Abstract: A system (1) for portioning and packaging a tobamel smoking mixture (2) comprises a unit (3) internally of which the mixture (2) is prepared by blending tobacco en masse with agglutinants such as honey or molasses, and an extruder unit (17) by which the mixture (2) is shaped into a continuous rod (20).

Abstract: A product wrapping machine comprises feed means by which products to be wrapped are directed on entry, in ordered succession, to a take-up station, a wrapping device comprising a first conveyor, rotatable continuously about a respective axis and a second conveyor rotatable intermittently about a respective axis, and a transfer device by which the products are gripped in succession at the take-up station and fed to the wrapping device. The first conveyor comprises a plurality of carriers, mounted rotatably on it and equipped with gripper heads. Each carrier is associated with a respective motion-inducing device designed to move the carrier in such a way as to enable the carrier to interface and interact with a respective gripper element of the second conveyor.

Abstract: In a machine (1) for manufacturing pouches (2) filled with portions (36) of a tobacco mixture, comprising a rotating drum (8) on which a continuous stream (5) of the mixture is formed and conveyed to a station (13) where the portions (36) are divided from the stream, and where the portions (36) are transferred by a pneumatic ejection and feed system (21) to a wrapping station (7), moisturizing substances are added to the mixture by a dispensing system (22) associated with the ejection and feed system (21).

Abstract: Capping assemblies (2) of the type fitted to capping units (1a) in a machine for packaging containers filled with fluid or powdered products are equipped with a gripping apparatus (1) comprising a gripper (4) with three arms (5), each carrying an adapter (20) furnished with a pad (20b) offered in direct contact to the cap, through which the gripping action is applied. Each adapter (20) is secured to a fitting (17, 18) insertable into a socket (16) afforded by the bottom of a structural member (6) that forms the main part of each arm (5) and is hinged to the movable head of a relative capping assembly (2); when inserted into the structural member (6), the fitting (17, 18) is retained automatically by a snap lock mechanism (12) incorporated into the arm (5), which can be released subsequently by introducing the tip of a screwdriver into a slot (18a) created in the side of the fitting (17, 18) and levering the components apart.

Abstract: A capping machine (1) of carousel design comprises a centre shaft (2) turning on a fixed base frame (3) about a vertical axis of rotation (Y), a set of capping units (4) encircling and revolving as one with the shaft (2) about the axis of rotation (Y), and a cylindrical cam (5) interposed between the shaft (2) and the capping units (4), by which the single units (4) are caused to move toward and away from the fixed base frame (3). During operation, the cam (5) is held in at least one predetermined fixed position relative to the base frame (3) by a single supporting element (6) anchored to the base frame (3), concealed internally of the rotating shaft (2) and connected to the cam (5), which represents a departure from the conventional method of supporting the cam on two or more columns located externally of the carousel structure and exposed to view.

Abstract: Pouches (2) of cohesionless material, typically a smokeless tobacco product, are manufactured on a machine equipped with feed components (101) by which the material is supplied to a conveyor (4) at a delivery station (8), then transferred by the conveyor (4) from this station (8) to a transfer station (9) where a forcing mechanism (14) directs measured portions (100) of the material from the conveyor into at least one duct (12) connecting with a form-fill-and-seal wrapping station (10) where the portions (100) are enclosed in a continuous succession (21) of pouches (2). Before being separated one from the next at a downstream cutting station (23), the single pouches (2) pass through an in-line quality control station (105) at which their weight is checked individually.

Abstract: A carousel (1) for supporting and weighing containers (2), comprising: a carrier element (6) supporting at least one container (2), rotatable about a respective axis (X) and presenting at least one opening (13) affording access to an enclosure (14) within the selfsame element (6); a plate (15) associated with the underside of the carrier element (6), serving to close the opening (13), and a system (17) for weighing the container (2), installed at least partially within the enclosure (14). The weighing system (17) comprises a load cell (18) associated with the plate (15) and housed in the enclosure (14).

Abstract: In a machine for wrapping sticks of chewing gum, sticks of substantially rectangular outline and relatively small thickness advance singly and in succession on a conveyor, arranged flat and spaced apart at a predetermined first pitch, toward a position where they are transferred to a spacing roller revolving tangentially to the conveyor and presenting peripheral seats spaced apart at a pitch greater than the first pitch; the sticks are taken up at the transfer position by a pick-up and transfer mechanism operating between the conveyor and the seats of the spacing roller, describing a trajectory that includes a movement perpendicular to the plane occupied by the sticks and producing a minimal displacement equating approximately to the thickness of a single stick.

Abstract: A container supplied to a carousel type filling unit is directed onto a supporting and weighing device (1) that presents a hollow body (12) attached to the carousel and housing a load cell. The hollow body (12) is equipped with a pedestal (19) presenting a platform (20) on which to stand the container, and a connecting element (21) of which a first end (21a) is coupled with the load cell internally of the hollow body (12) and a second end (21b), opposite to the first end (21a), is secured to the platform (20). To advantage, the first end (21a) of the connecting element (21) is seated in a through opening (13) afforded by the underside of the hollow body (12).

