Patents by Inventor Antonio Caporale

Antonio Caporale has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12557835
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically forming a casing for smoking articles which contains a filter includes a first forming unit configured to form the filter starting from a first shaped sheet, and a second forming unit configured to form the casing starting from a second shaped sheet. The first forming unit includes at least one first forming mandrel rotatable around a first axis of rotation thereof to form the filter, and the second forming unit includes at least one second forming mandrel to form the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Caporale, Luca Galletti
  • Publication number: 20260041139
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically forming a casing for smoking articles which contains a filter includes a first forming unit configured to form the filter starting from a first shaped sheet, and a second forming unit configured to form the casing starting from a second shaped sheet. The first forming unit includes at least one first forming mandrel rotatable around a first axis of rotation thereof to form the filter, and the second forming unit includes at least one second forming mandrel to form the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Inventors: Antonio CAPORALE, Luca GALLETTI
  • Patent number: 12534251
    Abstract: An apparatus for packaging packets for smoking articles includes a transfer wheel to transfer the packets from a feed device to an outlet device. A gluing device is disposed in a certain angular position between the feed device and the outlet device to selectively glue two lateral flaps of each packet on the corresponding lateral walls thereof. A pressing device is disposed outside the transfer wheel between the gluing device and the outlet device to press the lateral flaps of the packet against corresponding lateral walls thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2026
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Caporale, Loris Sacrati
  • Patent number: 12370770
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically producing tubular elements to make smoking articles and/or products for food use includes at least one forming unit configured to form the tubular elements starting from shaped flat sheets. The forming unit includes one or more forming devices which are moved by movement means along a work path closed in a loop, in order to form the tubular elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTMOMATICHE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Caporale, Luca Galletti
  • Patent number: 12258222
    Abstract: A feed apparatus for automatically feeding casings for smoking articles toward a transport member includes a feed unit disposed in a position above the transport member and configured to temporarily support the casings before they are fed to the transport member below, and a conveyor unit interposed between the feed unit and the transport member to selectively pick up the casings from the feed unit and send them to the transport member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Caporale, Adriano Di Monte
  • Publication number: 20250074027
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) for automatically producing tubular elements (100) to make smoking articles and/or products for food use, comprising at least one forming unit (12) configured to form the tubular elements (100) starting from shaped flat sheets (101). The forming unit (12) comprises one or more forming devices (29) which are moved by movement means (30) along a work path (PL) closed in a loop, in order to form the tubular elements (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Antonio CAPORALE, Luca GALLETTI
  • Publication number: 20250011023
    Abstract: An apparatus for packaging packets for smoking articles includes a transfer wheel to transfer the packets from a feed device to an outlet device. A gluing device is disposed in a certain angular position between the feed device and the outlet device to selectively glue two lateral flaps of each packet on the corresponding lateral walls thereof. A pressing device is disposed outside the transfer wheel between the gluing device and the outlet device to press the lateral flaps of the packet against corresponding lateral walls thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Antonio CAPORALE, Loris SACRATI
  • Publication number: 20240239615
    Abstract: A feed apparatus for automatically feeding casings for smoking articles toward a transport member includes a feed unit disposed in a position above the transport member and configured to temporarily support the casings before they are fed to the transport member below, and a conveyor unit interposed between the feed unit and the transport member to selectively pick up the casings from the feed unit and send them to the transport member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Antonio CAPORALE, Adriano DI MONTE
  • Publication number: 20240237700
    Abstract: Packaging apparatus (10) and method for automatically packaging smoking articles (100). The apparatus (10) comprises, disposed in sequence in a direction of working (X), a first closing assembly (11) configured to close the smoking article (100) in accordance with a first closing mode, a cutting assembly (12) configured to cut the smoking article (100) and a second closing assembly (13) configured to close the smoking article (100) in accordance with a second closing mode, different from the first closing mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Antonio CAPORALE, Fabio GNUGNOLI, Guglielmo DOSI, Adriano DI MONTE
  • Publication number: 20240237699
    Abstract: Closing apparatus and method for automatically closing smoking articles, each including a casing having at least one rear zone which is configured to be closed. The apparatus includes movement means and folding means configured to close the rear zone of each casing by folding an open end portion of the rear zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Adriano DI MONTE, Antonio CAPORALE
  • Patent number: 7603835
    Abstract: A device (100) for feeding blanks (99) to a packaging machine (M), includes at least one rotating group (G) for picking up flat folded carton blanks from the bottom of a stack (94) of blanks (99), in a picking up position (P), by the use of a picking up vacuum device (7) supported by the group (G). Then, the picked up folded blanks are erected into box-like configurations (A) in an erecting position (K). Then, the group (G) feeds the blanks (99) to an inlet station (98) of the machine (M), to place them one by one in the station (98) in a placing position (ID). The group (G) includes one first kinematic series (C1) for determining the movement of the picking up vacuum cups (7) along a closed path (T), extending between the picking up position (P) and the placing position (ID). A second kinematic series (C2) controls and maintains constant the orientation of the picking up vacuum cups (7, V).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche
    Inventor: Antonio Caporale
  • Publication number: 20080159844
    Abstract: A device (100) for feeding blanks (99) to a packaging machine (M), includes at least one rotating group (G) for picking up flat folded carton blanks from the bottom of a stack (94) of blanks (99), in a picking up position (P), by means of picking up vacuum means (7) supported by the group (G). Then, the picked up folded blanks are erected into box-like configurations (A) in an erecting position (K). Then, the group (G) feeds the blanks (99) to an inlet station (98) of the machine (M), to place them one by one in the station (98) in a placing position (ID). The group (G) includes one first cinematic series (C1) for determining the movement of the picking up vacuum cups (7) along a closed path (T), extending between the picking up position (P) and the placing position (ID). A second cinematic series (C2) controls and maintains constant the orientation of the picking up vacuum cups (7, V).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Caporale
  • Patent number: D1061236
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: David Pitton, Julie Polier, Digvijay Singh, Antonio Caporale, Luca Tarozzi