Abstract: Thermoregulated assembly for the distribution in collective catering of warm meals within isothermal containers having a tray which incorporates a thermoregulation system including at least one electrical heating resistor. The distribution assembly comprises a transport device including, for each isothermal container, a support, a multiple contact unit cooperating with electrical contact means of the isothermal container, and means for connecting the contact unit to an electrical supply source.

Abstract: An isothermal container for warm foodstuffs, comprising a tray of thermally insulating material provided with recesses housing respective food vessels, and a cover of thermally insulating material detachably secured onto the tray. For each of the food vessels a respective rigid covering member is provided for, having an annular soft sealing gasket formed with integral resilient thrust projections. The tray further incorporates an electric-heating-resistor thermoregulation system, and is equipped with a transport basket, having a handle and to which a forced closure member of the cover relative to the tray is anchored.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the automated manufacture of laminated plastics products, in which a pack of superimposed layers of thermosetting material, for example, sheets of resin-impregnated paper, is first formed, and the pack is placed on a rigid support structure for supporting the pack and keeping it in the correct position; the rigid structure and the corresponding pack are supplied by gripping and transfer means to a moulding press which provides for hot-forming of the above pack and, when moulding is completed, the rigid structure and the respective thermoset plastics laminate are separated and directed to respective unloading stations.

Abstract: A plastics container, particularly for use in general catering, comprises a body (1) in the form of a parallelepipedal bowl with rounded corners and provided with a peripheral flange having a downwardly-inclined part (5). The body (1) is closed by a shallow tray-shaped cover (2) which enters the cavity of the body and has a peripheral flange (8a, 8b, 8c) which rests on the inner edge of the inclined part (5) of the flange of the body (1) so as to keep the peripheral edges of the flanges of the body and the cover spaced from each other to facilitate opening of the container. The flange of the body (1) has a peripheral edge (6) which is bent vertically downwardly and, in correspondence with the corners of the flange, is bevelled in its lower part (6a) to form a gripping tab (7) in its upper part for lifting of the container.