Patents by Inventor Franco Santi
Franco Santi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10472109Abstract: A folding unit for producing packages from sealed packs comprises an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of paddles arranged for moving said packs along an advancement direction and fold said packs into formed packages, each paddle having a first surface intended to interact with a first pack to form a portion of a corresponding first package and a second surface intended to interact with a second pack to form a portion of a corresponding second package, said folding unit further comprises releasable connecting elements arranged for releasably connecting said paddles to said endless conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2017Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.Inventors: Andrea Catellani, Herbert Bartolini, Luisa D'Amato, Lucia Izzo, Franco Santi
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Publication number: 20190077532Abstract: A folding unit for producing packages (2) from sealed packs (3) comprises an endless conveyor (23) carrying a plurality of paddles (30) arranged for moving said packs (3) along an advancement direction and fold said packs (3) into formed packages (2), each paddle (30) having a first surface (80) intended to interact with a first pack (3) to form a portion of a corresponding first package (2) and a second surface (81) intended to interact with a second pack (3) to form a portion of a corresponding second package (2), said folding unit further comprises releasable connecting elements (42) arranged for releasably connecting said paddles (30) to said endless conveyor (23).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2017Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Andrea Catellani, Herbert Bartolini, Luisa D'Amato, Lucia Izzo, Franco Santi
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Patent number: 10086966Abstract: A folding unit for producing packages of pourable food products from sealed packs comprises a movable conveying member and a folding device arranged for folding at least one end portion of the packs, whilst the packs are conveyed by the conveying member, to obtain the packages, the conveying member carrying a plurality of plates, each plate being configured to receive a pack and to deliver a package to a transferring and up-ending unit arranged downstream of the folding unit, the folding unit further comprising a retention device arranged for keeping said packages on the plates.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2013Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.Inventor: Franco Santi
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Patent number: 9919873Abstract: There is described a feeding unit for feeding at least one sealed pack of pourable food products to a folding unit configured to form folded packages from relative pack; feeding unit comprising: a feeding conveyor; at least one push member movable cyclically along path and comprising, in turn, a wall adapted to contact pack; and a support for supporting push member on feeding conveyor; path comprising an inlet station at which push member receives, in use, pack, and an outlet station, at which push member discharges, in use, pack; path comprises a first curved stretch which defines outlet station; push member is connected to support in such a way that the movement of support along first portion causes the movement of wall towards feeding conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.Inventors: Franco Santi, Giorgio Mattioli, Alessandro Galata
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Patent number: 9902566Abstract: There is described a conveyor for an article handling unit, comprising an endless transport element fed with a plurality of articles at an input station and advancing the articles along a handling path to an output station; the transport element is formed by a plurality of modules, each comprising a supporting member adapted to receive in use a relative article to be handled; each module further comprises a rotating element mounted in a rotatable manner onto the supporting member to produce a change of orientation of the relative article before to release it at the output station.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2012Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.Inventors: Richard Pedretti, Massimilliano Michelini, Massimo Pradelli, Andrea Catellani, Franco Santi, Fabrizio Rimondi, Alessandro Galata′
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Publication number: 20170001806Abstract: There is described a feeding unit for feeding at least one sealed pack of pourable food products to a folding unit configured to form folded packages from relative pack; feeding unit comprising: a feeding conveyor; at least one push member movable cyclically along path and comprising, in turn, a wall adapted to contact pack; and a support for supporting push member on feeding conveyor; path comprising an inlet station at which push member receives, in use, pack, and an outlet station, at which push member discharges, in use, pack; path comprises a first curved stretch which defines outlet station; push member is connected to support in such a way that the movement of support along first portion causes the movement of wall towards feeding conveyor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2014Publication date: January 5, 2017Applicant: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.Inventors: Franco SANTI, Giorgio MATTIOLI, Alessandro GALATA
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Patent number: 9527678Abstract: There is described a unit for transferring and up-ending at least one sealed package containing a pourable food products, comprising: a rotary member which may rotate about a first axis; and at least one push member which is articulated onto rotary member and cooperates with a respective package to feed it along a first path, which extends from an infeed station to an out-feed station; push member comprising a push surface elongated along a first direction transversal to first axis and adapted to contact, in use, respective package in order to convey it along a first path; the orthogonal projection of first direction on a plane orthogonal to first axis being elongated along a second direction; direction is distinct with respect to a third direction, which is radial relative to first axis, at least at input station.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.Inventor: Franco Santi
