A feeding apparatus for feeding single empty capsules to a packaging machines includes a magazine (11) adapted to house a stack (12) of trays (13) including a plurality of empty capsules; a drawing and moving device (14) adapted to draw from the stack (12), and move, a tray (13); a separation device adapted to receive the tray (13) from the drawing and moving device (14) and to obtain single empty capsules; and a transfer system (16) adapted to transfer the empty capsules from the separation device to a transport system of the packaging machine.

A component supply device which includes a moving slider for moving between a position near a wafer sheet replenishment section and a position near a mounter, a table supported on the moving slider, and a rotating mechanism for rotating the table around a specific rotation axis. The table is supported on the moving slider by a number one support point, a number two support point, and a number three support point which are provided on a circumference with the rotation axis at the center. The rotating mechanism includes a number one guide for moving number one support point in an arc with respect to the rotation axis, and driven guides for moving number two support point and number three support point in an arc with respect to the rotation axis.

A component supply device which includes a moving slider for moving between a position near a wafer sheet replenishment section and a position near a mounter, a table supported on the moving slider, and a rotating mechanism for rotating the table around a specific rotation axis. The table is supported on the moving slider by a number one support point, a number two support point, and a number three support point which are provided on a circumference with the rotation axis at the center. The rotating mechanism includes a number one guide for moving number one support point in an arc with respect to the rotation axis, and driven guides for moving number two support point and number three support point in an arc with respect to the rotation axis.

Machine and method for conveying items in a production line, wherein there is an incoming batch of separate items on or in an incoming batch carrier, the plurality of items of the incoming batch are moved in a perpendicular vertical direction, while keeping the items immovable relative to the incoming batch carrier in the horizontal plane, the captured items are brought directly above a horizontal conveyor belt having a horizontal movement in a direction of travel in the horizontal plane, a horizontal movement of the items is adjusted and synchronized with the movement speed of the conveyor belt, the items are moved in the vertical direction in order to bring the items to rest on the conveyor belt while maintaining the horizontal movement of the items synchronized with the movement speed of the conveyor belt, then the items are discharged in a batch of outgoing items by the conveyor belt.

A method for transferring at least one object (7) from a conveying surface (9) of a supply conveyor (6) onto a surface (15), the method including the following steps: —conveying the object (7) in a conveying direction, the object (7) including a base (7a) that rests on the conveying surface (9), —bringing the object (7) into contact with a guide (16) placed in the conveying direction at a distance from the downstream end line (12) of the supply conveyor (6), —ending the contact between the base (7a) of the object and the conveying surface (9), —dropping the object (7) onto the receiving surface (15), the step of ending the contact between the base (7a) of the object (7) and the conveying surface (9) only taking place after the step of bringing the object (7) into contact with the guide (16).

A method for transferring at least one object (7) from a conveying surface (9) of a supply conveyor (6) onto a surface (15), the method including the following steps: —conveying the object (7) in a conveying direction, the object (7) including a base (7a) that rests on the conveying surface (9), —bringing the object (7) into contact with a guide (16) placed in the conveying direction at a distance from the downstream end line (12) of the supply conveyor (6), —ending the contact between the base (7a) of the object and the conveying surface (9), —dropping the object (7) onto the receiving surface (15), the step of ending the contact between the base (7a) of the object (7) and the conveying surface (9) only taking place after the step of bringing the object (7) into contact with the guide (16).

Apparatus for handling bars including a support plane configured to support a plurality of bars having an oblong development, and handling devices configured to remove a bar from a removal zone of the support plane and to deliver it to a delivery zone. Movement devices are associated with the support plane which are configured to distribute the bars on the support plane and to move them toward the removal zone.

A device for moving film-supported materials and removing the film at a process station includes a first base, a feeding tray, a driving member, a second base, a moving member, and a laser sensor. The feeding and stripping automatically conveys a raw material assembly. A gap exists between the second base and the first base, and only raw materials are passed over the gap. The raw material assembly comprises a base layer and a number of raw materials disposed on the base layer. The gap allows the raw material disposed on a bent portion of the base layer to separate from the base layer while the base layer itself is gathered to another destination.

A device for moving film-supported materials and removing the film at a process station includes a first base, a feeding tray, a driving member, a second base, a moving member, and a laser sensor. The feeding and stripping automatically conveys a raw material assembly. A gap exists between the second base and the first base, and only raw materials are passed over the gap. The raw material assembly comprises a base layer and a number of raw materials disposed on the base layer. The gap allows the raw material disposed on a bent portion of the base layer to separate from the base layer while the base layer itself is gathered to another destination.

A container accessing station for accessing a storage container of an automated storage and retrieval grid. The container accessing station comprising: an access opening through which a human and/or robot may access contents of the storage container; a base opening; and a lifting device arranged to retrieve the storage container from a first level beneath the base opening and lift it up through the base opening to a second level so that the storage container may be accessed through the access opening.

The invention is also directed to a container accessing system and a method thereof.