G.D S.p.A. Patente

A machine (1) for the inspection of containers (2), preferably of the pharmaceutical industry and at least partially filled comprises: a conveyor drum (3), which can rotate around a vertical axis (V), configured to receive a plurality of containers (2), each carried in a rotary manner so as to rotate on itself, and to transport the containers (2) along a first circular path (C1) in a first advancing direction (A); an inspection unit (4) for inspecting at least one container (2); and an operating assembly (5), which moves the inspection unit (4) back and forth along a second path (C2), at least partially parallel to the first path (C1); the operating assembly (5) can be operated in a synchronous manner with the drum (3) so that, in use, the inspection unit (4) follows the container (2); the inspection unit (4) comprises at least one high-voltage leak detection system (6) for controlling the integrity of the container (2) by applying an electric field.

A machine (100) for forming segments (S) for the industry of smoking articles comprising a supply station (200) configured to supply a first web (N) of filling material along an advancing direction (A). The machine (100) comprises a collection station (300) having a converging conduit (301) configured to receive the first web (N) and gradually collect it, and a wrapping station (400) configured to receive the first web (N) and wrap it. The machine (100) comprises a cutting station (500) for cutting the continuous rod (B) into segments (S) having a predefined length. The converging conduit (301) is defined at the bottom by a guiding body (302) forming a longitudinal groove, and it is defined at the top by a cover element (303) configured to define, at least partly, the converging trend of the conduit (301). The collection station (300) comprises vibrating means (600) configured to vibrate the cover element (303) while the first web (N) passes through the converging conduit (301).

A machine (100) for forming segments (S) for the industry of smoking articles, comprising a supply station (200) configured to supply a first web (N), and a collection station (300) having a converging conduit (301) configured to receive the first web (N) and gradually collect it. The converging conduit (301) extends between an inlet opening (I) and an outlet opening (U) of the first web (N). The converging conduit (301) is defined at the bottom by a guiding body (301a) forming a longitudinal groove and defined at the top by a cover element (301b) configured to define, at least partly, the converging trend of the conduit (301). The cover element (301b) comprises a plurality of blowing openings (302) configured to introduce a fluid flow into the converging conduit (301) so that the fluid flow is arranged at least partly between an inner surface (301b') of the cover element (301b) and the first web (N) in an at least partially shaped form. The blowing openings (302) are arranged in a terminal section (T) of the cover element (301b).

The present invention relates to a selective tilting device of a sheet electrode, which is to say, to a method for selectively flipping said electrode.The present invention is moreover intended for an apparatus for the manufacture of electrochemical cells or semi-finished electrochemical cell products which employs the aforementioned selective flipping device of the sheet electrode, as well as the method implemented by such device.In particular, the present invention is intended for use in the manufacture of electrochemical cells comprising an alternating and stacked plurality of positive and negative electrodes, with an interposed separation layer in dielectric material, so-called prismatic cells.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for handling a sheet electrode, which is to say, to a method for handling an electrode, depending on its sequential feeding for downstream processing, typically the manufacture of an electrochemical cell or of a semi-finished electrochemical cell product.

A laser drilling station (S) for bar-shaped tobacco industry articles (A) wrapped in a wrapper, comprising a transport cylinder (100) configured to advance each article (A) along an advancement path passing through a drilling area (P). The station (S) further comprises at least one laser drilling device (200) configured to operate the drilling of the wrapper of an article (A) arranged in the drilling area (P), and a counter-roller (300) located in the drilling area (P), above the article (A), and configured to cause a rolling of the article (A). The counter-roller (300) is operated by a motor (600). The station (S) further comprises a detection device (400) configured to perform at least one optical inspection of a front surface (F) of each article (A) in the drilling area (P) and a control unit (500) connected to the detection device (400) and to the motor (600) of the counter-roller (300) and configured to control the motor of the counter-roller (300) according to the outcome of the optical inspection carried out.

