Products are loaded into receptacles by means of a transfer device, which comprises a plurality of pick-up heads, each of which picks up a product. The products are provided in a random arrangement in a pick-up area, and the position of each product is detected. To pick up the products, the transfer device is moved over the pick-up area and each pick-up head picks up an individual product at a pick-up time and in a pick-up position. The pick-up position and the pick-up time for the products are determined on the basis of the previously detected positions of the products. The placement of the products in a placement area also occurs preferably while the transfer device is moving relative to the receptacles.

According to the invention, the device comprises at least one flap spreading head (12a, 12b), the flap spreading head being vertically mobile for insertion thereof into a container (3) to be processed and including first and second flap spreading blades (121.sub.1, 121.sub.2) mounted on pivots and an actuator (122.sub.1, 122.sub.2). The actuator is adapted to command rotation of the flap spreading blades that on rotating come into contact with flaps (R1a, R1b) and bring about spreading thereof by folds toward the exterior of the container.

A configurable assembly is provided for conveying products along a longitudinal direction; the assembly has a supporting structure and at least two conveyor units; at least one of said units is provided with at least two tracks which receive, in use, respective products and diverge from or converge towards each other along a lateral direction, proceeding longitudinally from an inlet to an outlet; the units are movable with respect to the supporting structure by the action of an actuator device between a working area and at least one storage area, so as to selectively arrange one of said units in the working area.

A method includes separating a portion of a flattened tube of stock packing material to a custom length to form a pouch pre-form and closing a first end of the pouch pre-form leaving a second end of the pouch pre-form open. The method can include placing product into the pouch pre-form and closing the one open end of the pouch pre-form to form a closed pouch containing the product.

Described is an apparatus for packaging tissue products and a relative packaging method.

A cartoner infeed bucket includes a bottom wall, a first end wall extending upward from the bottom wall and a second end wall extending upward from the bottom wall and spaced apart from the first end wall to define an item carrying space, the second end wall running substantially parallel to the first end wall. The second end wall is mounted for adjustable movement along the bottom wall so as to vary a spacing between the first end wall and the second end wall and/or the first end wall is mounted for pivotable movement relative to the bottom wall.

Disclosed is a packaging robot for articles such as beverage containers or the like. The packaging robot comprises a bridge (3) as well as at least two tool holders (5) arranged at the bridge (3), wherein the at least two tool holders (5) arranged on the bridge (3) are each movable along the bridge (3) and can each accommodate a tool head (7). It is provided that at least one tool holder (5) of the at least two tool holders (5) arranged at the bridge (3) is optionally able to be equipped with a particular tool head (7) adapted to the particular packaging process to be performed. It is also provided that the at least one tool holder (5) of the at least two tool holders (5) can switch into a standby mode while remaining at the bridge (3) if the particular packaging process to be performed by the packaging robot does not require the at least one tool holder (5) to be equipped with a tool head (7).

A roll-packing machine (100) is provided with a belt drive mechanism having a closed-loop belt (110). Further, the roll-packing machine (100) is provided with a feed mechanism (130, 140) configured to feed a mattress (10) to the belt (110). The belt drive mechanism is configured to form an inner loop (115) of the belt, to receive the mattress (10) in the inner loop (115), and to roll the mattress (10) by advancing the belt (110) while the mattress (10) is received in the inner loop (115). The inner loop (115) of the belt may thus act as a rolling chamber for the mattress (10).

A machine for packaging soft products, including a conveyor defining a ring-shaped path having an active linear lower branch facing a feed plane and a non-active linear upper branch. Each of a plurality of carriages supports a tooth, projecting towards the feed plane during the passage on the lower branch, and configured for retaining and feeding along the feed plane the groups of products. A transfer device moves one group of products at a time, with a corresponding sheet of wrapping material folded into a “U” shape around the group, towards the feed plane and to a receiving compartment defined by a first and a second tooth, along a second direction transversal to a first direction. Each tooth includes a head permanently connected to the carriage and an operating portion in contact with the groups which can be separated from and reconnected to the head.

A product management system (100) includes —a continuous first track (104), including a lug queuing section (108), a lug engagement section (110), and a product engagement section (112), each section being configured and adapted to effectuate specific lug movement steps, —a continuous chain (116) partially following the track configured and adapted to actuate lugs (106) about at least a portion of the track, —a series of lugs (106) moveably disposed along the track (104) configured for moving a product along the product engagement section of the track, —a star wheel (120) disposed at the lug engagement section (110) of the track (104) configured for metering lugs (106) to engage the chain (116) from the queuing section (108) of the track (104) and to control a variable pitch between each of the lugs along the transferring chain, —and a magnetism source (122) configured to direct the lugs (106) to the queuing section (108), and to the end of the queuing section (108).