A machine for packaging groups of tissue products including a dosing element equipped with a plurality of passageways each configured for receiving a row formed by a predetermined number of products for defining a layer of a group of products. A detection device associated with the dosing element detects a filling parameter relative to a number, dimension and/or orientation of the products occupying the passageways and generates a signal representing the filling parameter. A processing and control unit receives the signals representing the products and processes the signals to compare with signals relating to a reference layer for deriving an acceptance condition, wherein the layer is consistent with the reference layer and suitable for the packaging, or for eliminating the layer of products released from the dosing element. A rejection system ejects the layer when it is in the eliminating condition.

A machine for packaging groups of tissue products including a dosing element equipped with a plurality of passageways each configured for receiving a row formed by a predetermined number of products for defining a layer of a group of products. A detection device associated with the dosing element detects a filling parameter relative to a number, dimension and/or orientation of the products occupying the passageways and generates a signal representing the filling parameter. A processing and control unit receives the signals representing the products and processes the signals to compare with signals relating to a reference layer for deriving an acceptance condition, wherein the layer is consistent with the reference layer and suitable for the packaging, or for eliminating the layer of products released from the dosing element. A rejection system ejects the layer when it is in the eliminating condition.

A method is described for making a pack of smoking products having an ordered group of packets containing smoking products and positioned in contact with each other wherein the group of packets has a closed lateral surface around a theoretical axis of the group of packets, which delimits two opposite surfaces of the group of packets, each of which surfaces is defined by the set of homologous surfaces of all the packets. The method includes: unwinding from a reel at least one adhesive tape and applying it to the closed lateral surface and completely around the latter, to hold the packets of the group together solely by means of the at least one adhesive tape.

A method for transporting pairs of packs (100) comprising arranging a first pair of packs on a horizontal transport device (50), transporting the first pair of packs in a horizontal direction, arranging a second pair of packs on the horizontal transport device (50), therein, for each of the first pair and the second pair of the pair of packs, spacing a first pack of the pair of packs and a second pack of the pair of packs vertically from each other and further spacing the first pair of packs and the second pair of packs horizontally from each other on the horizontal transport device.

The packaging machine includes a wrapping tunnel, adapted to form a tube of plastic film around a group of articles and a feed conveyor, adapted to feed articles to be packaged toward the wrapping tunnel. An elevator is positioned between the feed conveyor and the wrapping tunnel, and is movable vertically from a lower position, to receive articles coming from the feed conveyor, to a higher height, to transfer articles to the wrapping tunnel. A pusher is arranged to push articles to be packaged from the elevator into the wrapping tunnel. An auxiliary conveyor is also provided between the feed conveyor and the elevator. An upender is associated with the auxiliary conveyor, adapted to be arranged selectively in an active position, to co-act with the auxiliary conveyor to upend articles coming from the feed conveyor and transfer them toward the elevator, and in a deactivated position.

A system for transferring a group of components of electronic cigarettes from a first to a second operating station includes a conveyor extends from a feeding zone to a disengagement zone and has a plurality of seats. A feeding device receives the components and feeds them into the seats at a first mutual distance. A disengaging and transferring device operates to disengage the components from their seats and transfer the components to a collecting zone. A compacting device operates in the collecting zone to move the components closer together and place them at a second mutual distance that is smaller than the first mutual distance. A tray faces and receives from the collecting zone the group of components which have been placed close together. A pushing device pushes the components from the collecting zone into the tray. A movement device transfers the tray to the second operating station.

A method for forming pairs of packs, comprising providing a supply of individual packs (100), arranging a first pack in a vertical transport device (40), arranging a second pack in the vertical transport device (40), thereby arranging the second pack vertically spaced from the first pack in the vertical transport device (40). The method further comprises vertically transporting the first and the second pack in the vertical transport device, then simultaneous pushing the first and second packs as a pair of packs out of the vertical transport device and into a receiving device (50), wherein the first and second packs are transferred in a vertically spaced manner as the pair of packs to the receiving device and are arranged in a vertically spaced manner in the receiving device.

A filling machine for filling containers with items includes an item conveyor, and a bulk feeder for feeding items onto the item conveyor. The bulk feeder includes a hopper and a feed assembly, where the feed assembly includes an item collecting compartment for collecting items from the hopper. A pusher is movable through the collecting compartment to push items in the collecting compartment onto the item conveyor.

A filling machine for filling containers with items includes an item conveyor, and a bulk feeder for feeding items onto the item conveyor. The bulk feeder includes a hopper and a feed assembly, where the feed assembly includes an item collecting compartment for collecting items from the hopper. A pusher is movable through the collecting compartment to push items in the collecting compartment onto the item conveyor.

To provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing pillow packages provided with a fixing tape with high efficiency while preventing damage to the pillow packages. The method for manufacturing pillow packages includes placing a pillow package 1a among a plurality of pillow packages conveyed by a conveying section 21 on an inclined placement section of the conveying section 21 to incline the pillow package 1a in a predetermined direction to thereby expand the gap between a pillow package 1b placed next to the pillow package 1a on the conveying section 21 and the pillow package 1a and bringing a cutting blade 25 into contact with a string of double-sided tape 16 bonded between the pillow package 1a and the pillow package 1b to cut the double-sided tape 16.