Method and unit for feeding elongated elements

9) A unit for feeding elongated elements to a hopper of a wrapping machine;

• the elongated elements (2) being housed in bulk and in orderly manner inside, containers (5);
• each container (5) comprising a top opening (9) by which to receive and unload said elongated elements (2);
• the unit comprising a manipulator (13) for picking up a full container (5) of elongated elements (2) and overturning the full container (5) at said hopper (3) so that said opening (9) faces downwards, and an unloading device (14), which is located at said hopper (3) and comprises a supporting surface (45a, 45b) having a passage (44) smaller than said opening (9), so as to partly close said opening (9) and provide for controlled unloading of said elongated elements (2);
• and the unit (1) being characterized in that the unloading device (14) comprises an unloading conveyor (33) for varying the position of said passage (44) with respect to said container (5) and said opening (9).

24) A unit for feeding elongated elements to a hopper of a wrapping machine;

• the elongated elements (2) being housed in bulk and in orderly manner inside containers (5);
• the unit (1) comprising first conveying means (11) for feeding full containers (5) of elongated elements (2) successively to the hopper (3), a manipulator (13) for successively picking up full containers (5) off said first conveying means (11) and inverting the full containers (5) over said hopper (3), and second conveying means (12) for removing empty containers (5) from the hopper (3);
• and the unit (1) being characterized in that said manipulator (13) comprises first gripping and transporting means (27) for gripping and transporting full containers (5), second gripping and transporting means (28) for gripping and transporting empty containers (5), and an articulated system (23, 24, 25, 26) for supporting and moving said first and second gripping and transporting means (27, 28);
• said articulated system (23, 24, 25, 26) being movable, in a forward and a return stroke respectively, between a first position, in which the first gripping and transporting means (27) pick up a full container (5) off said first conveying means (11), and the second gripping and transporting means (28) release an empty container (5) onto said second conveying means (12), and a second position, in which the first gripping and transporting means (27) release a full container (5), upside down, over the hopper (3), and the second gripping and transporting means (28) pick up an empty container (5) from the hopper (3).