A plant for making packages includes at least a machine to work packaging material and an automatic feed apparatus to feed the packaging material to the machine in a direction of automatic feed; a manual feeding and loading station of the packaging material, adjacent and parallel to the automatic feed apparatus, the machine being mobile in a direction of movement transverse to the direction of automatic feed and selectively positionable in a first position aligned to the automatic feed apparatus and in a second position aligned to the manual feeding and loading station; and a guide system to guide the machine between the first position and the second position and vice versa.

A plant for making packages includes at least a machine to work packaging material and an automatic feed apparatus to feed the packaging material to the machine in a direction of automatic feed; a manual feeding and loading station of the packaging material, adjacent and parallel to the automatic feed apparatus, the machine being mobile in a direction of movement transverse to the direction of automatic feed and selectively positionable in a first position aligned to the automatic feed apparatus and in a second position aligned to the manual feeding and loading station; and a guide system to guide the machine between the first position and the second position and vice versa.

A packaging system for high flexibility and speed box-last packaging comprises one or more dimensional scanning sensors that are configured to scan a group of one or more target products that are to be boxed and gather dimension information describing physical dimensions of the group of one or more target products. The system also comprises one or more packaging-production machines that are configured to generate custom-made packaging templates that conform to a pre-determined set of packaging template types. Additionally, the system comprises a packaging template buffer that comprises physically divided sections that contain multiple packaging templates selected from the pre-determined set of packaging template types that are generated by the one or more packaging-production machines. Each of the packaging templates are organized within the physically divided section based upon packaging template type.

A packaging system for high flexibility and speed box-last packaging comprises one or more dimensional scanning sensors that are configured to scan a group of one or more target products that are to be boxed and gather dimension information describing physical dimensions of the group of one or more target products. The system also comprises one or more packaging-production machines that are configured to generate custom-made packaging templates that conform to a pre-determined set of packaging template types. Additionally, the system comprises a packaging template buffer that comprises physically divided sections that contain multiple packaging templates selected from the pre-determined set of packaging template types that are generated by the one or more packaging-production machines. Each of the packaging templates are organized within the physically divided section based upon packaging template type.

A processing method for automatically opening a slide-open package of tobacco articles with a hinged lid; the processing method including the steps of: mechanically clamping an outer container of the package; exerting pull on the lid to rotate the lid into an open position by means of a first actuator, which contacts a top wall of the lid, and has a suction head which engages the top wall by suction; and, simultaneously and in coordination with the step of exerting pull on the lid, exerting thrust on an inner container of the package, to slide the inner container axially with respect to the outer container, by means of a second actuator, which contacts a wall of the inner container through a window formed through a corresponding wall of the outer container.

A bag for containing a bale of compressed material is a sleeve formed from woven tapes of polymeric material having a sealed end and an open end. The sleeve has a first region where the tapes are woven at a first density and one or more second regions where the tapes are woven at a second density less than the first density. The first region is configured to, when the bale is introduced into the bag, be positioned on at least a portion of a length of the bale.

A carrier comprises a lifting assembly and a box assembly. The lifting assembly defines at least one platform surface and at least one shoulder portion. The box assembly defines at least one intermediate slot. The at least one intermediate slots receives a portion of the main member such that the at least one shoulder portion engages at least a portion of the box assembly to transfer downward loads on the box assembly to the lifting assembly.

A method for containing a bale of compressed material without straps or wires in a bag the bale having recessed regions therein, includes receiving the bale of compressed material in a conveyor having a mobile portion and a load carriage. The bag has reinforced regions. The load carriage has multiple tines for supporting the bale of compressed material. The tines engage the bale at at least some of the recessed regions. The bale is transferred into a bagger configured to receive the bale and move the bale from an entrance to a discharge and bagging mandrel. The bale is introduced into the bag such that at least some of the reinforced regions of the bag correspond to the recessed regions of the bale. A reinforced bag for containing a bale of compressed material without straps or wires is also disclosed.

A method for containing a bale of compressed material without straps or wires in a bag the bale having recessed regions therein, includes receiving the bale of compressed material in a conveyor having a mobile portion and a load carriage. The bag has reinforced regions. The load carriage has multiple tines for supporting the bale of compressed material. The tines engage the bale at at least some of the recessed regions. The bale is transferred into a bagger configured to receive the bale and move the bale from an entrance to a discharge and bagging mandrel. The bale is introduced into the bag such that at least some of the reinforced regions of the bag correspond to the recessed regions of the bale. A reinforced bag for containing a bale of compressed material without straps or wires is also disclosed.

A plant for making packages includes at least a machine to work packaging material and an automatic feed apparatus to feed the packaging material to the machine in a direction of automatic feed; a manual feeding and loading station of the packaging material, adjacent and parallel to the automatic feed apparatus, the machine being mobile in a direction of movement transverse to the direction of automatic feed and selectively positionable in a first position aligned to the automatic feed apparatus and in a second position aligned to the manual feeding and loading station; and a guide system to guide the machine between the first position and the second position and vice versa.