Abstract: In an apparatus and a packaging process of capsules with an opening closed by a laminar lid obtained by cutting a strip, the ability of transporting the laminar lids in several lines is introduced, reducing the overall dimensions. The apparatus includes: a cutting device with a mechanism defining a portion of the strip where the strip is tensioned in a respective cutting plane, and one or more punches obtaining the laminar lids from the strip; a carousel-like transfer device, having transfer members movable along a closed path, with gripping heads configured to receive respective laminar lids from the cutting device. The cutting plane is in a vertical position, and the mutual position of the cutting device and the transfer device defines a gripping spot of the closed path, the laminar lids being retained in the transfer members on a respective plane in a vertical position.

Abstract: A singling unit for articles stacked in a nested configuration includes at least two stacks of articles stacked in a nested configuration, an extractor group to extract single articles from each stack, and a conveyor to receive the articles singled by the extractor group and to transport them along an advance direction arranged in at least one row substantially parallel to the advance direction. The extractor group is configured to deposit on the conveyor the articles extracted from the stacks in a number of rows smaller than the number of the stacks.

Abstract: A manipulator for packages with variable geometry includes a pair of gripping elements movable from an open configuration to a gripping configuration and vice versa, and cooperating with each other to grasp one of said packages. The manipulator further includes a plurality of adhesion elements interposed between the gripping elements, wherein each of said adhesion elements is mounted on a respective elastic support capable of varying their extension independently of each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the tightness of containers (1) closed by respective membranes (2) comprises a deforming unit (15) configured to exert a deforming action on a plurality of said containers (1), and a detection unit (40) for detecting the deformation of the membrane (2) of each container (1) submitted to the deforming action, wherein said deforming unit (15) comprises a plurality of deforming devices (20), and each deforming device (20) is individually associated with a single and respective container (1) of said plurality of containers to exert said deforming action.

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 at least a first winding head (10A) and a second winding head (10B) and a movement device (3) of said winding heads configured to displace said winding heads (10) along a working path (P). The distance between the first winding head (10A) and the second winding head (10B) along said working path (P) may be varied.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for making a coil (B) comprises a feed unit (2) configured to feed at least one strip-shaped article (N) formed by a plurality of strips and a winding unit (1) that includes at least one winding head (10) configured to wind said strip-shaped article (N) to make said coil (B). The feed unit (2) comprises a movable portion (20), wherein respective feed paths (8) comprising a respective storage segment (81) are defined for each of the strips and is configured so as to vary, by moving said movable portion (20), the length of the storage segments (81), keeping said storage segments (81) substantially parallel to each other.

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 (3) of said winding heads (10) configured to displace said winding heads (10) according to a trajectory that includes at least one rotation around a rotation axis (C) of said movement device (3), said rotation axis (C) being different from said winding axis (X) and a translation and/or a rotation about a further axis, different from said rotation axis (C) and from said winding axis (X).

Abstract: A feed unit for articles includes: a first feeding device; a second feeding device for individually picking up the articles from the first feeding device at a removal location at a predetermined time interval; and a synchronization device for receiving the articles from the first feeding device and to moving the articles into the removal location. A control system is also provided, to adjust the speed of the synchronization device in such a manner that each article reaches the removal location at the predetermined time interval in order to be picked up by the second feeding device.

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 feed unit (2) comprises a movable portion (20) that includes an outlet section (22) through which said strip-shaped article (N) passes through. 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). The winding heads (10) and said movable portion (20) are both movable.

Abstract: A pincer device for gripping and releasing articles from an operating station to a subsequent station, capable of operating, in a transfer apparatus, with a minimum footprint, without interfering with other pincer devices arranged at close range thereto, is presented. The pincer device has a pair of gripping claws, cooperating with each other and having each a proximal end and a distal end, a gripping edge facing the gripping edge of the other gripping claw, and a longitudinal development following a predefined respective direction. The pincer device also has a driving mechanism, having at least one rotary actuator connected to a respective proximal end, configured to rotate each gripping claw from a gripping position to a release position by rotating each gripping claw about a rotation axis parallel to the predefined direction. In the gripping position, the gripping edges have a minimum spacing therebetween, progressively increasing towards the release position.

Abstract: An apparatus and a transfer process for articles are presented. The articles are transferred without risk of damage when gripped by pincer grip devices, regardless of article shape and gripping manner. The apparatus includes a first transport device, having pincer grip devices, moving along a first closed path, each having pincer claws projecting outward from the first closed path. The pincer claws are movable from a gripping position to a release position. The apparatus also includes a second transport device, having tray-like elements moving along a respective second closed path and configured to receive respective articles resting thereon. The first and second transport devices cooperate with each other at one or two exchange segments where the first closed path is superimposed on said second closed path and where the articles transported in the pincer grip devices are laid on tray-like elements and/or removed therefrom.

