Abstract: The invention relates to a method of wrapping various products in packaging obtained from a strip. In the method, the strip is longitudinally folded along its center so as to form two longitudinal portions which are longitudinally coupled. The portions are then joined along transverse junction lines which define compartments having upwardly open mouths for inserting material. The compartments are then separated at the transverse junction lines, thus obtaining a set of independent bags which remain joined together at lateral areas near the mouth. The resulting bags are suspended from a conveyor travelling along a closed path in a loop. According to the invention, the path travelled by the bags is inside the path of the conveyor so that opposite corners of the bag mouths are brought together and consequently loosen the borders bounding the mouth so that metering means can be inserted along a circular portion of the path of the conveyor so that a preset amount of material can be discharged into the bags.

Abstract: The apparatus is composed of an oscillating framework, rotatingly supporting the new and old reels, and of a closed loop flexible element provided with pegs having the same spacing as the pins of the conveyor. The flexible element is movable between a resting position at which the end of the new reel is manually hooked to the pegs and an operating position in which the flexible element follows the conveyor for a certain portion, while deflecting means transfer the end of the new reel from the pegs of the flexible element onto the pins of the conveyor.

Abstract: The distributor separates plastic cups (3) which are provided with outwardly-facing rims (5) from a stack (2) in a store (1) and releases them one-at-a-time into a tube (6). The distributor comprises first, lower supports (13) and second, upper supports (14) arranged peripherally of the cups and separated by less than the distance between the rims (5) of the two adjacent cups. The supports (13 and 14) alternate in operative positions in which they support rims (5) of cups so that cups are released one-at-a-time and fall into the tube (6). The distributor also comprises compressed air blowers (25) which operate when the second supports (14) move into their operational positions to exert a pressure between the cup supported by the second supports (14) and the cup which has just ceased to be supported by the first supports (13).

Abstract: A supply device for supplying flattened boxes (1) to a packaging machine, equipped for the re-supply of the boxes (1), comprising apparatus for feeding a line (4) of boxes along a magazine (2) including a front carriage (13) and a rear carriage (14) feed chains (6, 8), flat vertical slides (19, 27) for connecting the carriages (13, 14) to the feed chains (8), a double action pneumatic jack (42) for sliding the carriages (13, 14) towards or away from one another, a plate (31) mounted on the carriage (13) moveable transversely between a position facing the line (4) and a retracted position, a plate (41) on the carriage (14) facing and normally spaced from the plate (31) to form a space containing additional boxes (1). To supply the additional line (46) of boxes, the plate (41) is first moved to compact the additional line (46) and thereafter plate (31) is retracted to provide a single line of boxes.

Abstract: A filling machine includes a first revolving platform on which containers to be filled are supported, and a second revolving platform arranged, at an adjustable height, above the first, and having peripheral seatings for fixing thereto of a number n of dosage-delivery units less than or equal to the maximum number of dosage-delivery apparatus which can be accommodated peripherally on said second platform.Each dosage-delivery apparatus is functionally complete and comprises a control for the volumetric dosage of the product operable by a motor device at a velocity equal to the angular velocity of the second platform, and in the case of necessity for the correction of the dosage, at a velocity different from the angular velocity of the second platform.

Abstract: A packaging machine for bodies of the type of soap comprises a drum (1) rotating intermittently by a half turn and having a housing (14) passing diametrically through it, which housing (14) is arranged to permit a block (15) to slide in it and, at each pause of the drum (1), is aligned with a station (2) for the insertion of a body (5) of the above-mentioned type and its associated wrapping element (4) and with an opposite ejection station (3). A reciprocating thrust element (23), carrying out this insertion, is connected by connecting means (26, 32, 34, 36, 22, 16) to cause the block (15) to slide in the housing (14) only during the insertion.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating articles supplied by a plurality of supply lines, into a plurality of groups and supplying these to a receiving line comprises a plurality of clamping devices at the outlet of the supply lines arranged to clamp the articles, a plurality of support elements arranged as a continuation of the supply lines lower than the outlets removable to release the groups, a plurality of faces reciprocatable between the outlets and an end position which reach the end position after the clamping devices have closed and are returned to the outlet on re-opening of the devices, a plurality of carriers movable between a raised position, immediately beneath the support elements and overlying the receiving line, and a lowered position beneath the line, arranged in their raised position, to receive groups of articles released by the support elements and to release them in their turn into the receiving line.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for supplying wrapping elements (2, 57) comprising elongate portions of card (2) having a series of zones (6, 7, 8, 9), separated by transverse creases (a, b), and flaps (10) defined by creases (c) disposed longitudinally to the card (2). The apparatus comprises a first mechanism (14) and a second mechanism (50) for continuously transfering the pieces of card (2) which are orientated transversely to the path of the first mechanism and longitudinally with respect to the path of the second mechanism. The apparatus also comprises folding elements (42, 43, 46, 47, 55, 56) located along the paths of the two transfer mechanisms (14, 50) arranged to fold the zones (6, 7, 8, 9) and flaps (10) about the creases defining them out of a planar condition and subsequently to fold them back to cause them to return to the original coplanar condition. The pre-creased blanks so formed can be readily wrapped by conventional wrapping machines round soft articles (68) e.g.

