The invention relates to a method and a device for packaging sanitary articles such as absorbent articles, like diapers, sanitary napkins, panty liners, incontinence pads or similar, wherein by means of at least one diverter (10) batches (A, B, C, D) of articles (5) are alternately directed towards M packaging arrangements (11, 12), each batch (A, B, C, D) comprising at least one article (5), and wherein the diverter (10) alternately directs batches (A, B, C, D) of articles (5) towards the packaging arrangements (11, 12) in a repeated series of MN batches (A-C-B-D), with N>=2, wherein at least two of the N batches(A, B) of one series of MN batches (A-C-B-D) directed towards the first packaging arrangement (11) differ in count.

In the method for transferring at least one item to be packaged into a container and for transporting the filled container onward, the container is arranged in a transfer area, which is arranged next to a linear motor transport device. The at least one item to be packaged is conveyed in a conveying direction to a transfer position by the linear motor transport device. After that, the at least one item to be packaged is moved from the transfer position to the transfer area, where the container is filled with the at least one item to be packaged. Then, the filled container is moved from the transfer area to the transport device and is transported onward by the transport device in the conveying direction.

A gripper device used in a bag filling and packaging machine and moved, while holding a bag, along a predetermined path to change the orientation of the bag, the gripper device including: a movable frame that is moved along the predetermined path in a horizontal plane, a pivot frame that is pivotably supported by the movable frame and has a horizontal pivot axis, a pair of gripper arms that are pivotably supported by the pivot frame and pivoted, in conjunction with each other, symmetrically in a plane parallel to the pivot axis of the pivot frame, a bag orientation changing mechanism that is installed on the movable frame and pivots the pivot frame at an angle of 90, and a gripper arm pivot mechanism that is installed on the movable frame and pivots the pair of gripper arms.

The packaging machine includes a wrapping tunnel, adapted to form a tube of plastic film around a group of articles and a feed conveyor adapted to feed articles to be packaged toward the wrapping tunnel. An elevator is positioned between the feed conveyor and the wrapping tunnel, and is movable vertically from a lower position, to receive articles coming from the feed conveyor, to a higher height, to transfer articles to the wrapping tunnel. A pusher is arranged to push articles to be packaged from the elevator into the wrapping tunnel. An auxiliary conveyor is also provided between the feed conveyor and the elevator. An upender is associated with the auxiliary conveyor, adapted to be arranged selectively in an active position, to co-act with the auxiliary conveyor to upend articles coming from the feed conveyor and transfer them toward the elevator, and in a deactivated position.

A packaging machine for packaging products to be packaged by means of a stretchable film includes: a film transport device for a film feed to a product to be packaged; a first and a second belt conveyor for transporting the film, the belt conveyors each including a first and a second belt conveyor that are synchronously driven in a film transport direction prescribed by the film transport device and are arranged side by side, at least the second belt conveyor device being movable in a direction perpendicular to a film transport direction; and a movable film guiding element, by which the film is introducible into the film transport device, the film guiding element including a guide plate for guiding the film that has a first recess and a second recess in an upper edge in a vertical direction toward the belt conveyors.

The packaging machine includes a wrapping tunnel, adapted to form a tube of plastic film around a group of articles and a feed conveyor, adapted to feed articles to be packaged toward the wrapping tunnel. An elevator is positioned between the feed conveyor and the wrapping tunnel, and is movable vertically from a lower position, to receive articles coming from the feed conveyor, to a higher height, to transfer articles to the wrapping tunnel. A pusher is arranged to push articles to be packaged from the elevator into the wrapping tunnel. An auxiliary conveyor is also provided between the feed conveyor and the elevator. An upender is associated with the auxiliary conveyor, adapted to be arranged selectively in an active position, to co-act with the auxiliary conveyor to upend articles coming from the feed conveyor and transfer them toward the elevator, and in a deactivated position.

A tube holder has a housing having an upwardly opening tube receptacle into which a tube can be inserted. A plurality of clamping elements arranged in the tube receptacle can be brought to abut an outer wall of the tube and a clamping force acting radially on the inserted tube cab be applied by at least one spring element. The clamping elements are each pivotably mounted in a pivot bearing about a horizontal axis. Further clamping element are below the first group of pivot elements arranged over the tube receptacle and are under the action of the spring element and/or at least one further spring element. The clamping surface of at least some clamping elements and/or at least some further clamping elements at least in sections has a convex contour, curved about a horizontal axis, in the direction of a longitudinal central axis of the tube receptacle.

A pouch handling machine comprises and a series of pouch related process stations. A reciprocating beams conveyor advances pouches intermittently along the stations. The conveyor comprises a left-hand side and a right-hand side elongated reciprocating beams, each provided along the length thereof with pouch retention members. A left-hand side and a right-hand side support member, each support reciprocating beams and form a linear guide of the reciprocating beams. A left-hand side and a right-hand side electromagnetic linear actuator are provided, each being mounted between the respective reciprocating beams and the respective support member to cause an intermittent reciprocating motion of the reciprocating beams in the longitudinal direction thereof. These actuators are linked to an electronic controller that is adapted to synchronize the motions of the actuators. A transverse motion mechanism causes a periodic transverse motion of the left-hand side and a right-hand side support members away from and towards one another.

An apparatus for shaping a narrow container stream, into a wide container stream includes container guides and a shaping region that extends between an inlet and an outlet. Transport bands connecting laterally to each other and define a transport plane along which the containers are transported. The container guides are constrained to be between defined limit curves defined by second and third order polynomials. As a result, the container guides are cambered in a way that promotes interruption-free widening of the container stream.

A packaging machine for packaging products to be packaged using a stretchable film has a film transporter supplying the film. The film transporter has first and second belt conveyors that each have first and second transport belts, which are synchronously driven and arranged next to one another in a film transport direction. A belt conveyor is movable in a direction perpendicular to the film transport direction, and has a movable film guide to insert the film into the film transporter. The film guide has a guide plate for guiding the film. The guide plate has first and second recesses in an upper edge in the vertical direction facing the belt conveyors. The belt conveyors are to be inserted into a respective one of the recesses. The film transporter has cleaners for the belt conveyors.