An apparatus (10) for performing a first and a second operation on containers (100) is described, comprising:- a transport line (20) for advancing a succession of containers (100) arranged in a row along a transport path (K), according to a stepwise advancement movement;- a first operational station (50) for performing the first operation on the containers (100) transported along the transport path (K); and- a second operational station (80) for performing the second operation on the containers (100) transported along the transport path (K);wherein said second operational station (80) is arranged downstream of said first operational station (50), along said transport path (K).The apparatus (10) is characterized in that said transport line (20) comprises a first section (22) configured to move the containers (100) according to a stepwise advancement movement defined by a first advancement step (S1) and by a first movement cycle (M1), and a second section (24) configured to move the containers (100) according to a stepwise advancement movement defined by a second advancement step (S2) and by a second movement cycle (M2).The apparatus comprises a transfer unit (200) for transferring the containers (100) from a terminal region of said first section (22) to an initial region of said second section (24).

A machine and method for forming an electrochemical cell, wherein a conveying assembly (1000) is used in the machine and method comprising an idle roller (100) having a geometric axis (X) and an operating surface (101) configured to be engaged at least partially by a strip element (10) adapted to be dragged in a longitudinal direction thereof. The idle roller (100) comprises a shell (120) with a primary portion (120a) having a thickness that is substantially uniform along the geometric axis (X) and not exceeding 1 mm. The shell (120) can be coupled to at least one rotoidal joint member (200) defining an axis of rotation and connecting the idle roller (100 to a support structure (400). The conveying assembly (1000) comprises a support device (500) including two coupling portions (501, 502) configured to couple to the idle roller (100) in a rotatable manner about the geometric axis (X), and at least one sensor device (1001, 1002) connected to one of said coupling portions (501, 502) and to the idle roller (100) and configured to detect a stress mutually transmitted between said coupling portion (501, 502) and the idle roller (100).

A machine (2) for loading and threading a material web (N) for a manufacturing and/or packaging plant (1) of the tobacco industry; wherein the machine (2) is configured to be arranged separately and spaced apart from at least another machine (MC; MP) of the manufacturing and/or packaging plant (1); the machine (2) for loading and threading comprises:a loading unit (5) configured to accommodate a reel (3) of material web (N) at a loading station (SC); anda threading unit (6) configured to receive at a receiving station (SR) a terminal end (4) of the material web (N) from the reel (3) accommodated by the loading unit (5); the threading unit (6) comprises a conveying device (10) configured to move the terminal end (4) from the receiving station (SR) to a delivery station (SD) at which the terminal end (4) is deliverable to the other machine (MP, MC) of the manufacturing and/or packaging plant (1) of the tobacco industry.

An apparatus (27) for identifying the position of electrochemical cell elements in a stacking plane comprises a measurement device (34) configured to take measurement data representative of the distance between a first vertex (V1) and a second vertex (F1) of an electrochemical cell element (100) to be deposited on a stacking plane (25); a detection device (28) placed in a display relationship with control areas (29) defined at a stacking plane (25), wherein the detection device (28) is configured to detect a plurality of display data of said electrochemical cell element (100) in said control areas (29); a processing unit (33) operatively associated with said measurement device (34) and said detection device (28). The control unit (33) is configured to: obtain said measurement data; on the basis of the measurement data obtained, calculate a first distance (D1) between the first vertex (V1) of the electrochemical cell element (100) and the second vertex (F1) of the electrochemical cell element (100); obtain the plurality of display data; on the basis of the plurality of display data obtained, determine a first position identifying a position of the first vertex (V1) of the electrochemical cell element (100); on the basis of the calculation of the first distance (D1) and on the basis of the determination of the first position, determine a second position identifying a position of the second vertex (F1) of the electrochemical cell element (100).

A Hipot test station (10) for electrochemical cell assemblies comprises a press (11) comprising a first plate (14) and a second plate (15) switchable between a test condition in which the first plate (14) is moved towards the second plate (15) to exert a compressive force on an electrochemical cell assembly (100) and an idle condition in which the first plate (14) is moved away from the second plate (15); a contacting assembly (13) switchable between a contacting condition in which it is configured to electrically contact an electrochemical cell assembly (100) and an idle condition in which it does not electrically contact said electrochemical cell assembly (100); a movement system (12) configured to insert and to remove an electrochemical cell assembly (100) between the first plate (14) and the second plate (15); wherein the first plate (14) is can be moved towards and away from the second plate (15) along a working direction contained in a horizontal plane.