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 device and a production process for capsules, in particular infusion type products, to continuously deliver filters into the capsules, independently of the flow feed rate of the filters and of the cup-shaped containers of the capsules. The device includes: filter delivery devices; a first transport system the delivery devices, continuously moving them along a first closed path; a second transport system of support devices continuously moveable along a second closed path, each support device configured to receive a respective cup-shaped container. The first closed path includes a filter inserting segment superimposed to the second closed path, so that the delivery devices and respective support devices are synchronized with each other, to continuously transfer a filter to a target cup-shaped container.

Abstract: Manufacturing machine (9) and method for manufacturing a cylindrical electrochemical cell (2) consisting of a spiral winding of a composite material (8) comprising at least two conductor bands (4, 6) and at least two separator bands (5, 7) overlapping one another. They are provided: a plurality of winding heads (13), each of which supports a holding device (14) which is configured to grab an end of the composite material (8) and to rotate on itself around a first rotation axis (15) so as to obtain a spiral winding of the composite material (8); a drum (11) which supports the winding heads (13) and which is mounted in a rotary manner so as to rotate with a continuous law of motion around a second rotation axis (12) in order to move the winding heads (13) along a processing path (P2); and a feeding unit (10) configured to feed the composite material (8) to the winding heads (13).

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for making a coil (B) comprises a feed unit (2) configured to feed at least one strip-shaped article (N) formed by a plurality of strips (N1, N2, N3, N4) and a winding unit (1). The winding unit includes a plurality of winding heads (10) and a movement device (3) of said winding heads (10) configured to displace said winding heads (10) along a working path (P). The apparatus further comprises a storage device (4) configured so as to store a variable amount of said at least one of said strips (N1, N2, N3, N4) and an actuating device of the storage device (4) which displaces said storage device (4) to vary the stored amount of strip.

Abstract: A transport unit for moving articles along a conveyor from a first station to a second station is presented. The unit includes a first conveyor segment having entry lanes separated from each other, a second conveyor segment downstream of the first conveyor segment to receive the articles from the first segment and having exit lanes separated from each other, in a number equal to the entry lanes, and a switching device, interposed between the first conveyor segment and the second conveyor segment. The switching device is movable between a first operating configuration, where each entry lane is in communication with a respective exit lane, and at least one second operating configuration, where at least one entry lane is selectively put in communication with an exit lane different from the exit lane with which the at least one entry lane communicates in the first operating configuration.

Abstract: A process for moving packages involving a pair of gripping elements mounted on a manipulator moving from an open configuration to a gripping configuration to grasp one of said packages. Each package has a box-like body having an opening at a front end of the package and/or a rear end of the package. Furthermore, the process involves at least partially obstructing the opening with at least one obstruction element extended from one of the gripping elements, moving the package by displacing the manipulator along a predefined path and, finally, releasing the package.

Abstract: A packaging unit for packaging (100; 200; 300) articles (1) in boxes (2), comprises: a mandrel (10) for accommodating an article (1) inside it; a movement device (50) for moving said mandrel (10) along a movement trajectory (M); a feed device (30) for feeding a blank (7) towards said mandrel (10) along a feeding trajectory which intersects the movement trajectory (M); a folding device (20) mounted at the movement trajectory (M) for cooperating with said mandrel (10) to fold said blank (7) around the mandrel (10) and to form a box (2). The folding device (20) comprises a folding element (21) for abutting said blank (7) positioned between said mandrel (10) and said folding element (21), and an adjustment device for modifying the position of the folding element (21) and for adjusting the folding of the blank (7) around the mandrel (10).

Abstract: A packaging unit of articles in boxes includes a mandrel, a movement device, a feeding device, a folding device, and a first retaining device. The mandrel is configured to accommodate at least one of the articles therein. The movement device is configured to move the mandrel along a movement trajectory. The feeding device is configured to feed at least one blank towards the mandrel. The folding device is configured to cooperate with the mandrel to fold at least one panel of the blank being wound around the mandrel, and to form one of the boxes. The first retaining device is movably guided parallel to the movement trajectory and is configured to cooperate with the mandrel, along a section of the movement trajectory, retaining the at least one panel of the blank, wound on the mandrel, against an abutment surface of the mandrel extended parallel to the movement trajectory. A packaging method of articles into boxes by means of such a unit is also described.

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) is configured to wind said strip-shaped article (N) so as to make said coil (B) during a displacement, carried out by said movement device (3), of the winding head (10) along an operative segment (P1) of the working path (P).