Abstract: A system for controlling a manufacturing process for packaging units is disclosed, the packaging units are manufactured from a packaging material comprising machine readable identifiers. A control unit associates the identifiers with corresponding data images of the packaging units, wherein for a first process application to manipulate packaging material based on a first set of process parameters, the control unit is configured to store at least part of the first set of process parameters to the associated data image, wherein for a subsequent second process application to manipulate said packaging material, read at least part of the first set of process parameters stored in said associated data image to control the second process application based on at least part of the first set of process parameters.

Abstract: A system (200) for controlling a manufacturing process for packaging units (301?, 302?) is disclosed, the packaging units are manufactured from a packaging material (301, 302) comprising machine readable identifiers (c1, c2). A control unit (210) associates the identifiers with corresponding data images (201, 202) of the packaging units, wherein for a first process application (a1) to manipulate packaging material (301) based on a first set of process parameters (p1), the control unit is configured to store at least part of the first set of process parameters (p1) to the associated data image, wherein for a subsequent second process application (a2) to manipulate said packaging material (301), read at least part of the first set of process parameters (p1) stored in said associated data image (201) to control the second process application (a2) based on at least part of the first set of process parameters (p1).

Abstract: A reel holder is disclosed. In some embodiments, the reel holder comprises an opening configured to receive and hold a reel having packaging material and a transceiver configured to communicate with a tag in the reel to receive information stored in the tag. A filling machine system is also disclosed. In some embodiments, the filling machine system comprises a reel holder and a reel provided with a tag.

Abstract: There is described a unit (1) for forming/advancing at least one pack (3) or at least one portion of a pack 5 (3), comprising: a frame (12a, 12b), at least one carriage (14, 14b), which is movable along a path (13a, 13b) with respect to frame (12a, 12b) and is adapted to form/advance said pack (3) or said at least one portion of a pack (3), an electromagnetic stationary device 10 (50), at least one tag (52a, 52b) carried by carriage (14a, 14b), and wireless communication means (51) configured to establish a bidirectional communication between stationary device (50) and tag (52a, 52b).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a reel provided with a packaging material. The reel may be adapted to be mounted on a mandrel of a filling machine. The reel may be hollow and have the shape of a cylinder, an inner portion of which may be provided with a tag containing information at least associated with the packaging material. The disclosure also relates to a filling machine for filling a packaging material with a food product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reel (5) provided with a packaging material (7). The reel (5) is adapted to be mounted on a mandrel (2) of a filling machine (1). The reel (5) is hollow and has the shape of a cylinder, an inner portion of which is provided with a tag (6) containing information at least associated with the packaging material (7). The invention also relates to a filling machine (1) for filling a packaging material (7) with a food product.

Abstract: A reel holder is disclosed. In some embodiments, the reel holder comprises an opening configured to receive and hold a reel having packaging material and a transceiver configured to communicate with a tag in the reel to receive information stored in the tag. A filling machine system is also disclosed. In some embodiments, the filling machine system comprises a reel holder and a reel provided with a tag.

Abstract: There is described a unit (1) for forming/advancing at least one pack (3) or at least one portion of a pack 5 (3), comprising: frame (12a, 12b), at least one carriage (14, 14b), which is movable along a path (13a, 13b) with respect to frame (12a, 12b) and is adapted to form/advance said pack (3) or said at least one portion of a pack (3), an electromagnetic stationary device 10 (50), at least one tag (52a, 52b) carried by carriage (14a, 14b), and wireless communication means (51) configured to establish a bidirectional communication between stationary device (50) and tag (52a, 52b).

Abstract: There is disclosed a sonotrode comprising: a head which defines a sealing surface elongated along a first direction orthogonal to a second direction and at least one first slot which extends through the head transversally to the first direction; the first slot extends parallel to a third direction inclined to both the first direction and the second direction; the first direction defines an acute angle with the second direction.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sonotrode comprising: a head which defines a sealing surface elongated along a first direction orthogonal to a second direction and at least one first slot which extends through the head transversally to the first direction; the first slot extends parallel to a third direction inclined to both the first direction and the second direction; the first direction defines an acute angle with the second direction.

Abstract: Packaging Machine operable to produce sealed packages made of heat-seal sheet packaging material and containing a food product, and comprising an ultrasonic sealing device including an electrical power signal source operable to generate an electrical power signal; an ultrasonic transducer electrically coupled to the electrical power signal source to receive the electrical power signal and responsively heat seal the sheet packaging material; and an electronic counter operable to count the ultrasonic sealing cycles of the ultrasonic sealing device.