An apparatus (27) for identifying the position of vertices of electrochemical cell elements on a surface, comprising a detection device (28) placed in a display relationship with a first control area (29a) and a second control area (29b) both defined at a stacking surface (25) and configured to detect a first plurality of display data in the first control area (29a) and a second plurality of display data in the second control area (29b) which are represented by respective plurality of contrast transition zones in an image; wherein the first control area (29a) and the second control area (29b) are placed at a stacking surface (25) at respective expected positions of receiving a first edge (101) and a second edge (102) of an electrochemical cell element (100) not parallel to each other; a processing unit (33) operatively associated with the detection device (28) and configured to: obtain the first plurality of display data; obtain the second plurality of display data; on the basis of the first plurality of display data obtained determine a first line (A1) representative of the first edge (101) of the electrochemical cell element (100) and on the basis of the second plurality of display data obtained determine a second line (A2) representative of the second edge (102) of the electrochemical cell element (100) on the basis of statistical models applied to the plurality of contrast transition zones of the image; on the basis of the determination of the first line (A1) and the second line (A2), calculate the point of intersection of the first line (A1) with the second line (A2).

An apparatus for building an electrochemical cell intended for battery production comprises a dispensing unit of a conductor element (3) having a main body (4) and a plurality of fins (4a) protruding from the main body (4), a coupling unit configured to couple the conductor element (3) with at least another element to form an internal assembly of the electrochemical cell. The apparatus further comprises a folding unit configured to fold the fins (4a) increasing the inclination of the fins with respect to the main body (4) while the conductor element (3) is moved from the dispensing unit to the coupling unit.The folding unit comprises a deflector element (13) configured to abut the fins (4a), and a nozzle (14) arranged at least partially upstream of the deflector element (13) and configured to dispense a jet of air (F) against the fins (4a) so that the fins (4a) are preliminarily folded before they abut the deflector element (13).

Method for producing an electric battery cell comprising: - stacking in an interleaved manner a plurality of first sheets (1) in a first electrically conductive material and a plurality of second sheets (2) in a second electrically conductive material, wherein each first sheet (1) comprises a first tab (5) and wherein said first tabs form a first stack (7) in which said first tabs are in mutual contact; - in a first station, mutually pre-welding the first tabs (5) to each other in the first stack (7) by means of a laser beam (10) to spatially fix the first tabs (5) to each other; - subsequently, moving the first (1) and second sheets (2) interleaved from said first station to a second station; and - in the second station, welding the first stack (7) of first tabs (5) to a first electrical contact (13) to realize an electrical connection between all the first sheets (1) and the first electrical contact (12).

An apparatus for changing reels in electrochemical cell production, comprising: a frame (11); at least one mandrel (12) supported by the frame (11) and rotatable about an axis of rotation, the at least one mandrel (12) comprising a shaft (16) configured to accommodate a hollow core (105) of a reel, the shaft (16) comprising a loading end (17) configured to thread the hollow core (105) of the reel; an extraction system (21) configured to translate at least the shaft (16) in a longitudinal direction with respect to the axis of rotation, the shaft (16) being movable between a working position and a loading/unloading position, the loading end (17) being at a greater distance from the frame (11) in the loading/unloading position than in the working position.A method for changing reels in electrochemical cell production.

An inspection method for inspecting a liquid or semiliquid substance in a container (2), said container (2) extending along a principal direction (P) between a top end and a bottom end, said method comprising the following steps: setting the container (2) into rotation about a rotation axis; interrupting the rotation of the container (2); illuminating at least a part of the container (2) where the free surface of the substance is present so that at least one light component is reflected from the free surface; once the rotation of the container (2) is interrupted, acquiring at least one image of the illuminated container (2) by means of a camera (22); said camera (22) being positioned inclined relative to the principal direction (P) of the container (2) in the inspection zone (I) in such a way that its field of vision (FoV) captures said at least one light component reflected from the free surface; processing said at least one acquired image by applying at least one vision algorithm so as to identify foreign bodies floating at the free surface of the substance.

