Abstract: A method for non-contact processing on a ribbon-like article includes providing at least two operating units configured to perform non-contact processing on the non-contact ribbon-like article. Operating units are movable along a loop path. The operating units is provided with a set of processing instructions on the basis of which to carry out a predetermined non-contact processing on the ribbon-like article. The non-contact ribbon-like article advances on a conveyor device. At least one of said operating units performs the predetermined non-contact processing on the ribbon-like article. One of the operating units is provided with a further set of processing instructions on the ribbon-like article when said operating unit transits along a reset portion of the loop path. The operating unit performs the further predetermined non-contact processing provided.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for making a coil (B) comprises a feed unit (2) configured to feed at least one strip-shaped article (N) and a winding unit (1). The winding unit includes a plurality of winding heads (10) and a movement device for moving (3) said winding heads (10) configured to displace said winding heads (10) along a working path (P). Each winding head (10) supports a gripping device (11) which is configured to grasp a portion of said strip-shaped article (N) and is configured to wind said strip-shaped article (N) so as to make said coil (B). The movement device (3) is further configured so as to displace a respective winding head (10), when it is grasping said portion of said strip-shaped article (N), along an operative segment (P1) of said working path (P) in a direction discordant to a feed direction (f) of the strip-shaped article.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for making a coil (B) comprises a feed unit (2) configured to feed at least one strip-shaped article (N) and a winding unit (1). The winding unit includes a plurality of winding heads (10) each of which supports a gripping device (11) of a portion of said strip-shaped article (N), and a movement device (3) of said winding heads (10) configured to move said winding heads (10) along a working path (P). Each winding head (10) is configured to wind said strip-shaped article (N) so as to make said coil (B), wherein each gripping device (11) comprises a pair of pins (12, 13) configured to hold said strip-shaped article (N) between them, at least one of said pins (12, 13) being movable so as to join the other pin holding said strip-shaped article (N) between them.

Abstract: A device for packaging articles in boxes, including a carousel rotatable about a substantially vertical axis of rotation and a frame provided with a first operating unit arranged to operate on one of said articles and/or one of said boxes. The frame is supported and kept raised from the ground by the carousel by a rotatable coupling that allows the relative rotation between the carousel and the frame. The device also includes a fixing structure connected to the frame so that the frame remains fixed with respect to the ground when the carousel rotates around the axis of rotation. A method for packaging articles in boxes is also described.

Abstract: A movement unit for articles includes a first carousel device having a first transporter member and first gripping heads mounted thereon and provided to move the articles into a single-row configuration. The movement unit further includes a second carousel device to receive the articles from the first carousel device, having a second transporter member and second gripping heads mounted thereon. Each second gripping head is configured to receive the articles from a respective first gripping head and to move the articles into a multi-row configuration.

Abstract: A feed unit for articles includes a guide extending along a guide longitudinal axis to define a linear feed path for such articles. The guide is for accommodating articles arranged in a row one after the other and to guide the articles as the articles move along the linear feed path. The articles have a characteristic length corresponding to their size along the longitudinal axis. At least one segment of the guide is progressively rotated about the guide longitudinal axis by a total angle greater than 180° and with an angular variation per unit of linear measurement such that, substantially for each portion of the linear feed path equal to the characteristic length of the articles, the guide is rotated about the longitudinal axis by an angle greater than 4°.

Abstract: A magazine for a bundle of blanks includes vertical supports, each including supporting members spaced vertically along the vertical support at to support said bundle of blanks from below; a base structure has seats, each to receive an end portion of one of the vertical supports, said end portion and the base structure removably coupled to each other at the seats, a coupling between the vertical supports and the base structure defines a vertically-extended channel having an upper opening for inserting/extracting said bundle of blanks, said seats arranged in the base structure at predetermined distances from each other to allow a first positioning of said vertical supports, defining a first configuration of said channel, and a second positioning of said vertical supports, defining a second configuration of said channel different from the first configuration; a releasable fastening system fastens the vertical supports to the base structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping a box by wrapping-around includes a shaping device with a carousel, on which shaping supports are circulated along a closed circular trajectory. A portion of the trajectory constitutes a box shaping path. The carousel rotates around a vertical axis of rotation with a continuous motion. The shaping supports are adapted to receive products to be packaged. The apparatus also includes a dispenser device of blanks intended to be wrapped around to contain the products to be packaged. The apparatus includes a transfer device of blanks, apt to sequentially pick-up the blanks and insert them, one at a time, into the shaping path. A process for shaping boxes by wrapping-around is also described.

Abstract: A method for packaging articles in a box includes the steps of depositing at least one article in a mandrel, and folding a blank around the mandrel in correspondence with at least one folding line of the blank. The blank is folded along the folding line abutting the folding line and an edge of the mandrel only for a first part of the folding line, while a second part of the folding line remains not abutted by the mandrel.

