Abstract: A carousel carries a holder with product to be dosed and includes a lower disc fitted with peripheral sets of dosing holes into which plungers insert and press in successive stages doses of product. The carousel also includes fixed bodies and radially moveable bodies with seatings for supporting tops and bottoms of capsules. Lower bodies support extensions that close the lower ends of dosing holes in the successive stages, and opposing members are provided to support the moveable assemblies. With only one dosing disc, it is possible to form doses of product of different densities and masses and of different heights by varying the heights of the sets of plungers. A chamber defined by a sweeper wall and containing no product is provided with a plunger station that completes the pressing of this final quantity of product, before a subsequent plunger station discharges the product into the capsule bottoms.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying sealing film for a blister band to a splicing station (10) includes a stepwise rotating drum (8) on which reel carriers (7) are mounted for receiving reels (6,6s,6a) of films (1,1s,1a). A pair of holding-driving rollers (16,17) are located close to each of carriers (7) to hold the film (1a) and to feed the film to the splicing device (10). The rollers (16,17) are operated by a retractable shaft (32), which engages the pair of rollers (16,17) situated in the region of the splicing device (10). A plate (5) keeps apart the film (1a) unrolled from a replacement reel (6a) from the film (1s) coming from a running out reel (6s). The plate (5) can be shifted crosswise with respect to the film unrolling direction, so as to allow the in-wait-state film (6a) to move to the unrolling position (S) after the splicing.

Abstract: In a two-lobed filter bag for products for infusion, the end of a thread connecting the filter bag to a pick-up label, consisting of a length of thread, is attached to the corresponding lobe, defining a loop, that is to say, a stable, extensive contact surface between the thread and the lobe, with a high degree of resistance to their separation; the base of the filter bag also has a storage zone which, in the packaging configuration, stably holds an additional portion of thread, allowing a longer length of thread to extend around the filter bag, said length of thread always being longer than the perimeter of the bag.

Abstract: In a device for filling a blister band with products, a hopper (3) holds the products (2) in bulk and has a open bottom where taking over rollers (17) rotate to slightly push the products upwards, contrasting the products weight and causing reciprocal detachment of the products. The taking over rollers (17) define openings, and one product (2) at a time passes suitably oriented through each opening and towards a conveyor including channels (4) having inlets (4a) situated directly under the openings. A delivering cylinder (7) is connected to the channels (4) and transfers the products (2) to the blisters (5a) of the band 5.

Abstract: In an apparatus mounted on an automatic machine for packaging articles into blister packs, a working station (A) applies numeric codes to a blister band and a scoring station (B) equipped with scoring members (20), traces scoring lines on the blister band. In a cropping station (C) the blister packs are separated from the blister band, and in a disposal station (D), the remaining off-cuts are chopped. All these working stations are connected to a support body (1) and provided with plates (5,125) acted upon by pressers (53,54,55) which are released by motorised releasing elements (60,80). The pressers and plates clamp each of the devices for numbering (10), cutting (20), and severing (30) the blister band. The releasing elements (60,80) act on the pressers to allow substitution and automatic adjustment, performed by an automatic adjustment system (110), of devices for numbering (10), cutting (20), and severing (30) the band in relation to the size of blister packs to be obtained.

Abstract: The thrusters or the rams for pressing the metered amounts of product into the metering seats are equipped with force transducers which emit an electrical signal proportional to the thrust exerted during the pressing step. This signal is transmitted to the processor for controlling the operation of the packaging machine, which compares the signal with predefined reference values, in order to check whether or not the weight of the metered amounts lies within acceptable values. If it does not, the processor causes expulsion, from the unloading flow of the full capsules, of those capsules with metered amounts which have an unacceptable weight and which, if necessary, may be weighed using a precision device connected to the processor which may use this signal to confirm the operation of the transducers or correct it automatically.

Abstract: A device for feeding tablets in a blister packaging machine includes a vibrating container containing a mass of tablets. The vibrating container features a bottom wall, one portion of which includes tablet feeding channels, communicating with related slots made in the bottom wall. The slots communicate with the conveying means, which feed the tablets along a predetermined feeding path and release the tablets into respective blisters of a blister band. The blister band moves in a determined direction inside the packaging machine. The conveying means include a plate with a plurality of grooves, arranged one beside another and a covering element. The covering element is coupled with said plate, so as to move with respect thereto and includes transversal wings, each of which is situated inside a respective groove of the plate, so as to define a respective channel for conveying said tablets.

