Abstract: A method and apparatus for vacuum packaging a product. According to one embodiment a film tube is generated, and, in the film tube a product (P) is introduced and at least one cut is made. In the method, a vacuum may also applied inside the film tube, and a transverse seal is formed therein, a film tube closed at one end being obtained upstream of the cut and a package closed at both ends being obtained downstream. Furthermore, the film tube is transversely pinched, a portion the inside of the film tube which is isolated from the inside of the rest of the film tube being obtained, and a chamber is demarcated around at least part of said portion, the vacuum being applied and the transverse sealing operation being performed inside said chamber.

Abstract: A modified atmosphere, skin or vacuum packaging machine comprising first feed means adapted for feeding a first film to the machine, second feed means adapted for feeding a second film to the machine, and a sealing station where the vacuum is formed and/or the modified atmosphere is introduced, and the second film is sealed to the first film to obtain a package. The machine comprises displacement means configured for moving at least the first film a driving distance from an initial position, holding down and driving at least the first film in the driving direction to an end position, said displacement means being configured for subsequently returning to the initial position when the machine is in operating mode.

Abstract: Format change method for a thermoforming machine and a thermoforming machine. A station of the machine includes an upper tool and a lower tool, at least one of the upper and lower tools being suitable for moving in a substantially vertical actuating direction during the operation of the machine. In the method, the upper tool is supported on the lower tool and both tools are subsequently withdrawn from the station and are replaced with new tools. When withdrawing the upper and lower tools from the station and when introducing the new tools therein, the tools are moved simultaneously and jointly in a replacement direction different from the actuating direction.

Abstract: A method for loading containers that involves intermittently shifting at least one first empty housing and one second empty housing of the containers between respective first and second rest positions. According to one embodiment the method involves calculating an available time td corresponding to the time necessary for an empty housing to reach a loading position of a manipulator and comparing the available time td with a positioning time necessary for the manipulator to collect from its current position each object to be loaded from a collecting area and depositing it in a loading position coinciding with the position of an empty housing of a container. The object to be collected and the delivery position of the object in an empty housing corresponds with a loading position of the manipulator in which the positioning time is closest to the available time td.

Abstract: A system for loading and unloading food products. In one implementation the system includes a transport device with a plurality of parallel belts upon which the products to be loaded move, and a tool adapted to load the products. The tool has a support adapted to pass through the gaps between the belts to load the product and to support the product when it is unloaded, and to perform the loading of the product moving it in an ascending vertical direction, the support lifting the product from the transport device. The support is adapted to rotate in relation to the support structure to unload the product, when they rotate, the support has a peripheral speed equal to the speed at which the product moves during the unloading.

Abstract: A packaging machine having a sealing member that acts on a product wrapped by a lower film and an upper film, and which seals or closes the films to each other around the product in order to vacuum-package said product between both films, and control means for causing the sealing member to move in order to package the product. The sealing member defines at least one inner space where the product to be vacuum-packaged is disposed wrapped at least partially by the two films. According to one implementation the sealing member includes at least one longitudinal first wall, a longitudinal second wall and a transverse wall between which the inner space is defined, and an unobstructed opening facing the transverse wall.

Abstract: A system for loading and unloading food products. In one implementation the system includes transport means with a plurality of parallel belts upon which the products to be loaded move, and a tool adapted to load the products. The tool has support means adapted to pass through the gaps between the belts to load the product and to support the product when it is unloaded, and to perform the loading of the product moving it in an ascending vertical direction, the support means lifting the product from the transport means. The support means are adapted to rotate in relation to the support structure to unload the product, when they rotate, the support means have a peripheral speed equal to the speed at which the product moves during the unloading.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for loading containers (3, 4) comprising at least one first empty housing (31, 41) and one second empty housing (32, 42) the mentioned containers (3, 4) being intermittently shiftable between a first rest position (1) and a second rest position (1). The method comprises calculating an available time td corresponding to the time necessary for an empty housing (31, 32, 41, 42) to reach a loading position (11, 12, 21, 22), and comparing it with a positioning time tp11, tp12, tp21 and tp22 necessary for the manipulator to collect from its current position each object to be loaded from a collecting area (5) and depositing it in a loading position (11, 12, 21, 22) coinciding with the position of an empty housing (31, 32) (41, 42) of a container (3, 4).