Abstract: A device for gripping containers is provided. The device includes clamps adapted to clamp a container and a centring cone adapted to receive a cap of the container. The centring cone has a longitudinal axis and comprises an inlet mouth, for entrance of the cap, and an inner lateral surface. The inner lateral surface comprises a first, substantially cylindrical portion and a second portion comprised between the first portion and the inlet mouth and diverging outwards in the direction from the first portion to the inlet mouth. The centring cone is a component separate from and independent of the clamps.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus (1) for transferring items from and to a transport line (100), more particularly a transport line moving at high speed. The invention comprises the steps of picking a first item (10a) from a transport line (100) and placing a second item (10b) onto said transport line, preferably at an immediately subsequent time, into the gap left by said first item that has just been picked. The invention is applied in particular, but not exclusively, in the field of item packaging, for instance in bottling systems. More particularly, the invention can be used for transferring items to be checked from a transport line to an inspection station, and for transferring back items that have been checked and deemed satisfactory from said inspection station to said transport line.

Abstract: An actuation unit for a capping head for the application of caps on containers or bottles, as well as to a capping head using such a unit, are provided. The actuation unit for a capping head for the application of caps on containers or bottles comprises at least two actuators, of which a first actuator is adapted to impart a translational displacement along a closing axis and a second actuator is adapted to impart a rotational movement about the closing axis, each actuator of the at least two actuators causing the rotation of a first shaft and a second shaft, respectively, both arranged coaxial to the closing axis, and is characterized in that the shafts of the at least two actuators are placed side by side along the axis and are mutually connected by means of at least one rotation decoupling joint.

Abstract: A capping head for applying caps on containers or bottles and a capping assembly are provided. The capping head comprises a gripping assembly having a hollow body longitudinally extending along a vertical axis and internally defining a seat for the cap, the seat being delimited at its lower end by an inlet mouth for the introduction of the cap. A moving assembly is connected to the gripping assembly for controlling the movements thereof and is hermetically separated therefrom, and an ejector member is housed inside the hollow body of the gripping assembly, in such a manner that it is free to axially slide. The ejector member carries first and second magnetic elements such that a relative axial approach of the second magnetic element towards the first magnetic element results in a translation of the ejector member towards the lower inlet mouth of the gripping assembly.

Abstract: A magnetic coupling device (1) is provided for coupling a first member (10) and a second member (11), coaxial with each other, so that they can jointly rotate about a common axis and/or translate along such axis or can perform relative rotary and/or translatory movements depending on the intensity of a torque or an axial force applied to one of the members. At least one of the members (10) has axially extending magnetized areas (12) each consisting of a row of axially aligned magnets (12?), the magnets (12?) in one area (12i) being axially offset relative to the magnets of an adjacent area (12j).

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for determining the position of objects (2) advancing in line on a supporting plane belonging to a transport line (1). The apparatus includes, for determining the position of an object (2) on the supporting plane, sources (22A, 23A) of a first and a second light beam (220, 230) generating collimated beams (220, 230) with substantial point-like cross-sectional size, which propagate along paths defining a plane parallel to the supporting plane and forming acute angles with the advance direction (F), and detectors (22B, 23B) for the separate detection of the first and the second beam (220, 230). A processing unit (12) includes means for comparing the instants at which an object passes through each beam (220, 230) and for detecting, based on the comparison result, a possible offset of the position of the object (2) from a reference position.

Abstract: A gripping assembly for a capping head for applying caps on containers, as well as a capping head, are provided. The gripping assembly comprises a hollow body longitudinally extending along a vertical axis and internally defining a seat delimited at its lower end by an inlet mouth for the introduction of a cap. An ejector member is housed inside the hollow body such that the ejector member is free to slide axially. The gripping assembly further comprises a suspension member made of magnetic material or magnetizable material, and the ejector member carries a first magnetic element that interacts with the suspension member to determine a suspension condition of the ejector member. The magnetic interaction between the first magnetic element and the suspension member is such that the suspension condition is determined only when the ejector member is brought in close proximity of or, in contact with, the suspension member.

