Abstract: A transfer apparatus for transferring an item includes a rail (3) forming an endless track (4) along which the item (100) is transferred, a transporter (41, 42) which is movable along the rail and includes at least one gripper (10) for gripping the item, a driver (7) for moving the transporter along the rail, wherein the transporter includes at least two carriers (8) engaging the rail and located at a distance from each other, neighbouring carriers are coupled to each other by a coupler (9), at least one coupler is carrying at least one gripper, the rail includes a first face (12) and a second face (13), each carrier includes a first engage member (14) and a second engage (15) member (15) engaging the first face (12) and a third engage member (16) engaging the second face (13), the engage members of each carrier are positioned relative to each other such that the engage members form a triangle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a culture medium on which plants can be grown. This method is characterized by a) mixing I: a particulate base material, chosen from at least one of organic and inorganic materials, with II: a thermoplastic biologically degradable binding agent, b) heating at least the binding agent in order to at least partly fluidize it, c) cooling the mixture so as to substantially solidify the binding agent and whereby at least a part of the base material becomes bonded by means of the binding agent. The method according to the invention provides an environmentally safe and plant-friendly culture medium that is biologically degradable and retains its shape well.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a wrapper for use in the manufacture of cigars in which a wrapper to be used for enclosing fillers is obtained in that a tobacco leaf (1) is cut into a number of parallel strips (5) substantially in longitudinal direction, so in the direction of the mid rib (2), whereupon the ends (9) of the strips obtained are connected to each other to one continuous wrapper ribbon (10). At both ends (9), the strips (5) are cut-off across an acute angle (?) to the longitudinal direction, said angle approximately coinciding with the angle enclosed by the side ribs (3) and the mid rib (2). The continuous wrapper ribbon (10) can be wound around the fillers fed as a strand in longitudinal direction, whereupon both longitudinal edges (12) will be connected to each other The continuous wrapper ribbon (10) is wound onto a roller (11), which is fed to the cigar winding machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a culture medium on which plants can be grown. This method is characterised by a) mixing I: a particulate base material, chosen from at least one of organic and inorganic materials, with II: a thermoplastic biologically degradable binding agent, b) heating at least the binding agent in order to at least partly fluidise it, c) cooling the mixture so as to substantially solidify the binding agent and whereby at least a part of the base material becomes bonded by means of the binding agent. The method according to the invention provides an environmentally safe and plant-friendly culture medium that is biologically degradable and retains its shape well.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a culture medium on which plants can be grown. The method comprises mixing organic and/or inorganic particulate base materials with a thermoplastic, biologically degradable, binding agent, heating the mixture to make it at least semi-fluid, and then cooling the mixture to solidify it.