Abstract: Valve 11 includes a slide sliding in a first chamber 26 with the possibil of reaching two stable end positions opposite each other. In the first position the slide 21 allows intercommunication between a conduit 6 for supply of the product from a supply source and conduit 12 communicating with the upper part of chamber 10 of a double acting piston 9, as well as the intercommunication of the other part of chamber 10 with a conduit 15 connected to a delivery apparatus; in the second position the slide allows the reversal of such connections. To avoid the infiltration and mixing of the fluid under pressure used for the control of valve 11 in the conduits in which the product circulates, said slide 21 is equipped with a projection 35 which extends beyond one of the ends of the chamber 26 and is connected to a small pneumatically controlled piston 36, sliding in a second chamber 37, separate from the first.

Abstract: A feeder for feeding products, for example soap tablets, to a continuously oving receiving conveyor having a succession of containers includes at least one product pick-up station adjacent the start of the receiving conveyor, a carousel placed between said station and said start, sucker assemblies mounted on the carousel for movement along and rotation around their own vertical axis. The feeder further includes means driving said carousel in an intermittent rotary movement to halt the feeding sucker assemblies above said station and then to move in synchronism with the receiving conveyor, first control means for controlling sliding movements of the assemblies along their axes, means controlling intermittent application of vacuum to the assemblies for picking up products from said station and then releasing them onto containers of the receiving conveyor, second control means for effecting angular movements of the assemblies around their axes to orient the products with the containers.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing, filling and conveying envelopes obtained from a heat sealable sheet material, comprising a first closed loop conveyor, a second closed loop conveyor the first and the second conveyors having drive means imparting a continuous motion of constant speed thereto a plurality of envelope forming and delivering sets arranged along an envelope accepting path portion of the first conveyor and in spaced relationship to each other and adapted selectively to deliver open envelopes to the first conveyor along the envelope receiving path portion thereof, the first conveyor having first gripper means carried thereon second gripper means on the second conveyor and arranged therealong in spaced relationship to each other, the second gripper means having a pair of gripper arms mounted on the second conveyor for oscillation about respective axes parallel to each other, thereby to allow the gripper arms to approach and move away from each other when the arms are oscillated to maintain the envelopes g

Abstract: An apparatus and method for arranging, at a predetermined spacing on a reception conveyor, objects originating in an unevenly spaced manner from a delivery conveyor. The delivery conveyor is driven with continuous motion. The reception conveyor is driven with intermittent motion. The apparatus comprises a flexible closed loop member lying in a horizontal plane. A first portion of the flexible loop extends parallel to the end part of the delivery conveyor and a second portion extends parallel to the initial part of the reception conveyor. A series of suckers is distributed along the flexible member and mobile vertically by means of cams disposed along the first and second portions for causing the suckers to move close to and away from the delivery and reception conveyors. A distributor member is arranged to connect and disconnect the suckers cyclically to and from suction means for taking the objects from the delivery conveyor and depositing them respectively on the reception conveyor.

Abstract: Feeder for packaging machines comprising a conveyor for transferring a number of containers which advance with intermittent motion and on which the containers receiving the portions of product are supported in parallel rows perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the conveyor. A flexible member is arranged in a closed path around a pair of pulleys of vertical axis so as to lie in a horizontal plane above the transfer conveyor and comprising two portions parallel to the rows of containers. A plurality of compartments are distributed along the flexible member at distances equal to that of the containers of each row and arranged to receive portions of product from portion delivery means disposed at said pulleys, and to discharge said portions by gravity through lower apertures closable by doors operated by control means.