A wrapping unit (10) and method to manufacture a wrap (1) around a group (2) of smoking articles. The following are provided: a first folding device (13) configured to fold a wrapping sheet (3) around the group (2) of smoking articles, so as to cause the wrapping sheet (3) to gain a tubular shape having at least one open end delimited by two transverse flaps (7) and two longitudinal flaps (8, 9); and a second folding device (17) configured to initially fold the two transverse flaps (7) against the group (2) of smoking articles, to subsequently fold a first longitudinal flap (8) against the group (2) of smoking articles and on top of the previously folded transverse flaps (7) and to finally fold a second longitudinal flap (9) against the group (2) of smoking articles and on top of the transverse flaps (7) and the first longitudinal flap (8), which were previously folded. The second folding device (17) has a folding element (21), which is configured to spread the two longitudinal flaps (8, 9) apart before folding the two transverse flaps (7) against the group (2) of smoking articles.

A packer machine (10) and a wrapping method to produce, together, two wraps containing two corresponding groups (5) of smoking articles. The following are provided: an unwinding device (16) configured to unwind a wrapping material band (20) with a double width; a longitudinal cutting device (22) configured to longitudinally cut the wrapping material band (20) with a double width in half so as to obtain two wrapping material bands (23) with a single width; an advancement device (24) configured to advance the two wrapping sheets (8) along two parallel feeding paths (P4, P5) which end in a feeding station (S3); a transverse cutting device (25) arranged along the feeding paths (P4, P5) and configured to transversely cut the two wrapping material bands (23) with a single width so as to obtain two wrapping sheets (8) which are advanced along the two feeding paths (P4, P5); a wrapping conveyor (15) configured to advance two groups (5) of smoking articles along a wrapping path (P2) and through the feeding station (S3) wherein the two groups (5) of smoking articles are coupled to two respective wrapping sheets (8); and a storage device (26) which is arranged upstream of the feeding station (S3) and is configured to store the equivalent of a wrapping sheet (8) in a first feeding path (P4), leaving a second feeding path (P5) active, so as to arrange one single wrapping sheet (8) in the feeding station (S3) along the second feeding path (P5), and to release the equivalent of a wrapping sheet (8) previously stored in the first feeding path (P4), temporarily blocking the second feeding path (P5), so as to arrange one single wrapping sheet (8) in the feeding station (S3) along the first feeding path (P4).

An apparatus (10) for splicing a first ribbon (100) to a second ribbon (101) comprises a first and a second retaining device (17, 20) movable between respective operating conditions in which they directly face a splicing area (GA) and respective non-operating conditions in which they are not directly facing the splicing area (GA), wherein in the operating condition they operate according to a first retaining condition in which they respectively retain a first ribbon (100) and a second ribbon (101) in the splicing area (GA) and according to a second retaining condition in which they retain both the second ribbon (100) and the first ribbon (101); a cutting device (40) for cutting the first ribbon and the second ribbon (101); a first and a second splicing device (18, 21), for splicing the first ribbon (100) to the second ribbon (101), comprising a respective pad (28, 37) for receiving and applying a piece of splicing ribbon (102), movable between a waiting condition in which it is not directly facing to the splicing area (GA) and an application condition in which it directly faces the splicing area (GA). When the first and second retaining device (17, 20) operate according to the first retaining condition, the pads (28, 37) are in the waiting condition. When the pad (28) is in the application condition, the first retaining device (17) is in the non-operating condition and the second retaining device (20) operates according to the second retaining condition.