Abstract: Pouches (2) of cohesionless material, typically a smokeless tobacco product, are manufactured by conveying portions of the tobacco initially on a dispensing disc (5a) with cavities (7) from a delivery station (8) to a transfer station (9), where each portion of tobacco is then removed forcibly from the relative cavity by an ejection system (14) and directed into a duct (12) connecting with a wrapping station (10) at which the pouches (2) are formed, filled and sealed; the removal and transfer of each portion from the cavity (7) of the disc (5a) into the duct (12) is controlled in such a way as to displace the material by degrees and ensure its smooth passage toward the wrapping station.

Abstract: Containers for packaging liquid or powder products are directed onto a carousel (1) presenting a support element (9) equipped with a number of peripheral stations (10), each accommodating a relative container (2), and set in rotation about a vertical axis (X) by a drive system (6) housed internally of floor-standing frame (5) on which the carousel (1) is mounted. The support element (9) presents substantially disc-like appearance and is hollow, composed of a top panel (11) and a bottom panel (12) distanced one from another in such a way as to create an annular chamber (13) between the two panels.

Abstract: Pouches (2) of a smokeless tobacco product are manufactured on a machine comprising an intermittently rotatable dispensing disc (3) with peripheral cavities (4), a station (5) at which each cavity (4) is filled with a given quantity of tobacco equivalent to a single portion, a push rod mechanism (12) by which the portions of tobacco are ejected from each cavity (4) of the disc (3) at a transfer station (6), and a connecting duct (8) through which the portion of tobacco ejected by the push rod from each cavity passes directly to a wrapping station (7) where the pouches (2) are formed, filled with the tobacco product and sealed.

Abstract: A rigid packet for loose pastilles, sweets or similar items is composed of an outer casing (2), and an inner casing (3) with a small opening (4), accommodated slidably in the outer casing (2). The packet can assume a closed configuration in which the opening (4) is concealed completely by the outer casing (2), or an open configuration in which the opening (4) is at least partly exposed and is furnished with a mechanism (14) designed to lock the inner casing (3) in the closed position; the locking mechanism (14) can be operated from externally of the packet to release the inner casing (3) and allow it to slide toward the open position.

Abstract: A machine for packaging fiber material comprises feed means (2) supplying predetermined portions of fiber material (3) in an ordered succession, compacting means (4) by which the portions of fiber material (3) are compacted initially, a feed station (8) to which packs (9) are supplied for filling with the fiber material (3), a filling station (D) at which the fiber material (3) is inserted into the packs (9), and a closure station (E) located downstream of the filling station (D), at which the filled packs (9) are sealed. The machine further comprises fiber material (3) compressing and forming means (7) by which each of the portions of fiber material (3) is maintained in a state of compression downstream of the compacting means (4) for a prescribed interval of time, in such a way that the selfsame portion of fiber material (3) is caused to assume a compact geometry of tablet-like form prior to its insertion into the respective pack (9).

Abstract: A packaging machine or machine unit, as used in particular for capping containers (5), is enclosed by a structure (1) that comprises a casing (2) positioned at least in part around the active components (3) of a packaging unit (4) supplied with open containers (5). The casing (2) comprises a fixed cowl (13) encompassing the components (3) of the packaging unit (4), and a movable cowl (23) furnished with at least one sealing element (4). The movable cowl (23) is capable of movement between an open configuration, in which a gap (23a) is created between the fixed cowl (13) and the movable cowl (23) so as to place the fixed cowl (13) in fluid communication with the surrounding atmosphere, and a closed configuration in which the sealing element (24) of the movable cowl (23) engages the fixed cowl (13), occluding the gap (23a) and consequently isolating the interior of the fixed cowl (13) from the surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: The components of a rotary conveyor (1) for a carousel type capping machine (2) include a centre shaft aligned on a main axis (X) coinciding with the main axis of the machine (2), a carrier element (4) coupled to the shaft so that the two rotate as one about the main axis (X), and a set of gripper mechanisms (5) associated operationally with the carrier element (4), distributed circumferentially about the supporting shaft. Each gripper mechanism (5) is switchable between a first configuration, establishing a recess (6) in which to accommodate a respective container (3), a second configuration in which the container (3) is retained within the recess (6) by a predetermined gripping force, and a third configuration in which the container (3) is restrained by a gripping force greater than the force exerted in the second configuration, so as to counteract any unwanted rotation of the container (3) about its longitudinal axis (Y) that might be induced during the course of capping operations.

Abstract: In a machine for wrapping sticks of chewing gum, sticks of substantially rectangular outline and relatively small thickness advance singly and in succession on a conveyor, arranged flat and spaced apart at a predetermined first pitch, toward a position where they are transferred to a spacing roller revolving tangentially to the conveyor and presenting peripheral seats spaced apart at a pitch greater than the first pitch; the sticks are taken up at the transfer position by a pick-up and transfer mechanism operating between the conveyor and the seats of the spacing roller, describing a trajectory that includes a movement perpendicular to the plane occupied by the sticks and producing a minimal displacement equating approximately to the thickness of a single stick.

Abstract: Containers (2) to be filled with liquid or powder products are processed by equipment (1) comprising at least one carousel (5) mounted on a floor-standing base frame (10) and set in rotation about a vertical axis (X) by drive components (9) housed internally of the frame (10); the carousel (5) is equipped with a number of peripheral stations (6), each accommodating a single container (2), and is positioned directly above a tank (20) with an open top (27) proportioned and contoured in such a way that washing liquids sprayed onto the carousel (5) in the course of during cleaning operations can be collected and carried away from the equipment.