Abstract: A sonotrode comprising: a head defining a sealing surface elongated along a first direction; and a first and a second drive unit distinct from one another, each comprising at least one piezo-electric element; wherein first and second drive unit may be electrically fed by an unique generator to cause oscillation of head; the height of head measured along a second direction transversal to sealing surface being substantially equal to half the wavelength of wave oscillating in second direction; at least one slot extending through head transversally to first and second direction; a finite number of nodal points at which amplitude of oscillation of head is substantially equal to zero; and a plane on which at least some nodal points lie and which divides head in a first portion and second portion; the slot extends completely within one only between first and second portion and at a certain distance by plane.

Abstract: A sonotrode comprising: a head defining a sealing surface elongated along a first direction; and a first and a second drive unit distinct from one another, each comprising at least one piezo-electric element; wherein first and second drive unit may be electrically fed by an unique generator to cause oscillation of head; the height of head measured along a second direction transversal to sealing surface being substantially equal to half the wavelength of wave oscillating in second direction; at least one slot extending through head transversally to first and second direction; a finite number of nodal points at which amplitude of oscillation of head is substantially equal to zero; and a plane on which at least some nodal points lie and which divides head in a first portion and second portion; the slot extends completely within one only between first and second portion and at a certain distance by plane.

Abstract: An induction sealing device for producing packaged pourable food products from heat-seal sheet packaging material. The sealing device has a signal source, an inductor, and an impedance matching circuit connected between the signal source and the inductor. The impedance matching circuit has: two input terminals; a first and second line connected to the input terminals; a variable-capacitance stage having capacitive modules each made up of a capacitive element and a controlled switch; and a control stage to control the controlled switches. Each controlled switch includes: input terminals receiving a respective control signal from the control stage, with one input terminal of each controlled switch connected to the second line; a single two-way controlled switching element having a control terminal connected to the other input terminal of the controlled switch; a first current-conducting terminal connected to the first line, and a second current-conducting terminal connected to the second line.

Abstract: Packaging Machine operable to produce sealed packages made of heat-seal sheet packaging material and containing a food product, and comprising an ultrasonic sealing device including an electrical power signal source operable to generate an electrical power signal; an ultrasonic transducer electrically coupled to the electrical power signal source to receive the electrical power signal and responsively heat seal the sheet packaging material; and an electronic counter operable to count the ultrasonic sealing cycles of the ultrasonic sealing device.

Abstract: An induction sealing device for producing packaged pourable food products from heat-seal sheet packaging material. The sealing device has a signal source, an inductor, and an impedance matching circuit connected between the signal source and the inductor. The impedance matching circuit has: two input terminals; a first and second line connected to the input terminals; a variable-capacitance stage having capacitive modules each made up of a capacitive element and a controlled switch; and a control stage to control the controlled switches. Each controlled switch includes: input terminals receiving a respective control signal from the control stage, with one input terminal of each controlled switch connected to the second line; a single two-way controlled switching element having a control terminal connected to the other input terminal of the controlled switch; a first current-conducting terminal connected to the first line, and a second current-conducting terminal connected to the second line.

Abstract: An induction sealing device which may be used for producing packages of pourable food products by transversely sealing a tube of sheet packaging material having at least one layer of induction heatable material covered with plastic material. The sealing device has: a generator for generating an alternating power signal; an inductor receiving the alternating power signal to induce a parasitic electric current in the layer and locally melt the plastic material to form a transverse seal; and a matching circuit for achieving optimum power transfer between the generator and the inductor. The matching circuit includes an inductive-capacitive circuit, in which the capacitance of a variable capacitance capacitive element is adjustable so that the current-voltage phase angle is close to zero.

Abstract: An induction sealing device which may be used for producing packages of pourable food products by transversely sealing a tube of sheet packaging material having at least one layer of induction heatable material covered with plastic material. The sealing device has: a generator for generating an alternating power signal; an inductor receiving the alternating power signal to induce a parasitic electric current in the layer and locally melt the plastic material to form a transverse seal; and a matching circuit for achieving optimum power transfer between the generator and the inductor. The matching circuit includes an inductive-capacitive circuit, in which the capacitance of a variable capacitance capacitive element is adjustable so that the current-voltage phase angle is close to zero.

Abstract: The method is aimed at indirectly determining the energy absorbed by a conducting layer (5) forming part of a strip of packaging material (1) to be sealed transversely. The method is based on measuring parameters correlated with the power supplied by a current source (45) to the packaging material (1) during sealing, and with the temperature of the conducting layer (5). The temperature measurement takes into account the temperature of the product to be packed, the characteristics of the packaging material, and the characteristics of the mechanical sealing members; correct cutting of the packaging material after sealing is also determined; and the parameters are monitored by measuring associated quantities and by comparison with permissible values.