A device and a process for feeding articles to be packaged with a packaging apparatus are presented. The articles are transported on a first conveying line and can be arranged according to a desired pattern, which is repeated on a second conveying line from which the articles will be picked up in a subsequent station. For this purpose, at least one transfer device is provided for transferring the articles from the first conveying line to the second conveying line, with a self-moving transfer arm and a respective gripping device to pick up the articles. The gripping device has a plurality of gripping elements which are movable between a first configuration, in which the gripping elements are aligned with each other to grip the articles from the first conveying line, and a second configuration, in which at least two of the gripping elements are staggered with respect to each other, to lay the articles according to a predetermined pattern.

Systems and methods for securing an orientation of a container (40) in a package (25) are disclosed, which includes positioning a plurality of containers in a predetermined orientation, wrapping the arrangement of containers in a paperboard package, and applying an adhesive (50) within the package to secure the orientation of at least one container in the package.

Systems and methods for securing an orientation of a container (40) in a package (25) are disclosed, which includes positioning a plurality of containers in a predetermined orientation, wrapping the arrangement of containers in a paperboard package, and applying an adhesive (50) within the package to secure the orientation of at least one container in the package.

A material processing system includes: an offsetter configured to receive a stack of material and including a lifting bar configured to lift a portion of the stack of material; and a processing station operably connected to the offsetter. A method of processing a material includes: loading a stack of material on an offsetter, the stack of material including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion positioned above the second portion and separated from the second portion by at least one cross tie, the stack of material including a first end and a second end distal from the first end; lifting the second portion away from the first portion by a lifting bar of the offsetter pushing upward on the second end; and removing the cross tie.

A machine for packing tetrahedral products is disclosed which includes a conveyor belt driven in a first direction (F1) along a longitudinal direction (L), as well as a first handler suitable for grasping tetrahedral products carried the conveyor belt. The first handler has a handling head suitable for grasping a plurality of tetrahedral products arranged on the conveyor belt, in which one or more accumulators suitable for accumulating the tetrahedral products in a row are arranged along the conveyor belt. A rotating device is arranged along the conveyor belt before the accumulators for rotating a tetrahedral product with an orientation substantially opposite with respect to the preceding tetrahedral product on the same conveyor belt. The present invention also relates to a process which can be carried out by the machine, as well as a container and/or a packaging filled by means of such machine and/or process.

A machine for packing tetrahedral products is disclosed which includes a conveyor belt driven in a first direction (F1) along a longitudinal direction (L), as well as a first handler suitable for grasping tetrahedral products carried the conveyor belt. The first handler has a handling head suitable for grasping a plurality of tetrahedral products arranged on the conveyor belt, in which one or more accumulators suitable for accumulating the tetrahedral products in a row are arranged along the conveyor belt. A rotating device is arranged along the conveyor belt before the accumulators for rotating a tetrahedral product with an orientation substantially opposite with respect to the preceding tetrahedral product on the same conveyor belt. The present invention also relates to a process which can be carried out by the machine, as well as a container and/or a packaging filled by means of such machine and/or process.

An apparatus for bundling containers includes a linear conveyor, a guide element, conveying elements, and application elements, each of which applies adhesive to a portion of a container surface, The conveying elements are driven and controllable to travel along the conveyor and to circulate along the guide element. Each conveying element has a container guide that rotates relative to the conveying element. The guide element has a feed strand with central, transition, and end sections that merge into each other. The central section is further from the central axis than the end section. The distance from end section to central axis is such that containers circulating on the end section are brought into contact with adhesive on a surface of an adjacent container.

An apparatus for bundling containers includes a linear conveyor, a guide element, conveying elements, and application elements, each of which applies adhesive to a portion of a container surface, The conveying elements are driven and controllable to travel along the conveyor and to circulate along the guide element. Each conveying element has a container guide that rotates relative to the conveying element. The guide element has a feed strand with central, transition, and end sections that merge into each other. The central section is further from the central axis than the end section. The distance from end section to central axis is such that containers circulating on the end section are brought into contact with adhesive on a surface of an adjacent container.

A column of cups guided by their rims in elongated slots is spaced into desired cup pitch by one or more linear stars from which the cups can be transferred for packaging. The linear stars have lugs engaging and spacing the cups. In another aspect of the invention, cups are manipulated into patterns for final grouping and packaging and by a plurality of cup orienting pickers engaging, inverting and re-orienting the cups. In one final packaged cup group of two or more layers, alternating cups in each layer are inverted and a top lid of a cup in an upper layer is disposed on a top lid of a cup in a bottom layer, while a bottom of a cup in an upper layer is disposed on a bottom of a cup in a lower layer, and in an alternating pattern.

A column of cups guided by their rims in elongated slots is spaced into desired cup pitch by one or more linear stars from which the cups can be transferred for packaging. The linear stars have lugs engaging and spacing the cups. In another aspect of the invention, cups are manipulated into patterns for final grouping and packaging and by a plurality of cup orienting pickers engaging, inverting and re-orienting the cups. In one final packaged cup group of two or more layers, alternating cups in each layer are inverted and a top lid of a cup in an upper layer is disposed on a top lid of a cup in a bottom layer, while a bottom of a cup in an upper layer is disposed on a bottom of a cup in a lower layer, and in an alternating pattern.