In an embodiment, the present invention discloses cleaned storage processes and systems for high level cleanliness articles, such as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) reticle carriers. A decontamination chamber can be used to clean the stored workpieces. A purge gas system can be used to prevent contamination of the articles stored within the workpieces. A robot can be used to detect the condition of the storage compartment before delivering the workpiece. A monitor device can be used to monitor the conditions of the stocker.

A part packing system includes a bag holding machine including a part funnel having an opening configured to receive an end of a part and having a bag end manipulator holding first and second bag end gripper mechanisms that receive an end of the bag therebetween to open the end of the bag to form a mouth at the end of the bag. The bag end manipulator moves the first and second bag end gripper mechanisms to position the mouth of the bag immediately downstream of the opening of the part funnel. A part loading machine including a part manipulator holding the part and moving the part to a loading position upstream of the part funnel and moving the part gripper mechanism to load an end of the part through the opening in the part funnel into the mouth of the bag to load the part into the bag.

A part packing system includes a bag holding machine including a part funnel having an opening configured to receive an end of a part and having a bag end manipulator holding first and second bag end gripper mechanisms that receive an end of the bag therebetween to open the end of the bag to form a mouth at the end of the bag. The bag end manipulator moves the first and second bag end gripper mechanisms to position the mouth of the bag immediately downstream of the opening of the part funnel. A part loading machine including a part manipulator holding the part and moving the part to a loading position upstream of the part funnel and moving the part gripper mechanism to load an end of the part through the opening in the part funnel into the mouth of the bag to load the part into the bag.

To provide an article gripping system that reduces the installation area of the apparatus and further shortens the amount of time from when it grips to when it feeds articles. An article gripping system (110) switches between a first positional relationship in which a container (50) obstructs discharge of articles gripped by a first gripping unit (15A) but does not obstruct discharge of articles by a second gripping unit (15B) and a second positional relationship in which the container (50) obstructs discharge of articles gripped by the second gripping unit (15B) but does not obstruct discharge of articles gripped by the first gripping unit (15A), so the gripping units do not move while they are holding the articles, and the articles can be prevented from falling out of the gripping units (15).

To provide an article gripping system that reduces the installation area of the apparatus and further shortens the amount of time from when it grips to when it feeds articles. An article gripping system (110) switches between a first positional relationship in which a container (50) obstructs discharge of articles gripped by a first gripping unit (15A) but does not obstruct discharge of articles by a second gripping unit (15B) and a second positional relationship in which the container (50) obstructs discharge of articles gripped by the second gripping unit (15B) but does not obstruct discharge of articles gripped by the first gripping unit (15A), so the gripping units do not move while they are holding the articles, and the articles can be prevented from falling out of the gripping units (15).

The present invention relates to a device for making a pouch received in a wrapping, comprising a pouch making device which is adapted to produce a pouch containing brewable material in a water-permeable wrapping, and comprising a sealing station with two sealing jaws movable relative to each other for sealing the pouch in a wrapping formed by a wrapping material. This device is characterized in that it comprises a pouch handling device for removing the finished pouch from the pouch making device and a wrapping material handling device for handling the wrapping material during the U-shaped wrapping of the wrapping material, wherein the handling device and the wrapping material handling device are adapted such that the pouch held by the pouch handling device and the wrapping material held by the wrapping material handling device are introduced into the sealing station.

Method to move containers (C) in a processing line (10) that comprises a station (11) for storing and picking up said containers (C) and a station (12) at least for filling said containers (C), said method providing, in said storage and pick-up station (11), to supply a container-holding tray (15) containing a plurality of said containers (C) disposed upended in said container-holding tray (15) with respect to their mouth (43), and subsequently to upend said containers (C) with the aid of upending means (20) so as to invert the orientation of said containers (C) and make them available with the side of the mouth (43) facing upward so that they can be picked up by extraction means (22).

A production line for manufacturing packaged products includes a plurality of workstations for performing different operations. Each of the workstations is configured to predictively determine time data during operation that define, as an interaction time, a time of an operator interaction with the respective workstation required in the future. The production line includes a central processing unit. The workstations are configured to transmit the time data to the central processing unit.

A machine for making and packing capsules (2) for extraction products in multi-capsule packs (27) includes a feeding station (11) for feeding rigid bodies (3) of the capsules, a dosing station (12) for dosing a dose of product within the rigid bodies, a closing station (13) for closing an upper aperture of the rigid bodies with a respective lid (7); a transport element (8) that features a plurality of seats (10) for housing and moving the capsules through the stations; an exit station (17) adapted to draw the capsules from the transport element; and a packing station (23) adapted to pack the capsules in multi-capsule packs where the capsules are arranged side by side and according to a head-to-tail orientation. The invention further provides for a method for making and packing capsules for extraction products in multi-capsule packs.

A machine for making and packing capsules (2) for extraction products in multi-capsule packs (27) includes a feeding station (11) for feeding rigid bodies (3) of the capsules, a dosing station (12) for dosing a dose of product within the rigid bodies, a closing station (13) for closing an upper aperture of the rigid bodies with a respective lid (7); a transport element (8) that features a plurality of seats (10) for housing and moving the capsules through the stations; an exit station (17) adapted to draw the capsules from the transport element; and a packing station (23) adapted to pack the capsules in multi-capsule packs where the capsules are arranged side by side and according to a head-to-tail orientation. The invention further provides for a method for making and packing capsules for extraction products in multi-capsule packs.