Abstract: A capping head for the application of caps on containers or bottles, as well as a capping assembly, are provided. The capping head comprises a hollow housing internally defining at least a first chamber in which a shaft rotating about a longitudinal axis is housed, the rotating shaft being coupled with the hollow housing through the interposition of a magnetic or electromagnetic decoupling assembly comprising at least a rotor and a stator. The decoupling assembly being suitable to allow a relative rotation between the hollow housing and the rotating shaft when the rotating shaft is subjected to a braking torque exceeding a threshold torque. Means for enhancing the thermal dissipation power generated by the decoupling assembly is located inside the hollow housing.

Abstract: An assembly for measuring torque and/or axial load for capping heads includes a containing body torque and/or load sensor housed within the body, and an interface that connects a capping head to the body. The interface is coupled to the torque/load sensor to transfer torque applied on the interface to the torque sensor and/or to transfer load applied on the interface to the load sensor. The interface has a first part fixedly constrained to the capping head such that the first part is brought into rotation and/or translation by the capping head, and a second part coupled to the torque sensor for transferring a torque thereto and/or to the load sensor for transferring a load thereto. The torque and/or load are applied by the first part to the second part and the first part transfers a torque to the second part in the absence of a reciprocal contact.

Abstract: A rotary-linear actuation assembly comprising a casing internally housing an output shaft arranged coaxial with an actuation axis (A) in a translationally and rotationally movable manner, at least two actuators, of which a first actuator is adapted to impose a translational movement along the actuation axis (A) on the output shaft and a second actuator is adapted to impose a rotary movement about the actuation axis (A) on the output shaft, and at least one position sensor adapted to detect an instant position of the output shaft inside the casing. At least one position sensor is mounted in fixed manner in respect of rotation about the actuation axis (A) and in fixed manner in respect of translation along the actuation axis (A) and faces at least a portion of the output shaft.

Abstract: A rotary-linear actuation assembly is provided, in particular of a kind suitable to provide in independent manner at its output, either sequentially or simultaneously, a rotary movement and a linear translation movement. The assembly comprises a casing internally housing an output shaft arranged coaxial with an actuation axis (A) in a translationally and rotationally movable manner; and at least two electromagnetic actuators each comprising a respective electromagnetic stator and a respective magnetic rotor, a first of which being a linear actuator adapted to impart, at its output, a translational movement along the actuation axis (A), and a second of which being a rotary actuator adapted to impart, at its output, a rotary movement around the actuation axis (A). The electromagnetic stators of the electromagnetic actuators are arranged in a mutually coaxial and concentric manner, and each actuator independently acts on the output shaft.

Abstract: A fluid cushion guiding device (1) is provided for guiding a member (2) into relative movement, rotary and/or translatory, relative to the guiding device (1). The guiding device (1) comprises an inner cylindrical portion (10) and an outer cylindrical portion (11) that are coaxial with each other. The inner cylindrical portion (10) has a plurality of radial holes (12) having first ends (13) communicating with a first gap (15) provided between the inner cylindrical portion (10) and the member (2) to be guided. The outer cylindrical portion (11) has at least one radial opening (17) arranged to allow introducing from the outside a pressurised fluid which, by reaching the first gap (15) through the holes (12), is suitable to create a fluidic gap between the inner cylindrical portion (10) and the member (2) to be guided.

Abstract: A rotary-linear actuation assembly is provided, in particular of a kind suitable to provide in independent manner at its output, either sequentially or simultaneously, a rotary movement and a linear translation movement. The assembly comprises a casing internally housing an output shaft arranged coaxial with an actuation axis (A) in a translationally and rotationally movable manner; and at least two electromagnetic actuators each comprising a respective electromagnetic stator and a respective magnetic rotor, a first of which being a linear actuator adapted to impart, at its output, a translational movement along the actuation axis (A), and a second of which being a rotary actuator adapted to impart, at its output, a rotary movement around the actuation axis (A). The electromagnetic stators of the electromagnetic actuators are arranged in a mutually coaxial and concentric manner, and each actuator independently acts on the output shaft.

