Abstract: Protection system for the mechanized covering of plant crops which are usually planted in rows, of the type in which vertical poles (1) are arranged along the rows and have heights greater than those of the crowns of the plants to be protected, the poles being interconnected by longitudinal (3) and transverse (2) cables to form an overhead supporting lattice roof structure, the system comprising means for mechanizing the steps of extending flexible protective sheets (4) over the roof structure and removing them therefrom, characterized in that: the poles (1) are in a staggered or grid arrangement such that they are transversely aligned in even-numbered rows (F2, F4, etc.) only and in odd-numbered rows (F1, F3, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging a product with an extensible film, including a conveyor for conveying a product to the apparatus, an evacuating device for evacuating a product from the apparatus at the end of packaging, an unwinding device to unwind the extensible film from a reel mounted on the apparatus, a tensioning device for tensioning the extensible film, the unwinding device including a first gripping element and a second gripping element that are movable independently of one another in an unwinding direction for unwinding the extensible film from the reel.

Abstract: The microwave sterilization chamber (10) is made in the shape of a downwardly open bell which can be sealed by a base structure (6, 19, 20) which carries means (5) for gripping and rotating the canister (1) filled with waste, which can be moved by suitable means from a low position for the filling and discharge of the canister (1) to a raised position for the closure of said chamber and for the insertion of the full canister (1) into the chamber, each canister being provided with means by which it can be removably supported by said means of gripping and rotating the sterilization chamber (10), and can be gripped by the manipulating means (SM) which transfer said canister between the different operating stations of the machine.

Abstract: The waste compactor comprises a housing having an inclined wall in the upper part thereof. A motor on the upper wall drives a helical screw on the lower side of the inclined wall which converges conically downwardly with a decreasing pitch. A lower hopper extending downwardly from the inclined wall below the helical screw forms a funnel and is opened above to an inlet area. The inlet area receives waste material to be compacted, which material descends into the area of the helical screw. A lower more narrow end of the helical screw is located in a conduit which is slightly wider than the lower end of the helical screw and converges downwardly to a constriction at its lower end. Waste material is compacted by downward movement under the action of the helical screw and by being forced through the conduit. The lower hopper has drainage holes through which liquid can drain, by gravity, and a collector is positioned to collect the liquid passing through the drainage holes.

Abstract: Protection system for the mechanized covering of plant crops which are usually planted in rows, of the type in which vertical poles (1) are arranged along the rows and have heights greater than those of the crowns of the plants to be protected, the poles being interconnected by longitudinal (3) and transverse (2) cables to form an overhead supporting lattice roof structure, the system comprising means for mechanizing the steps of extending flexible protective sheets (4) over the roof structure and removing them therefrom, characterized in that: the poles (1) are in a staggered or grid arrangement such that they are transversely aligned in even-numbered rows (F2, F4, etc.) only and in odd-numbered rows (F1, F3, etc.

Abstract: The compactor comprises at least one robust transport screw, helix or spiral (16), which is inclined, of conical shape, downwardly converging, with a downwardly decreasing pitch, and is aligned axially with and fixed to the slow output shaft (117) of a reduction gear unit (17, 217, 317) located above and outside the inclined wall (301) of a loading hopper (1) which has an upper descending portion (101) with at least one hatch (2) for the introduction of the waste to be compacted and a discharge conduit (7) whose outlet opening is shut off by constriction means (8, 108, 208). The lower part (201) of the hopper (1) is shaped in the form of a funnel which is open outwards and is provided with drainage holes (9) and a base area (10) into which any liquid present in the waste tends to flow by gravity, means (13, 14, 114) being provided to collect the liquid and to guide it by gravity towards discharge means (20) a container (18).

Abstract: The microwave sterilization chamber (10) is made in the shape of a downwardly open bell which can be sealed by a base structure (6, 19, 20) which carries means (5) for gripping and rotating the canister (1) filled with waste, which can be moved by suitable means from a low position for the filling and discharge of the canister (1) to a raised position for the closure of said chamber and for the insertion of the full canister (1) into the chamber, each canister being provided with means by which it can be removably supported by said means of gripping and rotating the sterilization chamber (10), and can be gripped by the manipulating means (SM) which transfer said canister between the different operating stations of the machine.

Abstract: A stretch film presenting controlled permeability to gases, manufactured by process of balloon co-extrusion and consisting of outer layers (S2) of stretchable polmeric material and by one or two inner barrier layers (S3) of a EVOH based polymeric matrix, which is made stretchable by the addition of a suitable plasticizer in such a percentage as to conciliate the stretchablity with the desired barrier effect, said layers of different material being reciprocally secured by means of layers (S4) of adhesive material. The polymeric matrix which forms the barrier material and the plasticizer are intimately mixed inside a double-screw corotating extruder, immediately before the phase of co-extrusion, through a premelting of the polymeric matrix and the subsequent injection of the plasticizer in liquid phase.

Abstract: A stretch film presenting controlled permeability to gases, manufactured by process of balloon co-extrusion and consisting of outer layers (S2)of stretchable polymeric material and by one or two inner barrier layers (S3) of a EVOH based polymeric matrix, which is made stretchable by the addition of a suitable plasticizer in such a percentage as to conciliate the stretchability with the desired barrier effect, said layers of different material being reciprocally secured by means of layers (S4) of adhesive material. The polymeric matrix which forms the barrier material and the plasticizer are intimately mixed inside a double-screw corotating extruder, immediately before the phase of co-extrusion, through a premelting of the polymeric matrix and the subsequent injection of the plasticizer in liquid phase.