A unit for transferring discrete elements (100, 200), in particular capsules, comprising a first hopper (2) and a second hopper (2'), a combination conveyor (7) and respective feeding lines (3, 3') arranged between each hopper (2, 2') and the combination conveyor (7). The feeding lines (3, 3') are configured to perform a change in pitch between successive discrete elements (100, 200) along the respective feeding path, and furthermore, the feeding lines (3, 3') are configured to release respective pairs of discrete elements (100, 200) so as to make, on the combination conveyor (7), a sequence of alternating pairs of first discrete elements (100) and second discrete elements (200).

A system (10) for feeding and accumulating parallelepiped-shaped packs (P) for a manufacturing machine (1) is described, comprising a transport conveyor (11) configured to define two channels (C, C*) arranged parallel to one another and to a feeding direction (A) of the packs (P), wherein a first channel (C) is configured to receive the packs (P) coming from a processing station (S3) of the manufacturing machine (1) and to feed them to an output station (6) of the manufacturing machine (1) during normal functioning of the system (10); and a second channel (C*) is configured to accommodate the packs (P) coming from the processing station (S3) when a malfunction occurs downstream of the system (10) and once the filling of the first channel (C) has been completed, and is configured to feed the packs (P) to the output station (6) once the malfunction downstream of the system (10) has been resolved.

A plant (1) for supplying and filling a product (P) comprising a product transport station (2). Said product transport station (2) comprises a product movement system (3) and at least one carriage (4). The product movement system (3) comprises at least one main track (30) and at least one auxiliary track (39) positioned spaced apart from the main track (30), wherein the auxiliary track (39) has the same shape as the main track (30). The product movement system (3) comprises a control device (31) for producing localized magnetic fields. Each carriage (4) comprises sliding means (40) comprising at least one base body (401) slidingly engageable with the main track (30) or the auxiliary track (39), a control plate (41), engaged with the base body (401), facing the control device (31), comprising a magnetically sensitive element (410), and at least one transport device (45) for supporting a product (P). The plant (1) comprises a carriage exchange station (8) positioned at one end of the product movement system (3), wherein the carriage exchange station (8) comprises at least one exchange track (80) on which the carriage (4) is movable and comprises movement means (85) suitable for moving the exchange track (80) between a position in which it is aligned with the main track (30) and a position in which it is aligned with the auxiliary track (39).

The invention relates to a plant (1) for supplying and/or filling a product (P), preferably a bag, comprising a product transport station (2) extending with respect to a longitudinal axis (X-X), a vertical axis (V-V), and a transverse axis (Y-Y).The product transport station (2) comprises a product movement system (3) and at least one carriage (4).The product movement system (3) comprises at least one main track (30), extending longitudinally in a straight line, with transverse track surfaces (300) comprising a longitudinal track slot (340), and a control device (31) suitable for producing localized magnetic fields.The carriage (4) comprises sliding means (40) comprising at least one base body (401) comprising a track housing (4011) in which the main track (30) is housed, and a plurality of sliding balls (405) for sliding in respective longitudinal track slots (340).The carriage (4) comprises a control plate (41) engaged with the base body (401), positioned transversely spaced apart facing the control device (31), comprising a magnetically sensitive element (410) stressable and movable by a magnetic field produced by the control device (31).Furthermore, the carriage (4) comprises at least one transport device (45), engaged with the base body (401) and/or the control plate (41), suitable for supporting a product (P) during transport.

The invention relates to a plant (1) for supplying and filling a product (P) comprising a product transport station (2) extending with respect to a longitudinal axis (X-X), a vertical axiTs (V-V) and a transverse axis (Y-Y).The product transport station (2) comprises a product movement system (3), at least one carriage (4) and a protective shield (7).The product movement system (3) comprises at least one main track (30), extending rectilinearly in the longitudinal direction, and a control device (31) extending longitudinally and suitable for producing localized magnetic fields.The carriage (4) comprises sliding means (40) comprising at least one base body (401) slidingly engaged with the main track (30), a control plate (41) engaged with the base body (401), positioned transversely spaced apart facing the control device (31), comprising a magnetically sensitive element (410) that is stressable and movable by a magnetic field produced by the control device (31), and at least one transport device (45) engaged with the base body (401) and/or with the control plate (41) for supporting a product (P) during transport.The protective shield (7) is positioned facing the control device (31), so as to be between the control plate (41) of a carriage (4) and said control device (31).

