A device for transferring rod-like articles (6) of the tobacco industry from a longitudinal conveyor (7), which transports rod-like articles (6) in the transport direction (T1), along the axis of rod-like articles (6), to a transverse conveyor (10), which transports rod-like articles (6) in the direction of transport (T2) transverse to the axis of rod-like articles (6), or inversely, containing a rotary transport device (13) with a horizontal rotation axis (X), equipped with rotary arms (14) on which brackets (15) maintaining a horizontal position during rotation of the transport device (13), with grippers (16) for gripping rod-like articles (6) attached to the brackets (15), characterized in that the gripper (16) is rotationally mounted on the bracket (15), so that the gripper's (16) axis of rotation (n) is directed vertically during the bracket's (15) movement.

A part-processing machine having, in series, consecutive parts on a belt (2) moving same along a main conveying line. Selectively identified non-compliant parts are removed from the conveying line, into a transfer device (1) by pickup tools (8) supported on the periphery of a rotating drum (6) mounted transversely to the conveying line and arranged to rotate about itself so as to pass over the belt, enabling the non-compliant parts to be picked up by the pickup tools and released once the parts have been transported away from the conveying line. The pickup tools have pneumatic gripping heads, more particularly for example suction cups. The pneumatic gripping heads are depressurized relative to the surrounding air by a low-pressure chamber provided inside the drum, to which each head is connected by a tube inside a tool support arm.

A part-processing machine having, in series, consecutive parts on a belt (2) moving same along a main conveying line. Selectively identified non-compliant parts are removed from the conveying line, into a transfer device (1) by pickup tools (8) supported on the periphery of a rotating drum (6) mounted transversely to the conveying line and arranged to rotate about itself so as to pass over the belt, enabling the non-compliant parts to be picked up by the pickup tools and released once the parts have been transported away from the conveying line. The pickup tools have pneumatic gripping heads, more particularly for example suction cups. The pneumatic gripping heads are depressurized relative to the surrounding air by a low-pressure chamber provided inside the drum, to which each head is connected by a tube inside a tool support arm.

A drum (10,12) for receiving, transporting and discharging long metal products (P), such as bar or the like, preferably coming from a hot rolling mill: the drum includes at least one pair of channels (C1-C2) extending longitudinally axially and the channels being around the circumference of the drum, the channels simultaneously receive two long products (P1,P2), respectively one long product in each one of the channels that is part of the pair. Also a method and a system for handling long rolled products coming from different strands of a rolling mill are disclosed.

A drum (10,12) for receiving, transporting and discharging long metal products (P), such as bar or the like, preferably coming from a hot rolling mill: the drum includes at least one pair of channels (C1-C2) extending longitudinally axially and the channels being around the circumference of the drum, the channels simultaneously receive two long products (P1,P2), respectively one long product in each one of the channels that is part of the pair. Also a method and a system for handling long rolled products coming from different strands of a rolling mill are disclosed.

There is provided an automated removal apparatus for selectively removing one or more trimmed portions of a laminated ply in a ply-by-ply fabrication process. The automated removal apparatus includes a rotatable reel having a plurality of retractable vacuum panels attached around the rotatable reel. Each retractable vacuum panel has one or more retractable vacuum pad assemblies, and each retractable vacuum pad assembly has a vacuum pad with a vacuum port and a self-sealing valve. The automated removal apparatus further includes actuator assemblies attached to the plurality of retractable vacuum panels, friction reducing elements attached around the rotatable reel, a drive assembly attached to the rotatable reel, and a pneumatic system attached to the rotatable reel and including a valve manifold operable to control an air flow to the actuator assemblies and to one or more vacuum generators to generate a vacuum flow.

Unit for sorting parts moving along a conveyor belt comprising a transfer device (3) which comprises a roller (31) which is rotatably movable above the belt and a plurality of gripping tools (32) at the periphery of the roller which are each capable of selectively removing a part from the belt when the tools are brought into a removal position, each tool comprising a suction cup (321) attached to a tubular support sleeve (322) which is capable of creating a connection between the suction cup and an internal chamber (312) of the roller, said connection being kept at a negative pressure relative to the surrounding air, all of the suction cups which are brought into the removal position being depressurized, each sleeve being mounted so as to be translatably movable along the axis thereof through a wall (311) of the roller, an actuator (34) being designed to selectively control, in the removal position, the movement of the sleeve so that the suction cup engages with the part to be removed.

Unit for sorting parts moving along a conveyor belt comprising a transfer device (3) which comprises a roller (31) which is rotatably movable above the belt and a plurality of gripping tools (32) at the periphery of the roller which are each capable of selectively removing a part from the belt when the tools are brought into a removal position, each tool comprising a suction cup (321) attached to a tubular support sleeve (322) which is capable of creating a connection between the suction cup and an internal chamber (312) of the roller, said connection being kept at a negative pressure relative to the surrounding air, all of the suction cups which are brought into the removal position being depressurized, each sleeve being mounted so as to be translatably movable along the axis thereof through a wall (311) of the roller, an actuator (34) being designed to selectively control, in the removal position, the movement of the sleeve so that the suction cup engages with the part to be removed.

Unit for sorting parts moving along a conveyor belt comprising a transfer device (3) which comprises a roller (31) which is rotatably movable above the belt and a plurality of gripping tools (32) at the periphery of the roller which are each capable of selectively removing a part from the belt when the tools are brought into a removal position, each tool comprising a suction cup (321) attached to a tubular support sleeve (322) which is capable of creating a connection between the suction cup and an internal chamber (312) of the roller, said connection being kept at a negative pressure relative to the surrounding air, all of the suction cups which are brought into the removal position being depressurized, each sleeve being mounted so as to be translatably movable along the axis thereof through a wall (311) of the roller, an actuator (34) being designed to selectively control, in the removal position, the movement of the sleeve so that the suction cup engages with the part to be removed.

Unit for sorting parts moving along a conveyor belt comprising a transfer device (3) which comprises a roller (31) which is rotatably movable above the belt and a plurality of gripping tools (32) at the periphery of the roller which are each capable of selectively removing a part from the belt when the tools are brought into a removal position, each tool comprising a suction cup (321) attached to a tubular support sleeve (322) which is capable of creating a connection between the suction cup and an internal chamber (312) of the roller, said connection being kept at a negative pressure relative to the surrounding air, all of the suction cups which are brought into the removal position being depressurized, each sleeve being mounted so as to be translatably movable along the axis thereof through a wall (311) of the roller, an actuator (34) being designed to selectively control, in the removal position, the movement of the sleeve so that the suction cup engages with the part to be removed.