Abstract: A conveyor includes a support element (4), that defines a running surface (5), and an endless dragging belt (9,10). The belt (9,10) has seats (3) made, with inwards decreasing section, along one longitudinal edge located over a corresponding section of the surface (5). Containers (1) to be moved rest on the surface (5) and are kept in engagement with the belt (9,10) and in the seats by a lateral striker (7). The belt can be made of synthetic material with cogs (11), or of metallic material with smooth surfaces. The lateral striker (7) is a bar parallel to the straight active run (8) of the belt (9,10), and is moved in relation to the containers (1) size. The support and running surface (5) has indentations in one or more points (4), where there are plates (13) for moving the containers clear of the belt so as to allow additional operations on the containers.

Abstract: An improved needle (1) to attach a filter bag (2) containing a product for infusion to a pick-up tag (3) using a thread (4) knotted at least at one of its end sections (5; 6) comprises two eyes (7, 8) located at different distances from the point (9) of the needle (1). The first eye (7) is designed to hook the thread (4), stretched and retained at the end sections (5, 6) and to make a loop (10) in the thread when the needle (1) is pulled in the direction of its axis (1a). The second eye (8), on the other hand, is located closer to the point (9) and is oriented at right angles to the first eye (7) so that it can be surrounded by the loop (10) and can guide an end section (5; 6) of the thread (4) across the loop (10) to make a knot. The needle (1) also comprises two lengthways grooves (11) that connect the first eye (7) to the second eye (8) and that are especially shaped to accommodate the loop (10) and to keep it in position while the knot is being formed.

Abstract: The cap is screwed on by a friction clutch (33) that gives a tightening torque less than the desired ideal torque. The cap (C) gripping head (47) is connected not only to the driven part of the clutch but also, through a composite drive shaft (233, 54), to a freewheel (57) engaging with a mechanism which, after the screwing of the cap by the clutch, is acted on by a wedge (89) of programmable and adjustable interference mounted on a guide connected to a load cell (84). When this mechanism is acted upon by the wedge, it receives from it the small rotation required to complete the screwing of the cap and the reaction of the wedge to the mechanism is detected by the load cell, which emits an electrical signal proportional to the effective tightening torque applied to the cap.

Abstract: The capsules or other products (1) are fed by a vertically arranged tube-shaped conveyor (4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 112, 13) in single file and taken up one at a time by a tangential wheel (16) which is fitted with reference teeth (18), with each tooth supporting one product, and has suction holes (19) to retain the products. When the products are about to reach a position above suitably shaped associated weighing heads (24), the suction that holds them against the wheel is cut off and the products fall, positioning themselves correctly on the heads, aided in part by the halting action exerted by the teeth in front. The products deposited on the heads are weighed and are then discharged by the pushing action of the wheel teeth (18) which place the next product on the heads. A chute (25) collects the products ejected from the heads and a deflection plate (26), controlled by the central processing and control system (32), separates products of the correct weight from those to be rejected.

Abstract: A covering band (12) is pre-heated and then definitively heated in two subsequent areas (P,Z), and is subjected to primary pulling, in an area (T), where the covering band is pulled and applied to a blister band (1), and to secondary pulling in an area (R) which coincides with the pre-heating area (P). The speed of the covering band (12) is lower in the secondary pulling area (R), so as to determine a lengthening which corresponds at least to its maximum lengthening resulting from pre-heating. Cyclical detecting of reference marks (20) printed on the covering band determines temporary reducing of the covering band (12) speed in the secondary pulling point (R), so as to provoke an additional lengthening. The device includes pulling means (5,11) of the blister band (1) and covering band (12), pre-heating means (11) and heating means (13) for the covering band (12), detecting means (16), and driving means (30) acting with different speeds, controlled by the detecting means (16).