An apparatus (100) for the production of inner assemblies, preferably for electrochemical cells destined for the production of batteries, comprising: a feeding unit (110) configured to feed at least one web (N1; N2; N3; N4) along a feed path (P1; P2; P3; P4); a movable frame (120), movable between a proximal position and a distal position, the proximal position being closer to said feeding unit (110) than the distal position; at least one winding device (130) mounted on said movable frame (120) and configured to wind said at least one web (N1; N2; N3; N4) around a winding support (135) to form an inner assembly (1); a holding member (150) mounted on said movable frame (120), movable between a holding configuration, wherein said holding member (150) is configured to hold said inner assembly (1) wound on said winding support (135), and a disengagement configuration wherein said holding member (150) is configured not to hold said inner assembly (1) wound on said winding support (135); an extraction mechanism (140) configured to extract said winding support (135) from said inner assembly (1) at least partially while said holding member (150) holds said inner assembly (1).

An apparatus (100) for the production of inner assemblies, preferably for electrochemical cells destined for the production of batteries, comprises: a movable frame (120), movable along a forming trajectory between a first position and a second position spaced from the first position; a coupling unit (128) comprising at least one forming support (130) mounted on said movable frame (120), said coupling unit (128) being configured to couple at least one web (N1; N2; N3; N4) in an overlapping layers structure onto said forming support (130) to form an inner assembly (1) at least partially while said movable frame (120) is moving between the first position and the second position; an unloading mechanism (145) configured to pick said inner assembly (1) from said forming support (130) at least partially while said movable frame (120) is moving between said first position and said second position, and to release said inner assembly (1) in a predefined release area (146), spaced from said movable frame (120), said unloading mechanism (145) comprising a gripping device (175) configured to grab and hold said inner assembly (1) and a moving device (170) configured to move said gripping device (175) substantially at the same speed and in the same direction as said movable frame (120) at least while said gripping device (175) grabs said inner assembly (1).

A packer machine (12) and a wrapping method for producing a rigid pack (1) for smoking articles. The following are provided: a wrapping drum (15) which supports at least one pocket (16) designed to contain the wrap (3) and a collar (6), and is mounted so as to rotate around a first rotation axis (17) so as to move the pocket (16) along a circular wrapping path (P2); and a feeding system (19) configured to deliver the collar (6) to the pocket (16) of the wrapping drum (15) in a feeding station (S3) located along the wrapping path (P2). The feeding system (19) has a feeding drum (36), which supports at least one gripping head (38) configured to hold the collar (6) and is mounted so as to always rotate in the same direction around a second rotation axis (37) which is perpendicular to the first rotation axis (17) so as to move the gripping head (38) along a feeding path (P5), which goes through the feeding station (S3).

Packer machine (9) and wrapping method for producing a wrap (3) by folding a wrapping sheet (7) around a group (5) of smoking articles. The following are provided: a folding conveyor (13) which is designed to advance the group (5) of smoking articles and the wrapping sheet (7) along a straight folding path (P2); a feeding device (17) which is designed to locate the wrapping sheet (7) in a feeding station (S3) so that the group (5) of smoking articles, while advancing along the folding path (P2), intercepts the wrapping sheet (7); and an accompanying device (39) provided with a tubular body (40) which is located in the area of the feeding station (S3), is internally hollow and shaped so as to be crossed from side to side by the group (5) of smoking articles advancing along the folding path (P2), and provided with an actuation system (43) configured to cyclically move the tubular body (40) back and forth along a portion of the folding path (P2) located astride the feeding station (S3) so as to perform a forward stroke, in which the tubular body (40) containing the group (5) of smoking articles intercepts the wrapping sheet (7), which gets folded in a "U"-shape around the tubular body (40), and a subsequent return stroke, in which the tubular body (40) slips away from the group (5) of smoking articles, thus leaving the group (5) of smoking articles inside the "U"-folded wrapping sheet (7).

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