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 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 loading system (e.g., in a warehouse or other item-fulfillment environment) can include a rotary hub that supports one or more chambers. In a first orientation of the rotary hub, one of the chambers may be in a first position aligned for item receipt (e.g., through an open top of the chamber by feeding from a conveyor belt or other feeding system). The rotary hub can rotate to a second orientation in which the chamber is in a second position aligned for item discharge (e.g., through an open end of the chamber and into a receiving zone of a packaging machine or other system).

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.

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.

A cartoner infeed bucket includes a bottom wall, a first end wall extending upward from the bottom wall and a second end wall extending upward from the bottom wall and spaced apart from the first end wall to define an item carrying space, the second end wall running substantially parallel to the first end wall. The second end wall is mounted for adjustable movement along the bottom wall so as to vary a spacing between the first end wall and the second end wall and/or the first end wall is mounted for pivotable movement relative to the bottom wall.

The apparatus (100) for introducing deformable products (B), such as blister packs and informative sheets (F), internally of relative packs (A) comprises first pusher elements (11), mounted on a first looped conveyor organ (1), and first movement means (3), associated to the first conveyor organ (1) for moving the first pusher elements (11), transversally to the advancement direction (V1) thereof, so that they can abut the products (B) and push the products (B) internally of relative packs (A). The apparatus (100) comprises second pusher elements (21) mounted on a second looped conveyor organ (2) which is arranged with respect to the first conveyor organ (1) such that the second pusher elements (21) are arranged above the corresponding first pusher elements (11). Second movement means (4), associated to the second conveyor organ (2), are included for moving the second pusher elements (21), transversally to the advancement direction (V2) thereof, so that they can abut the sheets (F) and push the sheets (F) internally of relative packs (A).

An apparatus for packaging of loose product includes a loading station, a box forming station and an uploading station. The loading station includes moveable chutes in spaced apart relation. Each chute has an open top, an open upstream end, and an open downstream end. The open top is configured to receive loose product while moving along a first feed path. The box forming station is operable to partially erect boxes in spaced apart relation with first and second open sides and align the first open side of each box with the downstream end of a corresponding chute while moving along a second feed path. The unloading station includes a stationary vacuum head in communication with the second open side of each box. The vacuum head provides a continuous vacuum source along the second feed path operable to move loose product from the chute into the boxes.