Methods of transferring discrete articles are provided. A method comprises providing a transfer device having a frame defining a rotation axis, and circumnavigating a plurality of transfer heads of the transfer device about the rotation axis in an orbit, with the orbit passing through a pick-up location and a drop-off location. The method comprises providing a web accumulation device proximate to the drop-off location, moving the web through the web accumulation device at a variable speed, picking up a discrete article at the pick-up location, carrying the discrete article on the one of the plurality of transfer heads between the pick-up location and the drop-off location, and placing the discrete article onto a portion of the web in the drop-off location at a first discrete article pitch and when the portion of the web is moving at a first speed.

A feeding unit for feeding a component of a hygiene absorbent article; the feeding unit has: at least one sucking-holding head, which is designed to receive and hold the component; a conveyor to cyclically move the holding head along an annular application path; an input station in which the holding head receives a corresponding component which is connectedwithout gapsto a continuous web; a cutting station provided with a cutting device, which cuts the continuous web crosswise; and an output station in which the holding head releases the component; the conveyor has: an annular guide; a slide which supports the holding head and is coupled to the guide so as to freely slide along the guide itself; and a linear electric motor, which has a stator, which is arranged in a fixed position along the guide and a mobile slider which is electro-magnetically coupled to the stator so as to receive, from the stator, a driving force and is rigidly connected to the slide.

A quick-change vacuum starwheel assembly including at least one of a quick-change height adjustment assembly or a quick-change vacuum starwheel mounting assembly.

A quick-change starwheel guide assembly is structured to be coupled to a starwheel guide assembly mounting base. The quick-change starwheel guide assembly includes a starwheel guide assembly mounting assembly, a starwheel guide assembly support assembly, a number of starwheel guide assembly guiderails and a starwheel guide assembly can body height adjustment assembly. The starwheel guide assembly mounting assembly is coupled to the starwheel guide assembly support assembly. The starwheel guide assembly guiderails are coupled to the starwheel guide assembly mounting assembly. The starwheel guide assembly can body height adjustment assembly is coupled to at least one the starwheel guide assembly guiderail. At least one of the starwheel guide assembly mounting assembly or the can body height adjustment assembly is a quick-change assembly.

A beverage capsule machine for making single use capsules (1) for infusion beverages such as coffee, milk, chocolate, tea or combinations of these ingredients, comprises: a transport element (8) for transporting the components of the capsule (1) and being closed in a loop around movement means (9); the transport element (8) is configured to define a plurality of pockets (10) for receiving the components of the capsule (1) and which are positioned one after the other, in succession; a plurality of stations which are positioned along a path (P) followed by the transport element (8) and which are configured for operating continuously in phase with the same transport element (8) and comprising at least: a feed station (11) for feeding rigid containers (2) into respective pockets (10) of the transport element (8); a dosing station (12) for dosing the product into the rigid container (2); a closing station (13) for closing the rigid container (2) with a length of sheet (7); an outfeed station (14) for the capsule (1).

A conveyor device for advancing articles adapted to contain a pourable product and having an input station, at which the articles are fed to the conveyor device; an output station, at which the articles exit the conveyor device; a fixed endless track defining an endless path passing through the input station and the output station; and at least one article-holding device movably coupled to the track and configured to receive and support one article at a time and to advance the article along the endless path from the input station to the output station. The endless path comprises a rotation branch arranged downstream of the input station and upstream of the output station, relative to the direction of advancement of the articles along the endless path. Each article is rotatable about its longitudinal axis along the rotation branch by magnetic-inductive interaction between the article-holding device and the track.

A transporting system and method for a linear motor conveyor system, wherein the conveyor system includes at least one moving element and at least one track on which the moving element moves, the transporting system including: a rotatable element; a motor for rotating the rotatable element; a coupler connected to the rotatable element, wherein the coupler is configured to engage with the moving element when the coupler is positioned in a predetermined relationship with the moving element; and a controller configured to: operatively connect with the linear motor conveyor system; and control at least one of the moving element and the rotatable element so that the coupler is positioned in the predetermined relationship with the moving element on the track such that the coupler strips the moving element off the track.

A method for reorienting discrete hygiene products for packaging includes providing discrete products traveling in a machine direction and all in a first orientation to a product turner and placer comprising a plurality of pucks rotatable about a central axis, with each puck also rotatable about a spin axis. The method also includes receiving a discrete product on each puck, transferring the discrete products via the pucks from a pick-up location to a drop-off location, and depositing the discrete products from the pucks onto a conveyor at the drop-off location, the discrete products deposited so as to be spaced apart on the conveyor. In transferring and depositing the discrete products, the rotation of each of the pucks is selectively controlled about its spin axis to reorient each of the discrete products for depositing onto the conveyor, with each of a direction and an amount of the rotation being selectively controlled.

Processing apparatus for poultry that may include one or more transfer units placed intermediate and conveying poultry from a first line to a subsequent second line. The transfer means may include at least one magnet for inducing eddy currents in a circulating support that counteracts relative motion between the transfer means and the circulating support. The at least one magnet may be embodied with a series of alternating north-poles (+) and south-poles () facing the circulating support.

Embodiments of a tie plate sorter are disclosed wherein the tie plates are sorted and fed to an output device for further feeding to a tie plate distribution system. The tie plates may be oriented as needed. Exemplary methods are also provided.