Abstract: Transport system (6) for an article (1) having: a movable unit (7) provided with at least one seat (8), which is designed to contain the article (1), is delimited by a first wall (11) and by a second wall (12) facing one another and opposite one another, so that the article (1) can be housed between the first wall (11) and the second wall (12), and has an elastic element (13) pushing the two walls (11, 12) towards one another: a conveyor (9), which is designed to move the movable unit (7) along a path (P); and an operating device (15), which is on the outside and independent of the movable unit (7), is arranged along the path (P), and is designed to act upon the first wall (11) in order to move the first wall (11) away from the second wall (12) against the force generated by the elastic element (13). The first wall (11) is mounted on the movable unit (7) in a sliding manner to linearly slide relative to the movable unit (7).

Abstract: A system for assembling electronic cigarette parts comprising cartridges and for filling the cartridges includes a first conveyor; a first group of carrier units connected to the first conveyor to be movable independently along the first conveyor and to receive and hold the parts; a first group of working stations for assembling/inspecting the cigarette parts on the first conveyor; a second conveyor, downstream of the first conveyor; and a second group of carrier units connected to the second conveyor to be movable independently along the second conveyor and to receive and hold the parts; a second group of working stations for assembling/inspecting the parts on the second conveyor; and a filling station, disposed between the first and second conveyors to receive the parts from the first conveyor, fill the respective cartridges, and feed the parts with the filled cartridges towards the second conveyor.

Abstract: A capping station has a first conveying system designed to move a plurality of full bottles; a second conveying system, arranged above the first conveying system, designed to move a plurality of caps; a capping device designed to pick up at least one cap from the second conveying system in order to apply the cap to a bottle carried by the first conveying system; and a heating unit comprising at least one heating device, a support beam carrying the heating device, a main operating device designed to move the support beam between a rest position in which the heating device is far from the bottles and a work position in which the heating device is close to the bottles to heat at least the neck of the bottles, and a safety operating device independent of the main operating device, designed to move the support beam between the work and rest positions.

Abstract: A method for the production of an article in an automatic machine operating by means of a succession of operating cycles.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing operations on semi-finished devices for producing disposable cartridges for electronic cigarettes includes: a guide having a branch extending along a forming direction, and having a longitudinal plane; carriages movable along the guide, each guide includes a retaining element to retain a semi-finished device during operations thereon; a drive system for advancing the carriages along the guide; and operating stations spaced from each other along the forming direction, each having an operating arrangement for performing operations on the semi-finished devices carried by the retaining elements applying stresses on the semi-finished devices; wherein: the retaining element is arranged laterally relative to the longitudinal plane, the apparatus includes a stationary support located at the operating stations, and each of the carriages includes a contrast element cooperating with the stationary support and arranged to transfer stresses applied by the operating arrangement on the semi-finished

Abstract: A system for assembling and filling two groups of electronic cigarettes, includes first and second working stations for assembly/inspection operations on a first group of electronic cigarettes and disposed upstream and downstream of a first conveying path, respectively. Third and fourth working stations perform assembly/inspection operations on a second group of electronic cigarettes and are disposed upstream and downstream of a second conveying path, respectively. A single filling station receives the first group at a first loading zone and the second group at a second loading zone to fill the first group and the second group with a filling product; and releases the first group of filled electronic cigarettes at a first unloading zone and the second group of filled electronic cigarettes at a second unloading zone towards the second working station and towards the fourth working station, respectively.

Abstract: An extraction station for the extraction from a transport system for an at least partially complete cartridge; the extraction station has: a collecting device; at least one holding head, which is designed to grab at least one end of the cartridge; and a moving device which supports the holding head and moves the holding head between a pick-up position, in which the holding head is in the area of the transport system and grabs the cartridge, and a release position, in which the holding head releases the cartridge.

Abstract: A system for assembling and filling two groups of electronic cigarettes, includes first and second working stations for assembly/inspection operations on a first group of electronic cigarettes and disposed upstream and downstream of a first conveying path, respectively. Third and fourth working stations perform assembly/inspection operations on a second group of electronic cigarettes and are disposed upstream and downstream of a second conveying path, respectively. A single filling station receives the first group at a first loading zone and the second group at a second loading zone to fill the first group and the second group with a filling product; and releases the first group of filled electronic cigarettes at a first unloading zone and the second group of filled electronic cigarettes at a second unloading zone towards the second working station and towards the fourth working station, respectively.

Abstract: A system for assembling and filling two groups of electronic cigarettes, includes first and second working stations for assembly/inspection operations on a first group of electronic cigarettes and disposed upstream and downstream of a first conveying path, respectively. Third and fourth working stations perform assembly/inspection operations on a second group of electronic cigarettes and are disposed upstream and downstream of a second conveying path, respectively. A single filling station receives the first group at a first loading zone and the second group at a second loading zone to fill the first group and the second group with a filling product; and releases the first group of filled electronic cigarettes at a first unloading zone and the second group of filled electronic cigarettes at a second unloading zone towards the second working station and towards the fourth working station, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a liquid product into containers includes a conveyor for conveying a plurality of containers through a filling station; a dispensing unit set in the filling station and including one or more nozzles and a system for pumping the liquid product to said one or more nozzles for dispensing the liquid product into the containers that follow one another in the filling station; a tank including a collection chamber and at least one inlet mouth in communication with the collection chamber, the tank being mobile between a resting position and a working position in which the at least one inlet mouth set in a position underlying the one or more nozzles; and a control unit configured for controlling movement of the tank from the resting position (P1) to the working position, and vice versa.

