Abstract: An automatic station for picking up articles which can be used in a machine for packaging articles, which achieves a greater efficiency, relative to the prior art stations, in terms of percentage of the articles picked up.

Abstract: A machine for packaging articles includes a frame; a feeder feeding film to a packaging station to wrap articles. A sealing unit includes at least two sealing elements movable relative to each other between a spaced-apart position and a close-together position where the two sealing elements cooperate to seal the film interposed between them. First and second mechanisms having first and second motors move the sealing unit. The second motor is operatively coupled to at least one of the two sealing elements. The first and/or the second mechanisms include at least one articulated arm, respectively. A control unit is operatively connected to the first motor and to the second motor to drive them in proper relationship to move the two sealing elements relative to each other and relative to the frame according to a predetermined law of motion.

Abstract: An automatic station for picking up articles which can be used in a machine for packaging articles, which achieves a greater efficiency, relative to the prior art stations, in terms of percentage of the articles picked up.

Abstract: A device for picking articles includes a supporting unit and a plurality of gripper heads equipped with respective mechanisms for gripping an article and movable relative to the supporting unit along a picking direction. The gripper heads are divided into at least first gripper heads and second gripper heads. The device includes at least a first picking unit, applied to the supporting unit and on which the first gripper heads are positioned in mutually aligned configuration along a first alignment direction, and a second picking unit, applied to the supporting unit and on which the second gripper heads are positioned in mutually aligned configuration along a second alignment direction transversal to the first alignment direction.

Abstract: A method for transferring articles comprises the steps of: preparing a plurality of articles to be transferred along a first conveyor belt movable along a feed direction, picking up the articles with a plurality of gripper heads movable along respective pickup axes, and releasing the articles into a releasing station. The step of picking up the articles comprises the sub-steps of: detecting given parameters of each of the articles by at least one detection and management unit positioned upstream of the plurality of gripper heads, identifying, for each of the rows, at least one homogeneous sub-group of articles based on the given parameters detected, and for each homogeneous sub-group, simultaneously picking up all the articles of the first homogeneous sub-group with a respective group of gripper heads.

Abstract: A device for picking articles including a supporting unit and a plurality of gripper heads equipped with respective means for gripping an article and movable relative to the supporting unit along a picking direction. The gripper heads are divided into at least first gripper heads and second gripper heads. The device includes at least a first picking unit, applied to the supporting unit and on which the first gripper heads are positioned in mutually aligned configuration along a first alignment direction, and a second picking unit, applied to the supporting unit and on which the second gripper heads are positioned in mutually aligned configuration along a second alignment direction transversal to the first alignment direction.

Abstract: A device for stacking articles includes a feeding conveyor including a plurality of contact elements, each for making contact with a single article to convey it along a conveying path. A first transport surface supports the articles along a first portion of the conveying path. A predetermined number of conveying planes support the articles along a second portion of the conveying path which follows the first portion of the conveying path, including a first conveying plane positioned at a first height; a second conveying plane positioned at a second height different from and higher than the first height; and a movable surface for directing articles, movable between a number of positions equal to the predetermined number of conveying planes, to selectively and alternatively connect the first transport surface with one of the conveying planes.

Abstract: A device for aligning products which includes an infeed station, to which the products are fed in a loose fashion, an outfeed station, from which the products come out aligned in at least two rows side by side and parallel, at least two conveyor belts, positioned alongside and parallel to each other in a conveying plane, between the infeed station and the outfeed station, and movable in a conveying direction, and a first panel, positioned centrally between the belts and extending along the conveying direction; and wherein the first panel is movable between a raised position, where the first panel protrudes from the conveying plane, and a lowered position, where the first panel is recessed in the conveying plane.

Abstract: A method for transferring articles comprises the steps of: preparing a plurality of articles to be transferred along a first conveyor belt movable along a feed direction, picking up the articles by means of a plurality of gripper heads movable along respective pickup axes, releasing the articles into a releasing station. The step of picking up the articles comprises the sub-steps of: detecting given parameters of each of the articles by means of at least one detection and management unit positioned upstream of the plurality of gripper heads, identifying, for each of the rows, at least one homogeneous sub-group of articles based on the given parameters detected, for each homogeneous sub-group, simultaneously picking up all the articles of the first homogeneous sub-group by means of a respective group of gripper heads.

Abstract: A device for the accumulation and release of products arranged within containers comprises a main accumulation unit with a reception opening and a first delivery opening, the containers being guided between the openings. The device is provided with a second accumulation unit operationally in communication with the main unit and having a second delivery opening. The device uses an actuator for selectively moving containers loaded with products from the main accumulation unit to the second unit, in order to selectively by-pass the first delivery opening and enable containers to be unloaded at the second delivery opening provided in the second accumulation unit.

Abstract: A device for the accumulation and release of products arranged within containers comprises a main accumulation unit with a reception opening and a first delivery opening, the containers being guided between the openings. The device is provided with a second accumulation unit operationally in communication with the main unit and having a second delivery opening. The device uses an actuator for selectively moving containers loaded with products from the main accumulation unit to the second unit, in order to selectively by-pass the first delivery opening and enable containers to be unloaded at the second delivery opening provided in the second accumulation unit.