Abstract: The blade (12) which is to make the transverse cut of the film in the product packaging station is fixed in the lower part of the grooved section (11) which forms part of the front folder (9) of the packaging machine and has its cutting edge facing downwards. The film to be cut (102) is raised against this blade by a parallel grooved bar (13) with rounded and preferably staggered edges, which in an intermediate phase before its own working travel is also used to raise the section of the film which will have to be cut subsequently, to dispose the film in the correct position for gripping by the lateral grippers (6) of the packaging machine. The said film raising bar is preferably driven by means of a link block, by and electric motor (22) with electronic rotation speed and phase control, controlled by the processor of the packaging machine.

Abstract: A packaging machine which carries out the conventional packaging of products with a stretchable and gas-tight film is housed in a main chamber (1) which is seable and contains a modified and controlled atmosphere suitable for the conservation of the product to be packaged. The product enters and leaves the main chamber by passing through corresponding sealable airlock chambers (7, 8) provided with corresponding automatic doors (107, 207, 108, 208) and in any case designed to provide a seal with respect to the external environment and to the main chamber to which these chambers are attached. When the outer sides of the airlock chambers are opened, their inner sides are closed, so that the modified and controlled atmosphere cannot issue from the main chamber.

Abstract: The catches (10) of the brackets (5) which can be made inactive by the elevator when the elevator is in the low position are designed to interact with corresponding cams (20, 21, 22) of different angular extents, keyed to a shaft (17) which is driven by a motor (22) whose speed and phase are electronically controlled and which is supported rotatably by the base of the machine. When a product is fed onto the elevator and its dimensions are measured by known means which then determine the travel of the film unwinding gripper in the packaging station, if necessary the cam shaft is made to rotate through a distance capable of causing the oscillation of the catches of the brackets which are to be disengaged, so that when the elevator rises the unnecessary brackets are already disengaged and oscillate slowly downwards.

Abstract: A stretchable film is used whose width is substantially equal to that of the bottom of an article of the largest format which can be processed by the packaging machine. The film is characterized by considerable stretchability and a low elastic memory when stretched. The portion of film cyclically introduced into the wrapping station is normally subjected to longitudinal pre-stretching which has the function of decreasing the width of the film, and the extent of this pre-stretching is variable according to the dimensions of the article to be wrapped, so that the portion of film has a width proportionate to the corresponding dimension of the article to be wrapped.

Abstract: A portion of film, with a length proportionate to the dimensions and to the characteristics of the product to be wrapped, is subjected to a transverse pre-stretching, the extent of which is also proportionate to the said parameters. The film is held at one end by a fixed dispenser (30) and at the other end by a movable rear clamp (61), which conveniently reduce the longitudinal tension of the film, both in pre-stretching and during the subsequent lifting of the product. In this phase, the side clamps (78-178) approach each other to reduce the pre-stretching, and are then inserted under the product and are opened, to extend the side flaps of the film under the product.

Abstract: A portion of film, with a length proportionate to the dimensions and to the characteristics of the product to be wrapped, is subjected to a transverse pre-stretching, the extent of which is also proportionate to the said parameters. The film is held at one end by a fixed dispenser (30) and at the other end by a movable rear clamp (61), which conveniently reduce the longitudinal tension of the film, both in pre-stretching and during the subsequent lifting of the product. In this phase, the side clamps (78-178) approach each other to reduce the pre-stretching, and are then inserted under the product and are opened, to extend the side flaps of the film under the product.

Abstract: A check-out counter for supermarkets and the like, including a cashier station (2) before which a conveying device (6) is located and next to which, on each side, a scanner (3) provided with a monitor (4) and connected to a keyboard (5) for the items manual recording is positioned, as well as a mobile barrier (12) and a photocell (16) both being connected to the scanner (3) and suitable to control the access to a bag-dispensing device (18) placed next to the conveying device (6).

Abstract: The film (F) fed to the packaging machine has a width suitable for wrapping articles whose sizes may vary over a wide range, and its width is made proportionate to the largest size of article which the machine can wrap. For the wrapping of articles whose dimensions are smaller than the maximum ones acceptable by the machine, the width of the film is modified as required to suit the dimensions of the article to be wrapped, by a pleating process (9-12-112-29-129-229) such that the longitudinal axis of the pleats lies in the direction of the length of the section of film introduced into the wrapping station.

Abstract: A stretcher-injector device to be applied to wrapping machines is disclosed, which is suitable to be inserted into each of the two lateral film sleeves resulting from the wrapping at the two opposite sides of the package not covered by the film wrapping; it is actuated pneumatically both to stretch the film in order to assure its airtightness, and to carry out the atmosphere change inside the package, e.g. of food products.

Abstract: Apparatus suitable for disposition in supermarkets and the like for dispensing, in open condition, plastic or otherwise flexible bags for receiving therein articles purchased on site. The apparatus includes a reel formed of a continuous web of bags serially attached together in end-to-end relation, and a device for unwinding the continuous web from the reel and for advancing the web so as to transport the leading bag to a bag opening and retaining device. At the opening device, the leading bag is detached from the continuous web, a pair of relatively movable grippers grasps the opposite faces of and opens the bag, and the opened bag is supported by a vertically-movable loading platform as articles are introduced into the bag through a hopper located immediately above the platform-supported open bag.

Abstract: Bags custom-sized to the volume of articles packed and to be packed therein are manufactured on-site and on-demand at the location at which the articles are packed in the bags. The bags are formed from a continuous sheet of flexible film material which is shaped into a tubular wrapper along the interior of a generally quadrangular former. The bags are sealed along their tops so as to prevent inadvertent spillage of articles therefrom and may incorporate unitary handles formed during manufacture of the bags and a readily removable protective envelope at least partly defining the top closure thereof.