Abstract: Provided is packaging machine with a sealing station that includes a mold with an upper tool and a lower tool facing each other and suitable for cooperating with one another in an operative position of the mold, between which there is delimited an inner area. The lower tool includes a cavity that is configured to receive a tray. A gas injection opening is located adjacent to a first side of the cavity and communicated with the inner area. The upper tool includes a sealing tool and an actuator device facing an actuation region of the lower tool defined between the first side of the cavity and a contact location of the upper and lower tools, and being closer to the lower tool than the sealing tool.

Abstract: A vertical packaging machine for packaging products is provided that includes a forming element with an upper mouth and a hopper upstream of the forming element. At least the hopper and the forming element form a conduit through which the product falls. A flow generator includes an injection device for injecting a gaseous fluid through a distributor for directing the fluid to the conduit. The distributer has an inlet mouth for receiving the gaseous fluid and an outlet mouth with an area smaller than the area of the inlet mouth. The injection device is controlled by a control device that is configured to cause the injection device to perform an injection for each product to be packaged in one and the same package, the start and end of which depend on the position of the product with respect to the upper mouth and the outlet mouth.

Abstract: According to one embodiment a packaging method is provided in which a tube is supplied in a forward movement direction. The method includes a folding step in which the tube is acted on in a manner that is transverse to the forward movement direction, folding part of the tube in a folding direction, and a sealing and cutting step after which a tube closed at one end and a package closed and separated from the tube are obtained. During the folding step the tube is held transversely, and a tear is generated in the folding direction between the acted on and held parts of the tube. The tube is sealed on both sides of the tear and cut at the height of the tear. Packaging machines for carrying out the method are also disclosed. Suitable.

Abstract: Vertical packaging machine for generating packages from a film that according to one embodiment includes a film feeder and a forming tube with a longitudinal axis. The forming tube configured to impart a tubular shape to the film. The machine is configured for incorporating a longitudinal tool for longitudinally sealing the longitudinal ends of the tubular-shaped film together and generating a film tube. The machine also includes a module for moving the film tube, and a transverse tool for transversely sealing and cutting the film tube. The module is configured for rotating with respect to the longitudinal axis of the forming tube, being arranged in different operating positions, such that it allows arranging the longitudinal tool required in different positions for generating packages having different topologies and/or different sizes without the need of moving the transverse tool.

Abstract: Method, machine and installation for vacuum packaging of products, where a plurality of individual bags closed at one end and open at the opposite end with at least one product therein are generated. For generating the bags, a transverse cut and a complete transverse seal on both sides of the transverse cut are made on the film tube, and a transverse cut without complete transverse seals on the sides thereof is made at a distance (L) substantially equal to the desired length of the bag to be generated from the transverse cut and seal on both sides. Each bag is oriented at 180 degrees with respect to the bag previously generated in the forward movement direction.

Abstract: A modified atmosphere, skin or vacuum packaging machine comprising first feed means adapted for feeding a first film to the machine, second feed means adapted for feeding a second film to the machine, and a sealing station where the vacuum is formed and/or the modified atmosphere is introduced, and the second film is sealed to the first film to obtain a package. The machine comprises displacement means configured for moving at least the first film a driving distance from an initial position, holding down and driving at least the first film in the driving direction to an end position, said displacement means being configured for subsequently returning to the initial position when the machine is in operating mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for vacuum packaging a product. According to one embodiment a film tube is generated, and, in the film tube a product (P) is introduced and at least one cut is made. In the method, a vacuum may also applied inside the film tube, and a transverse seal is formed therein, a film tube closed at one end being obtained upstream of the cut and a package closed at both ends being obtained downstream. Furthermore, the film tube is transversely pinched, a portion the inside of the film tube which is isolated from the inside of the rest of the film tube being obtained, and a chamber is demarcated around at least part of said portion, the vacuum being applied and the transverse sealing operation being performed inside said chamber.

Abstract: Separating system for separating a support and a product arranged on the support. According to one embodiment the system includes conveying means adapted for receiving the product arranged on its support and for conveying the products in a first conveyance direction. The conveying means includes two product support elements separated from one another in at least one point by a width less than a width of the product (the width of the product being transverse to the first conveyance direction) and greater than the width of its support (with the width of the support being transverse to the first conveyance direction), such that the product is supported by, and conveyed on, the product support elements of the conveying means, and the support is separated from the product upon the product being supported on the product support elements.

Abstract: Splicing method and unit for a packaging machine, whereby a first film is spliced to a second film which is a spare film. The splicing is performed by means of an adhesive element with two opposing adhesive surfaces, one for each film, and a longitudinal adhering element. First an adhesive surface is adhered to the adhering element and said adhering element moves so that the other adhesive surface comes into contact with the second film and adheres to it. Then the adhering element is separated from said second film, the adhesive element being adhered to said second film, and the first film is caused to come into contact with said adhesive element already adhered to the second film.

Abstract: A product wrapping machine with a plurality of counter-jaws homogenously distributed in a forward movement direction (X), a plurality of jaws moving perpendicular to the forward movement direction (X) from an open position to a closed position against the counter-jaws for sealing together the films wrapping the product to one another and cutting them. The machine also includes a jaw actuator for each jaw causing the corresponding jaw to move in the closing direction. The jaws move together simultaneously in the forward movement direction (X) and move independently from one another in the closing direction. The machine further includes a tensioner suitable for collecting part of the film wrapping the product when a jaw leaves the closed position.

