A continuously rotating, non-symmetric preform feed, stretch-blow-moulding machine dedicated to the stretch-blow-moulding of containers from non-symmetric injection moulded preforms; the non-symmetric preforms including an integral handle extending from a first junction point to a second junction point on a body of the preform; the body of the preform and the integral handle constituted from the same material.

A method and a system for handling slender bodies in a semi-finished production plant includes a cutting station separating slender bodies from a continuous wire, a finishing station of the head ends of the slender bodies, a dimensional verification station downstream of the finishing station, and transporting equipment transporting the slender bodies between stations. At or upstream of the cutting station a marking unit applies a reference marking on the slender bodies, which working identifies an original attitude including angular position. The transporting equipment includes gripping and locking assembly, locking at least the angular position of the reference mark to a relative reference system of the transport equipment. Upstream of the finishing station is a detecting and storing unit for data of the angular position to the relative reference system. A unit determines the original attitude of the slender bodies using the data in the dimensional verification station.

Transfer star-wheel (1) for containers (100) of thermoplastic material, comprising: a rotary carousel (2) bearing a plurality of supporting stations (S) for supporting containers (100) by their neck (100b), in each supporting station (S) being provided a pliers (3) hinged to the rotary carousel (2) at a hinge axis (AA) in such a way that it assumes at least a first configuration in which the pliers (3) is fixed, that means it cannot rotate about its hinge axis (AA), and a second configuration in which the pliers (3) can oscillate about its hinge axis (AA); a cam kinematic motion that is operatively active on each pliers (3) for maintaining it in the first configuration,
characterized in that it comprises a reactivating device (8) for each pliers (3), that comprises elastic means (9, 10) operatively active on the pliers (3) to bring it from the second to the first configuration following an accidental event that deactivated the pliers.

A gripper device includes a pair of engaging portions attached to an elevating section capable of lifting and lowering above an article and respectively engageable with the pair of held portions, and a driver to move the pair of engaging portions from a standby position where a distance between the pair of engaging portions is shorter than an interval between the pair of held portions, to an engaging position where the pair of engaging portions is capable of engaging with the pair of held portions, such that the pair of engaging portions separate from one another.

An article handling device is provided. In one embodiment, a system for article handling is provided. The system has first and second article handling devices that each have one or more gripping assemblies arranged around their periphery. The gripping assemblies are selectably movable between an open position and a closed position based on the relative position of the first and second article handling devices.

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.

A container clamping and holding arrangement for moving containers, such as bottles, cans, and similar containers, for holding products, such as beverages. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Apparatus and method for processing open-mouth bags comprising a handling device for exchanging open-mouth bags with a rotary packaging machine. The handling device comprises a rotating device that circulates around a rotation axis of the handling device and is provided with two gripping arms for gripping the open-mouth bags. The two gripping arms are disposed for separate, longitudinal movement transverse to the rotation axis of the rotating device to enable longitudinal movement of the gripping arms relative to the rotating device in addition to the circulating motion around the handling device.

A device for transporting containers. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

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.