Abstract: The status of a cutting unit (165a, 165b) in an apparatus for producing packages of liquid food is monitored based on a time sequence of measurement values from a sensor (30), e.g., a pressure transducer, which is arranged to measure cutting resistance for a cutting blade (166a, 166b) in the cutting unit when actuated to perform a cut to sever food-containing packages (106) from each other. The monitoring comprises generating a resistance time profile for the measurement values, detecting at least one predefined feature in the resistance time profile, determining a respective phase value for the predefined feature(s), and determining the status of the cutting unit (165a, 165b) as a function of a set of input values comprising the respective phase value. The status may represent the degree of wear of the cutting blade (166a, 166b).

Abstract: A method and system of fault prediction in a packaging machine is disclosed. The method comprises registering data values associated with the motion of independently movable objects along a track in the packaging machine; determining a distribution of the data values; calculating a measure of central tendency of the data values in the distribution; calculating a quantified measure of a shape of the distribution; associating the measure of central tendency with said quantified measure of the shape as a coupled set of condition parameters; determining a degree of dispersion of a plurality of coupled sets of condition parameters associated with a plurality of motion cycles of the independently movable objects; and comparing the degree of dispersion with a dispersion threshold value, or determining a trend of the degree of dispersion over time, for said fault prediction.

Abstract: A monitoring device for condition assessment of a packaging machine for producing packages of liquid food comprises a signal interface for connection to a plurality of vibration sensors in the packaging machine. The monitoring device includes logic to: receive measurement signals from the vibration sensors and obtain an event timing signal, IVIES, indicative of predefined work events of the packaging machine, wherein the respective work event corresponds to a mechanical action by a respective component in the packaging machine when operating to produce the packages. The monitoring device further includes logic to: identify, by use of the IVIES and in the measurement signals, signal values associated with the respective component, and evaluate the signal values for condition assessment of the respective component. The provision and use of the MES thus facilitates condition assessment of individual components in a packaging machine.

Abstract: A method and system of fault prediction in a packaging machine is disclosed. The method comprises registering data values associated with the motion of independently movable objects along a track in the packaging machine; determining a distribution of the data values; calculating a measure of central tendency of the data values in the distribution; calculating a quantified measure of a shape of the distribution; associating the measure of central tendency with said quantified measure of the shape as a coupled set of condition parameters; determining a degree of dispersion of a plurality of coupled sets of condition parameters associated with a plurality of motion cycles of the independently movable objects; and comparing the degree of dispersion with a dispersion threshold value, or determining a trend of the degree of dispersion over time, for said fault prediction.

Abstract: There is described a unit (1) for forming/advancing at least one pack (3) or at least one portion of a pack 5 (3), comprising: a frame (12a, 12b), at least one carriage (14, 14b), which is movable along a path (13a, 13b) with respect to frame (12a, 12b) and is adapted to form/advance said pack (3) or said at least one portion of a pack (3), an electromagnetic stationary device 10 (50), at least one tag (52a, 52b) carried by carriage (14a, 14b), and wireless communication means (51) configured to establish a bidirectional communication between stationary device (50) and tag (52a, 52b).

Abstract: A method of fault prediction of a cyclically moving machine component is disclosed, wherein each cycle of a plurality of cycles of a motion of the component generates a data distribution of values of measurable movement characteristics during a duration of each cycle. The method comprises, for each cycle; determining said data distribution of the movement characteristics; calculating a measure of central tendency of the values in the data distribution; calculating a quantified measure of a shape of the data distribution over the duration of each cycle; associating the measure of central tendency with said quantified measure of the shape as a coupled set of condition parameters; determining a degree of dispersion of a plurality of coupled sets of condition parameters associated with a plurality of cycles of the cyclically moving component; and comparing the degree of dispersion with a dispersion threshold value, or determining a trend of the degree of dispersion over time, for said fault prediction.