Abstract: Mechanisms and methods for pressurized fluid injection and sealing into containment vessels using a divided valve mechanism are disclosed. The invention describes designs and methods in which a valve may be plugged by an actuator, and then the valve and actuator are disjoined, allowing the containment vessel to then be sealed but without the additional mass or volume of the actuation mechanism and without fluid loss from the containment vessel.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for shaping a box by wrapping around, wherein a blank is wrapped around a content to be packaged, including the steps of: conveying a content to be packaged onto an inlet transport plane, arranged horizontally, the content to be packaged being laid on said inlet transport plane; transferring the content to be packaged onto a shaping support which moves continuously along an annular path, on a portion of which the shaping support moves on a shaping plane; and wrapping a box around the content to be packaged while the shaping support moves on said shaping plane. The inlet transport plane, and the shaping plane are coplanar to reduce the stress on the final product during packaging.

Abstract: A method for packaging articles in boxes includes composing a mandrel from separate units, depositing at least one article inside the mandrel, wrapping a blank around the mandrel to form a box that is at least partially closed around the article deposited in the mandrel, decomposing the mandrel in the plurality of separate units, and leaving the article inside the box. The disclosure also includes a packaging device configured to operate according to such a method.

Abstract: A coupling method for coupling a component of a container to the container is presented. The method includes: arranging a coupling unit including a coupling assembly with a frame, a gripping device for the component, a coupling device for constraining the component to the container; arranging the container and the component at least partially within the container, providing at least a minimum spacing between a bottom of the component and a base of the container; moving and activating the gripping device at a removal position of the component; and activating the coupling element to produce a stable coupling between the couplable portion of the component and the container, deactivating and moving the coupling element.

Abstract: An inspection device for inspecting containers comprises a rotary conveyor, provided with a plurality of receiving cavities, and a measuring station configured to inspect each container while the container is being supported and moved by the conveyor, wherein the conveyor has continuous motion and the measuring station comprises a microwave detector provided with a measuring zone through which each container passes in order to generate an information item relating to at least one of the following: weight of the container as a whole or of the dose of product contained therein, type of product inside the container, presence of foreign bodies in the container.

Abstract: In a transfer device and a process for discrete elements, fed in a line with a predetermined spacing, variations in the dimensions of the discrete elements resulting in a variation in a release spot included in a release segment, are absorbed by an alignment of the receiving elements. A transport device of the transfer device has receiving elements, each configured to receive a respective discrete element and moving along a transport path at a predetermined speed. The discrete elements are transported on a release device of the transfer device along a release path with a linear development. The release path has a release segment intersecting the transport path at a receiving segment of the transport path. The transport device includes a moving mechanism for the receiving elements to align the receiving elements at the receiving segment, where the release segment is superimposed on the transport path at the receiving segment.

Abstract: Mechanisms and methods for pressurized fluid injection and sealing into containment vessels using a divided valve mechanism are disclosed. The invention describes designs and methods in which a valve may be plugged by an actuator then the valve and actuator are then disjoined, allowing the containment vessel to then be sealed but without the additional mass or volume of the actuation mechanism and without fluid loss from the containment vessel.

Abstract: A coupling method for coupling a component of a container to the container is presented. The method includes: arranging a coupling unit including a coupling assembly with a frame, a gripping device for the component, a coupling device for constraining the component to the container; arranging the container and the component at least partially within the container, providing at least a minimum spacing between a bottom of the component and a base of the container; moving and activating the gripping device at a removal position of the component; moving the retaining element and the coupling element to a coupling position; deactivating the retaining element, thus deactivating a constraint between the gripping element and the component; and activating said coupling element to produce a stable coupling between the couplable portion of the component and the container, deactivating and moving the coupling element.

Abstract: Mechanisms and methods for pressurized fluid injection and sealing into containment vessels using a divided valve mechanism are disclosed. The invention describes designs and methods in which a valve may be plugged by an actuator then the valve and actuator are then disjoined, allowing the containment vessel to then be sealed but without the additional mass or volume of the actuation mechanism and without fluid loss from the containment vessel.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus for articles to be packaged includes: a transport system having a transport direction for the articles to be packaged and a plurality of rigid transport elements pulled in a sequence and extend transversely to the transport direction, each one having a plurality of seats defining a predefined pattern; a packaging station, arranged along the transport direction transport, having a stationary support structure and a packaging system with a plurality of operating devices each one being arranged in a predetermined position with respect to the other operating devices, each of the operating devices able to carry out a packaging operation on a corresponding article to be packaged at the transit of the respective transport element near the packaging station; and a movement mechanism, integral with the support structure, rigidly moving at least a part of the operating devices with respect to corresponding seats of a single transport element.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus for packaging products in boxes, includes: a supply station, in which the products are positioned, a discharge station arranged to receive the products from the supply station and at least one first guide and a second guide which extend along respective longitudinal axes between the supply station and the discharge station, both configured to lead a single column of products along its own longitudinal axis from the supply station to the discharge station while rotating the products about the longitudinal axis through respective rotation angles different from 0° and different from each other.