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Publication number: 20160075522Abstract: There is described a unit for transferring and up-ending at least one sealed package containing a pourable food products, comprising: a rotary member which may rotate about a first axis; and at least one push member which is articulated onto rotary member and cooperates with a respective package to feed it along a first path, which extends from an infeed station to an out-feed station; push member comprising a push surface elongated along a first direction transversal to first axis and adapted to contact, in use, respective package in order to convey it along a first path; the orthogonal projection of first direction on a plane orthogonal to first axis being elongated along a second direction; direction is distinct with respect to a third direction, which is radial relative to first axis, at least at input station.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2014Publication date: March 17, 2016Applicant: Tetra Laval Holding & Finance S.A.Inventor: Franco SANTI
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Publication number: 20150344163Abstract: A folding unit for producing packages of pourable food products from sealed packs comprises a movable conveying member and a folding device arranged for folding at least one end portion of the packs, whilst the packs are conveyed by the conveying member, to obtain the packages, the conveying member carrying a plurality of plates, each plate being configured to receive a pack and to deliver a package to a transferring and up-ending unit arranged downstream of the folding unit, the folding unit further comprising a retention device arranged for keeping said packages on the plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2013Publication date: December 3, 2015Applicant: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.Inventor: Franco SANTI
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Patent number: 9120584Abstract: A folding unit for producing packages of pourable food products from sealed packs having a longitudinal first axis and comprising at least one end tab to be folded and projecting in the direction of longitudinal first axis; unit comprises a conveying member fed with a plurality of packs and which feeds the pack along a forming path, and folding device interacting with each pack along forming path to fold first end tab pack; folding device comprises a plurality of surfaces carried by conveying member and cooperating with a central zone of end tab of a pack, and movable between a first position and a second position with respect to pack with which it cooperates; folding device comprises a plurality of cams carried by conveying member and each cooperating, with a surface for moving it between first and second positions.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2010Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.Inventor: Franco Santi
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Patent number: 9027732Abstract: A unit for transferring and up-ending at least one sealed package containing a pourable food product and having a first axis, comprising: at least one push member which cooperates with package to feed it along a first path from an in-feed station to an out-feed station; the path extending about a second axis; the unit further comprising a guide cooperating with a first side of package along first path to up-end it from an in-feed position, in which it is positioned with first axis oriented in a first direction, to an out-feed position, in which it is positioned with first axis oriented in a second direction crosswise to first direction; and an anti-rotating mechanism cooperating with package along path to prevent package from rotating about first axis; an anti-rotating mechanism comprising a pressure element rotatable about second axis and adapted to cooperate, in use, with package.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2012Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.Inventor: Franco Santi
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Patent number: 8850780Abstract: A forming member for controlling the volume of packages of pourable food products formed from a tube of packaging material and sealed at a number of sections of the tube crosswise to an axis of the tube; the forming member having: a main wall which cooperates cyclically with a first portion of the tube extending between two consecutive sections; and at least one flap extending alongside the wall. The flap is movable, with respect to the wall, between a first position, in which it cooperates with a second portion of the tube, extending between the two consecutive sections, to control the volume, between the two consecutive sections, of the package being formed, and a second position, in which it is detached from the second portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2013Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.Inventors: Paolo Fontanazzi, Giorgio Mattioli, Franco Santi, Stefano Caselli
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Publication number: 20140223858Abstract: There is described a conveyor for an article handling unit, comprising an endless transport element fed with a plurality of articles at an input station and advancing the articles along a handling path to an output station; the transport element is formed by a plurality of modules, each comprising a supporting member adapted to receive in use a relative article to be handled; each module further comprises a rotating element mounted in a rotatable manner onto the supporting member to produce a change of orientation of the relative article before to release it at the output station.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2012Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCEInventors: Richard Pedretti, Massimilliano Michelini, Massimo Pradelli, Andrea Catellani, Franco Santi, Fabrizio Rimondi, Alesandro Galata
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Publication number: 20130284561Abstract: A unit for transferring and up-ending at least one sealed package containing a pourable food product and having a first axis, comprising: at least one push member which cooperates with package to feed it along a first path from an in-feed station to an out-feed station; the path extending about a second axis; the unit further comprising a guide cooperating with a first side of package along first path to up-end it from an in-feed position, in which it is positioned with first axis oriented in a first direction, to an out-feed position, in which it is positioned with first axis oriented in a second direction crosswise to first direction; and an anti-rotating mechanism cooperating with package along path to prevent package from rotating about first axis; an anti-rotating mechanism comprising a pressure element rotatable about second axis and adapted to cooperate, in use, with package.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.Inventor: Franco Santi