Abstract: According to some implementations a packaging operation is provided that includes a stage for the continuous feeding of a laminar film, a stage for the forming of the laminar film with a laminar tube being obtained, and a drive stage in which by means of at least two drive belts the movement of the laminar tube is caused. The packaging operation also includes a control operation in which the position of the drive belt in relation to the forming tool is controlled when slippage or risk of slippage of at least one of the drive belts with respect to the laminar tube is detected.

Abstract: Format change method for a thermoforming machine and a thermoforming machine. A station of the machine includes an upper tool and a lower tool, at least one of the upper and lower tools being suitable for moving in a substantially vertical actuating direction during the operation of the machine. In the method, the upper tool is supported on the lower tool and both tools are subsequently withdrawn from the station and are replaced with new tools. When withdrawing the upper and lower tools from the station and when introducing the new tools therein, the tools are moved simultaneously and jointly in a replacement direction different from the actuating direction.

Abstract: A method for loading containers that involves intermittently shifting at least one first empty housing and one second empty housing of the containers between respective first and second rest positions. According to one embodiment the method involves calculating an available time td corresponding to the time necessary for an empty housing to reach a loading position of a manipulator and comparing the available time td with a positioning time necessary for the manipulator to collect from its current position each object to be loaded from a collecting area and depositing it in a loading position coinciding with the position of an empty housing of a container. The object to be collected and the delivery position of the object in an empty housing corresponds with a loading position of the manipulator in which the positioning time is closest to the available time td.

Abstract: A product wrapping machine with a plurality of counter-jaws homogenously distributed in a forward movement direction (X), a plurality of jaws moving perpendicular to the forward movement direction (X) from an open position to a closed position against the counter-jaws for sealing together the films wrapping the product to one another and cutting them. The machine also includes a jaw actuator for each jaw causing the corresponding jaw to move in the closing direction. The jaws move together simultaneously in the forward movement direction (X) and move independently from one another in the closing direction. The machine further includes a tensioner suitable for collecting part of the film wrapping the product when a jaw leaves the closed position.

Abstract: A system for loading and unloading food products. In one implementation the system includes a transport device with a plurality of parallel belts upon which the products to be loaded move, and a tool adapted to load the products. The tool has a support adapted to pass through the gaps between the belts to load the product and to support the product when it is unloaded, and to perform the loading of the product moving it in an ascending vertical direction, the support lifting the product from the transport device. The support is adapted to rotate in relation to the support structure to unload the product, when they rotate, the support has a peripheral speed equal to the speed at which the product moves during the unloading.

Abstract: A gripper for capturing and transporting a food product. In one implementation the gripper has first and second arms having first end portions that cooperate with each other to capture the food product. In a first pivot position the first end portion of the first arm is positioned to cooperate with the first end portion of the second arm to capture the food product, whereas in a second pivot position the first end portion of the first arm is positioned not to cooperate with the first end portion of the second arm. The gripper has an expandable fluid chamber that in an expanded state acts on a portion of the first arm to cause the first arm to assume the first pivot position.

Abstract: A packaging machine having a sealing member that acts on a product wrapped by a lower film and an upper film, and which seals or closes the films to each other around the product in order to vacuum-package said product between both films, and control means for causing the sealing member to move in order to package the product. The sealing member defines at least one inner space where the product to be vacuum-packaged is disposed wrapped at least partially by the two films. According to one implementation the sealing member includes at least one longitudinal first wall, a longitudinal second wall and a transverse wall between which the inner space is defined, and an unobstructed opening facing the transverse wall.

Abstract: According to some implementations a packaging operation is provided that includes a stage for the continuous feeding of a laminar film, a stage for the forming of the laminar film with a laminar tube being obtained, and a drive stage in which by means of at least two drive belts the movement of the laminar tube is caused. The packaging operation also includes a control operation in which the position of the drive belt in relation to the forming tool is controlled when slippage or risk of slippage of at least one of the drive belts with respect to the laminar tube is detected.

Abstract: A thermal seal packaging systems and methods thereof. In one implementation a thermal sealing packaging system has a container transfer unit for transferring a container which is to contain a package item, a measuring unit for measuring the weight of the item that is loaded in the container being transported before it is loaded into the container, a capping film supply unit for a capping film to cover the opening area of the container, an indication means for indicating the measurement data of the measurement unit on the capping film, and a sealing unit for heat-sealing an opening area of the container, into which the package item is loaded, with the capping film, the opening area of the container into which the item is loaded is covered by the capping film on which the corresponding measurement data is indicated.

Abstract: A gripper for capturing and transporting a food product. In one implementation the gripper has first and second arms having first end portions that cooperate with each other to capture the food product. In a first pivot position the first end portion of the first arm is positioned to cooperate with the first end portion of the second arm to capture the food product, whereas in a second pivot position the first end portion of the first arm is positioned not to cooperate with the first end portion of the second arm. The gripper has an expandable fluid chamber that in an expanded state acts on a portion of the first arm to cause the first arm to assume the first pivot position.