platform, as a batch of two or more.