Abstract: A gumming device includes a frame and a gumming roller fitted in a rotary manner to the frame. The device includes a circuit circulating a cooling fluid, the circuit including a first and second portion, the first portion extending through the roller and having two opposite ends, at least one of which is connected to the second portion. The device also includes a seal connecting the two portions of the circuit in a rotary and fluidtight manner, the gumming roller being removably connected to the second portion and including a normally-closed valve controlling the opposite ends of the first portion. The frame includes a shoulder cooperating with and maintaining the valve in an open position when the gumming roller is fitted to the frame.

Abstract: A reel change device whereby a first strip, unwound off a runout reel, and a second strip, unwound off a new reel, are fed along an S-shaped path defined by two adjacent suction conveyor rollers with selectively-activated suction devices; the speed and timing of the strips are synchronized; the strips are then cut simultaneously along a first portion of the path, defined by the first roller, and are connected end-to-end as they travel at constant speed along a second portion of the path; and the cut-off portion of the second strip is fed by the first roller to a disposal container.

Abstract: In packaging equipment suitable for packaging tableted products of a delicate nature, such as tablets of soap, each tablet is directed into a box by one of a succession of push-rods set in motion synchronously with a first feed line conveying boxes, and a second feed line conveying the products. The advancing push-rods pass initially through a diverter capable of movement between a first position and a second position, and are made as a result to follow a first guide, and a second guide respectively. The diverter is timed to alternate between the first and the second positions with the passage of each push-rod, and can be locked for a predetermined duration in the second position.

Abstract: Tubular wrappings, formed from a sheet with superimposed longitudinal lateral portions and made of partly metal and partly heat-sealable material, are sealed longitudinally by successively feeding the wrappings, by means of a conveyor, in a first given direction and along a given path through a sealing station; by varying the traveling speed of the wrappings in relation to the conveyor so as to successively impart to the wrappings a pause at the sealing station; and by induction heating, for an adjustable length of time during the relative pause, the metal part of the sheet of each wrapping along the relative superimposed longitudinal lateral portions, to melt the heat-sealable part of the sheet.

Abstract: A method and unit for equally spacing product, in particular food products, whereby the products are fed at a constant rate along at least part of the initial portion of a product supply path, are withdrawn along the initial path portion by the head of a respective accelerating member, and are fed in equally spaced manner, at the aforementioned rate, and at a transfer and unloading station, to an end portion of the path; the head presenting a movement crosswise to the initial portion of the path to engage and lift the respective product off the initial path portion at a pickup point varying from one product to another.

Abstract: In a wrapping machine that packages products by enveloping each one in a tubular wrapper with two edges united lengthwise and heat-sealed thus together, the integrity of the packaging is verified by a device comprising a feeler located at a given point along the wrapping line and offered in sliding contact to the advancing wrapper at an area coinciding with the junction between the edges and the tubular envelope. The feeler is loaded against a spring delivering a force of known intensity, and able consequently to hold a stable operating position as long as resistance is offered by the wrappers, but will find the gaps in any wrapper of which the edges have failed to unite successfully. The resulting movement of the feeler is sensed by a transducer.

Abstract: A method of expanding and feeding cartons to a filling line; the cartons being made of sheet material, presenting four walls defined by preformed bend lines, and being expanded as of an initial flattened configuration wherein each carton is arranged in two superimposed, substantially contacting layers, each defined by two adjacent walls of the carton; each carton being expanded by rotating each wall of each layer about an arc of over 90.degree. in relation to the other wall of the same layer and into a configuration causing yielding of the bend lines; and by only permitting each carton to assume its final parallelepiped-section configuration inside the conveyor pocket of the filling line.

Abstract: A product wrapping method and machine whereby a continuous tubular wrapping, formed gradually about an orderly succession of equally spaced products with a first given spacing, is fed through an operating station and divided into segments, each enclosing a respective product; and the segments and respective products, rotated 90.degree. about an axis crosswise to a transfer plane, are transferred with a second given spacing along a substantially straight path to an output conveyor by a transfer device, which grips each product and the respective segment before the product leaves the operating station.

Abstract: In a packaging machine through which products are advanced singly and in succession along a wrapping line together with a heat-sealable wrapping film, the film is folded around each product to form a wrapper of tubular appearance with two facially confronting longitudinal edge margins, whereupon the temperature of the edge margins is raised by electromagnetic induction to soften the material in readiness for heat-sealing. The pressure required to fuse the heated confronting edge margins together is applied evenly from two opposite sides.