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Patent number: 8407974Abstract: A forming member for controlling the volume of packages of pourable food products formed from a tube of packaging material and sealed at a number of sections of the tube crosswise to an axis of the tube; the forming member having: a main wall which cooperates cyclically with a first portion of the tube extending between two consecutive sections; and at least one flap extending alongside the wall. The flap is movable, with respect to the wall, between a first position, in which it cooperates with a second portion of the tube, extending between the two consecutive sections, to control the volume, between the two consecutive sections, of the package being formed, and a second position, in which it is detached from the second portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2008Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.Inventors: Paolo Fontanazzi, Giorgio Mattioli, Franco Santi, Stefano Caselli
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Publication number: 20120122642Abstract: There is described a folding unit for producing packages of pourable food products from sealed packs having a longitudinal first axis and comprising at least one end tab to be folded and which projects in the direction of longitudinal first axis; end tab comprises a central zone and a pair of lateral zones arranged on opposite sides of central zone; unit comprises a conveying member fed with a plurality of packs and which feeds the pack along a forming path, and folding device interacting with each pack along forming path to fold relative first end tab relative pack; folding device comprises a plurality of surfaces carried by conveying member and cooperating with central zone of end tab of a relative pack, and movable between a first position and a second position with respect to relative pack with which it cooperates; folding device comprises a plurality of cams carried by conveying member and each cooperating, with a relative surface for moving it between relative first and second positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2010Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.Inventor: Franco Santi
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Patent number: 7793484Abstract: A folding unit for producing packages of pourable food products from sealed packs having at least one projecting foldable end tab. At least one conveying member cyclically receives a relative pack, by the end corresponding to the tab, and feeds the pack along a forming path crosswise in the axis of the pack. A folding mechanism having an impact surface receives each pack by the end corresponding to the tab, and is carried by the conveying member to move between a first operating position, in which the impact surface forms, with the feed direction of the relative pack, an angle of over 90° and open in the direction of the forming path, to fold the relative tab, upon impact, onto the pack in the traveling direction of the pack, and a second operating position, in which the impact surface is rotated towards and cooperates with the pack.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2006Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.Inventor: Franco Santi
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Publication number: 20100205911Abstract: A forming member for controlling the volume of packages of pourable food products formed from a tube of packaging material and sealed at a number of sections of the tube crosswise to an axis of the tube; the forming member having: a main wall which cooperates cyclically with a first portion of the tube extending between two consecutive sections; and at least one flap extending alongside the wall. The flap is movable, with respect to the wall, between a first position, in which it cooperates with a second portion of the tube, extending between the two consecutive sections, to control the volume, between the two consecutive sections, of the package being formed, and a second position, in which it is detached from the second portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2008Publication date: August 19, 2010Applicant: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.Inventors: Paolo Fontanazzi, Giorgio Mattioli, Franco Santi, Stefano Caselli
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Publication number: 20090113848Abstract: A folding unit for producing packages of pourable food products from sealed packs having at least one projecting foldable end tab. At least one conveying member cyclically receives a relative pack, by the end corresponding to the tab, and feeds the pack along a forming path crosswise in the axis of the pack. A folding mechanism having an impact surface receives each pack by the end corresponding to the tab, and is carried by the conveying member to move between a first operating position, in which the impact surface forms, with the feed direction of the relative pack, an angle of over 90° and open in the direction of the forming path, to fold the relative tab, upon impact, onto the pack in the traveling direction of the pack, and a second operating position, in which the impact surface is rotated towards and cooperates with the pack.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2006Publication date: May 7, 2009Applicant: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.Inventor: Franco Santi
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Patent number: 5106275Abstract: Pump units comprising a metering reciprocating pump with adjustable length of stroke are used in packing machines for filling of packing containers with a metered quantity of flowable contents, e.g. yogurt. Adjustments in the length of stroke in order to adapt the amount of filling goods to the volume of the packing container interferes with the breaking sequence at the extreme position of the piston and alters the time for each pumping stroke. These drawbacks are avoided by means of an arrangement which includes a movable braking device for the piston as well as a valve arrangement which is linked to the braking device and serves to adapt the speed of the piston to the length of stroke.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1990Date of Patent: April 21, 1992Assignee: Tetra Dev.-Co.Inventors: Franco Santi, Giorgio Galavotti