Abstract: A tunnel pasteuriser comprises forward movement means (2) for moving products (3) to be pasteurised forward on a forward movement path along which there is a heating zone (4), a heat treatment zone (5) and a cooling zone (6). Each of said zones is divided into two or more sub-zones equipped with spraying means (10) for spraying a treatment liquid (11) onto the products (3) in transit in the sub-zone, and at least one tank (12) for collecting the liquid (11) that was sprayed on the products (3). In each heat treatment sub-zone (9) there are also means (20) for collecting the liquid (11) which wet the products (3) being treated. The collecting means (20) can be switched between a first operating condition in which they direct the liquid (11) collected towards the collection tank (12) of the relative heat treatment sub-zone (9), and a second operating condition in which they prevent the liquid (11) collected from reaching the tank (12) of the relative heat treatment sub-zone (9).

Abstract: A device (1) for cutting labels in a labelling machine, including a cutting roller (2) having at least one blade (3) co-operating with a fixed counter-blade (4) able to be operatively associated to the roller for cutting the labels, a mechanical shaft (5) whereon is keyed said cutting roller (2), a frame (6) to support said mechanical shaft (5) and a heat exchanger circuit containing an operating fluid. Precisely, a first portion (9a) of said circuit is constructed on said support frame (6) and a second portion (9b) of said exchanger circuit is constructed on said mechanical shaft (5), said exchanger circuit thermally interacting with said frame (6) and with said cutting roller (2). The device further includes an impeller for generating a flow of said operating fluid within the heat exchanger circuit, said impeller for generating a flow of said operating fluid being connected to the mechanical shaft (5) and being operatively inserted in said heat exchanger circuit.

Abstract: The invention deals with the field of labelling machines with tubular labels made of heat-shrinking film that are directly formed on the machine starting from coiled film. More precisely, the invention refers to a device (1) or (10) for positioning a tubular label (8) at a pre-established height from a bottle bottom and to means (21) for keeping the label position during the label transfer to an outlet conveyor where a first partial heat-shrinkage occurs. The positioning device is supported by the drum, on which the label is formed, and must allow sliding the bottle inside the formed label.

Abstract: An aspirating roller (1) for transferring labels, comprising at least a pair of pads (20;21) projecting relative to a lateral surface (1a) of the roller (1). The roller (1) is characterised in that at least a portion of the lateral surface (1a) of the roller (1) present between the pads (20;21) is elastically deformable. A method for removing/mounting an elastically deformable plate-like element (6), of the type present between a pair of pads (20;21) and defining a lateral surface (1a) of a roller (1) for transferring labels.

Abstract: A process for labelling containers or bottles by applying tubular labels made of heat shrinkable film which completely surround an outer surface area of the bottle. The process and machine include winding a precut label from a reeled film on a rotating tubular round plate supported by a roundabout labelling machine, the bottle abuts on the round plate and the label is wound on the underlying tubular portion. The tubular surface of the round plate is provided with a plurality of holes alternatively supplying or drawing air for establishing a positive or negative pressure respectively on the label surface. The overlapped vertical ends of the label are heat sealed by an electrically heated bar located at each round plate or are chemically bonded. The tubular round plate and the container on it can vertically move to transfer the container into the tubular label.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for conveying containers (2) with non circular cross section, comprising at least two input conveyors, a re-uniting star-wheel (5), on which the two distinct conveyance flows are re-united, an auxiliary star-wheel (6) cooperating with said re-uniting star-wheel (5), first engaging means (50) mounted on the re-uniting star-wheel (5) and acting on containers housed in corresponding pits of the auxiliary star-wheel (6) to keep them correctly oriented into said pits before they are transferred on the reuniting star-wheel (5) and second engaging means (60) mounted on the auxiliary star-wheel (6) and acting on containers housed in corresponding pits of the reuniting star-wheel (5) to keep them correctly oriented into said pits during the rotation of the re-uniting star-wheel (5). Said first and second engaging means (50, 60) are active when the containers (2) reach said merging area.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for conveying containers (2) with non circular cross section comprises at least two linear input conveyors (3a, 3b) through which at least two distinct conveyance flows reach the apparatus and a plurality of star conveyors (4a, 4b, 6) for receiving the containers (2) from the linear input conveyors (3a, 3b) and release them in output on a single conveyor (5), with a single output flow. The apparatus comprises at least an oscillating blade (9) and/or a fixed guide (14) in order to guide the containers (2), at an area where multiple flows merge into a single conveyance flow, such as to assure a correct conveyance and orientation of the containers towards the single flow.

Abstract: A filler valve unit (1) comprising feeding means (2, 7) for feeding a preset amount of filling liquid (3) into a container (6) wherein the feeding means (2, 7) have an outlet (4) for feeding out filling liquid and injection means (9, 10) for injecting a gaseous fluid into a container (6) wherein the injection means (9, 10) have an outlet (11) for injecting gaseous fluid and are connected to the feeding means (2, 7). The filler valve unit (1) comprises at least one stop element (14) forming a stroke limiter acting on the container (6) and functionally connected to the feeding means (2, 7) and to the injection means (9, 10).