Abstract: A method and line for feeding products in equally spaced manner to a user machine, whereby the products, aligned and traveling with a constant spacing and at constant speed along a supply path, are each removed off the supply path by a respective gripping unit for initially accelerating the product and then feeding it with the above spacing and at the above speed into a respective pocket on the input conveyor of the user machine.

Abstract: A product store wherein the products are supported on a helical strip, the turns of which are rotated about a central axis and deformed elastically between an extended maximum-store-capacity position and a packed position; the turns being connected to an adjusting device for varying the spacing of the turns of the helical strip as required within a given range.

Abstract: A gravity dispensing unit for filling containers with powdered material, wherein a vessel for powdered material presents, underneath, at least one dispenser with a central supply conduit in turn presenting a shutter and made of porous material; the supply conduit extending in fluidtight manner through an annular chamber for receiving pressurized fluid, and through an annular intake manifold surrounding the annular chamber and presenting an annular, downward-facing inlet.

Abstract: A method and device for forming groups of flat articles on edge, whereby articles, laid flat, arranged with a first spacing on a conveyor surface, and forming a first succession traveling in a first direction, are picked up one by one to form a second succession wherein the articles are equally spaced with a second spacing; the second succession is fed to a transfer station in which each article lies in a given plane; and the articles are then fed, in a second direction perpendicular to the given plane in the transfer station, to a withdrawal station where they are withdrawn in groups, each consisting of a number of articles on edge, in a third direction crosswise to the second direction.

Abstract: A capping unit for capping containers with respective caps, each presenting a spray head with a ring nut for fitting it to the threaded neck of the container; the capping unit presenting at least one capping head wherein a first gripping device grips a respective spray head, and a second gripping device presents two jaws for gripping the ring nut and rotating it in relation to the first gripping device; each jaw presenting a gripping roller integral with a respective planetary gear of an epicyclic drive wherein each planetary gear is barrel-shaped and presents teeth in turn presenting a convex longitudinal profile and meshing permanently with a straight-toothed outer ring gear regardless of the position of the relative jaw.

Abstract: A wrapping method and machine, particularly for food products such as chocolates and similar, whereby the products are fed in an orderly succession along a first curved path to a pickup station where they are gripped by respective gripping devices moving along a second curved path for feeding the products to a wrapping device; the first and second paths being substantially coplanar and substantially tangent to each other at the pickup station.

Abstract: A wrapping machine wherein a wrapping device is supplied with an orderly succession of products by a transfer device which, at an input station, successively removes the products off a feed device traveling through the input station in a given direction. The transfer device presents at least a gripping device in turn presenting jaws moving in a plane for gripping a respective product at the input station, and which rotates about an axis for selectively positioning the plane of the jaws in a first position substantially parallel and in a second position substantially perpendicular to the traveling direction of the feed device.

Abstract: An operating unit, wherein a feed device with a number of transportation heads for respective products successively feeds the products along a curved path through an operating station where each product is engaged by a tool for performing a given operation on the product. The tool is fitted to a toolholder device by which it is fed through the operating station simultaneously with a respective product and along the same curved path along which the product travels.

Abstract: A capping unit wherein a number of capping heads, movable with a supporting carrousel conveyor about a first axis, are each rotated about a respective second axis by a respective first shaft movable axially on the carrousel conveyor, for moving the respective head to and from a respective container movable with the carrousel conveyor and coaxial with the second axis. Each head provides for closing the respective container with a cap presenting an internally threaded ring nut mounted for rotation on a pump-operated nozzle, and presents a first and second gripping device for respectively gripping the nozzle and the ring nut and controlled by a second shaft movable axially in relation to the first shaft. The first gripping device is angularly fixed in relation to the carrousel conveyor, whereas the second gripping device rotates with the capping head about the second axis.

Abstract: A system whereby products are fed in orderly succession by a feed conveyor to the input conveyor of a machine for packing the products in pillow pack type wrappings; and whereby the products are transferred between the mutually aligned feed and input conveyors by means of at least one transportation head rotatable about its axis and which is moved by a hypocyclic drive along a substantially quadrilateral path, one side of which is aligned with, and extends along facing end portions of, the two conveyors.

Abstract: A device for ordering bulk fed confectionery products, wherein a continuously rotating annular accelerating and transfer element is interposed between the outer periphery of a discontinuously rotating central plate, designed to receive the products in bulk, and an annular conveyor having a number of pockets, each for receiving a respective product.