Patents Assigned to A.C.M.A. S.p.A
  • Unit for combing wrapped chocolates
    Patent number: 6070386
    Abstract: A unit for combing wrapped chocolates, wherein a combing drum, rotating continuously about a respective axis, has a number of combing devices, each of which has a gripping device rotating, crosswise to the aforementioned axis, between a radial gripping position to grip a chocolate, and an axial release position located along an axial path parallel to the aforementioned axis and along which travel a pusher and a counter-pusher; the path extending through an annular combing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Spatafora, Luca Borderi
  • Unit and method for forming a group of products on a wrapping machine
    Patent number: 6050060
    Abstract: A unit and method for forming a group of products on a wrapping machine, whereby a continuous supply conveyor feeds a succession of products to an input of a group-forming screw device; and a step-operated supply device, located at an output of the screw device, is controlled by a sensor for detecting the length of each group, to only feed complete groups to a wrapping unit of the wrapping machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A
    Inventors: Mario Spatafora, Enrico Campagnoli
  • Cut and seal unit for sheet material
    Patent number: 6001217
    Abstract: A cut and seal unit for sheet material, wherein an actuating unit has a single powered input, and two identical output transmissions linked to each other and to the input; the two output transmissions are connected to respective cut and seal tools, which are moved by the actuating unit along respective substantially ellipsoidal trajectories on either side of a path of the sheet material extending through the two trajectories, and cooperate cyclically with each other at a cut and seal station along the path to transversely cut and seal the sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Spatafora, Fabrizio Tale'
  • Product conveying unit
    Patent number: 5988354
    Abstract: A unit for conveying elongated products, each having a respective longitudinal axis, and wherein a conveyor successively conveys the products with the respective longitudinal axes parallel to a given traveling direction and along a path extending along a conveying plane; and an orienting assembly is located along the path to orient the products by rotating the products 90.degree. about an axis of rotation crosswise to the conveying plane, so that the respective longitudinal axes of the products are crosswise to the traveling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Spatafora, Fabrizio Tale'
  • Device for screwing a cap on the neck of a container
    Patent number: 5983596
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for screwing a cap on the neck of a container, said device comprising gripper means designed to tighten round the screw cap and to rotate it so as to screw it on to the neck of the container, actuating means designed to act on the gripper means in such a way as to rotate them about a longitudinal axis of the device, transmitting to them a drive torque that rotates the caps, and coupling elements fitted between the actuating means and the gripper means and designed to enable the transmission of torque and, when the torque exceeds a preset value, to interrupt it; means being envisaged for inhibiting transmission even when the torque falls below the preset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Carlo Corniani, Renzo Vesentini
  • Conveyor
    Patent number: 5937999
    Abstract: A conveyor for feeding push members along a path having at least one curved portion; each push member having a push appendix hinged to a flexible conveying member of the conveyor by a control device for keeping the appendix parallel to itself as the push member travels along at least part of the curved portion of the path; and the control device having a first lever supporting in rotary manner the appendix and connected to the flexible conveying member in rotary manner at one end and in rotary and axially-sliding manner at the other end; and a second lever, which rotates with respect to the first lever, is hinged to the appendix, and is inclined with respect to the first lever at an angle varying according to the curvature of the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Spatafora
  • Method and unit for orienting pump-operated caps
    Patent number: 5927468
    Abstract: A method and unit for orienting pump-operated caps, whereby a disorderly succession of caps, each having an elongated head and a draw tube extending from the head, is fed on a conveying surface to an engaging station. At the engaging station the draw tube of each cap is engaged by an orienting seat and an elastic cord. The seat is movable with respect to the elastic cord, and cooperates with the elastic cord to rotate the cap about a respective axis of rotation crosswise to the conveying surface, so as to impart a given orientation to the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Carlo Corniani, Ivo Bianchini
  • Product aligner device, in particular for items fed to a manufacturing machine
    Patent number: 5927467
    Abstract: Products advancing en masse, typically candy or chocolates, are aligned by a device comprising a drum, and inside the drum, a rotating disc by which the products are taken up from an infeed belt, aligned and oriented exploiting centrifugal force and directed onto a conveyor belt extending toward a wrapping machine; the top surface of the rotating disc incorporates an upwardly directed portion of concave profile serving to establish a path along which the effects of centrifugal force on the advancing products are suitably counteracted and controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Spatafora
  • Method and unit for ordering products
    Patent number: 5915523
    Abstract: A method and unit for ordering products, whereby the products, arranged with any timing, are timed as they are fed from a transfer station to a loading station through which gripping or loading elements travel at a given frequency and with a given timing; each product is fed at the transfer station into a respective supply pocket longer than the product and having a stop portion fed through the loading station with timing, and is moved inside the pocket by an air jet into a position contacting the stop portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A
    Inventor: Mario Spatafora
  • Method and device for the orderly supply of randomly received products
    Patent number: 5906265
    Abstract: A method and device for supplying an orderly succession of randomly received products to a user machine, whereby a first and second conveyor, traveling at respective speeds, define a path having two portions of variable lengths complementary to each other, and which are connected at a movable transfer station by a pocket type transfer device for transferring the products from the first conveyor into respective pockets equally spaced with a given spacing along the second conveyor; the random distribution of the products on the first conveyor being adapted to the equal spacing of the pockets on the second conveyor by adjusting the speed at which the products arrive at the transfer station, and/or the position of the transfer station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A.
