Abstract: A system and method for conveying a sterilizing fluid to a filling machine includes a refilling tank for containing the sterilizing fluid and from which the sterilizing fluid is drawn, a spray tank fluidly connected to the refilling tank for receiving the sterilizing fluid from the refilling tank and conveying the sterilizing fluid to the filling machine, and a fluid line connecting the refilling tank to the spray tank. A vacuum generator is fluidly connected to the spray tank via a vacuum line and configured to generate a vacuum in the spray tank, such that the vacuum causes sterilizing fluid to be drawn from the refilling tank and into the spray tank.

Abstract: There is described a packaging machine for producing sealed packages of a pourable product from a web of packaging material, which may include conveying means for advancing the web of packaging material along a web advancement path at least to a tube forming station at which the web of packaging material is formed into a tube and for advancing the tube along a tube advancement path, an isolation housing having a main chamber and an auxiliary chamber arranged downstream of the main chamber along the tube advancement path, a tube forming and sealing device at least partially arranged within the main chamber and being configured to form and longitudinally seal the tube within the main chamber, a filling device for filling the tube with the pourable product and a pressure control device configured to control a first pressure within the main chamber and a second pressure within the auxiliary chamber such that the first pressure is higher than the second pressure and the first pressure and the second pressure are b

Abstract: There is described a packaging machine for producing sealed packages of a pourable product from a web of packaging material, which may include conveying means for advancing the web of packaging material along a web advancement path at least to a tube forming station at which the web of packaging material is formed into a tube and for advancing the tube along a tube advancement path, an isolation housing having a main chamber and an auxiliary chamber arranged downstream of the main chamber along the tube advancement path, a tube forming and sealing device at least partially arranged within the main chamber and being configured to form and longitudinally seal the tube within the main chamber, a filling device for filling the tube with the pourable product and a pressure control device configured to control a first pressure within the main chamber and a second pressure within the auxiliary chamber such that the first pressure is higher than the second pressure and the first pressure and the second pressure are b

Abstract: There is described a shutter for a valve for controlling an air flow; shutter is selectively rotatable about an axis and adapted to be housed inside a body of valve, and comprises a surface disposed about axis; surface comprises at least one first curved portion shaped eccentrically relative to axis so as to define, in use and together with body, at least one first passage for the air flow.

Abstract: There is described a shutter for a valve for controlling an air flow; shutter is selectively rotatable about an axis and adapted to be housed inside a body of valve, and comprises a surface disposed about axis; surface comprises at least one first curved portion shaped eccentrically relative to axis so as to define, in use and together with body, at least one first passage for the air flow.

Abstract: A method of producing a sealed package of a pourable food product involving feeding a tube of packaging material along an axis; moving a pair of first jaws and a pair of second jaws cyclically and alternately along sealing paths parallel to the axis, and along repositioning paths; moving the jaws, as they travel along the sealing paths, into a closed position in which the sealing members grip the tube and respectively form, at different times, a first and a second seal sealing the tube and defining respective opposite ends of the package; and moving the jaws, as they travel along the respective repositioning paths, into an open position, in which they are detached from the tube; acquiring a desired value of a quantity related to the package weight; and forming the second seal at a distance, which is a function of the value, from the first seal.

Abstract: A unit for sterilizing a web of packaging material for a machine for packaging pourable food products includes a sterilizing chamber containing a liquid sterilizing agent at a first temperature; a conveying device for feeding the web through the sterilizing chamber before the web is formed into a succession of sealed packages of pourable food products; a hold tank for the sterilizing agent; a feed mechanism activated selectively to feed the sterilizing agent from the tank to the sterilizing chamber; a drain activated selectively to drain the sterilizing agent from the sterilizing chamber into the tank in the event of stoppage of the packaging machine; and a cooling device activated selectively, at the end of the package production cycle, to cool the sterilizing agent in the tank to a second temperature lower than the first temperature.

Abstract: An induction sealing device for producing packaged pourable food products from heat-seal sheet packaging material. The sealing device has a signal source, an inductor, and an impedance matching circuit connected between the signal source and the inductor. The impedance matching circuit has: two input terminals; a first and second line connected to the input terminals; a variable-capacitance stage having capacitive modules each made up of a capacitive element and a controlled switch; and a control stage to control the controlled switches. Each controlled switch includes: input terminals receiving a respective control signal from the control stage, with one input terminal of each controlled switch connected to the second line; a single two-way controlled switching element having a control terminal connected to the other input terminal of the controlled switch; a first current-conducting terminal connected to the first line, and a second current-conducting terminal connected to the second line.

Abstract: An induction sealing device for producing packaged pourable food products from heat-seal sheet packaging material. The sealing device has a signal source, an inductor, and an impedance matching circuit connected between the signal source and the inductor. The impedance matching circuit has: two input terminals; a first and second line connected to the input terminals; a variable-capacitance stage having capacitive modules each made up of a capacitive element and a controlled switch; and a control stage to control the controlled switches. Each controlled switch includes: input terminals receiving a respective control signal from the control stage, with one input terminal of each controlled switch connected to the second line; a single two-way controlled switching element having a control terminal connected to the other input terminal of the controlled switch; a first current-conducting terminal connected to the first line, and a second current-conducting terminal connected to the second line.

Abstract: A method of producing a sealed package of a pourable food product involving feeding a tube of packaging material along an axis; moving a pair of first jaws and a pair of second jaws cyclically and alternately along sealing paths parallel to the axis, and along repositioning paths; moving the jaws, as they travel along the sealing paths, into a closed position in which the sealing members grip the tube and respectively form, at different times, a first and a second seal sealing the tube and defining respective opposite ends of the package; and moving the jaws, as they travel along the respective repositioning paths, into an open position, in which they are detached from the tube; acquiring a desired value of a quantity related to the package weight; and forming the second seal at a distance, which is a function of the value, from the first seal.

Abstract: A unit for sterilizing a web of packaging material for a machine for packaging pourable food products includes a sterilizing chamber containing a liquid sterilizing agent at a first temperature; a conveying device for feeding the web through the sterilizing chamber before the web is formed into a succession of sealed packages of pourable food products; a hold tank for the sterilizing agent; a feed mechanism activated selectively to feed the sterilizing agent from the tank to the sterilizing chamber; a drain activated selectively to drain the sterilizing agent from the sterilizing chamber into the tank in the event of stoppage of the packaging machine; and a cooling device activated selectively, at the end of the package production cycle, to cool the sterilizing agent in the tank to a second temperature lower than the first temperature.