Abstract: Machine (1) for packaging articles (2) inside containers (3), a conveyor (6) is provided with a longitudinally movable transporting section (7) for feeding the articles (2) in a given direction (D) and along a given conveying path (P); a robot (23), which is arranged along the conveying path (P) and controlled by an operating and control device depending on detection at least of the position of each article (2) on the transporting section (7), picks up single articles (2) from the transporting section (7) and transfers each picked-up article (2) inside a container (3); the transporting section (7) is delimited transversely by two side walls (18) stabilizing the position and direction of each article (2) with respect to the transporting section (7); on the latter the articles (2) are stably seated between the side walls (18), one behind another in a row, in the conveying direction (D).

Abstract: A machine for packaging articles includes a frame; a feeder feeding film to a packaging station to wrap articles. A sealing unit includes at least two sealing elements movable relative to each other between a spaced-apart position and a close-together position where the two sealing elements cooperate to seal the film interposed between them. First and second mechanisms having first and second motors move the sealing unit. The second motor is operatively coupled to at least one of the two sealing elements. The first and/or the second mechanisms include at least one articulated arm, respectively. A control unit is operatively connected to the first motor and to the second motor drive them in proper relationship to move the two sealing elements relative to each other and relative to the frame according to a predetermined law of motion.

Abstract: Machine (1) for packaging articles (2) inside containers (3), wherein a conveyor (6) is provided with a longitudinally movable transporting section (7) for feeding the articles (2) in a given direction (D) and along a given conveying path (P); a robot (23), which is arranged along the conveying path (P) and controlled by operating and control means depending on detection at least of the position of each article (2) on the transporting section (7), picks up single articles (2) from the transporting section (7) and transfers each picked-up article (2) inside a container (3); the transporting section (7) is delimited transversely by two side walls (18) stabilising the position and direction of each article (2) with respect to the said transporting section (7); on the latter the articles (2) are stably seated between the side walls (18), one behind another in a row, in the conveying direction (D).

Abstract: A device for the accumulation and release of products arranged in ranks within containers having sequentially loaded and discharged compartments, comprising an accumulation buffer with corresponding openings for receiving and delivering products and means for guiding the containers between the openings. The device uses pushers to push products out of the containers and onto at least one corresponding conveyor. Alternatively, where two independent pushers are utilized, the conveyor is repositionable at heights capable of receiving product sequentially displaced by each pusher by cycling the conveyor position to match the height of the currently actuated pusher. The discharge movement of each pusher is controlled so as to allow adequate time for the conveyor to reposition to the next sequentially actuated pusher so as to receive the products in a properly spaced arrangement onto a single conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring products for ice-cream parlors comprises a pick-up device (2) provided with a grippers (3) for gripping an orderly row of products (100), the pick-up device (2) being movable between a position for loading and unloading the products (100), a sensor element (4) for generating a signal (PS) indicating the presence or absence of products in the row of products (100), a plurality of housing elements (5), each for receiving a product (100), a positioning device (6) acting on the housing elements (5) for positioning them in the unloading position so that they receive the products (100) released by the grippers (3), a retaining device (7) acting on the housing elements (5) and associated with a sensor element (4) and with the positioning device (6) for transferring a housing element (5) to the positioning device (6) depending on the signal (PS) generated by the sensor element (4).

Abstract: A chain (30) for a conveyor of an apparatus (10) for accumulating and arranging products or packs (P) into groups, is made loop-closed by means of a series of links articulated to each other through connection of pins (32) connected by plates (33), each link is provided with a driving portion (34) and a drawing portion (35) of sliding blocks (50) provided for accommodating the products or packs (P), such drawing portion (35) is provided with guide plates (37, 37?) of the sliding blocks (50).

Abstract: A device for the accumulation and release of products (P) arranged in ranks, comprising an accumulation buffer (2) with corresponding openings (4, 6) for receiving and delivering products, a plurality of container elements (7) guided so as to move within the buffer between the receiving and delivery openings, each container element being provided with a plurality of supporting planes (9) for containing ranks of products, means (10, 11, 42, 50) for driving the container elements (7) to control movement of the containers in the accumulation buffer so as to present each container element which has to be filled at the receiving opening (4) in sequence in order to load ranks of products arriving on the corresponding supporting planes (9) in the container and conveying containers previously filled with products to the delivery opening (6) for release of the corresponding ranks of products out of the accumulation buffer.

Abstract: A transfer system for food products (P) having a product conveyor (11); a first support conveyor (13) suitable for moving supports (12) in equicurrent with the food products (P); a plurality of pickers (R1, R2, R3) situated in series along the run of the products (P) and supports (12) for individually collecting the products (P) from the product conveyor (11) to arrange them on the supports (12) translated from the first support conveyor (13); presence and position surveying devices (C1, C2) of which at least one is situated upstream with respect to the food products (P), of a first picker (R1) of the plurality of pickers (R1, R2, R3) suitable for detecting the presence, number, position and orientation of each product (P); an electronic image with a presence and position surveying device (C3), also connected to an electronic image identification and data processing system (34), wherein the pickers (R1–R4) are equipped with handlers (22) with an individual grip of the sucker type, with an anti-crash system an