    Inventor: Mario Spatafora
  • Product transfer unit
    Patent number: 5896978
    Abstract: A unit for transferring products, wherein a conveyor belt successively feeds the products along a deformable conveying surface defined by the belt itself and extending through a product pickup station; and a deforming assembly is located beneath the conveying surface at the station, and provides for deforming the conveying surface to form, at the product fed through the station, two transverse dips, which are engaged by respective pickup elements to pick up the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A.
    Inventor: Mario Spatafora
  • Method and unit for forming and conveying groups of products
    Patent number: 5887701
    Abstract: A method and unit for forming and conveying groups of elongated products, whereby products, fed successively and continuously along a first path, are stacked along a guide by a stacking device to form a group, which is moved along the guide by a lifting device to the input of a second path, and is transferred, along the second path, into a conveying pocket moving along the second path; transfer into the conveying pocket being effected by means of a retaining pocket initially aligned with the guide and moving along the second path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Spatafora
  • Gumming device
    Patent number: 5885348
    Abstract: A gumming device wherein a gumming roller is fitted in rotary manner to a frame so as to rotate about its own longitudinal axis, and presents a substantially cylindrical outer surface for receiving an adhesive substance; a scraper element is positioned substantially contacting the outer surface and downstream, in a traveling direction of the outer surface, from a device for supplying the adhesive substance, to remove the adhesive substance from the outer surface; and the scraper element is guided in a direction crosswise to the longitudinal axis of the gumming roller by a guide device, and is moved along the guide device by an elastic push device for automatically taking up any slack between the scraper element and the outer surface of the gumming roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Spatafora
  • Product conveying method
    Patent number: 5881860
    Abstract: A method of conveying products, whereby a product is fed by a conveying device along a path to a pickup station, through which is fed a gripping member for picking up the product; the product is secured to the conveying device, and a position of the product is detected to regulate the conveying device and feed the product to the pickup station in time with the gripping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A
    Inventors: Marco Zecchi, Roberto Degli Esposti, Mario Spatafora
  • Unit for filling containers with powder
    Patent number: 5877457
    Abstract: Unit for filling containers with powders, said unit comprising a measuring device envisaged for introducing a predetermined quantity of powder into a container located on a support equipment sustained by a weighing unit provided for controlling the measuring device during the filling phase of the container itself; said support equipment being provided with a shaking device which moves the container on a substantially orbital plane, in alternate directions or according to substantially orbital oscillations, in such a way as to tamp the powder inside the container itself during its filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Carlo Corniani, Gianpiero Zanini
  • Product manipulating unit
    Patent number: 5865595
    Abstract: A unit for manipulating products, wherein a conveying device presents at least one operating head for feeding a respective product along a supply path extending about an axis of rotation of the conveying device and through a number of manipulating stations; the operating head being an orientable operating head, and cooperating, at each manipulating station, with an operating head of fixed orientation and movable along a respective work path extending along the supply path at least at the respective manipulating station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Azionaria Cotruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Spatafora
  • Product translating device
    Patent number: 5842558
    Abstract: A pusher that translates products (3) along a straight first path (4) extending along a substantially horizontal conveying surface (5) has a transmission assembly (21) for moving the pusher (8) along a closed second path (11) having a conveying portion coincident with the first path (4) from the input to the output ends (6,7) and a return portion (12) outside the first path (4). The pusher (8) is connected to the transmission assembly (21) so as to maintain a constant angular position in relation to the straight conveying direction (4a) along the first path (4), and oscillate about a first axis (30) that is crosswise to the second path (11) when moving along the return portion (12) of the second path (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Spatafora
  • Method and unit for forming stacks of articles
    Patent number: 5823738
    Abstract: A method and unit for forming stacks of articles, whereby the articles are conveyed on a conveying surface and in a first traveling direction to a pickup station, and are lifted successively in a second traveling direction, crosswise to the first direction, off the conveying surface at the pickup station and transferred on to a further surface, higher than the conveying surface, to form, on the higher surface, a stack presenting at least two superimposed, mutually contacting articles; the articles being conveyed and the stacks of articles being formed continuously and substantially seamlessly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A.
    Inventors: Mario Spatafora, Fabrizio Tale'
  • Continuous product wrapping method
    Patent number: 5809747
    Abstract: A method of continuously wrapping products, whereby sheets of wrapping material, as they are fed continuously and together with respective products along a first path, an instantaneous tangent of which extends in a first direction possibly varying from one point to another along the first path, are engaged by respective folding tools fed continuously and cyclically along a second closed path to perform a folding operation of a respective sheet at each cycle; each tool being imparted, in the course of each folding operation, at least a first movement in a second direction substantially crosswise, at each instant, to the first direction, and at least a second movement in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Azionaria Construzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A.
    Inventor: Mario Spatafora
  • Method and unit for packing products
    Patent number: 5806279
    Abstract: A method and unit for packing products in sealed packages, whereby a sealed pillow pack wrapping formed about a respective product is fed along a path extending through a wrapping station where a band is looped about a central body of the sealed wrapping and about two end tabs of the sealed wrapping to form a tubular overwrapping; the two end tabs having been folded beforehand on to a large lateral surface of the central body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Spatafora