Abstract: A device for transferring blister packs comprises an intermediate station situated between a working station (3) and a packaging line. The intermediate station includes a clamp for receiving and holding at least one blister pack. First and second groups of suction cups are driven by a two-arm mechanism situated in the intermediate station. In a first position, the first group of suction cups is placed in the working station for picking up one blister pack while the second group of suction cups is over the intermediate station for picking up another blister pack temporarily held by the clamp. In a second position, the first group of suction cups is located over the intermediate station, to release the blister pack previously picked up, that is received and held by the clamp, while the second group of suction cups is over the packaging line to deliver the blister pack previously picked up.

Abstract: The packaging apparatus for bags containing products for infusion envisages a plurality of stations located one after another along a feed line and used first to continuously cut successive individual pieces of fabric from a continuous strip of fabric, then to transform the piece of fabric from its flat configuration to a bag configuration, tubular in shape and with an open top which forms the mouth and into which a dose of product is inserted; the tubular bag is then moved to stations which cut the excess part of the mouth to size and close the mouth by tying it with a continuous thread, so as to form a closed bag, containing a single dose of product and having a projecting upper portion of thread; finally, a label is attached to the thread on each bag and the label is inserted in the bag tying zone.

Abstract: The machine includes groups of bushes (1) of dimensions suitable for the superposed and aligned containment of a base cover (14), of a tablet (52) and of a lid cover (14).

Abstract: A method for compressing powder or granular material by a rotary tabletting machine (1), includes an initial step in which an opening (2) is filled with material to be compressed, a compacting step (C), in which a load is gradually applied to the material until a maximum value (F1) is reached, a first releasing step (R1) in which the load is removed, a precompression step (P), in which a second load (F2) is applied to the material, a precompression step (MP), in which the second load (F2) is maintained, and a second releasing step (R2), in which the second load is released, a main compression step (CP), in which a third load (F3), that is not smaller than the previous loads (F1,F2), is applied to the material, and a final ejecting step in which the tablet is discharged from the opening (2).

Abstract: A stamping device for a tablet making machine includes a pair of coaxial stamping heads (1) which enter, on opposing faces, a matrix carried by a matrix plate (2) formed around a rotary turret (3), a pair of punches (4) which are guided by respective holes made in the turret (3) and which are adapted to be coupled with the stamping heads (1) in axial alignment therewith, and a coupling (13) for joining the stamping head (1) and the respective punches (4). The device includes also a locking mechanism (6), which comprise a screw member (7) passing through a transverse hole (8) made close to the end of the respective punch (4). The screw member (7) has a head (9) having a concentric semi-spherical section (10) that matches a complementary recess connected to the outer surface of the respective punch (4).

Abstract: Filter bags containing a substance from which to prepare an infusion are fashioned from tubular blanks of filter paper having an elongated appearance, each one filled with measured and separate quantities of the substance distributed along its length, which are doubled up and made secure, then provided with a label attached by a length of thread. A machine for automating the manufacture of such bags includes a wheel carrying grippers with radial arms, around which the thread is drawn peripherally as the grippers are indexed in turn through a station where the blank is folded double initially, a forming station at which the two joined ends are folded together to effect a closure, a cutting station at which the thread is divided into single lengths, a feed station supplying the labels, and a fastening station at which the length of thread is knotted both to the label and to the closure.

Abstract: A device for transferring blister packs comprises an intermediate station situated between a working station (3) and a packaging line. The intermediate station includes a clamp for receiving and holding at least one blister pack. First and second groups of suction cups are driven by a two-arm mechanism situated in the intermediate station. In a first position, the first group of suction cups is placed in the working station for picking up one blister pack while the second group of suction cups is over the intermediate station for picking up another blister pack temporarily held by the clamp. In a second position, the first group of suction cups is located over the intermediate station, to release the blister pack previously picked up, that is received and held by the clamp, while the second group of suction cups is over the packaging line to deliver the blister pack previously picked up.

Abstract: Between a machine that manufactures bags of variable volume containing cohesionless material (exemplified by tea bags), and a packing machine which packs the bags as stacks, an indexing rotor with pockets in its outer periphery acts, in cooperation with a loading mechanism and an unloading mechanism at respective angularly distributed stations, at which each bag is respectively oriented bottom down and bottom up, to tend to redistribute the cohesionless material away from each bag bottom and to cause individual bags to be generally equally thick relative to one another.