Non-symmetric and volume reduced preforms and containers stretch blow moulded therefrom by a continuously rotating, preform feed, stretch-blow-moulding machine dedicated to the stretch-blow-moulding of containers from non-symmetric or reduced volume injection moulded preforms; the non-symmetric or reduced volume preforms including an integral handle extending from a first junction point to a second junction point on a body of the preform; the body of the preform and the integral handle constituted from the same material.

A conveyor system for grouping containers includes a first track including a first plurality of lugs, each lug having a respective gripper coupled thereto configured to drive containers along the first track and a second track configured to move a second plurality of lugs wherein each of the lugs is coupled to a respective gripper configured to receive containers from the first track, and move the containers along the second track wherein the grippers of the second track contact the container while the gripper of the first track contacts the container.

The technology described herein generally relates to particular form of folded package and the method of forming that folded package. More particularly, using a folding tip and the application of vacuum pressure to a paper cone it is possible to achieve the formation of properly folded packages that may further include a core that is deposited axially along the length of the package.

A rotating drum for use in manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a drum body. A plurality of grooves may be disposed in an outer face of the drum body. A seat may be tractably-mounted in each one of the plurality of grooves. The seat may include a seat groove that is structured and arranged to receive and hold a rigid casing of a vapor-generating article. The seat may be composed of a material that is softer than a material of the rigid casing.

The technology described herein generally relates to an automated packaging apparatus and system that packages loose particles into a conical container as well as the final packed containers. More specifically, loose plant matter, such as crumbled dried leaves, are supplied to successive paper cones. The apparatus provides a system for reliably and accurately depositing or injecting a fluid into a cone packed with loose particulate.

A grouping system for grouping containers including a track oriented in a horizontal plane, a plurality of lugs coupled moveably to the track, and a plurality of grippers, wherein each gripper is coupled to a lug, wherein the grippers are configured to move a stream of containers about the track.

A continuously rotating, non-symmetric preform feed, stretch-blow-moulding machine dedicated to the stretch-blow-moulding of containers from non-symmetric injection moulded preforms; the non-symmetric preforms including an integral handle extending from a first junction point to a second junction point on a body of the preform; the body of the preform and the integral handle constituted from the same material.

A gripping device for the gripping, holding and guiding of in particular bottle-like containers includes at least one gripper arm pair of a first gripper arm as well as a second gripper arm of complementary form to the first gripper arm, wherein the gripper arms each include a respective base body and gripping section; at least one spring for closing the gripper arm pair from an open position into a gripping position as well as at least one cam for opening the gripper arm pair from the gripping position into the open position. The at least one spring or the at least one cam is thereby arranged on the gripping device so as to be replaceable.

Transfer star-wheel (1) for containers (100) of thermoplastic material, comprising: a rotary carousel (2) bearing a plurality of supporting stations (S) for supporting containers (100) by their neck (100b), in each supporting station (S) being provided a pliers (3) hinged to the rotary carousel (2) at a hinge axis (AA) in such a way that it assumes at least a first configuration in which the pliers (3) is fixed, that means it cannot rotate about its hinge axis (AA), and a second configuration in which the pliers (3) can oscillate about its hinge axis (AA); a cam kinematic motion that is operatively active on each pliers (3) for maintaining it in the first configuration,
characterized in that it comprises a reactivating device (8) for each pliers (3), that comprises elastic means (9, 10) operatively active on the pliers (3) to bring it from the second to the first configuration following an accidental event that deactivated the pliers.

An apparatus for unscrambling articles includes a transport system for transporting randomly-arranged articles on a transport plane and a system for extracting articles arranged with a predefined orientation and/or position. Devices for picking and releasing the articles are configured to pick up the articles randomly arranged on the transport system and release them to an extraction system with a predefined orientation and/or position. A detection system is designed to detect position and arrangement of the articles in transit and to provide information for controlling gripping and release devices, while a unit for processing and controlling components and drives of the apparatus is designed to receive the position and/or arrangement information of the articles and to control the gripping and release devices. The pick and release devices include a robot for picking up articles only from the first section, and a robot for picking up articles only from the second section.