In order to avoid complex electronic synchronization of various supply modules of an entire supply unit engaging on a caliber, the individual supply modules do not have separate drives, but rather a supply drive, usually a controllable electric motor, is mechanically operatively connected to several, preferably all existing, supply modules. As a result, moveable parts of the supply modules, which effect transport of the caliber in a supply direction, are driven accordingly.

In order to avoid having to remove grippers that are not required from the machine when changing the number of lanes by disconnecting the supply lines, in particular pneumatic lines (which requires a great deal of effort due to the hygiene regulations when reconnecting later) the gripper that is not required, at least its base part, ideally together with the gripper head fastened to the base part, is removed from the operating position and repositioned to a parking position without having to disconnect the supply lines. The same is also optionally possible with the contact pressing units of the PFOs, whose contact pressing drives are also connected to supply lines, usually pneumatic lines.

A device for carrying out cutting operations on an unbound formatting edge of a printed product includes a cutter to carry out edge-related cutting operations. A transporter transports the printed product from a first cutting location, at which the first cutting operation for a first formatting edge of the printed product takes place, to a second cutting location, at which a second one of the cutting operations for a second formatting edge takes place, and to a third cutting location, at which a third one of the cutting operations for a third formatting edge is carried out. The transport of the printed product from one cutting location to the next is carried out along a guide section. The transporter includes a gripper with which the printed product is gripped by the spine and conveyable from one cutting location to the next in a suspended manner.

A device for transferring flat-folded and upright packaging sleeves to a further processing unit, in particular a filling machine for liquid or pasty products, wherein in each case a certain number of packaging sleeves are provided in an outer package and wherein the outer packages of the packaging sleeves are opened and removed. At least one gripper element may be disposed on a robot arm for transporting an outer package to a cutting and unpacking station, elements for cutting open and unpacking the packaging sleeves, at least one suction device for vacuuming away the cutting dust resulting from the cutting open and a gripping device for gripping the packaging sleeves released from the outer package and delivering these to the further processing unit are provided.

The present invention relates to a gripper for gripping a product, in particular a food product, having a suction device which has a contact surface which can be brought into contact with a section, in particular with an end section, of the product, wherein the suction device comprises at least one first suction section which is bounded in the radial direction by a sealing device and which is in communication with a pumping device generating a vacuum; and at least one sealing section which is arranged outside the first suction section viewed in the radial direction of the contact region and at least sectionally, in particular completely, surrounds it in the radial direction. The present invention relates to a cutting apparatus having a corresponding gripper and to a method for cutting a product.

A device for carrying out cutting operations on an unbound formatting edge of a printed product includes a cutter to carry out edge-related cutting operations. A transporter transports the printed product from a first cutting location, at which the first cutting operation for a first formatting edge of the printed product takes place, to a second cutting location, at which a second one of the cutting operations for a second formatting edge takes place, and to a third cutting location, at which a third one of the cutting operations for a third formatting edge is carried out. The transport of the printed product from one cutting location to the next is carried out along a guide section. The transporter includes a gripper with which the printed product is gripped by the spine and conveyable from one cutting location to the next in a suspended manner.

A system and method for cutting a bread loaf into sandwiches comprising two partially connected slices of bread with a pocket there between. The system and method comprise measuring the outline of the bread loaf and cutting a sandwich pocket as well as cutting a sandwich off the bread loaf, according to a predetermined sandwich width or per user's preferences.

In an apparatus for performing cutting operations on at least one open format edge of at least one printed product, a cutting station operable for carrying out the front cut is provided with an intermediate station on the input side. The intermediate station is equipped with elements for creating a spread of a jaw fold belonging to the printed product or of a cover belonging to the printed product. The first element has a configuration which, in operative connection with a translation of the printed product, initiates the spreading of a jaw fold or of a cover and consolidates the opening thereof. The second element has a configuration that allows the printed product to be transported, with the jaw fold or cover spread, via a further translation to the front cut location.

A slicing machine for slicing product calibers lying parallel in different tracks into slices, and for creating portions from the slices, may comprise a cutting unit for separating the slices from the product calibers, and a feeding unit for feeding the product calibers to the cutting unit. The feeding unit may comprise a gripper unit with one gripper per track, a gripper carriage which carries the grippers, and a carriage guide along which the gripper carriage can be moved in a controlled manner in a feed direction. Each gripper is assigned an adjustment unit, by means of which the particular gripper can be moved in an actively controlled manner by a predetermined travel path relative to the gripper carriage in and/or against the feed direction. A method for operating a multi-track slicing machine is also disclosed.

A slicing device for slicing food products that includes a cutting unit with a rotating cutting blade; and a feed unit for feeding the food products to be sliced to the cutting unit; the feed unit and/or the cutting unit has a position-variable stop means for guiding, holding, and/or positioning the food product; and the slicing device has a positioning aid in the form of a light source, which is configured to project a light marking for the position-variable stop means.