A core grasping apparatus according to the present disclosure grasps a core including a core main body and a core print provided at one end of the core main body. The core grasping apparatus includes: a first holding device and a second holding device respectively including expandable and contractible first and second holding parts; and a turning suppression part configured to suppress the core from turning upon the core print being grasped by the first holding device and the second holding device. The first holding device and the second holding device grasp the core print by respectively expanding the first holding part and the second holding part, and the turning suppression part applies a force that suppresses a turning moment acting on the core to the core print.

A carrier (230) for a honeycomb body (220) and a method for manufacturing a honeycomb body(220) are provided. The carrier (230) comprises a first side support (234), a second side support (236), and a flexible sheet (240) suspended between the first (234) and second (236) side supports for supporting the honeycomb body (220). The method comprises placing a green honeycomb body (220) on the flexible sheet (240) and transporting the green honeycomb body (220).

A carrier (230) for a honeycomb body (220) and a method for manufacturing a honeycomb body(220) are provided. The carrier (230) comprises a first side support (234), a second side support (236), and a flexible sheet (240) suspended between the first (234) and second (236) side supports for supporting the honeycomb body (220). The method comprises placing a green honeycomb body (220) on the flexible sheet (240) and transporting the green honeycomb body (220).

A dense-phase powder pump for conveying powder-type materials, in particular coating powder, includes at least one powder conveying chamber with a filter element that has at least regions thereof accommodated in a casing body and at least one pinch valve that is or can be connected to an end region of the powder conveying chamber. In particular, the pinch valve includes a valve element with at least regions that are sleeve-like, wherein the peripheral wall thereof can be squeezed together transverse to the valve element longitudinal axis in order to change the through-flow cross-section, and also includes a substantially tubular support structure, in which at least regions of the valve element are accommodated, wherein the support structure consists of multiple shell elements which are arranged one after another around the peripheral wall in the peripheral direction of the peripheral wall of the valve element, each having an arched cross-section, and which are placed on the outside of the valve element in a radial direction relative to the valve element longitudinal axis.

A sorting device for sheet-like products. such as ceramic slabs or tiles, having a main product conveyance direction (X), characterised in that it comprises a first manipulator (2), provided with gripping means (21), configured to connect to one or more products, which are aligned along a direction parallel to the main direction (X), in which the first manipulator (2) is movable along the main direction (X) between a pick-up position, in which the gripping means (21) is able to pick up one or more products. and a release position, in which the gripping means (21) is able to release the products.

A sorting device for sheet-like products. such as ceramic slabs or tiles, having a main product conveyance direction (X), characterised in that it comprises a first manipulator (2), provided with gripping means (21), configured to connect to one or more products, which are aligned along a direction parallel to the main direction (X), in which the first manipulator (2) is movable along the main direction (X) between a pick-up position, in which the gripping means (21) is able to pick up one or more products. and a release position, in which the gripping means (21) is able to release the products.

A core grasping apparatus according to the present disclosure grasps a core including a core main body and a core print provided at one end of the core main body. The core grasping apparatus includes: a first holding device and a second holding device respectively including expandable and contractible first and second holding parts; and a turning suppression part configured to suppress the core from turning upon the core print being grasped by the first holding device and the second holding device. The first holding device and the second holding device grasp the core print by respectively expanding the first holding part and the second holding part, and the turning suppression part applies a force that suppresses a turning moment acting on the core to the core print.

A dense-phase powder pump for conveying powder-type materials, in particular coating powder, includes at least one powder conveying chamber with a filter element that has at least regions thereof accommodated in a casing body and at least one pinch valve that is or can be connected to an end region of the powder conveying chamber. In particular, the pinch valve includes a valve element with at least regions that are sleeve-like, wherein the peripheral wall thereof can be squeezed together transverse to the valve element longitudinal axis in order to change the through-flow cross-section, and also includes a substantially tubular support structure, in which at least regions of the valve element are accommodated, wherein the support structure consists of multiple shell elements which are arranged one after another around the peripheral wall in the peripheral direction of the peripheral wall of the valve element, each having an arched cross-section, and which are placed on the outside of the valve element in a radial direction relative to the valve element longitudinal axis.

A method and plant to handle ceramic articles; the plant comprises a gathering area comprising a plurality of first storage units, each having a group of ceramic articles placed on a first support structure according to a first given arrangement; a handling machine to re-arrange at least part of such ceramic articles on second support structures in such a way that they are placed according to a second given arrangement so that they can be picked up by a holding device, so as to create a plurality of second storage units; at least one first intermediate store to receive at least part of the second storage units; and a forming machine to form an order to be shipped, which is configured to transfer at least one first ceramic article from the second storage unit onto a third support structure so as to obtain a shipment unit.