Apparatuses and methods for tamping the contents of a container

An apparatus comprising:

• a support element configured to support containers during tamping, the support element including,
• a plurality of protrusions configured to conform to a size and a shape of an exterior surface of the containers;
• a slide bar having at least one inclined surface that abuts at least one inclined surface on the support element;
• and
• an actuator connected to the slide bar, the actuator configured to move the support element between a retracted position and an extended position.

A method comprising:

• placing pouches into containers;
• moving the containers into alignment with a plurality of tamping devices;
• temporarily supporting a bottom surface of each of the containers with a support element at the plurality of tamping devices, the support element including,
• a plurality of protrusions configured to conform to a size and a shape of an exterior surface of the containers;
• a slide bar having at least one inclined surface that abuts at least one inclined surface on the support element, and
• an actuator connected to the slide bar and configured to move the support element between a retracted position and an extended position;
• and
• tamping the pouches in each one of the plurality of containers with the plurality of tamping devices.