Abstract: The invention refers to the field of labelling machines that use tubular labels, and in particular it refers to ultrasound welding apparata for making a tubular label made of a heat-shrinking film, precut from a coil. The apparatus provides for the label welding for the whole length of the surmount (5), the apparatus being able to translate on at least two Cartesian axes; moreover, it guarantees one or more welding beads due to the presence, on the sonotrode, of a plurality of ribs (6): the formation of one or more beads will have to be attributed to the more or less correct position of the precut label and the errors caused during its transfer. The presence of many beads is an improving condition of the resistance to tensile stress of the welded label.

Abstract: A tunnel pasteuriser comprises forward movement means (2) for moving products (3) to be pasteurised forward on a forward movement path along which there is a heating zone (4), a heat treatment zone (5) and a cooling zone (6). Each of said zones is divided into two or more sub-zones equipped with spraying means (10) for spraying a treatment liquid (11) onto the products (3) in transit in the sub-zone, and at least one tank (12) for collecting the liquid (11) that was sprayed on the products (3). In each heat treatment sub-zone (9) there are also means (20) for collecting the liquid (11) which wet the products (3) being treated. The collecting means (20) can be switched between a first operating condition in which they direct the liquid (11) collected towards the collection tank (12) of the relative heat treatment sub-zone (9), and a second operating condition in which they prevent the liquid (11) collected from reaching the tank (12) of the relative heat treatment sub-zone (9).

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for conveying containers (2) with non circular cross section comprises in combination: - at least two linear input conveyors (3 a, 3 b) through which at least two distinct conveyance flows reach the apparatus; - a plurality of star conveyors (4a, 4b, 6) for receiving the containers (2) from the linear input conveyors (3 a, 3b) and release them in output on a single conveyor (5), with a single output flow; - means (7, 9, 14) for guiding the containers (2), at an area where multiple flows merge into a single conveyance flow, such as to assure a correct conveyance and orientation of the containers towards the single flow. The guiding means may comprise an oscillating blade (9) and/or a fixed guide (14). The invention allows a reduction in the bulk of the conveyor means assuring the perfect orientation and positioning of the containers during conveyance.

Abstract: A device (1) for cutting labels in a labelling machine, comprising a cutting roller (2) having at least one blade (3) co-operating with a fixed counter-blade (4) able to be operatively associated to the roller for cutting the labels, a mechanical shaft (5) whereon is keyed said cutting roller (2), a frame (6) to support said mechanical shaft (5) and a heat exchanger circuit containing an operating fluid. Precisely, a first portion (9a) of said circuit is constructed on said support frame (6) and a second portion (9b) of said exchanger circuit is constructed on said mechanical shaft (5), said exchanger circuit thermally interacting with said frame (6) and with said cutting roller (2). The device further comprises means for generating a flow of said operating fluid within the heat exchanger circuit, said means for generating a flow of said operating fluid being connected to the mechanical shaft (5) and being operatively inserted in said heat exchanger circuit.

Abstract: A process for labelling containers or bottles by applying tubular labels made of heat shrinkable film which completely surround an outer surface area of the bottle. The process and machine include winding a precut label from a reeled film on a rotating tubular round plate supported by a roundabout labelling machine, the bottle abuts on the round plate and the label is wound on the underlying tubular portion. The tubular surface of the round plate is provided with a plurality of holes alternatively supplying or drawing air for establishing a positive or negative pressure respectively on the label surface. The overlapped vertical ends of the label are heat sealed by an electrically heated bar located at each round plate or are chemically bonded. The tubular round plate and the container on it can vertically move to transfer the container into the tubular label.

Abstract: A roller (1) for transferring labels of the suction type, comprising a lateral surface (21) having a plurality of openings (2) communicating with respective suction conduits (3) to maintain a label adhering to said lateral surface (21). Originally, at least one of the suction conduits (3) is provided with at least an additional opening (5) located in a position that cannot be obstructed by the label adhering to the lateral surface (21) of the roller (1), to maintain said conduit (3) in constant communication with the external environment. Said additional opening (5) is preferably positioned in an upper area (41) of the roller at a suction opening (3).

Abstract: Machine for the aseptic treatment of containers (10) in bottling plant, of the rotary type provided with a plurality of stations (9) for treating the containers and so shaped as to cause the treatment of the containers to take place under substantially sterile conditions, is characterised in that it comprises sealing means that separate a non sterile area (11) of the machine from an area (12) maintained under sterile conditions and in which the treated containers (10) transit, said means comprising a fixed annular channel (15) at least partially filled with liquid in which slides a concentric annular element (16) associated with the rotating part (11).