Abstract: A conveying method and system for a machine to fill bottles, with a non-circular cross-section, in particular for products in the pharmaceutical industry; the following are provided: a plurality of holding members designed to hold a plurality of bottles in a suspended position; movers to move the plurality of holding members along a processing path; and guides, which are arranged parallel to the processing path, allow the bottles to move only when the bottles are arranged according to a predetermined orientation, and force the bottles to assume and maintain the predetermined orientation.

Abstract: A filling unit to fill a container, in particular a cartridge, with a liquid product of the pharmaceutical industry having: a dosing head, which is arranged in a filling station and is designed to feed a quantity of product into the container through an open upper end of the container; a capping device, which is arranged in a capping station and is designed to insert a closing element into the container and through the open upper end of the container; and a sucking device which is arranged in a degasification station located between the filling station and the capping station, is designed to engage the open upper end of the container in a sealing manner, and is designed to generate a depression inside the container in an upper volume, which is not occupied by the product.

Abstract: A transport system for an at least partially complete cartridge has: at least one piece of movable equipment provided with at least one seat designed to contain the cartridge and delimited by a first wall and by a second wall beside and opposite one another; a conveyor to move the movable equipment along a path; and an operating device arranged along the path, outside of and independent from the movable equipment. The first wall is mounted on the movable equipment and movable closer to and away from the second wall between a holding position, in which there is a minimum distance between the first and second walls and a release position, in which there is a maximum distance between the first and second walls. An elastic element that pushes the first wall towards the holding position, and a control appendage moves the first wall towards the release position.

Abstract: A cutting unit for the cutting of a substrate band for an aerosol-generating device, and a related cutting assembly, wherein the substrate band has a longitudinally-extending axis and wherein the cutting unit comprises: a feeder for feeding the substrate band along a feed direction parallel to the extension axis; a cutting head comprising a cutting edge having a closed profile for cutting a substrate portion from the substrate band, which cutting head is movable in a movement direction transversal to the feed direction between a cutting position, in which it cuts the substrate portion, and a release position, in which it releases the substrate portion; and a conveyor, which are arranged and shaped so as to receive the substrate portion from the cutting head when the cutting head is in the release position, and convey the substrate portion towards an output section.

Abstract: A system for conveying electronic cigarette components, including: a guide including a stopping station; a carriage to slide along the guide; a retaining device for holding a component of an electronic cigarette; and a locking unit for locking the carriage relative to the guide at the stopping station. The locking unit includes: two abutment elements mounted on the carriage and disposed at a predetermined mutual distance; and an inserting element which is: disposed at the stopping station shaped such that first and second edges contact the abutment elements, respectively, when the carriage is at the stopping station; movable between a retracted position free from the abutment elements to allow the carriage to slide, and an advanced position contacting the abutment elements to prevent the carriage from sliding. Each abutment element is rotatable about its axis to facilitate movement of the inserting element between the two positions.

Abstract: A sealing machine and method for controlling a sealing machine Includes the following steps: placing capped containers provided with a seal on plates, rotating the plates, pressing the seal against the cap of the container and fastening said seal using a sealing head. The step of rotating the plates is performed by rotating each plate independently of the other plates. The method further includes: detecting at least one parameter associated with the rotation of a plate and/or with a compression load between each sealing head and the seal, and comparing the value of the detected parameter with a reference range.

Abstract: A machine for filling and capping cartridges for electronic-cigarettes includes a transport line for feeding cartridges; a transfer unit for transferring the cartridges from a feeding line to the transport line; a station for dispensing a predetermined quantity of product into the cartridges; a station for applying a cap to each cartridge filled with product; a system for feeding caps to the cap application station including a conveyor for transporting the caps thereto according to a pre-established formation, and a unit for detecting the caps transported by the conveyor; a control unit for checking possible empty spots in the formation of the transported caps, based on detection data provided by the detection unit, and for transmitting a stop signal to at least one among the transfer unit, the product dispensing unit and the cap application station, if an empty spot is identified in the formation of the caps.

Abstract: An operating station for a machine for filling and capping cartridges for electronic cigarettes is arranged along a feeding path of a conveying fine of the machine and includes: an operating device having operative positions for operating on the cartridges arranged in series along a direction parallel to the feeding path; and a device for transferring cartridges, which includes a first and second series of pick-up members, each having a number of pick-up members corresponding to the number of operative positions, and which is actuatable according to a movement of rotation about a vertical axis, for selectively interchanging positions of the series of pick-up members, between a loading/unloading position at the conveying line, wherein the pick-up members pick up or release the cartridges and a working position at the operative positions of the operating device, wherein the pick-up members pick up or release the cartridges from/into the operative positions.

Abstract: A welding station for welding parts of electronic cigarettes includes feeding means, set in a feeding area for feeding parts of electronic cigarettes to be welded; welding means, set in a welding area, downstream of the feeding area, for welding the parts of electronic cigarettes; and a transfer device, set between the feeding means and the welding means for receiving from the feeding means the parts of electronic cigarettes to be welded and transferring them from the feeding area to the welding area. The transfer device includes a first transfer sector and a second transfer sector, pre-arranged for receiving from the feeding means, respectively, first parts and second parts of electronic cigarettes to be welded and transferring them into the welding area. The first transfer sector and the second transfer sector are mobile in rotation about an axis, independently of one another.

Abstract: An extraction station for the extraction from a transport system for an at least partially complete cartridge; the extraction station has: a collecting device; at least one holding head, which is designed to grab at least one end of the cartridge; and a moving device which supports the holding head and moves the holding head between a pick-up position, in which the holding head is in the area of the transport system and grabs the cartridge, and a release position, in which the holding head releases the cartridge.