Abstract: A self-adjusting capping chuck includes a support having a longitudinal axis, a guide element fixed with respect to the support and having guides, jaws which engage respective guides and are movable with respect to the support between release and gripping positions, the jaws have respective gripping surfaces and first cam surfaces, and a control ring movable relative to the support along the longitudinal axis between lowered and raised positions and having second cam surfaces cooperating with first cam surfaces of the jaws, so that the movement of the control ring from the lowered to the raised position moves the jaws from the release to the gripping position. The control ring has an abutment wall arranged to abut on a head surface of a closure element so that, during movement of the chuck along the longitudinal axis, the closing element moves the control ring from the lowered to the raised position.

Abstract: Device for gripping containers, comprising clamps (8) adapted to clamp a container (20), and a centring cone (5) adapted to receive a cap (23) of the container (20). The centring cone (5) has a longitudinal axis (A) and comprises an inlet mouth (10), for entrance of said cap (23), and an inner lateral surface (11). Said inner lateral surface (11) comprises a first, substantially cylindrical portion (12) and a second portion (13) comprised between the first portion (12) and the inlet mouth (10) and diverging outwards in the direction from the first portion (12) to the inlet mouth (10). The centring cone (5) is a component separate from and independent of the clamps (8).

Abstract: A magnetic coupling device (1) is provided for coupling a first member (10) and a second member (11), coaxial with each other, so that they can jointly rotate about a common axis and/or translate along such axis or can perform relative rotary and/or translatory movements depending on the intensity of a torque or an axial force applied to one of the members. At least one of the members (10) has axially extending magnetised areas (12) each consisting of a row of axially aligned magnets (12?), the magnets (12?) in one area (12i) being axially offset relative to the magnets of an adjacent area (12j).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus (1) for transferring items from and to a transport line (100), more particularly a transport line moving at high speed. The invention comprises the steps of picking a first item (10a) from a transport line (100) and placing a second item (10b) onto said transport line, preferably at an immediately subsequent time, into the gap left by said first item that has just been picked. The invention is applied in particular, but not exclusively, in the field of item packaging, for instance in bottling systems. More particularly, the invention can be used for transferring items to be checked from a transport line to an inspection station, and for transferring back items that have been checked and deemed satisfactory from said inspection station to said transport line.

Abstract: An actuation unit for a capping head for the application of caps on containers or bottles, as well as to a capping head using such a unit, are provided. The actuation unit for a capping head for the application of caps on containers or bottles comprises at least two actuators, of which a first actuator is adapted to impart a translational displacement along a closing axis and a second actuator is adapted to impart a rotational movement about the closing axis, each actuator of the at least two actuators causing the rotation of a first shaft and a second shaft, respectively, both arranged coaxial to the closing axis, and is characterized in that the shafts of the at least two actuators are placed side by side along the axis and are mutually connected by means of at least one rotation decoupling joint.

Abstract: A capping head for the application of caps on containers or bottles, as well as a capping assembly, are provided. The capping head comprises a hollow housing internally defining at least a first chamber in which a shaft rotating about a longitudinal axis is housed, the rotating shaft being coupled with the hollow housing through the interposition of a magnetic or electromagnetic decoupling assembly comprising at least a rotor and a stator. The decoupling assembly being suitable to allow a relative rotation between the hollow housing and the rotating shaft when the rotating shaft is subjected to a braking torque exceeding a threshold torque. Means for enhancing the thermal dissipation power generated by the decoupling assembly is located inside the hollow housing.

Abstract: A gripping assembly for a capping head for applying caps on containers, as well as a capping head, are provided. The gripping assembly comprises a hollow body longitudinally extending along a vertical axis and internally defining a seat delimited at its lower end by an inlet mouth for the introduction of a cap. An ejector member is housed inside the hollow body such that the ejector member is free to slide axially. The gripping assembly further comprises a suspension member made of magnetic material or magnetizable material, and the ejector member carries a first magnetic element that interacts with the suspension member to determine a suspension condition of the ejector member. The magnetic interaction between the first magnetic element and the suspension member is such that the suspension condition is determined only when the ejector member is brought in close proximity of or, in contact with, the suspension member.