Abstract: A transporter apparatus for products includes a first conveyor, provided with seats for receiving said products and provided to move said products in a first advance direction, a compaction unit, positioned downstream of the first conveyor and a second conveyor positioned downstream of said compaction unit. The compacting unit includes a support surface on which the products coming from the first conveyor are deposited, and a movement member provided to move the products placed on the support surface towards each other in a second advance direction, so as to form compact columns of products substantially parallel to the second advance direction.

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 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: 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: 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 method for controlling a production process for articles includes: feeding a plurality of articles to a first operating unit where the articles are subjected to a first processing operation; controlling at least one characteristic of the articles outgoing from the first operating unit; identifying among the outgoing articles a first group and a second group of articles, in which the at least one characteristic is respectively in accordance or not with predetermined quality parameters; transferring the articles outgoing from the first operating unit to at least one second operating unit, where the articles are subjected to at least one second processing operation; allowing the at least one second operating unit to perform the at least one second processing operation on the first group of articles; receiving the articles outgoing from the at least one second operating unit, and then discarding the second group of articles.

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: In a device and in a process for transferring discrete elements, fed in a row with a predetermined spacing, a correspondence is ensured between a linear release segment, and a not entirely linear portion of transport path. A carousel-like transport device is provided, where receiving members move along the transport path. A receiving segment is defined, where each receiving member receives a respective discrete element. A release device is further provided, on which the discrete elements are transported along a linearly developing release path having a release segment and intersecting the transport path at the receiving segment. A timing equipment acting on the receiving members by moving them with respect to the transport device is also provided.

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 coupling unit for coupling a component for a container includes a coupling equipment. The coupling equipment includes: a frame, a housing constrained to the frame, a gripping device rotatably constrained with respect to the frame and including a retaining element to selectively retain the component, and a coupling device constrained to the gripping device with respect to the frame, the coupling device including a coupling element to constrain a portion of the component to a coupling surface of the container at a coupling position. The gripping device and the coupling device can move along an arc with a curved trajectory to a removal position where the retaining element is oriented to receive at least one component to be retained, and to a coupling position where the retaining element and the coupling element bring an abutment surface of the container and a couplable portion of the component into contact.

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: A movement and filling unit of a container includes a movement and filling equipment. The equipment includes in turn: a frame, a metering member configured to release a filling product through a release opening, a movement device moveably secured to the frame, a housing with at least one seat, secured to the movement device. The movement device is configured to move the at least one seat along a movement trajectory where the following positions are defined: a removal position in which the container is housed in the at least one seat, a filling position in which the at least one seat is vertically aligned at a position under the release opening, and a release position in which the container with the product is removed from the at least one seat.

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: 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 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 retention and movement unit of at least one component and at least one container is described. The unit has a moving retention member including, in turn, a frame and a first gripping device with a first retention element, the gripping device having a first configuration for selectively retaining the at least one component by the first retention element. In a first alternative, the first gripping device has a second configuration, different from the first configuration, for selectively retaining the at least one container. In the second alternative, the moving retention member further includes a second gripping device, including a second retention element, the second gripping device having a second configuration, different from the first configuration, for selectively retaining said at least one container.

Abstract: Automatic packaging machine (3) for filling a bag (1) made of heat-sealable material, having an open upper end (2) with a dose of loose product; the packaging machine (3) has: a packaging conveyor (4); a pick-up head (7), which is supported by the packaging conveyor (4) to advance along a packaging path (P1); an input station (S1) where the empty bag (1) is grabbed by the pick-up head (7); an output station (S2) where the full, sealed bag (1) leaves the pick-up head (7); a filling device (18) that is mounted on the packaging conveyor (4) to move together with the pick-up head (7) along the entire packaging path (P1) and is adapted to supply the dose of product inside the bag (1) through the upper open end (2); and a sealing device (19) that is mounted on the packaging conveyor (4) to move together with the pick-up head (7) along the entire packaging path (P1) and is adapted to seal the full bag (1) through a heat-seal at the open upper end (2).

Abstract: Automatic packaging machine (3) for filling a bag (1) made of heat-sealable material, having an open upper end (2) with a dose of loose product; the packaging machine (3) has: a packaging conveyor (4); a pick-up head (7), which is supported by the packaging conveyor (4) to advance along a packaging path (P1); an input station (S1) where the empty bag (1) is grabbed by the pick-up head (7); an output station (S2) where the full, sealed bag (1) leaves the pick-up head (7); a filling device (18) that is mounted on the packaging conveyor (4) to move together with the pick-up head (7) along the entire packaging path (P1) and is adapted to supply the dose of product inside the bag (1) through the upper open end (2); and a sealing device (19) that is mounted on the packaging conveyor (4) to move together with the pick-up head (7) along the entire packaging path (P1) and is adapted to seal the full bag (1) through a heat-seal in correspondence with the open upper end (2).

Abstract: Unit and method for applying a wall to a hollow body in a manufacturing process for producing a beverage capsule; are provided: a sealing conveyor which advances along a sealing path; a sealing head conveyed by the sealing conveyor and which supports a gripping device for gripping the wall and a retaining device suited to retain the hollow body; a first feed station for feeding the wall to the sealing head, so that the wall is gripped by the gripping device; and a second feed station arranged downstream from the first feed station along the sealing path, for feeding the hollow body to the sealing head, so the hollow body is coupled to the wall gripped by the gripping device, and is retained by the retaining device.

Abstract: Automatic packaging machine (3) for filling a bag (1) made of heat-sealable material, having an open upper end (2) with a dose of loose product; the packaging machine (3) has: a packaging conveyor (4); a pick-up head (7), which is supported by the packaging conveyor (4) to advance along a packaging path (P1); an input station (S1) where the empty bag (1) is grabbed by the pick-up head (7); an output station (S2) where the full, sealed bag (1) leaves the pick-up head (7); a filling device (18) that is mounted on the packaging conveyor (4) to move together with the pick-up head (7) along the entire packaging path (P1) and is adapted to supply the dose of product inside the bag (1) through the upper open end (2); and a sealing device (19) that is mounted on the packaging conveyor (4) to move together with the pick-up head (7) along the entire packaging path (P1) and is adapted to seal the full bag (1) through a heat-seal at the open upper end (2).