Abstract: There is described a packaging apparatus (1) for forming sealed packages (2) from a tube (3). The packaging apparatus (1) has an endless conveyor device (7) arranged in a conveyor zone (8), conveying carts (9) and operative units (10, 10?) moved by the plurality of conveying carts (9) along a path (P, Q). Each operative unit (10, 10?) moves between an operative configuration, in which the operative unit (10, 10?) manipulates the tube (3) and a rest configuration in which the operative unit (10, 10?) is detached from the tube (3). Each operative unit (10, 10?) has a half-shell (36) and one of a sealing element (37a) or a counter-sealing element (37b) and each operative unit (10, 10?) is carried by one respective conveying cart (9) and extends laterally away therefrom so that the conveyor zone (8) is laterally spaced apart from an operative zone (33) where the tube is manipulated.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus for forming opening devices on a sheet packaging material for packaging pourable food products; the apparatus comprises conveying means for advancing the packaging material along a given path, at least one molding unit arranged along the path and adapted to mold one opening device on a receiving portion of the packaging material, and at least one movable element carrying the molding unit and advanced parallel to at least a portion of the path to allow the molding unit to form the opening device while the packaging material is being advanced along the path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive system (1) with electromagnetic energy transfer. The system (1) comprises a track (3) comprising a plurality of stators (4), each stator (4) having at least one winding adapted to generate a magnetic field having a fundamental harmonic (8) and at least one further harmonic (9) when fed with an varying current, and a movable element (2) comprising a primary magnetic element (5) adapted to receive said fundamental harmonic (8) to drive said movable element (2) along said track. The system (1) is characterized in that said movable element (2) further comprises a secondary magnetic element (6a-6c) adapted to receive said at least one further harmonic (9) to generate power onboard of said movable element (2). The invention also relates to a linear fractional slot synchronous machine and a rotational synchronous machine.

Abstract: There is described a unit (1) for forming/advancing at least one pack (3) or at least one portion of a pack 5 (3), comprising: frame (12a, 12b), at least one carriage (14, 14b), which is movable along a path (13a, 13b) with respect to frame (12a, 12b) and is adapted to form/advance said pack (3) or said at least one portion of a pack (3), an electromagnetic stationary device 10 (50), at least one tag (52a, 52b) carried by carriage (14a, 14b), and wireless communication means (51) configured to establish a bidirectional communication between stationary device (50) and tag (52a, 52b).

Abstract: There is described a packaging apparatus (1) for forming sealed packages (2) from a tube (3). The packaging apparatus (1) has an endless conveyor device (7) arranged in a conveyor zone (8), conveying carts (9) and operative units (10, 10?) moved by the plurality of conveying carts (9) along a path (P, Q). Each operative unit (10, 10?) moves between an operative configuration, in which the operative unit (10, 10?) manipulates the tube (3) and a rest configuration in which the operative unit (10, 10?) is detached from the tube (3). Each operative unit (10, 10?) has a halfshell (36) and one of a sealing element (37a) or a counter-sealing element (37b) and each operative unit (10, 10?) is carried by one respective conveying cart (9) and extends laterally away therefrom so that the conveyor zone (8) is laterally spaced apart from an operative zone (33) where the tube is manipulated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive system (1) with electromagnetic energy transfer. The system (1) comprises a track (3) comprising a plurality of stators (4), each stator (4) having at least one winding adapted to generate a magnetic field having a fundamental harmonic (8) and at least one further harmonic (9) when fed with an varying current, and a movable element (2) comprising a primary magnetic element (5) adapted to receive said fundamental harmonic (8) to drive said movable element (2) along said track. The system (1) is characterized in that said movable element (2) further comprises a secondary magnetic element (6a-6c) adapted to receive said at least one further harmonic (9) to generate power onboard of said movable element (2). The invention also relates to a linear fractional slot synchronous machine and a rotational synchronous machine.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus for forming opening devices on a sheet packaging material for packaging pourable food products; the apparatus comprises conveying means for advancing the packaging material along a given path, at least one molding unit arranged along the path and adapted to mold one opening device on a receiving portion of the packaging material, and at least one movable element carrying the molding unit and advanced parallel to at least a portion of the path to allow the molding unit to form the opening device while the packaging material is being advanced along the path.

Abstract: A unit for sequencing and guiding items, in which the items are grouped into batches of one or more items; the unit comprises a first conveyor for advancing the items from an input station to an output station, and a sequencing apparatus cooperable with the items to form the batches and to drive them to the output station; the sequencing apparatus comprises a second conveyor comprising a track and plural movable elements independently moved along the track; the track has a work portion parallel to the first conveyor, and the movable elements include respective interacting portions, adapted to protrude over the first conveyor when the movable elements are advanced along the work portion of the track, and cooperating with the items to drive them to the desired positions along the first conveyor to define the batches and to locate the batches at the desired distances from one another.

