Abstract: A dispensing device for a powder filling machine comprises a duct with at least one dispensing outlet from which a powder material is directed into a container positioned beneath. The outlet incorporates an iris diaphragm with a plurality of occluding elements capable of movement between an operating condition in which the outlet is closed, disallowing passage of the powder material, and a non-operating condition in which the outlet is open, with the occluding elements compassing a flow section aligned concentrically with the duct and allowing the passage of the powder material.

Abstract: A method and unit for wrapping sweets, whereby a sweet, housed in a relative first peripheral seat of a distribution plate rotating about a first axis, is extracted from the relative first seat in an extraction direction parallel to the first axis, and is then fed to a relative second seat of a wrapping wheel, rotating about a second axis crosswise to the first axis, in a feed direction substantially crosswise to the extraction direction and through a feed line parallel to the first axis and for supplying sheets of wrapping material.

Abstract: In a method and device for continuously wrapping products (3), while the products (3) are being fed continuously at a first speed (V1) along an intermediate portion (44) of a first path (P1) and in a first direction (D1), together with their intermediate wrappers (2a), the latter having a first and a second wing (37, 38), projection from, and on opposite sides of a surface (30) of the product (3), the wings (37, 38) make contact with a first folder (43) that moves at a second speed (V2) which is faster than the first speed (V1) in a second direction (D2) coinciding with the first speed (D1) along a section (45) of a second a path (P2).

Abstract: A method and unit for wrapping sweets, whereby a sweet, housed in a relative first peripheral seat of a distribution plate rotating about a first axis, is extracted from the relative first seat in an extraction direction parallel to the first axis, and is then fed to a relative second seat of a wrapping wheel, rotating about a second axis crosswise to the first axis, in a feed direction substantially crosswise to the extraction direction and through a feed line parallel to the first axis and for supplying sheets of wrapping material.

Abstract: Flat articles to be formed into groups for packaging are advanced in succession at a set tempo toward a transfer station where each article is made to assume a predetermined position in space, standing on edge. Thereafter, the articles are advanced in a direction perpendicular to the position in space and toward a release station by means of a first conveyor equipped with pockets. The articles are caused to advance at a first linear velocity in such a way that each pocket receives an article and, at predetermined intervals, are accelerated to a second velocity for a predetermined duration between the arrival of one article at the transfer station and the arrival of the next article. In this way, one or more pockets remain empty, and groups of articles forming on the conveyor are separated one from the next by the empty pockets.

Abstract: On a conveying device for forming and conveying groups of products, a screw conveyor is supplied at the input with an orderly succession of products, and has an input portion along which the products are formed into groups, and a tubular output portion for feeding the groups separately and successively to a pocket conveyor extending inside the output portion and having a number of push and lead members, each separating two adjacent pockets on the pocket conveyor.

Abstract: An ordering device for arranging products received in the loose state in an orderly succession comprises a first and a second conveyor with belts defining a product feed path divided into active portions with variable lengths equaling complementary fractions of the total length of the path; a pair of transmission pulleys, respectively connected to the first and second conveyors to define the active portions and supported by a carriage which moves in both directions along the path; drive means designed to move the transmission pulleys so as to vary the length of the portions; compensator means for compensating the variations in the length of the active portions of the path with corresponding opposite variations in the length of the respective complementary sections of the belts; the device comprises one carriage and the compensator means comprise mechanisms equipped with rigid elements which are connected to one another and which connect the carriage and the belts and vary their geometric configuration accordi

Abstract: A unit for feeding flat diecut blanks of wrapping material to a user machine is equipped with a conveyor by which blanks disposed on edge transversely to a given feed direction and ordered in a substantially continuous column are caused to advance along a conveying path extending toward a transfer station where each blank in turn is picked up from the column; the conveyor comprises two sections aligned along the path: the one, an intermittently driven first belt by which the column is advanced toward the transfer station through a step of predetermined length, at a predetermined frequency timed with the operation of a pickup mechanism positioned at the transfer station, the other a continuously driven second belt designed to advance the column toward the first belt at a predetermined velocity.

Abstract: In a method for aligning products, the products, being substantially aligned in crossways rows on a first conveyor, are carried by the first conveyor in hollows made in trays through a pickup position at which the products in each row are picked up by a suction head which, while remaining parallel to itself, moves in a circular path extending partly over the first conveyor. The suction head transfers the products along a portion of its path between the pickup position and an unloading position at which the products are dropped onto a second conveyor equipped with hollows so that the products are arranged in a single line, with one product in each hollow.

Abstract: A unit for forming stacks of articles, the unit having a stacking device for forming the stacks, an input supply device for feeding the articles to the stacking device in a first supply direction, and an unloading assembly for unloading the stacks off the stacking device and feeding the stacks in a second supply direction perpendicular to the first supply direction.

Abstract: Containers are directed onto a carousel rotatable as one about a vertical axis with a tank affording a fluid-tight enclosure and equipped with filler valves, each positionable over the mouth of a relative container; the tank is filled with a liquid substance until a given head has been established, whereupon the enclosure is negatively or positively pressurized, according to the type of liquid substance being handled, in such a way that the jet formed at the outlet of the filler valves will be dispensed at a selected discharge pressure different to the pressure deriving solely from the head of the liquid substance in the tank. The tank is depressurized when filled with foamable liquid substances, and pressurized when filled with viscous substances.

Abstract: Absorbent pads passing along a feed path advance first on an infeed conveyor at a first pitch and a first velocity, then on an outfeed conveyor at a second pitch and a second velocity. The transfer from infeed to outfeed is effected by means of a head disposed between the two conveyors, rotatable about a vertical axis and carrying at least one handler unit equipped with a suction cup coupled to an epicyclic train inside the head and made to orbit around the axis following a looped trajectory; the head also comprises a cam and rocker mechanism operating in conjunction with a lever mechanism by which the suction cup is lowered and raised in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation when passing through points at which the pads are picked up from the infeed conveyor and released onto the outfeed conveyor, respectively. Being adjustable, the cam and rocker mechanism also provides means by which to vary the positions of the pickup point and the release point.

Abstract: The system for the packaging of products comprises a first conveyor on which a plurality of trays are fed along a defined conveying line so as to transfer the products on the trays from a production unit to a plurality of product packaging lines, and an aligner designed to transfer the products from the conveying line to the packaging lines, at each of which there is a buffer designed to accommodate a plurality of trays.

Abstract: A unit for forming and supplying stacks of products to a machine, wherein a stacking device lifts the products successively off a continuous supply conveyor to form stacks which are fed along a supporting surface by a pocket conveyor for supplying the machine; and wherein, to enable at least partial formation of a stack before a respective conveying pocket is arrested in such a position as to receive the stack, the stacking device is provided with a stop member, which is movable to and from a position of interference with the pockets of the pocket conveyor, and against which the stack is at least partly formed.

Abstract: A unit for combing wrapped chocolates, wherein a combing drum, rotating continuously about a respective axis, has a number of combing devices, each of which has a gripping device rotating, crosswise to the aforementioned axis, between a radial gripping position to grip a chocolate, and an axial release position located along an axial path parallel to the aforementioned axis and along which travel a pusher and a counter-pusher; the path extending through an annular combing element.

Abstract: A unit and method for forming a group of products on a wrapping machine, whereby a continuous supply conveyor feeds a succession of products to an input of a group-forming screw device; and a step-operated supply device, located at an output of the screw device, is controlled by a sensor for detecting the length of each group, to only feed complete groups to a wrapping unit of the wrapping machine.