Abstract: A unit for sequencing and guiding items, in which the items are grouped into batches of one or more items; the unit comprises a first conveyor for advancing the items from an input station to an output station, and a sequencing apparatus cooperable with the items to form the batches and to drive them to the output station; the sequencing apparatus comprises a second conveyor comprising a track and plural movable elements independently moved along the track; the track has a work portion parallel to the first conveyor, and the movable elements include respective interacting portions, adapted to protrude over the first conveyor when the movable elements are advanced along the work portion of the track, and cooperating with the items to drive them to the desired positions along the first conveyor to define the batches and to locate the batches at the desired distances from one another.

Abstract: A method of predicting a fault in a rolling bearing, the rolling bearing including inner and outer rings and rolling bodies evenly angularly distributed therebetween, the method comprising: processing (in the DSP system 8) a position signal (x(t)) indicative of a relative angular position of the inner ring with respect to the outer rings, and a vibration signal (y(t)) (by the accelerometer 7) indicative of speed-related vibrations in the rolling bearing, such that they correspond to either an angular displacement of the rolling bodies equal to an integer number of angular gaps between adjacent rolling bodies or an integer number of complete rotations of the inner ring with respect to the outer ring; space sampling (in the ND acquisition board 9) the processed vibration signal (y(t)) based on the processed position signal (x(t)); and predicting a fault in the rolling bearing based on the space-sampled vibration signal (y(t)).

Abstract: A divider dividing products into parallel lanes comprises a support frame; at least one guide channel for receiving the products, carried by the frame and extending parallel to a longitudinal direction; a fixed first guide connected to the frame and extending parallel to a transversal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction; second guide carried by the frame and extending parallel to the longitudinal direction; first actuator for moving the guide channel parallel to the transversal direction; and second actuator for moving one of two telescopically coupled channel portions of the guide channel relative to the other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction; the second guide connected to the frame in a fixed position; the first/second actuators comprising a first/second motorized cursor slidably coupled to the first/second guide and connected to the guide channel/one of the two channel portions to move it parallel to the transversal/longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A divider dividing products into parallel lanes comprises a support frame; at least one guide channel for receiving the products, carried by the frame and extending parallel to a longitudinal direction; a fixed first guide connected to the frame and extending parallel to a transversal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction; second guide carried by the frame and extending parallel to the longitudinal direction; first actuator for moving the guide channel parallel to the transversal direction; and second actuator for moving one of two telescopically coupled channel portions of the guide channel relative to the other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction; the second guide connected to the frame in a fixed position; the first/second actuators comprising a first/second motorized cursor slidably coupled to the first/second guide and connected to the guide channel/one of the two channel portions to move it parallel to the transversal/ longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A method of predicting a fault in a rolling bearing, the rolling bearing including inner and outer rings and rolling bodies evenly angularly distributed therebetween, the method comprising: processing (in the DSP system 8) a position signal (x(t)) indicative of a relative angular position of the inner ring with respect to the outer rings, and a vibration signal (y(t)) (by the accelerometer 7) indicative of speed-related vibrations in the rolling bearing, such that they correspond to either an angular displacement of the rolling bodies equal to an integer number of angular gaps between adjacent rolling bodies or an integer number of complete rotations of the inner ring with respect to the outer ring; space sampling (in the A/D acquisition board 9) the processed vibration signal (y(t)) based on the processed position signal (x(t)); and predicting a fault in the rolling bearing based on the space-sampled vibration signal (y(t)).

Abstract: A decoration correction method for a form-and-seal unit for producing sealed packages of a pourable food product from a tube of packaging material fed along a feed path, and having two pairs of jaws movable along the feed path and opened and closed so as to travel, cyclically and alternately with each other, along a form-and-seal portion along which the pairs of jaws are closed and travel integrally with the tube, and along a repositioning portion along which the pairs of jaws open and move with respect to the tube. To make a decoration correction, a nominal trajectory of the jaws is modified along the repositioning portion on the basis of a position error of the tube with respect to a nominal position. A first solution provides for correcting the travel of the jaws by selectively modifying the amplitude of the trajectory; and a second solution provides for correcting the phase of the jaw trajectory.